Crawling over the pebble covered dirt, twisting tendrils of darker than black mist pool around my feet and climb up my legs, seeking to encase me in a void, banishing me from existence. Despite the impending doom my body refuses to respond, like sleep paralysis preventing escape in a nightmare it feels like my brain has been disconnected and I'm just a spectator to my own death.

Growling deeply with tangible sorrow is what I can only assume is the Black Fluffer's guardian angel of death, here to seek vengeance on me. For the moment, it seems to be mourning the loss of it's loved one instead of ripping off my head from my frozen-stiff shoulders, which is always a good thing! Being alive is better than being dead after all.

'Don't panic, I will survive this' I mentally chant as the increasingly more gut wrenching cries behind me galvanize the black tendrils to faster speeds. I use the dreadful, climbing tendrils as motivation to shake free from the mental shackles freezing my body and start considering my plan of attack.

Offence is the best defense! My birdy body isn't designed for running away in the first place! I just need to unleash my fiery fury to whatever's behind me and take it from there! If all goes wrong, it'll be another night spent as ashes for me... still preferable to death.

Allowing a split second for a Bellows to build up at the base of my throat I attempt to spin around and attack! But, against my actions the black tendrils wrapped around my body go from a soft vapor to a jelly-like sludge as I try to maneuver, crippling my speed to what could be describe as 'dreadfully slow'. To my relief, the mourning beast is oblivious to my floundering, too busy trying to elicit a response from the half-eaten Black Fluffer by nudging it with thick mist. From this angle I have a defined view of the creature restricting my limbs, a view I would be happier not to see.

A living nightmare.

A flowing tangle of black mist floating above the ground, without any discernible arms or legs, the only feature differing from the light-consuming darkness are the eyes, a deep-set pair of black slitted eyes. As I continue to observe the incarnation of death and withhold the fire in my mouth, a black furred paw materializes from the mist of it's body and pulls in the bloody corpse of it's young. As the corpse enters the folds of darkness and disappears, those terrible black eyes turn to me without a trace of sadness or malice, only apathy, which is somehow more terrifying.

Shoot first, ask questions later!

The Misty Death takes a 'step' forward, the movement completely hidden by mist so I can only assume it's stepping and not some type of floating. A lighter black mist pours from the main body and quickly shrouds the whole jungle in an oppressive shadow. Taking the occurrence as the signal to 'fire', I do exactly that and let loose the Bellows that had been building up in my mouth, aiming for the floating pair of eyes. Even the dazzling radiance of my fire does very little to banish the mounting darkness as it streaks to the foe before me.

18 Fire Damage

Catching it by surprise, the Misty Death takes the whole attack straight to it's flank without even reacting! The dark mist coating it's body gushes the impact of the firebolt, promptly snuffing out the fire and minimizing the damage. The previous apathy it those looming black eyes changes to rage as it charges to my side, taking advantage of the sludge-like mist that has now crawled up to my neck.

A thick pillar mist rises above my head and solidifies into sharp claws as it arcs down to my exposed neck, but I can barely move a muscle! what choices do I have? Cinders? Bellows? 'I have no way to avoid the descending attack', I think with abject terror.

Without any options available and no time to think, I resort to my area of effect attack, Cinders, praying for a miracle to occur.

"Cinders" I call out as the claws of darkness connect and shred through my body.

Suffered 30 Slashing Damage Suffered Bleeding

A splash of fire erupts from my immobile wings and weakens the darkness binding me, but too late to stop the devastating attack from ripping through my right wing and all down my right side. I wail out in agony as I fall on my face and pain flares throughout my whole body.

Enduring through force of will I ignore the intense pain of torn muscles and broken bones as I rapidly use Cinders to melt away at the rest of the darkness encasing me.

The pair of floating eyes considers me with curiosity for a shocked second as my fire pushes back at the darkness and releases me from the sludge, then as quickly as it comes does the curiosity return to vicious blood lust. Raising another pillar of darkness the Misty Death strikes downwards a second time at my already mangled wing.

This time, I dive free from the claws' attack path and roll along my uninjured side while firing a poorly aimed bellows in retaliation.

Suffered 4 Blood Loss 5 Fire Damage

Blood flicks from my wounds as I collect myself from the roll, the Misty Death mostly avoids my Bellows by shimmering back and forth through the darkness surrounding it much like the one I killed moments ago had done. There's that teleport again! So unfair! But at least I'm not covered in mist anymore.

For a moment there's a lull in the fight and we both circle and stare at one another. I'm dragging my battered wing on the floor like unwanted baggage, with my opponent lunging back and forth to get around to my back. Compared to earlier, the mist hiding my foe has thinned out, it's front and back legs are no longer obscured and are clear to see. It seems teleportation requires lots of mist to accomplish, which makes sense. However in terms of our physical state, it's my utter loss, I've only taken one substantial attack, yet I'm already down a wing and bleeding badly. My opponent is still going strong without a receiving any debilitating attacks so far, each passing second puts the Misty Death further ahead.

Suffered 2 Blood Loss

I only have one option... abuse my rebirth... sacrifice my life for the long term victory. I must get closer.

Gathering all of my energy I condense a extra large Bellows in my stomach and send it barreling through my throat. A second later a yellow inferno submerges my vision as the firebolt rockets at the shuddering black creature opposing me. Seeming to sense the strong attack, the Misty Death starts amassing the remnants of it's dark mist to dodge a split second before it hits.

6 Fire Damage

Phasing past my final Bellows, the Misty Death emerges with bared fangs and only slightly singed fur.

...Right into my waiting talons.

6 Piercing Damage 5 Piercing Damage 16 Tearing Damage Shadow Lynx is Bleeding 8 Tearing Damage

By following just behind the smokescreen of the supercharged Bellows I'm able close the gap between us and rip into it's flesh with reckless abandon. Without any remaining mist to cushion my sharp claws or teleport away, my flurry of attacks decimates it's unprotected chest.

Rolling onto it's back and curling up, the Misty Death uses all it's leg strength to pry my firmly clenched talons off it's torso. While successful in throwing me away, I make it suffer by frantically tearing a sizable chunk of charred flesh along with me and shooting a weak Cinders as I fly backwards.

Suffered 3 Slashing Damage 11 Tearing Damage 4 Fire Damage Suffered 8 Falling Damage Suffered 6 Blood Loss

Air and blood splurts from my lunges as I slam on my back and crush my bloody wing on the rocks, but I'm still alive.

Taking a few shuddering breathes, we both scramble to our feet and stare off at one another, this time neither willing to step forth and strike first. That plan was a great success for me! I was fully prepared to die for that opportunity and now I have a second chance to end it for real!

I shuffle a few steps back to get some distance and the Misty Death takes a few steps forward, again I shuffle back while favoring my left side and once more I'm pursued, but with more confidence. I'm still behind in terms of damage received, so my plan is to prolong the fight and recover enough energy to use Bellows again.

Suffered 2 Blood Loss

As if sensing my intentions to hold back, the limping black feline takes the initiative and bounds at me with a couple of long hops, closing the gap quicker than I can run away. Opening it's vicious mouth and lunging it's neck, a row of white teeth with two impressive incisors clamps down towards me in a flash.

Suffered 13 Piercing Damage

By shoving my mostly undamaged left wing into the snapping maw I narrowly prevent the pointed teeth from digging into my neck, buying me more precious time.

Taking a note from my battle with the Grey Fluffer, I swiftly abandon my plan on holding off for a Bellows, instead focusing the last of my fire to my left wing with Cinders, scorching the inside of it's mouth with burning fire.

The end result is spectacular.

35 Fire Damage Shadow Lynx is Burned Cinders has reached level 2 + 3 Affinity

The spray of Cinder's fire contained within it's mouth spews back into my face after scorching the Misty Death's mouth and throat. Of course the fire has no effect on me, but The Misty Death is a different story and it instantly releases it's bite on my wing, screaming hoarsely to the sky as fire continues to ravage it's defenseless insides. The crying grows quiet after several longs seconds and the defeated Misty Death collapses to the rocky floor. I guess my silly opponent was under the impression that my fires had been extinguished and put it's head just a little tooooo close to my wings! An amateur move.

My fire never dies!

Suffered 5 Blood Loss

I lower my head to the floor and gingerly splay out my crippled wings, not once taking my eyes off the black lump breathing shallow breathes on the ground next to me. I take my own steady gulps of air as my sense of pain gradually returns back to my brain, even the chilly wind brushing on my wings brings unimaginable agony. Blood still runs from my wounds, especially my left wing, but already I can feel the blood clotting as I concentrate on catching my breathe. I guess I've never had the chance to recover from a fight before as I either win without getting a scratch, or die before any healing can take place. I never thought I could heal so quick!

Whereas I'm recovering abnormally fast from the two consecutive fights, my opponent's condition appears to be getting worse. The fire in it's body must of burned out by now, but the accumulated wounds both inside and out won't be healing anytime soon.

"Muaha, fire beats darkness you scary beast!" I weakly whisper with a light chuckle to the barely moving mound of burnt fur. The insult hurts my batters bones, but the pain is worth it, I can't let my victory go un-gloated!

I close my weary eyes after my breathing normalizes, confident that the danger has passed for the moment. The welcoming sight of my eyelids soothes my wracked nerves and a heavy fatigue soaks my consciousness.

I'm just going to close my eyes for one second, that's it, I swear...

...I'll just take a super quick 5 minute rest and then I'll be up to eat my food, I.... swear.... just ten more minu...*snore*

Shadow Lynx Slain, 213 exp gained Level Up! You've reached level 4 +1 Strength, + 1 Endurance, + 1 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, +1 Affinity