The Dragon's Scale [COMPLETE]

26.2 || Sacrifice

Josh was surrounded by water. At least, he had to be. A cool liquid substance rocked beneath him, lulling Josh into a comforting doze. His eyes were closed, or maybe there was nothing to see. He couldn't tell, but right then, he didn't care.

Everything felt peaceful. He liked that. For some reason, such a concept felt light years away.

He could stay there forever.

The water's movement grew more frenzied, lapping over his body. He frowned. Something moved in the depths below. He could try to find out what, but that would require moving. He wanted his peace to continue.

"Rise.

The word was a drop of rain into a still puddle, rippling with the faintest of noise. Josh shuddered as its effects moved through his body.

A rough object brushed across his back. He inhaled, holding his breath while he waited for pain. None came. He expected his back to scream with unbearable agony. Why?

"Fight."

The rippling voice spoke near his ear now. The rough object returned, this time bumping his shoulder. Almost like a nudge.

"Remember."

Memories tickled the edge of his conscience. No, he didn't want to remember. He wanted to rest.

"Josh!"

The shout echoed in the emptiness above and reverberated through the water. A familiar young voice. Panicked. Terrified. Desperate.

Eli. His brother. He was in danger.

"I will help," the disembodied voice said. Something nuzzled against his shoulder. "But to do so, you must first choose to fight."

He didn't understand what the voice meant, but another cried "Josh" jolted through him. It didn't matter what the voice meant. His memories grew closer, all too vividly showing the shi'raz reaper that he'd left behind with Eli and Xander.

Taking in a deep breath, Josh willed his body to move. His legs lowered as he tried to reach a vertical position, but before he could, a pressure pushed upward on his back, lifting him. He left the water, and instead a scaly, warm surface supported him.

"Go, and do not forget—only the power of a pure-energy creature can defeat it."

Josh didn't know what he expected to see when he opened his eyes, but it wasn't his brother's ear only inches from him. "Eli?" he groaned.

Eli jerked his head around, watery eyes wide. "Josh!" He pulled back. Dust fell from his body and pebbles dropped to the ground. Not too far to his side, a stone dragon wing lay broken on the floor.

Josh's breathing hitched, realizing why Eli had been hovering over his face. His younger brother had guarded him. Josh didn't have time to chide Eli, though. His sword and shield were both missing.

The reaper cried out, and Josh shot up to look over Eli and to the monster.

It wasn't alone. Xander stood, heaving, wielding Josh's sword and shield. Blood tainted his shoulder red, but he didn't seem too injured.

Josh scrambled to his feet, keeping his eyes on the battle the entire time. His back twinged with the movement, though the pain was nowhere near as bad as before. Xander may not have had his Paladin abilities, but he moved swiftly still. He darted in, shield raised to catch the reaper's swipe. A quick flick to angle the shield sent the reaper skidding forward from its own momentum, and Xander lunged forward to drag the blade across the reaper's spine.