A Deer

[Master, there's another one with a stronger presence in the front.] Dia telepathically said as she nudged the side of my face with her scaly head.

'That's the fourth one now.' I grumbled under my breath as I once again shifted my direction.

Due to her being a beast born in such a harsh place, and because of her being mutated from normal beasts of her species, she had extraordinary animal instinct. Making her a great threat detector in places like these.

It's already been an hour since I entered the forest, and ever since then, I couldn't find a prey, at least one that I could handle.

For some reason, there were mostly strong beasts around, even in the outer part of the outer expanse of the forest.

"Maybe it's because of the beast raid." Seeing the knights arrive in the village was indication enough to tell that the beast raid was near, very near.

For most of the traders and adventurers living of working near the forest, it was a mystery land worth investing both time and money.

With these useless thoughts in mind, I continued to find some beast I could take on by myself. I didn't want to break the promise I just made the other day, by trying to chew more than I can handle.

—Clomp!  —Thud! —Clomp!

[Master! There's one running toward us from that direction!] Dia screamed in my mind as I spun 180° and ran with all my might, I don't even want to check what it is that made me run!

"Thanks for telling me what I already knew!" Even before she told me that, I had already heard the sound of something clomping through the bushes.

[Master I think it's… hurt.] Even after hearing that, I didn't stop and kept running.

"Doesn't matter! We definitely don't wanna meet something like that." I told Dia who kept staring at the back while I kept running in the opposite direction.

What if it's hurt? If it's hurt then that means there's something even more dangerous being behind it!

—Screee

Just a moment later, I heard a loud screech, quickly followed by a loud thud, making birds fly away from trees in unity.

Hearing no more sounds coming from behind me, I stopped running and rested my legs while hiding behind a tree. There, I caught my breath for a few moments.

I brought out a leather-skin-pouch from the bag on my back, and drank some water to sate my thirst.

After collecting myself, I stood up and turned to look at the other side of the tree. And what I saw made my jaw go slack. There was a three metre tall deer, supporting an antler about one metre tall, laying there on the ground, riddled with gashes all over its body.

Just by looking at the gashes, I could tell they weren't done by a very good butcher.

Its body, covered with golden brown fur, was now dyed with the crimson colour of its own blood.

Dreading to meet the cause of this scene, I took a step back, only to curse my shit luck.

—Creak

No sooner than the sound of twig breaking was heard, the sound of air splitting reached my ears, as something invisible approached me at breakneck speed.

—Swi–swi–wish

How did I know? The path made by parting of leaves on the ground in a straight line told me.

[Master! Run!] Dia shrieked in my head as she shifted her position from my right shoulder to left shoulder. As soon as she did, I ran as fast as I could. But I kept the tree right in between my back and the deer's corpse.

—Tak–Tak–Taaak!

Before I could get a few metres away, whatever that was heading in my direction slammed into the tree, making its branches dance violently. The thing's power was so great that it made leaves fall off the tree as if it was raining leaves.

Due to shock, one of my legs became entangled with my other leg, causing me to fall face first.

"Ow!" I groaned. 'Why only at times like these…?' I lamented at my luck inwardly.

"You good, Dia?" 

[Yes, Master. I'm fine… just a bit tired, I'll be resting for a minute, master.] She replied.

"Sigh…" I sighed in relief.

'Guess being outside for longer took its toll on her.'

Since she was still a baby, and my mana pool was still equivalent to a spoon, she couldn't stay outside me for long. Sooner or later, she would have to go back inside and recharge herself for another round of mischief.

As I was standing up with both my knees on the ground, with my palms pushing me upwards, something sharp and cold touched the back of my neck.

My brain was glaring red signals at me to not move. Instinctively due to the fear of the unknown and panic caused by me falling,  I gulped down my saliva, making my head rise just a little.

But then I felt a trail of hot liquids sliding down from the side of my neck. 

Soon it reached the bottom and a droplet fell on the ground, a crimson red droplet.