Snippet #1461319

Jurial Plains, 7 miles outside of Laeral

Despite how calm he felt, Kisikoni's shots still went slightly. His hands were shaking, and the distance was just outside of his regular bolt range and too far inside the arrow-mode range. Growling to himself, he loaded another shot and fired it off quickly as his commander began to shout expletives- notifying him of how grave the situation was. While cocking his crossbow, he was told to get into melee range. He dropped his crossbow, the string snapping back and nearly lashing his fingers. He drew out his Butterfly swords in a smooth fashion, despite the internal panic that seized him. Calming himself, he knew he would only look bad if he continued to let fear hardwire his reflexes.

He moved closer to his partner, Talae as she threw her throwing knives. Covering her flank, he saw a lamian Child attempt to flank his partner with slithering motions. Intercepting the lamia's movements, he nodded slightly. The action was mostly out of habit, because it was customary to greet your opponent when fighting underground. Even the bitterest enemies back home in Kisikoni's village would give a firm handshake and bow before fighting. That was the way many disputes too deep for words were solved.

The Child did not react to it, rather charging him and initiating the conflict with a deadly overhead swipe of his tail. Kisikoni barely managed to duck, despite his nerves sparking him the moment that Lamian Child moved a muscle. With instinct coursing through his veins, he pushed forward, jabbing one sword toward the Lamia. The lamia easily dodged by dipping it's serpentine body back, and attempted to strike Kisikoni with the epieu (short spear) it held in it's hands. Kisikoni swung his left arm, deflecting the blow with his second sword and locked it in a fluid motion. The lamia wasted no time, dropping the spear and grabbing it with it's tail. The dextrous Lamia then slashed at Kisikoni, who barely dodged the blow. He felt the live leather armor shear as the blade came within centimeters of splitting flesh.

Stumbling back, Kisikoni remained wired- staring at the Lamia who spun the epieu once with the tail back into it's left arm. Kisikoni couldn't tell if it were a man or woman, since the robes were rather baggy and the face was androgynous-like. The spear-tip hummed, and once again it clashed with Kisikoni's sword. Kisikoni trapped the spear with both swords, ducked the punch the Lamia threw, and used his waist to tear the spear from it's arms. The Lamia retorted with a tail whip to the face, which sent Kisikoni sprawling. Rolling over, he got up just in time to avoid a deadly elbow drop from the Lamia, using the tail as a lashing weapon to keep the Deep Human from striking it while it was on the ground. The lamia got up, and slashed at Kisikoni again with it's tail. This time, Kisikoni swung the swords to meet it, the heavy blades sinking deep into the musclebound tail of the Lamia. The lamia screeched, And Kisikoni recovered from the shock he had absorbed from the tail attack, and abandoned his swords to deliver a stinging punch to the lamia's neck. The lamia tried to fall back but Kisikoni was upon it. His fists were his deadliest weapon- learned from just a lad, he used his body to become a force of nature. The Lamia hit the ground with Kisikoni above it, and without warning, a flurry of hard blows rained down on the Child's head. There was resilient thrashing, and Kisikoni even received a few blows himself, but through his mental training his fists kept flying. With lamia blood dampening his hands, he contined to throw punch after punch on the grounded Child, feeling bones break. Soon the lamia was only throwing token resistance. The damn thing was only almost unconscious after Kisikoni's attack!

Jumping back up, he staggered back and yanked his blades from the Child's tail. Suddenly, the lamia's eyes blazed as it's tail flashed once more and smacked Kisikoni across the face. Falling, Kisikoni found himself under the Child's serpent-like embrace. One arm was free, and with his sword, he stabbed the Lamia in the gut and dragged the sharp, heavy blade down it's waist. Blood poured out, and withdrawing, the Lamia merely got closer with it's venomous fangs. Desperately, he shoved the blade into it's head as it's fists held down Kisikoni's head to keep from avoiding the teeth. The Lamia reacted instantly, it's eyes of fire instantly wiped clean of thought. Kisikoni felt it slump over and hit the ground next to him, and he wriggled out of it's grasp. Standing upright, he felt his vision blur slightly as he held his head. He recognized the blood that stuck to his hand as his own- the lamia's last tail whip had caught him pretty hard. Raising his blades, he nodded at Talae tiredly as she gave him a quick glance.

"Keep your eyes forward, Talae!" He shouted hoarsely. "I've got your sixth!"

[b]???]/b]

Zakair, the leader seemed like such a poop-head. Arrogant, yet cold and calculating like those stories she used to be told as she was tucked in by her mommy. They were usually the ones that were eaten, because only the dead reserve the right to be emotionless.

"Well, mister," Mercy huffed, "I'm very grateful for the offer, but I don't deal with short-sticks." She smiled suggestively. It would take all the bonds in the world to secure her vivacious personality. She heard fighting in the distance- perhaps it was the legion she had requested. A letter before the attack had said the "Fortieth Legion" was coming to reinforce her. She had no clue, and didn't care who was in it, because they were all merely just obedient allies. Now, she was counting on these unknown soldiers to save her before lord-knows-what.

She tiredly spat out a globule of meat that had refused to go down. It was still spicy from dragon-magic pulsating through his former body.