Walking through the forest, Norbert sees the other creatures about. The branches of the trees now grew lower and lower, making walls in between themselves; as they could no longer grow higher, the competition was to grow outwards, expanding and fighting with their neighbours for space. Needing to force his way through, other paths being created by creatures doing the same as Norbert to travel through the dense forest that tried to crush anyone that ventured within its domain.
Next to him, Norbert saw mice, squirrels and all the small critters running through the limbs, small enough that they wouldn't impede their movements. Watching whenever another creature would cut one off, a fight ensued, the winner continuing to run while eating the loser, slowly gaining in size.
Several times, he would also get attacked; on the main path he was running through, the creatures would dart from the side, latching onto him as they went ferrel. Norbert either brushed them off with the more persistent ones or would rip off his body, throwing whatever he had behind him. If it were in a difficult place to get to Norbert, it would smash into the tree limbs next to him, the creature getting pulverised in a shower of splinters.
Norbert continued forward, the path he was on narrowing or enlarging itself, sometimes the tree limbs brushing on his body. Norbert felt himself rub against it to keep it the size it currently was and rush forward; Norbert felt the earth beneath his feet leaving him.
Continuing to run, his feet banging on wood reverberated around him. Looking at where his path was taking him, Norbert saw it razed up in the air, going about halfway before losing sight, a maze of pathways and branches in his way.
When Norbert lost sight, he saw a large white object flash past his vision; Norbert looked to either side, the smaller creatures running around now having left, running below him. Foot slipping slightly, Norbert looked back at the path as he slowed down to regain his balance, not wanting to get caught and swarmed by these creatures.
Another flash of white up ahead, closer this time, Norbert seeing the humanoid-like shape. Its four limbs rushed past him and slowed down; Norbert changed to a jog instead of the run he was doing previously, and slowing down, Norbert could see the distinction in the path up ahead more evident.
Where he was walking now was rough, likely not used a lot or possibly at all as the branches kept on snagging on his clothes. The path ahead, where he saw the two flashes of white come through, became smooth with use; he was surprised to see it being smooth and flat, used to seeing everything round that the trees had created.
Another flash of white, this one going at an angle and not directly across, Norbert seeing a tail and the four white limbs and body. Reaching for his sword, Norbert starts to unsheathe it, his blade getting stuck on the roof of the tunnel, unable to hold it properly as it tried to piece the branches making up the ceiling and walls around him. Looking around, Norbert let the sword slide back down into the sheath, unable to wield the weapon properly in the tight confines of the tree branch corridors.
Another rushed forward, Norbert shouting out, "HEY!" His voice went hoarse afterwards, having not correctly used it for some time here and there. I was surprised as it trailed off, but it had the desired effect.
The creature in front of him stopped, grabbing the branches on either side to stop itself. Its momentum continued forward as Norbert saw the creature's legs go up into the air. At the apex, letting go, the creature flipped around, grabbing onto the branch as it hung there, looking at Norbert.
"EEEK EEEK OOOK!" the creature shouted at Norbert, its voice echoing.
Norbert tried to swallow the worry growing in his stomach. The two of them look at each other, Norbert hearing more screams from around. A hand came around the corner as another creature came. As a third and fourth he arrived, Norbert's hand slowly went to his dagger.
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Not moving his eyes from the first one that shouted, bringing all of his buddies over, Norbert stared down the monkey in front of him. The furry creature was standing as tall as him, its body broader than his, and Norbert could see its muscles underneath its fur. Its pink hands, Norbert was surprised at the colour of it not being white, completely hairless. It was wrinkled with work; each of its fingers looked like a German sausage, thick and long.
Its knuckles are hard, seemingly able to smash bricks with them. He was feeling the weight of his dagger, now feeling small in comparison. Seeing it there, Norbert slid his feet backwards, knowing he would need some space or get mauled and eaten alive. As he continued to stare, Norbert felt the branch he was on starting to move with the steps of creatures.
I heard it vibrate and shake around, not wanting to imagine the creatures coming his way. Seeing the monkey, his eyes were locked in, smiling at him. The little bugger was trying to buy more time to skew the number even more excellent their way.
Not wanting to get trapped as more came out of the pathways, the ones there now being forced forward with the amount of flesh behind them.
A decision was made. Norbert turned around, sprinting away, holding his dagger tightly in his hand, backpack jumping around as he looked down the way he had come. The path winds around and heads downwards, and hearing the monkeys behind him screeching at him as his entire world shakes.
The limbs around him and standing on moving about from the number of creatures using it as a pathway. Sliding around, Norbert hit the ground again as he continued forward, the monkeys still chasing him.
The other smaller creatures scurried around, all heading in the same direction as him, away from the horde and taking a quick glimpse behind him as he heard screams and squeaks of creatures. He was now; I realised why everything was running away from the horde.
It was devoured entirely if anything wasn't fast enough and got caught. The process sometimes took longer, being shared as the monkeys pulled them apart before the pieces were popped into their mouths. The fur of the monkeys quickly turned red with the death and slaughter they were causing on anything.
As Norbert continued to run, he saw the branches finally give way and open space available to him. The monkeys behind him were not happy with his escape attempt nearly coming to fruition as he heard the sound of wood snapping and cracking behind him.
WHOOSH
Norbert slid on the ground as his coat was ripped by the air going past him. Impacting into the ground, sending dirt and the creatures within flying everywhere, Norbert saw in the resting place as he ran past one of the tree branches. The tree limb was as thick as his leg. Turning around in horror, Norbert saw several more monkeys lining up as they launched their projectiles.
Quickly, Norbert sheathed his dagger, knowing he would need both hands to avoid the rain of death travelling towards himself. He pulled himself up into the air, grabbing onto the ceiling branches; Norbert flung himself.
Bouncing around all four corners, running in a corkscrew as they avoided them, the impacts getting closer and closer each time as more and more came for him. The limbs suddenly opened as Norbert breathed a breath of fresh air, no longer imprisoned and captured by the corridors of tree limbs, now only caught in the hall with the canopy far above him.
He was running forward; Norbert looked behind him, seeing the monkeys having stopped their barrage of projectiles. A smile formed on his face as success and salvation were ahead.
Bouncing off something, Norbert sprawled on the ground and saw a wall of monkeys before him. Crawling back as Norbert went to his feet, seeing all around him, on the trees, the monkeys made a cage out of themselves; the only thing in the centre was himself.
He looked around, realising why there weren't any more giant creatures, either driven out or consumed by the horde of tactical monkeys. Annoyance grew within himself as he unsheathed his blade. The fact that these monkeys were trapped within him was unthinkable to him.
How could something like monkeys trap even an average human being? He stood there, turning around in a circle, flinching and adjusting himself to every sound the monkeys around him made, skittish as he waited for the time to come.
Grabbing his sword in his other hand, Norbert sent energy throughout his body. Seeing it dwindle slightly and was surprised at it; at least now he would have even greater power if he could churn through more than he used to. Though, as the thought went through his head, dread soon followed; what if it was like with the figure, part of his resources fighting whatever was in the hall, making everything proliferate?
Only more coming towards this location, not knowing how he would deal with all of them, but time waits for no man. With time being of the essence, Norbert charged forward, the cage of monkeys falling as the two parties clashed.