No time like the present

Kea jumped, feeling the heat of the lava below him. As he moved, suspended across the bubbling heat, he felt something flash across his thoughts. Like a near-death experience. For a brief moment, he thought he saw a glimpse of lights, like fireflies around him. The feeling of failure sank into his gut. He wasn't going to make it, he wasn't going to-- his paws landed, sudden and hard, on the other side. The shock of it threw him from his folly, and the thoughts fled his mind as if they had never been. Already long forgotten, as an adversary rose suddenly from the chasm below. 


He gaped in astonishment at the giant worm as it lowered itself towards him. A thought crossed his mind - a name - but he dismissed it as further folly. How could he know this creature's name? His heart leaped into his throat, and he launched himself forward. He needed to attack now, before it killed him!


-strength-