I kept my breath steady as I held my gaze towards the small hare in my sights. My knees and legs were stiff from keeping in this position for so long, but I soldiered on. My prey was none the wiser to my presence. The wind was in an optimal position, I'd wiped all fallen leaves off of the blind I was one, and I was ready to let the arrow fly in a second. I just needed a better line of sight. That damn rabbit just had to take a few more steps, and then…

*thwap!*

I let go of the bowstring with all three fingers at once, like a pro, and grinned as I heard the rabbit let out it's final cry. Evidently, there were several more hares in the area, and they all heard the noise and fled. With a satisfied smirk, I climbed down from my spot in the blind and trudged over to my kill, picking up the dead rabbit by the arrow.

"Big boy, aren't you, mate?" I asked it as I pulled the arrow out, gave it a quick wipe down, and put it back in the quiver. Adding the carcass to the other three I'd killed throughout the day, I checked my watch to see the time. It was almost 6pm, and the sun was starting to set. I should probably get going soon. Spiders usually come out at night, and I don't want to step on any funnelweb or redback infestations.

I took my haul back to my car and packed them into a cooler in the boot before hopping into the driver's seat. I'd been coming to this area to get rid of the pests that were messing with the landowner's ecosystem. I'd spotted several bushes and trees that weren't looking good, and if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say it was because of the rabbits burrowing about and eating the roots. So, per the request of the landowner, an old family friend, I'd been coming to reduce the pest's population. Well, more like allowed, rather than requested. She knew hunting was a hobby of mine, and had hired a few professionals.

Well, either way, I got to spend time hunting, and I'd be contributing to the family barbeque at my grandparents' place this weekend. Not to mention the wild rabbit stew I'd be making for my family tonight.

Life was good.

I could hunt, I had a great family supporting me, I had a job that didn't suck, Uni was going great, my car was almost paid off completely, and I'd even gotten laid a few days prior.

Like I said, life was good. Better than it had been for a long time.

Shame some boozer had to ruin it.

I had to drive across a bridge on my way home, and as I was crossing it, I allowed a split second to look out my window, admiring the view of the fields, rivers, and forests. I took my grey eyes off the road for half a second, and then the next thing I knew, some idiot, probably drunk, was driving on the wrong side of the road, and slammed right into me. My car went soaring off of the bridge.

It was pitch black after that.

I suddenly regained consciousness, and my lungs screamed for air as I instinctively struggled in the water. I could hardly see a thing in the water, but I could vaguely make out light above me. Immediately, I began swimming up, sputtering and coughing as I broke through the water's surface. I took a moment to catch my breath before looking around. I was in some kind of lagoon or river, surrounded by trees and rocks. Steeling myself, I swam to the closest flat surface I could see.

I crawled out of the water, breathing heavily as I tried to ease the dizziness that attacked. I allowed my muscles to give in the intense fatigue, and I fell to the soily ground, letting my body rest as I just stared up at the sky. After a few very long moments, I sat up with a slight groan of effort, and took in my surroundings. I had no idea where I was. It didn't look like the fields and rivers of Canberra.

With a deep breath, I did my best to calm the anxiety creeping up my spine. Shaking my head, I stood up on weak knees. I picked up my bow and quiver, which must have gotten washed to the shore on their own, though I was missing seven of my 24 arrows, and headed on into the forest. I kept an arrow at the ready. Australia was notorious for having the world's deadliest creatures all over the place, and if I was in the wild, I had to be ready.

I slowly made my way through the thick and dense forest, but all I found was more trees and bushes, not a hint of civilization. Twice, I had to shoot a snake in the head to avoid being poisoned. One would think living in Australia for five years would curb a snake phobia, but nope. Still can't stand those devil worms.

As I trudged through the muggy forest, I suddenly heard a strange, high pitched, reptilian hiss. Instinctively, I pulled back an arrow and turned to the direction of the sound. I'd expected another snake, or some other kind of animal that was probably hostile, but what I saw surprised me. I even let out a gasp as I stepped back.

I'd never seen such a creature before.

I was small, about the size of a typical housecat, though it was definitely reptilian or amphibious in some way. It stood on four skinny legs, with a lithe body, ending with a long tail with an arrow shaped barb at the tip. It had red spikes running all along it's spine, right to the tip of its tail, and two sets of horns on its round head. Its yellow eyes were huge, and it had a pair of wings on its back. Its scaly skin was light blue, with a pale grey jaw and underbelly.

What in the fuck is that thing?

As I slowly lowered my bow, I saw the creature's nose twitch. It inhaled deeply, pulled it's head back, and let out a high pitched sneeze. I would have thought it cute, if not for the BURST OF FLAMES that came out of this thing's mouth! I had to duck to avoid getting scorched.

The little lizard shook its head and rubbed it's nose in a very cat-like manner before flying off.

What in the fuck was that?

I continued my trek through the forest for several more hours before it finally got dark. I started a fire and got to work on butchering those snakes I'd killed. I may not like them, but I wasn't about to just leave them there. A hunter never wastes any of his kill. I skinned them, threw the organs into the fire, and jabbed the flesh onto a couple of sticks that I did my best to dust off. A shame I couldn't find those rabbits I had killed before.

I'd encountered a few more of the fire-breathing cat-lizards along the way, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen them before somewhere, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I decided to stop thinking about it and instead get stuck into my meal of serpent. Halfway through, I found myself losing my appetite. My mind was too busy running around all over the place.

I had no idea where I was, I had no idea how I got here, I had no way to contact help, and I'd likely have to rely on everything I was taught about the wild to survive.

I could barely focus on eating.

Running a hand though my short blond hair with a sigh, I took off the jacket I wore and rolled it into a pillow for me to rest my head on as I lay down, staring at the fire. I didn't even bother taking my black hunting boots off. A black turtleneck and camouflage cargo pants are not the best things to sleep in, I have to say.

Staring at the sputtering fire, I tried to calm my mind enough to fall asleep. Eventually, my eyelids felt heavy enough to just let them close on their own. It hadn't been ten seconds after I did so that I heard the massive footsteps.

I didn't move at all as the creature approached.

It was a large, reptilian, bi-pedal creature with large wings as forelimbs. It's head was round and parrot-like, with two eyes, one on each side, and a yellow horn between them, not to mention a crown of long, thin white spikes. It had a long, prehensile tail, covered with spikes that were folded back towards the tip. Several sharp teeth poked out of its jaw over it's upper lip, if it even had lips. It's eyes were also birdlike, as is evident by it leaning towards the leftover snake meat still skewered on sticks as it took a sniff, turning its head to the side, so that it's eyes were facing the meat.

It let out what sounded like a happy caw, before grabbing the meat from the makeshift skewers and swallowing it whole. It licked its lips in satisfaction before turning and leaving back in the direction it came from.

I was stunned stiff from shock and fear as I processed what just happened, a million thoughts running through my head. What was that thing? Where did it come from? Why didn't it attack? Did it even notice I was there? And why did it seem so familiar?

It took a little while, but I eventually remembered where I'd seen that thing before. It was in a movie I watched in 3D when I was 12 years old. It was followed by a subsequent cartoon series, and a sequel. I heard about another series coming out to sequel the previous one, but I never got around to actually watching it. Uni and all that.

Still, I remembered the franchise fondly. There was no doubt about it.

That was a Deadly Nadder, from How to Train Your Dragon…

Happy New Year!

I know, I know, I'm an idiot, I shouldn't be starting any more stories. Well, as we just established, I'm an idiot, so I'll start as many stories as I want.

Bye!