The forest was silent except for the loud crunching of my footsteps against the leaves that laid beneath me.
This silence felt unnatural, heavy, and oppressive as if the trees were holding their breath. The air was damp and stuffy with the leaves, but deep down it was something else- a subtle metallic tang sent a chilling sensation down my spine.
Blood.
I gripped my spear tighter, my knuckles whitened. The beast was drawing in, I could feel it, it was a primal instinct that screamed at the edge of my subconsciousness.
It was watching me, like a predator hunting its prey, but this time I was the prey no longer. Not anymore. The first sign was its low, gut-wrenching growl, it made a sound so deep it vibrated the very ground beneath me.
I could feel my heart pound inside my chest; adrenaline was pumping inside my blood as I started scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.
Then there the beast came and with a flash of glowing red eyes, sitting like a serpent's, pierced through the darkness.
It charged at me. The beast was huge, easily two times my size, its muscular build covered its matted black fur that glistened as it moved. Its claws, long and razor-sharp like daggers, tore through the forest floor as it barreled at me.
Time seemed to have slowed down, its every detail was clear now. Its jagged teeth shimmered in its open maw, its nostrils flared as it locked onto me, the floor shook with its force when it approached me.
I dodged to the side at the last second, its claws sliced through the air where I once stood. I stumbled and hit the ground hard, the impact stirred my body, But I managed to roll back onto my feet, I raised my spear in front of me.
The beast narrowed its gaze at me and turned to face me, it snarled,
"Come on!" I yelled at the beast, my voice was shaking but firm enough, " Charge at me!"
So, it did.
The beast lunged towards me while swiping its massive paws. I parried them, but the claws missed me by inches, I thrust the spear forward, and the sharp tip pierced its thick hide, drawing a thin line of crimson red blood.
But it wasn't enough to slow it down. It roared in its anger; it was deafening it lashed out once again its paws struck. This time, I wasn't fast enough to dodge.
The claws sliced my side, tearing my hair and my flesh. The pain grew in my ribs, it was hot and searing, I didn't let myself fall, I stumbled back, clutched my spear with both of my hands, and met its next attack head-on. It lunged at me, its jaws snapped.
I sidestepped and charged my spear into its rear shoulder, twisting the spear as hard as I could. The beast howled as its blood splattered across my face, it was hot and sticky, it moved back, wrenching my spear from my grip, it swung its massive paws.
The blow sent me dashing through the air, my back slammed against the trunk of a tree. Everything went white. The pain was too much to bear, my vision swam as I was struggling to breathe, but I couldn't stop. Not now. Not ever. I forced myself to rise, I leaned against the tree for support, The beast was now circling me, its movements were slow but dangerous, Blood was dripping down from the wound in its shoulder, staining the floor, its eyes burned with rage.
I grabbed a large, sharp, jagged rock from off the ground, and hurled it at the beast. But that wasn't enough. I needed a weapon, and then from the corner of my eye, my spear reflected onto me from the floor in which it lay. The beast was prepared to charge at me again, so I ran away but to the spear. I wrapped my hands around the shaft of the wooden handle.
The beast's claw slashed at me once more, I rolled on my back, and with perfect timing, I raised my weapon. The beast was impaled through the tip of my spear. Its weight pressed onto me; it pinned me on the ground as it squirmed and thrashed its body.
I continued to hold on, I shattered my finger as I pushed the spear tip deeper into the beast's chest. I felt my weapon pierce through muscle and its bones, its claws aimed at me wild, one of which landed on my face.
It Poured down to my cheek as my blood blinded me.
But I didn't stop,
I couldn't stop. With a final push of strength, I was able to twist my spear and shove upwards, the point piercing through the beast's chest and directly into its heart.
It howled, but I continued stabbing, until it stopped moving. When it was over, I sat beside its corpse, shaking and breathless but I knew I was Awake. The stars that were above me were clearer than ever, and for the very first time, I felt a feeling that felt something close to triumph.
Then the thrashing subsided. Then suddenly the beast let out one last breath before collapsing on top of me, its body crushing the air directly from my lungs. For what felt like minutes, I lay there, too exhausted to move.
My chest was ragged with each breath, the pain that resided in my face was persuading me to go unconscious. But I couldn't let myself give up. Not here. Not now. Not ever.
Using every ounce of strength, I had inside me, I forced the beast's corpse off me.
The world began to spin around me as I tried standing. The taste of iron was thick in my mouth, but I didn't care, I had won. Stumbling away from the beast's soulless body, I clutched my now-destroyed spear, then I realized something. The forest wasn't quiet anymore, it was alive- with sound. The leaves rustling around, the call of the birds, and the flowing of water. The world continued to move on, it was oblivious to violence.
"You're stronger now," I whispered into the shadows, "stronger than them. Stronger than anyone of them."
As I sat there, covered in warm mud, I was exhausted, but I realized the forest hadn't beaten me. It had strengthened me. I wasn't only fighting for my life, but I was also evolving.
I pushed myself back onto my knees, and I looked at the beast again, its mouth slightly parted, and its eyes glassy and stained with death. I could feel its final breath still lingering in the air.
I wiped the blood from my face, then winced the wound from its claws still throbbing, blood seeped from my cheek like molten tears. I tore a strip of cloth from my shirt and wrapped it around my wound. My hands were shaking. My breath came out in short, sharp bursts. But I knew I was here, I knew I was still alive.
I turned towards the dark stretch of trees again, the world around me had shifted. The forest no longer loomed as a hostile force. But instead, it became a crucible-- a forge-- and I had been soaked inside the lava, and reforged.
I stood slowly, gripping onto what was left of my spear. My body screamed in protest, but my spirit didn't falter. The shadows still watched, and I welcomed them now, let them come, and let the world send whatever it has my way. I had become something more than I was when I entered this forest`.
Above me the moon broke through the clouds, casting a silver light over the battleground. I stood alone in the clearing; the blood of the beast pooled around my torn boots. I breathed deep, the air still thick with the scent of rot and Iron, but also with something else--resolve.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard the faint crack of twigs. Another creature? Or is it maybe my former teammates? I didn't care. I stepped forward.
Toward whatever came next.