I have to commit now. I took off towards the giant toad. With each step I took, my vision gradually turned red. Even with my element of surprise nullified, I had to try. Its eyes, an unblinking pool of darkness in a sea of red, followed my movements. Its mouth slowly opened as I closed in on it. Are those teeth? I was still some distance away when something shot out of its mouth. I dove to the side as a long, pink spear struck where I’d been only a moment before. Is that its tongue? Why does it have a point at the end?

Almost as quickly as it shot out, the tongue retracted. Why does a toad need a spear for its tongue? Aren’t they just long and sticky? Don’t tell me toads eat meat too! I scrambled to my feet. This thing’s movements are slow, so if I can get behind it, I should be fine.

I stood up and started running around it, trying to use the trees as cover. I had almost made it behind another tree when a shower of splinters flew into my face.

The tongue had speared through the trunk.

This thing just punctured a tree twice as thick as me with its tongue, and it came out the other side. The tongue didn’t retract immediately; it struggled for a few seconds before it returned to its owner. I turned to watch the toad more carefully. I was lucky. Lesson learned: never take my eyes off of it. Then two arrows buried themselves in the toad’s face.

“What are you doing? Stay away from it!” Marigold shouted as she nocked another arrow.

“Just keep it busy while I get behind it.” I turned back to the now-distracted amphibian.

“What do you think you’re doing, girl?” Zane loosed his arrow. “Listen to her. Don’t get close to it.”

I just can’t do that. I don’t know why, but I need to kill this thing. The toad turned its attention to the two humans, and Zane’s arrow embedded itself just under the creature’s jaw. Okay, now’s my chance. I dashed around to its backside.

The toad tried to skewer Zane with its tongue, but he fell to the ground before it reached him. How long can this thing stretch its tongue? That was even further than before.

Instinctually, I let out a low growl before I jumped on its back. It must have heard me because its body vibrated and started inflating. I sprang off the ground and landed on the center of the giant toad’s back. I dug all of my claws into its wrinkly and slimy skin. Gross. I’m going to need a bath when I get home.

The toad didn’t find my impromptu mounting an enjoyable experience. Its body kept inflating as it ran forward, straight towards Marigold and Zane. Zane stood up and looked shocked when he saw me. Marigold’s face was bright red as she ran up to Zane and pulled him along with her out of the path of the runaway toad.

“Get off that thing right now! It’s dangerous!” Marigold’s screech grated on my ears.

I don’t see how it’s dangerous. It can’t get me with its tongue. I released my right claw and held on tighter with my remaining claws. Let’s see if I can find your heart, Mister Toad. I dug into the beast’s back with my claws, tearing flesh, fat, and muscle. The toad never stopped inflating.

After several swipes with my claw, it felt like I had popped something. Suddenly, the wound I created expelled a dark-brown gas. Is this what she was worried would happen? This gas is probably poisonous. My eyes went wide before I slammed them shut. I held my breath as I grabbed the back of the toad again.

I slowly exhaled out through my nose, trying to make sure that nothing would sneak its way in and buy myself more time before my lungs begged for fresh air. My body rocked with the toad’s rough movements.

There was almost no air left in my lungs when I cracked an eye open. Whatever sac produced the gas had stopped expelling the fumes. Now that the coast was clear, I opened both of my eyes and took a deep breath.

The toad was well past where Zane and Marigold were. They had put at least two arcs between them and the amphibian’s path. I looked down at the toad and saw that its body was out of balance. One half was heavily bloated, possibly filled with more of that brown gas from earlier, while the other half was bleeding steadily and back to its original size.

I returned to digging for the toad’s heart. I released my grip on its back and plunged my claws as deep as I could. It felt like I had stuck my hand into a pocket. I rummaged around in what I thought was its lung; my claws probably shredded everything in there, and the toad’s movements noticeably slowed down.

The toad came to a stop. Its body shuddered, and the inflated half of its body deflated. As it did, more of the noxious fumes billowed out of its back. Is that darker than before? There was an uneasiness in my gut as I watched its pores open up enough to eject the gas. I think it’s time to get off this ride now.

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While holding my breath, I extracted my blood-covered hand and prepared to jump. The gas enveloped me before I could run. Panicking, I slammed my eyes shut and fell forward. I rolled off the creature and continued rolling, keeping my eyes shut. When my side hit something solid, I cautiously opened one eye, just like before. I didn’t see any gas but noticed that a tree had stopped me. I got up on my hands and feet and looked for the toad.

It looked like I’d rolled an arc and a half away. However, the sight before me filled me with terror. The dark-brown cloud of gas was now almost black, and it didn’t dissipate like one would expect gas should. It must have been denser than the air because it didn’t rise. Instead, it flowed like heavy syrup in every direction.

I scrambled away without standing up. Even in my retreat, I never looked away from the potentially deadly cloud, expecting the toad to jump out at any moment. I couldn’t see it, and there wasn’t any sound from it either.

I stood upright as I ducked behind a tree, remembering not to stay too close in case its tongue struck the trunk. The cloud had slowed its progress as it expanded, and I felt I had put sufficient distance between us. There was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, but I dismissed it. The toad won’t surprise me again.

Then I felt two arms grab my shoulders and try to pull me away. No, my prey. Wait, is someone trying to kidnap me again? That’s even worse!

I growled as I pulled the arms off and pushed my limbs out. I easily overpowered my would-be kidnapper. Once I had leverage, I slipped down under their arms as soon as I was able. I then spun around and shoved the woman into the tree with one hand. Woman?

I looked at who I’d just attacked. The realization of the situation snapped my vision back to normal. Marigold fell to the ground with a mix of shock, horror, and pain on her face. Why? Why did I just do that? Tears filled my eyes as I backed away slowly.

Zane kneeled next to her. He put his head next to hers before he grabbed her waist.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Zane looked at the cloud and then back at me. “Then get over here and help me carry her away. We need to get further away!”

Guilt paralyzed me. I could only stare at Marigold as she struggled to gasp for air. “I’m so sorry.”

“Later! Right now, we have to move.” Zane kept shouting and pulling Marigold away from the still-expanding cloud.

I walked up to help him, sobbing. “I didn’t mean to, I just...”

“Shut up! Now isn’t the time.” Spit flew from his mouth.

He’s right; we need to go. The guilt didn’t wane as I picked Marigold up by myself and moved her without Zane’s help.

Marigold gasped for air. Did I break her ribs? What if she doesn’t make it? Will I be a murderer now? Slowly, each breath she took pulled in more air than the last. I looked back and saw that there was plenty of distance between us and the toad. The thinning cloud of gas revealed that the toad wasn’t moving anymore but lying on its side. It has to be dead. A feeling of joy tried to join my emotions, but sorrow and guilt shoved it out.

I stopped and carefully placed Marigold on the ground. Zane caught up to me with his limp and inspected Marigold carefully. She started coughing as she sat up. She’s alright. My guilt lessened as I saw her condition improve.

“I’m sorry.”

“What were you thinking?” Zane looked like he was ready to explode. “You could have killed her. She was just trying to get you away from the poison cloud.”

“She came up behind me and I didn’t think. I reacted because I thought someone was trying to kidnap me again.” I sat down next to a tree.

“That’s right, you didn’t think.” He stormed up to me. His face was bright pink and turning red with each word. “Who out here would kidnap you? And why did you jump on the toad in the first place? We told you to stay away. You didn’t follow our orders, which you agreed to when you became our apprentice.”

“I couldn’t help it.” Unable to face him, I stared at the ground. “I had to hunt and kill it.”

“You can never help it, can you?” Zane dropped his volume, but I could feel all the judgment. “Once we return, we are through with you. Find someone else to work for. I never want to see your face again.”

“Stop.” Marigold’s hoarse voice cracked. She was still collecting herself as I looked up. “I’m not that hurt. I’m partly to blame.” She shifted her position so she could look at us. “I shouldn’t have grabbed Lucia when she didn’t react to me calling her name.” She pointed a finger at Zane. “You’re overreacting. I just had my breath pushed out of me. And I might have a bruise in the morning too, but nothing serious.”

She’s going to be okay.

“I didn’t mean it, really. I panicked.”

She held up a hand for me to stop. “I know. I heard you earlier.” She closed her eyes and leaned back slightly. “But Zane is right. You disobeyed us. We told you to get back, and you did exactly the opposite. You jumped on the thing.” Her voice was stern even though there was still a slight rasp to it. She opened her eyes and stared at me. “Yes, you brought it down, but you put yourself in a dangerous situation. Once we collect what’s salvageable from the toad, we’re going home. This will be your last and only time hunting with us.” She had a look of regret on her face.

“Why?” The word was all I could get out as more tears streamed down my face.

“You don’t have the patience for hunting,” Marigold answered. “And your reckless behavior will get you hurt, or worse, and I don’t want to have to ever explain to Nora why you didn’t come home. I couldn’t live with that on my conscience. There are far more dangerous animals out there than a giant toad. So until you can control yourself, I suggest you don’t go hunting again.”

My only response was to hug my legs to my chest and bury my face in my knees.

We rested while waiting for the poison cloud to clear completely. The tension coming from Zane was palpable as we cut the legs off the toad. According to Marigold, the gas fouled the rest of the meat.

Why do I keep messing everything up? Stupid instincts!