Favio instinctively stepped back, mirroring his opponent's movements as the creature slithered closer. Its form stayed hidden beneath the thick shadows of the towering trees, but the rancid stench clinging to its matted fur hit him full force. He wrinkled his nose on reflex — whatever it was, it reeked worse than anything he'd ever smelled before.
Without a second thought, he fumbled for his flashlight, flicking it on with trembling hands.
The beam caught the beast's face — a twisted dark mask stretched tight over its sharp, bulging yellow eyes. It prowled on powerful paws, its body low and smooth, moving with an eerie grace that reminded Favio more of a snake than any normal predator.
Then, in a blink, it slipped back into the darkness, vanishing as if the shadows themselves had swallowed it whole.
Panic surged through him. His hand jerked wildly, the flashlight's beam scattering across the ancient trees.
Snap.
