Meo and Botog bolted like a couple of startled deer fleeing a gunshot. Both ran in the same direction and headed straight for Amanie, unwittingly making their way further into the dark forest, Botog’s skinny legs carrying him as fast as they possibly could. Meo ran for all her fluffy, little, white butt was worth, racing in leaps and bounds over rotten leaves, rocks, fallen branches and forest debris, giving it everything she had. The creature swooped down, gaining on them every second, its dark talons outstretched, its long, ugly beak piercing the air like a nefarious sword, closing in on them like a homing missile, thirsting for fresh blood.
Botog screamed, his voice filled the forest like a little girls. The children screamed in unison, a chorus of terror echoing through the forest. The hideous creature gave a long resounding squawk, filling their hearts with dread like an over zealous chef stuffing a spring chicken with herbs. An audience of tree’s watching blindly, unmoved, as the children scarpered for safety, horrified at the thought of being eaten alive, fear stoking the chambers of their hearts like a petrol bomb, compelling them to flee.
The creature drew rapidly near, closing the gap every second that passed. Botog felt the end was nigh... It was time to say his final farewells to the world. The creature was almost upon him. He could almost smell it, feel its hot, putrid breath on the back of his head. His knees felt like they were about to buckle, his legs like they were about to give way. His fat, red cheeks florid as sliced watermelon. Perspiration laced his wrinkled brow, tears welled up in his eyes. Turning his head, he whimpered as a lump caught in the back of his throat. His blood curdled. He saw the creature out of the corner of his eye, nigh upon him, poised and ready to strike, ready to sink its long, black talons into the back of his skull, haul him into the treetops and devour him in one hideous, bone swallowing gulp.
Botog tripped and stumbled. His feet caught the leaves, causing him to lose his footing, trying desperately to keep his balance, he landed in a heap amongst the Irth. Turning his head, he tried to scream, but he'd lost his voice. His heart pounding, his vision blurred. Tears streamed down his face, his broad, happy smile gone. The creature swooped down, spreading her long, horrible talons, as she offered him a handshake of death. He shut his eyes, hoping it would all be over soon, praying for a quick and timely end to it all.
“BOTOG!” screamed Meo.
The creature shot down, its barbarous talons outstretched, ready to snatch Botog from the Irth forever. Amanie turned her head and let out a shrill, unearthly wail like the cry of a banshee. Botog lay on the ground, as the foul, carnivorous beast hurtled towards him, ready to collect her prey.
“MIOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!” cried Tidimew.
Much too everyone’s distress, not least of all Botog‘s, the winged monster swooped down, yet to everyone’s surprise headed straight for Meo, as it had apparently intended all along. Meo’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull, the hunter had become the hunted. Popping her feet into gear, she kicked herself into a lightening sprint and darted across the forest, the creature in quick pursuit. Botog opened his eyes, watching in horror, as his furry companion made a desperate bid to save her own skin, giving it everything she had, as she tore across the dank. Amanie screamed as the monster closed in, getting closer by the second, yet in spite of her speed Meo simply wasn’t fast enough.
“Meo! Meo! Look out!” yelled Botog, as the creature came within a hairs breadth of snatching her away.
“MIOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!” screamed Tidimew.
Amanie took refuge behind a tree, hoping Meo would be okay, tears streaming down her face.
The creature reached out its long, dark claws, bearing down at the rate of knots, salivating at the thought of snatching her away her into the treetops and chomping on her bones. Meo ran as fast as she could, but her assailant was too fast. The end was nigh. However all was not lost, Meo had an idea, a moment of inspiration, a flicker of hope. She dug her heels into the dirt, ground to a halt and lay as flat as a pancake. The monster snatched at her, missing it’s target completely and passing her empty handed, coming away with nothing, not even a whisker. Turning its head, it cast its gaze back mid flight, its eyes bulging hungrily from their sockets, its annoyance plain to see. Catching her left wing, she flew into a trunk and tumbled across the forest with an almighty screech, crash landing with a thump, destroying toxic toadstools, churning up leaves and mud along the way.
Amanie bolted from the tree she was hiding behind and ran as fast as the wind, holding Tidimew tightly in her arms.
“Quick! Run!” she yelled. “Before it’s to late!”
“What about the Magic fairy ring?” shouted Meo, wasting little time in following Amanie’s instructions and heading back the way she came.
“I don’t care! I just want to get out of here!” she replied.
“Come on Botog! Before that thing gets up again!”
Botog, who was a little slow on the uptake got to his feet again. Everything just seemed to be happening so fast, it was all a little bewildering. He took to his heels, tailing his fleeing companions like a balloon on a shoestring. No sooner had they made a dash for safety however than the creature rose to its feet, let out a terrific roar and made a clumsy sprint after them, screeching like a lunatic all the while, folding its injured wing behind its back and bounding with unimaginable fury across the forest floor.
Amanie wanted to scream. Her heart raced, her lungs felt like they were on fire, she could hardly breath. Her feet dragged like lead weights, holding her back, pulling her down. For a moment it felt like she was going to die. In spite of herself she began to slow down. Tidimew cried out, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. Amanie’s legs grew weak, trembling beneath her, her feet getting heavier by the second, her heels like clay. Her will weakening, as her spirit waned.
Botog, who was scarcely able to lift his legs anymore, was starting to feel like it was all just a big a waste of time and that they were simply delaying the inevitable. His heart felt fit to burst, his lungs about ready to collapse, his will to survive was almost gone.
Meo panted frantically. The rot of the forest weighed heavily on her heart. The air was stifling, clogging her lungs, her veins and her artery’s, as if death itself were hanging over her. She wasn’t ready to give up just yet though.
“Come on! Don’t give up now!” she gasped, urging the others to give it their all.
“I can’t breath.” choked Amanie, almost suffocating on her own words.
The creature quickly closed in. Saliva spilt copiously from its jaws. It’s long, ravenous threads of hunger cast out like fishing lines waiting to reel in their prey.
“No you can’t give up!” insisted Meo, but it was too late.
Amanie, Tidimew and Botog spluttered to an involuntary halt and fell to their knees in front of a tree and some thorny brambles. Meo ran on ahead and hid behind a trunk, at a loss what to do next. She simply couldn't bare to leave without them, knowing full well they'd be eaten alive if she did. If only she could save them somehow. But how?
The monster reared its ugly head, its breath smelled like rotten meat, its mouth dripped with slime. The creature stopped just a few yards in front of them. Amanie, Botog and Tidimew closed their eyes, wincing, turning their heads to one side, whimpering pathetically and hoping it would all be over soon.
“If only I’d listened to Telimo.” Amanie moaned remorsefully.
“I wish he was here, he’d know what to do.” sniffed Botog.
The monsters beak glistened, ready to strike... lunch was served and they were it. Botog gulped. Tidimew squeaked. Amanie balled her eyes out and blubbered like a baby. Meo watched aghast, wondering if she could create a diversion. The monster eyed them greedily, wondering which one to eat first, its eyes sparkling hungrily like callous stars, spoilt for choice, wondering who was the tastiest. The end was nigh. Their short lives flashed before their very eyes. Their hearts beat so fast it felt like they were about to explode. Dizzy and light headed, their bodies shook with fear.
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