Patience jumps onto her hind feet, knocking me off her back. My body tumbles backward, my fall caught by the overgrowth of ferns below. The arrow and bow fly out of my hands. I leap to my feet, but it is too late. Patience swings her tail deliberately, knocking me out of the way just as Leviathan propels another stream of smoky liquid.
Patience takes the full torrent. Her body stiffens, encased with steaming crystals. She’s frozen, trapped beneath layers of ice. “No!” I mouth, dragging myself up one more time.
Leviathan’s snout shifts toward Adom. She slithers his direction. I grab the bow, draw another arrow and climb a large rock beside Patience. If I hadn’t hesitated, she wouldn’t have been hurt. The poison-dipped arrow won’t kill Leviathan, so why did I wait?
I grit my teeth. I won’
