The greatest prey.

The smell of the Soil and trees were earthy and full. The daylight had been fading for a few minutes now, it won’t be long before dark. Her Breathing had become ragged and labored. She could feel the cold air burning her throat. Resting, half clinging to a gnarled tree she scanned the dense tree line she had emerged from a moment before. She could feel her feet and legs again, the sudden dip in the very cold creek had caused her legs to fail on several crucial points during this. If that thing had been slightly quicker, she would be a goner. But she had trained for cross country running in collage, she was better than half of the team at least, what’s this stupid monster got? She chuckled to herself at the image of her trash talking something that had literally just tried to eat her. A creaking branch drew her eyes a little farther up the tree line to a smaller tree that was swaying. A dark pit was all she could make out, she felt an insane need to look at it. Maybe if it was like a bear or something it would make sense and she could get away. A long spindly leg slowly emerged from the shadow and seemed to grasp the larger of the trees. A faint chittering, not like crickets but random and louder like when drum sticks are smacked together. She was frozen in place at the sight of the leg, it was black and had long “hairs” protruding from it at the knuckles. Her mind was telling her a tree had fallen and was laying at an odd angle. The creature emerged very slowly and winced when the remaining daylight fell on it dark hide. She didn’t need to see the rest of the monster, because that is most assuredly what is was. A nightmare of epic proportions. Something people would see in a movie and instantly say was fake. A horrifying spider the size of a big horse.

She began running again. The renewed terror fueling her adrenaline making her feel light and fast. The trees around her began to protest by creaking and cracking leaves were raining down and smaller branches falling on the path she was running. No more diving and dodging, she was full speed straight out of there. The “runners high” propelled her farther than before, mixed with fear it was a potent cocktail. The parking lot was in view, she could see the lights. A blast of air hit her in the back, and she missed a step. It must have swung at her in desperation, a smile crossed her face, “NOT TODAY” she yelled defiantly. Her feet whipped backwards hard enough for her knees and hips to pop and scream on the edge of dislocation. A tight cable was being wound around her as she fought with hands and elbows. A class’s she had taken in case someone had more on their mind than just a date. Powerful claws snapped down on her wrists breaking them on contact. She screamed in pain, fury and despair. She wiggled as much as she could buy the cable was tight and getting close to her neck. A shushing sound was coming from the creature, it was strangely calming, and it turned her to look in its face. All of its eyes seemed to focus on her. “please” she moaned in a small voice. A sudden breeze slowly spun her back to it. A red-hot pain shot into her back under the ribs and filling her lungs with fire. The burning filled her up and she vomited foam. The creature seemed satisfied with this result, slung her on its back and scampered back to the cave she seen her prey scamper past. Lilly’s eyes were going blurry but not before a flock of colorful birds flittered away. She smiled and gargled out the word, “pretty”.