Ludwig's feet carried him further and further away from the raptors, but the more he ran, the worse his situation became. What had started as a manageable chase with three raptors half an hour ago had now escalated into a full-blown stampede. The three had become six, and soon another joined the pack. Yet, despite their numbers, none of them had managed to close the gap between themselves and Ludwig.
"Surprisingly, you're keeping up the same pace," Thomas remarked, his voice calm despite the chaos unfolding around them.
"Yep, gotta keep a rhythm when running," Ludwig replied, his breathing steady as he leaped over a large tree root blocking his path. Behind him, one of the raptors, too focused on its prey, failed to notice the obstacle. Its legs tangled in the root, sending it tumbling to the ground with a sharp yelp.
"One down!" Thomas cheered, his tone almost playful.