The Autumn Mage

Chapters 10 & 11

                                                                                   Chapter Ten

     Aki's worried gaze was distracted by a slight tug at the bottom of his robes. He looked down and found the small cub pawing at them with the corner in his mouth. Aki jerked it away only to have the cub playfully swipe back at them. The cub was slightly larger than a house cat and covered in fluffy dark black fur and his two ears were like thumbs sticking out from the top of his head. Another louder, closer roar snapped Aki's attention back and he worriedly gripped his staff as he looked to Minda for guidance. She drew her sword slowly, the metal scraping against its sheath, each moment putting Aki more on edge. She would not look away from the source of the sound and her face had a calm resolve, mentally preparing for the coming danger. The cub began to climb Aki's leg; he shook his leg frantically, but the cub took this as a game and made gleeful throaty noises and gripped harder.

     A heavy gallop, less like a horse and more like hands slapping the ground, brought their attention back to the blur of hair thundering towards them. Aki pried the cub off and gently tossed him back into the tall grass. Minda grabbed his hand and they began to flee.

     "We should split up!" Aki yelled short of breath.

     "That is a stupid idea!" Minda panted back. "When you split up, people die!"

    "She can't catch us both!" Minda pondered the idea as the galloping became closer. The tall grass whipped their face and hands as they sped through.

     "Whoever she goes after, the other has to initiate attack!" She let go of his hand before he had a chance to respond and took a sharp left towards the trees.

     "Oh, crap, she can probably smell the cub on my robes!" The bear's constant pounding against the earth confirmed his fears and he began to breathe heavier with fear. Her snarls were far closer than he had anticipated and his legs began to shake as he forced them to press on. She snapped at his back forcing him to shriek involuntarily. He could smell her breath, a mix of old plants and death, and he hoped that Minda had not ran too far away. The bear headbutted him, forcing his gait off balance; he flailed as he struggled to continue in a straight path but ultimately fell onto his face. He quickly rolled over and launched a silent Fireball from his right palm as he gripped his wrist to steady it with his left. The attack was weaker than it usually was as he struggled to focus and feared for his life. It caught the bear between her two black beady eyes but did little more than aggravate her more. She shook her head as she tried to get her eyesight back and rose slowly to her hind legs. Aki struggled to his feet and held his staff forward like a spear in his trembling hands. His chest pulled forward rapidly and his palms were drenched in sweat. The bear was now five meters tall and blocked out the sun. She gave a roar which was strong enough to rustle Aki's matted hair.

      The bear buckled to its knee to Aki's relief and confusion. A swish behind up brought a smile, and a flash of silver and a few flecks of flying blood confirmed his savior. The bear whipped around to attack and slashed at Minda with its huge paw. Minda brought the blade up and covered her face, catching the attack. She slid back a couple of steps but was unharmed. Aki took the opportunity.

     "Lightning!" he shouted, aiming the staff at the bear's back. The dark purple bolts slammed into the back of the bear before dispersing through her hefty frame. She whined in pain, but she was not stunned long. She turned and lunged at Aki, narrowly missing as he managed to leap backwards. He was not ready for her follow up swipe which caught him across the chest. It was not deep, but it did rake through his robes and cut the skin and the cool air made it burn. He gripped the wound, giving the bear an opportunity to tackle him. Aki was worried that she would crush him to death, but this fear was replaced when she bit into his shoulder. He screamed in agony and terror as his body began to go numb. Everything seemed to become darker and he felt his head go limp.