27 - A Hall of Mirrors

The beast lurched forward with a growl. Its hairy arms pushed aside tree branches that blocked its vision. Sharp talons extending from its hands swayed across the air in an attempt to grab hold of the running target, but it missed by an inch. The shadow of his hunched figure easily towered over her. Under its heavy clawed feet, the twigs lying on the forest floor twisted and cracked. Even with slow steps, it managed to keep up with the girl's fast legs—just close enough but not about right. 

The full moon peeked from above but refused to provide any help to either the prey or her predator.

Eira ran quicker when she heard another growl kiss her back. This dream was different—she knew it only a dream, but she knew she had to run. While in the former ones the beast had been farther away from her, this time it managed to get so close that its hairy fur brushed against her bare skin and claws buried themselves in her back, drawing three large slant-cuts. Blood oozed from