it took several attempts to harm the tough monster.
That's what these things were, Joryn decided. Once Caradon or not, they were now monsters who needed to be destroyed if they could not be saved. He had put three down, Keelia had defeated two. As it seemed that the battle was done, her arms became a woman's soft, seemingly gentle arms once again, and she took a long, deep breath that spoke of relief. Joryn allowed the wall of fire to die.
The last thing he wanted or needed was this grudging admiration for the Anwyn Queen. But she fought well; she did not demur or wail in the face of danger, not even when mat danger arrived in the form of decidedly unpleasant monstrosities. Perhaps she was accustomed to getting her own way, perhaps she did think she was entitled to command all that she desired, but she was not entirely spoiled and useless. Admiring her bravery and her willingness to fight made her even more attractive. Had he ever wanted a woman more?
They believed that the battle was over, that they were safe at last, and then the creature by the stream, the one which was apparently harmless, rushed toward them, screaming a ghastly, ear-splitting shriek.
Joryn turned and grabbed Keelia, trying to move her out of the creature's way as the beast hurled itself into the air and intercepted a sixth attacker who leapt from the woods.
The two beasts wrestled, rolling across the ground just a few feet away as they bit and slashed. Defonned claws lashed out, grappled, and drew blood. Teeth were bared and used with vehemence until the gentle creature fell still, his throat bleeding and his heart ripped out of his chest.
The monster that had appeared last, the one which had killed the gentler creature, immediately sprang toward Joryn. The thing was female, smaller than the others but just as deadly, as was evidenced by the dead mutant on the ground. Keelia's claws appeared and Joryn readied a ball of fire, which might at least slow the beast's progress. At the last moment the monster shifted course and came in low, burying her teeth in Joryn's leg just above his boot.
It happened quickly. Tearing through his trousers with sharp teeth had been no problem for the thing, and she chomped down with vigor and even joy. Joryn felt the venom enter his blood. It burned as it spread, moving into his veins too fast for him to think that he might be able to stop the infection.
For a moment he froze, realizing his fate was sealed, knowing that on the rise of the next full moon he would become like them. A monster. A thing which should not exist.
It was Keelia who grabbed the creature by the ears and yanked its ugly mouth away from his body. Her strength surprised the thing, and they took advantage of that disbelief. Before it had a chance to turn on the woman who had pulled it away from its prey, Joryn sliced his dagger blade across the monster's throat.
The female monster didn't die instantly, but instead dropped to the ground and twitched a few times before falling still.
Suddenly all was quiet in the once peaceful clearing. Joryn didn't move. Keelia stared down at his bleeding, infected Leg, as motionless as he. Blood soaked his trousers and the top of his boot, making clear that he'd been well and deeply bitten.
"We can fix this, can't we?" she said, her words quick and low. "Your Grandmother, the Grandmother, she can fashion a spell or a potion or something that will stop—"
"No," he interrupted sharply. "If she could bring an end to this madness alone, she would not have sent me to fetch you."
"Kidnap," she corrected without her usual fervor. "You kidnapped me."
He hadn't thought the Anwyn Queen capable of shedding tears for a Caradon, but as she stared at his wound, tears dripped down her delicate, pale cheeks.
----
6
"It's not too bad," Keelia said, her voice quick and a touch too high-pitched. "Maybe you aren't infected. It's possible that the spreading of the disease only happens in some instances, not all. Maybe
That's what these things were, Joryn decided. Once Caradon or not, they were now monsters who needed to be destroyed if they could not be saved. He had put three down, Keelia had defeated two. As it seemed that the battle was done, her arms became a woman's soft, seemingly gentle arms once again, and she took a long, deep breath that spoke of relief. Joryn allowed the wall of fire to die.
The last thing he wanted or needed was this grudging admiration for the Anwyn Queen. But she fought well; she did not demur or wail in the face of danger, not even when mat danger arrived in the form of decidedly unpleasant monstrosities. Perhaps she was accustomed to getting her own way, perhaps she did think she was entitled to command all that she desired, but she was not entirely spoiled and useless. Admiring her bravery and her willingness to fight made her even more attractive. Had he ever wanted a woman more?
They believed that the battle was over, that they were safe at last, and then the creature by the stream, the one which was apparently harmless, rushed toward them, screaming a ghastly, ear-splitting shriek.
Joryn turned and grabbed Keelia, trying to move her out of the creature's way as the beast hurled itself into the air and intercepted a sixth attacker who leapt from the woods.
The two beasts wrestled, rolling across the ground just a few feet away as they bit and slashed. Defonned claws lashed out, grappled, and drew blood. Teeth were bared and used with vehemence until the gentle creature fell still, his throat bleeding and his heart ripped out of his chest.
The monster that had appeared last, the one which had killed the gentler creature, immediately sprang toward Joryn. The thing was female, smaller than the others but just as deadly, as was evidenced by the dead mutant on the ground. Keelia's claws appeared and Joryn readied a ball of fire, which might at least slow the beast's progress. At the last moment the monster shifted course and came in low, burying her teeth in Joryn's leg just above his boot.
It happened quickly. Tearing through his trousers with sharp teeth had been no problem for the thing, and she chomped down with vigor and even joy. Joryn felt the venom enter his blood. It burned as it spread, moving into his veins too fast for him to think that he might be able to stop the infection.
For a moment he froze, realizing his fate was sealed, knowing that on the rise of the next full moon he would become like them. A monster. A thing which should not exist.
It was Keelia who grabbed the creature by the ears and yanked its ugly mouth away from his body. Her strength surprised the thing, and they took advantage of that disbelief. Before it had a chance to turn on the woman who had pulled it away from its prey, Joryn sliced his dagger blade across the monster's throat.
The female monster didn't die instantly, but instead dropped to the ground and twitched a few times before falling still.
Suddenly all was quiet in the once peaceful clearing. Joryn didn't move. Keelia stared down at his bleeding, infected Leg, as motionless as he. Blood soaked his trousers and the top of his boot, making clear that he'd been well and deeply bitten.
"We can fix this, can't we?" she said, her words quick and low. "Your Grandmother, the Grandmother, she can fashion a spell or a potion or something that will stop—"
"No," he interrupted sharply. "If she could bring an end to this madness alone, she would not have sent me to fetch you."
"Kidnap," she corrected without her usual fervor. "You kidnapped me."
He hadn't thought the Anwyn Queen capable of shedding tears for a Caradon, but as she stared at his wound, tears dripped down her delicate, pale cheeks.
----
6
"It's not too bad," Keelia said, her voice quick and a touch too high-pitched. "Maybe you aren't infected. It's possible that the spreading of the disease only happens in some instances, not all. Maybe
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