"How do I keep finding myself in these situations?!"
Andi shouted to themselves as they ran through the cluttered forest, trees at every turn, almost feeling like a maze. But, they could take no time to try and navigate. All she could do was run and run fast.
She looked back and saw the trio of giant wasps chasing her. Their bulging, dark eyes and oozing green saliva sent chills down her spine. She had never seen anything like it. In fact, she couldn't remember seeing any sort of monster that wasn't in a fairytale book read to her.
Honestly, she couldn't even remember how she found herself here. This all started with wanting to explore the world of Sorenson. After being cooped up in their small, secluded town, she wanted something new. Something exciting for both her and her girlfriend, Mari. To travel the world together and get into fun adventures on the way.
But, it seemed that the adventure that they both sought had planted them in a not-so-fun position. Now, Andi was running for her life. She had been separated from Mari, putting more strain on her heart. All she could think about was if Mari was okay. Also that she needed to find her. Though she wouldn't be finding anyone if these monstrous wasps kept attempting to take her life.
"Okay, okay, okay!" she talked to herself, "Can't keep running forever, I've gotta fight these things!" She gripped the staff she had been running with tightly. It was something she took with her on every journey for cases such as this. Although, Andi would be lying if she said she actually thought something like this would happen.
The thin woman had never been in a fight in her life. Her mouth usually did the fighting for her. Unfortunately, her mouth usually couldn't win the fight. She had hoped her actions would win her this one.
"Alright! C'mon you sons of bitches!" Andi exclaimed. She planted her feet into the crinkly leaves around her, turning her body as she wound up her staff. The Giant wasps continued their path, seeing blood in the water as their prey was just in reach. However, one had come a bit too far, and in direct way of Andi's staff coming down on their head with a sickening thud.
The blow had all Andi could muster in strength, and it didn't disappoint. The wasp was disoriented, buzzing in place as they tried to regain their composure. But, Andi had other things in mind. Now she was the one smelling blood in the water. She repositioned her hands on the staff, holding it like a baseball bat. Without a second thought, she swung the staff vertically and connected with the wasp's face. Sending it hurling into a tree.
"Yea! Take that you-" Andi began to say as her cockiness was getting the better of her. However, one stinger far too close to her face was able to plant her back in reality. She jumped backwards, falling onto her butt as she'd rather that than to be impaled. The wasp though was persistent as it was menacing. It lunged after the brunette-haired woman. She thought fast, using her staff to divert the attack and stick the giant wasp's stinger firmly into the ground. Admittedly, it was more luck and instinct than skill.
She quickly got to her feet. Her legs became jelly-like as her breathing became erratic. The closer the wasps got, the more terrified she became. Who was she kidding? She wasn't much of a fighter! She had started learning before she decided to leave her home, then picked up on some techniques during her journey. Though this was completely different than any training she had been put through.
"Get back!" she screamed at the monsters, but they didn't care what she had to say. All they saw was a fresh meal ahead. She swung her staff to deter them, but that only slowed them down for so long. "I said get back!"
What was she to do? Run again? Her shaky legs would surely lead to her tripping and falling to her inevitable doom. Fight them again? She wasn't skilled enough to take one down, let alone three! If she had Mari, maybe she would have a chance. She was even less of a fighter than Andi. But, at least they would have better numbers compared to her being one against the world.
As she was lost in what to do, the wasps had begun to get impatient. Their buzzing became louder, and their movement became more aggressive. It wasn't long until they were going to attack her. She had to think of something! But, her mind was cluttered with a sea of ideas. She was overwhelmed, unable to focus on one thing. And soon, it was too late, they had launched themselves in an attack. In Andi's mind, she was done for. She dropped her staff and put her hands up; closing her eyes and looking away as her screams filled the chirping forest.
Though as she waited for a few seconds, she realized that she was still in one peace. How? She was sure she was going to be the wasp's dinner. After shaking up the courage, she opened one of her eyes and looked back at the giant wasps. To her confusion, they were just hovering in front of her. They were still, their heads tilting every which way as their eyes kept locked on Andi.
"What the...?" The green-eyed woman's voice trailed off. She took one step, ready to run if they even looked as though they were going to attack again. But, they did nothing. Andi couldn't make out what was going on. She waved her hand in front of them, but there was no reaction. It was as if she wasn't there. She had all but disappeared in the eyes of the gluttonous carnivores. And, she believed she knew why.
At first, she hadn't noticed anything. Though she quickly saw something strange appearing when she waved her hand. There were tiny, colorful sparkles floating around her. In fact, her entire body had these strange sparkles around it. Her mind had wandered again. Could the wasps have casted some sort of spell on them? It wasn't out of the ordinary for monsters to know and use magic. But for a giant wasp to? That's just overpowered!
"Move it, already!" Before Andi could ponder more on the terrifying idea of a monster having magic, they heard a strange voice. It was high pitched, and it sounded like it was coming from above. She looked up, squinting as the bright sun cut through the tall trees' leaves. That was when she saw something sitting on the branches. The novice strained her eyes to make the figure out. They were fairly small, a few inches above five feet. Their purple skin brightly gleamed off of the shiny sun.
However, all she could notice was the person's hands. They were out, pointed at Andi, with those same sparkles around them. Could they be the ones masking her? What were they?
"Stop staring and get to cover!" the person yelled at her once again, to which she was startled out of her trance. Her eyes darted around for any sort of cover. It took her considerably longer than it should have to figure out to hide behind one of the many tall trees behind her. She sprinted to the nearest one and hid behind it, giving a thumbs up to the tree dweller.
"Silly human..." the one in the tree mumbled to themselves, with Andi noticing an animated eyeroll. "Now, Ezzy!"