She glanced down as her foot slipped on the slick stone floor. It wouldn't
do to come across the evil she was stalking as she slid down the cavern
floor to who knows where. The sound of dripping water hitting the ground
told her she was now below the sewers, very close to her destination. As
she followed the twisting path, skirting through entries into other parts
of this underground maze, she couldn't suppress a shiver. She'd been here
before, only then she'd been the loser.
Gripping her crossbow in her hands more tightly, she moved on with a more determined step. She would not lose this time. The dim glow of the crystals within the rock wall ensured some lighting, at least enough to make sure she didn't bump into an immovable object. So she could concentrate on her target, her senses telling her it was near.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been tracking this particular beast. It felt like hours, most of which had been spent traipsing through this damp labyrinth. Now she was working on pure adrenaline. It had become a contest between the two of them. Not of strength but of cunning and perseverance. She'd almost given up a few times, but she sensed she was now winning.
The scrape of flesh against a stone behind her caused her to swing her head. Listening carefully, she couldn't discern any other noise. Side- stepping slightly, she pushed her slim body into a crevice, guaranteeing protection of her back. With any luck her quarry wouldn't realize she was there until it was too late.
A few minutes later her patience was rewarded. The shuffling of a lumbering body, some heavy breathing as if the approaching being was beyond their endurance notified her that the end was near. Timing her move perfectly, she stepped out onto the path, turned toward her surprised quarry and fired. Moving quickly to reload, in a matter of seconds she raised her primed crossbow to fire off her second shot and looked into a pair of pain- filled green eyes.
Holding his hand toward her, Giles was only able to whisper her name as he succumbed to the mortal wound.
Gripping her crossbow in her hands more tightly, she moved on with a more determined step. She would not lose this time. The dim glow of the crystals within the rock wall ensured some lighting, at least enough to make sure she didn't bump into an immovable object. So she could concentrate on her target, her senses telling her it was near.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been tracking this particular beast. It felt like hours, most of which had been spent traipsing through this damp labyrinth. Now she was working on pure adrenaline. It had become a contest between the two of them. Not of strength but of cunning and perseverance. She'd almost given up a few times, but she sensed she was now winning.
The scrape of flesh against a stone behind her caused her to swing her head. Listening carefully, she couldn't discern any other noise. Side- stepping slightly, she pushed her slim body into a crevice, guaranteeing protection of her back. With any luck her quarry wouldn't realize she was there until it was too late.
A few minutes later her patience was rewarded. The shuffling of a lumbering body, some heavy breathing as if the approaching being was beyond their endurance notified her that the end was near. Timing her move perfectly, she stepped out onto the path, turned toward her surprised quarry and fired. Moving quickly to reload, in a matter of seconds she raised her primed crossbow to fire off her second shot and looked into a pair of pain- filled green eyes.
Holding his hand toward her, Giles was only able to whisper her name as he succumbed to the mortal wound.
