The First and Last

Johan pushed himself up from the blood-spattered ground. He saw his friend flailing helplessly, trying to escape the terrible grip of the giant wood-scorpion. The pincers squeezed tighter, blood spurted from Gurnd's mouth as his ribs began to buckle. It was now or never. Johan, fueled by adrenaline, disregarded his own injuries and leapt to his feet. The beast's massive tail raised high into the air, it's venom-laden stinger pulsed in rhythm with Johan's heartbeat; fast and frantic. He was nearly within striking-distance when the scorpion plunged it's hideous barb down at Gurnd. Johan's sword flashed, crunching through exoskeleton and thick slime, severing the tail. He was too late; the stinger had hit it's mark and Gurnd was already dead before the beast disappeared into the forest. Never again would Johan laugh with his friend, never again would he walk that road, never again would he long for adventure.