Room10c
Jora reaches for the black mirror which rushes over them. For once the transition is not frigid. It feels as if they move through a thick, wet fog which is the temperature of a hot bath.
As the transition ends, they stand in the clearing as before but the mirrors are gone.
Chirps and hoots echo through the underbrush all around them. Glowing eyes peek at them from beneath enormous leaves.
The leaves rustle in a bush close to the group and a creature forces its way through.
The small monster which enters the clearing is only as tall as Lamia’s waist and half as broad making it look like a barrel. It waddles as it walks toward them. It is covered with short brown fur and its head is oversized in relation to its body. Large oval eyes glow yellow in the dim light and its mouth is wide and curving, giving the monster the appearance of having a wide, silly grin.
As comical as its face is, the long claws on the monster’s fingers and toes demonstrate that it can cause harm.
The monster hesitates as it emerges from the brush and curls its lip revealing a frightening amount of triangular teeth.
Jora and Conrad draw their swords and approach the monster. The creature opens its mouth wide, revealing row after row of shark teeth and hisses at the boys.
Shouting a battle cry the boys rush forward and slash at the little monster. Blood erupts from a pair of slashes on its body and the monster screeches.
All around the clearing, the foliage rustles to the accompaniment of howls and hisses. Dozens of the furry creatures erupt from the jungle and race toward the group of adventurers.
The wounded monster takes advantage of the distraction created by its kin and leaps at Conrad. Its mouth opens wide as it flies and with a sickening crunch, it bites through Conrad’s helmet and the front of his face. Conrad falls to the ground twitching and spurting blood.
Jora resumes his attack but a wave of brown-furred monsters sweeps out of the jungle and over him. Blood erupts as he is savaged by the creatures. As his consciousness fades he hears the screams of Lamia and Safir as the monsters tear them to pieces.