Pyra

Chapter 6: The Shape-Shifters

A huge ebony creature towered over us. It had five faces that kept shifting into different animals. There was a lion, snake, dog, owl, lizard, penguin, horse, leopard, hyena, bear, and many more. It had a huge flat bone sticking out of its head with crimson swirls on it. It had claws stained with blood. Fangs hung from its mouth with pieces of flesh wavering back and forth with the monster's heavy breathing. It's breath smelt like rotting flesh. The monster used its momentum to swing onto its hind legs. It became taller than the trees surrounding us. I wavered and shook in fear. I had never seen something as bone chilling as this monster.

"Nobody move," Krystahffer whispered. We all stood staring at the monster, hoping it would go away. The creature fell back on all fours. It was about to walk away when Ke'rahnda fainted. She dropped to the floor unconscious. The creature roared a loud bellowing noise. The trees around us shook. It was a loud rippling low screaming noise. I had to cover my ears to prevent ear damage.

Maesyn lifted Ke'rahnda and began to run at full speed. I ran after him with Krystahffer and Bodenn behind me. I still felt a little tired but what choice did I have? At least I recovered a bit. The monster started running after us. It probably wanted to eat us. That was the first time in ages that I felt scared.

I flicked my hand and made trees fall down in front of the beast. All it did was bash straight through them. The monster's feet made the ground shake and each step made a loud thump. I could keep up with Maesyn easily however; Krystahffer and Bodenn were struggling to stay away from their demise. I thought it was time to use some extra speed. I grabbed onto the collars of Krystahffer, Bodenn, and Maesyn. Then I summoned some magic for an extra boost and I took off at full speed.

The trees flew past us and the monster was slowly fading away into the forest. The weight of four people was hard to carry but the magic helped keep my speed up. My feet barely had time to touch the ground at the speed they were going. I felt tired quite quickly. Using up magic, running at full speed, and carrying four people is bound to make a person want to take a nap.

Once the monster had been out of sight for a while I slowed down. I dropped everybody in a heap on the ground and I fell on the ground in front of them. My heart beat quickly and loudly in my chest. My feet pulsed and my legs throbbed. My brain was bouncing around in my head. I could barely move. It felt like I ran around the world.

"Damn Dieannah," Bodenn said as he rose off the ground. Dirt covered everything below his knees. He seemed dazed and confused. I held on to the trunk of a tree and pulled myself up onto my feet. My breathing was quick yet heavy.

"I didn't know you could run so fast," Maesyn said while still recovering on the ground. Ke'rahnda was on the ground next to him slowly waking up.

"That's the fastest I can run while carrying four people," I told them. Krystahffer stood up quickly.

"What was that thing?" Krystahffer exclaimed.

"A lunar-bervite. I've seen one before. They are vicious carnivores that rarely attack humans," Maesyn answered. Everybody was silent, recovering from the sudden burst of speed.

"How fast were you going?" Bodenn asked me.

"Dunno. I don't...have a speedometer...on me...all the time," I replied in between breaths.

"What's the fastest you can run?"

"Never...tried," I answered. I stared at the nearly set sun. Ke'rahnda sat up and rubbed her head.

"Where'd the monster go?" she asked.

"Doesn't matter. The sun is nearly set. We need to find some barracks," Maesyn stated.