nausea swelled at the sudden realization she had just killed a living being.
Snap out of it, her rational voice roared, this is survival of the fittest. Kill them!
Thoughts on track, she wrenched another arrow from the quiver and shot a creature advancing on Loi. The boulder was close enough now. With a quick, cautious glance around she sprinted the final distance, scrambling up on it.
Just in the knick of time, she thought, as she released a volley of arrows at the creatures surrounding Loi.
Loi looked astonished at the sudden collapse of her foe and squinted in the semi-light at Sian.
'Thanks.'
Kassie and I fought back to back, with Audi ducking around, snapping at legs and darting away. I wished she’d stay out the way, but knew she wouldn’t. Kassie hissed in pain. Alarmed I twisted to check on her.
'Kass! You right?'
'I’m okay,' she grunted slashing out with her sword, removing a creature’s arm. 'Lucky just took off up a tree and used my shoulder as her launch pad.'
I barked a laugh of relief and noticed Audi bound away to the base of the tree where Lucky was.
Thank God.
Loi appeared at my side.
'Glad to see you two are okay,' she yelled over the din of the battle.
'We’re good, so far. And Sian?' I hollered back.
Loi began to reply when a flash of lightning lit the forest.
Oh crap, she thought, as the rain started to pelt down.
'Sian’s good,' she bellowed and at that moment two more creatures dropped dead, the arrows in their heads quivering.
So I see, I thought, staring at the fresh corpses with revulsion.
Huh, oddly comical looking, commented my rational voice.
The temperature began to drop and the wind picked up.
All in all, this night was getting darker, longer and nastier. My torso was wet with blood, none of it mine, and my arms seemed almost numb from the weight of the sword.
If we survive this, my arms are going to be black and blue.
If we survive this, my rational voice thought, it’ll be a bloody miracle.
Glancing at the others I saw the same drawn, determined expressions as they fought. The thunder boomed overhead and I ducked without thinking.
Whoa, loud! Lightning lit the sky and the landscape, illuminating the creatures around us.
Where the hell are they coming from? For every one I brought down another was in its place.
'Duck!' Loi yelled as she swung her sword over me, removing the head of a creature.
I dove into a roll and slammed a dagger into the shank of a creature in front of me. It shrieked and swung an arm out, striking me across the head.
Cat yelped in pain and Kassie jerked around to see her stagger up from the ground then rip her sword up the torso of a creature. As she turned to retrieve her dagger from the body, Kassie saw blood running down her chin.
'CAT!' she shrieked in alarm.
'I’m bokay,' Cat yelled back, her voice oddly thick. 'It bade be bite by friggen thongue.' She spat out a mouthful of blood.
Sian yanked another arrow from the quiver and set it to the bow. Drawing, she quickly sighted and released, hitting a creature behind Kassie’s back. The feathers that sprouted from its forehead gave her a quick sense of satisfaction. It wouldn’t get up again.
A hard slam to the back sent her sprawling off the boulder onto the ground. Sian jerked to the side just in time as a mace smashed down. Grunting, she heaved herself to her feet and whipped out the dagger Cat had given her, thrusting it into the throat of the mace wielder. Blood spurted from its mouth over her arm and it slumped to the ground dead. Grimacing in disgust she pulled the dagger out and spun around.
Nope, nothing on my tail yet.
Glancing at the others, she saw a creature draw its sword back about to skewer Cat, whose attention was elsewhere. Cursing, Sian seized an arrow and had it off in a flash. The creature slowly toppled to the ground, revealing a surprised looking Cat.
Noticing Sian with the bow drawn, Cat gave a nod of thanks, then moved back into the fight beside