The desert wind whipped against Owen's face as he stared at the twelve-foot monster lumbering behind them. Its massive body was covered in jagged spikes, muscles bulging beneath taut, leathery skin, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence. It snorted, sending tremors through the sand, each exhale rattling the rocks nearby.
"Blair," Owen said, voice steady despite the pounding of his heart, "that thing looks… powerful, we should fucking run now!"
Blair smirked, the familiar gleam of excitement in her eyes. "You don't have to tell me twice." Without hesitation, she crouched, wrapping her arms around Owen and lifting him effortlessly. "Hold on tight. We move fast."
They sprinted across the dunes, sand spraying beneath Blair's feet. The massive boar-monster charged after them, each step cracking the ground. Its spikes scraped against rocks and sand, and Owen could feel the vibrations through Blair's back.
"Do you have any idea how much damage that thing could do if it catches us?" Owen asked, voice rising slightly.
Blair glanced over her shoulder with a grin. "Probably a lot. But catching us? Not likely. Not today." She pushed forward, muscles coiling and releasing with incredible efficiency.
After several minutes, they reached a canyon hundreds of feet deep. The walls were jagged and unforgiving, but through a narrow opening in the far end, Owen could see a patch of green in the distance. "Blair, look there."
Blair scanned the terrain. "Yeah, I see it. Might be tricky to get across this gap, but doable. You ready for a little acrobatics, boss?"
Owen gulped. "Depends on what you mean by acrobatics."
Blair chuckled. "Hold on, and I'll show you." She lowered herself and scanned the canyon floor below, then flexed her legs. "This is where you trust me fully."
Before Owen could protest, Blair swung him up onto her shoulder and sprinted toward a ledge. "I am going to throw you across. Trust me, you land safe. Maybe a few bruises, but you live."
Owen's eyes widened. "Wait—wait! Blair, are you insane?"
"Shut up and hold on!" she yelled. She grabbed his arms and legs, spun in a tight circle to gain momentum, and then launched him through the air.
Owen screamed, wind tearing past his face as he flew over the canyon. The desert rocks blurred around him. He landed hard on the other side, knees and elbows bruised, sand in his hair and mouth, but alive. "Holy hell," he gasped, panting. "You actually did it!"
Blair immediately ran to the edge, crouched, and leapt. Her long legs absorbed the impact perfectly, and she landed effortlessly next to him. "See? Told you. Nothing to it." She grinned, wiping sweat and blood off her arm.
Owen looked back over the gap. The boar-monster had stopped at the edge, its eyes locked on them. It snorted, spikes rattling, and let out a guttural scream that echoed through the canyon. Owen swallowed. "It's staring at us… and screaming."
Blair laughed, flipping him off with a middle finger. "Let it scream. We are moving."
Owen exhaled slowly. "We should continue running. That green area… it will definitely be a better place that this desert."
Blair gave a low chuckle. "Running is our specialty, boss. Let's go."
They began to move, sand crunching beneath their boots, but suddenly the canyon walls trembled violently. Rocks shifted, dust poured from the crevices, and Blair instinctively scooped Owen up again.
Owen screamed, gripping her tight. "Is it those fucking giant insects again?"
Blair glanced back, frowning as the ground shook more violently. "Maybe not this time," she muttered. "Something else might be coming."
Deep within the canyon, a monstrous shape coiled and surged upward. Owen's eyes widened in horror. A snake-like creature, hundreds of feet long, massive and covered in scales, burst from the shadows of the canyon floor. Its head lunged at the giant boar-monster, fangs dripping venom, while the boar fought back, slashing with its tusks and spinning its body to impale the creature with its spikes.
Owen yelped. "Holy hell! Look at that!"
Blair sprinted ahead, muscles straining as she carried him. "Don't stop running, boss! This is no fight we are joining today!"
The snake and the boar collided with a violent explosion of flesh and scales. The canyon shook again, rocks tumbling down the walls. Owen clung to Blair, barely able to breathe. "Dang, they are tearing each other apart!"
"Good! Less attention on us!" Blair shouted, vaulting over a jagged boulder. Her legs and core drove them forward with unmatched speed. She navigated sharp turns and uneven terrain as if the canyon was nothing more than a training ground.
After several more minutes, the canyon finally opened to a flat stretch of terrain. Water glinted in the distance, reflecting the dim orange of the approaching sunrise. Grass began to appear in patches, sparse but growing denser near the river. Trees dotted the horizon, but only a very few. Beyond the greenery, the desert still extended, harsh and unforgiving.
Blair set Owen down gently. "Breathe, boss. Look at that. Fresh water. Grass. Might even be something to eat if we are lucky."
Owen wiped the blood and sweat from his face and looked around, finally exhaling in relief. "At least we have water now. That will help… a lot."
Blair grinned, crouching next to the riverbank. "I told you, it is always worth pushing forward. Danger, death, giant monsters, snakes that could swallow us whole… and we still found this." She gestured to the river and surrounding grassland. "Feels almost civilized."
Owen chuckled weakly. "Almost civilized. But I am not letting my guard down. Something tells me we are not out of danger yet, actually in a world like this danger is everywhere. No place might be safe."
Blair laughed darkly, the sound echoing in the canyon. "Maybe. But you know me. I don't care for calm, boss. Killing and fighting is my thing, my breakfast. Water is my dessert."
Owen shook his head, trying not to smile despite himself. "You are insane. But I am glad you are here."
Blair smirked. "And I am glad you have taste in loyal beautiful bodyguards."
They rested near the river, drinking water, letting their muscles recover. Owen kept a wary eye on the horizon, noting the shadows of the canyon walls behind them. The snake and the boar could still be fighting, the echoes of their struggle faint but terrifying.
Blair stretched her long legs, wiping the sand and blood from her hands. "We survived that one. Barely. You are doing good, boss."
Owen exhaled slowly, finally allowing himself to relax a little. "Yeah, alive. That's step one. Next step… survive the day."
Blair laughed and kicked a small rock into the river. "Step one, check. Step two, keep running. Step three, maybe find a meal. Step four, profit. Or whatever comes next."
Owen shook his head but smiled faintly. "With you, step four might be the least of our problems."
They looked around the river and grassland. The contrast to the endless desert beyond was stark. He had Blair, the water, and some reprieve from the sand and death.
Blair nudged him with her elbow. "Come on, boss. Let's keep moving. We enjoy water and grass later. For now, let's see what else this world wants to throw at us."
Owen nodded, adjusting his pack. "Right. No letting our guard down."
As the sun crept over the horizon, painting the sky with orange and gold, they stepped forward cautiously, moving along the riverbank. Every shadow, every rustle of grass, could hide a predator. And somewhere in the distance, dark shapes moved.
Owen glanced at Blair. "I have a feeling we are not alone here. Water is important for every living creature."
Blair smirked, flexing her fingers. "Good. I like a challenge."
Owen exhaled sharply. "Here we go again."
Blair laughed, baring her teeth in a grin. "I was hoping for a fight this morning. Let's make it fun, boss."
They tightened their grip on weapons, muscles coiled, and prepared to move forward. The grassland offered a moment of hope, but danger still lurked. Their journey was far from over.
Owen swallowed and muttered, "At least there is water."
The grassland awaited, but survival was far from guaranteed.