Men & Monsters

Enter Finn

Eira couldn't stop running. Not with the image of teeth and claws still fresh in her mind. All she could think of was of those beasts mauling each other, tearing themselves limb from limb, when their eyes fell to her. She didn't want to think about it. Getting home was enough of a burden on her mind.

As branches and brush slapped her in the face, Eira found it fruitless to defend herself with outstretched arms, and the thick vegetation simply wouldn't let her go so easily. Thorny bristles grabbed at her cloak, almost pulling her back into their prickly grasp before she broke away. Gasping for air and simply trying to put together the events that transpired, the Green Folk could only feel helpless and alone while she ran. Christian, despite his absence to her, would have proved to be a great deal of comfort now.

Suddenly the thick forest gave way to another deep river. Gasping for air and holding her sides, Eira nearly panicked once more, fearing that the water might house another monster like Blade. Save for a single turtle emerging for air, the slow current brought nothing but a soft babble. It was something Eira was thankful for. She seized the moment to admire the beauty around her, looking upriver to gawk at the towering mountain from which the river was fed. So late into the season, its peak still held powdery white snow, where she could make out the numerous streams rolling down its sides and becoming rivers like the one before her.

Eira jumped as Rex's roar filled the air. Almost instinctively she staggered backward, her eyes fixed on the dense brush when she tripped into the water. With a surprised whelp she nearly crashed into it, had it not been for someone watching her.

Water splashed about as the girl landed in surprisingly shallow tides. A hand reached down and touched leathery flesh. Eira's heart skip a beat. What if Blade had caught up to her after all? She rolled to her side just as she felt the beast's large head begin to rise up through the water. Her hand graced the creature's bony crest just above its eye as water spilled from atop its elongated head, just in time for her to meet with its piercing golden eyes. With the beast's help, Eira slid off its snout and to her feet, only to look up in awe as the being emerged from the watery depths.

Eira swallowed the lump in her throat as the aquatic monster only grew larger and larger. From its crocodile-like snout to the three wickedly-curved clawed hands which nearly graced the ground even as it stood tall. What's more, its stubby webbed feet made it obvious of its aquatic lifestyle. Finally, a bony sail rose out from its back, reaching out to the heavens and making the beast appear even larger than than Rex or Crunch. The spinosaurus emerged on land and shook its head rapidly, expelling water droplets from its head with a heavy grunt. With the groan emanating from deep within its throat, it looked down at Eira, who was otherwise too frightened to run.

Shocked and in awe, the Green Folk didn't budge as she feared the worst in the spinosaurus. If she ran, the massive beast would likely give chase, and undoubtedly catch her in seconds. However, the dinosaur never revealed his teeth to her. In fact, he did little but cock his head to one side when the girl fell back onto the ground. Hesitantly she crawled backward, when the beast lowered itself on all fours, its clawed hands pressing down onto the rocky bank.

"Well hello." He spoke in a soft, calm tone. "Just what might you be? My...what a curious creature..." His voice did not seem to be engaging, but an observational one. It was likely judging the girl to be mute or unable to speak, as so many creatures tended to be. Eira blinked once and lowered her head, but her eyes never left his. Despite his long, toothy grin, she wasn't very surprised by his ability to speak, as so many beasts she came across anymore did. Still, she was rather taken aback by his sincere demeanor, something she wasn't so accustomed to as of late. With a nervous gulp she raised her head.

"H-hi. My name's Eira." Her hushed voice only worked to widen the spinosaur's grin.

"You speak? How wonderful! Eira then? What a lovely name. Eira. My name is Finn. It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled with his kind words, nodding once in response.