Child of Earth

14

The Axolotl was glaring at me like the pin it had stuck in its chest was really annoying and I was personally responsible that it didn't get an easy lunch.

"Come at me big boy." I said climbing down off the roof.

"Don't worry about anyone else. I'm your biggest problem right now, and that isn't fun for me either."

It probably couldn't hear, or understand me, but it felt better to talk, so whatever works really.

I could see Krystal about twenty metres away (behind the Axolotl of course) and her chest was rising and falling in proper rhythm but I couldn't see what state Ebony was in since she had rolled under the car.

I had my bow in my left hand, my dagger in my belt and my quiver on my back.

I was good to go for combat but the Manticore incident had been a spur of the moment attack, where-as the Axolotl was clearly waiting for me to make a move.

I crept towards it slowly, hoping that because it was blind. I mean I had an advantage, but honestly I was probably about to be eaten, by the giant version of a pet you could buy from a store in a plastic fish bag.

I wish I had a giant fish bag right about now, that'd come in handy, but no such luck.

Closer, closer. I had no idea whether or not it knew where I was, but I was close enough to see its battle scars.

I saw large burn marks the size of car doors around its underside and tail, along with long but shallow scratches from Krystal's thorny vines but apart from that and my arrow, it looked pretty okay.

The skin was flaking off in areas where it was burnt and along its leg joints but we hadn't done enough damage.

I had an idea.

What if I could turn all of the moisture in the Axolotl's skin into dust, like I had done in the shopping centre bathrooms to the pipes?

What if?

I'd have to be in contact with it for at least ten seconds and the spell would probably drain me completely, and I mean completely.

I might turn into dust along with the monster but I had to save my friends.

Maybe once I killed it all the other monsters would leave the shopping centre alone and the rest of Annabra Academy could save Ebony and Krystal.

Yeah I know that's 'maybe' but it was the best shot I had.

I'd always thought the term 'I'd take a bullet for you' was too extreme but maybe 'I'd take an Axolotl for you' was a bit more accurate.

I needed to get on the monster's head then I could set the spell in motion without it biting me or hitting me with its tail.

Here goes!

I did a running jump onto the bonnet of a Golf mini then I continued onto the roof of the small car jumping onto the Land Rover next to it.

The Axolotl raised itself onto its hind legs and I did a spring jump off its raised arms.

The momentum was just enough to get me to land on the things head and grab the front before it went insane.

I was hanging on for dear life, trying to think only dry thoughts while it was trying to roll over to squish me.

Do you know how difficult that is?

That's like trying to ride a unicycle blindfolded across a tight rope while there was rock music playing in your ears and someone shaking the rope you're riding across.

That's how hard.

I managed to cast the spell though, and bit by bit the Axolotl turned to dust.

First the tail and legs, then the body and head. Slowly it dissolved until it looked like someone had dropped half a beach on the asphalt.

I looked down at myself and realised I wasn't even sweating. I looked like I had rolled in some kids sand castle an hour ago and hadn't washed the sand off. And my vision was blurry and short like my eye balls had dried out as well.

I took one step towards Krystal and immediately fell over. So instead I used my elbows to drag myself over to her.

I made it to Krystal's side and I leaned against the telephone pole she had crashed into with an arm on her shoulder and the other on my own lap. I stared down at her face which even though she was smeared with mud, cuts, smoke and smeared make-up looked peaceful, and just before I passed into the soft warm nothing I almost managed to smile.    

-X-

Sorry... 

Not really.

- Em