Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.13 River Dangers

Luca focused his eyes ahead and left the concern for approaching dangers to the others. While he swam Luca could completely clear his head. Once they cleared the river, they had to pass through the Mygalomorph Wilds, which was a concern since Luca didn’t know that term and unsurprisingly, 0he couldn’t look it up cause no service. Still it didn’t sound too bad so hopefully it would be fine. After the Wilds they passed the Centaur plains to the Harpy Mountains before finally being able to reach the Gnomes Spire that they had seen and then the Dwarf’s Caverns.

Luca felt it was some what of an interesting coincidence that the landmarked he’d picked was a good place to look for some answers. It would be better if they could ask one of the people directly involved but Luca would need time to plan the k********g of the leader of one the races that had led the armies in the cube.

[Rӓv: Shark coming in from the right.] Luca slowed his pace letting the raft move closer to him. The shark approached and was immediately stabbed by Ghost’s spear. The spear didn’t do any serious damage, but the shark was deterred.

[Rӓv: Second shark incoming. Targeting the first shark.] Luca nodded and waited until the shark passed in front of him and the two started to fight before he stretched out and swam faster. The blood from the first shark successfully attracted the attention of the second and as the two fought more blood spilled wiping them into a frenzy. This meant that they would not go looking for Luca. Still blood in the water was guaranteed to attract predators.

More calls of notifications of sharks came through but Rӓv asserted that none of them were interested in Luca so he ignored their existence in favour of swimming further. When they reached two third point Rӓv started swearing.

[Rӓv: Crocodile incoming.]

[Tails: I don’t like this river not only does it have sharks now it has crocodiles shouldn’t there be a limit on predators in the area?] Luca really wanted to agree with that comment. With no choice on the matter Luca took a deep breath and dove under the water. Holding his breath in the shadow under the raft he wanted as the crocodile slowly passed the front. No one attacked it first because unlike the shark the crocodile would attack if provoked.

[Rӓv: three, two, one and it’s reached the sharks.] Luca moved back to the surface and swam harder. He wanted out of this river. Now. Please and thank you.

[Rӓv: Ah is that? Uh, yeah that’s a problem, what was that movie line.]

[Tails: Don’t you dare say it.]

[Holly: I don’t think a bigger boat will help. I don’t even think a bigger gun will help with that.] Luca liked the implication of that conversation not at all. With his next breath he looked to his right. If it weren’t for him not having the spare breath he probably would have started swearing. Not sure exactly what he was looking at, but his brain said it looked like a dinosaur the size of a van. That would shred their raft. They had less than 50m to go to get to the other side of the river. Luca made a split-second decision and flipped in place and splashed up onto the raft.

“Bait and switch.” Luca wheezed out. As the dinosaur swished past the raft it caused the raft to rock in place. Luca cut the line and tied it around Shade’s waist to his confusion. While Luca tied that the others put things in pockets and cleared hands safe for spears. Ghost striped the contents from Luca’s coat into pouches and pockets. As the dinosaur made its slow turn Ghost tossed the jacket out behind the raft. The amount of blood on the coat meant that when it hit the water it let off a muddy colour. In unison the rest of the group dove off the raft.

Shade’s eyes widened in horror as Luca tackled him into the water. Not giving shade a chance to respond Luca took off swimming. Shade flailed so Luca gave up on actually dragging him and just look off swimming for the shore with the vine being used to drag him after. Luca felt safe enough that he would either stay close enough to the surface to breathe or they’d have enough time for CPR. He didn’t exactly have the luxury of doing this calmly. When his feet hit sand Luca stumbled to his feet and started reeling Shade in. Ghost and Tails came to help while the others kept a whether eye on the surrounds.

“Pretty sure your swim rescue instructor is having nightmares right now.” Tails commented. As the dinosaur started eating the raft Luca yanked harder before he responded.

“If he says anything to me, I’ll just say that he failed to cover a rescue mission when a dinosaur is trying to eat you.”

“Is good point.”

“I doubt she’d buy it though.” When the dinosaur took the last bite of the raft it lifted its head from the water and focused on them. At some point the sirens had disappeared entirely. Luca had hoped that the dinosaur was down the food chain from the sirens and that they’d enforce the free passage clause once they exited the water. It hadn’t been a strong hope since he didn’t think they’d really be that helpful still it was a nice dream. Now it was apparent that the oversized reptile was higher up the food chain than the sirens. Luca considered his options for two seconds as the dinosaur stared.

Once shade was pulled to shore Luca tossed him to Ghost who checked him out while pulling him away from the rivers edge. When they took that first step back the dinosaur roared. “Oversized outdated chicken just got put on the menu. Who’s in the kitchen?” Luca called as he reached out and grabbed to two Fae swords from the air. They hadn’t done anything in the river but had hovered steadily above Luca the entire time. With one cut Luca severed the vine and then using his foot he flicked up the makeshift spears dropped by Tails and Shade. Luca was actually impressed that Shade had dragged his spear all the way to shore. With a twist Luca sheathed his swords and twirled the left spear so that there was a knife facing in either direction.

“You’re not going to do what I think your going to do.” Declan made the positive statement with enough doubt to turn it into a question. The dinosaur started charging towards them.

“I am open to suggestions that don’t involve us sprinting for our lives in an unknown environment as night falls. For the next ten seconds.” Ten seconds passed and no one came up with a witty idea. The dinosaur reached the shallows.

“Declan whatever cold burst magic you can magic down the throat.” Luca kept his voice level as he stepped forward. He would have preferred a grenade, but he hadn’t bought one. After the rafts short life Luca didn’t expect the spears to hold the mouth open, he just hoped that the ejection force of the step knifes into the upper and lower mouth would make it keep its mouth open.

The dinosaur exited the water with its mouth gapping and Luca jumped forward thrusting the vertical spears into its mouth before rolling forward to dive into the water. The roar as the beast landed on the shore reached his ears even through the water. Luca came back to his feet and dove sideways to avoid a flailing tail. Ice attacks splashed off the side and neck of the beast as it continuously opened and closed its mouth. It seemed that Declan and the sorcerers couldn’t get the timing right. The dinosaurs head turned, and it spotted Luca. It roared as it spun in place and charged at him.