Tooth and Nail

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Imoen nearly jumped as Brage abruptly turned his dark eyes upon her, kneeling where he was upon the earth, his back perfectly straight. His dark hair was still as wild and unkempt as the rest of him, hardly having had a chance to fix it with his hands bound as they were, but his eyes were remarkably steady, if not untroubled. For her part, Imoen merely shrugged after a moment.

"I dunno. You don't seem all that evil to me."

The broad-shouldered man only shook his head slowly, however.

"It does not matter. A man cannot have done what I have done, and still be considered good. Helm would agree with me. I have not been vigilant against every evil. The greatest always comes from within."

The pink-haired woman left the man alone after that, wandering away. But Evelyn kept a close eye on him from the rock she had seated herself atop of, and not just because Jaheira had wanted her to. Dynaheir and Minsc were there as well. The ranger was out scouting.

Jaheira and her husband had formed a plan to ambush the Gnolls somewhere amongst those trees, using cover, speed, and superior tactics to hopefully win the day without much bloodshed. The older woman had deliberated with the ranger, and even included Evelyn as well, strangely enough. She hardly contributed much – they didn't need much more help, besides – but that one voice inside her seemed to agree with the soundness of it all. Or maybe it was Evelyn's own. She had a hard time telling anymore. But they had enough troubles just then to worry about already.

They were keeping out of sight then upon a small, wooded rise, thick brush all around them. Jaheira and Khalid had left to survey the surrounding terrain once more, deciding just which spots each of them would be positioned in, and making sure of just what else they might all do. She had left Imoen and Evelyn behind, telling the latter quietly to keep an eye on both their prisoner and the Rashemi. The dark-skinned woman's eyes had been on them the entire time.

Xan was pacing back and forth off to one side, muttering something over and over under his breath. It all sounded familiar – Eve was sure she had heard him say some of those words when flinging magic about before – and she figured they were spells he was keeping firmly in his head. They were powerful enough from what she had seen, but Evelyn much preferred the solid ashwood staff in her hands far better. She noticed that the Elf's hands never strayed far from his Moonblade, though.

Imoen had not gone far, and Xan was still there besides, but Evelyn suddenly felt vulnerable there alone … with Brage and the two Rashemi. The commander had been brought to heel to be sure, and Minsc had seemed trustworthy enough so far … but she had seen the death his witch had done with her bare hands. And Evelyn hardly thought much of her chances should the woman start casting fire at her. And when the cool-eyed Rashemi started talking to her suddenly then, it made her feel all the more uncomfortable and exposed.

"I never had the opportunity to thank thee for saving me," Dynaheir spoke up calmly, her voice thick with that accent and as steady as she herself had always seemed. "'Twas courageous to follow the likes of Minsc into battle, if a touch foolish. I have had naught to offer thee in return, save my services in battle."

Evelyn tried to give her a smile, but she wasn't sure just how well it came out. "That has been more than enough so far. I don't know how we would have survived had it not been for you."

"Tell me," the woman cocked her head to one side, "what doth thee intend to do once mine old captors are disposed of? Return home? Duty and task complete?"

Evelyn shook her head, frowning. "No," she told her, "I don't have a home anymore. And there are some people we need to kill first. We're going to Beregost."

The dark-skinned woman studied her for another moment, and then pursed her lips. "Then mayhaps I could travel with thee awhile, and an opportunity may arise for repayment of mine debt. Minsc is… well … Minsc, but he hast a strong sword arm, whilst I am practiced in the arts magica, as thee must certainly know."

The raven-haired woman looked to the giant Rashemi, Minsc playing with that small hamster of his once more in his large hands. He paid them little notice.

"Why does he guard you?" she asked, ignoring the woman's offer for a moment. She could hardly have been so foolish as to trust her just yet. "I can't imagine someone that important wanting to help us."

The woman merely smiled at her, amused. She leaned forward.

"I am Dynaheir of Rasheman," she said simply. And then she shrugged at the look on Eve's face. "'Tis not a title; 'tis just where I am from." She cast her eyes briefly toward her guardian before turning back toward Evelyn. "We two are far afield of our home, but 'tis a necessary rite of passage. Minsc must make his 'dajemma' by seeking adventure, while I must prove my worth to my sisters in much the same manner."

The dark-skinned woman shook her head, and leaned back.

"'Tis an interesting time for the Realms, with great things foretold for the Sword Coast. 'Tis therefore a likely place to look for what we need. What dost thou seek on this adventurous road?" she asked of Eve suddenly then. "Mayhaps we can all find what we need together?"

Evelyn did not answer her though, not just yet. Instead she looked away toward Brage, still kneeling with his eyes closed and oblivious to everything that went on about him. Or not. Not that there was much. Yet.

"Maybe you can help us," she offered quietly then, turning back toward the other woman. "We're trying to hunt down the bandits that have been attacking the roads. They're hiding somewhere, and we'll need a lot of help to find them."

The woman gave her another smile after a moment, canting her head simply. "Of course. I have no doubt thou shalt make an … interesting companion."

Eve wasn't quite sure what to make of that, but she didn't have much time to either. She frowned at the other, but then Jaheira was suddenly breaking into the small clearing, Khalid in tow and the ranger at her side.

"What do you mean they are not coming?" the druid was demanding irritably. "Our plans are set and readied. Did you not set the false trail?"

Kivan nodded his head, frowning darkly at her. "I did everything you asked, half-breed. They still do not come."

"What happened?" Imoen leapt to her feet from the other side of the hill, bounding over. "What's going on?"

The three only spared her half a mind and a glance.

"Why not?" Jaheira struck her fists to her hips, pursing her lips.

"They have found something else," he muttered back, shouldering his bow. "It is best you come and see." He started moving away.

"Our plan was to ambush them here," the druid stabbed a finger toward the ground. "What could possibly be important enough to endanger ourselves so recklessly as to chase off after them?"

The ranger paused only for a moment. "They have found themselves a hostage."

"What?" Jaheira suddenly quieted, her brow furrowing. "Who?"

"Come and see," was all he said, starting away again. "But I suggest that you do not take long. He might be dead before we can help."

And then he was gone, leaving the half-Elven woman frowning after him. Evelyn didn't know just what that meant or who could have possibly happened upon them or the Gnolls so far from any road or town – besides Brage, of course – but then she was hurrying forward, after the ranger. It might have been a terrible risk, but she was not about to let someone else get hurt because of her.

She only hoped that the others were right behind.

What Evelyn saw then, peaking out from between the long, drooping branches of an old oak on a rise above, was at least one of the strangest things she had ever hoped to see outside of Candlekeep. And Imoen beside her at least seemed to agree by the look on her face. But all of the actors below, as calm and seemingly well-placed as they were, begged to differ.

"We ask again, puny Elf … where are other manlings?"

She recognized the silver fur of the giant Gnoll that paced before the Elven man below instantly, wishing then that she had cracked her staff just a little harder over its head before trying to flee the fortress. It was a little late for lost hopes, however.

"I have given you my answer already, Gnoll," the Elven man was remarking calmly, almost irritably, "or was the one I gave your companion not enough?" He gestured with one slender sword away toward another of the Gnolls that stood in a wide ring about the man, that one with half of one arm missing. It gnashed its teeth furiously back at him. "Perhaps you require another …"

The Gnoll chieftain kept its distance from the Elf, though it certainly did not seem to be out of fear. Instead the silver-furred beast stalked around the man in a slow circle, trying to intimidate him. From what Eve could tell, it was falling well short of its desired effect.

The others crouched down beside her all around, even Jaheira's face registering some awe. It was not for the several dozen Gnolls gathered around the man in the clearing below, however. Instead, it was for the Elf.

He was sheathed in resplendent chain beneath a fur-lined forest green cloak draped down above high black boots, the metal links all but seamless and certainly crafted to be nothing short of perfect. They seemed to catch the afternoon sun and glow just the faintest bit. And the two scimitars that he held in either hand were no less perfect – elegant, and deadly all at once. It was hard not to notice even from there. But it was hardly his attire that caught the eye, or that surprised the others. It was his dark skin.

"A Drow?" Jaheira breathed, unable to take her eyes away. "A Dark Elf?" The ranger grunted beside her.

"Not just any Dark Elf, half-breed. Drizzt Do'Urden if I am not mistaken."

"Horns of Silvanus …" her voice faded away to nothing. "What is he doing here?" Kivan only nodded his head.

"That is a good question."

"But aren't Dark Elves, well … evil?" Imoen was whispering across to them then.

"Not this one," was all the ranger said.

"You tread on murderous manlings' trail, little Elf," the Gnoll chieftain was growling down below, still encircling the Drow. "You tell us where they hide, we let you live."

The Elf – Drizzt – was calm and unflappable, looking up toward the chieftain as it paced back in front of him. But Evelyn got the distinct impression that he was assessing that situation just as much as they up above on the ridge. And no matter how good he might be with those blades … he could hardly take all thirty or so Gnolls on at once. Jaheira and the others were certainly thinking the same thing.

"Well … we have to help him!" Imoen was looking urgently at them then. But the druid shook her head.

"We cannot charge in blindly, girl. He will die, as would we. We must strike quickly, and we must keep them from organizing enough to take both him, and us."

"We will need to distract them," Kivan muttered off to one side, readying his bow.

"Yes," the half-Elf acceded. "But what?"

"Let me go," a voice spoke from behind, and four heads turned as one to the bound commander kneeling on the earth behind them, one of Khalid's scimitars at his back. Xan and the two Rashemi stood just past.

"A Gnoll's axe or a headsman's – I am a dead man, already," Brage continued. "Let me do some good before I fall. Let me go."

"And what?" the druid demanded, arching her brow. "Watch them butcher you in surprise? That is hardly the distraction we need."

Evelyn felt some pity for the man as they all turned away, his face crestfallen as he lost the chance to do what he considered some good and maybe die with some dignity left. Dynaheir's dark eyes were upon her the whole while.

"This is last chance, little manling," the Gnoll chieftain was warning the Dark Elf below. "Tell us where others are or we take your dark skin for our own." Evelyn noticed, briefly, that it had replaced the Gnoll-pelt mantle across its shoulders.

"We are out of time!" Kivan hissed beside them. Jaheira only shook her head.

"Khalid!"

And then Evelyn was whipping back about.

"Xan, Dynaheir!"

The two each blinked at her in turn in surprise, but were moving in the next moment, scrambling over to where the others hid. Jaheira gave the raven-haired woman a dubious frown as she took her staff in hand. "Be ready," was all she said. Minsc was close on Dynaheir's heels.

"What are you doing?" Jaheira demanded, but Evelyn had already leapt into the air, over the lip of the ridge, and down toward the clearing below. She rolled over, thrust upright once more, and then hurtled onward, flying on the balls of her feet with little more than her own momentum carrying her forward. She tore into the clearing and darted straight through two of the Gnolls. They barely had time to notice her before she was mere paces away from the chieftain.

The silver-backed Gnoll twisted about instantly, even the Dark Elf leveling a blade with her heart in surprise. But then she came to an abrupt halt. Catching her breath briefly before painting her face with a grin, she met the chieftain's eyes.

"Remember me?"

And then everything around her just exploded.

An arrow hissed down to the clearing below before anyone could move, taking one of the Gnolls ahead of her in the throat. Light rained down swiftly after it, burning holes through some while throwing others roughly from their feet. And then a giant Rashemi was charging down into view, two half-Elves and a young woman garbed nearly all in pink soon after. A massive blade swept through one Gnoll from behind, and then everything was blood and roaring and steel and death. And Evelyn stood right in the middle of it.

The chieftain overcame its shock quickly, moving to leap toward her with blinding speed, bloody death burning bright in its black eyes. The staff came up instantly, but she knew she was too slow as she saw those claws sweeping toward her head. She had hardly recovered much from earlier with Brage, but at least she had gotten into their center. She hoped it had been enough.

But then steel was sweeping clean before her, slicing at the Gnoll's outstretched arms, whirling around like a dervish and then down across its back. Before it could even howl, two blades were thrusting through its silvered fur and up through its stomach.

Evelyn looked up to the Dark Elf as he pulled his scimitars free from the chieftain, those lavender eyes fixing firmly on hers for a moment as if acknowledging the silent thanks there. He moved to turn away.

The silver-backed Gnoll was suddenly howling. Its one remaining arm came whipping about toward the Elf. Drizzt only grunted as those steel-like claws struck metal-linked mail and sent the Drow spinning abruptly into the air, whirling away into the fray. He landed amidst a pack of the raging beasts as they seethed toward the others.

Evelyn heard herself screaming suddenly in anger as she leapt forward at the chieftain, oblivious to her friends battling for their lives behind her. The ashwood snaked upward to strike the snout of the beast, but it snatched the length of wood instantly from the air, pulling her along with it. And then it whipped her away as well, staff and all. She hit the earth a dozen paces away, lost her staff, tumbled over and struck a tree.

Light was flashing all over the clearing, and she was dimly aware of Xan's blue sword gleaming bright in the sunlight as it sliced through a Gnoll. She caught sight of Imoen too as she looked up from the ground, the pink-haired woman leaping aside just as another of the wolf-headed monsters barreled toward her and met the end of Minsc's massive blade instead. A dagger hurtled free from her hand to catch the next in the throat.

And then one of the beasts was roaring behind her.

Evelyn twisted herself around, seeing a Gnoll leaping towards her. She pushed herself aside, letting it strike the thin birch behind instead. Pulling free Fuller's dagger, she thrust it through the thing's eye. She forced it aside with a hand.

She couldn't feel her legs, but she tested them and they still moved. It wasn't surprising though. That she had made it that far without collapsing had been lucky enough. Unfortunately, it just wasn't lucky enough.

The chieftain was trudging toward her, picking up speed. She caught sight of blackness suddenly exploding outward and swallowing a group of Gnolls past its massive body followed by screams, but then the thing was all that she could see, barreling down on her. She threw herself over and onto her knees, and started crawling away.

She only had time enough to dive behind the birch tree trunk before the chieftain was before it, slicing its one good claw through the wood. The thin tree exploded into splinters beneath the blow, and then quickly toppled over. Evelyn rolled onto her back, and screamed as it came hurtling down toward her.

She threw her arms before her face, wondering what good it would do only too late … but then the mass of branches rebounded against the earth far ahead of her, and stayed from the killing blow. That did not stop the Gnoll from pouncing atop the fallen trunk, however, and sweeping one deadly claw beneath to maul her.

The birch bounced beneath the chieftain's weight, nearly crushing Evelyn once more, but she rolled out from under it to the other side just ahead of those steel-like claws. The Gnoll lost its balance as it swiped at her again, though, no second arm to steady it, and was toppling over and down. Evelyn threw herself to her feet and, snatching up the ashwood from the ground, pushed forward against it and away.

She did not run toward the others. Instead, she hobbled as best she could away from the battle behind her and further into the forests. She put precious little distance between them as she heard the beast suddenly bound to its feet and come loping after.

It stumbled and twisted into a fall as she looked back, unable to run after her on all fours without its missing arm. She wondered briefly if she'd ever get a chance to thank the Dark Elf for that. But then the thing was up and leaping after her once more. It was not long before it caught up.

Evelyn threw herself to the ground with an angry cry as the beast pounced atop her, thrusting the staff up towards its skull. It stabbed it in the throat, the wood narrowly missing a crushing, fatal blow. And then she was on her back beneath it.

The chieftain reared up into the air, making a sickening gurgling sound as it struggled to recover. But she had no time to escape before it did. It stabbed its remaining claw down for her heart.

She wriggled aside just a moment ahead of having her chest pounded into the earth, and looked back up only to see massive jaws flashing toward her head. They clamped down on grass and earth, however, as she rolled over and away. And then Fuller's dagger was in hand, the staff tumbling to the ground.

Metal flashed once … twice … three times, and the Gnoll leapt back and away, three new holes leaking blood from its stomach down to the moss padded earth. Evelyn rolled away once more, took up her staff and edged quickly back.

The chieftain was not so quick to come after her this time, too much blood spilling forth from it to go unchecked for so long. It cast around wildly, howling, and then stood.

It stalked towards her, trudging along the earth as it slowly started to lose its strength. And Evelyn stepped back with it, keeping the staff between them. Its eyes were mad with rage and death, uncaring for whether it lived or died … so long as it broke her flesh somewhere in between. For her part, Evelyn could barely keep herself on her own two feet, let alone fight much longer. With each step she took, she stumbled that much more and prayed to whatever gods would listen, that she might just take one more. It was a vain hope.

Her foot caught, and nearly twisted, but she fell with a sudden cry. Catching herself at the knee, it did not stop the Gnoll from taking that chance to attack. Before it could rush her though, she stabbed at it with her staff like a spear, catching one of the holes Drizzt had managed to tear open in it and pushing with whatever strength she had left. The thing stumbled back, and howled, but then it had the end of the staff in its one claw, and was flinging it angrily away. She almost wished she had gone with it that time.

She still had Fuller's dagger, but it was next to useless in her hand, faced with that hulking beast as it slowly moved to finish her. Still she bared her teeth, and climbed back to her feet, keeping it between them. She started edging her way slowly back.

"Run away!" she cried at it furiously. "Run while you still can!" She tried to ignore the way her legs kept refusing to do what she needed. "The others will kill you even if I don't. You still have a chance!"

The thing wasn't listening to her. Blood had begun to dribble out from its mighty jaws, and its black eyes were wide with that hunger. It had been worth a try at least.

She was crawling back, pulling herself along by her hands as she kicked at the earth, her eyes never leaving the wolf-headed monster trudging towards her. It was the most pitiful thing she could possibly have imagined just then – it was only a matter of moments before the thing had her again. But there was nothing else to do. And then her hand slipped.

Evelyn twisted around in surprise and sudden horror, only to find herself at the edge of a small cliff, sloping steeply down toward a shallow ravine below. Rock jutted out from the decline, slick with moss and lichen. A small stream wound its way along at the bottom.

She rounded back upon the Gnoll chieftain just as it was reaching down to take her. Fuller's dagger was out in a flash, and slicing along its one good arm. It snapped at her angrily. And then she thrust upward with her foot, willing as much strength into it as she could. She missed, got it tangled in the other's as it took one final step, and then it was falling, snatching at her shoulder as it tumbled forward and over the edge. She only had time to scream before she was whisked along after.

The world became a blur, spinning in her eyes, and she was dimly aware of the Gnoll grunting as they both spun over and over, smooth and jagged rock faces pounding into them from every side as they cascaded down the side of the ravine. Evelyn only hugged herself as tightly as she could, feeling her strength ebb with every blow, waiting for one to be the last.

It seemed to last forever. They tumbled over and down until Eve was hardly sure which way was up or down anymore. She was sure she would black out with each blow. But then she was suddenly horizontal again, barreling forward across the earth. Her limbs whipped out wildly – she lost control over them. Then she was diving under water, feeling it rush over and around her. She gasped in a lungful before she could help it.

She had stopped … and for a moment, she couldn't move. But then she started to panic once more, remembering the bridge, trapped there beneath the water, and started scrabbling against it for some kind of purchase. The stream was shallow, though, and she was soon pushing against the bottom and forcing herself back up into the world above. She toppled over backwards, her lungs seething.

She lay there for a time, hacking out the contents of the stream all over her drenched tunic and leathers. Her hair was plastered all across her face, and the top half of her was soaked through to the skin. She swiped a trembling hand back at the rampant locks, and turned her head to one side. Two large black eyes stared back at her.

She screamed … or tried to. All that came out instead was more hacking as water still stuck in her throat. And then the Gnoll started to move.

She could have almost hoped the thing was finally dead after all that, but then its one arm started to move slowly. She didn't have the strength to move herself anymore, as much as she needed it. And the irony of it all was not lost on her in those last few moments.

But the clawed hand didn't reach for her throat, or tear out her heart, or do anything to her just then. Instead it reached slowly down toward the beast's stomach.

It was lying on its back, its massive head turned toward her with its jaws parted wide and its tongue hanging out. Blood was pouring out of its throat and running down along the damp earth. Evelyn could only watch as that claw reached down into one of the holes she had punched through it. And then it did reach for her.

As much as she wanted to tear away, she couldn't. Her head was about the only thing she could move just then as she still lay there, coughing out her lungs, and she twisted that away, willing the rest of her body to do the same. But then she suddenly caught sight of steel sticking out of the mud just beside her. Fuller's dagger was stabbed deep there in the earth.

She wriggled one hand desperately over, crawling along the ground like a spider as if her fingers were its legs and her wrist the head. It took an eternity to reach the steel, and twice as long to slide the heavy blade back toward her. And then she was looking back over, lifting the dagger … only to meet claw hovering just over her skull.

She froze there for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut and hoping desperately that she would die before she heard her own skull crack. The last thing she would have wanted would be to leave the world with that maddening, sickening crack. But when it didn't come – when she felt the tip of a claw brush against her forehead … she opened her eyes.

The Gnoll wasn't staring at her anymore, instead it was intent upon her brow. She coughed still, emptying yet more water from her lungs, but still the thing managed to bring its trembling claw down along her skin. It left something trailing in its wake. She could feel it against her flesh.

It was only a few moments later that she realized that it was the beast's own blood.

When the thing finally finished, tracing its blood against her skin, it let its arm fall to the earth, all strength fleeing from it. It was only then that Eve caught sight of just what the beast was lying on, stretched out as haphazardly as it was. A rounded stone jutted out from the earth. The thing's back was bent around it.

The Gnoll chieftain caught her eyes for one more brief moment. And then it died. All Evelyn could do was lie there, staring, as she watched the life flee from it. And then she let her eyes close, fatigue finally claiming her.

Her sleep, as brief as it was, was peaceful … and sweet.