Ivory & Death | ONC 2021

9. Rise and Fall

"I'm sorry, Mathis." Sol tried, and failed, not to flinch when the large bear took a faked run at her, bringing her right arm just above her left, stepping so her body faced to the side compared to Mathis, summoning magic through her body. "But I can't let you destroy your Kingdom, or the world around you."

The bear in front of her snarled, causing the hair on the back of Sol's neck to stand up, a roar of a growl leaving him as the bear charged. 

Sol was quick, small, agile.

She was smart enough to jump out of the way, rolling to land on her knee, palm on the cold ground.

It didn't stop the bear, shifting it's course towards Sol again, swiping his large paw as her face.

Again she missed it, rolling onto her back to watch the large paw moving too fast for her to slow down, quick to get back to her feet and jump away.

The bear snarled again, lunging at the short distance between them, the only thing that saved Sol's life was the shield she threw up, throwing the bear from her.

It didn't help that Sol was pushed back from the impact, groaning as she landed on her tailbone.

Sol reached behind to rub her back, taking in heavy breaths as she looked towards the bear... towards Mathis who groaned, wiping a paw across his face. Until he looked back up and made eye contact with Sol, growling again as he stood back on two legs, snarling as the wild look in his eyes made Sol gasp. 

She could see it.

She could feel it.

The man losing to the beast.

The beast winning.

Then, the beast charging.

Sol was a little slower getting up, the unfortunate throbbing in her lower back slowing her down, just enough for the bear to hit it's mark. 

She was thrown then, bear claws marking her back and her arm, the strong stench of blood overwhelming her senses. A loud cry that was heard in the far west, carried over the wind and threw the heart of the dragon who screeched in pain, hearing and feeling the pain of his mate. Though he could do nothing, he had an army to lead, and she had survive, Sol would get back up, she always did.

It was exactly what she did. Wiping the dirt and blood from her face. The numb feeing in her back and arm. Sol always got back up.

Standing in front of the large beast, Sol's left arm hung almost lifeless at her side, blood dripping to the floor, her eyes staring down Mathis. She had only one arm left to defend herself, the fabric of her clothes shredded, the deep gash across her back stung, but she couldn't focus on it, not when her life was on the line. 

The bear charged towards Sol again, but she was ready, even if weakened, she was ready to sidestep the beast and push him away from her.

She knew she needed to attack, but she was conflicted. She didn't want to hurt him. She never wanted to hurt him. Not as much as it looks like shed have to. 

Sol could hear the fighting behind her, even as the bear growled again, louder and more fierce as he got close enough to Sol. She was able to duck out of the way from his large paw this time. Heaving her aching body to the side as she summoned her power with one hand, Sol stayed low and forcefully hit the bear. 

He thrashed atop Sol, her body low enough to be caught under him.

She was quick to roll out, cringing as her open wound hit the ground, no doubt dirt and gravel entering the wound. 

Sucking in air, her lungs burned as she got to her knees, palm pressed against the ground as she willed the magic within her to come forward. With enough quick thinking, she focused enough energy on her wound to allow her the movement of her arm to be able to work her magic. Feeling the energy stay around her arm, she was able to move around enough, breathing roughly as she closed her eyes.