Blix turned her head as a leafy branch whipped into the side of her face and raked through her hair.

“Sorry…” Alf’s breath came out in ragged blasts. He wasn’t running anymore, but he wasn’t walking either. It was more of lurching jog.

“Any sign of them?” She hooked her chin over his shoulder and readjusted her grip. Her muscles burned like thermite. Even her cramps were getting cramps. She couldn’t hold on another second.

“No,” he said between gasps. “But no way have they given up.”

She and Alf had managed to kill their way through a huge nest of rats and were in the middle of a battle with a giant spider when the wolves came back. They’d managed to get away while the wolves were gorging themselves on the pile of juicy rats, but every time Alf managed to make another kill, the wolves showed up again. It was like they were a group of hipster foodies, working their way through the appetizer menu to build anticipation for the Alphablix soup main course.

“We can’t outrun them,” Blix said. “We need to find a good tree.”

Alf plodded to a stop and swiveled to search the forest behind them. “We can’t stay in a tree forever. Eventually we’ll have to sleep and hunt for food.” He stumbled over to an orange-barked madrone and backed towards a low-hanging branch. “Wait here. I’ll search for something to eat.”

“But the wolves…” Blix tightened her stranglehold around his neck.

“I think I can take them. You saw how fast I went through those rats.”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous.” Blix held on tighter. “Either we climb together or we fight together. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“I’m sorry,” Alf snarled back. “Are you my mom now? What are you going to do? Put me in timeout?”

“I will if you keep acting like a two-year-old!”

Alf’s head snapped back like he’d been punched in the face.

“I…” She clamped her mouth shut. No way was she apologizing. He was being ridiculous. Even a two-year-old knew enough to run from a pack of wolves.

“I don’t have a choice,” Alf said, his voice shaky and ragged. “Jane won’t get out of my head. She says I either fight now, or she takes over and fights for me.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You’re only level two, and you’re exhausted, and there are at least four of them. Tell Jane to back off and let the experts handle this. That was our deal.”

Alf’s back went suddenly rigid. His arms spasmed and he stumbled a few steps backwards. “I paid for this character, and I will do as I please,” he ground out in a mechanical voice.

“Alf? Is that you?” A ball of lead settled in the pit of her stomach. “Jane? Listen to me. Alf—”

“You must listen to me.” Alf’s hollow, lifeless voice sent chills down Blix’s spine. “The fame leaders are getting further ahead. All you do if argue. Running away isn’t a winning strategy. It is my game, and I play to win.”

“You’ll get Alf killed, you mean.” Blix threw her weight backward, hooking her elbow under Alf’s neck to tip him over backwards. She hit the ground hard, but refused to let go. He tried to sit up, but she pulled him off balance, first to the left and then to the right. “You can’t even stand up. How are you supposed to fight a pack of wolves?” she shouted in Alf’s ear. “I don’t have legs”—she crawled onto Alf’s chest and threw her weight to the side— “and I don’t have half the strength of a wolf.” Alf’s arm flailed at her, but she easily ducked beneath it and glommed onto his neck. “And you can’t even stand up.”

“You will release my character or I will—”

“What?” Blix was screaming now. “Get eaten by wolves? That’s your brilliant strategy?”

Alf’s body went rigid, and then he was coughing and sputtering and gasping to catch his breath.

“Alf, is that you?” She pushed onto her elbows and searched his eyes. “Alf?”

“Hey.” His features thawed, melting into a warm and gooey grin.

The strength drained from her body. She collapsed onto his chest, wrapping him a frantic embrace.

“What happened?” he asked in a gentle voice. “Are you okay?”

“Stupid alien can’t even stand up. She’s going to get us both killed.”

He started to nod, but then his attention snapped to the left. He spun her to he ground and staggered onto his feet. “They’re back.” He turned in slow circle, eyes darting from side to side. “Five wolves. And this time they have us surrounded.”

* * *

Name: Jane

Level: 2

Class: —

Health: 43/121

Stamina: 91/121

Mana: 784/784

Exp: 705/900

Attr Points: 1

Skill Points: 0

ST: 11

DX: 10

CN: 11

IQ: 28

CH: 16

Combat Skills:

Faire du Canne 4: (Effective Skill: 4.2, Basis: ST+DX, Enhancement: 12.6%)

Grappling 1: (Effective Skill: 1.05, Basis: 2ST+DX, Enhancement: 3.2%)

Crafting Skills:

Woodcrafting 1: (Effective Level: 1.9, Basis: DX+IQ, Enhancement: 5.7%)