I didn’t get very far before my toe hit a branch and I crashed into a bush. The thorns tore into my skin and clothes and I couldn’t help the cry of pain. The thorns seemed unwilling to let go. I could hear the monster so I forced my body to move, even as my skin was gouged. The monster got close enough that I recognized it. It was a chicken. Or a monster chicken? It was as tall as the trees.

I tried to grab the rifle as it’s head started to come for me, but I must have dropped it and I couldn’t feel it. The chicken’s massive head continued to swoop down. I had no doubt I was going to die, but I tried to escape the bush until I felt a branch wrap around my neck. I choked and tried to pull the branch and thorns from my neck and watched the looming beak.

But then rope flew from my right and wrapped around it’s beak snapping it shut. The chicken reared up in rage and turned. I continued to struggle with the branch, and after a moment finally overpowered it enough to free my neck. But then it started to wrap around my waist. I flailed and felt my hand fall on cold metal. I wrapped my fingers around it, my finger found the trigger. I twisted my wrist to it was pointed to the main part of the plant behind me. I couldn’t see if I was aiming it well, and it was still mainly on the floor. I had no hope this would work, but remembering the card I called out “Slice!”

Used Piercing Remarks

“Slice”

CRITICAL HIT!

Slayed "Thorny Bush" 5 Experience Gained

World Quest:

Escape the Nightmare

25%

The branches fell loosely and I struggled to get them off, feeling more cuts. But finally they fell off. I stood, and looked to see my body covered with blood. Some scratches and some deep gouges. My clothes were barely holding on, and I frowned at the jeans that had offered my no protection.

Stolen story; please report.

But I turned my attention back to the plant behind me. I leaned against my sniper rifle and looked as the branches quickly began to wither. The base of the plant had been sliced cleanly off the roots. Before I could admire my miraculous aim I noticed that the slice had also hit a nearby tree.

A tree with blood red eyes that seemed to be pulling itself out from the ground.

“Hey hey, over here!” I turned to see a young boy to my left waving me over.

I limped my way over to him, but as soon as I was within reach I watched as he smiled and I got goosebumps. He reached out toward me, but once again rope flew out, but this time from behind and wrapped around him.

I turned too fast and lost my footing again and looked up. Walking toward me was an extraordinarily tall girl with long brown hair that.... I followed and realized the rope I had seen was actually her hair. I heard a gasp of pain behind me and looked to see the hair rope throw the boy against a rock.

He wiped blood... no wait it was green. I struggled up again and the girl stood next to me as I struggled. “He’s a druid.”

“What?”

“The kid, hes a druid.”

“Druids are... those.. From Greece...”

“Yeah.”

“But aren’t they supposed to be women?”

A groan from behind me made me see the tree had finally freed itself from the ground.

“Not always. But we should get going. You are going to need a healer before you bleed out.” She turned and started to walk away from both of the creatures. I paused only a moment before standing again and following her. I felt weak and ready to faint. But I focused my eyes on her back and forced myself to follow her.

Longer than I thought I could walk, but sooner than I would have expected, the edge of the forest appeared. Not far from it was what appeared to be a medieval castle. The woman continued to walk toward the gate without looking back at me.

My grip on the rifle kept slipping with the blood and I felt bad for using it as a walking stick. My vision began to tunnel. I wavered for a moment. The walk from here to the now open castle gates was so far. I couldn’t even see the woman who had saved me. But before I fell I heard the sound of that monstrous chicken. Panic flooded me and gave me enough energy to make it to the gates.

Standing there were three people watching me.

“Shit she’s going to...”

I gave into the darkness.

Main Quest

Escape the Nightmare

25%