That Not-so-Famous Jason

Chapter 10: Sick of Monsters

At first light, I woke up ready to try to figure out why there was four inches of snow on the ground. I sat up, pushing Maise's arm off of me. Some point during the night she must've huddled close to me for warmth. Not that I blame her, it was freezing outside.

I left the shelter and walked out into the cold. Surprisingly the breeze was warm, but the still air was frigid. The breezed carried with it the smell of smoke-the smoke of a campfire. Something was too close to camp.

I quickly ducked back into the tree-tent, "Maisie, get up. We gotta pack up and get moving. Someone, or something, is very close."

"Ughh, Jase just a few more minutes!" she moaned, throwing her arms over her face.

I scowled, "No, we need to get out of here!"

A branch snapped and echoed a bit, but it was loud enough to send a chill down my back. Maisie moved her arms and sat up at the sound of it.

"Okay, I'm up!"

Together we packed our backpacks and sleeping bags. In a few minutes we were packed and ready to get moving.

"Let's go." No sooner had I said that, another loud snap of a branch was heard. This was much closer and much louder. The sound didn't echo, so whatever it was, it moved fast.

"Come one, this way." I gestured for us to follow a path that lead along the mountain side.

"Are we going back down the mountain?" Maisie asked, some rage hidden in her voice.

I sighed. "Not exactly, but if we have to run, it's better to run downhill than uphill."

We hurried along the mountain side, with the sound of snapping branches behind us. Maisie flung herself from tree to tree in front of me, while I ducked to miss the branches that snapped back at me. I turned to look back, and a large, shadowy figure moved straight through the branches.

"Maisie, we need to move faster or get to a flatter ground. This monster is gaining on us!" I urged, moving closer behind her to get her moving.

"Really? I can barely breathe as of now!" she exhaled.

I couldn't help but grab her by the arm and yank her further along the mountain side. We needed to find a flatter surface in case we needed to fight the beast.

"Jas-what are you doing? This hurts!" Maisie practically screamed, which then was followed by a grunt behind us.

I rolled my eyes and turned around to see a laistrygonian giant following behind us.

"Oh gods, we attracted a cannibal!" I sighed, pushing Maisie down into some shrubbery. I followed in behind her.

"Ow!" I clamped my hand over her mouth, "Shh! Whisper only."

Maisie mouthed what I said and crossed her arms. Sighing, I drew my bow and notched an arrow. I peered through the leaves, not seeing anything, but I did feel a hot, smelly breeze down my neck.

Maisie scream, throwing herself back from the laistrygonian giant that stood directly above us.

"Oh sh-" I fumbled backwards, dropping my bow, as a large fist was punched down to where I was just sitting-which snapped my bow in half.

"Jason?" Maisie gasped, sounding too afraid that I had no bow.

I dodged another punch from the giant, who stood almost eight feet tall. "Maisie, you have a sword, use it!" I shouted, annoyed that she sat there not moving.

I ducked under the giants left hook, drawing my dagger to begin sparring.

The giant had multiple tattoos on his neck and head, each depicting some sort of death scene. He was covered in rabbit and deer furs and wore leather sandals. His hands, however, had metal spikes covering his knuckles.