Ludwig’s feet carried him further and further away from the raptors, but the more he ran, the worse his situation became. What had started as a manageable chase with three raptors half an hour ago had now escalated into a full-blown stampede. The three had become six, and soon another joined the pack. Yet, despite their numbers, none of them had managed to close the gap between themselves and Ludwig.
“Surprisingly, you’re keeping up the same pace,” Thomas remarked, his voice calm despite the chaos unfolding around them.
“Yep, gotta keep a rhythm when running,” Ludwig replied, his breathing steady as he leaped over a large tree root blocking his path. Behind him, one of the raptors, too focused on its prey, failed to notice the obstacle. Its legs tangled in the root, sending it tumbling to the ground with a sharp yelp.
“One down!” Thomas cheered, his tone almost playful.
“Don’t curse it,” Ludwig said, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead. “They have very sturdy legs.” As if to prove his point, the fallen raptor scrambled back to its feet, shaking off the impact, and rejoined the chase, though now it lagged at the back of the pack.
Soon, a seventh raptor emerged from the dense foliage, its sharp eyes locking onto Ludwig. The pack was growing, and the forest seemed to echo with their hisses and snarls.
“At this rate, you’ll probably have the entire forest running after you,” Thomas said, his voice tinged with amusement.
“As long as I’m faster and keep my distance, I’m fine,” Ludwig replied, his tone confident. He ducked under a low-hanging branch and sidestepped a cluster of thick vines. One of the raptors, too focused on its prey, didn’t see the looping vine in its path. Its neck snapped back as it collided with the obstacle, the force of the impact nearly breaking its spine. The creature let out a pained screech but quickly recovered, its determination to catch Ludwig undiminished.
Ludwig pressed on, his legs burning but his resolve unshaken. The forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of towering trees and dense underbrush. The sound of the raptors’ claws scraping against the forest floor was a constant reminder of the danger at his heels. But Ludwig’s mind was sharp, his focus unwavering. He knew that one misstep could mean the end of him.
Suddenly, another loud explosion echoed through the forest, this time from up ahead. Ludwig’s lips curled into a wide grin as he sprinted toward the source of the noise. Bursting through the foliage, he found himself in a small clearing. A student stood in the center, his face pale and streaked with sweat. The corpses of three Velkryn lay sprawled around him, their bodies charred and broken. The student’s wand trembled in his hand as he pointed it at Ludwig.
“I’m warning you! Don’t get any closer!” the student shouted, his voice cracking with exhaustion.
Ludwig didn’t need to say a word. The seven Velkryn burst into the clearing behind him, their hisses filling the air. The student’s eyes widened in horror as he realized what was happening.
“Son of a bitch!” the student cursed, his hands shaking as he began to chant a spell.
But Ludwig was faster. “Vow of Silence!” he cast, his voice sharp and commanding. Runic writings spread rapidly from beneath the student’s feet, snaking up his body and sealing his mouth shut. The student clawed at his face, his muffled screams barely audible as the spell took hold.
Ludwig sprinted past him, not sparing a second glance. The student could only watch in terror as the seven raptors lunged at him. But just as their claws were about to strike, a large, translucent bubble materialized around the student. The raptors collided with the barrier, their snarls turning to frustrated hisses. The bubble then shot upward, carrying the student out of harm’s way and disappearing into the canopy above.
The Velkryn, now robbed of their prey, turned their attention back to Ludwig, their eyes blazing with fury.
“Well, that wasn’t nice,” Thomas said, his tone disapproving.
“Yeah, he should have at least bought me some time acting as food,” Ludwig replied with a shrug, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I think you missed my point,” Thomas said, frowning.
Ludwig grinned. “I didn’t.” And with that, he took off again, the raptors hot on his heels.
The sound of the stampede behind him grew louder, the forest floor trembling under the weight of the pursuing pack. The Velkryn were relentless, their determination to catch Ludwig only growing stronger with every passing moment. They had lost one meal, and they weren’t about to let another slip away.
Ludwig’s eyes darted across the terrain, scanning for any advantage he could exploit. He couldn’t afford to stumble or back himself into a corner. Every step had to be calculated, every move deliberate. And then he saw it—a narrow path leading to the edge of a cliff. A plan began to form in his mind.
Ludwig sprinted toward the cliff, the raptors closing in behind him. The edge came into view, a sheer drop into another level of the forest. Ludwig’s heart pounded as he grabbed a hanging vine, using it to swing himself forward.
“CLIFF! CLIFF! CLIFF!” Thomas shouted, his voice filled with panic.
“I know,” Ludwig replied, his grin widening. He leaped off the edge, the vine snapping taut as it caught his weight. The first three raptors, too focused on their prey, didn’t notice the drop until it was too late. Their claws scrabbled against the edge of the cliff as they tumbled into the void, their hisses turning to panicked screeches.
The remaining raptors skidded to a halt at the edge, their eyes wide with fear. But their relief was short-lived. One of the raptors, unable to stop in time, crashed into the others, sending the entire group over the edge. Ludwig swung back onto the cliff, his laughter echoing through the forest.
“Wow, that’s crazy,” Thomas said, his voice filled with awe.
“Yeah, but it worked,” Ludwig replied, peering over the edge. The raptors lay motionless at the bottom of the cliff, their bodies broken and lifeless. One of them twitched weakly, but it was clear they were no longer a threat.
Ludwig let go of the vine and took a moment to catch his breath. -Though he didn’t have any lungs- The cliff’s edge offered a breathtaking view of the forest below, a sprawling expanse of greenery that seemed to stretch on forever. But Ludwig’s relief was short-lived. His eyes caught movement in the distance—something massive, something that was crushing trees as it moved.
Ludwig’s mouth twitched, his expression twisting into an awful, disgusted scowl.
“What? You look like you stepped on shit,” Thomas said, his tone lighthearted.
“I wish,” Ludwig muttered, his eyes fixed on the creature emerging from the treeline. Its massive form came into view, its powerful legs shaking the ground with every step. Its jaws were lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, and its eyes locked onto Ludwig with a predatory gleam.
Ludwig could swear, that the creature grinned at him.
“Fuck…” Ludwig cursed, his voice barely above a whisper. “That’s a fucking T-rex…”