A bite

Barry Warden

It happened slowly.

The sky rippled like a taut silk strained to its limit, then fissures formed—multiple rounded tears that aligned on both sides and kept on expanding until they peeled back the sky of the world above.

From there, dead trees and chunks of snow and rocks began to tumble down. My body tensed as I prepared for their chaotic descent, weaving and climbing between the deadly rain of ruin. The larger fragments struck the earth around me as I jumped out to avoid the worst of it and braced myself for those smaller ones I couldn't evade.

The paths ahead gradually became limited. 

Another breath. Another step. And then—an opening.

Driven by instinct, I lunged, seizing on a falling trunk. The bark bit into my fingers as I pulled myself up to the top.

At its peak, I paused just long enough to glimpse another mass of rock hurtling straight toward me.

No time to think. No time to falter.

I launched off, shoving myself back and crashing down onto a patch of land that remained untouched as the collapsing chaos continued on.

"..." I took my time and breath.

This happened... Was it because of that earthquake just now?

"Wah!" A bunch of nomes emerged out of nowhere.

"..."

"Wah..." One of them squeaked again, softer this time, peering up at me.

I exhaled, dragging myself upright. "I'm fine, I'm—" 

A sensation crashed over me—a familiarity that should have been dead long ago.

I felt danger.

Everything became almost completely quiet as the winds no longer blowing through.

No more whispers from anything.

"GRRROOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!" Until it came.

My hand shot to my dimensional necklace. Fingers gripped around the handle of the sword, I pulled it out.

And there the bear stood. 

Larger than before. 

The thing looked rotten, as if it had somehow forced itself back together. The wounds I had carved into its flesh should have left it crippled, dying. Yet, they had healed—but not in a magically seamless way. Instead, bones jutted out from the gashed injuries like spikes, sealing them shut while also working as a sturdy layer of protection.

A slow exhale left my lips as I met its glare. "It seems like someone remembers my smell..."

A deep, guttural snarl rumbled from its throat—then it roared. "GRROOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

I'm not sure if I could run—crap, I don't think running was even an option anymore. And if it was, I don't think I want to take that kind of risk...

Something about this moment compelled me to stay. Urged me to face it once more. I don't know whether it was courage or sheer stupidity, but a part of me felt like I'd have a better chance going toe to toe with the bear and coming out on top rather than running away from it.

Just like the first time I encountered it, I felt fear, largely. I know that I could end up dead this time. Anyone who claimed they wouldn't be afraid in a situation like this was either lying or had something deeply wrong with them.

Mana surged through my body in such a rush, I felt bigger than ever, but at the same time more exposed.

"OrRARrRrr... OrRrARrr!" It grunted.

I lowered my stance. My voice rose with defiance. "Alright, alright! YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME SO BAD? COME ON!"

Seris Vritra

I'm losing my patience.

How long had it been? Outside, in the real world—how much time had passed?

"..."

I clenched my jaw, becoming more stressed as I tried to answer my own question without this place messing with my perception of time.

Half a day...?

The thought was less an answer and was more of a consolation to comfort me rather than the answer to satisfy or terrify me.

I needed to get out of here!

I had to get out of here!

Every second I wasted here felt like a crime. They need me. I should have been with them hours ago—long before now! Without Orlaeth's head, my barrier artifacts aren't going to work without Orlaeth's head!

They all will be killed without me!

how long will I—

"Wah!" A sudden squeal interrupted my thoughts.

"Did you hear that?" Arthur calmly asked.

"Yes..." Caera's gaze swept around, searching.

"Wah!" The squeal came again—closer this time.

"..."

"Wah!" A third squeal later came. And then—movement.

I looked down.

A small, white creature stood below us, its round, unblinking eyes looking up at Arthur. Its little hand clutched on something—something it held out toward him.

A... weapon...?

It seems to be ignoring me and Caera and only focused on Arthur.

"Wah!!" As if trying to speak, it let out another sharp squeal and swung its weapon wildly. "Wah! Wah!"

"What is this thing?" Caera muttered. With a flick of her foot, she nudged it—only for her boot to pass straight through it.

"Waah!" Undeterred, the creature darted forward, latching onto Arthur's pant leg and tugging insistently.

"Hm..." Arthur's eyes grew narrowed as he observed it.

***

Barry Warden

The bear had become slower. Even so, it remained fast enough to appear right before me in a mere moment.

Its maw gaped wide. Before its jaws could bite off my head. I dropped low, feeling its teeth graze across my skin and the rush of air as its jaws snapped shut where my skull had been a heartbeat ago. My grip tightened around the handle. Flames lit up boldly along the blade length as I advanced, driving it deep into the bear's exposed belly.

Flesh split apart with blood, and its internal organs sprayed out all over me as momentum carried me past its hulking form, slicing its belly open.

Ignoring the sting of fresh wounds on my face, I turned, expecting to see it collapse since I had landed a good—no, a fatal hit on it.

But it didn't.

The bear still stood.

All four of its limbs fought to hold itself up to stand while its entrails spilled out like a pile of mangled ropes. And yet—

"OOAAAAARRRR!!" It charged again, dragging what was left of it toward me with claws and bones sliding out from the shredded remnants of its paws, constantly striking down blows that could possibly put me to sleep for good.

I could only dodge, barely fast enough to avoid one before another came crashing down. 

I continued to step back. I had to wait. Had to endure. Had to—

Now!

I thrusted.

"GraAaHHhrr!"

My blade pierced through its throat, flames flaring stoutly as the steel buried itself deep. Bones immediately jutted out from there, pushing back against the steel to resist.

I twisted the blade, flame flaring up as I sliced upward. 

"oOAAaAARRRRrrRRrRRr!!"

With an unyielding roar, the bear knocked my leg out from beneath with a brutal strike, sending me crashing to the ground. Despite its head hanging limply from a neck that was now little more than a bloody stump.

It sank its teeth into my shoulder.

"GAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" I stabbed the blade through its skull. My legs braced against the rotting mass of flesh as I pushed.

Pain flared through me as it nearly wrenched whole my arm off.

The beast's teeth clenched tighter.

"GRrRRrrR!!" I gritted my teeth against the pain and pressed on. My arms strained as I twisted the blade, struggling to tear its head off what remained of its neck with all the strength I could muster.

Minutes stretched on.

Something snapped.

The bear went still. Its jaws loosened as its body crumpled to the ground.

Dead.