Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 20: Unwanted Visitor

Suddenly, my dream shattered with the jarring sound of eggshells crunching near me.

The flames were beginning to wane, releasing a thick cloud of smoke that enveloped the area. Visibility was a challenge, but I could make out the silhouette of something massive lurking just beyond the fire’s edge. It moved with a strange caution, as if the flames were a mere inconvenience rather than a true threat.

"Little female, I smell a sweet ambrosia coming off you. Shall I eat you or should I breed you?" The voice that emerged was rough and raspy, sending chills down my spine.

My heart raced, and panic surged through me as I fumbled for my pepper spray, securing my jacket around my waist and clutching a sharp stick in my other hand.

"Perhaps I could just breed you, let you lay some eggs for me to devour later."

Then, through the swirling smoke, he stepped into view—a tall, gangly creature with an eerie greenish tint to his skin. His hair jutted out in jagged spikes, and orange spots speckled his neck, enhancing his bizarre look. His bulging neon green eyes seemed disproportionately large for his gaunt face, and his sharp teeth gleamed menacingly. A long, sinuous tail flicked behind him, and his pointed ears twitched with anticipation. His fingers were long and spindly, smeared with remnants of dried egg shells, while a deep purple tongue flicked out, releasing a noxious odor that hung heavily in the air.

"Ah, a little morsel, how delightful, how utterly tempting," he purred, inhaling deeply as if savoring a fine wine, his tongue flicking out like a serpent’s. It was the perfect moment to unleash my pepper spray, and I didn’t hesitate. A quick spray to his face, and I darted around the crackling fire, sprinting toward the village without a second thought. What a thrilling way to kick off my day!

From behind me unleashed a bone-chilling howl. "I can’t see! What have you done to me, female! Mark my words, once my vision returns, I will savor your flesh while I claim you! I will tear you apart to the bone and then relish the marrow as I revel in your suffering and take my pleasure from you!"

He’s insane! I rushed away as fast as I could weaving through the trees until it felt like my lungs were going to give out, I ignored it at first, needed to get as far away from him as possible but soon I was wheezing and then my lungs started fluttering and refusing to take in oxygen. I paused for a precious moment to pull out my inhaler all while cursing my lungs which seemed determined to kill me.

"Even if I can’t see you, I can hear you, I can smell you. Scamper for me, I’m coming little morsel," he said in a deranged voice.

I scanned my surroundings, spotting a mostly clear path that bore the marks of frequent travelers, with a sprinkle of sand underfoot. Stepping lightly, I navigated the terrain, determined to make no sound. With a swift motion, I retrieved a raw egg from my stash and hurled it with all my might toward a distant tree. The egg exploded upon impact, sending a splatter of gooey yolk everywhere, filling the air with the unmistakable scent of raw egg.

Next, I gathered a few hefty rocks, each about the size of a baseball, and launched them with a calculated curve, watching as they rolled away, creating a perfect distraction.

I heard him bolt off in the opposite direction, and I seized the moment to sprint quietly, focusing on controlling my breath. Behind me, I caught snippets of his muttering, but I had no intention of stopping to eavesdrop. I just hoped he hadn’t caught on to my little ruse. Moments later, his unsettling cackle echoed through the trees, followed by a loud splash as he leaped into the river. Great—he was washing the pepper spray from his eyes and would soon regain his sight!

Time was slipping away! I frantically scanned for another distraction. Then I realized —food! He looked like he hadn’t eaten in ages. I pulled out all but one of the boiled eggs from my jacket, keeping the raw ones handy for emergencies. I arranged the five eggs in a pyramid along the path, a tempting sight that would surely catch his eye and slow him down, making it too cumbersome for him to carry them while chasing me.

I pivoted on my heel and sprinted once more, pouring every ounce of energy into my legs, blissfully ignoring the ruckus I was making as he thrashed about in the water behind me. I managed to put a fair distance between us before I heard him haul himself out, unleashing a thunderous battle cry that sent a shiver down my spine. My legs screamed in protest; was I destined to be perpetually hunted by these deranged creatures in the woods? If I ever made it back to my old life, couldn’t I become a track star?

Just as I was feeling a glimmer of hope, a horrifying crunch echoed in the air, and a jolt of pain shot through my ankle, radiating up my leg. I doubled over, nausea rising in my throat. Great, I’d twisted my ankle again. A quick glance confirmed my worst fears—it was bent at an unnatural angle. They had warned me that the healing magic would take a week to fully kick in, and I was supposed to take it easy, but that was hardly an option right now. I frantically scanned the ground for a sturdy stick to use as a crutch.

Behind me, I heard him making delighted noises, clearly having discovered the eggs I’d left behind. Irritation bubbled up inside me; those were my delicious snacks! But it seemed to be working in my favor. I snatched up a thick stick just in time to witness a major flaw in my plan: the lizard was devouring the eggs whole. I watched in disbelief as its mouth stretched impossibly wide, engulfing one of the giant eggs before tilting its head back, a grotesque bulge sliding down its throat. After finishing one, it eyed the remaining eggs with insatiable greed and lunged for another, swallowing it without a second thought.

I snapped the tip of my walking stick into a sharp point, determination igniting within me. Then, I took off again, trying to shift my weight onto the stick instead of my injured ankle. It was going to hurt, no doubt about it, and this time, the healer had made it clear that magic was off the table. But I wasn’t about to let a little pain slow me down.

I was sprinting like a gazelle on the savannah, heart pounding, and truth be told, I doubted I’d make it back before he decided to hunt me down again, especially with his insatiable craving for those colossal eggs. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that he could gulp down those enormous eggs whole, no peeling or chewing required! It’s no surprise there’s a shortage of women around here when you have to dodge death on a regular basis! And let’s not forget the crazed, cannibalistic men lurking about, flaunting their superpowers, always ready to pounce on unsuspecting women without a second thought. They scratch their heads, baffled by the shortage of women in their lives. Maybe, just maybe, if they stopped trying to eliminate us, the numbers would balance out!

I pushed myself to move faster, teeth clenched, trying to ignore the agony shooting through my ankle. The pain was a relentless reminder of the mess I was creating, but I had no time to dwell on it.

Suddenly, I heard a rustle nearby, and my heart dropped. The beastkin had morphed into a massive lizard, easily twice my length, not counting that menacing tail. No wonder he could devour those giant eggs like they were mere snacks. His green scales glistened, adorned with sharp spikes that ran down his head and back, while vibrant orange spots decorated his neck. His claws, resembling shards of light green glass, carved deep lines into the earth as he approached, his neon eyes narrowing in on me with a predatory gleam. He hissed, and before I knew it, he was charging at me.

I considered reaching for my pepper spray, but I doubted he would fall for that trick this time. As he barreled toward me, I realized there was no way I could outrun him. I stopped resisting, gripping my walking stick tightly and crouching low, feigning submission. He surged forward, eyes ablaze with excitement, mouth agape, ready to take a bite. Just as he leaped, claws outstretched, I thrust my stick into the ground, bracing for impact and tilted the point upwards. He lunged right onto it, skewering himself in a spectacularly gruesome moment. The force of his weight sent me tumbling backward, the air knocked from my lungs as he landed heavily on top of me.

Coming Next Time: Ares?