~Aurora~

　　Just then…my body switched itself to instinct!

　　To match with the vigor, the sheer strength of my opponent, my body automatically relied on instincts as I dodged the first hit. Barely…

　　I gasped as half of my jacket was now stuck in its claws! My chest tightened, as if trying to spit my heart out from my mouth! I was truly dreading this creature!

　　The werebear then growled right into my face, enough to make me throw the remaining piece of my jacket into its face! It was distracted, but only for a brief while! When I started running at the speed of light, having a plan to run upwards rather than anywhere else, I knew I flipped its switch. It started climbing on trees, hanging off of trunks rather than the branches! That was one trained instinctive fighter right there.

　　These creatures can live up to thirty years of age. It doesn't faze me to know that this werebear has crossed adulthood long back to gain this kind of expertise in hunting!

　　"AH!" I screamed in terror when the werebear jumped onto my back! That was not expected at all! Its weight on mine made me sink into the snow. Luckily, I wasn't crushed because the snow slowed my impact! As quickly as possible, I dug my way out of the snow like a rabbit!

　　From there, I tried running far, far away. I kicked the creature in the eyes. It'll take some time for it to realize I've impaired its vision. I truly hope I did permanent damage to its eyes, because I don't want it to recognise me and hunt me down once more! I have nowhere to do nor can I stall it around this mountain!

　　I was almost halfway close to the end point from the valley I've started from. So close…

　　Just a few more hours, and I'll complete this challenge.

　　However…I don't seem to be alone here either.

　　Sensing me…or something else, many little mammals around me started running in the opposite direction. I've realized that there is a bioluminescent pond around here. It was a strange source of blue and green light in the middle of nowhere! Not to mention, today is also a no moon day, meaning that the sky and the surface was as dark as space!

　　Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks when I heard the loud, angry growl not too far from where I was hiding! It was the werebear! He found me quicker than I expected! Panic started settling in me, and I had a very bad idea to camouflage myself into the dark corner. Werebears do have good vision at night. But calculating how hard I've kicked it in its eyes, I could tell that he couldn't see me at least here.

　　I hid below and inside a tree's thick roots, thinking they were enough to accommodate me within. It was pretty dark here.

　　I didn't realize I was such a fool to think I'm not just fighting a powerful werebear, but an animal which can locate me by my scent! Also, considering how profusely I've been sweating because of my increased, abnormal body heat, the werebear could find me easier than ever!

　　I'd just need some more time to catch my breath, I guess. This is way, way too exhausting.

　　"ARGHHH!" this time, the growl sounded different!

　　My eyes widened when I realized what could've just happened…

　　The werebear…must have taken its prime form!

　　Half human, half bear!

　　Increased mobility, increased stealth and increased rate of hunting…that's what happens when any evolved species (werebears, lycans and werewolves alike) shift into PRIME form.

　　"Oh Goddess, please give me a way to survive…" tears almost threatened to stream down my face. But I fought them and refused to cry. I've got this, I just have to find ways to avoid confronting the creature. While doing that, I'll also have to progress close to the end point. That way, reinforcements will quickly pick me up from there and I'll win this challenge!

　　But deep within, I somehow grew pessimistic. I was convincing myself that I wouldn't survive tonight. I won't see the light of the sunrise tomorrow. And that I'll become a hunting experience and a meal to this formidable enemy…

　　There was way too much emotional turmoil within me.

　　Within a few moments, the werebear sniffed me out as I could do nothing but scream.

　　Scream, until my chest was bursting open with fear.

　　The werebear had mauled my arm off, almost. His attempt to pull me out of my hiding was unsuccessful, except for the fact that I almost lost my arm. The pain…it was excruciating. I couldn't think straight!

　　I screamed again, not just hoping that I'd scare the creature away, but because I felt genuinely weak. I was failing. Miserably. I'm so close to my goal, yet so far.

　　I only wished…that I'd have a wolf within me.

　　A wolf who would patch me up within seconds and build me back to health, without potions. A wolf wise enough, a part of my subconscious brain who can guide me through dire situations. Like this one.

　　I was too desperate.

　　Way too desperate.

　　So desperate, that the moon above me started turning red.

　　Oh no…that wasn't because of the moon.

　　There was no moon.

　　The sparkling red eye was of the werebear, it had only one functional eye after what I've done to it.

　　I was slowly losing consciousness, but was trying desperately to not be pulled from this space by the werebear. It had bitten my right leg off too…

　　I just wished…I had a wolf.

　　A wolf…

　　A…wolf…

　　What's happening…?

　　It was…as if I was having an out of body experience.

　　These eyes, are not mine.

　　Where have I come…?

　　Why do I see white…and a pond?

　　And what is that on the pond? It's a…reflection? Of whom?

　　Just then, I realized.

　　That from tonight onwards…I'd never be alone.

　　"Hello, Aurora Fangborn…"