Boss Battle

in my thoughts i have seen rings of smoke through the trees, & the voices of those who stand looking. Otem's thoughts tumbled over and over in her mind, like laundry set on the fastest cycle. She kept wanting to blame the Rift for its vagueness (a magnus ment- tos? was that what it was called? ) but the more active part of her mind always stepped in to squash these thoughts. Otem wanted to think of the Rift as an omniscient if not benevolent sort of being; an ecosystem that turned out to actually be one large sentient creature. But because Otem was young, she also wanted a place to lay blame for when things were hard or inexplicable. Case in point, being told to answer spirits, and fight a.. "You really don't remember what it was called-" Otem asked Pandora once again, as the gargantuan beast slowly scented the air, likely tasting particles of youth, uncertainty, greed and excitement. Otem suddenly became acutely aware of the blood coursing through her veins. This was likely some sort of instinctual fight or flight response to the unknown danger lurking only a few meters away, but to Otem it felt like a mixture of needing to poop, wanting to laugh, or needing to suddenly break out and run. Before Pandora could once again reiterate that she did not know the name of the creature they were meant to find, the creature found them. Now, there's something you should know. Although Otem's life hasn't always been easy (her mother died, she was stabbed almost immediately after coming to the Rift, and had been attacked by a group of aquatic-looking rhinos), but, it had always worked out for her (Isopia's death had given her a soap box to stand on and a chip on her shoulder she wears like a badge of honour, the stab wound had healed perfectly, and she escaped the water-rhinos nearly unscathed). So although a creature that looked something like an ant eater crossed with a newborn mouse that hasn't yet opened its eyes, Otem didn't move. The filly was 1 part awestruck and 2 parts boldly self-assured that despite the viciousness of the creature lunging directly for her, that surely nothing bad would really happen. Her Father would show up, or better yet, Iskra, who could be her knight in shining armor. Maybe even Vulkán. But of course that wasn't what was about to happen. This was a one-player Boss Battle, with no lives remaining. Pandora, who was under no such delusions fled from Otem's back the instant the leafy foliage parted to birth the creature. With wide burgundy and gold eyes the autumn-touched girl watched as the distance between she and what appeared to be a mutated mole or rat hybrid disappeared with alarming speed. She felt pressure against her flank in a way that felt far away and confusing. How was it that she was suddenly tumbling sideways when only moments ago she was talking to her owl? What was on fire, if there were no flames? Her mind had slowed dramatically as the creature's claws and bodily force shoved her unceremoniously to the left and towards the unyielding ground. Its claws had opened up a gash in her flank (which accounted for the flameless fire that she had felt). Perhaps because she was caught so unawares, her body struck the ground completely limp, likely saving her from the injuries she would have sustained had she braced herself for the impact.  "Wha-' Otem tried, halting the word as it came out of her mouth to gulp down air and try to scramble to her feet. Defensively Otem created an earth sprite large than she ever had before (how had she done that?), but because the creature was blind (a trait the filly had no yet noticed), her magic likely would do no good. Heaving in air, Otem tried to spin to face the creature. Although the ram horns on the side of her head were aimed directly for it, they would of course do her no good as head-to-head combat was not something she was familiar with. Flyin was, however. "Oh-" She squeaked, comprehending the creature for what it was. This must be the magnamite mangoose! She thought excitedly (and in her excitement, her nomenclature was entirely tangled). Darting to the side, Otem leapt into the air, her downy wings sprawling from her sides and lifting her youthful body up. Although hovering was difficult, she did her best to stay as motionless as she could, while remaining presumably high enough off the ground to evade the creature even should it stand up. "Pan!" Otem trilled, her eyes seeking out her companion who was in no way sharing her bonded's sense of excitement over finding their intended target (or having it find them). Angrily the owl tittered, flying in random circles around the Magnus Metus to try and pull its attention away from Otem.

AHHH SO SCURRRRRRRY.