Amukelo: The Burdened Path

The next day, Amukelo rose early. His arm was sore from the strain of the past few days, but it wasn't enough to deter him. He stood at the mouth of the cave, staring out at the mountain range below. The morning light painted the forest in soft hues of green and gold, but the beauty did little to calm his nerves.

Amukelo knew he had to venture out again. His food supply was gone, the last of the hog meat consumed the previous day. The memory of its warmth and sustenance lingered.

Descending the rocky slope, Amukelo noticed something troubling. From his elevated position, he could see the goblins below. They were moving higher up the mountain. He stopped, crouching behind a jagged outcrop to observe them. The group seemed larger than before. He guessed the incident from yesterday was the reason for their activity. They likely suspected a predator nearby, and now their search radius had expanded.

"Just great," Amukelo muttered under his breath, watching as two trolls lumbered along with the group. The trolls were massive compared to the goblins. Amukelo's stomach churned at the sight. Fighting one troll alone would have been a nightmare, let alone two alongside a band of goblins. He tightened his jaw, whispering to himself, "I'll have to avoid them completely. Can't afford to let them know I'm here."

He shifted his position carefully, ensuring he left no trace of his presence, and moved further up the mountain. His plan was simple: put distance between himself and the goblins while searching for food. If he could secure enough provisions early, he wouldn't have to risk venturing out later when the goblins might be more active.

After an hour of navigating the forested slopes, Amukelo spotted a deer grazing in a small clearing. Relief washed over him. The deer was smaller than the hog he had hunted before, which meant he could transport it quickly and without too much risk of exposure. He crouched low, carefully stepping closer, his dagger ready in his hand.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as he moved. But then, just as he was within striking distance, the deer's ears twitched. It raised its head, spotting him before he could make his move. The creature bolted, its hooves pounding against the ground as it disappeared into the trees.

"Damn it," Amukelo hissed, pushing himself up and giving chase. He sprinted through the forest, branches whipping against his arms and face. The deer was fast, but its larger frame made it easier to track. Amukelo's eyes narrowed as he closed the distance. He raised his arm, preparing to throw his dagger, when a sound stopped him cold.

A howl pierced the air. Amukelo froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned his head just in time to see a shadow descending from above.

The griffin's talons slashed through the air, its descent almost too fast to follow. Amukelo barely managed to raise his dagger in defense, the blade deflecting the creature's attack but not entirely stopping it. The griffin's claws raked across his forearm, the force of the impact sending him stumbling backward. He hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs, and for a moment, he lay there, dazed and vulnerable.

The griffin didn't wait. It lunged at him again, its beak snapping and talons extended. Amukelo scrambled to his feet, drawing his sword in one swift motion. He braced himself, the blade catching the griffin's claws mid-swipe. The impact jarred his arms, but he held firm, using the momentum to shove the creature back. The griffin let out a piercing screech, flapping its powerful wings to steady itself as it landed a short distance away.

"It's you," he muttered, recognition dawning on him. This was the same griffin that had ambushed him days ago. The scar on its leg marked the spot where his blade had struck during their last encounter. 

The griffin's wings flared as it screeched again, its talons digging into the earth. Amukelo gripped his sword tightly, his mind racing. 

"Alright," he whispered. "Let's finish this."

The griffin lunged again. Amukelo braced himself, crouching low to maintain his balance on the uneven mountain terrain. As its talons came for him, he deflected them with his sword in a sharp upward motion. This time, he moved inside the griffin's reach, pressing forward aggressively instead of retreating. He swung his dagger, aiming at the creature's vulnerable torso.

The griffin reacted faster than he anticipated. Its head snapped down toward his neck. Amukelo twisted at the last moment, narrowly avoiding what would have been a fatal bite. Instead, the griffin's beak clamped down on his shoulder, sinking into the muscle and grazing the bone. It didn't have teeth like the werewolves, but the crushing force was just as excruciating. Amukelo let out a pained roar, his free hand driving the dagger into the creature's torso. The blade sank deep, and the griffin screeched in pain, releasing him instantly and flapping its wings to create distance.

Blood dripped from Amukelo's shoulder as he staggered back, gasping for breath. The pain was blinding, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't let this creature escape again. If he did, it would return, possibly with more fury than before. The griffin hovered just a short distance away, its wings kicking up dirt and loose stones. Its amber eyes burned with primal rage, and Amukelo knew it wasn't done yet.

Before he could catch his breath, the griffin charged again, this time faster and with more force. Its beak snapped at him first, but Amukelo met it with his dagger, shoving the creature's head to the side. The move left him vulnerable, and the griffin's claws came down in a wide arc. Amukelo raised his sword just in time to block the attack, but the sheer power of the strike sent a shockwave through his arms. His footing faltered, and as he stumbled back, the griffin followed through with a powerful swing of its wing.

The wing smashed into Amukelo's side, knocking him off balance and sending him skidding across the rocky ground. He winced as sharp stones dug into his back and legs, but he managed to roll to his feet quickly. His left arm ached from absorbing the blow, but he steadied himself, planting his feet firmly.

The griffin, seeing an opportunity, pressed forward. It leapt at him, claws outstretched and beak aimed for his chest. Amukelo sidestepped the initial attack, twisting his body to avoid the talons. He swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's exposed neck, but the griffin was ready. It used its powerful wings to lift itself just out of reach, then brought its back legs up and kicked him squarely in the chest.

The impact was like being hit by a battering ram. Amukelo was thrown backward, the air knocked from his lungs. He hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as he scrambled to his knees. His vision blurred for a moment, but he shook his head, forcing himself to focus. He gritted his teeth, muttering to himself, "I can't let it win."

The griffin circled him, its wings spread wide as it prepared for another assault. Blood dripped from the wound on its torso, staining the rocky ground beneath it. Despite its injuries, the creature was far from defeated. 

Amukelo tightened his grip on his sword and dagger. He was exhausted, his body battered and bleeding, but he couldn't back down. He planted his feet, watching the griffin's movements carefully. When it lunged again, he was ready.

This time, he ducked under its claws and stepped into its attack, driving his shoulder into its chest to throw it off balance. The griffin stumbled, and Amukelo seized the moment. He slashed upward with his sword, the blade carving a deep gash just below the creature's neck where its torso began. Blood sprayed from the wound, and the griffin howled in pain, staggering back.

But Amukelo didn't stop. He followed up with a strike aimed at its wing, hoping to disable its ability to fly. The griffin tried to twist away, and his blade only grazed the edge of its wing, but it was enough to draw blood and force it to retreat further.

The griffin flapped its wings, creating a gust of wind that sent dust and debris flying. It jumped back, its movements less coordinated now. It crouched low, its eyes darting between Amukelo and the open air behind it. Amukelo could see it was preparing to escape.