The two struggled, fighting for power. Each with their lives on the line, they fought with all their might.
Elias gritted his teeth, pushing his body to it's absolute limit to bring this giant down, his entire family counted on him. He couldn't lose.
The beast clamped on the chain, strings of siliva fell from it's mouth as it countered Elias' pull. It refused to die.
The first rays of the sun pierced the horizon, the sky was painted a magnificent golden hue, the birds sang their melodies, and the cold wind settled. They were at a stalemate, but neither would back down. Elias' was the first to faulter, his foot slid, giving the upper hand on the behemoth. Following the slip up, Elias pulled harder than before.
Step.
"I.. Won't.. Lose...!"
He said through his teeth, the chain tightening around his forearm. His body shook, he was exhausted, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins refused to let him fall.
The ground stattered beneath the large creatures weight as it attempted to get low. Elias' muscle screamed at him, he needed to end it soon, one final pull with empting everything he had left.
The monster claws scrambled at the ground, didding deeper to gain strength. The beast snarled.
The chain vibrated with each pull. Metal strained and groaned. Elias' dug his foot into the beasts' fur.
His vision flashed, white, red, black. The beast roared and lunged forward, throwing all of it's weight into one final overwhelming pull.
Elias shifted, and roared back. he twisted his hips and ripped the chain backward with everything he had.
HAAAAGGGHH!
GRRRAAAAGH!
Step.
Step.
Crack!
A bone snapped, it wasn't his.. The creature staggered, it's iron grip on the chain loosened. Elias felt it, This was his only chance do the impossible. Everything he had went through, every moment of despair, every wound, led to this moment.
With both hands Elias' grasped the chain, planted both feet and with a deafening war cry he yanked the chain one last time.
"This is your end!"
Snap. Drop.
Its neck whipped toward Elias and It's body went limp, the smell of blood disipated. It was over. Elias stood atop the mountainous creature, chest heaving and breath ragged.
"You won't take anything from me anymore."
He had done it, he finally proved to himself, that he could challenged death and win. His victory would not last long as he knew that this was only half of the battle.
He still had to get his family help. He didn't know how to treat wounds so severe, he was only taught how to treat flesh-wounds.
Elias' leaped off of the lifeless body, and rushed over to his mother and father, he knelt. His breathing ecame rough. He scrambled over their bodies,
"I don't know what to do.. I..."
He his hands hovered over their bodies, then on his head, back off, he rose. Snapping his head in the direction where Misha was. He was wasting time, if he didn't act fast they would all die. So he stood, with a deep inhale, he thought.
If he left them there, the bleeding would take them before noon. But he couldn't just do nothing, so what..
An idea stuck him like lightning, It was so obvious, but he didn't know if it would work. But he was desperate, any more time lost could be their last. He glanced around, his eyes darting around, searching.
"Found it."
A large cloth hanging on a drying line. He yanked it off and gathered up the bodies of his family members. Heaving Misha on his left shoulder, his body screamed under the dead weight, but his there was still a subtle throb next to his heart, a strength born from his will, he couldn't waste this opportunity.
"I don't care if my body breaks down, i have to get them to safety."
He lifted his mother his left shoulder, previously an impossible feat, but this time he was different, stronger.
He lay his brother and father on the large cloth and tied it to his wrist, tugging on the knot to make sure it wouldn't slip. Then he set off.
His mother told him of an old road that was not far from home, used by merchants as a short cut, though not often. The road led to a city, The city Of Golden Wings, there, he would be able to find the help needed. But he needed to get to the road.
Step after step he pushed through the forest, roots clawed at his ankles but he keot moving, each step brought him closer to the road, closer to his family being safe. His body was exhausted, crumbling under the weight on his shoulders and wrist, but he couldn't fall, not here, not now.
Step.
His vision became unstable, he looked around, searching for a hint, a trail, anything he could use to find it.
Step.
His legs shook, his breath came out as sharp ragged gasps. The adrenaline was beginning to ware off, his body was falling apart.
Stumble.
He stumbled, yet did not fall. Thsi was just another obstacle that stood in his way.
"I've beaten a creature.. more terrifying than death. I can.. do this.."
He traveled for what felt like miles, and he has lost track of time. He was lost, tired, hungry and thirsty. Still he stepped forward.
Even though his arm had gone limp long ago, he stepped.
Even though his legs trembled every time he stood, he stepped.
Even when his vision began to fail, he stepped.
Until.
Voices..
It was people. Finally, he had hope. He forces his legs to move.
"Please!" He rushed toward where the direction of the voices.
"Be alert!" A burly man in clad armor shouted, "The beast can come from anywhere!"
Another yawned, "Where just an escort man, don't take it too serious."
"I would ratther be serious than dead, Frank."
"Suit yourself, man."
Crunch!
The guards snapped their body in the direction of the sound, immdeiately drawing their weapons. Their eyes traced the shade for any sudden movements,
"Whose there! Show yourself, now!"
Then they saw it, red eyes gleaming from the shadows, unblinking, they drifted between the group like a predator stalking it's prey.
Thier blood ran cold.
The burly man stepped closer, "Come out from the shadows!"
They expected to see a behemoth of a monster, instead they wacthed as a boy bleeding, and brusied. He was barely standing, carrying two people on his shoulder, behind him, he dragged two more.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing, their mouths began to move, but before they could speak.
"My.. family.. Please..!"
His knees caved, and his vision began to fade. The loud voices calling for him began to fade, and his conciousness slipped.
Silence. The darkness swallowed him whole.
Gasp!
He awoke in a jolt, around him was a nightstand a dresser and an old lantern for light. An unfamiliar sight,
"What..? Where..?"
He attempted to move, a dull pain throbbed from his shoulder. He winced, instinctively holding it to ease the pressure.
He rose to his feet, his legs still week from pushing his body past it's limits. He entered the hall, leaning against a wall, his legs quivered beneath him.
"Where is my family..?"