out for the glory

You decide to strike as soon as possible as the worm lowers its head toward you, mouth opening to reveal rows upon rows of jagged, ugly teeth. Though you nearly manage to land a bite, the worm is apparently quicker than you are, striking you hard and fast as everything around you abruptly goes dark....

All you remember is the hot blazing heat and then... cool darkness. You awake outside of the chasm on a smooth, flat rock.

A familiar form kneels beside you, tending your wounds. It takes several blurry moments to realize this is not your guide, but a cluster of fireflies in a cloak the same color as your guide's fur. Your injuries are blindingly painful, but you will live; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you. Your right hip front left outer leg back left outer leg hurts the most, and inspecting it reveals the worst - large swaths of skin are torn away and hanging loose, an injury you really ought to see a healer about. It will no doubt scar in a large section (roughly 5 x 5 inches). You feel less skilled now too, losing 20 navigation 58 fighting 20 navigation skill points.

You realize loosely how little sense that makes and you wonder if this is real, but a warm force closes your eyes and bids you to think of home, of safety. When you awake next, you are in a safe place, one which you might have imagined.