A Deadly Beauty
He heard the call from further away this time, something he could stalk and hunt. Toadie had learned quickly that he was no match for multiple creatures, whatever these new things were crawling all over his territory. 'Mimics' was all he could piece together as they used similar calls to his family to lure out Direbog into the open. Smart hunters. Maybe they were something from the Eldan labs? They weren't draken or Dominion, that was for sure.
He heard the call again and moved through the undergrowth slowly as he made sure to keep a keen eye for any and all movement. Each unusual rustle or sudden movement off in the distance made him freeze. He didn't want to become another meal for these monsters. A hand to the wound on his chest, he suppressed a growl as he remembered the struggle. It bothered him that he never got a good enough look at the flowered beast that attacked its own. Behavior that seemed strange, but worked in Toadie's favor so he didn't mind.
There was a deep growling that came to his side as Toadie turned just in time to feel the brunt of a large paw slam against him. He barely avoided the claws, but crashed and tumbled backwards into the underbrush. Unable to really balance himself in time, he rolled and kicked backwards to gain more distance as the beast struck out at him once more. Roaring in frustration, the two combatants sized one another up, slowly deciding the winner through intimidation alone.
Toadie flattened his ears as his tail lashed behind him. Despite his best efforts he still managed to get snuck up upon. He could feel the panic rising and the fur along his tail bristling, but he swallowed back his terror and prepared to fight. This was one on one, which meant he would have a better of a chance to get away with his life going toe to toe with this beast. Baring his teeth, he did the best he could and puffed up with a deep throaty growl to challenge the monster.
At the growl, the beast slowed its pacing before shifting to stand back on two legs reinforced with strong iron bark. A thick tail covered in moss acted as counter balance to this massive creature that readied two clawed paws, forearms covered in the same impenetrable bark. Easily twice the size of Toadie, it hissed as the tail lashed behind it. A sturdy torso keeping it upright which was layered in heavy moss and vines that bloomed with flowers, giving the monster a dangerous beauty.
Not waiting to allow the beast the first move, Toadie raced forward with stalker claws extended to slice through the vines and moss. Too slow. A great paw slapped him off target and into a rotting log, completely splintering the rotten wood. He heard the snarl and pushed off to escape the slam of paws into the ground looking to crush Toadie into the dirt. Panting, he looked up in time to see the monster turning to roar at him with a maw thorny teeth like the flytrap vines. Thick creeper vines covered the face for the most part, but two bright orange eyes watched him with feral aggression.
Rolling and tumbling further away, Toadie did his best to avoid another blow from the creature. On the defensive once more, Toadie sheathed his claws to pull the fang dagger from his back. A sharp pain in his side made him growl as he forced himself through the pain. He was back in the ring where it was kill or be killed, and he was ready. Rushing forward again, he tried to race past the beast to get in a good swipe to its side. Dodging to the side at the last moment, he wanted to fake out the beast. There was an opening.
Pain. Another paw slammed into him and sent him sailing towards a rock. Back crashing against stone, Toadie let out a short sharp cry and did his best to move or roll from his position. His body screamed at him, but nearly as much as his mind yelling to escape. The ground shook under the weight of the beast lumbering toward him. Another paw swipe and he was sent tumbling across the small ring they had created for themselves. Hand still desperately clutching his dagger, he tried to get up. There was a strange tug on his body as he looked to his arm. Vines and moss everywhere around him started to move across his skin.
The creature stalked closer and Toadie's eyes widened. Vines creped over him and he wanted to scream. They had control of the foliage! They could manipulate the ground and turn the swamp against them! It had to be eldan. They were in danger, everyone was in danger! He had to break free. Anything to warn his family. Circling him, the monster hesitated as Toadie panicked. Toadie could feel himself slipping.
Toadie felt a surge of adrenaline and knew he had to escape, but there was so much pain! Then everything went dark...