Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 14:Triple Dragon

Gem recovered from the landslide and stood, holding her head and thinking to herself."Phew...not as bad as it could be, but-" She started to get up, but felt a flare of pain in her left arm and hissed."Broken, definitely broken."She stood more carefully and observed the arm, seeing a sliver of bone protruding.

She sighed."That's bad." She heard muffled screaming and looked over to see legs kicking. Instinctively, she signed."Narra?" Then remembered that would do no good. She instead walked forward and grabbed her legs. This made her panic even more, as she thought it was an enemy soldier. She shrieked loud enough to hurt Gem's ears through the stone, but she began pulling Narra out.

"Why aren't you saying anything! Talk to me, dangit! Say something! Fine, fine, just listen, don't kill me! I'm not a fighter! Why are you still pulling! Don't hurt me!" Gem stopped pulling when she was fully out of the rubble. She covered her head, and after a few moments, looked back."Oh, Gem! Why didn't you say so?"

She narrowed her eyes, and Narra sighed."Sorry, bad joke...Any idea where the others are?" Gem shook her head."Lots of people ran to avoid the rocks, seems like it spread us out pretty good." Narra sighed."Sorry to say, that was probably the point." She stood and dusted herself off."We should try and-"

"Hold." They looked over at the approaching footsteps. There were five people, each wearing odd robes, and each carrying a blade similar to Gem's, long, thin and sharp. The leader was carrying a case of six at his side. The Swordsman looked up, glaring."Griffins." The others around him started to charge, but the leader raised a hand."Dao, Yoza, Buno, Kotetsu. Hold, this shall be my fight."

The woman at his side frowned."...You sure? I mean-"

The wiry man named Yoza pat her should."C'mon Dao, it's Katto! He's got this!"

The very large man named Buno sat down on a stone and began eating, patiently awaiting the fight.

The last, who looked similar to The Swordsman himself, guided the others over, with Dao still being the most reluctant.

The Swordsman nodded, putting a hand on his sword case."Now...Draw your blade." Gem hesitated, then did so, wincing in pain. The Swordsman noted this."Arm injured."

Gem glared, signing with her free hand."Not so bad that I'd lose to you! Heck, you don't even get what I'm saying, so fu-"

"I speak hands quite fluently." The Swordsman replied, raising one."See? It is not difficult to learn."

Gem frowned, making a circle with her hand."Oh."

He nodded, gesturing to the wounded limb."That is your dominant hand, yes?"

Gem glared."None of your business!"

He nodded."Then it is. Very well then, use the other." He said, unstrapping his sword case.

Gem made a face, and considered signing something distasteful to the man.

The Swordsman re-strapped the case to his right side."Go on, I'll not kill a disadvantaged foe unless I'm disadvantaged myself. You're weak on the right-" He drew a blade."-And I am weak on the left."

Gem hesitated a moment longer, then switched to her right hand."Oddly honorable of you."

The Swordsman nodded."It is the code of my company, Triple Dragon. 'Honor without victory is almost nothing. Victory without honor is fully nothing.'" He spat."Even if the fight is with a Griffin."

She blinked, then smiled gratefully."Good code...good way to get killed, but still, good code."

He nodded."Honor it by giving me a decent fight. I'd be disappointed if a Griffin died that easily."