Chapter 4

  I spent the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon practicing spear throwing with the atlatl, smoking the meats, collecting firewood and berries. After a few hours of practice I was able to get pretty decent; hitting my target consistently within a few inches of where I wanted. Throwing with my left hand was out of the question for now, but later I would practice until I could. I wasn't exactly ambidextrous but I did have an easier time learning to do things with my left hand than Charles ever did. Surprisingly the spears didn't break from the heavy impacts. The wolf fangs I used as spear tips seemed to be slightly duller, but they were still more than sharp enough to do the job. All in all I was proud of my little builds.

  Also, what's up with this world? Everything is huge and super tough! Massive wolves with super sharp teeth and thorns I can't break what's next? Dragons? Ohhhh there better not be any dragons... OK enough about that for now, I need to get to that river I saw. Glancing around at all the things I gathered recently I realized that I didn’t have a way to carry everything with me. I had ended up with a lot of smoked meat and even as deep as my berry stained pajama pockets were, they wouldn't be able to hold everything. Let's see here... My shirt is way oversized so I could cut it back down to size and use the excess cloth to sew together a small bag... I had cut up a lot of vines so I still have plenty of fibers to make cords out of... Yep, sounds like a good plan. Look at me! I'm so smart... 

  Taking my steelthorns, I stabbed them through the shirt like sewing needles to mark where to cut off. Then I took off my shirt, grabbed a fang and got to work cutting off the excess sleeves and waist. Laying out the pieces, I tried to imagine how they would fit together. For the sleeves all I had to do was sew one end close and I already had a small bag, it just didn’t close. The part I cut off at the waist was a really long rectangle so I could cut it in half and sew the bottom of one half to the top of the other half then sew the sides together to form a bag. A simple drawstring would have to do. Then I could sew the small bags onto the sides of the bigger one to make a backpack. Yeah, that sounds good, and I can make straps with the cords as well. Enough chit-chat Seth, get to work!

  Braiding new cord and sewing the bags was peaceful work. The sound of the bubbling stream nearby, the breeze playing in the trees, and the wildlife chirping and chattering in the distance all fell easily on my ears. Despite the fact that I missed my family and I felt scared for my future, I couldn’t help but smile in that peaceful moment.

  I finished the bag without a problem and started stuffing the smoked meats inside. The thin slices of meat were now more like dried jerky and were no problem to store. The fangs and thorns were put into a side pouch, carefully aligned so they wouldn’t cut through the cloth. I gathered some more berries and put them in the other side pouch. The leftover cords were placed on top of the jerky and as for the antlers... well they’re as big as I am so either I have to use them to make something now or leave them. As I pondered about what I could possibly make out of antlers, I realized something.

  I forgot to grab the wolf’s claws! On normal dogs they aren’t that sharp but I bet these monstrous wolves have some wicked claws! I can’t believe that I forgot about them. Leaving the antlers alone for now, I grabbed a spear and went back over to the two corpses. Leaves crunched under foot and underbrush rustled as I passed. Although I was caked in sweat, grime, and dirt, the sun that pierced through the canopy felt good on my face.

  Coming around a tree I came across the two corpses. The massive deer was still torn to shreds, guts spread across the ground and the wolf... Was gone...

  Suddenly the forest seemed darker, more malicious, as if someone flipped a switch. Putting my back to a tree, I gripped my spear as the fear pumped through me. My heart raced as I looked at where the wolf should've been. The wolf was obviously dead so something had to have come along and dragged the body away.

  Was it still around? Whatever it is, it must be huge to be able to drag that body...

  Searching around, I saw the drag mark leading away into the trees. Next to the drag mark there were paw prints. I was unsure the exact size because I was looking from afar but the prints must be huge if I was able to see them. Forcing myself to look away from the prints, I scanned the trees around. 

  Why did I have to jinx myself!? Why mention dragons!?

  Seeing nothing in the trees, I crept back around and started back to my camp and supplies.

  I gotta get out of here, as far away as I can. The first night was massive dire wolves and now tonight some huge.... I froze, eyes widened, heart still, blood chill. Well... at least it’s not a dragon...

  Maybe 30 feet ahead, was a huge beast stalking towards me. It was some sort of feline, but it looked like it had the armor plates of an armadillo. Its eyes seemed to glow in the dark, and they were staring right at me. As soon as our eyes met it leapt. Clearing the 30 feet in an instant with claws extended and its mouth opened wide in a roar. I yelped like a wounded pup as I dove to the side. It crashed into the tree that I was up against and, with a snarl, whirled around to face me as scrambled back to my feet. I couldn't react fast enough as it swiped its claws at me, striking and slicing my chest. I did, however, pull back enough that the meat of its paws didn't batter me, it was just the claws that passed through my chest without resistance. Adrenaline was pumping as I ducked around another tree and ran for dear life, weaving through the forest.

  I heard its claws scraping on bark as the huge feline gave chase after me, fighting its way through a dense patch trees. I heard the crunch of dried leaves underfoot and the slap of underbrush against my legs. I heard the beat of my heart in my ears and the heaving of breath. I saw light flashing as I passed in and out of shadow. I saw trees blurring passed as I ran. I smelled decaying leaves, dirt and sweat. I tasted fresh blood in my mouth. Adrenaline pushed my senses into overdrive but shock made it so the only thing I felt was a well of cold fear in my chest. I felt nothing from the slashes across my chest except a spreading deep chill.

  This thing isn't going to leave me alone. I gotta do something... This is why I made a spear isn't it? If I don't use it I'm going to die. Come on Seth! You can do this, just be smarter than it is.

  Suddenly the sound of the kitty behind me stopped and a sense of dread tingled at the back of my neck. It pounced again! Quickly I jumped to the side and lashed out with my spear, slashing into its cheek. The roar was deafening as it twisted away in pain. It almost seemed surprised that I was able to hurt it in any way, but I wasn't really stopping to analyze its feelings. I continued to sprint back to my camp while it was distracted.

  I need my atlatl! 

  Anger resounded in the roar behind me, and the sound of crashing trees echoed as the armored feline rushed forward faster than before.

  Was it just playing with me before?

  "Don't play with your food kitty! Wait no,... I'm not food!" I yelled, looking back. "Aw crap..." It's paw slammed into my back and its claws raked open flesh. The force knocked me forward, I tried to stay on my feet but I stumbled and fell on my face. Knowing what was coming next I twisted around onto my back and brought the spear between me and it. Already, it was descending upon me with its jaw opened wide. The full weight came down onto the spear, cracking the shaft in half but not before a good foot and a half it disappeared into its chest. It roared in pain as it rolled onto the ground, writhing.

  Staggering to my feet, I started to jog forward with heaving breaths. Tears started to drip down my cheeks as the campfire came into sight with my spears leaning against the fallen tree. Behind me the roaring stopped. I kept going but I looked back at the feline. Its head was low and blood was dripping from its mouth, but I saw pure hatred in its eyes. It was stalking towards me, cautious of what I could do. Its chest was covered in the blood pouring the wound I made and, from the claw marks around it, it looked like it tore the broken shaft out.

  Why isn’t it dead yet?! That move always kills beasts in movies... JUST DIE!... please leave me alone...

  Finally reaching the campsite, I grabbed the atlatl and, while watching the kitty out of the corner of my eye, I nocked a spear and held it up ready to throw. I also held the other spear in my free hand in case my throw didn't kill it. If I didn't kill it from the thrown spear then I was most likely going to get killed. 

  It had stopped stalking towards me and was pacing through the trees, glaring hatred at me. The hatred sent a shiver down my spine. Carefully, I aimed at the cat, keeping it trained as it moved in and out of sight.

  The deep chill in my chest had spread and I felt the wetness of my blood spilling down my back and stomach to my legs. Pain was slowly creeping up as well. My chest started to burn and my back itched.

  It seems like my adrenaline is wearing off. I need to finish this... one way or another. Hopefully with me the vict... Aw crap, where’d it go!?

  It had walked behind a tree but didn’t walk back out. Fervently glancing around to find it, I slowly spun in circles with my armed back and ready to throw. My heart hammered against my chest and my breathing stilled as I focused my senses on everything around me. A few seconds passed but each second seemed like eternity

  There was a rustle of leaves and a snap of a twig above me... In the canopy. Realization hit me as I jerked my head up to see the cat creature in the branches. It snarled when I noticed it and gave up stealth entirely. It leapt from tree to tree, shaking them, then pounced down toward me. The moment it pounced I flung the spear as hard as I could, aiming for the chest wound. The spear glanced off its armored shoulder.

  I tried to duck away, but it spread its forelegs wide and clubbed me as it landed. My head reeled as I tried to orient myself, and I was getting to my knees when a large paw slammed into my back, pinning me to the ground. Screaming in terror, I swung wildly with the last spear but I couldn't swing backwards with enough force to do anything.

  In the corner of my eye I saw the cat standing over, its face twisted in a snarl. I felt claws digging into my back... and I was scared. I didn't want to die so far away from home on some strange planet. I didn't want to die alone in a forest. I writhed and squirmed and screamed, but couldn't get free. I was pinned by some armored lion and it was going to kill me.

  Hopelessness poured into me as my tears left. I saw as it opened its mouth wide to finish me off and I squeezed my eyes shut.

  Something growled to the right and I heard something running through the underbrush. Suddenly the weight of the paw was gone and its claws wrenched free from my back. I opened my eyes and struggled onto my hands and knees, then used my last spear to get onto my feet.

  Something is fighting the kitty... I heard the sound of them in the trees. Hopefully that means it won't come back for me... With my luck it probably will. Right now though I'm bleeding out. I don't have bandages or any medicine. My shirt is in shreds so I might as well use it.

  I took off my shirt and used the spearhead to rip it the rest of the way. I folded the cloth into square patches and pressed them onto the wounds on my chest and back, mostly onto my back. Then I grabbed the cords I made out of my pack and wrapped them around my torso as tight as I could to hold the cloth to the wound. My hands were soaked in my own blood and it was hard to tie the knots, but I somehow managed.

  Adrenaline officially wore off and my strength left me as I sat, leaning against the fallen log. I took deep breaths to try to compose myself but I felt weak. My vision was fading fast and my body slumped to the ground.

  The last thing I saw before unconsciousness took me was a big silhouette approaching.