Andrellia

14. Maya

With a speed that defied logic, Joan moved in a blur of steel. Her blade sang through the air, a whispered promise of retribution. It deflected a crudely forged sword swung at her by a figure who had appeared from the shadows behind Mace. The thug, another member of the snake tattoo gang, stumbled back, his face pale with dread. The remaining members, emboldened by desperation rather than courage, charged forward as one.

Joan, a whirlwind of righteous fury, met them head-on. Her sword moved with the grace of a dancer and the lethality of a viper. It was an extension of herself, parrying blows with effortless ease and delivering precise strikes that sent the thugs flying. Each clash of steel echoed through the cavern, punctuated by grunts of pain and the clatter of dropped weapons. Sparks danced in the air, illuminating fleeting glimpses of contorted faces and wild swings.

Maya watched, a mixture of terror and exhilaration gripping her heart. Joan fought with a ferocity that belied her gentle demeanor a moment ago. The creature, nestled against Maya's ankle, chirped encouragement, its tiny body glowing faintly with each powerful blow Joan landed. It seemed to draw strength from the warrior's righteous fury.

The fight was short but brutal. One by one, the thugs fell, groaning in defeat or clutching at wounds that singed and smoked with a faint magical light. Mace Mulligan, the last one standing, cowered in the corner, his weapon long abandoned. His bravado had evaporated, leaving behind a trembling mess of a man.

With a final disarming sweep of her blade, Joan stood poised, her golden eyes blazing with righteous fury. The remaining thugs whimpered, huddled together on the cavern floor, their bravado utterly shattered.

"You have trespassed on sacred ground," Joan declared, her voice echoing through the cavern like a divine pronouncement. "And sought to exploit a creature of wonder for your own gain. Be warned, this will not be tolerated."

Mace Mulligan, his face a mask of terror, stammered, "We-we were just following orders! We didn't know..." His voice trailed off, his gaze flickering nervously between Joan and the creature nestled by Maya's leg.

Joan's gaze remained fixed on him, her expression unreadable. The air crackled with tension, broken only by the soft whimpers of the defeated thugs huddled together on the cavern floor.

Suddenly, a sharp cry escaped Maya's lips. The fight, the adrenaline, it had all masked a now throbbing sting through her upper thigh. Now, with the immediate danger abated, the pain lanced through her with a renewed intensity.

Joan's attention snapped towards Maya. Her expression softened as she saw the young woman clutching her leg, a grimace contorting her face. "Are you injured, child?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Shame flushed through Maya. Here she was, a bumbling mess who had gotten hurt in the midst of a legendary warrior's fight, yet Joan's concern was genuine. "There was a collapse in the mine earlier...it didn't hurt till now.."

She turned back to the cowering figures, her voice cold and firm. "You will leave this place now, and you will forget everything you have seen here tonight. If I ever hear of you returning, or of you harming any creature like this again, the consequences will be dire."

Spots danced in Mayas vision "I'm really tired..." She started slumping over.

Dread coiled in Joan's gut as Maya slumped against the wall, a crimson stain blooming on her leg. The thugs, disarmed and whimpering, were a forgotten afterthought. Maya's breaths came in shallow gasps, her eyelids fluttering uselessly. Panic choked Joan's voice as she knelt beside the young woman.