Darren's Game

7

"Run! Don't look back!" that was all Ladrel and her four comrades heard before the mage closed off the door behind them.

Ladrel did as instructed and looked at her surroundings as she sprinted. The metal on top of her leather armor made no noise, but it bounced off what light was left in the day as she dove for the closest cover she could find. She stayed crouched in the bush, her braided back hair already falling out from the twigs and leaves catching on it.

Eyes scanned through the leaves, seeing the others run and the trees around them swaying aggressively. Her gaze then went to the others who were on the wagon with her just minutes ago. All of them were running as instructed, but one didn't heed the second command.

The one muscle in their group turned around to see what the mage had spoken about. His only response to what he saw was showing off all the white in his eyes. His mouth dropped open in silence before a scream came out from deep within him.

Another scream came from high above, making Ladrel's ears ring in pain. She covered them quickly while watching from her hiding spot, only seeing fire reign down from above. The flames grew closer and closer to the male as the source began to reach the ground. Reptilian wings then came into view, bronze and red scales flapping lower and lower to the ground.

Before the man had any time to attack the dragon-like beast, the monster's head came down and engulfed half of him. Its face reminded Ladrel of a field snake mixed with the gators near the marsh. Even as it swallowed the male completely, it mimicked snake-like behavior as it moved its lower jaw apart to swallow the strongman whole and slowly take him down its long throat.

As she observed the creature more, its body showed how slender it was. Small legs did show right at the base of its massive wings, and they were the only legs on the beast. Whatever it was, it wasn't a normal dragon. It was a new monster she had never seen before.

It blinked, but not what one would expect. As it had a clear eyelid cover its eye, two more appeared behind the singular large eye Ladrel saw on its right side. The beast then began to slither on the ground, using its two feet when necessary over obstacles.

The others were gone, having abandoned the one they just lost to the creature. 

Ladrel was now on her own in this fight.

But what was she to do with that thing roaming so close? Right now all she felt she could do was hide. Her magic wouldn't have an effect on that beast, would it?

With a shaky breath, one hand went up and behind her, pulling out one of the many arrows from its quiver, along with taking the longbow off as well. She lined the arrow upon the string, keeping it steady as she tried to calm her nerves.

She wasn't sure how, but she had a feeling if she hit the monster's neck just right, she might be able to free the man who had yet to be digested in the stomach. If this beast was mostly of snake anatomy, that is.

A dark violet began to shimmer out of her fingertips and onto the arrow, shrouding it in the mystical energy. It was lined with where the lump ended on the snake-dragon, extra energy being pushed into the string to give emphasis to the arrow's expectant launch. Once she was sure, Ladrel let go to let the enchanted arrow hit its mark.

The piercing screech was heard once again as the monster's body was hit with the arrow. A mix of black and violet smoke wisps appeared around the arrow, expanding out to five feet in diameter. The screaming continued as the flesh and innards of the beast began to disappear into nothingness. Once the magic had faded, along with the arrow, the body had almost been taken in half, only the other side being the remaining flesh. Two-thirds of its body was gone in that area, leaving an opening for the man inside to take his chance.

A fist came through the flesh in one area, taking the time to find a hold and rip through as the monster continued to scream throughout its suffering. Next came a blade, slicing through areas where the bone was at. In no time, the man was out, fear still stuck on his face. The fear soon melted off, now replaced with determination as the man ran towards the head of the snake beast, smashing his fist through the skull over and over again.

Ladrel covered her mouth, trying to push the bile back that was threatening to come up from the scene in front of her. While it was meant to be a bloody fight to survive, she wasn't expecting the sight she saw before her.

Soon, the screams stopped and the monster fell limp. All of its eyes rolled upwards as its jaw also went slack. Whatever the monster was, it was now dead thanks to Ladrel and the nearly consumed man.

Once it appeared safe to come out, Ladrel stood up and walked toward the man. Much like her best friend, he was tall and muscular. He was lighter in skin tone and had light hair, but he gave off the same air Eadward did: serious yet goofy.

"I guess you're to thank for putting that huge hole in the monster, right?" he asked as he studied the corpse.

"Yeah," Ladrel replied. "I destroyed matter with that arrow. I felt that would be better than sending a poison at it that would eat you a second time."

A grim expression came on the man's face before he looked over at Ladrel. "Don't remind me of what just happened... I feel gross."

"Then let's find a river or pond."

The male agreed and started to walk forward, Ladrel walking by his side.

"What's your name? I want to properly thank you for saving me."

"Ladrel. And what's yours?" she asked. "Best we stick together, so I need to know your name too."

"My name is Bore," he replied. "Thank you, Ladrel, for saving me. I thought I was going to die back there."

"You're welcome. Now, let's hope nothing like that happens again."