"Queens and commoners, princes and peasants, welcome to the party of the quincentury!"
For most people, receiving an invitation to the White King's Masquerade is an honor. Even attempting to attend is a chance to go down in history. But for Sol of M...
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The vulcans swooped, claws grasping at the air as we sprinted forward, before circling back and advancing again.
"We can't-," I puffed, "we can't outrun them."
"Who'd have thunk?" Pelias hissed, accelerating forward. I ran after him, almost stumbling once, but quickly righting myself and bolting forward.
The vulcans dived again, this time closer. The largest one let out an ear-splitting shriek, and plunged towards me raising its talons. I lifted my hands to shield my face, just in time for the vulcan to dig its pointed nails deep into my flesh.
It swooped back up, as Pelias and I ran, my blood staining the sand scarlet. My arms throbbed as I bit back tears, instead focusing on propelling myself forward.
I glanced to my left and saw Pelias reaching into the sand and hurling a handful of the golden grains at the vulcan. It shrieked, rearing up and flying straight into the other two.
We sped onwards as the vulcans flew into themselves, a mess of claws and wings, and eventually flew away from us, screeching the whole time.
I turned back to watch them retreat, slipping and falling, taking Pelias down with me unceremoniously. We lay, splayed in an undignified heap, panting and wheezing.
When the pain became unavoidable, I sat up, tears stinging my eyes as I stared at my arms. I looked around hopelessly as Pelias sighed and removed his vest from his head.
Gripping the fabric between his teeth, he tore the vest into three strips and knelt beside me.
"This is going to sting a bit," he warned, "try not to scream."
Well, aren't you just Mother Theresa herself, I said silently. It was too hot for me to actually retort so I simply nodded.
He opened his second flask and used it to rinse the wound as I opened my mouth to protest. But as he poured the drinking water on my arms, it was all I could do to breathe. The cool liquid felt so good on my mangled, sunburned skin and, besides, I knew he wouldn't let me talk him out of it. He used the first strip to wipe them clean, then wrapped each forearm with another strip.
I thought we were done but then he put his hands over my arm and closed his eyes, as if concentrating. Immediately, my arms began to sting ferociously, the sheer force of the feeling bringing a fresh wave of tears to my eyes. I raised my head, blinking them back as he did the same to my other arm. When he was done, he pushed himself up and offered me a hand. I took it and stood cautiously, amazed at the dull throb that replaced the vicious pain in my arms.
Pelias had already started walking forward but I remained still, curiously unwrapping one of the makeshift bandages. I gasped, unable to hide my surprise as Pelias turned back.
My wounds had all but healed, only the faintest scars of the scratches left.
