"We prevailed in the darkness, the sky too was black. All of us that are known by token names only stood huddled together in the middle of the path weapons at the ready while Rothrian tended to the fallen man's wounds. They were wasting time. Every one of us had lost sight of the monstrous appearance, it could be anywhere close to take us down one by one, yet I could feel its menacing presence watching, waiting, biding its time. We had seen it once before Arthasdir and I. And I had seen its tracks weeks ago when I had returned to follow Fiontann's route through Annundir. The men are throwing me awkward glances. My haste was determined to be of no use; of course who would not judge someone who takes a beast for sentient? But I didn’t tell them. I want it for my own. My wounds are throbbing if only we would pass on towards that hill. The air is foul with the smell of dead blood. I need to rest, if only for a short moment, but here it is impossible."
They ducked hugging the side of the hill the bridge only feet away when Fiontann stumbled - a thud was heard then silence descended. The hunt began the group prey to too many enemies to stand against. Arthasdir dragged Sparrow across the bridge a pitiful vanguard to the red haired Roth dragging the injured Blackbeard followed by a back shooting Rogue. The ropes holding the bridge were cut down with last joint efforts the group yearned and deemed itself safe for an instant, to no avail. Cursed speech was greeting them. They had gone from danger to threat of death. Fight after fight seemed to follow their steps within Minas Eriol, yet where was the link to what they needed to find out? The Orcs fell under their determined cooperation, but they had nothing on them to point ahead. Eery blew the winds within the barricaded ruins, the clouds gathering ominously.
Sparrow lay sprawled against the crumbling dirty wall trying with all her might to lift the blade against the conscious stream of pain in her bleeding legs. Rogue was hovering near with his Greatsword stuck inside the beast as it reared for its final blow. She had wanted so much to take the killing blow; since they entered the barricades her mind had undergone yet another transformation. It thirsted for blood. As she watched the beast fall under the two Rangers attacks she felt spiteful. Not even Rothrian’s find of what they had been looking for seemed of importance. Rune stones, whatever they may be. Her thoughts had little time to wander, from afar where they had left Fiontann by the cut bridge screams echoed across. Roth and Sparrow were following this battle call instantly if each for different reasons, both wounded they stood against the last effort of the enemies forces, taunted the brute gnomes as they climbed up from the rift. Ah what it was to feel the raw rush of life and death between one’s very fingers, how many fell to their doom before they even reached the rim. Sparrow felt as mad as the Goblin main charge the two females stood against in a dance of crazed emotions, she had stepped beyond the feel of pain. They were both laughing when it fell under their blows, what little did it matter that Roth nearly died. She was yet alive while the Goblin wasn’t. Maybe Pren had really put something of his strength into her she thought satisfied as she touched her injured shoulder. The way back to the Forsaken Tavern with its blown roof remained a fogged track to Sparrow later. When she came to herself her wounds were cared for, the wind whispered silently across the landscape. Everything seemed peaceful were it not for her heart beating so fast she felt like dying. A dream clings to her wakened consciousness. She recalled having looked into dark water expecting her mirror image to show yet it was his that appeared. “I am losing myself and I don’t even notice it!” A voice called from somewhere buried in her memory. The woman was terrified. She looked down at the sleeping figure. “I meant that promise. How can I doubt myself now? What is happening with me?” She got up silently hesitating long enough to look back at the tree with a genuine smile before she stumbled across the plains. Away. always away.
