A Gnoll in the woods

There's a soft crunch as a twig breaks under my foot. It's late, the sun will set soon. I don't like being out this late, the wood is scary in the evening, but I was told not to come back without a basket full of berries, so here I am.

My tummy grumbles. I stare into my basket, half full of food, and groan.

I'm Cara. A Neko living among the elves in one of their nomadic tribes. I've never had another family. Life is... okay i guess. I mean I'm cursed, dirty, an ugly little animal. But the elves still let me stay with them. I work hard, and if I'm good I get shelter and enough food to stop the stomach grumbles.

I don't know this area of the wood, and I'm going to struggle to fill the basket today. I can't afford to eat now. I'll have to ignore my hunger.

I push through a patch of bushes, small branches scratching my bare skin, and look around, trying to make out some food in the dying light.

Mushrooms! There, behind that tree.

I kneel down to grab them, and instantly feel the wetness between my legs. I grimace. Part of my beastly curse.

When I first felt this way I used to touch myself, between my legs. Even thinking about it now makes me feel shame. It's an unhealthy distraction. I have to work hard and ignore the urge as best as I can.

I spent the next hour collecting food. Finally I decide it's too dark to continue. I failed at my task. The basket still has a lot of room. But If I go back and beg then I might get somewhere warm to sleep tonight.

I'm heading back, through unfamiliar parts of the wood, guided by the moonlight, when I hear a crunch behind me. I turn, expecting some wild animal.

It's hard to make it out in the dark, but when I do my heart goes cold. It's not an animal. It stands upright like an elf, but larger, much larger, with a furry body, thick muscles, and something long and sharp strapped to it's back.

I had heard tales from the elfs of demons and monsters who took naughty elves away in the night and ate them. I thought they were just stories to encourage obedience, but now...

I turned in an instant and I ran. After a moment I heard a noise behind me. It was giving chase. My legs pounded across the ground. My lungs pumped as fast as they could. My heart burned in my chest.

I lost the food basket in a clump of trees and didn't give it another thought. I cut my leg on a little bramble. Pushed sharp thorns aside with my face. Distance was all that mattered. I ran, and ran. I dared not look behind me, but the creature seemed to be gaining. I'd never been so scared.

Suddenly, a log was in front of my foot. I tripped, fell and landed roughly on the forest floor. I groaned in pain. My ankle was twisted and hurt bad.

I started to stand, and realized... it was silent. I paused, slowly lifting myself up and looking around. Nothing but blackness. Was it gone?

I allowed my heart to relax slightly, and then the full **** of the beast hit me from above. A thick mass of fur and muscle slammed me down into the dirt, bruising my face, pinning my chest down.

I whimpered, stunned by the blow. the beast rolled me over, grabbed my arms roughly and wrestled them behind my back. I struggled, with all my strength, the muscles in my arms burning as I **** them to fight back. But I was too weak. A useless cursed little [runt.

The beast pinned me down. It was furry, with thick muscles. I felt it's hot breath on the back of my head. Claws dug into my arms as it held them in place. Tough cords of rope wrapped around my arms, binding them together and tight against my back.

I was released for a moment, and struggled to stand. A sharp knee jammed into my back, forcing me back into the dirt. The thick hands grabbed my legs and I felt the rope weaving around them. I kicked and flailed my legs, but the grip on them was too tight.

I was going to die. Eaten by this monster. I shuddered as I imagined sharp teeth tearing apart my flesh. I cried.

My legs were secured, painfully tight. Helpless to escape, the beast grabbed my head, stuffing a bundle of cloth inside my lips, then wrapping another over my eyes.

For a moment there was silence. The beast was watching me. I whimpered into the gag, barely a sound escaping.

Then I was picked up, thrown over it's shoulder and carried away into the night. a helpless whimpering little bundle, being taken away to meet it's fate.