Shredder XXII
The mindless drum of his feet had almost put Gerard to sleep. It had happened before, during his training. He had witnessed it since, once of his own creation. Crossing terrain that was at times vast with a pristine blandness could lull an unwary ranger into dangerous situations. He had seen a comrade tumble right off a precipice. Fortunately only frigid waters waited below, and no permanent harm was done.
The cracking and shredding of foliage lanced adrenalin into Gerard’s system, snapping him from the dreamy stupor his legs were enjoying. He skidded to a halt and cursed his dullard wit for missing the motion that accompanied the ruckus which had erupted ahead on the trail. His blood ran cold despite the vigorous exercise with the imagined predation of a shredder lurking not fifty footfalls off.
The forest regained its composure in short order with the common fauna conveying to Gerard that had obvious danger been at hand, silence would have continued to reign. The Halfling picked his way off the game trail with measured strides and circled ahead, scanning for clues to his journey’s interruption. His held tilted as an odd picture began to paint itself within his mind.
Something had fallen through the canopy, passage marked by broken branches and missing leaves, but the trail started in an odd location. No window in the foliage could be seen. No perch was available and no visible scarring of anything having fallen in the locale to account for the calamity. A blade whispered from its sheath into his hand and he waited, counting heartbeats.
Nothing. He circled further, closing the distance until his eyes caught sight of steamy wisps rising from a thick fern bed trampled by a considerable weight. Drawing close enough to identify the source, Gerard’s eyes narrowed upon the unlikely form of a humanoid.