Escape

Upon witnessing hands emerging from the water, Miko and Rune were gripped with terror. "We need to leave," Rune insisted, his eyes darting towards Miko. She nodded silently in agreement, and together they began to move away. As they distanced themselves from the bewildering scene, Rune couldn't resist stealing a glance back.

What he saw horrified him to the core: two hands emerging from the water, followed by a white figure ascending from the pond. The creature, devoid of hair but adorned with deer antlers, resembled a twisted human. Rune's eyes widened as he noticed its lower half: the front lower portion resembled that of a zebra, with striking black and white coloration, while the posterior legs mirrored those of a brown horse. To add to the monstrous sight, it possessed four arms, with two reaching towards the sky. In that moment, Rune realized that their peaceful journey through the forest, free from any true danger, had come crashing to an end.

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Without hesitation, he increased his pace, racing towards the edge of the forest. The moment the monster emerged from the pond, it raised its head towards the heavens and let out a bone-chilling roar, causing the birds to scatter in fear. The deafening sound echoed through the forest, sending shivers down Miko and Rune's spines. Survival became their sole focus as they sprinted as fast as they could.

In the midst of their escape, Miko inadvertently stepped on a small branch, causing it to snap loudly. Instantly, the monster shifted its gaze towards the direction that Rune and Miko were fleeing.

Rune stole a quick glance backwards while running, and what he saw was ghastly. The monster's hybrid form, a combination of a human upper half and a zebra and horse lower half, was absolutely terrifying. However, it also meant that the beast possessed incredible speed.

Slowly, the monster took deliberate steps before suddenly bolting towards Rune and Miko. "Just keep running, don't look back!" Rune urged, realizing that their pursuer was drawing dangerously close. With every glance backwards, he could see its black, menacing eyes and hear its thunderous roar reverberating through the forest. The pair continued their desperate trek, running among the trees while the monster ran along the path beside the pond.

Upon reflection, Rune realized there was no escaping the monstrous creature. "Damn, our luck has run out," he thought. But he refused to accept his fate and devised a plan that could momentarily confuse the creature. "Miko, drop your bag and keep running," Rune commanded as he sprinted through the forest, the sound of the monster's approaching gallops growing louder and closer.

As Miko obeyed and abandoned her bag, Rune paused for a second before hurling both of their bags at the beast. One bag was intended to momentarily blind the creature, while the other was thrown in front of it. Almost immediately, the monster stumbled over Miko's bag, causing it to topple over.

"No way, I can't believe it actually worked! I must be a genius," Rune exclaimed, feeling a surge of excitement as he continued running. Without the burden of heavy supply bags on his back, he could now sprint much faster.

Taking advantage of his increased speed, he quickly caught up with the exhausted Miko, who appeared on the verge of collapsing from fatigue. Rune's attention shifted to where the monster had fallen, only to realize it had already regained its footing and resumed its pursuit. Doubt crept into his mind as he muttered, "Maybe I've jinxed us." Turning to Miko, he decisively said, "Jump on my back." It wasn't because he believed he could outrun the monster, but because he noticed that the forest was coming to an end ahead, signaling their exit from this treacherous terrain.

Miko swiftly halted just before mounting Rune's powerful back. With great agility, Rune leapt into a gallop, carrying Miko on his back. As they raced forward, the end of the forest came into view. However, the menacing sound of the approaching monster grew increasingly deafening. Undeterred, Rune pushed himself to his limits, running faster and longer than ever before.

The monster let out a thunderous scream, but as Miko reached the forest's edge, a sudden stumble sent him and Miko tumbling down a steep hill. Strangely, the monster halted, observing their escape. Every time it tried to leave the forest, its skin was seared by an invisible force, forcing it to roar in frustration. Helplessly, it could only watch as Miko and Rune rolled down the grassy slope, unable to halt their descent.

As Rune tumbled down the treacherous hill, the impact of the ground against his head sent waves of excruciating pain surging through his body. He couldn't help but let out a piercing scream, his fear mounting as he continued to roll. Unlike Rune, Miko remained eerily silent, the seconds ticking away as their descent finally came to a halt at the bottom of the steep slope.

Moments later, Rune's cries of agony filled the air as he grappled with the intense pain coursing through him. Paralyzed by both physical suffering and the relentless pursuit of the forest monster, Rune dared not let out another scream. As he caught his breath and his vision began to clear from the blur, he mustered the last remnants of his strength to crawl painstakingly towards Miko, who lay motionless on the verdant grass beside a formidable stone.

With a mixture of desperation and hope, Rune reached out to check Miko's pulse, relief washing over him as he discovered signs of life. Weary from both physical and emotional torment, he settled himself next to her, leaning against the massive stone as he gazed up at the vast expanse of sky. Lost and uncertain, Rune pondered what to do next now that they had escaped the perils of the forest. Yet, deep down, he couldn't shake the unsettling realization that what lay ahead in this broken world could far surpass the horrors they had just encountered.