Clink

The sound of metal being stuck echoed through the air vibrating through me. Slowly retreating my hands from my face I stared up in bewilderment as a tall muscular man held back the Yingis tail with a sword of silver.  The man towed over me, dawned in black clothing with leather armour to match. His hair like white ash. The man looked back over his shoulder at me eyes of liquid gold.

"Go. Now!" He demanded

I was shocked by his actions that I didn't have time to think, my body almost immediately reactions to his demands. Scrambling to my feet I grabbed my sword dragging it behind me before scurrying off into the darkness of the shaded buildings. I stood there clinging my sword watching helplessly as the man fought off the beast.

Part of me yearned to join the fight to tell him to step back but the part of me that was terrified held me back. I watched as the Yingi stepped back preparing to strike its tail. The man raised his sword ready to attack. My eyes grew wide my heart wrenching the words escaping my lips delayed from his movements

"Not the tail!" I screamed gripping my sword.

It was too late the mans blade sliced cleanly through the Yingis tail. Barreling towards him I tackled him to the ground pulling my cloak over us both as I pinned him to the cobblestone. With heavy breaths I stared down at the man, his brows knitting together for a momment before hundreds of tiny thuds hit against the protection of my cloak

"You cut the tail it splits. You cut the legs they divide" I informed waiting a moment before pulling the cloak off and jumping to my feet.

Shaking the hundreds of tiny spines from my cloak I kept my eyes locked on the Yingi. The beast shrieked with pain as it stumbled backwards the man rose to his feet beside me.

"ive got this " he demands stoically heading for the beast once more.

"stubborn men..." I grumbled to myself.

I stood in silence watching for a moment as the man tried his best to fight off the beast. It was clear he was a skilled warrior, but even for him the Yingi was a challenge. I stood there in the shadows, watching the two dance, man against beast. Calculating the moves. Watching every so often the man's gaze would catch mine our eyes locking for a moment his blade never missing a beat.

There was something about him, the ways he moved effortlessly with his sword, his feet gliding across the stone that was entrancing to me, like a moth to a flame. I watched as the Yingis second tail caught him off guard side swiping him into an abandoned market stand. I could feel my heart sink into the pit of my stomach, bolting across the rough stones I dove feet first under the swinging tail narrowly missing the tiny spikes as I slid next to the man.

Blood trickled down the side of his cheek his eyes shut tight the faintest grumble of pain escaping his lips. In a panic my eyes darted from the man to the beast, a light clicking sound escaping it. In the comtion the Yingi has lost us, but not for long, this I knew. Gently shaking the man and tapping his cheek he barley stirred and as the Yingi once again found its focus I picked up my sword know it was my turn to return to the fight.

Rising to my feet I held my sword firmly to attack. stepping closer I waited for the Yingi to make it's move, however instead swinging it's tails or stopping it's legs it pause briefly before spinning quickly around using the buildings to whip it's body away from me. I stood wide eyed and confused, I had never know if any Yingi running from battle but as a shrill scream filled the air, I knew. She wasn't backing down she was feasting to regain strength and grow.

With quick steps I chased after the beast as it crawled high above the ground crunching the roof tops and building sides as it scurryed along. Turning one last corner I saw them, Bruinn and Rysan surrounded by hatchlings, Chrysanthus was doing all he could to protect the boy his blade swinging as Esho distracted them from the air diving at them taunting them the best he could.

I froze instantly as the shadow of the mother Yingi gloomed closer. Fear, terror and hundred other emotions tore inside me. I knew I couldn't fit them off, we stood no chance... There was only one thing I could do taking in a long slow breath I wrapped my hand around the blade of my sword slowly pulling them apart.

I could feel the sharp cool metal slicing through my skin with ease, a sharp pain pulsating from the fresh wound. Thick pitch black blood oozed from my pale skin coating my blade.  I bit my lip fighting back the burning sensation as I balled my hand tightly into a first forcing out more blood as I dropped my sword.

"foul beast, you do not belong here. Return to your darkness and shadow in the abyss" I demanded holding out my hand as blood dripped freely from it

The mother Yingi and all her offspring's came to an imitate fault. A buzzing clicking of hive mind communication echoed through the air. With each moment that passed I could feel my body growing weaker, my limbs tingling. Like a weight had just been pressed to my chest as i tried  to breath. My eyelids grew heavy my vision blurrling as every ounce of my strength focused on banishing the beasts.

I watched as the offspring's scurried to their mother clininging onto her, The mother Yingi let out one final hiss in my direction before leaping from the building scurrying off deep into the darkness of the surrounding forest to return to deep underground.

From where I stood I could see Chrysanthus face fill with worry and dread his sword dropping as he took off full speed in my direction. I could feel my body growing heavier before letting go dropping to the ground with a firm and heavy thud as darkness consumed me.