Killer monster's Arc

Chapter 2 of 4

The mate's call still rang across the far mire. Killer monster pushed forward to answer it. One step, two, then the mud dropped away. Deep black water stretched between them, too wide to cross. Killer monster swam out and sank. Their wounded tail dragged them down. They clawed back to the shallows, spent and shaking. The mate waited on the far bank, out of reach. The call went unanswered. Killer monster searched the shore for another way. Reeds, then a pale wall rose through them. A huge cabin stood at the water's edge, its wood weathered, vines crawling up every beam. Swamp grass choked its porch. No one had lived there in years. Behind it, rusted fences sprawled into the dark. Broken gates. Empty pens full of green pooled acid. An old zoo, left to rot. Killer monster slid along the fences, looking for a crossing. Something huge stirred inside a cracked enclosure. Metal scraped. Killer monster froze. A beast hauled itself into the moonlight. Its skin shone like silver streaked with old blood. Moss hung from its sides. Wings unfolded with a groan of bent metal. It turned one burning eye toward Killer monster and opened its jaws. Fire poured out. Killer monster dove. Flame hissed where they had stood and set the dry reeds burning. The winged beast beat the air and rose. Killer monster bolted along the shore, the heat chasing their back. They had no den here. No place to hide. The fire spread fast across the old grounds. Then Killer monster saw the chance. A long iron fence, half fallen, reached out across the deep water. It bridged nearly to the far bank. Killer monster ran for it. The winged beast dropped behind them, jaws glowing again. Killer monster leaped onto the fallen fence. Metal bent under their weight. They scrambled across, claws screeching on rust. The beast loosed its fire. Flame struck the fence behind Killer monster. Iron glowed red and buckled. The far end tore loose and sank. Killer monster flung themselves off the last beam and hit the far mud hard. They had crossed. The deep water lay behind them now. The mate was there. Scales like Killer monster's own. Up close, it was larger, battered, watchful. It did not nuzzle or call again. It bared its teeth and hissed. This was its ground, and Killer monster had come burning and bleeding onto it. Behind them, the fire climbed the old cabin. The winged beast circled the smoke. Killer monster could not go back. The path home was fire and deep water now. Ahead stood the mate, and it did not welcome them. Killer monster had reached the far bank at last. Now they had to win the creature standing on it, before the flames reached them both.