The woman with the apron had wisely leaped out of the raft, treading water toward the shoreline. One glance showed me she was going on the correct side which was good, though a small measure of comfort as the large raft began to tip, it's right side submerged and its left side sliding up into a 60 degree angle. The merchant hit the water, as did most of his supplies and merchanside. The mercenaries fired their weapons into the monster, but their wild shots only bloodied it or pierced tentacles. It gave a loud, undulating screech as it opened its maw. 

"Eep!" Emmaline squeaked, and then screamed as she lost her grip on the raftboards and slid swiftly towards the monster's many-teethed mouth. Looking back, it was lucky aristocrats and adventurers both wore many belts and baldrics on their person, otherwise it would have turned out very nasty for her. My right hand holding the side of the raft that tipped upwards, I made a grab for her belt and managed to slip three fingers through the leather loop, her scream ending in a panic gasp when she felt her weight returning and her large rump was no longer sliding precariously closer to the monstrosity. A tentacle slapped at the boards just below her dangling feet but couldn't reach her, and she curled her legs up and looked up at me hanging on like an ape. 

"I told you you'd be alright." I said to her with a reassuring, if strained smile. Like a dwarf, my word was my bond. I wouldn't let a thing happen to her after I said it, though that was the plan for everyone when we first set out. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep all of them alive. 

The mercenaries had scrambled, one having successfully hacked off a tentacle with his sidesword before diving into the water. The other was clumsier, falling ass-first into the river but surfacing a moment later, making strong strokes toward the shore. The third conquistador was less lucky, having been caught on the center of the craft as it upturned. He slid towards the monster, and though I saw him manage to grab at a board, he was ensconced in tentacles and unceremoniously shoved into the monstrosities mouth. It was like watching a shark swallow something like a snake would. 

"Eugh," Emmaline and I said unison, dangling above the maw. We looked away as the man's screams were engulfed by his form sliding down the creature's throat. 

"Pull me up! Pull me up!" The lady Emmaline cried. I didn't need to be told twice, hauling her up and telling her to grab onto me with a 'hold on!' Unfortunately, she did it a bit too well, her arms wrapping around my neck as tightly as a constrictor. My neck was strong, but she had the desperate strength of survival and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. The raft began to crack, and I wheezed a 'too tight!' as I clambered up. Her grip lessened marginally, but she wrapped her legs around my waist, her buxom form pressing against my hard body. Normally I would have been hot and bothered, but I found it was probably the best thing she could do in that situation. 

Desperately I raised a leg atop the raft's side, and just as the wood collapsed I made a leap like a frog. Emmaline squealed as we sailed through the air, but my aim was pretty well made. My fingers found a bough covered in moss hanging over the river, my powerful arms moving swiftly as I used my hands to move us from over the river to where dry land awaited. The monster behind us groaned, but it did not make another sound. After being so wounded, along with a stomach full of mercenary, it was likely content to stay away from the group now. The last I saw of it, the raft fell atop its mass as both sunk.

What I was curious on was why it had even been here? Those type of creatures did not go to this part of the river unless something had moved it from its den. Of course, there are always rare sightings and flukes, but it did not sit right with me. I pondered this as we swayed back and forth with the movement of my arms, and once over the hard ground of the riverside, I dropped. I bent my knees to lessen the fall, but an 'oof' escaped my lips from the added weight of another person clinging to me. 

Trees crowded around us, vines and moss hanging from branches like threads to tug on. The ground was covered in dead leaves and dark soil, and to my relief I saw the rest of the group. The woman with the apron coughed out water, but in her hands she held my staff and she seemed to be relatively alright. The merchant wrung his hat out, water spilling out of it, but for a posh old man he did not seem to dispirited from almost being devoured. 

"It's that bitches fault!" 

The other two mercenaries were the only ones standing, drenched in river water and bleeding from various swipes from the tentacles. The lead one's mustache drooped like the moss hanging above. He still had his rifle, though the powder was no good, and both still had their swords. They glared daggers at Emmaline, who's face hung just above my shoulder. I glanced back at her and then glared at the mercenaries. 

"It's no one's fault-" I started, but he cut me off. 

"You're just saying that because you want her money! I should never have come on this expedition!" I saw a glint in his eye I didn't like. I also found it humorous he claimed I wanted her money when the only thing I took from her, I immediately gave it back. Then again, he didn't know that. The mercenary continued. "Where do we go from here, eh? Any advice mighty guide?" 

"There's a trail a few miles north, but it doesn't end anywhere I know of." I admitted, thinking of our options. "But it does bring us closer to the outpost. We can hack our way through after it ends, if we must."