Chapter - 3: First Kill

As I walked through the dense forest, the air felt cool and fresh against my skin, filled with the earthy scent of damp leaves and moss. Crunch, crunch—my footsteps pressed into the soft undergrowth, echoing faintly as I moved deeper into the unknown. The towering trees loomed overhead, their branches stretching so high that they seemed to pierce the sky. The canopy above me filtered the morning sunlight, casting a soft green glow over everything, like I was walking in a world of perpetual twilight.

Every now and then, a distant chirrup from some unseen creature would break the silence, followed by the occasional rustling in the bushes. I couldn't tell if the sounds were friendly or if they belonged to predators lurking nearby, watching my every move. I wasn’t sure how dangerous this world could be, but something about it felt… alive, as though the forest itself was aware of my presence.

A gentle breeze swept through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle like a whispered conversation all around me. The path ahead was uneven, littered with roots and rocks, but I pressed forward, my mind still swimming with thoughts of Elara. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of my past life was pulling at me.

Snap.

I froze at the sound, my body tense, heart pounding in my chest. Something—or someone—was close by. My hand instinctively reached for something to defend myself with, but all I found was a fallen branch. I gripped it tightly, eyes scanning the shadows between the trees, waiting for whatever had made that noise to reveal itself.

As I was waiting for a minute, nothing came. As I stood there in the stillness of the forest, my heart raced, echoing in my ears. I waited, tension coiling within me like a tightly wound spring. The air felt charged, heavy with anticipation, and for a moment, I questioned my instincts. Maybe I was being foolish, lingering here like prey in the presence of a predator.

I decided it was time to leave. Just as I turned to walk away, a sudden rustle in the underbrush caught my attention. My breath caught in my throat. I froze, every muscle in my body tense, straining to hear. Crackle... snap... The sound grew louder, closer.

Before I could react, a large shadow burst from the bushes, barreling toward me with a ferocity that sent a chill down my spine. The creature’s form was massive, its dark fur blending into the shadows of the forest. Adrenaline surged through me as I spun around, heart pounding like a drum in my chest.

The creature’s eyes glowed eerily in the dappled light, locked onto mine. Its sharp fangs glinted ominously as it lunged forward, muscles rippling beneath its sleek coat. I barely had time to register its terrifying figure before I felt the rush of wind from its approach, carrying the scent of damp earth and wild danger.

As the massive creature lunged at me, instinct kicked in, and I barely managed to sidestep its fierce charge. The wind from its rushing body swept past me, and I felt the heat radiating off its fur. I have to run! The thought blazed through my mind as adrenaline flooded my system.

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I turned and sprinted into the thick underbrush, branches clawing at my arms and legs as I pushed through the foliage. I could hear the creature's heavy footsteps pounding behind me, its growls echoing through the trees, a chilling reminder that I was being hunted. Thud! Thud! Thud! It was gaining on me.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw its dark silhouette weaving through the trees, its eyes glinting like shards of ice. Panic surged as I stumbled over a gnarled root, crashing to the ground. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself back up, not daring to look back as I bolted forward again.

But the forest was a labyrinth of twists and turns, and I had no idea where I was going. The creature was relentless, crashing through the underbrush with an urgency that made the ground shake beneath me. I could hear its breath, ragged and hot, right behind me.

Suddenly, I veered to the left, hoping to throw it off my scent, but the moment I changed direction, I heard a growl so close it sent a shiver down my spine. It was right there. I could feel its presence, a dark shadow looming just behind me. I ran faster, my legs burning with exertion.

With every ounce of strength, I pushed myself forward, darting between trees and leaping over fallen logs. But then, without warning, I felt a powerful force slam into my back, knocking me to the ground. The wind whooshed from my lungs as I hit the ground hard. I rolled to the side just in time to avoid the creature’s snapping jaws, which missed me by mere inches.

I scrambled to my feet, heart racing, and found myself face-to-face with the beast. Its fangs were bared, and I could see the primal hunger in its eyes. In that split second, I realized I had to fight or be eaten alive. I grabbed a rock nearby and threw it with all my might, connecting with the creature’s eye.

It let out a bone-chilling roar, a mixture of surprise and pain that reverberated through the forest. The creature stumbled back, pawing at its injured eye, giving me a brief moment to gather my strength back.

I took back the the rock from the ground and gripped it tightly as I advanced. The rock was the size of my fist, so it could at least do some damage to a beast like this. The beast, still reeling from the impact, snarled and lunged forward again, its massive jaws snapping dangerously close to my face. I ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as its claws grazed my shoulder, leaving a burning sting.

I retaliated by swinging the rock in a wide arc, aiming for the beast's head. The impact connected with a sickening thud, and it staggered to the side. My instincts kicked in; I couldn’t hesitate. I pressed the attack, charging at the creature while it was disoriented.

I aimed for its throat, channeling every ounce of strength into my blows. The beast growled, trying to swipe at me with its powerful paws, but I was faster. I ducked and rolled beneath its massive frame, coming up behind it. In that instant, I spotted a jagged thick branch nearby. Without thinking, I lunged for it, gripping the makeshift weapon tightly.

The beast twisted around, sensing my movement, but I was ready.

“AHHHH!”

I plunged the branch deep into its side. The creature howled in agony, and I felt the resistance of its flesh give way as I drove the makeshift spear deeper. It staggered backward, its eyes wide with shock and pain.

I pressed my advantage, relentlessly stabbing at it, not giving it a chance to recover. It fought back fiercely, snapping its jaws and thrashing around, but I was fueled by a mixture of fear and anger. Every instinct urged me to finish this fight fastly or I am dead.

As the beast swayed, weak and desperate, I saw my opportunity. I charged forward once more, using all my weight to tackle it to the ground. With a final, mighty thrust of the branch, I drove it through the creature’s heart.

The beast let out one last, earth-shattering roar, then fell silent, its body going limp beneath me. I gasped for breath, my heart racing as I stared at the creature’s lifeless form.