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material to see how bad it was.
    The rustle almost escaped her notice. A soft sound tugged her gaze, and she held the knife at the ready. A small dog popped from the bushes, emitting a pitiful cry and a sad whine. The red-brown creature with short fur seemed to have three heads. She knelt, reaching out a hand.
    “ Aww, come here, boy.” The small creature stumbled toward her and something nagged her mind. A three headed dog… she’d heard this story somewhere. Earth lore spoke of a three-headed dog that guarded the gates of….
    A gasp caught in her throat and she jumped to her feet as the memory came back. She turned and sprinted away, ignoring the pain in her chest. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, she watched the creature grow, and grow, and grow.
    He towered over her, paws the size of her kitchen in her single quarters, smashed the ground as he raced after her. Between his feet, a glowing portal gaped, revealing a sight she didn’t want to see. Turning forward, she tried to shut the image of her death from her mind as she flew through the grasses, praying there would be no more lions.
    There’s no way I can outrun it! Firm control took over her mind, her panic melting away. Death was sure if she let her fear rule her thoughts and actions. She scanned the random bursts of grass and trees. Changing course, she dodged the creature that gained on her with every step.
    P utrid dog breath fouled the air, the scent of death and rank milk souring her gasps. The ground underfoot jolted under the giant dog’s paws. Thinking quickly, she changed course and darted alongside him. Before he could stop and turn, she sprinted away. 
    With her last burst of energy, she hoped her plan would work . She dashed between trees, the dog snapping at her back. She dove forward. Her scream smashed the ground as she rolled, her ribs and wrist throbbing. The roll deposited her on her feet. She rose with a slow, smooth motion, turning to see if her plan had worked. Trees creaked and groaned as the three headed dog, trapped between them, snapped at her and struggled.
    She turned and ran off, her lungs burning. Making her way along the path she remembered from the datapad, she hurried forward, wondering if the trial was almost over.
    Her body ached, protesting the injustice she’d put it through. Still, she pressed on. Failure wasn’t an option. She’d come this far, she wouldn’t duck out now. Trotting along the path, she didn’t dare stop to get out the water to sate her thirst.
    The sun dipped toward the horizon and she considered. If she stopped, she had to risk the demon dog getting free and sniffing her out in the middle of the night. It seemed smarter to go along with what she assumed she was supposed to. Find Dax and Kred, and figure out the rest of her trial.
    The wind hurried across the grasses, bending them and bringing her the sweet scent of apples. Needing a break, she scaled the nearest tree and hung the pack off a branch. She opened it and took out the water. Pulling the cap free, she swallowed several greedy gulps. The cap slipped from her hands to the ground, and she sighed. Careful on her way down, she dropped to the dirt to grab it.
    Turning to climb back up absentmindedly, she realized the branch was warm to the touch and jerked her attention to the tree. The thing stared at her with overlarge eyes bulging from its trunk. Swallowing a scream and the worry she’d gone mad, she backed away. A rock grabbed her foot and she sprawled backward into the dirt. The tree pulled at its roots, as if struggling to get free. Eel-like roots wiggled as it yanked. Dirt and pebbles flew from the force, the dark scent of soil filling the air.
    Her pack still dangled from its branches. She squeezed her eyes shut before scrambling to her feet. As the tree’s roots pulled free of the ground, raining rocks and dirt in their wake, the thing lurched forward, racing at her. Without a second’s hesitation, she sprinted off.
    The ground shook