Chapter III

      Eric's life was flashing before his eyes. The few highlights, like when he was staring at his blue ribbon for his science project - BEFORE he got canned, shone for a split second before he winced at getting his ass kicked again by the local street thugs. As the trees came at a shocking velocity, shut his eyes tight and braced for the impact.
Landing on a roof of leaves, dense enough to slow Eric's fall, but not enough to support him,

      Eric felt like he was falling through a layer of pillows, only it hurt a lot more, he thought he heard stuff breaking and was getting scratched up by the many twigs.
      Screaming in pain and fear, Eric then fell the remaining thirty feet to the ground. He was an absolute mess, his leather jacket was torn to shreds, jeans looked like something straight out of Goodwill and shoes were flaking off everywhere. Crimson streaks stained any exposed skin, and his hair... you wouldn't be able to tell the difference how little he combed it, but it looked like a wig of tangle wire.
      Eric spent a good two minutes writhing in agony, crying out in pain. Putting weight on his leg just worsened the chronic throbbing; he must have fractured it. His skin stung, the bow was jetting into his back and the handle of the sword snapped at his neck. He felt whiplash coming on...
     Limping on the side, and leaning on Murasma for support (which had mysteriously changed in color from blue to red) Eric stepped out, screaming every step of the way, to look for something to signal Fox and the others from the ground. Looking up, it'd take something; the leaves created a barrier that almost stopped light.
A shadow fell behind Eric that rustled leaves. More appeared in a stalking ambush.

(Aboard the Great Fox)
     "DAMN!" Fox cursed. "Rob, scan that forest!"
     "Affirmative." Rob droned on monotonely.
     They were worried. No one could survive a fall like that unless all those leaves were piled thick and landed on soft ground. And successfully rolling with the fall to soften the impact, and judging from Eric's failing he didn't do any of it which would require skill. Hold on, Fox thought.
     "Scanning response. Unidentified object- ("That would be Eric!" Eclipse said hopefully) "-and several other figures closing in. DNA of unidentified object-
     "We know!" The group cried in unison. "What are the other things!"
     "The DNA matches with lightfoot dinosaurs."

(In the forest below)
     Eric had to sit down onto a log, he couldn't bear the pain anymore. He lay down, and felt like just sitting there and going to sleep until his leg healed crooked and spent the rest of his life running in circles. Concentrating on silence, there were some rustling of the leaves which perked up Eric's attention.
     It was in front of him - then disappeared. Then behind - a shadow fell. It was maddening and Eric could do nothing about it. Someone or something - or plural - was stalking him!
Fear was beginning to ensue. Blinding abject panic! Running as fast as his destroyed body would carry him, he tripped over an outstretched root. Pain wracked his body in a choke hold and wasn't letting go. A shadow fell over Eric as he tried to roll over and see what it was.
     A dinosaur, slightly smaller than Eric and light brown, with feet that looked both quick and powerful. Painted markings marked its chest as it reared up on it's toes. It walked on its hind legs and didn't look very friendly.
     "Nxuk aj kxaj Venomian medboo teadw ad eih neet?!"
More of the creatures came up. "Venomian jsim!"
     "Kxaj edo'j tavvohodk..."
     "Xo'j nakx Venom! Bacc xam!"
     "ODEIWS! No nacc kubo xam rusb ke kxo sumf vdt kehkiho xam idkac xo kucbj ureik Venom's ussojj setoj. No bacc xam av xo's idseefohukalo, amjhajed xam av dek."
As they were saying this, it sounded like all they were talking in was harshness, and then Venom kept coming up... Suddenly, they swooped at him! Eric covered his eyes and waited for the end.
     Opening an eye, Eric peered around. One of the creatures cut off Murasma's scabbard. Despite Eric's silent pleas, ("No one can use that but me!") the scabbard was too much of an insulator. He was being lifted up onto a stretcher, being unable to walk. He kept getting catches of DPese, but was almost relieved he was getting carried somewhere. Almost, the creatures (Eric heard the word, "Lightfoot,") kept talking about Venomian this and Venomian that.
     The Lightfoots brought him to what looked like a large camp. Fires were lit everywhere, and the party that had him in their power started gloating. "No'lo josihot u Venomian fhajedoh! Mubo Nuo!"
     Dragging Eric along (and confiscating Murasma, no less,) Eric was unceremoniously dumped into a dark gray stone cell. A lone window, not a square foot big, allowed light into the room. It actually took Eric's mind off of his leg for a second.
As the Lightfoot left the prison, leaving what looked like a crude soup for a meal, he said one thing as a parting shot while Eric writhed on the ground in agony.
     "Kemehhan, ufo, oei tao!"