The instant the killing blow was to come from behind, a ferocious, gut wrenching howl echoed and vibrated over the landscape. A huge red blur flashed across the attackers field of vision. Then sharp contrasting pain washed over the Charger from the bite that had lacerated much of his neck.

The vision that presented itself gave the rest a moments pause. For standing infront of them was the hulking figure of the once pristine white, except for one black eared, Grim Warg. Completley drenched in blùd. Turning it's white coat in to a red stained mess of matted fur. Some of the blùd was it's own. Most wasn't.

He came crashing down to the wet red grass, his neck pouring out the deep red life blùd. The Grim Warg was huge, but put beside the Kar'Nul Charger and it looked the perfect size for an inside lounging pet. Which seemed preposterous seeing as the beast was huge and is raw muscle, force, power and frightfully intelligent.

The Grim Warg spun and lept over his wounded master, putting itself between the fallen Paladin and the remaining two Chargers. But landed with a yelp of pain and stumbled foward, raising it's right forepaw off the ground. But still it bared it's teeth and let loose a low growl, letting it's attackers know that they weren't in for an easy time. Even if the beast was down a leg.

Then with a burning bright flash; one of Kar'Nul got thrown off of his feet and fell to his side. Getting back to his feet with a scramble and a pained grunt. The second Charger looked just in time to move his head out of the way of a second blast. Thrown from a limping, shuffling, figure coming towards them. The figure of Ava'Lak! His chest heaving and his light leather and quilted tunic torn to shreds off his body. Exposing a chiseled figure, surprisingly so if you were to know the age of the man.

Ava'Lak shouted, then all of a sudden, he was instantly sixty paces ahead of where he had just been. A light blue and yellow haze surrounded him for a moment, then disapaited like a whisp of smoke behind him, trailing in the turbulent air. He fired another bolt of energy at them and shouted again. He was another sixty paces closer to the fray, trailing his burnt off magics behind him. He was fifteen paces away, when he started painfully in to a laboured jog. Picking up momentum by leaning forward, even though to Ava'Lak it felt like falling. Faster and faster until he was in a staggered sprint. The Charger swung his weapon horizontally and Ava'Lak dropped to his knees and slid under it. Only to come up to his feet and being forced in to a backwards roll to dodge the blow for the second beast. He rolled once more and slid to a stop in a crouched position. He had fulfilled his intention. He had slid right past the fallen Paladin, forcing the Chargers to turn their backs to the Grim Warg for a split second. For Ava'Lak knew, that the hound having superior intellect than most, even half educated humans, would seize the opportunity the instant it presented itself. So the Grim warg did just that, and took the opportunity in his tremendous, horrible jaws. Closing them in a crunch that almost paralyzed his foe. The Charger fell to his knees in a jerking twisting motion. Thats exactly what saved his life. For the Grim Warg had over compensaited, trying to make up for his injured front right leg, and went tumbling over his intended prey. But quick as a flash, the blùd soaked beast scrambled back to it's feet and was straight back on the offensive. One Charger each for the Grim Warg and Ava'Lak to take care of. Victory, or defeat, was one mistake away for either side.

While the Grim Warg and Ava'Lak fought their Chargers, Talix watched on in pure Wonder. How could these people and creatures actually exist? Surely they must be God's? Surely they have been granted divine powers from whatever greater power governes existence and death? How could they obtain such wonderous gifts? All these questions and more ran through Talix's mind. How could he exist in the same dimension as these Gods, and their powers beyond comprehension! He is nothing next to them. He wouldnt even redden the Paladins cheek with his hardest punch. For he killed three of those nightmare inducing Kar'Nul Chargers with his bare hands! Then there was the Mage. Wielding Magics that weren't even in the grand stories he was told as a boy. Painting the earth with a red brush, using the Wonder of Magic.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Talix saw movement, but squinted his eyes to make sure he wasnt seeing things. THE PALADIN!! He was getting up!! Blùd gushed out of his stump. He was on one knee when he tried to put his hand down to stabilize himself. Seemingly forgetting that the whole arm was no longer attached to his torso. He fell face first in to the red mud, then made his way back to his feet.

Talix saw movement, close to the Palidin. Setting his heart racing up and out through his mouth, while his guts seemed to fall out elsewhere. The Charger that was first taken out by the Grim Warg was struggling, dizzy, and gurgling; drowing in his own life blùd. Behind the semi-concious Paladin. The Charger reached for his weapon with one hand, while trying to stunt the flow of blùd from his severed artery with the other. Aiming to complete the killing blow on the half dead Paladin.

The Grim Warg dealt with his opponent first. With a feint to one side, forcing the Charger to swing his weapon early, only for it to miss and embed itself in the soaked earth. The Grim Warg took this instant for all it was worth and did away with the Charger. Enveloping his entire head, horns sticking out of the sides of it's mouth. The beast held on for a moment before a resounding crunching, squelch noise was heard. The arms of the Charger went instantly limp the moment his bleating scream stopped, but he stayed standing for three more seconds before his knees gave way and his weight flattened the earth under him with a wet thud.

Ava'Lak got rid of his threat in much the same way. He sent an astral projection to the right of his attacker concealing himself with an exhaustive effort. Even the split second he used the concealment spell, weakened him more than even Ava'Lak had thought. While the Charger was swinging his sword, for it to meet thin air. The blade passing through empty space with a blur and a swirl of motion that was the apparition. The Chargers eyes widened when he realised his fatal mistake. His head fell off his shoulders with a blink of recognition. Ava'Lak stood stoically, but exhausted. Not moving other than the raking breaths of extreme fatigue, for he pushed himself beyond the limits he had ever been pushed to before. The Grim Warg whimpered. Unable to move, for his blùd loss was too great, and his right foreleg was laying before him at an akward angle. All control to the limb lost. No nerve endings fired or received any signal given by the brain.

Ava'Lak slowley turned around. His eyes widened along with his jaw. Then great sadness and fear flooded his eyes and heart. For he saw the Paladin rising to his knees, face caked in the red mud. The sadness came from seeing the Kar'Nul Charger standing over him. Sword held backhand, tip facing down. He rose the weapon up high. Still clutching his neck tight. He wavered for a moment. Seemingly loosing his balance and focus. Where as from the Chargers perspective. He had to fight the darkness that swelled his vision. The Grim Warg made to stand up. Baring it's teeth and stumbling forward. Unable to do anything. It looked to it's side, towards Ava'Lak. Who simply fell to his knees in defeat. Too far past exhaustion to merely stand. He bowed his head in acceptance of his fate and the realms he had let down. Only ruin and death awaited them now.

Ava'Lak had a tear roll down his weather beaten but still youthful face as he listened to the sound of metal slicing through meat and bone. Knowing it was done. Raising his gaze to watch the inevitable. Ava'Lak felt a sudden rush of energy as he took took a look and stared in total, awe struck, disbelief . For what he saw was not the grim image he was expecting. There was a spear head protruding through the solar plexus of the Kar'Nul Charger. The beasts eyes went wide in shock and disbelief. The hand clutching his neck wound fell by his side, letting a geyser of thick black and red life blùd spout from the severed artery. The Charger didn't even get to look down at the second fatal wound before he fell face forward. Revealing the shaking, stick like figure of Talix. Hands still holding the spears shaft, wide eyed and uncomprehending.

The Paladin turned at the sound of the Kar'Nul hitting the drenched earth. Mostly from his own blùd. Turning further to see what hero had felled the great beast. He met eyes with Talix. Staring in to eachothers eyes for a long moment. Both trying to process what had just happened. A growling, single chuckle escaped the Paladin. He managed a single word. "Drakon" before he too fell face first in to the red earth. The faint hint of a smile twisted one corner of Ava'Lak's lips. Before he too, fell face first. Victim to his own exhaustion and blùd loss. Leaving the panting noise of the Grim Warg the only sound that could be heard, and Talix standing there by himself quivering. The only warrior standing, in a swathe of blùd and pure death.