She'd been doing ok. She hadn't heard any of those beasts on her heels but suddenly she heard a puffing behind her. And out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of colorful smoke. It distracted her just long enough to catch her foot on the edge of a stone pathway. She was falling before she knew what was happening. This time she couldn't hold back the scream of surprise before it escaped her mouth.
It didn't matter anyway. One of the lizards had appeared from nowhere and he had his claws on her, ripping her shirt and her arm as he yanked her up from the ground and onto her feet. His hot, sour breath seared across her cheek and she kicked hard at its knees with no effect. She knew she was screaming and struggling but suddenly she couldn't hear anything but the hideously fast pounding of her heart in her ears.