#devilsaur

(Daily writing challenge August 2022, Day 4, Impress/Exhaustion. CW: Vore, animal distress (no death))

@daily-writing-challenge

In the depths of Un'goro crater, it was a lovely day. The sun shone down through the leafy canopy, granting warmth and casting shade. The gentle breeze carried the sweet smells of the incredible flora that called the titan test bed home. And the sound of a roaring devilsaur and a screaming human echoed off the rocky canyon walls that protected it from the outside world.

Janosis was an experienced, celebrated runner. Indeed, he had mastered the art of fleeing danger on foot over many years, most recently while prisoner of the dread tower Torghast. But there was only so much his human body could do to outpace a twenty foot tall saurid who was equal parts grumpy and hungry, and his pursuer was gaining on him. He uttered a quick spell to blink past a large fallen tree, only to hear it crack and splinter a moment later as the devilsaur crushed it underfoot, roaring in triumph as it closed on its prey.

"The creature will reach striking distance in seventeen seconds. Recommend alteration of strategy." his familiar Penelops intoned, the little ball of arcane energy floating alongside his head, providing a useful, if frustrating, play by play of the pursuit.

"I'm thinking!" he snapped back, rolling under a set of vines and coming up at speed, barely stumbling as he focused on the path in front of him. One wrong move would end the pursuit badly for him. He was already beginning to tire, his muscles burning in protest as he pushed his body to its cardiovascular limits.

"Pursuer will strike in five seconds. Strategy recommendation: Ice Block spell will grant you more time to think." Penelops declared. Janosis' mind raced. Yes, it was one of his favorite spells, and would buy him time, but not enough. His mana reserves were too low to attempt a teleport, much less try to fend off the creature. Encasing himself in a block of ice would be his last spell for a while....

Janosis' eyes went wide as he realized his out. He hated his out. Breathing deep, he slowed his pace slightly, and uttered a simple command. "Count down."

"Affirmative. Three. Two. One. Strike." As she started the final word, Janosis jumped, pulling his arms and legs in close as the Devilsaur's maw loomed over him, before snapping down, gobbling him up whole. The creature stood, throwing its head back, then stumbled. It began to cough, or try to, its tiny forearms clawing at its neck. With a mighty heave, the beast coughed up the jagged block of ice, streaked with its blood, out of its throat, before weakly turning away, utterly unwilling to continue with such a dangerous morsel. A few moments later, the ice faded, dropping the cooled blood right onto Janosis' face.

Because of course it did.

The mage lay there for a few moments, feebly wiping the blood from his face as Penelops floated over to him. "New strategy recorded for later review. A freshwater stream is located one hundred thirty four meters west-by-northwest from this location, and should aid in the recovery of your mana stores. Well done, sir."

Warlord of Draenor