The cold lake greeted my falling body as a ravenous vampire, leaching out the heat from my bones.
Sorry, I'm wasn't good enough.
As my eyes closed and tried to go quietly into the night…
huddled, naked, BROKEN

My eyes snapped open and saw moonlight casting rays into my soon to be grave.
nailed, de-winged

I looked to my battered hand.
Name's Toot Toot.

And even underwater I knew I was crying.
And unbrielded shame filled me. Tha' be quitters' talk.
Then wrath.

I used that burning rage and willed the water to get outta my goddamned way.
My body was spat by the river and in turn, I spat the water out my lungs.

The thunderous beat of hooves heralded my girl was coming. Raised my eyes and saw her, in all her primal glory. Burning hooves touching the water, spurting geisers of steam. Her powerful strides sending waves across the lake.
Grandson, Nessie ain't a flaming horse. She be horse shaped Fire!

The wind howled harsher than never before, assaulting my ears and making impossible to talk.
But no words were necessary.
Meet her burning eyes with my own. And nodded.
She picked up the peace.
I extended my left arm.
She passed by my side and I got back into the saddle.

No blowgun. No machete. No more ammo. As soon as despair's icy grip started to claim my resolve, one of gramps' missions came to fore.

I grabbed the lasso strapped to the saddle and the beginnings of a crazy idea blossomed.
Tied one end on the saddle and as the train came in reaching distance, I stood up on my stirrups.

-"Yess! Misssstressss will be happy! Misssstressss lovess new toyss!" Gollum's beefier brother perched on the wagon busted window.

I swinged the lasso and my months of farm's work shone true. Nessie hit the pedal to the metal and run. Stars and stones, did she run. The train wagons were left behind as she pushed the limits. I could see burning sweat pouring out her frame, shining in the night.
When we overtook the machine, she jumped onto the train tracks.
And I zipped the rope with a well applied drill spell.

The chimera rolled by momentum "MAV-"
And metric tonnes of steel proved that Sir Isaac Newton is ruthless.

"Easy girl, eeeeasy." Nessie took lungfuls of air, I could feel her hammering heart racing.
The train gained on us and I jumped on it. Nessie started to breathe easier without a soaking wet wizard dragging her down.

Took a few minutes until I found the brake. Slowly, as if my life depended on it, started pulling the lever.
The train lurched and the momentum dragged the screeching wheels forward. After an eternity, it came to a halt.

I looked around for a weapon and only found an axe. My mind was tired, my body was bone tired. For the very life of me, I couldn't cast a being fully visible, kicked the last closed door open.

And found a stone table with an angry werewolf chained to it.

I raised my axe and prepared to kill the last chimera. My foot caught on something and I fell on my face.

The were-chimera snapped its jaws on the air, eager to rip me apart.

I scuttled backwards, putting a healthy distance between the squishy wizard and the ball of murder. I checked my boots, a golden chain twisted around. I pulled it and a locket fell off.
Took it and lighted a small flame.
The pictures of two lovers sharing a hug. On the other face it said For my pet. Love, Paula.

My jaw became unhinged.
Looked to the were-chimera.
To the locket.
To the stone table. There were runic sigils, partially covered by a ripped dress.

"Bianca?"

Whines filled the eerie silent wagon, the receding storm giving us respite.

"I will free you. Let me open those chains."
She lunged at me.

"WHATSWRONGWITHYOU?" I checked my hand. Still five fingers. "Don't you want to get outta here? See her again?"

In that lonely wagon, I saw a Vampire cry.

I looked to her bindings. Firmly anchored to the stone slab. Took a swing against it and sparks flied out.

-"Leeeev...leeeeeve meee. Leeeve me…..dieeee." And she looked into the East. Where the promise of a new day shone below the horizon.

"Tha' be quitters' talk." And raised my axe again.