As Anna awoke, her vision blurred from sleep. She instinctively rubbed her eyes with her right hand, trying to clear away the remnants of her dreams. Slowly, the world came into focus before her. Spacious steppes stretched out in front of her, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The red earth beneath her feet matched the fiery hues of the sky, creating an otherworldly landscape.

A gust of wind rushed past her, strong and cold, cutting through her like a knife. It carried a dampness that seemed to seep into her very bones. Anna shivered involuntarily, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. She noticed a small hill nearby, its peak adorned with a solitary tree. As she made her way towards it, she caught sight of a tiny pond nestled in the valley below.

It was then that she heard it - the sound of someone coughing. Anna's attention shifted towards the noise, her eyes scanning the area until they landed on Margarita, doubled over on the ground, and coughing up blood. Her wound, still fresh and raw, continued to bleed dangerously.

Anna's mind raced, memories of a first aid lesson at school flooding back to her. She knew she had to act quickly. Determination filled her as she tore a piece of her skirt, fashioning it into a makeshift bandage. With all her strength, she wrapped her arms around Margarita's torso and dragged her towards the pond.

"Keep breathing," Anna urged, her voice strained with effort as she pulled Margarita along. The weight of her friend's limp body threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed through, knowing that time was of the essence.

As they reached the shore of the pond, Margarita's eyes fluttered closed, her consciousness slipping away due to the loss of blood. Anna wasted no time, unbuttoning and stripping off Margarita's clothing to get a better look at the wound. With a damp cloth she made out of her skirt, she carefully cleaned the blood, her touch as gentle as possible to avoid aggravating the open wound beneath Margarita's right breast.

Anna was aware of the risks - the potential for infection with the method she was using. But in that moment, stopping the bleeding was all that mattered. She wrapped Margarita's torso with the improvised bandages, using the rest of her skirt to secure them tightly. It pained her to see her own clothing being sacrificed, but she knew it was necessary to save her new companion's life.

With Margarita now stabilized, Anna hoisted her onto her back, piggybacking her as she prepared to journey onwards. The place around them was desolate and rocky, with only a thin layer of grass and scattered shrubs dotting the landscape. There was no sign of any kind of civilization or human presence nearby.

Anna pressed on, each step a battle against exhaustion and the biting cold. She stumbled frequently, her body weary from the physical exertion. But she refused to give up. To protect both her and Margarita’s faces from the harsh wind and potential sand, she tore another piece of cloth from Margarita's dress and fashioned it into makeshift scarves, wrapping it around hers and Margarita’s head to protect themselves face from the sand.

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For hours, Anna marched on through the night, her only company the dim moonlight that illuminated the vast expanse of the steppes. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and her throat burned with thirst. But she pushed through, her determination unwavering. With each passing moment, she couldn't help but feel that her life hung in the balance.

Just as Anna's tired legs threatened to give out, a sense of voracious dread consumed her entire being. The haunting howls of the approaching wolves echoed through the night, sending shivers down her spine. She fought back the cry of despair that threatened to escape her lips, using every fiber of her being.

However, amidst her anguish, a silhouette of a person caught Anna's attention. "Aria?" she gasped. The ghostly figure of the cat-eared girl, whom she had encountered in Paasilinna, waved at her from a distance, as if guiding her to safety.

Straining her ears, Anna could hear the earth-shaking thuds of a massive creature slithering not far behind her. The chorus of the wolves' howls grew louder, signaling their relentless pursuit. Though the darkness limited her field of vision to a mere twenty yards, Anna was certain that the canine cries originated from behind her.

Aria's phantom reflected the moonlight, so she followed the spirit like a moth to flames. In her frantic rush, Anna stumbled over treacherous rocks that littered the ground, teetering on the edge of losing her balance as she struggled to keep up with Aria’s ghost. Suddenly, the howls and the writhing, zigzagging sound of the creature in pursuit ceased, but Anna knew better. She could feel its presence, lurking just out of sight.

It was then, amidst the darkness, that Anna's eyes caught a glimmer of hope. Another distant flicker far beyond Aria, like a guiding light, beckoned her forward. Heart pounding, she pushed her legs to their limits, carrying the weight of another person on her back. Minutes stretched into eternity as she neared the source of the comforting glow. Nevertheless, now that Anna knew where to go, Aria’s ethereal figure disappeared.

And there it was, a campfire. Its warm, dancing flames offered solace and safety in the midst of the encroaching darkness. Anna's weary legs propelled her towards the camp, her desperate need for refuge pushing her beyond her limits.

As she drew nearer, horses whinnied and dogs barked in warning. The air crackled with tension, and Anna knew that danger still lurked nearby. And then, there it was, an abomination of nature, slithering towards her with malicious intent.

The creature, a bright red worm-like behemoth, writhed with a rough, scaly texture that sent a shiver down Anna's spine. Its length extended to a menacing ten feet, and its circular maw boasted multiple rows of razor-sharp, jagged teeth, capable of swallowing both Anna and Margarita whole.

But just as despair threatened to consume her, two figures emerged from the yurts, rifles in hand, their resolve unyielding. The two men’s eyes locked onto the horrifying worm, and without hesitation, they took aim and fired.

Bullets tore through the air, finding their mark. The creature squirmed in agony, its wounded form collapsing to the ground. Jets of brilliant red blood sprayed into the air, painting the scene with a macabre shining red color. Overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the encounter, Anna's senses failed her, and darkness claimed her senses.

As she drifted into unconsciousness, the creature, wounded but not defeated, slithered away, leaving behind a trail of fear.