man.
Coming out of his roll and springing to his feet, the Hero slashed the creature with both of his swords in a cross pattern. The blades glanced along the scales of the creature’s left leg with a grating sound but didn’t seem to cause any damage. The beast didn’t even flinch. It swung its entire body to the right. Its tail aimed at the Hero’s chest. This time the Hero dodged just in time and leapt away.
“The creature is fast for its size,” Bran said in a whisper, his eyes locked on the fight. “But the Hero seems to be handling himself well.”
Ean turned and glared at him. “Quiet. Just watch and be ready to run.” He kept his gaze on him until Bran nodded again then turned his attention back to the battle.
Instead of waiting to dodge whatever the creature threw at him, the Hero had taken up the tactic of staying on the move. He rolled and dodged when the creature was facing him. Darted in whenever he could to slash or stab at the large beast. Then retreated and watched for another opening. Unfortunately, none of his attacks seemed to be doing any damage to the creature. By the time the sun was just a slash of light peaking over the mountains, the Hero had returned to the defensive. Even from a distance, Ean could see the large man breathing heavily, his breath creating a mist in the cool dusk air. Turning to his companions, Ean nodded his head back the way they had come. “I think it might be a good idea to get out of here. It doesn’t look like our Hero is going to last much longer.”
Bran ignored Ean and took a step towards the fight.
“What are you doing?!” Ean whispered, rising as well. “You see how the Hero has failed to even hurt the beast. You can’t possibly think that you can do better than him or that your blade would have any better luck.” He grabbed a hold of Bran’s arm and tried to pull him back. Instead, Ean found himself pulled along as Bran took a few steps away from the bog.
“You’re right. It’s clear I would have no chance against the beast.” Despite his words, Bran continued forward, dragging Ean behind him. “But maybe I can do something to distract it so that the Hero can get away.” Stopping suddenly, he turned his head to look Ean square in the eyes. “It’s the right thing to do, Ean. We can’t just stand here and watch the man die.”
“Oh, I have no plan of watching the man die.” Ean let go of the larger boy’s arm. “I plan on getting out of here before he becomes dinner and we become desert.” The look Bran shot him was all Ean needed to understand what the boy was feeling. Taking a step back towards the group, Bran poked an accusatory finger into Ean’s face.
“I cannot in good conscience walk away and let the man die.” Bran’s voice was rising now as his convictions overrode his common sense. “When even the smallest possibility exists that I could have done something to help him.”
Ean knew Bran to be an honorable guy, but he didn’t know that he held his ideals higher than his own life. Ean hoped Jaslen could talk some sense into her boyfriend, but the look of horror on her face made him follow her gaze back to the right. The Hero was pinned to the ground by a giant clawed foot planted on his chest.
The poor man was squirming beneath the beast, his arms and legs flailing about, both of his swords out of reach. The creature was looking at him like a dog slobbering over a bone, its tongue darting in and out between its teeth.
“We have to do something,” Bran said, then started back towards the beast.
Ean watched him take two steps, looked at the Hero still pinned to the ground, then let out a frustrated growl. “Fine, fine. Let’s all get killed saving a stranger. I hope it eats you first.” Ean hoped the anger in the voice masked his terror as he stomped off after Bran.
They hadn’t even cleared the bog when Jaslen’s terrified pleas froze them both.
“Please don’t leave me,” she said, her voice low and
Coming out of his roll and springing to his feet, the Hero slashed the creature with both of his swords in a cross pattern. The blades glanced along the scales of the creature’s left leg with a grating sound but didn’t seem to cause any damage. The beast didn’t even flinch. It swung its entire body to the right. Its tail aimed at the Hero’s chest. This time the Hero dodged just in time and leapt away.
“The creature is fast for its size,” Bran said in a whisper, his eyes locked on the fight. “But the Hero seems to be handling himself well.”
Ean turned and glared at him. “Quiet. Just watch and be ready to run.” He kept his gaze on him until Bran nodded again then turned his attention back to the battle.
Instead of waiting to dodge whatever the creature threw at him, the Hero had taken up the tactic of staying on the move. He rolled and dodged when the creature was facing him. Darted in whenever he could to slash or stab at the large beast. Then retreated and watched for another opening. Unfortunately, none of his attacks seemed to be doing any damage to the creature. By the time the sun was just a slash of light peaking over the mountains, the Hero had returned to the defensive. Even from a distance, Ean could see the large man breathing heavily, his breath creating a mist in the cool dusk air. Turning to his companions, Ean nodded his head back the way they had come. “I think it might be a good idea to get out of here. It doesn’t look like our Hero is going to last much longer.”
Bran ignored Ean and took a step towards the fight.
“What are you doing?!” Ean whispered, rising as well. “You see how the Hero has failed to even hurt the beast. You can’t possibly think that you can do better than him or that your blade would have any better luck.” He grabbed a hold of Bran’s arm and tried to pull him back. Instead, Ean found himself pulled along as Bran took a few steps away from the bog.
“You’re right. It’s clear I would have no chance against the beast.” Despite his words, Bran continued forward, dragging Ean behind him. “But maybe I can do something to distract it so that the Hero can get away.” Stopping suddenly, he turned his head to look Ean square in the eyes. “It’s the right thing to do, Ean. We can’t just stand here and watch the man die.”
“Oh, I have no plan of watching the man die.” Ean let go of the larger boy’s arm. “I plan on getting out of here before he becomes dinner and we become desert.” The look Bran shot him was all Ean needed to understand what the boy was feeling. Taking a step back towards the group, Bran poked an accusatory finger into Ean’s face.
“I cannot in good conscience walk away and let the man die.” Bran’s voice was rising now as his convictions overrode his common sense. “When even the smallest possibility exists that I could have done something to help him.”
Ean knew Bran to be an honorable guy, but he didn’t know that he held his ideals higher than his own life. Ean hoped Jaslen could talk some sense into her boyfriend, but the look of horror on her face made him follow her gaze back to the right. The Hero was pinned to the ground by a giant clawed foot planted on his chest.
The poor man was squirming beneath the beast, his arms and legs flailing about, both of his swords out of reach. The creature was looking at him like a dog slobbering over a bone, its tongue darting in and out between its teeth.
“We have to do something,” Bran said, then started back towards the beast.
Ean watched him take two steps, looked at the Hero still pinned to the ground, then let out a frustrated growl. “Fine, fine. Let’s all get killed saving a stranger. I hope it eats you first.” Ean hoped the anger in the voice masked his terror as he stomped off after Bran.
They hadn’t even cleared the bog when Jaslen’s terrified pleas froze them both.
“Please don’t leave me,” she said, her voice low and
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