Umbral Rune (Rough Draft)

Umbral Rune: Chapter 2 - Comes Life

[Skell]

Shadowed blood sputtered from Oliver's arm - pierced by the bolt. As he stumbled to the ground, I realized: the bolt ran through my ribcage, unhindered, and struck the person I failed to defend.

"Oliver!" I dropped hard, kneeling over his body. He took stunted, painful gasps, still in shock. I couldn't help him.

Useless. The word echoed in my skull unceasingly. I was a weak, lost creature that couldn't help himself, let alone anyone else. A shadow loomed over me, but I didn't care. Straying from Oliver's side felt paramount to betrayal. Or maybe I just couldn't walk away from the only person that made me feel less like a monster.

"Ugh," Vella groaned behind me. "Stupid kid - you did right to sit back last time. Now you've gone and got yourself hurt. Just stay still; I'll make sure those two back there don't try and finish yo-"

Her words were cut short when she noticed mere inches separated my knuckles from her cheek. But she was as skilled as Oliver claimed, backstepping moments before my untrained punch hit the mark.

"Don't pretend like you care about him!" I snapped, unfettered by the missed attack, "If you did, you wouldn't have brought thugs to his doorstep!"

"He's still standing!?" asked Stocky, "but the bolt ran 'im clean through!"

"M-maybe his body's still catching up to the wound?" Ponytail speculated.

Vella waved a disregarding hand. "Who are you to lecture me?" she pointed, "You don't live here, or know any of us. You're just some poser lurking in a cloak. Get out of here while you still draw breath!"

Anger wasn't enough to prevent my legs from shaking. But they stood in place all the same. "I know enough. I know Oliver, and I know Ansel. And I know how you hurt them."

A fair distance behind Vella, Ponytail nocked another bolt and Stocky took heavy steps forward, his axe raised. Even if my 'survival' was a miracle, they seemingly doubted it was one I could repeat. But without turning, Vella lifted a fist to halt them. "I'll handle this one."

Tightening her bandana, Vella prepared her swords. Frozen, I could do nothing but watch the silhouette ahead swing a heavy black slash at my neckbone. On paper, a clean beheading.

But a hand-axe prevented that outcome, loudly clanging against the blade it halted mid-swing. Namely, Ansel's hand-axe - wielded by the man himself. "Skell... get Oliver to safety," he muttered with great strain.

Tearing away from my shock was difficult, but the two sharp implements hanging beside my face were powerful incentives. Reaching down, I carefully dragged Oliver away from , deciding the closest thing to 'safety' was his home, not far behind us.

"Aye, the geezer appears!" Vella said eagerly, adding her second blade to the clash. "You're looking worse than I expected! Just woke from a nap?"

Ignoring her, Ansel put more force behind his strike, sending her stumbling back.

Grinding her shoes into the grass, Vella held both blades in a cross before her. "This is the target I told you two about. Long as he's in the way, our pockets'll stay empty."

"Vella..." Ansel chided, lacking his usual joviality, "you've done plenty of nasty things over the years, but this? This is a mistake like no other. Look what you've done to poor Oliver..."

"He'll live. But I can't say the same for you. Or that meddler. Shoot him," Vella ordered, "and make sure ye don't hit the kid this time."

"I don't like being bossed around..." Ponytail grumbled, lining up her shot.