Think of the worst thing you've ever been through. Now, Imagine that you're being chased by something that really dislikes you. Imagine those things want to kill you.

Now you've got a pretty accurate description of what it's like to be chased by monsters.

That sounds crazy, and it is! I didn't even believe it when I saw the thing. It looked like one of those, chicken ladies from my Greek mythology book I had growing up.

I turned the corner sharply by slamming my foot to the side, then sprinted forward. I could hear the squawk-screams of the chicken woman pursuing me, constantly taunting me.

"AVIANA YOUNG!!" It squawked, "IF YOU DON'T SLOW DOWN, I WILL PICK THE FLESH OFF YOUR BONES BEFORE KILLING YOU!!"

That didn't encourage me to slow down. I could feel my worn down cons pounding on the pavement, and the heat swirling in my chest. Tar Tar, my little silver fox, ran next to me.

From what I heard, the bird lady wasn't able to make the turn and she flew into the street lamp. "KAGH!"

I didn't look behind me. Instead, I pushed myself faster, feeding my energy off of adrenaline.

A group of tourists was in front of a doughnut shop, but I didn't slow down. I blasted through them, and many fell over like dominoes. They sweared at me, and pointed fingers, but I was way off.

I don't know what the people saw, but from the oohs and aahs of the crowd, I guessed the chicken lady was pretty interesting.

I saw an alley way up ahead, so I made a split-second decision and truned again into it. I was hoping it would go somewhere else, but it was barracaded with dumpsters and trash. A dead end.

Tar Tar looked up at me hopefully. I couldn't turn back, or the chicken lady would eat me and my poor fox.

"Sorry, bud. But the only chance we've got is to fight." I said, while trying to catch my breath.

Every muscle in me screamed to sit down, and my lungs felt shriveled. But I grabbed a 2 by 4 and stood my ground. Tar Tat had his tail between his legs, but he bared his fangs. I knew he would fight till the end, and so would I. The chicken can have me and my pet, but not without a fight.

A flash of green feathers whooshed by the alley way, and my heart soared. We could get away!

But it fell again when the creature turned around and came into the alleyway.

The thing was scary before, but it was just downright ugly. Dried blood was around it's sharp beak and and neck plumage. It's face looked like an old lady, with leathery wrinkles covering half it's eyes. From what I saw of the eyes, they were mud brown, and full of rage. She had green, knotted hair that fell to her shoulders. Her body was covered mostly with feathers, and it was topped off with a Dobby-styled pillow case dress.

"HA! YOU'VE TRAPPED YOURSELF, FOOLISH GIRL!" The bird squawked.

I didn't try talking back to it. As hard as I could, I lunged toward the chicken lady and whacked it on the head. For a chicken, it would have died. for a human, it would have gotten a concussion. But unluckily, it did neither.

The thing was stunned, sure, but after rolling her head around, she straightened it. The fierce gleam glowed in her eyes again.

"Dumb girl..." She said. "I can not be defeated by a piece of tree!"

"Oh, well, what would defeat you?" I asked, hoping the chicken would be dumb enough to tell.

"Well, celestial- Wait, are you tricking me?!" She turned her head so her beady brown eye could focus on me better. "I CAN'T JUST GO AROUND TELLING DEMIGODS WHAT KILLS ME!"

"Wait, what?" I asked, ignoring the fear fluttering in my chest and letting the curiosity rise more. "A demigod?"

"Say good bye, Avia. For the only place my master wants you is IN MY STOMACH!!"

I was just wanted answers now, but the bird woman jumped at me, flapping her green wings for more thrust. She extended her talons, and took aim for my throat.

I reacted quick and turned 90 degrees while limbo-ing down.

The creature squawked in surprise, then her legs and gut slammed into the dumpster behind me. Her top half folded over, and she got a face full of trash.

I chucked the wood I had at her butt, then sprinted out of the alley way with Tar Tar on my heels.

I didn't have much time; a few seconds at most. But I needed more options, where I was before just didn't provide enough.

I heard the angry squawking again, and it almost made me jump.

I had to get somewhere else... somewhere she couldn't move very well. She could just fly and pick me up off the ground in the city. But why hadn't she done that before? Maybe She couldn't fly very well or fast, short of like an actual chicken.

I lifted my head up, trying to get more air. The city buildings were becoming smaller, and I could see lots of one trees up ahead. A forest. The closest trees weren't very dense, but I could almost feel that the trees father ahead would be much denser.

I made the mistake of looking behind me, and I saw the bird lady. She looked furious, and trash hung on her beak.

I whipped my head back around, making my brown, red and blond braid lash out like a long whip.

"SQAAUUGGHH!" The chicken lady squealed. Tar Tar yipped, then shifted into a silver dove.

"I thought you were supposed... to help!" I said between breaths.

Tar Tar flew ahead a few meters, then realized he needed to be a good changer and help. He reluctantly turned around, them went to go attack the monster.

I heard lots of flapping around and squawks, but I didn't look behind me. I silently prayed the chicken wouldn't eat him.

Luckily, I heard a squeal of pain, then saw Tar Tar flying past me going at about twenty miles an hour. "Good boy!" I yelled.

We ran for what felt like a mile, but I didn't start feeling tired for a while. The chicken lady's threats got quieter the more I ran, and after a while I almost forgot about her. Almost.

Feeling my legs pump, and my heart pump felt actually good. I have always liked running, but not from monsters. And I had been doing just that since I could remember.

As I ran into the forest of pine trees, Tar Tar turned into a silver tabby cat. Probably was easier to maneuver with.

I kept running till I was far into the woods, and what I could see of the sky was becoming dark. The thick foliage made the forest floor dark, and covered with dead pine needles, but I liked it. It felt like home.

I slowed my pace to a walk, then looked behind me again. Nothing but trees.

I stopped walking just for a sec to hear around me. All I heard was crickets, chattering birds, and the occasional moo. But no screeching bird lady.

I started walking again, but Tar Tar was panting. Cats don't usually pant, but Tar Tar isn't really a cat. In fact, he could turn into pretty much whatever he wanted. I haven't ever seen him turn into anything bigger than a fox, but he liked little animals.

"Keep an eye out for a good spot to camp." I said. It was a little weird talking to a cat, but he seemed to understand me.

When I found a good spot to camp, the sun was down and darkness was settling down. I could barely see the clearing, and the shadows were pitch black. The spring air nipped hard, but I didn't mind.

I and Tar Tar collected fire wood, and I made a waffle-styled fire place. I dug through my old, torn up duffle bag and pulled out some matches. Oh, how these things saved me over and over.

I lit the match, then threw it onto the dead pine needles in the waffle formation. It didn't really blaze up very fast, but it made some heat and light.

I pulled out my little sleeping bag and rolled it out on the forest floor. I sat down on it and criss-crossed my legs. A second after, Tar Tar ran up and curled himself up in my lap. He started purring as soon as I pet his bunny soft fur.

"Good boy. You did such a good job. Here," I said, pulling a jerky bag out of my duffle bag. I opened it, and he started sniffing. The smell floated up to my nose, and I smiled. We loved jerky.

I gave him a little piece, then I have myself some. The meat was peppered just right, and it was tender. I rip off strip by strip of it, enjoying every bite.

We watch the fire send out embers till the stars come out. They're not as brilliant out here as they are out in the real country, but they're nice.

Then the fatigue his me. I felt like I sprinted for miles, which I did. I feel the soreness in my legs, and my eyelids become heavy. Before I pass out, I stand up and close the jerky bag. Despite my tiredness, I climb a tree nearby a little and hang my duffle bag up there. Don't want the bears getting to it.

I jump down, then kick my ratty green converse off. Tar Tar crawls into the sleeping bag, and I follow him.

I usually am afraid to fall asleep, and you'll find out why. But as soon as I settled myself, I closed my red-brown eyes and drifted away.