“AHH, my eyes!”

Phoogli, unprepared for the blast of light, cowered behind the fallen tree he had used for cover. Panic fought his self control, trying to persuade him to run and save himself from certain death. Just before his restrain broke, ghostly images began to show through the static of his vision. Slowly, the shapes of the trees and fallen wood became clearer. He glanced around for some sense of direction. A bowed tree to his left and a stripped trunk to his right told him he was facing south. Trying again to see the sun for reassurance, Phoogli searched the thick canopy for the sun’s rays, only achieving in spotting a giant rampaging monkey swinging through the trees.

“What the f..” A roar from behind sliced through his stammering and reminded Phoogli exactly why he was here. The Hydra had obviously not taken well to Crugeons trick. Phoogli glanced over the fallen trunk to see the Master General advancing on the beast. Why does he always have to face his enemy head on? Phoogli, almost at full sight again, sprinted towards the hydra at its rear right flank. In all his experience running across the country, his legs had never felt as week and shaky as they did now. This was surely suicide and he had already decided he had not drunk nearly enough whiskey for one life.

Spotting a tree that had fallen in the direction of the hydras current position, Phoogli adjusted his course and leapt onto the base of the trunk. The tree had fallen into the branches of another, creating an ascending path for him to climb. Phoogli calculated that at full speed, he would be able to reach the top and leap just far enough to land on the beasts back. With the help of his trusty climbing weapons, he hoped he could distract the beast for just long enough that Crugeon would deliver a killing blow. Counting his steps, Phoogli moved into the rhythm of the climb, each step gaining confidence. At seven steps from the top, his right foot hit some loose bark, sending him cascading off the side of the tree. Branches pummelled him as he fell, tearing the skin from his arms, legs and face. With a jolt, his left foot lodged in the wedge of a branch, halting his spirally descent instantly.

After hanging for several moments, time taken to regurgitate his last five meals, Phoogli looked up at what was left of his ankle. By the angle it was now facing, he thought it was probably dislocated with several bones broken. Thankfully, his head had been hit just enough times to make all his senses numb. Trying to clear is head of the fog that had set in, Phoogli looked around once again for bearing. Unfortunately, his vision was filled with the large head of a hydra.

“Wha a yoooo look’n at fatty?” Darkness descended across his eyes as unconsciousness let him rest.