Guild Of Zeroes

Chapter 28

We ran as hard as we could over the sand, rushing for a shaded set of stables on the outskirts of town.

"Come on," said Quin. "Cart with our stuff is this way."

I stopped for a moment, turning and drawing my bow as the dragon gave chase. It moved with wobbling, unsteady steps. It was like a newborn deer taking its first steps. I hoped it took longer than a deer to get the hang of walking. I hoped it wouldn't have the chance. I loosed an arrow and it whistled through the air, sinking itself to the fletching in the monster's right eye.

The dragon reared back, shrieking, and then fell limp.

Quin looked over their shoulder and gradually slowed to a stop. "Holy hell, Snip. Did you just kill it?"

I pulled another arrow from my quiver and put it on the string, ready to draw it. "I'm not sure."

Quin lifted their sword and took a careful step towards the corpse. "I'll check." They stalked forward and as soon they were within reach, the sword whipped down, carving a deep gash through the creatures rotten hide.

It didn't move.

"Damn," said Quin. "I think you got it."

They turned and walked back to me. The gash in the dragon's hide knit itself shut and the creature lifted its head. The arrow forced itself out of the monster's eye and the wound healed in seconds.

"Shit," I said. I drew and loosed again. The arrow thunked into the beasts hide but failed to strike anything important.

The dragon charged and leapt for Quin's back. The warrior ducked and rolled under it, springing to their feet and landing a series of slashes on the monster's back. It turned to bite Quin. Slow. Unsteady.

I had all the time I needed. Another arrow slammed into the dragon's neck, and a river of black blood ran from the wound.

It faltered and Quin darted forward, opening the other side of its throat with one lighting quick slash. The dragon fell but Quin didn't stop. They circled the beast laying open every important vein they knew of and sinking their sword to the hilt through the dragon's vital spots. If it played by the same rules of anatomy as other beasts, Quin would have lanced through heart, lungs, liver, bowel, and kidney.

They wiped their sword on the dragon's leathery wings, cleaning off the black gore. "There. Come back from that, you son of a whore."

Something heavy padded through the sand behind me and wooden wheels creaked as they rolled. I turned to find Mouse driving a small cart towed by a massive, red Desert Skink it was easily twice the size of the one Vulture owned, and it eyed the pile of carrion in the square with hungry eyes.

I stepped in front of it and made an introduction, repeating the slow steps that had won the affection of Vulture's animal. The Skink wasn't quite as attentive this time. To it's eyes, I was keeping it from a massive feast.

"You really don't want to do that," I said. "That thing will probably make you sick."

The Skink grumbled at me. It had a deep grinding growl like stones being ground against one another.

"I know," I said. "I know. You're not happy but we'll find you something better to eat later."

Quin stepped past me and climbed up into the back of the cart. "Snip, I really hate to interrupt your whole one with all the animals bit, but we really need to get moving. I want to be as far away from that thing as possible."

I gave the Skink one last pat and followed Quin up into the back of the cart. Mouse flicked the reins and we turned away from the dragon's body and started out over the sands.