Daniel's ragged breathing filled the night air as his pounding heart tried desperately to move enough oxygen to support his desperate flight. His light strobed wildly from one flailing arm, trees and underbrush flashing into view and just as quickly vanishing. His ears were filled with the sound of his heartbeat but that couldn't drown out the monstrous howls. Other creatures must have joined the hunt, as their cries could be heard now from multiple directions. Daniel had to change directions constantly to continue moving away from those that were loudest.

The terrain was a blur of pale trunks, dark leaves, and twisted branches. He seemed to be traveling downhill, if the extra speed and weight in each step was any indication. On either side, the ground rose more steeply as he ran, funneling him down the path of least resistance into a dry canyon. The howling grew louder and more frequent, its high pitch echoing like mocking laughter from the surrounding walls. Daniel's heart sank as his options narrowed, realizing that he had been herded into an effective trap. A stich in his chest ached with each breath, every gasp a counterpoint to the agony in his legs, in particular the one still oozing blood from the creature's claw. He staggered to a swaying halt, unable to take another step yet determined not to collapse. Turning around, his light glinted off the scornful eyes of a half-dozen creatures watching him from twenty paces, not even bothering to approach now that their chase had concluded. For a moment, Daniel wondered why they didn't immediately finish him off, but his curiosity was answered when the group parted to allow one to pass through.

His original foe stood head and shoulders above the rest. Without its original spear, one arm dangling motionless at its side, and fur marked by blood from a number of scrapes obtained in the fall or from the thicket they landed in, but recognizable by its stature. Its eyes were locked on Daniel's, burning with a fury at the insolence of its prey. Without turning its head, the creature barked a command to its subordinates, gesturing with its remaining arm until one of them placed a stone knife in the grasping claw. One step at a time, it slowly approached. Not out of caution, but to savor the scent of fear and sweat emanating from its human plaything. Daniel retreated, but the scrape of stone against his heel indicated the presence of the canyon's dead end.

It looked to be his end, too. Frightened, injured, exhausted. Backed into a corner with no place to go. Daniel felt strangely calm at the thought of his life ending. Maybe it's better this way. Mauled by... whatever these things are. At least I won't have died of something stupid, like a broken heart. A faint chuckled slipped from his throat as he compared his despair the previous night when Rose left him to his current circumstances. His head tilted back; eyes still locked with the yellowed orbs of the monster as it stopped just outside of reach. Nothing like impending death to put things in perspective. For some reason, he recalled the kind words of the bartender. It may not look like it, but tomorrow the sun will rise. Sunrise. These creatures were nocturnal, if their wide and reflective pupils were any indication.

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Daniel raised his phone and squeezed the power button twice, a shortcut to take a photo and, more importantly, releasing a bright flash directly into the creature's eyes. It howled, dropping the weapon to shield its eyes. Daniel wasted no time, turning away and leaping for the slope. His hands clawed for a grip on the rocky surface, scraping his knuckles but finding solid handholds in the cracked stone. His veins hummed with adrenaline as each heartbeat led him a few inches higher than before. His joy was short-lived as pain shot through his leg moments later. The monster, eyes squinted and leaking tears, had retaken hold on Daniel's already injured leg. With one pull, Daniel's hands were pried loose and he landed on his back, knocking the breath from his lungs. Panicked and gasping for air, his arms clutched for something, anything, as the creature loomed over him. It was done toying with him. Jaws wide, it lunged down towards his unprotected throat.

[Plot Armor] activated.

Daniel's hand closed on something smooth and solid. He grasped it, automatically placing it between him and the descending maw. The tip of the knife plunged into the creature's throat, driven deep by the falling weight of the monster. Its jaws lurched to one side and snapped shut upon impact with the ground beside Daniel's head. The full weight of the monster pinned the man's arm to his chest. His ribs protested and lungs struggled to catch a breath under the pressure. With a surge of effort, Daniel managed to shift enough weight to roll out from beneath his attacker. He scrambled away on all fours and sat up once he'd put a few feet between them and his back to the wall. The creature lay on its side, grasping weakly for the stone blade embedded in its neck. Dark liquid flowed freely from the wound. The creature's motions slowed, then stilled.

[Gnoll Chieftain] defeated.

Daniel looked away from the body, distracted from the words floating in his vision by the continued presence of the other gnolls. Six of them stared at him from a distance. They had not approached during the fight for his life, and they did not approach now, seeming to honor his victory. As one, they faded back into the darkness, silently vanishing between the trees and leaving the night as still as it started. As the pounding in his ears slowed, Daniel heard the sound of crickets once more filling the night air. Between tree branches, the sky began to lighten. Daniel breathed deeply and weariness took hold.

In the distance, the sun crested the horizon as a stranger to this world slept for the first time.

Calculating rewards...

[Gnoll Chieftain] defeated.

[Honorable Duel] bonus awarded for defeating a [Champion] in single combat.

[Underdog] bonus awarded for defeating an enemy greater than twice your level.

Experience awarded.

[Protagonist] has reached level 2.

[Diplomacy] skill added.