Keeper of Arancti

chapter 1 - Near Death Experiences

Its teeth were just a decimeter away when I hear a hissing sound. A figure had jumped onto the back of the creature causing it to pull back as if it were a horse being halted by its rider. He leaped of the animal with surprising agility. I expected a brawl with the victor being the the beast. But they made no contact. He made strange noises that made no sense to me. But I guess it made sense to the animal. The creature huffed (well I assumed it did) as if obliging and gave me a growl before its muscular legs pushed off from the ground and it disappeared. I sighed in relief and rested against the tree. Then I realized that my saviour was still tense, he fingers tightly wrapped around his staff. Or should I say her staff. She looked young; around 16 to 19 years of age. I started toward her but she jerked her staff at me. But not in a violent way, it was more like she was afraid. I raised my hands. "Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to thank you. And possibly know where I am?" I reasoned. She frowned slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she gestured for me to follow as she pushed away large leaves and made her way through the forest. She was peculiar for sure, just like everything in this place, but at least she was someone.