The Guardians of Daldaria

Chapter 2: Battle of the Beasts

The remaining beasts circled them.

Mewl licked at the jelly cloud, spreading it across his skin.

'Getting slow in your old age Xiathia? We were almost skewered.'

Shaking the hood back, lavender irises looked between Mialtros, the beasts, and Mewl.

“No thanks to your valiant efforts I'm sure. Is she the one?"

Mewl rolled his eyes.

'Indeed. She's insistent upon this being a dream.'

The woman knelt, keeping an eye on the beasts, “I would feel that way in her position too. You're not the easiest person to deal with Mewl."

She inspected Mialtros, “You don't appear hurt. Think you can help me fight them?"

Mialtros nodded, unhooking a buckle from her coveralls, tearing it off.

“I ain't got no weapon like yours, but this'll hurt 'em enough to give you an opening."

Lavender flickered to Mialtros swiftly, “You should be able to-"

The creatures ducked, aiming for the woman's throat. Mialtros smashed the first one's eye with her buckle, turning it away. Xiathia grabbed the other by the throat. She jumped forward to smash its spine into the side of her sword. She looked back at Mialtros, grappling with the beast's jaws.

“Aim for the ankles! Worry not, Ghirti will guard you."

“Ghirti?"

Mialtros felt something coil about her legs. Tendrils of scaled shadow writhed along her body, growing large enough to engulf her. A large, navy serpent extended from the mass, wings dripping sparkling liquid. Crimson eyes stared at her. A forked tongue waved, sliding between red fangs and armored face plates.

Mialtros waved back, hoping the creature wouldn't take offense to her frantic shaking.

Pink flashed. Mewl scraped his claws across the last creature's eyes, chasing it away from Mialtros's back. The creature gurgled more, bucking about, taking out the mill stone.

'In case you have forgotten we're in the midst of battle! You can greet the stupid snake later.'

She hadn't forgotten. She just wasn't about to ignore a snake big enough to swallow her and the hut whole in one sitting!

“I was just being polite. You kept tellin' me how rude I was. Thought I'd change my attitude."

Ghirti's head bobbed, subtle hissing flowing from its armor.

Mewl hissed, snatching his fangs into the starry beast's neck.

'Ingrates! I'll remember that when you need assistance!'

Hefting her strap, Mialtros wrapped it around her knuckles, keeping the buckle edges outward. Crouching, she watched as Mewl slashed and snapped at the beast's face. When the cat bounded away, she charged. She punched the beast's muzzle, lifting it off its feet. Shadows surged, wrapping around the two-leg's neck.

Mialtros looked away as Ghirti's face plates opened. She flinched as flesh crunched and bones snapped.

Black liquid splattered. The two-legs shadow convulsing as it disappeared.

Mewl's face scrunched.

'By my name that's vile. Couldn't you have simply broken it's neck you filthy snake?'

Clicks and hissing. Ghirti's tongue lapped at the blood smears mixed in the mud.

Mewl sauntered past, cleaning its claws in the grass.

'No grace whatsoever between you and your Guardian. When you're finished there, you should be able to consume the other one. Xiathia is almost done with it.'

Mialtros felt her stomach drop. She'd forgotten about the third beast entirely.

She spotted the combatants making a mess of the berry bushes. Xiathia's sword flashed in the air. She was using it to parry the beast's fangs. The four-leg was faster now that it'd been injured.

It was no match for Xiathia.

She danced around the bushes. Skewering the beast with every stroke. When her sword failed to meet its mark, a fist wrapped in a cloak kept the starry thing prancing.

She looked happy. Eyes alight with glee, laughter rising over the creature's howls.

She leapt over the four-legs back, slicing a strip from its shoulder. She landed atop the berry bush near its hind

legs. Using her height, she dove and drove her sword to the hilt through its right hip.

It whirled and snapped at her, tearing its leg apart in its frenzy. Fangs sheared through the woman's arm, navy liquid burbling round the beast's muzzle.

Xiathia locked her legs around its waist, rolling them, pressing the muzzle tighter into her arm as it roared.

She waved to Mialtros.

"I've got him! Hurry! Take the sword and kill this thing!"

Shadows set her legs to running. Mialtros fought against it.

“Wait! Stop! I don't know how to kill it!"

Mewl raced past them. Rammed its body into the blade, sending it skittering to Mialtros's feet.

'The same way you kill anything. Aim for its vitals! The snake will aid you.'

Ghirti nodded, shadows tugging her arm.

Mialtros lifted the blade. Holding it by the leather wraps tied around the handle. It was incredibly heavy, she struggled to keep it from wobbling.

Xiathia braced her knees into the dirt, heaving the beast up. She wrenched the creature's front leg apart to expose its chest.

“Aim true Mialtros! I believe in you!"

Shadows pressed the handle down, leveling the blade. Mialtros lined the tip up. Took a breath.

“Think of it like feeding hogs. Just shuck and go."

She screamed as she ran, bending her knees just before reaching the struggling beast. She jumped up, impaling

the blade into the beast's chest.

It caught on something just below the fur. Sparks cascaded, setting leaves on fire.

Xiathia swore. She scrabbled to her legs, pressing down on the four-legs shoulders. It inched downward.

“Press up!"

The serpent wrapped itself around the blade, forcing it up. Mialtros twisted the handle, moving it about to try and get past the blockage.

Mewl clawed up her side, jumping to s***h the creature's skin open. Metal plates appeared.

The beast kicked the cat in the stomach, sending it flying into the dirt.

Mialtros turned to help him, “Mewl!"

The cat shook his head, spitting blood.

'Aim for the middle! I felt an opening!'

Snarling, Mialtros fell to her knees. She grabbed the blade, tearing it across the metal plating. Halfway down the tip slipped through a c***k, just as Mewl said.

Mialtros held the blade steady, “I got it Xiathia!"

The woman nodded and called to Ghirti.

The blade went up. Xiathia went down.

The creature burst apart, remains extinguishing the roiling flames.

Ghirti flew over them, slurping up skin with their fangs.

Panting, Mialtros got to her feet. She shook blood from her hands and feet.

“We did it! Oh mannn, just wait 'til Pa hears about this dream. It's ten time more exciting than any ole hog

feeding."

Mewl hobbled toward them. The cat's spine was misshaped. Bones were sticking through his skin.

'Arnsal, I knew your dreams were boring but seriously? Hog feeding?'

Xiathia reached and tweaked its nape, cracking it's back back into place.

“Quiet. Her dreams are as they should be."

She looked at Mialtros as she tore part of her shirt. Wrapping the tan cloth around her arm she murmured, “Sadly Mialtros, this is no dream. You have been chosen as the newest Guardian of Creation. I wish you did not have to take this burden so young but-"

Laughing, Mialtros sat on a berry bush.

“Sure, sure, whatever you say. I tell ya. That's the last time I sneak three cheese wheels to eat before bedtime again."

Stalking forward, Mewl hissed.

'Fool girl! Will this convince you we are no illusion!?'

Before Mialtros could blink, claws raked down her face.

Pain blossomed. Blood streamed down her skin.

Xiathia grabbed the cat's waist. Dragging it back to her, she nodded to the hut.

“Mewl! I'm terribly sorry about that. I'll force him to apologize later. Please, go and gather your things. We should leave before your family returns. It is better they know nothing of our journey."

Dirt clods scattered. Mialtros's breathe huffing as she flew up the forested hill leading to town.

Blood floated in the wind.