My heart raced and I knew I would see the end soon. I turned over and awaited the merciless teeth of a ravenous monster. To my surprise and immense relief, a man, not a monster stood over me.
“Sorry buddy, didn’t mean to scare ya’.” he said with an outstretched hand. I grabbed it and he helped me up. “So ya got a death wish or what? I mean, there’s only two types of people out this late. Morons and people who want to die. So which one are ya?”
I suppose he was right. No one in their right mind would be out in the woods late at night. However, he had to fall into one of those two categories himself. “Given the two options I would have to say I’m a moron. I was out for a walk this afternoon and got lost. How about you? Are you stupid or suicidal?”
The man gave a little chuckle, shook his head. He then reached out again. “Name’s Gus. And I definitely don’t plan to die tonight, so I guess I’m joinin’ you in the idiot club. I was hopin’ to reach my brother’s village before nightfall. Didn’t even come close. We ain’t too far from it now if you’d like to come along. There’s a ton of monsters out lookin’ for a piece of meat to chew on. So how ‘bout it? Or do you just want to stay out here and die?”
For some reason, I liked this guy. He seemed to have a kind of blue-collar wisdom about him so I gave him a subtle bow “after you” I said.
We swiftly and silently walked through the woods. After about an hour or so, we got close enough to see the torch light that lined the perimeter of the village. “You can stay with me and my brother. I’m sure he won’t mind letting you stay with him for a night. And let me tell you, his wife Myra makes the greatest omelets you ever ate!” A few steps later, he stopped dead in his tracks. Looking down and stomping his feet on the ground he asked “What in God's name?”
In a flash, a mighty beast leaped up from beneath him. Perhaps this was the same Rylock that was hunting me earlier. Perhaps it was not, but a Rylock it was. The creature knocked Gus to the ground and turned towards me. It produced a seven-inch hook-like claw from each of horrible digit-less paws. The monster raised its mighty limb and for the third time that evening, I was prepared myself to die. Just before the claw came down Gus leaped up and grabbed brute’s the thick arm. I heard him yell “Run for it boy! I’ll take care of our friend here!”
But the Rylock was too much for him. It threw Gus like a rag doll. Gus charged the monster. With one swift motion, the Rylock sunk its meat hook into the neck of my new friend. I watched in horror as he was slowly drawn toward the jaws of the heartless creature. With an unrelenting spirit, Gus mustered every last ounce of strength left in his dying body and personified his dogged attitude in one final right cross. The punch was snatched up by the hungry jaws of the Rylock.
The monster opened wide, leading Gus to his fate. With a mouth full of blood, Gus used his last breath to yell, “Why ain’t you runnin’ boy!” I pointed my nose to the village and I didn’t stop running until I was safe within its borders.
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