Encounter: ???

Location: Forest : No Special Effects

“Cinnamon! Wake up, girl!” I cry out around chipmunk-like stuffed cheeks of snake meat.

My playboy bunny girl companion shoots bolt upright from her bedroll, one hand throwing off the cover even as her other snatches up her bow.

“Goodness, what wro--?” Her ears twitch toward the trees at the edge of the clearing. “Brian? I hear something.” She whispers nodding and notching an arrow. “Over there, about forty feet.”

I trace the general direction she's indicated to a large clump of bushes...

Perception vs ??? Stealth: Success!

...and the glowing eyes half hidden between the leaves.

The thing lunges forward with the sound of breaking branches and splintering wood. Letting loose with a roaring screech that nearly freezes me in place.

Swallowing both fear and snake meat I drop the kabob and my pistol flashes into my hand before it hits the ground. Thank you Quick Draw!

It barrels toward the firelight and I see the gleam of ivory teeth. I squeeze the trigger.

Luckily, the shot hits the limb of the beast and throws off the lethal swipe just enough that it misses my head. Though, the sound of the bullet ricocheting off its armored hide is even more frightening than the swiping claws.

I try and run backward, to get out of the range of its deadly reach and my back collides with the large stone jutting out over the creek at the edge of our camp.

It’s the same prehistoric looking dino lizard-cat creature I saw at the pool. A deep, wet growl bubbles up from its throat after its initial failed swipe and the dancing up-lighting from the fire bestows an even more frightening appearance on its monstrous form.

An arrow skips ineffectively off its shoulders and its head jerks quickly between Cinnamon and I as if debating which one of us would make a better dinner, and which dessert. Obviously still deciding its nostrils flare, then the monsters head lowers toward the ground to snap up a pre-meal appetizer.

My half eaten snake kabob.

Brian, you air biscuit! The scent drew it here. If I hadn’t cooked up the meat... This is my fault! The crack of splintering wood and snake bones pulls me out of my horrible realization a moment before the creature swallows.

It locks its eyes onto me and takes an absent swipe at the campfire between us, scattering smoking logs and roasted Naga in a flurry of sparks and ash.

I’ve flipped my pistol open and have already started to reload when a second arrow thumps into the side of the beast, burying itself nearly to the fletching. This time it lets out a roar of pain. My elation of us being able to actually hurt it instantly turns to terror as its attention switches to Cinnamon.

“Cinnamon, get out of here!” The words leave my lips before I even realize what I’m saying. “I’ll hold it off!”

I’ve never been a hero. Sure, I may play one on weekends, but in real life? Running into a burning building? Facing down a bully? Hell, just being brave enough to go out to a bar and talk to a pretty girl was well out of my comfort zone. Yet, this is my new real life, and here I am telling Cinnamon to run, when deep down, all I wanted was to do the same.

“Brian?” The bunny girl looks at me for a brief second and I see those big beautiful brown eyes contemplating for a moment.

“Run!”

Her lip gives a little quiver then she takes a step backward, turns and leaps upward into the branches of the tree canopy.

Cinnamon Butter uses Special Ability: Lepus Super Jump

Even though I told her to do it, my heart sinks as she disappears from sight.

I see the monsters legs tense, that alpha predator instinctual need to chase down and devour fleeing prey.

“Hey! Ugly! Over here you overgrown iguana!” I take a few steps forward waving my hands to get its attention then back step when its head turns toward me. I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat.

“Jiminy Christmas, Brian! What the flock are you doing?” I holster my pistol and leap back onto the large stones behind me and scramble upward. There would be nowhere to go once I reached the top but maybe I could peg it with bullets from above. Time to put those new skills to the test.

Acrobatics: Success!

I jump up, bouncing off one near vertical wall to grip the edge of a wide crack a foot or so from the top of the formation, amazing myself with my newly found parkouring prowess. Glancing down to make sure that I've put some space between myself and the monster I let out a panicked cry. The dino-beast has easily covered the distance. It's claws sparking along the broken rock as it clambers after me.

I start to pull myself onto the flattened peak but pain lances up my leg as it snatches my foot between its jaws and I’m yanked free from the stone. Like a dog with a chew toy the creature shakes violently and for a moment the world flashes around me as I’m swung about like a ragdoll. Then I’m crashing along the ground. Tumbling end over end to crack against the rough bark of a tree trunk.

Pushing upward I struggle to get up to my feet. My foot throbs with pain when I stand and I see that blood has seeped into my new, old leather boot. Though I’m thankful of the fact I’d put it on as it probably saved my leg from being sheared off at the calf. Colored spots swim in my vision and I can feel I’m not far from blacking out.

Brian Status: HP: 8 / 12 Stun: 5 / 22 Mana: 4 / 10

Recovery! That’s the stat that can give you back Stun. Like the Naga did. Though, I think it takes a second or two to do. Can I afford to take a Recovery?

I glance around, reorienting and searching for the monster. Some twenty feet away the thing crouches on top of the rock like its playing King of the Hill.

Nope!

It launches in my direction, sailing through the air. My pistol flies into my hand like it has a will of its own and I squeeze the trigger, firing from the hip.

Blood erupts from the softer underbelly of the beast and though I know I’ve done some serious damage, it doesn’t slow. Instead, those bloodshot eyes remain squarely locked on target as it lands and charges. Covering the last few yards in a blink, its jaws lunge forward.

Knowing I am about to die I react on pure instinct. With a yell of terror, I dive to the left, under the wide open mouth.

Unlocked: General Combat Action: DODGE! Defensive Value Increased!

Rolling back up to my feet I turn to see the monster tear a chunk of bark and wood free from the tree I’d been propped against. It whirls to face me and slashes out with a clawed limb, but I’m still dancing backward and the attack goes wide.

There was no time to reload. None! My sword is already in my hand and for the third time in less than a minute, I praise whatever gods this world has that I purchased Quick Draw.

I know it’s probably not going to do me any good but holding the weapon steels my nerves ever so slightly.

“Come at me, bro!” I scream my stupid battle cry.

With a roar it does. Strings of saliva and old bits of flesh from the other unfortunate creatures it had preyed upon splatter the ground between us.

An arrow streaks through the darkness from my right and catches the creature below the jaw of its cavernous maw, sinking into the base of its wide neck. The roar transforms into a wet gurgling hiss and the flying slobber into red, frothing blood.

Cinnamon Special Attack: Backstab.

Target is Poisoned. Lesser Naga Venom: Special Effect: Paralysis

It claws at its neck for a moment trying to dislodge the arrow but only succeeds in snapping off the shaft. I drop my sword and take the brief opening to reload, never taking my eyes off the creature. On shaky legs, it staggers toward me but its movements are sluggish and jerky.

My pistol snaps closed and I take careful aim at the neck wound and fire.

Cinnamon Special Attack: Backstab.

Another arrow thumps into the side of its head and though already dead on its feet it takes two more steps then crashes to the ground.

I blast another hole in its neck just to be sure and reload. Somehow I manage not to plug it again and instead lean over with my hands on my shaking knees gulping down air. Now that I'm out of combat I can feel the shock starting to wear off and instinctly know that I'm taking Recovery's.

Recovery: 6

Brian Status: HP: 8 / 12 Stun: 11 / 22 Mana: 4 / 10

Brian Status: HP: 8 / 12 Stun: 17 / 22 Mana: 4 / 10

Brian Status: HP: 8 / 12 Stun: 22 / 22 Mana: 4 / 10

My breathing comes under control and I swing about as Cinnamon steps silently out from the trees, an arrow notched in her bow. I start walking toward her, purpose and the rush of adrenaline driving me onward.

“I’m sorry, Brian.” Her ears droop back and her eyes move from me to the ground in front of her. “I didn’t mean to scare you I needed time to hide so I could get a clear--”

I cut her off as I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her close. Her ears go stiff, pointing skyward and she emits a rediculiously cute squeak. I place my hand behind her neck and draw her lips to mine.

She’s rigid as a board in my arms and I wonder if I have made a huge mistake. Our lips still pressed together I crack open an eye and see hers start to drift closed. Those sexy bunny ears, that were a moment ago pointed straight up, go limp and her shortbow clatters to the ground next to us.

Charm vs Cinnamon Butter: Success!

Cinnamon lets out a coo moan and melts in my arms. Spurned onward I deepen the kiss and she responds in kind our tongues dancing, one of her long legs lifts to circle around my waist drawing me even closer. I let my hand play along her thigh, squeezing hungrily. Feeling the taunt muscle and smooth skin beneath my fingers.

“Well now. What've we got here?”

Gun drawn, I spin toward the voice. Dropping Cinnamon who hits the ground with a startled Eep!