When I started running, I had brought the sword to my side, carrying it with both hands at an angle it wouldn’t get me caught on a tree. Letting go of it would have been common sense. To cut the extra weight. But my mind screamed at me that I needed this satchel and sword more than anything in the world, so I risked it. I had darted into the wood line, hoping I could lose whoever was chasing me in the forest and buy myself some time. From what I could see, they weren’t as close anymore, but I didn’t find myself willing to slow down. Around this time, my breathing was finally starting to become ragged, and I felt that my clothes were absolutely soaked from sweat. You would think someone this size wouldn’t even be able to sweat so much. I brushed the bangs from my face as I kept running to keep them from obstructing my sight. Damnit, this is just icing on the cake, being chased by some unseen enemy so far, and now my body was starting to feel the chase. I was slowing down from the lack of energy I already suffered from.
At this point, the fear was beginning to kick in, and I couldn’t even refrain from puking in front of me as I ran. Slowing barely enough to avoid puking on myself rather than the ground. Thankfully, it was just some water from the river... It had been maybe fifteen more minutes that I had kept on like that, and I was starting to slow down. My lungs, legs, core, everything burned. I found myself bobbing my head and now carrying the sword in both hands and barely maintaining a jog before the system gave me another alert.
Alert: Paladins of Orion, interception imminent. Seek assistance! Alert: Friendly party is within the detection range; continue heading!
I could feel tears streaming down my face at this point—the desperation mixed with fear and pain of the body. As I continued running, I saw that the elevation was increasing directly in front of me and the level of overgrowth blocking my path. That could be my reprieve too. The hill seems to stop rising at about thirty feet, then levels out again, but I can't see over it. But I CAN hear people bickering. God, please let them be able to help for now. Praying to myself momentarily, I spurred forward again, forcing myself through the brush towards the top.
*Crack-pick-crack-rustle*
I pushed my way through the brush, and I could feel myself heaving for air and gasping desperately for any little bit of energy that was there.
“Ahhh, Ahhh , hah, c’mon just a little further! Just a little-AHHH!”
I was just about to pass the top, but just before exiting the brush at the ridge, I felt a searing sensation go through my back for a moment. My momentum managed to throw me just to the ridge, and just ahead of me, I saw them. Four people, I couldn’t make them out too well because my hair had fallen back down, and sweat was getting in my eyes and burning enough to blur my vision; it looked like they were looking at me. When I saw them, I started breathing hard, trying to force myself forward. I managed to get another few feet, but I was suddenly light-headed for some reason. I tried yelling to them for help, but I barely managed to.
“Haaa-Haaaal”
I could just barely make out some gasps as I collapsed forward, landing on my side. When I looked down, I could see my body trembling and curling up instinctively….And now I knew why. Just to the left of where my heart should be, I could see the tip of an arrow sticking out of my shirt. Blood was already soaking it, adding to the already dried stains.
I can barely breathe… I think my lung is pierced… It’s hard to breathe….Is it collapsed?... It must be….. Damn….Sorry kid…..whoever I am….I guess we’re out of luck again…
Over the next few seconds, I could feel my consciousness fading out. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I could just barely hear the sound of someone running up to me from where those people were…..it sounded like all of them? Someone just skidded to a halt next to me. She kneeled….Wha?...Cat….ears? I could barely hear more than my own heartbeat at this point, but I could still hear them yelling. Just as I was blacking out, I received some alerts again.
Alert: Aid received, Covering statuses. Skill active- Disguise, Level 5, Race displayed as- Demon, lower, Level displayed, Level 8, All skills and heightened statuses halved or hidden. Hidden titles concealed.
When I started running, I had brought the sword to my side, carrying it with both hands at an angle it wouldn’t get me caught on a tree. Letting go of it would have been common sense. To cut the extra weight. But my mind screamed at me that I needed this satchel and sword more than anything in the world, so I risked it. I had darted into the wood line, hoping I could lose whoever was chasing me in the forest and buy myself some time. From what I could see, they weren’t as close anymore, but I didn’t find myself willing to slow down. Around this time, my breathing was finally starting to become ragged, and I felt that my clothes were absolutely soaked from sweat. You would think someone this size wouldn’t even be able to sweat so much. I brushed the bangs from my face as I kept running to keep them from obstructing my sight. Damnit, this is just icing on the cake, being chased by some unseen enemy so far, and now my body was starting to feel the chase. I was slowing down from the lack of energy I already suffered from.
At this point, the fear was beginning to kick in, and I couldn’t even refrain from puking in front of me as I ran. Slowing barely enough to avoid puking on myself rather than the ground. Thankfully, it was just some water from the river... It had been maybe fifteen more minutes that I had kept on like that, and I was starting to slow down. My lungs, legs, core, everything burned. I found myself bobbing my head and now carrying the sword in both hands and barely maintaining a jog before the system gave me another alert.
Alert: Paladins of Orion, interception imminent. Seek assistance! Alert: Friendly party is within the detection range; continue heading!
I could feel tears streaming down my face at this point—the desperation mixed with fear and pain of the body. As I continued running, I saw that the elevation was increasing directly in front of me and the level of overgrowth blocking my path. That could be my reprieve too. The hill seems to stop rising at about thirty feet, then levels out again, but I can't see over it. But I CAN hear people bickering. God, please let them be able to help for now. Praying to myself momentarily, I spurred forward again, forcing myself through the brush towards the top.
*Crack-pick-crack-rustle*
I pushed my way through the brush, and I could feel myself heaving for air and gasping desperately for any little bit of energy that was there.
“Ahhh, Ahhh , hah, c’mon just a little further! Just a little-AHHH!”
I was just about to pass the top, but just before exiting the brush at the ridge, I felt a searing sensation go through my back for a moment. My momentum managed to throw me just to the ridge, and just ahead of me, I saw them. Four people, I couldn’t make them out too well because my hair had fallen back down, and sweat was getting in my eyes and burning enough to blur my vision; it looked like they were looking at me. When I saw them, I started breathing hard, trying to force myself forward. I managed to get another few feet, but I was suddenly light-headed for some reason. I tried yelling to them for help, but I barely managed to.
“Haaa-Haaaal”
I could just barely make out some gasps as I collapsed forward, landing on my side. When I looked down, I could see my body trembling and curling up instinctively….And now I knew why. Just to the left of where my heart should be, I could see the tip of an arrow sticking out of my shirt. Blood was already soaking it, adding to the already dried stains.
I can barely breathe… I think my lung is pierced… It’s hard to breathe….Is it collapsed?... It must be….. Damn….Sorry kid…..whoever I am….I guess we’re out of luck again…
Over the next few seconds, I could feel my consciousness fading out. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I could just barely hear the sound of someone running up to me from where those people were…..it sounded like all of them? Someone just skidded to a halt next to me. She kneeled….Wha?...Cat….ears? I could barely hear more than my own heartbeat at this point, but I could still hear them yelling. Just as I was blacking out, I received some alerts again.
Alert: Aid received, Covering statuses. Skill active- Disguise, Level 5, Race displayed as- Demon, lower, Level displayed, Level 8, All skills and heightened statuses halved or hidden. Hidden titles concealed.
