Generated Word of the day: Tough

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Jesse blinked heavily, rubbing her tired, sore eyes. She wanted to close them so desperately and just drift off to sleep. Of course, that wasn't going to happen.

She was miles of out Beacontown, sitting on the stone floor of a cave with Petra. Her friend had come up with the idea for this little trip a few weeks ago, to track down an interesting, rare mob.

Most of the Order were too busy, and those that weren't busy, weren't really into the idea of spending days tracking down some sort of monster.

Jesse happened to have some time off work and – feeling bad for Petra – offered to join on the trip. This wasn't what she had in mind though.

"Sun's going down." Petra reported, stepping back into the cave and putting another log on their fire. "Another night, another opportunity."

"How much longer are we going to be at this, before we give up and head home?" Jesse asked, yawning and leaning back against the wall. "I'm slowly dying from the lack of sleep here!"

The mob Petra was after, was a phantom. It was a flying hostile mob, apparently attracted to people when they haven't slept for a while. So Petra's grand idea for luring one of these, was to sit awake every single night.

"I read that they'll seek you out especially after three nights." Petra explained, sitting down by the fire. "This is the third night!"

"You could have told me that from the start." Jesse moan, falling flat beside the fire and closing her eyes. "When you said we should stay awake, I expected it to be for something like one night."

"It's not that bad, Jesse!" Petra laughed, dragging Jesse back up into a sitting position. She didn't appear to be the least bit tired.

"You do realise, when we get home I need to continue work." Jesse said, rubbing her eyes again. "I can't just fall down in my room and sleep for hours on end, which – I'm sure – you're going to be doing."

Petra crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Jesse, come on, stop complaining already-"

She suddenly fell silent, holding up one of her hands. Jesse frowned, opening her eyes to see what had shut Petra up so suddenly.

"Petra?"

"Shh!" Petra hissed, straight up planting her hand over Jesse's mouth. "Listen!"

Jesse tugged Petra's hand off her mouth, rolling her eyes. She listened for a few seconds, but absolute silence was all that reached her ears. Was her hearing just pretty bad, or was Petra starting to dream on her feet?

However before Jesse could say anything, the noise Petra had heard repeated itself. An echo-y, hollow screech – slicing through the night air.

"What was that?" Jesse asked, looking over at Petra with wide eyes.

"I have no clue." Petra admitted. Her face lid up. "Let's go see!"

It wasn't like Jesse had much of a choice, Petra pushing past her in the blink of an eye and hauling open their make-shift door. Jesse sighed, shaking her head, before quickly following Petra.

"I don't see anything." Petra said, sounding disappointed. She started lowering Miss Butter, only for the sound to be heard again – this time louder.

Both of their gazes shot up, the noise having sounded from above. A large shadow was cast onto their faces blocking out the moon. A large flying creature flapped it's wings, letting out another blood curling screech.

"What is that!?" Jesse gasped, taking a horrified step back.

The creature was like nothing she's ever seen before, it's eyes illuminated in a bright green glow. It was a dark purple colour, with a creamy white underside. It was bony and thin, it's skin loose. The sight alone sent shudders down Jesse's spine.

Petra didn't seem scared at all. Her eyes lid up as she broke into a big smile, staring up at the weird creature.

"Jesse, it's a phantom!"

"That's a phantom!?" Jesse asked in horror. She had to fight the overwhelming desire to dark back into the cave and shut the door tightly.

Just as Petra was about to reply, the phantom glanced down. It's gaze burned down on the two woman, it's mouth opening in another screech. This time, one filled with blood-lust.

Jesse took a shuddering step back. Was this phantom going to go after her? Was it going to go after Petra? Or both of them?

Petra seemed to sense Jesse's questions, stepping back so they were side by side. "They usually focus on one person!" She said to Jesse, raising her voice above the mob's screeches. "It could pick either of us."

Jesse gulped, reaching for the bow on her back. She had a feeling her sword would be useless in this situation. She didn't say it, however, knowing Petra would thoroughly disagree. The redhead wasn't really fond of using bows.

Suddenly the phantom swooped down from the air, screeching loudly. It's eyes locked right on Jesse as it advanced towards her at the speed of light. It was after her.

Jesse froze to the spot, bug-eyed at the sight of this horrifying best speeding up towards her.

"Jesse! Attack!" Petra called, leaping forward just in time.

Miss Butter grazed the phantom's side, causing it squeal, shooting up into the air again.

"What was that?" Petra hissed. "Trying to get yourself killed?"

"Sorry-" Jesse started, before realising the phantom was approaching again at it's unnatural speed. Petra's back was turned to him.

"Petra, watch out!" Jesse called in horror, shoving her friend back harshly.

Petra stumbled out of the way just in time, the momentum combined with the wind created by phantom's wings completely knocking her to the ground.

"Jesse!" Petra called out in horror, realising there was no way Jesse could get out of it's way in time.

Jesse shrieked in fear as the phantom clasped it's claws onto her shoulders, practically lifting her up from the ground. Jesse screamed in pain and fear, the phantom's claws digging into her shoulder, the ground beneath them grower further and further away. As much as she wanted to kick and hit at the phantom, the slightest movements made it feel like he was practically tearing her shoulders apart.

Jesse glanced down, almost immediately wishing she didn't. The ground was far below her, Petra's figure looking up at them tiny.

"Just hold on!" Petra called up, her usually confident voice now laced with worry.

She looked around anxiously for a few seconds, before running over and grabbing Jesse's bow that she has dropped, along with one of the arrows. She raised the bow, pointing it at the still rising phantom.

Jesse shut her eyes tightly, knowing that if Petra missed – the arrow could kill her. After all, Petra doesn't even shoot a bow that often!

All of a sudden the wind changed and Jesse all of a sudden felt the phantom accelerate. Her eyes flew open and she realised the phantom had stopped rising, now circling the area. It kept it's claws dug into Jesse's shoulders, holding onto her like she was it's next meal.

Petra still had the bow raised, moving in a slight circle on the spot as she followed the phantom with her aim.

Jesse saw the arrow approaching right at them, her stomach tightening in a sudden knot of panic. As if in slow motion, the arrow moved right over her head, piercing through the leather-like skin on the beast's wing.

It screeched loudly, flapping its wings rapidly in response to the pain, it's claws curling inwards deeper into Jesse's shoulders. By now, the pain had triggered tears to start running down Jesse's face.

Using the last bit of strength she had in her weak arms, Jesse reached up, yanking the arrow from the phantom's wing and causing it to squeal again.

She pulled the arrow away before bringing it up hard, forcing it into the creature's chest.

Almost as if on instinct, the creature let go of Jesse, shooting up in the air with agonizing cries.

The hit to the ground came much quicker than Jesse had expected, a hard blow to her back sending the breath right out of her.

She lay there for a second, her mouth wide open in a desperately attempt to get air. Petra was on her knees by Jesse in a second.

"Are you OK?" She asked in horror, her eyes wide and fearful.

"Think so." Jesse croaked out, only barely starting to get her breath back.

Another loud screech from the phantom caused Jesse and Petra to look up with fearful faces. The phantom circled them once more, blood running down it's one wing, the arrow still in it's chest.

It seemed to decide against attacking, circling one last time before flying into the darkness.

"It's still going." Petra said in awe, her gaze following the phantom.

"Guess we learned something about phantoms." Jesse said weakly, closing her tired eyes. "They're tough mobs."

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Finally got to write about a phantom! :D 

OK, so phantoms don't actually pick people up and fly around with them, but I consider that a missed opportunity on the creators' part XD I couldn't resist!

I don't have much else to say about this. I tried going for a bit of a more action-packed one shot? 

I hope ya'll enjoyed it! I'll see you tomorrow with whatever the word generator decides to spit out next! :D