CotFFR-Flee
From Create Your Own Story
You aren't a warrior. At least, not that you can remember. Deciding it best not to take your chances against unknown foes in the dark, you turn and flee in the other direction. Unfortunately, the creatures pursue you, jabbering in what might be a language. Could these creatures be...sentient? You hear one of them give an attack cry and the next thing you know, you feel something heavy and sharp embed itself in your thigh. The pain is excruciating and you cry out, grasping your leg as your attacker pulls out what feels like...a pickax.
The rest of them (you estimate there are only three to five creatures pursuing you) seize the advantage and attack. One of them jumps onto your back, trying to claw at your face. Another pickax embeds itself in your side. There is no doubt you will die if you can't somehow get away from them. You stumble down the tunnel, one hand grasping the gaping wound in your side, the other trying to staunch the bleeding in your thigh. You manage to shake off the little bugger clinging to your back, but you can feel that its dirty claws have left their mark on your face. You hear a clang right behind you as one of your attackers takes a swing at you with their pickax and misses. That's the one thing you have going for you, these creatures aren't particularly fast when hefting heavy pickaxes.
Blood mingles with your sweat and you struggle to get away. Something grapples your knees and you fall. Whatever is attacking you isn't very tall. Dwarves? Imps? You have no idea. You wrench the little bugger from your legs and give it a kick for good measure. It squeals in pain and the others start jabbering angrily at you. Staggering to your feet, you push forward, running your right hand along the wall and using your left to try and staunch the bleeding from the wound in your side. Your leg burns and you can hardly bear to put any weight on it, but if you give in now, you will surely die.
You notice shadows beginning to register in your vision as you flee. Apparently you weren't blind after all, it was just an extraordinarily dark cave. Heartened, you press on toward the light. You're exhausted and faint from pain and blood loss. You feel a refreshing faint breeze on your skin. You must be near the cave entrance. You turn the corner and catch a glimpse of the source of light. A statue rises up before you, nearly as tall as the cave ceiling. It is a naked young woman with two pairs of wings sprouting from her back, one set outstretched as if in flight, the other set wrapped protectively around her body. In her outstretched hands is a small green gem that glows with a faint light. You find yourself reaching toward that light. Despite everything, the sight of it fills you with peace and...hope?
You glance behind you to see your attackers. They are short, no taller than knee height, wearing rusty metal helmets and leather loincloths. You can't make out any more details than that. They are gaining on you as you limp toward the light. Stumbling, you fall to your knees, still crawling toward the light. When you look back to see how close your mysterious attackers are, you catch sight of a tall figure approaching you out of the shadows. Is it a man with...horns? You turn back toward the light and drag yourself closer. If you could just reach that light, you're certain you'll be safe. The light seems to glow brighter for a moment, then there is a flash. Behind you, you hear a sound halfway between a groan and a howl, but you lack the energy to turn and look. The little creatures hiss and you hear their scrabbling footsteps fading away. Your body feels heavy as lead. Your shaky arms give out and you're laying face down on the cave floor before the angel statue. You turn back to see the horned figure still watching you from the shadows, but making no move to approach. Your vision slowly goes dark once more as you pass out on the cave floor.
