Fight or Flight?
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As I ran through the undergrowth of the Great Forest a great roar would echo through it. With my heart threatening to leap out of my throat while I bounded across the surface of the snowy path, a thought struck me; I was getting way too familiar with fleeing.
Dodge!
Seeing my reflection against the giant pillar of ice the troll called its weapon as it swung down and rained shards of ice and snow all over me. It was clear that I was outmatched. It was an all too familiar feeling by now, to flee in the face of danger and I was getting tired of it. Was this all I’d ever do? I was a dragon for crying out loud! It was time I acted like one.
“Hættu að forðast Trog!” The blue skinned screamed in its incomprehensible tongue as it ran after me, breaking through trees with terrifying ease. (Stop Avoiding Trog!)
Duck!
Pressing my body low to the ground, I felt a swing just pass overhead before I scampered off once more. How though, how was I going to bring a giant troll down? I wanted to curse my luck but what would that do? I need to think, I need time and so I stopped, turned and came running at the troll with a war cry.
With all the might I could muster, and all the wings spread out, I hissed at the troll only. Bluffing however would prove to be way harder as I was met with a swing to the side.
Sailing through the air, I landed upon the side of a fallen log before sliding down to a pile of snow. I wasn’t sure if it was the grace of lady luck or my thick head that protected me but I came out relatively unscathed… with only a broken rib to my name.
Breathing in deeply, I found the tell tale sign of such injury at the sharp pain digging through my side. That was not good.
“Litla dreka heldur að þeir geti hræða Trog! Trog drap dreka áður!” The troll shouted behind the treeline. (Little Dragon thinks they can scare Trog! Trog killed a dragon before!)
And the blasted Troll was still after my ass. It looked liked I was fucked but not yet! I was still alive and I refuse to bow out now. Staggering back to my feet, I roared back in challenge. “Come on you fucker! I know you want me!”
I stood my ground, looking behind me to see the space beneath the log. Just tall enough for me to slip beneath it. Further ahead, just a few dozen or so feet, I could hear the rushing of water from a nearby ravine. I don't know how deep it was but it might just be what I need for this.
“Litla dreka áskorun Trog?” the booming voice of the Troll roared out as he burst through the pine trees, sniffing the air before it’s eyes locked on him! (Little dragon challenges Trog?)
Raising both my tiny paws up high and my middle fingers extended, I screamed back the one universal insult I could fall back to, “Fuck you!”
There would be no comprehension in those eyes for his words but as soon as he saw my fingers, The troll roared back in anger,“Trog drepur!”, before it charged at him with his mighty club in hand. (Trog Kills!)
The troll was a monster of a specimen. It was taller than some of the smaller trees with tusks bigger than my own whole body. Carried by thick lanky legs, the titanic creature moved with deceptive ease, eating through the distance with long earth shaking strides. Clad in small pelts of white scales stitched crudely together and armed with a thick club, I could smell the scent of death wafting off him and his breath.
Run!
I knew I should run, I knew this was stupid yet I stood my ground. Squaring myself up, I dug in deep, pulling as much as I could dare from the wintery core deep within me as I stared at him down, refusing to back off now. Not after he had run for so long.
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Flee!
Even as the ground trembled beneath his feet and how I held on, waiting for him as Power welled up inside my throat. I held my breath, refusing to back now, not even when the creature raced its mighty maul up high. “Not yet, not until I could see his eyes!” I thought as my heart hammered inside my chest, threatening to burst as the creature let out a terrifying warcry the reverberated in his chest.
“Deyja!” (Die!)
There! With all the might my tiny lungs could muster, I puckered his lips and blew as hard as I could. Pushing my breath through a tiny hole, I forced the cone to a tight beam aimed at the creature's eyes. I could feel my very cheeks freeze and teeth ache at the force of my own breath but he held on, making the troll scream as thick ice formed over its eyes.
It staggered backward, dropping its thick club and sending ice flying as it claws on its eyes but it’s not yet done! Grabbing one of the ice shards with my tail, I screamed “Batter up!” and slung it with all my might right at the creature's groin.
The creature bowled over, grabbing its groin. “Trog sár!” It groaned before it’s face twisted intoa scowl as it roared out, “Trog reiður!”(Trog Hurt, Trog Angry!)
“Come on!” I shouted, pelting it with more ice as I retreated under the log and behind it. “Follow my voice!” I taunted, coughing as I felt my chest and felt for my breath. There’s nothing left in the tank. It was still more than enough.
It roared out mindlessly, rushing after, not knowing the log in front of it. I could only laugh as the creature stumbled forward, tripping over the log as it chased me. “You big idiot! You think I’m easy prey?” I laughed, crawling back, throwing snow and shouting to mask the rushing water behind me, “Think again!”
It got up, feeling its way up to me as it walked towards ever closer to its doom. Looking behind it, I found a deep and wide ravine with a freezing river rushing through the rocky bottom. It was a one way drop and the Troll was heading towards it. Not even I could glide all the way across without dropping to the river below.
As I turned back however, I felt my heart drop as the creature grabbed the ice over its eyes and ripped it off. The the sickening sound of flesh tearing echoed through the empty forest and with one swift move, the Troll could see again.
“Trog klárari!” it grinned as it let out a cruel laugh. Backing away, I found that the Troll turned my plan against me. (Trog smarter!)
Slowly, it approached. It’s gangly out wide as it stared at me with those horrible mutilated eyes. I felt fear crept down my spine and ice filling my veins as I stood there growling, trying to bluff my way out and not sure what to do now. Out of breath and cornered behind a stiff cliff, it looked like it was the end. As I prepared myself for one last attack however, the most unexpected help came running at me.
“Bah!”
With a yelp of surprise, the Troll fell forward, landing hard on its belly as there behind it was the goat from earlier. “You majestic motherfucker!” I couldn’t have been happier at the moment as I bounded atop the troll and behind it and stood beside the goat. As we stared at each other, dragon to goat, there was a brief moment of agreement between us. There before us was a bigger threat, now was not the time to fight.
Turning back to the troll as it got back up, I spread my wings wide and grinned while the goat lowered its horn. “Let’s get this on!” I cried as I charged straight at the Troll.