Chapter 7: The Feast
The dense and oppressive forest seemed to swallow us little by little, a labyrinth of twisted trunks and foliage blocking out the light. Only the phosphorescent flowers, like lost souls, cast a pale, icy glow, distorted by the shifting shadows around us. The air was saturated with the stench of decaying flesh and mold, an overpowering scent that dulled our senses. The silence reigning between the trees, barely interrupted by the cracking of vegetation, was even more menacing than the roar of the creatures closing in.
Seven monsters. Their appearance was terrifying, a violent distortion of nature.
The largest, grotesquely deformed, advanced first, its movements clumsy yet fast. Its empty sockets were plunged into a deep black void. The beast opened its maw, unleashing a terrible scream from its torn lips.
Marie, eyes wide with terror, pressed against a tree, her breath ragged. "Not again..." she murmured, her voice broken, like a dying whisper. Yet, beyond the fear in her eyes, a glimmer of determination shone. We couldn't afford to falter. We had no choice but to hunt.
Jules, faster than lightning, wasted no time. With a swift motion, he loosed an arrow that embedded itself in the creature's eye socket. It staggered from the impact but continued its charge without hesitation, its gaping maw ready to tear through anything in its path. It seemed almost... unfeeling. Driven by some primal instinct, it kept advancing, ignoring pain, ignoring the arrow.
I didn't hesitate for a second. Melting into the shadows, I moved silently between the trees, approaching the creatures stealthily. The scent of earth, mingled with the stench of rotting bodies, filled my nostrils. I kept my eyes on the battlefield, analyzing every movement, every position. The largest creature was faltering, and I saw Janna seize the opportunity. With blistering speed, she slammed the beast's head against the ground. The sound of a skull cracking echoed, a sharp impact that made the surrounding trunks tremble. The creature collapsed in a death rattle, unable to resist any longer. Even in its monstrosity, we knew this beast would offer rare and nourishing meat, a comfort in this ruined world.
The smaller creatures were easier to handle. Romain, sword in hand and shield raised—though battered from the previous battle—remained unyielding, wielding it with incredible strength. The twisted metal of his shield gleamed under the pale light of the phosphorescent flowers, while his blade in his other hand sliced through the air in a deadly dance, facing off against three of the beasts. He was already exhausted, his breath short, his arms heavy from the effort. But he held firm, and every strike brought them closer to victory. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his gaze hardening with each new attack. The thought of the food they would gain at the end of this struggle still gave him the strength to keep fighting.
Janna, fiercer than ever, struck with an almost frenzied energy. She crushed another creature underfoot, her heel coming down on its skull with a dry, sickening crunch. Every movement was marked by an insane rage. She fought as if her life depended on it, as if she were battling against everything she had ever endured. Her gaze grew wilder, feverish, teetering on the edge of madness, and with every blow she landed, the thought of meat, of the relief waiting for us at the end, seemed to consume her even more.
Jules, calm and relentless, fired his arrows with clockwork precision. Each shot was a death sentence. He felled another beast before turning to support Janna.