Lungs burned as exhaustion settled in. Perytos stopped to let his legs rest. Running exhausted his already tired body.

  It was almost dark now, the radiant light of Celarity was dimming. The celestial object almost hidden by the curvature of the world. I should stop for the night soon, just need a drink before.

  Due to his new stats he could fast for days but that didn't stop the feeling of emptiness. Maybe it was just loneliness gnawing at him... Still, he wanted to just drink some water. To feel just a bit more human for a second, god knew he needed that.

  He had the perfect opportunity. A spring quietly churned water just off the trail; a sip and he’ll be gone. Surely nothing bad would result from that.

  Perytos approached with slight apprehension. The stillness of the night pressed around him; all the prey hid away from danger. At this hour the terrible creatures of the forest churned and stirred, searching for their next victim.

  Only the slight clinking of wet stones underfoot and his heavy breathing disturbed the natural order. It unnerved him, but his desire took precedence.

  The water tasted divine; the fresh, cold liquid restored his parched throat divinely. He gulped wildly, like an animal. He only came to when his stomach was full of the lifegiving substance. The boy finally noticed the reflection in the still sheet of water.

  His hair was wild, unkempt and partly burned. His clothes looked even worse: ripped and singed cloth hung together just by a few decent patches. His visage resembled that of death itself.

  The person looking back at him in the reflection wasn't the happy, lanky teenager. Instead, a stranger looked back. Perytos' eyes, usually shiny and sparkling like the night sky, were lifeless and dull. His usual smile was gone. His body was coated in dirt, blood and ash. Even his longest and most ambitious hunts hadn’t left him in such a sorry state before.

  Tap Tap Tap

  The sound broke his line of thoughts. A little creature was happily trudging towards the water. Perhaps it wanted a drink, like he did. It didn't see him immediately only because he was partly hidden by the terrain. He looked closer at the rodent. He recognized those claws, this fur. He froze, instincts blaring at the realization. It was a Rot runner... Despite the unthreatening appearance the little creatures had potential to bring forward carnage like no other. He read about them in bestiary, most veteran adventurers warned against agitating them- When threatened the little rodents mimicked loud noises of dying prey to attract many different predators to its location. Then, while all creatures were busy infighting it would slip away hopping between trees. After some time, it would feast on the remaining carrion.

  Wordlessly he tried to sneak away. The beast's keen instincts and darkness piercing eyes rebutted his attempt. It shrieked in fear and surprise. The sheer force of the sound wobbled him. He came to be almost instantly. I need to get out of here!

  The timer had already begun. He scrambled towards the path, slipping on the wet ground. Already Terrible creatures of the Tremor woods navigated towards him.

  Something grazed his leg drawing blood; he didn't even look back. Soon that spring would be filled with more blood than water, the smell would doubtlessly bring even more Beasts. The vicious cycle would continue until no creature remained alive for miles, all would be pulled in. Perytos needed to as far as possible.

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  Clack Clack Clack

  His loud steps carried throughout the night.

  Perytos' sight wavered. His lungs burned, pushed to their limits they contracted like powerful bellows. If before he was exhausted, now he was at his limits. The forest spun in his vision, turning blurry. Not that he could see much in the dim forest, just the outline of the road. Spotting threats was almost impossible now.

  His muscles barely worked anymore, only held together by his burning will; the bitten calf no longer shed blood but it still reduced his agility. It turned the already desperate sprint into a messy jog at best.

  Bang!

  Something fast and heavy swept him off his feet. Tumbling to the ground he could barely make out a humanoid figure. A person! Thank god, they could hel- Growl- the thoughts forming in his mind instantly stopped. The thing that was not a person lunged at him without hesitation.

  He raised his arms; primal reflexes saving him from a nasty bite to the throat. This close the undead was even more terrifying. Disgusting drool fell from those yellow fangs- God! It’s practically drooling at me. The stench was even worse, the smell of a rot and decay emanating from it made him want to puke.

  It didn't care for his disgust. It's head snapped at his hand. Sharp teeth bit into his soft muscles and skin.

  Perytos screamed in agony. He pushed the thing off him. It stumbled to the ground, its jerky movements causing it to loose balance. He felt for his pocket knife, it flashed in the moonlight and sunk deep into the bone hard skull. Grey matter squelched as the blade scraped against the brain of the creature.

  The unnatural movement slowed, then quickly stopped. Perytos didn't move for a while. Trying to process what happened, but it was too much. He heaved on the trail beside him from disgust and shock.

  Even though his wrist hurt from the bite wound and his calve throbbed the young boy had no option but to keep going. He couldn't risk becoming a feast for the more dreadful of abominations. The weak undead was just the beginning, he had to find shelter quick; just had to get out of range.

  Dancing on the edge of unconsciousness, he kept stumbling on every crevice and indentation. Panic and terror kept him from looking back, from slowing down. The not knowing what was behind him, what kind of terrible creatures pursued him, kept him standing on his feet. The sheer wrongness of that undead put ice in his veins.

  His mind pictured the worst scenario: getting ripped apart piece by little piece by the creatures in the dark. Once again Perytos' mind looped on itself. He was unable to break free. His thoughts swimming darkness

  The notifications at the edge of vision shimmering slightly, went unnoticed in the chaos.

  While the boy was running for his life, the dense sickly forest seemed to rejoice in the carnage. Branches seemed to cackle malevolently, the wind carrying the promise of torture. Today Perytos was exposed to the real nature of Tremor woods. Not the seemingly peaceful, neutered mask it donned when wanting to lure victims.

  Raspy, warm breath during the chilling night made a small sliver of fog. Perytos had been running for an unknown time. His wounds seemed a bit better now, but his mind was in tatters. He flinched at every little creak and shift. The quiet evening was no more; night had fallen, and the air rippled from screams and growls in the distance.

  The many creatures of the forest gave into their beastly desires like they had for thousands of years already. Perytos made a decision, he had to rest. He was on his last legs, running until he fell in the middle of the road had no point. The line between safety and death didn’t exist anymore, not here, not now. Finding shelter was a must.

  Where, where... do I go. Nowhere is safe. He tapped his temple in a daze.

  I got it! Where was it safe? where animals wouldn't think to look. He would sleep in a tree! The crown would hide him until morning.

  He settled for the closest tree. Climbing proved to be a challenge. His body worked against him, too tired to put in the effort. After a brief tussle he finally made it, he was safe. Surrounded by wide oaken leaves on all sides, he drifted off, before he could question his new and insane reality.