Chapter Warnings: Mild to harsh violence.
Osiam scanned the area he had only just bolted from, Wynne at his side with her stave ready and cocked back, to ensure a quick chunk of rock could be quickly delivered should something dangerous rear out of the settled smoke and snapping branches. A few tree's had been toppled, it was something big!
Just as soon as Osiam had time to recall all of the monsters that might reside close to here, a muffled shriek tore from between the sagging tree trunks, a mighty shake sent them twisting off over each other, landing on the ground behind the creature in the form of an X.
A long neck ascended from the cloud of chaos, a radiant head mounted on the muscles with jaws agape in outlandish rage. It let out another shrill cry, and locked eyes with Alistar who had stumbled even further from the treeline and was holding his shield tightly to his chest. It's proud gaze swept over the lot, finally falling on Osiam who returned it's prominent sneer with a glare of his own, curling his lip where one canine exposed itself to the beast. Equally as dark and deadly, the monster finally barreled out of the mess, revealing it's staggering size and sharp claws, dagger sharp even. They too were dark, black and curled in just slightly. They practically scooped the earth out with them as the creature charged.
It was plain now that this was a drake, a very underfed drake.
Alistar was at it in an instant. No matter how tall the bloody beast, no matter how impossibly outmatched he might have been.
But the drake wasn't moved by courage alone, it stumbled to a slower, more violent trot with fangs exposed before it snapped at the air in front of Alistar and stomped around him in order to lift it's rear up and sweep it's tail into the very center of Alistar's gut, sending the armored Templar flying back as if he were little more than a doll.
As Alistar landed, Osiam could swear he heard the breath jerked from him. He let out his own silent exhale, whipping his staff forward to hurl a bolt at the head of the drake.
It reeled back in shock, screaming out defiantly as the bolt stuck between it's long, skinned snout. The crack of lightning that shot up it's thick hide, glared brightly against teeth that were exposed again in a mere second, roaring back curses at the mage no doubt.
Zevran had darted around Alistar the moment his stiffened body went barreling by, through the dirt and dust, letting out strained sounds of breathlessness in his wake.
The Crow however, caught the drake off guard, throwing his arms back and forth in a fit of sprinting, only stumbling to a swift footed dancing game under the drake, once he'd gotten close enough; he kept his gleaming eyes on the thinner areas of hide around the drake, probing for any weakness before he delivered his blow.
Osiam picked up quickly on the strategy and began pumping waves of static from his staff, tiny bolts here and there, but they were various in type and numbers, only enough to prickle the drake and keep it enraged with Osiam, very much unaware of the assassin lurking just under it.
No battle was predictable though.
As Zevran readied his strike, the drake gave a mock charge at the warden, knocking Zevran forward with the blunt of it's knee. Both mages stared, shocked at the grounded man, then began casting spells rapidly, it was all over if the drake noticed Zev. "Alistar!" Wynne croaked frantically for the man, her voice frail with age, but sharp with determination and concern. "Distract it!"
Osiam didn't wait to see if Alistar had done as he was told, probably only just now recovering from his knock-back. The young elf was bolting straight out from beside Wynne, tripping over his own feet a few times as he struggled to form a split second plan. It felt like he'd reached Zevran in an instant though and could only think to trip backwards onto his rump as the drake persistently ducked after him, yawning open a mouth almost as tall as he, himself was.
He also shuffled around with staff in hand, dragging it through the dirt at his side and dragging it up just in time to wedge into the crook between the drake's two front teeth, leaving it's mouth forcibly opened.
"Uhhg, where- Warden?" Zevran slurred softly, slowly blinking, thought his head lulled to the side for just a moment.
There was little time to reassure the Crow though. Osiam felt the hot breath of the drake upon him, it's head pushed down, trapping him under his own staff and squeezing the breath from his lungs like wet laundry being wrung dry. He took a sharp inhale that was fought for with each approaching inch the drake took. He was almost sure he'd felt the wavering unconsciousness of the fade for a moment, but remained long enough to see a flash of icy white explode over the back of the drake's jaw.
"Wake up!"
A warm breath hit his face, followed by another rough and insisting command to awaken. "..." Osiam rolled his lids back painfully, letting out a soft cough, then digging his fingers through his slack clothing, where his chest was.
"Oh maker don't scare me like that!" Came the relieved, and yet frantic reply.
Alistar stood above him, armor slaughtered on his right side, with a fresh scent of blood to accompany the seeping wound that was probably just under the torn chain.
"Hurry, get up. We're not done!"
Osiam felt a heavily gloved hand grab hold of him, pinching at his collar bone in order to get hold of his cloak and drag him to his feet. Heavy panting filled his ears, weather it was from himself, or Alistar, he couldn't tell at the moment. He thought he could make out the gentle swaying of the land before him but soon found, as his vision cleared, that it was him stumbling left and right to keep balance. The gentle world of rocking and steadying breaths, was cast aside in favor of reality, where time sped up and the muffled cracks and booms seemed ten times louder.
Wynne gave her staff a powerful thrust up, a swollen wave jumped through the air, pulsing at break-neck pace until it found targets to enter.
Energy suddenly flooded Osiam, with a quick glance at Alistar, he could see the would be Templar felt the same.
"Zevran cut into it's leg, it's starting to panic. We need to finish it!" He heard Alistar trying to scream over the blaring sound of the drake crashing through the brush, ripping the earth up, screaming bloody murder. He hadn't even had time to wonder how such a mangy looking drake had grown so big. Usually these types of lore born beasts were only found in old places. Or abandoned places where they could make lasting homes.
Osiam shook his head free of distractions, nodded with his jaw slacked in mild exhaustion. Wynne's healing magic, even her regeneration spells only took him so far.
It was then that Osiam had a chance to look around, he caught Zevran still sputtering weakly around, dodging the drakes legs just barely. Wynne was doing all she could to keep it from targeting Zevran fully, and trying to stomp him out of existence.
Alistar had apparently finished trying to scream orders at Osiam, and was now jumping back into the fray; he was strong enough to give the dragon a good few bashes in the snout as it rounded and threw it's jaws at him. The rapid blows had it stunned for a moment.
It was enough time for rage to have started boiling in the young mage, his hand gripping tightly around his staff as the tips of his fingers brushed over the red, ripped cloth that was tied around it. Osiam then looked to Wynne who thankfully had glanced his way at the same time.
She paused her casting, and changed her expression to a deep worry as he nodded. This wasn't going to end well, and he didn't want his companions in the way.
The spell Wynn had granted him previous was running out now, he'd need to time his cast just right, or risk fainting during the process. Osiam put his faith in Wynne to make the right actions as he brought his staff close and equally returned his free hand, to his chest, cupping an energy and allowing it to grow with the shifting of his fingers. Light began to pulse throughout his veins, it ran up his arms, though stopped short of his shoulders, even from under his cloak there was a dim glimmer.
The scene seemed almost bizarre, even for this magical world where ashes cured those flirting willingly with death, a place where demons needed humans to become stronger, and where man could cast fire from the bare of his palm. Even for a place like this, the happenings in the sky twisted what seemed reality. Clouds, once filled with snow willingly followed the call given, pulling from as far as two hundred feet, as high as a half a mile in the sky. Lowering and collecting into a singular unit the festered and withered into a sickening black cloud of destruction.
As the warden put outstanding effort into his spell, Wynne had taken it upon herself to send a pulse of energy at the two close fighters. It struck between them and sent them both flying from it's epicenter.
Zevran took the hint with a last squinted gaze up at the clouds, jerking to see Wynne jogging past slowly to tap Alistar on the shoulder and help him up enough so that the three could travel away from their Warden together.
The drake had flicked it's gaze between all three little beings, beings which needed to be squashed! But one was missing. A questioning call left it's tongue in a loud chirp, before the static above had started to flare.
Bunched too tightly, the clouds heated, sparks set off like star bright fireworks.
Osiam glare up slowly at the drake; as if in slow motion, it finally turned to view him as well, after having viewed the dramatic events above it. There was understanding in it's seemingly cold eyes. It'd lost. A flicker of fear followed, as if it thought it might be able to escape if taking leave now. Too little too late.
Osiam threw his arms up,clutching at the sky, the muscles in his arms bunched under fingers that rounded like claws to call forth the storm. Lightning as gigantic and vicious as the drake it self split from the bottom of the clouds, there was hardly time to bat and eyelash before the sound of a short cut shriek echoed through the forest. More bolst followed, puncturing eve n the thickest of hide as it travel through him, not like a sword, like a rod. Attracted to it's tall and lengthy form, enveloping the monster like the sealing claws of an eagle, wrapped round it's prey.
The spell was most obviously draining. To his knees, Osiam fell, his breathing ragged and raspy.
The drake remain fried in one half standing position for a moment longer. The forest was silent again, all except for the sizzle of flesh under scales that had already started to flake. But gravity saw the drake to it's finally resting spot, falling slowly like a humbled oak. The feeling of it's multi-ton body hitting the cold, hard dirt was unexplainable. It shook the four for a moment, and rattled their eardrums; eventually, they all collected around Osiam who had already half caught his breath.
"...What was that?" Alistars soft voice finally inquired. Thought he was still riled from battle, it was apparent not everyone was unscathed enough to share his curiosity.
Wynne felt the cold easing through her bones, called her to set a blanket next to some fire and sleep.
Zevran looked in thought, though his eyes were sagging in exhaustion as well. No one answered Alistar, but they all had found some agreement in his question. Why was the drake so big?
"Why was it out here?" Came the rattled, yet still as gentle, second question, hours later when all members had settled around a fully lit fire. Alistar and Osiam had returned to the deceased drake just a few feet down the pathway, to try and carve out some meat. It was better than nothing, even if a little fried. Zevran had remained in camp to watch Wynne, under Osiams orders of course.
Zevran was silent as he remembered the warden pointing to Wynne as he eyed Zevran sternly. It was the first time he'd felt like chuckling in quite a few hours. Though, Wynne's question brought him back to the depressing reality that it was dangerous even in the seemingly deserted roads that lead to the dwarven city.
"Ah, Wynne. You must learn to go with life as it comes yes? And question not the makers choices." There was a mock lightness in his tone, as if he were struggling to be so nonchalant about the situation. But something was nagging him deep down. Something he thought might need be expressed if the Warden himself didn't see it soon.
Alistar kicked a small stone at the fire, which was in the middle of a few fallen trees.
At least now that had a few inches of cover. But at what price? Everyone was tired, wounded. Even Wynne wouldn't be up for another battle for days, if she could even get up for travel in the morning.
The concern for what should be done, shown in Osiam face, it was rare, but it happened. He didn't even bother to wonder about the drake anymore. It was dead, in the past. His companions where here and now, real and in need. But of course, there was a Crow around who couldn't let the Warden settle something without a second opinion.
"What is a drake doing out here?" The Antivan snuck the question in dryly, squinting his eyes in slight thought as he eyed the other three.
"Are they common here?" Wynne added fuel to the conversation, with innocent worry. "I am not so sure this was just..." Her voice died down gently, there was something she didn't want to admit.
"I know the Archdemon is supposed to be a dragon who lives in the deep roads...But the Archdemon has wings from what I hear, it's an old god, a high dragon. Not a drake, they've got no wings. And..Why would it be so close to the deep roads, it'd be out spreading and commanding the blight creatures...right?" Though helpful his advice was, even Alistar seemed uncertain and it showed; he gave a light shrug.
"Unless." This was it, unleash the news and hope to drill it in, or rather, hope it spreads itself like wildfire. "It was planned..."
(Phew thanks for reading guys. I tried harder in this chapter to draw out each character's emotions and or struggles. I hope yall like it!)