Portal Searchers: Book 1: Falling

Chapter 14: Take Me To Chorch- Wait Never Mind

Author's note: Trigger warning for a panic attack/traumatic flashback brought on by doctors (sorta). Starts right after Emorite steps out of the medical tent, and then is only two paragraphs long. (tell me in the comments if I should edit/improve this TW at all pls! I want people to be safe). O also theres like, a bit of violence because...battle. yeah. 

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Emorite

Fire Venom. Of course it had to be Fire Venom. Of course, I hadn't found out until after. I had called for a medic as fast as I could. I shielded Niko and I as much as was possible with my laser sword. The whole time she lay on the ground, she had been making this awful screaming noise. It was shrill, like a dying animal. Even after she had been taken I could hear it ringing in my ears.

Thank the gods the medics showed up within a few minutes. By then the sparkles had settled into the ground.

The moment Niko was out of (more) harm's way, I whirled around. I scanned the field, looking for approaching enemies. There was a loud shout from behind me. I whipped around and almost froze.

Charging towards me was a large, reptilian-looking creature. Their skin - scales? - were a molted purple and blue, and sharp horn-like spikes jutted from their head. They had four arms, and each hand had wickedly pointed claws. Their teeth were sharp and glistened with red. I couldn't quite see the rest of their face under their helmet but the look in their eyes was pure rage. An ax was held above their head, poised to strike.

I forced myself to get into a ready stance. I flicked my laser whip a few times - an old habit - like a cat would flick its tail. Using my whip feels so natural, I almost forget it's not part of me sometimes. Heart pounding, I shifted, preparing for impact.

Only seconds later, they were in range. The enemy brought the axe down on me, I blocked with my laser, pressing a button on the side of its handle that made it stiffen into more of a sword. Our blades connected and sparked on impact. I squinted against the light. The enemy towered above me, baring their teeth, and growling. I growled right back.

I pushed harder, causing the sparks to grow. They gave me an advantage. The enemy wasn't used to them and reared back hissing. They stumbled back, temporarily blinded, and left themself completely open. Quickly, I released the button and brought my whip forward in an arc. The air crackled with energy.

My laser hit its mark. It sliced across my opponent's armor, leaving a nasty gash in the metal. It traveled past that and hit one of their arms as well. The enemy screeched and lashed out with an arm that wasn't holding the ax. I leaped back, just dodging the tips of their claws.

I knew immediately this had been a mistake. Their ax was heading directly for my face, I froze. In the seconds before impact, everything slowed. I felt a bead of sweat drip down my neck. My blood roared in my ears, the rest of the battle far away. This is it. I thought. This is the end. I should have worn armor. . .

The blade stopped.

Inches from my face, the blade. . .stopped. I blinked. There was the tip of a sword protruding from my opponent's neck. The enemy made a retching sound, and I leaped back as they collapsed on the ground. The eye I could see twitched and rolled back in their head. I looked up to see another soldier yanking his sword from them.

"Thank you," I said, almost too stunned to speak. He nodded to me and ran back into the throng. I once more looked at the unmoving form at my feet and felt a sigh escape my lips. I forced myself to look away, I didn't have time to be having a crisis about killing. I took a moment to collect myself, and scanned the battlefield once more.