The jungle howled as light crept through the trees. Out of the thickest portion of foliage Melri, a Felarin girl, burst through the branches, followed closely by a hoard of Olgri, creatures that appeared to be a marriage of man and boar. Chirping and snorting, they trampled the undergrowth in their pursuit of Melri.
Melri was a slight girl elfin with her skin mottled in greens and browns. She was sticky with sweat and her pert breasts heaved as her lungs grasped at the rapidly thinning air. The jungle grew darker as she headed further into the canopy. She knew in her heart that escape was nearly impossible. Out of breath and fueled by the savage sounds behind her Melri scanned the landscape by the light of the moon and was shown one possibility, a volcano lay maybe a mile ahead of her. Its hazy red mist lit by moonlight informed her. If she could make it there she might be able to find a cave and evade her pursuers.
She was heading for her homestead but she instead found herself lost among the twisting jungle when the Olgri horde came upon her. The Olgri were said to be vicious creatures that cavorted in blood and played malicious games with their prey. The Felarin were raised to watch for signs of Olgri encampments from a very young age. Melri's people were enlightened but weak in the field of war. The Felarin's lithe bodies were no matches for the brute strength of Olgri warriors. So they learned to hide themselves among the trees, this coupled with their natural camouflage were their sole defenses against the amoral Olgri.
Melri reached the volcanic rock and forced herself up. Her body bled from a thousand tiny wounds and her muscles screamed for rest, but she pressed herself forward. She reached a high flat plateau and stood for a moment unable to feel anything but the buzzing of her overworked form. She looked back and saw the hoard below, a squad of seven hunters. She had never seen an Olgri, they were massive. Melri could see their muscles shined in sweat. They would snap her in half with no effort. The beasts were quicker than she anticipated, before she was able to turn and run the first two were climbing the cliff and a few short strides from her. She pulled her bone knife from its sheath and swung it at her adversaries who seemed to laugh at her attempts. They waited just out of her reached until she wore herself out. The strength seemed stripped from her weary limbs. With nothing left to run on and no escape in sight her limbs gave out and the Olgri were on her.
***
Melri woke on a bed of soft loose feathers, leaves, and some kind of rough hewn blanket. The few clothes she owned were gone. She instinctively reached for her knife only to find bare flesh there. She was in a small hut lit by a cooking fire in the center. Melri sensed a presence; someone else was in the room. The world spun as she tried to lift her head forcing her back down. "Who is here?" She groaned.
"Do not be afraid child." The voice was soft and inviting. Melri turned very slowly to see another Felarin girl. The girl was a collection of ruddy red and purple hues, She beamed at Melri. "The Olgri are gentle, they will treat you well."
