The forest around was hushed, and she watched in horror as the beast chased after the fox. Although the smaller animal moved relatively fast for its size, the larger monster outpaced the fox, nearly reaching it before they arrived near the base of the tree. As soon as they reached the buttress roots, however, the smaller creature deftly evaded the bulkier monster by dipping in-between and under the roots. Frustrated, the monster jumped backwards out of the roots, and the fox, seeing an escape, leapt out. It scurried around the trunk, but the beast was ready, poised to rush at the exposed animal. Rearing up on its hind-legs, the monster lurched towards the fox with long, shadowy claws.

“Stop!”

Startled by her own voice resounding in the quiet, she gasped in trepidation, eyes widening as she saw the monster flinch and narrowly miss clipping the small animal. The fox scampered away as the beast plummeted flat on its chin and belly. The monster laid still on the roots as the girl’s thoughts went blank, and she held her breath in apprehension.

As if cut from a horror scene, the monster’s head unnaturally whipped 180 degrees in her direction, and she felt her soul depart as the beast’s glaring, red eyes bore into her. Then just as quickly as the beast had pinpointed the girl’s position, it vaulted from the roots at its new target: her.

Every inch of her body pricked like a thousands needles, the cells themselves seeming to jumpstart in fright and flight. Her body twisted instinctively in the direction of the forest behind her. The first rule of escaping giant bears: climb a tree. However, the trees had bark too smooth to climb and were so enormously tall with no low lying branches.

In distress, she glanced behind her and seeing the monster a few bounds away from her, she felt as if her soul had left her once more. The demonic bear had crossed the distance between them in mere seconds, and she was stuck on the ground like a lame duck. Sensing capture, the beast hurtled at her at a frightening acceleration. There was no means of escape. The girl’s heart dropped.

I thought this was a beautiful dream, but it became a nightmare instead?! Her thoughts shrieked. I’m not even here ten minutes and I’m going to die?! What the heck?! I don’t want to die young~!!!

The demonic bear loomed over her, crashing down upon—

…

Asdfjkl;?!?!!!

I’m alive?!!

The girl inhaled sharply. Transparent lavender sheets glimmered in alignment between her forearm and the bear’s forepaw. It was a translucent barrier.

Did I just create that?

Just as that thought passed her mind in astonishment, the demon-bear was unexpectedly flung backward, upheaving grass shoots and dirt in its wake. The wall had not only protected her, it shoved her attacker back by an intense invisible force. As the bear staggered up from the ground, the girl noticed glinting lavender flecks surrounding it. She wondered if those particles of light were connected to the transparent shield that appeared a second before. Still astounded by the turn of events, she stared dazedly at her right arm where the pale purple shield had been centered around. Slowly, her mind pieced the events together, and she gripped her fist, willing the shield to appear again. This spurred a faint warmth that began flooding her entire arm.