He knew what was coming it was that time again. He could smell the tension in the forest. The birds had stopped chirping and the fiercest beast had gone into hiding. He had to get out of the forest fast.

     Leaving all his supplies in the tree because they would only slow him down in the desperate sprint he would have to make. It was a long way down from the tree branches and much quicker to slide down without all his supplies. This left him with only a foot long straight dagger to defend himself. If only he could be lucky enough to not need it. He had a short time to escape before the danger caught up and nearly two mile to run before he could break the treeline.

      Sliding down from his nook in the tree he took off towards the west. Through the bushes and over the roots it would be a close call to make it in time. That was when it happened, a roar he hoped he was wrong about. The sound came from deep within the depths of the forest. Sounds of all kinds of creatures answered the call making the very air vibrate. He was only in the first ring of the forest but even that wasn't safe when a tide happened.

      Twenty minutes later after much struggle he could see light up ahead. Although still dark from the canopy above, there was more light shining through the trees. If he could only push forward a little longer he could definitely make it.  

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     The sound of beast could be heard closing in the roars, crunching of bark and snapping of branches were getting closer. If he could hear them they would make it too him before he would be able to break the treeline let alone make it back to safety.

     Although hope was so close it was no use they were upon him he could see the first gaining on him. It was a feline blood red in color with a height up to his his hips. It had a sleek body obviously meant for speed. He had to defend himself, he jumped between the roots of one of the trees next to him and quickly turned around to see it already upon him he raised his dagger hoping to find purchase in the large cats soft belly. The dagger in his right hand pierced flesh at the same time as fangs sunk into his left shoulder. The weight of the creature knocked him to his back onto the hard wood of the tree roots. He could see the blood red eyes starting at him in hate. The jaws held him down as front claws sliced at his chest. He could feel the claws digging deeply into the bone. The fierce eyes slowly turned lifeless as his dagger seemed to have slid up in the struggle slicing the heart.

   Body aching and bleeding out he could heard more creatures drawing near yet had no strength to escape. Lifting his head he could see creatures of all kinds running his way or maybe just past him towards the city. There was one group of large cats obviously of the same kind coming straight for him. Struggling to get the weight of the dead cat off him with little strength he had the roots beneath him started to groan. He felt a shift of the weight underneath him and then a crack. His weight plus the bloody cats could not be supported by the rotted root system and so he plumited into the dark depths below the roots of this ancient forest.