To My Enemies

Barghest prowled along the muddy banks of the river, her senses on alert as she searched for signs of prey. She had been allowed out with a friend of her father’s, and it was the best thing ever! The air was thick with the scent of murky water and decaying vegetation, the sounds of the river echoing in her ears.

But as she moved deeper into the dense undergrowth, her ears pricked at the sound of movement nearby. Something large and heavy was crashing through the underbrush, sending birds scattering into the sky in a flurry of feathers. Barghest tensed, her muscles coiling as she prepared to face whatever creature was coming her way.

And then, it emerged from the shadows of the trees, a massive behemoth of muscle and rage. A hippopotamus, (not that she knew that) its massive bulk towering over Barghest like a mountain of flesh and bone. Its eyes glinted with fury, its massive jaws opening in a menacing display of teeth as it regarded Barghest with hostility. The girl held her ground, her aqua eyes narrowed in defiance as she met the hippo's gaze head-on. She knew better than to think she could handle this opponent alone, she wasn’t insane, but she would not turn tail and run before she got a lick on it.

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