Chapter 7

Rob locked eyes with the Jungle Lizard’s.

The creature’s eyes were a bright yellow. They were the only thing truly giving it away amidst the jungle floor. The creature had been well-concealed though and Rob definitely felt like his 18 points in Perception had just saved him from a sneak attack.

Now that Rob had properly spotted the monster, however, he could make it out more clearly. The creature was a thick, heavy-bodied lizard, its scales mottled in greens and grays that helped camouflage it within the jungle. A line of sharp, uneven spines ran along its back, giving it a rough armored look.

Rob and the Jungle Lizard were two creatures staring each other down. Which one was the hunter and which one was the hunted had yet to be truly decided.

Rob gripped his spear. The creature may have been a level above him, but with his spear, he felt confident to take it on.

He shifted into a low stance, left foot forward, spear butt tucked against his hip. The point stayed trained on the lizard’s snout—its line of attack. As long as Rob controlled that line, he controlled the fight.

The monster and him were both aware of each other. There would be no sneak attacks here.

Rob felt fairly confident that with the range of his spear, he had the upperhand. He was more concerned about the monster retreating than anything else.

He took a cautious step forward. Both hands gripping his spear tightly. He was ready to thrust if the Jungle Lizard chose to make a sudden leap attack at him.

The Jungle Lizard stayed still. The creature was waiting for Rob’s first move.

Rob grinned.

The lizard was baiting him. The creature wanted Rob to make a mistake and then it would pounce.

But two could play at that game.

Rob dropped his shoulder and lunged half a step forward. He let the weight travel through his front foot, making the feint look committed. The spear dipped just enough to draw the lizard’s eye—but not enough to compromise his guard.

The lizard reacted instantly, swerving to the left.

Exactly what he wanted.

Rob pivoted on his lead foot and drove the spear into the lizard’s exposed flank. The tip punched through scale and flesh with a wet crunch. Rob twisted the shaft, then ripped it free before the creature could recoil.

The lizard shrieked, thrashing backward, blood smearing the ground. Then it lunged.

Rob hopped back, keeping the weapon’s length between them. The beast was desperate now, trying to close the distance, to drag Rob into clawing range.

Rob circled sideways, keeping the spear steady between him and the lizard, the tip tracking the creature’s eyes. The wound was slowing it; each step left another splash of red.

One more strike should be enough to finish it off.

Rob dropped his shoulders and feinted again. The lizard bit at the movement, darting in the same direction as before. Rob stepped forward and committed this time—the spear struck deep into its stomach, driving home with a hard, final thrust.

He watched as the light faded from the Jungle Lizard’s eyes.

Rob yanked the spear free and snapped it back into guard, exhaling sharply. He scanned for movement, point sweeping in a shallow arc. His Perception flared—something shifted the foliage to his right.

Rob felt something fly out of the air towards him.

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It was another Jungle Lizard, mouth open wide, ready to take a bite into his arm.

Rob quickly swung out the lower half of his spear to deflect. The staff-side of the spear smacked right into the head of the incoming Jungle Lizard, sending it back through the air towards the ground.

A huge pain erupted in his other forearm.

He looked down to see a third Jungle Lizard had shown up and got a bite out of him.

Rob’s adrenaline surged. He shook his arm and smashed at the Jungle Lizard with his spear. The Jungle Lizard eventually let go, leaving a large blood wound and teeth marks in his arms.

Rob winced and pushed back the pain.

He took a big leap back, creating space for his spear’s length to protect him.

He had two hostile lizards that he was keeping track of now. He started to move backwards towards the beach to make sure no more could sneak up on him.

He kept the spear tip darting between the two hostile lizards as they came towards him, denying either a clean line to rush. He angled his body so only one lizard could approach at a time, forcing them to attack in sequence instead of together.