>>6070637>>6070660>>6070664>>6070672>>6070699Another swoosh stopped you dead in your tracks.
A now-familiar figure flew overhead, sharply turning in the sky and returning to your rearview.
A bandage fell down to cover your left eye.
A near-miss.
You focused skyward to see an ironclad enemy staring you straight in the face.
It was hard to make out exactly what it was doing; your trunk obscured its claws, and it flew directly in front of the sun. As rays of light danced upon its gleaming feathers and christened the demon with its own infernal halo, it became impossible to see the specifics of its face or torso.
All you could see was the silhouette, the pointed horn aimed at you, and that which shone around it--
<span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">SHHHH-CRICK</span></span>
You were <span class="mu-i">pushed</span> backwards. Your heels dug into the dirt and your teeth into your lip. The blasted bird was upon you.
Its claws dug deep into your trunk, tearing into the leather casing, talons mere inches from your heart and evil eyes but an inch from your nose. The bladed helmet it wore was made apparent solely by how close it had gotten to cutting your jaw from your skull.
Bereft of better options, you thrust your trunk forward, trying to throw off your armored attacker to the best of your ability, jostling the case back and forth and cursing underneath your breath.
