David's Story Corner

The storm lasted two days before Catthren began out on her quest again, bookbag on one shoulder, staff in the other hand. Occasional worried glances from MoonRunner went unnoticed as she continued to stare blankly ahead of them. All sense of purpose absent as she continued forward to what seemed worthless now. She no longer craved the power she had; only saw it as a curse. She no longer wanted it.

Several days passed with fitful sleeps under sheltered roofs or rocky crags before she reached the next city. It was a ways from dawn so she wondered if she would find an Inn or someplace that would let her inside.

“No!” Catthren yelled as her horse reared up and threw her, than whinnied and dropped to the ground lifeless.

Catthren staggered to her feet with her staff in hand than saw MoonRunner and screamed, “Moony!”

“Looky what we gots here,” a man stated as he began to approach out of the shadows.

Catthren could make out several more beginning to enter out of the darkness.

“I thinks we was fortunate to have that horse die and not you,” the man began and the others chuckled.

“Back off, all of you,” Catthren rasped than raised her staff and voice as they continued. “I’m warning you!”

“Go ahead and hit me,” the man laughed as she began to chant and added, “I’s like it rough!”

The crystal at the top of her staff suddenly flared with life and glowed a bright blue-white followed by a quick pulse of light into the man.

The man screamed the most horrifying scream Catthren had ever heard as he quickly aged than crumbled to dust.

All the men suddenly drew their swords.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a man’s voice called out in challenge.

Everyone suddenly looked for the source than gasped as a humanoid warrior in Scalemail armor suddenly materialized next to Catthren, drawing his sword. His eyes glowed an eerie green from under his helmet like his sword as he glanced to Catthren who only backed slightly away before he turned his attention back to the men.

“I think the odds are a little unfair here so I’ll ask this nice lady here to move out of the fight!” the warrior taunted.

“A demon!” the men began to cry as they dropped their swords and ran.

Catthren slowly backed away from the warrior with her staff outstretched. “What do you want, demon!”

“That wasn’t a guy, Willow,” the Elf carrying the woman replied. “It was Torox, the Ranger!”
“Torox died a hundred years ago,” the mage stated as he blasted the stone stairway with a lightning bolt, sending it crumbling to the ground and leaving the goblins no way to follow them as they fled back they way they came.
“It was Torox I tell you!” the Elf with the woman protested, “I saw him with my own eyes! No one is able to use his weapons and armor except Torox himself!”
“Than you saw a ghost,” the mage replied as he followed close behind the Elf with the woman. Willow led the party while the remaining Elf followed the rear. Michael silently trailed several paces behind them.
“He has to be one Toral of a warrior to have made it through the dungeon with her on his own no matter who he was,” Willow stated than quickly raised his hand for everyone to stop. “Something ahead but not enough light to see.”
Seeing the crossbow-goblins behind some fallen rocks, Michael quickly moved ahead of the party just in time to catch the bolts on his shield. The hood of his cloak fell back causing him to materialize five feet in front of the Elf party.
The Elves all gasped in surprise just as the goblins screamed in terror by the sudden appearance.
Michael suddenly sprinted toward the goblins and attacked them hand-to-hand before they could load their crossbows. Two of the goblins threw the bows to the side and drew swords while the other three were quickly cut down by his quick blade. He caught one sword on his shield and parried off the second with his sword.
“Get her out of here!” Michael shouted as he ducked under a swing and blocked the second one with his sword than kicked the previous goblin in the stomach.
“Willow, help Torox,” the Elf woman pleaded in a whisper.
Michael blocked another swing with his shield than threw his cloak over his head again and vanished, leaving the two goblins confused. He quickly materialized behind them and cut them both down in a single swing before dematerializing again and leaving the Elves confused.
“Let’s get going,” the mage commanded and began to quickly continue down the tunnel.
The tunnels were surprisingly empty except for dozens of dead goblins until they reached the cave exit. Two large Minotaurs stood with huge battle-axes in their hands. One suddenly lowered its horned head and charged the group who scattered to the walls. Michael materialized than snatched the spear that was in Willow’s hand and planted it in the Minotaur’s path who impaled itself as it ran into the spear and Michael threw over himself.
The second Minotaur roared in anger as Michael slowly approached it with shield forward and sword above his head, ready to strike.