I was ready for it this time though. The beast lunged for me, and I stepped to the side in time to avoid the attack. My arms flexed and twisted, sweeping my staff up in an arc. There was a meaty thud as wood met flesh, and the thing yelped in pain as it landed, stumbling as its feet hit the ground again.

Despite the rough landing, I had to feel I came out the worse of that trade of blows. This fight was just proving to me how woefully out of condition I was. My forearms and wrists ached with the reverberations from the impact, and I had almost dropped my staff. As the dark-hued creature turned around to face me again, I realized something.

In a straight fight, I was not going to be able to put this thing down. Maybe if I had had time to get my bow strung, and I could fill it with Arrows, but alone, off guard like this, not a chance. Even on the edge of starvation like this beast was, it was still more than enough to take me down. Especially since, despite the scorching from the campfire and the fact that I had just caught it with a hit to the head, the thing was still broadcasting the same wave of painful hunger and fury.

If this thing hadn't been almost completely mad with rage and hunger, I might have been able to hurt it enough to make it back off and leave me alone. But as it was, for this felinoid I was a walking meal or two, just waiting for the taking. I saw its eyes, faded yellow orbs, flick over me, and I braced myself.

Just in time, too - the cat-thing picked up speed again, tearing towards me. Clods of dirt and grass flew into the air behind the pounding feet, some ripped up by sharp claws. Its rage gave it a boost to speed as it leapt at me again, this time slamming into me and sending me flying. I hit the ground and bounced, dirt and stones kicking up around me and digging into my back as I slid across the earth from the shoulder rush.

My staff flew from my hands, rolling out of reach as I tried to recover. But I didn't have time - the felinoid pounced, paws pinning my limbs to the ground. I barely managed to get my arm free before the slavering jaws flashed for my throat.

HUNGER

White hot pain shot through me as fangs ripped into flesh.