Dosie Whiteclaw
“Forgive me. I could not carry us any further.”
I clasped my hands and bow my head before the witch. Only my shame could rival the horror I felt of our impending demise. To die by the sword was one thing but those monstrosities… I dare not to look that way anymore.
Unmoved, the witch stood still before my eyes, observing those that would mean our end. Not a wrinkle of doubt shown itself on her porcelain face. Leon, as brave as he was, often reeked of fear. Her? Not even freshly groomed fur would smell that good and inviting.
O mother, accept thy servant, unworthy in life… and death.
And then I met her eyes and froze. Deep, mysterious, and watchful. Swallowed by that gaze I could not move while she unclasped her cape and hand me over the rolled-up bundle of cloth.
“Allow me to return the favor.”
Came her purring voice while she hoisted me up in her arms as if I were weightless.
“Where to?”
She spoke again but before I could answer a ball of light appeared above my knees, coming from the witch’s palm. The light shuddered and flickered then molded itself into a needle pointing straight ahead of us.
“Hold on.”
She spoke, giving me one more curious look and started running.
Great mother of light, praised be your mercy!
What speed is that?! What kind of power?!
With my cheek pressed into the witch’s bosom, I listened to her rumbling hearts, daring not to move a bit. Easily she could outrun the fastest kabu! Buildings swooshed past my eyes as she covered in less than a claw a distance that took me ten claws shy of the noon to travel on my lame leg. Right before us, the second’s gate smoldering remains awaited our passage.
Merciful goddess!
I yelped when she jumped, pushed away by the raging mana. Shattering the ground beneath us, she sent us flying over the gate in one go. Perhaps we may reach that passage before…
My heart stopped in my chest when the witch’s power surged as she whirled sideways to avoid the creature that crushed into our path. Now, with visible strain, she increased her speed even more, ducking sudden attacks as if her eyes could see even the path behind her.
Foolish of me and my hopes. Such power does not come without a price. Large drops of sweet-smelling blood drip down her nose. Her hearts slowly yet staidly going out of sync.
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“Drop me and run. Save thyself.”
I mustered my courage and spoke those words.
“How selfish…”
I closed my eyes, I could not bear to watch her face. Shall we perish together than be it. I could hear at least four of those terrors gaining on us.
“In here!”
Leon’s voice pierced through the deafening howls. He waved at us from beyond half-opened doors of the still distant tower. Then the attack came. I felt the stench of the rotting body, I saw the shade of the bloodied claws. The foul stench of the open maw assaulted my nose when bladed teeth began closing around us.
O goddess! I do not want to die here! Not like that! No!
My world went black and silence filled my ears when the witch jumped. The wall beneath us exploded when an invisible hand sent us sailing through the air, towards the open doors, faster than an arrow. Twisting mid-flight like a wild beast, the witch turned us around as we sank into the darkness beyond the door and crushed into the wall. Yet again she saved my life, her body protecting me from the impact force.
O mother of light, generous in your blessings, repay her kindness towards thy unworthy servant!
“Down the stairs, now!”
Leon screamed at us, bracing himself against the doors and the wooden bar as they shuddered and creaked in their frame under the barrage of vicious beasts. He held them closed for as long as he could, buying us some precious moments, then followed us, his armor rang as he bounced off the spiral walls.
The witch run, almost tumbling down, skipping steps on the way. After more turns than I could fathom, we hit the bottom and bounced out of the stairway into an endless dark corridor, lit by nothing more than the runes etched onto the walls. Tall and wide, this was a perfect place for those monsters.
“Incoming!”
Leon roared from beside us. Even though in full plate and reeking of fear, he matched our speed, casting occasional glances over his shoulder. For me, my ears told me enough. I did not dare to look behind.
However fast we run, that was not enough. The witch’s blood dripped in a steady stream, not only from her nose but also from her bloody eyes. Left to her side, Leon run, gasping for air like a choked man. We were not fast enough.
O mother of light, hear my call, answer thy servant cries for help. O great merciful one, protect us!
I felt mana move through my arms into my precious pendant. I let it slip through my paws. No more than a heartbeat later it clinked and bounced against the stone.
“Come forth o light for I am calling!”
O merciful one, you have answered my calling! The power I have not hoped for exploded behind us with the force of countless suns. Have we had not the shield surrounding the witch, the flash would blind us.
“What… in the…”
“Faster! It won’t last!”
Carried on the wings of fear, we reached the tomb gate. Massive carved stone cracked slightly open at one end. The witch put me down and help me squeeze through the gap between the wall and the arm length thick slab of the doors. All to the sounds of the furious howls.
I risked a look back and what I saw… O Mother, have mercy on us!
In the dimming light, a sea of black shapes rammed time and time again against the invisible wall.
“Close the gate! Now! Push!”
The old knight ordered when Leon’s body hit the floor. He extruded himself from the gap and collapsed into a heap, gasping like a kabu ridden into the ground.
Once again, my eyes watched as the groaned and bit by bit, propelled by the ancient wheels, moved towards the frame.
I saw the light in the distant fade and disappear when my master’s gift burned out its life.
I saw the sea of darkness flood towards us.
I saw the eyes of a beast as it turned into dark smoke and jump.
I felt the clang of the ancient lock and heard the hum of elder runes.
I felt the world shudder as evil clashed against the stone and I held my breath and I prayed.
O goddess, let the gate hold.