Sept. 21: Campfire Stories

[Hannah Murphy]

((open thread))

On the edge of the forest, Murphy was sitting next to a campfire. Some sort of meat was cooking over a spit and the tall, wild-looking girl was staring up at the stars.

[Narrator]

While she isn't looking there's an almost cartoonish chomp sound and the next time she looks there's a decent chunk bitten out of her food!

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy growls a warning as she scans the camp-site. She did not like her food being taken from her.

[Narrator]

There's nothing to be seen at least, though a strange, musky smell hangs in the air.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy wrinkles her nose and warily takes her knife out. She cuts off a piece of meat and bites into it.

"Who's there?" Murphy finally says.

[Narrator]

The answer is just a vague growl. It doesn't sound like any animal Murphy is familiar with.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy growls back a warning. This was her spot and her food. She would defend it if challenged.

[Narrator]

A shadow that's a good 3 meters tall moves through the darkness just at the edge of the light of the campfire and growls back at her, which is followed by the sound of creaking wood as one of the trees begins to bend. After a couple moments of the wood groaning in protest it splinters with a loud crack and the tree topples towards Murphy.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy rolls out of the way the tree and onto all fours. Her hair is standing on end and her claws and teeth are out.

"Who?" Murphy loudly demands.

[Narrator]

The answer is just another growl and another tree begins to sway and creek.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy charges at the tree.

[Narrator]

Murphy throws herself at the tree, which surprises the creature that's trying to topple the tree enough to pause. Instead the Bugbear falls down on all fours and swipes at Murphy, knocking the girl off the tree and into the forest. She goes crashing through the underbrush while the Bugbear advances on where she came to a stop.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy slowly gets up and she looks pissed. She taps into the oldest animal ability she has, roaring at the bugbear as her strength begins to increase.

Bugbear meet Murphy bear.

[Narrator]

The two clash, the Bugbear still towering over her but being held back more than the creature expected from the smaller opponent. It roars it's warbling growl and snaps it's maw at Murphy.