Trust falls

Creature

I ran, not daring to slow down or stop. I dragged Coiny behind me, not wanting to risk anything. A single misstep and we could be killed by whatever hurt the two children.

The image of the creature stuck in my mind, a large, skinny creature, its mouth fitting its entire head. Its ribs cut through the skin, bone bending in unnatural ways. It was bloody, probably from killing - or attempting to kill, I don't know - two children.  I cringed at the thought of it.

"I think we're far enough!" Coiny said, but I ignored him. I have to get away from that THING.

The sight of its claws cutting through Grassy's eye, the sound of bone cracking as it cut through Marker's arm..

The metal scrape I heard before I was able to drag him away.

Coiny put his hand on my shoulder, staring into my eyes. "Pin, it's gone. You can stop running now."

Hesitantly, I looked behind him. Nothing. Instantly, I fell to the ground, panting. I'd been running for, what, a couple hours? It was late evening by now, I'd assume, maybe 9pm. Coiny sat beside me, his hand still on my shoulder.

"Co-Coiny.. are- you okay..?" He nodded, though I knew what was up. "Coiny.. I know.. the.. it scratched your back, didn't it..?"

"Pin, I promise I'm fine." Coiny comforted me. Why can't he just let me know about his own feelings? He gate-keeps them to make me feel better, but what about himself?

"Coiny, let me-"

"Pin, I'm fine."

We argued for a while, going back and forth about it.

"Coiny, PLEASE. I just want you to be okay, I can't.. I can't lose anyone else."

He sighed, and replied: "Fine. But don't worry too much - I'll be fine. I won't die, if you survived an arrow to the chest I think I'll be alright."

I looked at his back, and winced. He had 3 large scratch marks, that looked like they hurt, but would - hopefully - heal up fine. Running my fingers gently over the scratches, he began a conversation. "So... how're you holding up, Pin?"

Thinking for a moment, I decided on a response. "I guess I'm alright. The constant death and fear haven't been good for my mental health, but whose would it be good for?"

Hungry, I got up and looked around. Maybe they have some berries, like those ones I found a few minutes before the 'challenge' started? They looked pretty good, and I never got to try that cake me and Needle made with them...

"Ah!" Suddenly, a rabbit ran past my legs, taking me by surprise. Usually, I wouldn't kill a harmless little thing, but I'm honestly desperate and hungry. I waited for it to scurry back to me and stomped it, taking it out of its misery.

"Coiny, can you get some wood for a fire?" He nodded, and walked over to find anything he could. I skinned the animal the best I could without any tools, and when Coiny came back, we started a fire and cooked it. We shared it, both eating half.

We strolled around for a while, before returning to our fire and deciding to go to sleep. Coiny cuddled my arm as I preferred to keep a small distance - usually I wouldn't mind, but I don't feel good today. I pushed those thoughts behind and held onto his arm as well to comfort him - I know he needs it.

As Coiny fell asleep, our arms interlocked, I thought about that creature. Its slightly yellow teeth,  bony yet unnatural structure, sharp claw-like limbs, everything about it... it makes me uncomfortable. If I feel as shitty as I do just from seeing THAT, I wonder what the children think after almost DYING from it.