...

You feel the creature's hot breath on you and squeeze your eyes tightly shut. You say a silent prayer and make your peace with your fate. The creature rears back for the final strike, when suddenly a shot rings out. You open your eyes and can't believe what they see. Will, miraculously, has not only regained consciousness, but has jumped on the creature's back and is now standing on its shoulder blades firing repeatedly at the base of the creature's skull with his rifle. The creature shrieks in pain and begins throwing its head from side to side, desperately trying to snap at Will. So far Will has managed to stay on top of the creature and continue firing, but you can see his balance is wavering. You grab your pistol and begin firing at the creature's head again, successfully distracting it. The creature hisses at you and darts its head forward again, narrowly missing you with its jaws as you dive and roll out of the way. As you hit the ground, you see your rifle nearby, and take advantage of the momentary distraction to retrieve it.

With your rifle now in hand, you begin firing at the creature's chest, and the combined **** of your gunfire and Will's begins to **** the creature backward. In an effort to protect itself, the creature lays low to the ground, curling its head into the crook of its arm. Will begins to cheer your impending victory, cursing the creature as you continue firing. Something is wrong, though. The creature is obviously wounded, but it is making no attempt to escape just yet. Surely if it were in dire straights it would flee?

Finally you spot it. The creature's barbed tale is curled upward like a scorpion's. That can only mean one thing.

"WILL, GET OUT OF THERE!"

Time seems to stand still as the creature's tail darts forward. With unfathomable swiftness it flies forward toward its mark. But despite all the creature's power and quickness, your warning was still a second quicker. Will throws his rifle and leaps to the side just in time for the bladed tail to sail past him. In an instant, the tides turn, and the weapon that would have pierced Will's heart instead lodges itself in the spine of the creature itself. With a final roar the creature collapses, dead.

There is no time for the two of you to enjoy your triumph. In the distance you hear what sounds like the roar of another creature. Without so much as a word between you, you both grab your discarded weaponry and sprint northward through the trees in the direction of the ship. The trek must be well over a mile on uneven ground, but neither of you slow for a moment until you reach the edge of the woods. Even then you only stop for a moment to catch your breath before running the rest of the way toward the camp. As far as you are concerned, you can't get far enough away from those trees.