As night approached, the outside world became noisy. In the distance, screams sounded out met by strange howling in the distance. Some of the screams soon stopped. Whatever’s out there must be dangerous.

THUD.

“Wh-what was that?” I asked aloud before slapping my hand across my mouth to stop any further outburst. My whole body was stiff, as if something in my lizard brain was telling me to jump straight out the window, because a six-story drop is a better fate than whatever was in the apartment hall. I could hear the faint crackle of a television playing in the distance.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

It was getting closer. My heart couldn’t help but feel like it was going to beat right out of my chest. CRASH.

It’s in the neighbor’s apartment… As I stood there, frozen in place, I soon became the sole audience of the neighbor's screams of terror. Maybe it's attracted to sound? Tears had started to well up in my eyes as I tiptoed towards my kitchen. Grendel lightly purred against my leg, following in suit. His hair was standing on end, but he dared not hiss.

The sounds of the television stopped.

Again I was frozen, trying not to make a sound. I watched as Grendel continued to walk over to a cupboard I had chosen to hide in. In it he entrenched himself, beckoning me to follow him. Slowly I moved, the wooden floorboards creaking slightly with every change in weight. I slowly lowered myself to the ground, forcing my head first into the cupboard. Once inside, I quickly closed the door, perhaps too hard. It made a mediocre TWANG sound as wood hit wood. 

Almost as quickly as I had closed the door, the noises started up again. This time I was sure that the door the creature was at was my own. I could hear it battering itself against the door. It wasn’t long until it was inside. I could hear it sniffing about, the floorboards creaking underneath its weight even more than when I had walked on them. A low chuckle sound came from the beast and for a moment I wondered if it was a person or not. As it edged closer and closer into the kitchen, Grendel finally broke the silence.

Mroah! Hisss

Suddenly the door parted and Grendel was swept away out of my arms, some tentacle-like appendage seemingly wrapped around him.

NO! Damn it! The tears began to well up in my eyes again. I could hear as Grendel's gutteral hissing was accompanied by some more cackling. I have to do something. This isn't how this was supposed to go. I can't lose Grendel.

Fighting back tears, I burst suddenly through the opening in the door, knife in hand. Now I could see the beast.

[Howler: A large cat-like beast carrying characteristics of both a cheetah and a hyena, their characteristic growl resembles a chuckle and is seen as both disturbing and creepy. Rating: Unknown]

I could see now, wrapped around poor Grendel wasn’t a tentacle, it was in fact the beast’s tongue. Its mangy fur was dyed red and matted with blood. I wonder how many people this thing has killed... The mere thought made me shudder. 

I had to think fast, I only had a few moments before this thing would see me as dinner. Holding my knife, I launched myself at its side. Concentrating, I activated two skills. 

[New skill combo: Tackle Slash]

In one moment the Howler had regained its footing, padding around in a tight circle trying to lick its wound. I hadn’t cut it that deep, but black blood spilled over and down its belly all the same. Growling, it lurched its head back towards me, backing up in a way that seemed way too familiar. It's going to pounce isn’t it? I had seen it before with Grendel when I’d play with him. The arching of the back towards the rump, the steading of the front legs, preparation to strike. As it finally took its leap I darted towards it as well, sliding underneath it, the inertia on the softly polished wood flooring carrying me forward. Within a minute or so the body laid still on top of me. Blinking my eyes I was met with the Howler’s body pinning me to the ground, its teeth notched against my forehead. Black blood soaked into my clothes as I tried to push the beast off of me. Taking a moment, I noticed that the body was starting to evaporate. Steam bounded from the wounds, and soon even the blood on my shirt seemed like a bad dream.

Ding.

“What now?”

[Achievement unlocked: Feller of Beasts - You are the first player to successfully kill a mob of Striker Rank

Reward: Damon’s Sash]

“Huh… Seems like it should boost my defense fairly well especially this early on…” I couldn’t help but cringe a little, I need to remember that this isn’t a game. Grendel rubbed up against my leg with a gentle purr. Pressing the reward screen made a small box appear in front of me. I guess this is how you get rewards… beats using a courier I guess. Pulling on the ribbon, the box seemed to disappear in a puff of smoke as quickly as it had appeared, left behind in its place was a bright red sash. Wrapping it around my waist, I could feel a dull sense of protection surrounding me as though a light fog had laid down upon me.

Looking around at my room I mumbled, “What am I supposed to do now?” 

Mrroah! Grendel was leaning up against a window that overlooked the street below. Joining him, I saw countless others running and hiding from the beasts lurking below. They did say that we could earn experience points now…