The wind howled, wailing for my grim fate.

I couldn't agree more.

The trees that dotted my sight seemed more like a cage now, trapping me in a wooden maze.

I merely stared at my nighttime hunter as it stalked the safety of its shadowy cloak. I took a moment to think to myself, keeping my stance ready and slingshot poised to set loose.

What to do?

Obviously, I need to get away.

I had an intrinsic understanding of the path I took, as well as the fact that I had only travelled in a completely straight line, since any markers I had set would be difficult to spot either way.

The problem was, it was too far. I didn't know how I'd fare against the speed of a beast genetically engineered to hunt, much less a monster. Last time I checked, teacher mentioned that I wasn't ready yet.

It was likely that I wouldn't be able to run fast enough.

Then I guess I'll just have to kite the beast back to camp, back to teacher.

I'll make him deal with it, who sends a child out in the dead of night to hunt?

As for weaponry, I had training with the sling, but not enough to operate in such a tense and proactive scenario against an enemy of way higher caliber. I did have my makeshift knife with me, but my physical condition will have to dissuade close quarters combat.

Fairly sure crude knife loses to a predator's giant claws and razor sharp teeth.

I need to keep my distance while slowly guiding it back to camp.

I widened my stance, ready to leap or run in either direction in case of any movement.

I can't afford to move first, I can't risk a miss, if my shot would be effective in the first place if I didn't. And even if I do hit, I'd have to reload, then I'd be open. Too many risks, no rewards.

As I made these little adjustments in just over ten seconds or so, the animal finally moved.

It made a small leap closer, before pouncing at me with a feline body twice my weight and power.

"Groh!" It growled as it's form lunged with explosive power, sending tremors through the soil.

I flinch slightly as I sidestep to the right, narrowly avoiding a claw to my pale face.

In these brief few seconds, I knew instinctively that slinging at this distance would be futile.

So I did what I could. I took out the crude knife I tucked on a leather strap around my waist, slashing at the night creature's left shoulder.

It made contact, yet my weapon proved inadequate, as it barely got through its thick coal-like hide.

I may have scratched it at least, but one thing I knew for certain, I had angered it.

"Roar!!" It's gravelly call could be heard reverberating through the serene blanket of night.

It unnerved me, but that feeling was outweighed by the fact that my teacher might have heard that.

I could only pray he was coming to help me.

My heart was pumping madly, and my muscles screamed and mustered whatever energy was left. Adrenaline was in my veins, accentuating the danger of the situation as it numbed my agony for the moment.

My mind was racing hundreds of miles a minute, if only my legs were too.

The beast turned to look at me with raging crimson eyes, radiating so much bloodlust it practically poured from its gaze with burning vigor.

Now that it was bathed in the moon's bright gaze, my assailant was finally revealed to me.

Its fur was matte black, as wild and untamed as its murderous demeanor, and its frame towered over mine. Muscles rippling and tensed, its hideous face practically bursting with creases and twisting flesh as its expression was marred with fury. Its ears were bent backwards, as it heaved its ivory white claws at me.

Only my death was on its mind.

I narrowly dodged it once more by completely jerking my body backwards, getting as far away from it as possible.

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From this position, I need to go way left to get to camp.

Fast.

Raising my right hand, I whip the slingshot past my head and over my shoulder, before violently hurtling a stone at the beast as I released its knot.

It was in the light now, I had a clear shot. I can't afford to miss.

"Tuk!" The sound of a stone impacting flesh and bone at high speeds.

I had successfully pelted it directly on its neck, despite aiming for a sensitive spot like its face.

Unfortunate, yet it didn't matter anyway.

"Grhhh..." It growled, and I could actually feel the vibrations in my chest.

It did absolutely nothing except for an imperceptible welt on its neck and making it even more enraged than it already was.

Fine then, that's what I was aiming for anyways.

My slingshot was unloaded, and it did nothing. I had about nine stones left. Now, I had no reservations, my mind was set.

It was time to run.

"Heup!" I grunted, hoping the adrenaline could take me far from the hunt.

"Grohh!" It roared, it chased after me with zeal and a glint in its bloodstained eyes.

Taking into account its large frame, I adopted running and weaving in between the colossal trees.

Wish I set up traps, I should have planned for this. I knew something was up.

No use hiding, no use fighting.

Still, I held out hope.

Encountering a large fallen log in my path, I quickly jump up and over it, afterwards I briefly spared a tense glance to my feline pursuer.

"Huh?... Huff! Huff..."

Where did it go?

Nothing but the tall shadows. I quickly notice once more that I was the only one in the light.

Very well then, I deposit another hefty stone into my slingshot's pouch before turning back.

Not once did I stop, my confusion didn't matter, I needed to keep moving.

'Keep moving, always.' my teacher's words proved true.

I hold up the sling in my right hand cautiously, as I keep my left hand gripping the knife close to me, heaving down the winding paths.

"Crsh... Rustle!" A crack, and the rustling of leaves echoes on its lonesome.

Just when I thought I'd lost the beast, my instincts screamed at me desperately, as I scramble to react to the rustling I suddenly heard from above.

'That damn!- It was in the trees!' I make the startling realization before practically diving towards the ground in a haphazard roll.

"Rah!" It swung a mean right claw at me, aiming for my bowels.

It got me.

I didn't spill over like a can of beans, but I was definitely bleeding. A large gash across my stomach, thankfully only a surface-level wound seeing as my intestines weren't basking in the evening air, yet I wasn't granted reprieve.

It swung at my face, I tried to dodge.

And I did, but it was a feint.

The claw dug into the ground as the beast's unshapely maw found its home right across my torso, trying to eviscerate me.

I felt the fangs sink into my skin, threatening to crush my ribs in one fell swoop.

I need to move, now!

"Raahhh! Agh!"

My left hand practically blurred as I shoved the knife violently into its right eye. In my pain, I did not let up, digging further and mutilating the eye in a fit of desperation for it to let go.

Thankfully, heavens above, it did.

Its jaw unhinged as it cried out in agony, flailing backwards. It gave me a chance, to crawl backwards as far as I could before forcing myself to my feet.

I won't die from these injuries, but I will if I stop now.

Need to keep going!

In my flailing, I had realized the knife was still lodged in its eye. All I had with me was the slingshot, and I had just now noticed that the rock I had just put in was absent, lost in the skirmish.

No choice.

With tremoring hands and legs that were tearing at the seams, I shakily inserted another stone into the woven pouch.

The largest rock, almost half the size of my palm.

I didn't know if I was running the right direction or not, I was just stalling, but for what? I could keep running, but for what?

'It's your duty now.' My blood freezes over as I remember my teacher's words. Something was asked of me, why am I running away?

I'm gonna die? I need to get to camp? Make him deal with it?

I look back, the monster was still clamoring at its eyes, crying out in pain as white hot pain seared its mind.

A moment of weakness.

It spots me, it glares at me with so much hate in its remaining eye, it was palpable in the air now.

'Simple. Predictable.'

Similarly, I'm gonna do something stupid. I don't know what's happening to me. No apparent rhyme or reason here, no ice cold logic that normally resides in my mind, only a single burning question.

Why?

Why must I fear? Must I cower? What is there to fear when there is light in my heart? Compared to that demon, compared to the radiance of the everlasting light? Why should man fear beast?

Why do I have no fear?

"I do not fear you." I have no reason to.

I have faith.

It merely gazes back unflinchingly, as it gathered itself with cries of vengeance and poised itself once more, it was ready to chase me down once and for all.

It doesn't understand.

It's just a beast.

A Godless brute, it does not understand. Too simple, it's almost enviable.

I clasp the slingshot within my hand tightly, as if it were my lifeline. Muscles boomed like released bowstrings, against me. It lunged, and it ran, towards me.

Its damaged, snarling appearance aimed to strike true, and kill me.

"Fwoo... fwoo! Fwoo!" The whirling of the woven sling hummed within my ears, whispering promises of pain and suffering.

Once more, I was staking my life.

Once more, I believed I would come out alive.

As I spun the pouch three times, I raised my right hand and I heaved, releasing the knot I was gripping.

"Boom!" A mighty whip crack went the slingshot! As the stone hurtled vehemently towards the mindless beast.

"Tuk!"

It met its destination in the middle of the beast's forehead, as did the beast.

"Grahhhrg! Ra-!"

With a sudden twitch, as soon as the stone declared its striking presence, the animal toppled over, tripping over itself at high speeds and collapsing in a heap below my frail feet.

It met its destination in the cold hands of death.

Just like that, life can be taken.

"Huff!... Huff!" I had no words for it.

I dropped to my knees, the adrenaline is starting to wear off already, I used up too much of my body, far more than I had in me.

"Rustle!" The sound of feet on grass could be heard.

"You- you're late... missed the show and all..."

"What a troublesome student I have. Rest now, you've done enough." His voice was still monotone, ever unmoved.

Once again, I had come out alive.