Chapter 78

                                    

                                          
I stop and lean against a nearby rock, my chest heaving from the exertion.
"Huff... huff..." I take deep breaths, trying to steady my racing heart. My eyes scan the surroundings, searching for any movement or familiar figures. The forest remains still, as if holding its secrets close.
"Did I wander too far?" I mutter to myself, squinting as I strain to catch a glimpse of Curtis and Darius approaching.
Doubt gnaws at me, and a sense of unease settles in the pit of my stomach.
I'm not used to being alone in this unfamiliar world, and the prospect of being separated from them is unsettling.
As moments tick by, I remain on edge, my ears tuned to the slightest rustling of leaves or snap of twigs.
My grip on the hidden vibrator tightens as I anxiously await their arrival, hoping they'll emerge from the shadows of the forest soon.
I stand alone in the forest clearing, the tranquility shattered by the sudden appearance of Muir, the enigmatic eagle beastman.
The sharp crack of an egg splitting echoes through the air, and I feel a sudden, gooey impact on my face. Sticky egg liquid covers my skin, making me blink in bewildered surprise.
"What was that? That was such a huge egg..." I mutter, using my sleeve to wipe the goo away from my face. The eggshell in my hands is massive, resembling a basketball in size.
Its hardness delivered quite a painful jolt when it collided with my head.
Raising my gaze to the sky, I expect to see the egg's source, only to be met with the unexpected sight of a black eagle hovering above.
Muir? Is he really trying to attack me with an egg?
Curtis and Darius, who were a short distance away, spring into action at the sound of my distress.
"Julie!"
Curtis's urgent voice calls out as he swiftly pushes aside the branches and hurries to my side.
His tongue flicks out, and his demeanor changes dramatically.
He scoops me up from the ground, his strong arms lifting me effortlessly, and dashes towards the water source.
It's too far.
Darius, ever vigilant, swiftly gathers my scattered belongings and follows closely behind.
As they move, the very ground beneath us quivers and shakes, a tremor that intensifies with each passing second.
The once serene mountainside erupts into chaos as colossal creatures resembling dinosaurs thunder down the slopes.
These massive beasts stand as tall as African elephants, with powerful hind legs and fearsome teeth marking them as carnivorous predators.
The stampede races towards us, a breathtaking display of raw power and primal energy, their thunderous footfalls resonating through the air.
In the midst of this tumultuous spectacle, my heart races, a mix of awe and terror gripping me.
As the ground quakes beneath us and the towering dinosaurs close in, panic surges within me.
Curtis holds me securely in his arms, his every movement fueled by a fierce determination to keep me safe.
Darius maintains his pace, his focus unwavering as he carries my belongings and scans our surroundings for potential routes of escape.
With each stride, the distance between us and the approaching stampede narrows.
The deafening thud of their colossal footfalls reverberates through the air, a constant reminder of the relentless pursuit behind us.
The forest blurs as we race through the underbrush, leaves and branches snapping in our wake.
Curtis's muscles ripple beneath his skin as he propels us forward, his snake-like tail weaving through the air to maintain balance.
His scarlet eyes, a testament to his unwavering resolve, remain fixed ahead, gauging the path with acute awareness.
Darius's feline agility lets him navigate the terrain with finesse, a testament to his years of survival in these wild lands.
His keen senses stay attuned to our surroundings, ensuring we evade obstacles and maintain our swift pace.
Adrenaline surges through my veins, pushing aside fear and doubt.
The forest blurs into a kaleidoscope of colors as we weave between trees, creating a symphony of urgency and determination with our footsteps.
Amid the chaos, Curtis rushes to my side, urgently wiping the egg off my face.