They walked along the base of the hill for several hours before they finally got clear of the zone that was torn down to dirt by the giant storm. Bron’s swollen foot worsened the longer they traveled. But he insisted that they get out of the destroyed area where there was no possibility of finding food.
They finally found their first standing trees, lacking most of their branches. Further on, the vegetation became intact again. Mostly intact, many of the trees bore a distinct set of four huge claw marks deep into the trunks. This mark was so consistent in size and pattern that it could only be from the same animal.
Both companions reached to their belts for their weapons. Bron’s was gone, lost in the storm. Rhunal took out her shortsword, stared at it for a moment, and held it towards him.
He hesitated, “I do not want to take your only weapon.”
“Don’t be stupid. Even with no sword, I’m dangerous. You need it more than I do.” She held it towards him until he finally relented. She surprised him by pulling a dagger she had strapped to her back. “Besides, I found this in the thieves' tent.”
“A dagger isn’t much use against a charging animal.” he observed.
“If you unwind a bit of that rope and help me find a straight enough branch, I can fix that.”
It took both of them a little over an hour to manage it, but by the end, she had a functional spear. So armed, they advanced into the claw-marked territory a little more confidently. Despite the warnings, they still stumbled into the creature before they saw it.
They rounded a dense stand of trees and saw a large animal lying dead among a thick clump of large bushes as tall as Bron. Hunger drove them onward to investigate, but it seemed one bush was a little darker than the others. It lifted itself high on two back legs and greeted them with a bellowing roar.
It was taller than any bear that had ever wandered in the civilized lands of Greihold. Two large horns emerged from between its ears and arced backwards over its head. It took a step forward, revealing large goat-like feet, but with hooves split in three sections instead of two. Its arms were unchanged from those of a normal bear except for their immense size and unnaturally large muscles.
Both froze. Bron was so surprised that he didn’t even point his weapon towards the animal. Rhunal had snatched up her makeshift spear and pointed at the threat. It roared again, and the sound reverberated off the nearby cliffs. It did not advance towards them, instead placing itself between them and the dead animal as they backed away.
“That damn thing is over twelve feet tall.” Bron whispered incredulously.
“Is that a lot?” Rhun asked, too loudly.
“Biggest trophy bear taken around Greihold was eight feet,” he whispered again, hoping she'd get the hint.
“Did that one have horns like this?” she asked, a little quieter.
“Bears don’t have horns or feet like that.”
“So what the hell is this then?” she hissed.
The bear-like animal lowered itself to all four of its limbs and advanced towards them, growling threats, and tearing significant chunks from the ground with its claws.
“Something that doesn’t want us here,” he answered at last, “we need to flee.” He turned to run, but she stopped him. “It’s a predator. Don’t let a predator see you run. Just keep walking back.”
The monster bear halted a few paces from the dead animal. They breathed a little easier as it finally stopped advancing. But before they finally got out of sight of it, behind the stand of trees, it reached both paws around a small tree and tore it down as a final warning.
When it didn’t come after them, Brondulf finally broke the tense silence, “There are other animals in these woods. If that creature can find them, then so can we.”
She pointed towards his ankle. “First, we get farther away from here, then we set up camp. You need to rest. We’ll hunt tomorrow. Maybe when you are feeling better, I can heal that foot of yours.”
He adamantly shook his head, “You should not use your healing on me unless the situation is lethal. I have been wracked with bouts of fever ever since you used it. It comes and goes in spells. These have not stopped even to this moment. If you were to heal me again, these fits of sickness could hit at the same time and become more than just a fever. I have no doubt that you will have to use it again, but not until I fully recover from the time before.”
She nodded slowly. She herself could heal over and over with nothing but the cost of energy and short-term pain.
“Promise me!” he insisted.
“I promise! Or vow or whatever you want. I won’t heal you again, unless you are about to die.”
By evening, they found a decent campsite that offered a wide view of the surrounding area.
There wasn’t much they could do for shelter but lean some branches against a great stone. Instead of a campfire, they piled the branches on thick and created a roaring bonfire. They hoped it would be enough to discourage the monster.
They alternated turns being on watch. It was a restless night for both, the first night they had spent in the dark forest. They expected at any moment for the great beast to come rushing out of the blackness towards them as they scanned into its depths. It was a dark and silent night. At first the lack of howls and calls from other predators was a relief, but realization came to both at different times. This beast ruled over the dark forest and would stand for no competition.
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