Tave was now standing, still hidden behind the thick trunk of a tree, eyes narrowed as he tracked the surroundings. Panpan had already slipped away, and he no longer had any idea where she was.
Until… The monster let out a guttural roar, deeper and louder than before.
Then came the faint, sharp sound of arrows striking the air, quiet, expertly muted, but just enough to pull at the monster's attention like bait on a hook.
Tave peeked out from behind the tree, and for the first time, he got a proper look at the creature.
Its body alone stood nearly a head and a half taller than him. But with its long, serpent-like neck, it towered over him at three times his height.
The beast whipped its neck toward the source of the sound, jaws parting as it searched for the threat.
And then, through the wavering shadows, Tave spotted her. Panpan.
