The Champion *ON HOLD*

Chapter 10- Snotlings, Manticores, and Bandits, Oh My!

Avery and Leovar stopped about mid-afternoon for some rest and a short meal. She hated to admit it, but the rider had been right about attracting creatures and magic users. Just that morning, she'd been assaulted by five pixies, small fairy-like creatures with sharp teeth and nasty attitudes, and two manticores, which were creepy looking creatures about the size of dogs that had lion-like bodies with scorpion tails, and deformed looking heads that somehow resembled a man's. Leovar's dragon quickly killed them with a swift bite to their heads before Avery could even pull her gun.

She remembered Leovar saying, "You are lucky they were juveniles. A full-grown manticore is about the size of a small horse." She had shuddered at the thought.

Only an hour or so later they had come across two people travelling down the road. Upon seeing Avery and her collection of odd companions, they had raised their eyebrows in surprise, but didn't seem all that shocked. Diesel and Koda had both raised their hackles and growled deep and low in their throats. They did not like these travelers. In response, Avery placed her hand on her pistol nonchalantly. She didn't want these people to know she was close to drawing a weapon. One of the two, a man, noticed her hand and eyed it sharply. The other, a woman, smiled a wide, gap-toothed grin, bid them good morning, and asked what an odd group of people were doing on the road. Before Avery could respond, Leovar spoke up for her.

"That is none of your business, Witch, I suggest you mind your own and keep going, if you knew what was good for you." The woman's smile turned from friendly to sinister in about half a second.

"Aye, 'tis my business," She replied. She snapped her fingers and the man pulled a blade. Where he got it, Avery had no clue, but in seconds he was rushing her. Without thinking, Avery pulled her pistol and fired a shot straight into the man's chest. He fell hard and didn't get back up again. Gus reared, not used to the loud sound, and screamed in fear. Avery gripped tight with her knees and thighs and pulled on the reins, leaning forward somewhat so she wouldn't lose her seat. When the horse finally settled, she turned her attention back to the woman, who was eyeing her dead partner in shock.

"What sort of magic is this?!" she cried out, terrified. Angry, Avery lifted her pistol and aimed straight at the woman's head.

"Wanna find out?" The woman, having decided that attacking Avery was more dangerous than she originally thought, turned and fled. When the woman was out of sight, Avery put the gun back in her holster and looked down at the dead man. She heard footsteps behind her and glanced over at Leovar as he walked up to her. He eyed her gun and then the dead man on the ground. After a moment, he went over to the dead man and eyed the small entry wound on his chest, right where his heart would be. He turned him over and examined the large exit wound on his back.

"I sense no magic on the wounds. How did you kill him?" Leovar asked. Avery was surprised he didn't sound disgusted over the fact that she had just murdered someone. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she dismounted and pulled the .45 from her hip. In one smooth motion, she ejected the clip and pulled the hammer back, ejecting the bullet that had been in the chamber. She caught it smoothly with one hand and showed it to him. Curiously, Leovar took the bullet and held it close to his face, looking it over, inspecting it.

"How did such a small thing kill a man?" Avery gulped and sucked in a huge breath through her nose. She didn't feel like telling him at the moment. Slowly, she took the bullet out of his hand and placed it in the clip, then popped the clip back in the gun with a metallic click.

"I'll tell you later," She said. Avery turned around and, after finding and pocketing the brass, mounted her large warhorse. It snorted almost impatiently and pawed at the ground. Luckily, Leovar hadn't questioned her about it. Nor did he question her on her odd behavior.