5 Features

The next morning Izzy was kicked awake by an agitated Ruben who had his bow drawn and was looking around.

Rubbing her eyes Izzy looked up, " What's wrong?" she asked.

"Something destroyed the protection circle", Ruben said looking around there was movement around their camp.

The sound of branches cracking and bushes moving made Izzy get up immediately.

She slowly removed her phone from her pocket and whispered " System can you detect anything" she said speaking into the speaker.

[ Detected: Unidentified lifeform.

Staus: Hostile

It is suggested that the host avoid contact at all costs]

" Can you pinpoint its direction?"

[ Yes. Target is approximately 10 feet away facing north]

An arrow popped up on the screen with a red dot in front.

Izzy moved closer to Ruben and said in a low voice.

" Whatever's out there is in front of us that way"

Izzy said pointing slightly to the left from where Ruben was standing. Ruben turned around and noticed that Izzy was holding the black box again. He glanced at it but paid it no mind.

"It's approaching us," Izzy said frantically.

Ruben took aim in the direction Izzy pointed getting down on his knees, Izzy followed his action ducking behind him.

" Now!" she shouted and out from the bushes a large animal with green fur and stripes jumped out.

Ruben let go of his arrow which flew straight towards the animal's neck and bounced off.

"ROAR!!!!"

The animal let out a powerful roar, the birds in the area immediately flew into the sky and Izzy covered her ears that stung from the sound.

Izzy looked up and saw the creature pacing back and forth. It looked like a tiger but its fur was the wrong colour and its teeth were long enough to protrude out from its mouth passed its chin.

The green tiger growled and Ruben pulled out another arrow while whistling lowly.

In response to his whistle, the tiger roared again in their direction. The roar was like a sonic wave blasting both Ruben and Izzy back. However, Ruben was fast enough to roll out of the way and let go of another arrow. While Izzy was not so lucky, she was sent flying into a tree.

[ User injury detected]

[ Would you like to initiate defence features:

Yes or No]

The phone buzzed in her pocket but Izzy couldn't see the words as she was lying coughing on the ground. Ruben turned his head to see if Izzy was alright but had no time as the tiger charged in his direction, deeming him as a threat.

Ruben whistled louder this time and a caw was heard in the distance. A bird swooped down, its claws digging into the tiger. Ruben took this opportunity to run to Izzy's side, he grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

" We need to run!"

Izzy didn't have time to respond as Ruben began to drag her away. They ran from the scene and Izzy still dizzy looked back for a second only to see the tiger bloodied and pursuing them.

" Aaaaaaaa!" she screamed and tried to run faster ignoring the pain in her back.

Izzy ran passed Ruben who had stopped and shouted: " What are you doing?!"

" Just run!" Ruben said and shot another arrow.

The tiger dodged to the side crouching low. It moved its tail from side to side as if mocking Ruben for missing the shot.

" Dammit!"

Ruben tried to whistle again but he was slightly out of breath so his whistle came out in short breaths. A faint brown symbol sparked in the air as Ruben tried to cast a calming spell on the beast but he was to slow.

The tiger launched itself at him, in his attempt to dodge Ruben's spell was interrupted. Jumping to his feet Ruben shot another arrow at the tiger aiming for its eye.

The tiger roared and the arrow dropped at its feet Ruben felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

" A mid-tier armoured tiger" Ruben muttered and swore. His luck seemed to be particularly bad today, Ruben nocked another arrow and he and the tiger stared at one another.

A breath escaped as Ruben let loose another arrow, as the arrow launched into the air Ruben moved to the side aiming to make a mad dash to escape.

As if sensing his intention the tiger ignored the arrow which managed to penetrate its armour, because of an enchantment and attacked Ruben.

The entire action seemed like an eternity but it only happened in a few seconds. Ruben was pinned underneath the tiger with its sharp teeth digging into his shoulder.

Ruben screamed.

Blood spurted onto the ground and Ruben saw stars, his first thoughts were that he was going to die and almost wanted to laugh.

" Get away from him!" Izzy shouted.

Ruben, heard her voice and was surprised that she had not run away. He was sure that she had left him, so why was she here now.

The tiger did not let go of Ruben and turned its head in Izzy's direction dragging Ruben's body with its movement.

Ruben groaned in pain.

All Izzy could see was blood covering Ruben's body. The golden eyed tiger stared at her as she waved her arms around.

" Let him go you beast!" she shouted.

The beast blinked and its mouth curled back almost as if it was smirking. It flung Ruben into the air and he landed with a loud thud.

On impact, Ruben was immediately rendered unconscious.

Izzy watched him soar into the air and gasped. She opened the phone and shouted.

" System!"

The same words on the system appeared from when the attack on Izzy and Ruben began.

[ Would you like to initiate defence features:

Yes or No]

" Yes!" Izzy shouted in desperation.

[ Defence features will now begin] ...