Jessi: Hello again people. I'm sorry for the three-month delay, I haven't abandoned you all yet, honest. But since this is the year I'll be taking my GCSE exams I seem to have less free time than before. I'll try to update as much as I can. Thanks by the way to the anonymous reviewer who got my lazy arse in gear.

Chel leapt over Vale's head, claws and fangs extended. The lizardman barreled into him and both tumbled to the floor, the reptillan warrior trying to draw his sword and Chel's claws seeking his opponent's eyes. The lizardman roared as two claws plunged into helmet slit and it slashed blindly out at Chel, tearing deep gouges in his face before the winged elf could snap its neck.

Other lizardmen were emerging from the undergrowth and both paladins had their swords and shields. Vale retreated back to stand by Kemi, who was whimpering. She may not have had her clerical spells but she had other magic at her disposal.

The young elf summoned her innate sorceress powers and sent a lightning bolt into the chest of one of their opponents. Sparks travelled across the armour as a charred corpse fell limply to the floor. Vale shuddered, cursing the lack of sleep she'd had these past two nights. She could also feel Chel's fatigue, knowing the effort that he was putting into helping the paladins.

She summoned a fireball next and threw it into a small wedge of lizardmen who were trying to break the even smaller line of the paladins and Chel. They scattered and her guardian quickly dispatched those half-caught in the blast.

Abruptly a growl sounded behind her and as she turned a tail struck a solid blow across her ribs. A sickening crack sounded as Vale was flung to the floor. The young elf strained to reach her weapon, waiting for the lizardman to finish her off.

Suprisingly the finishing blow never came. Instead the reptillan warrior seized the dark-haired Kemi by his bandaged wrists and hauled him onto its chain-mail clad back. With a roar the lizardman retreated with his struggling captive, the others following, melting into the forest.

"Ch-" Vale cried out as she tried to speak, knowing that at least one rib was broken. Chel, she used her telepathic link with the winged elf instead, please get him back.

If that is want you wish Vale, the winged elf's body shimmered and vanished. Vale smiled as one of the twins came to heal her,

Be careful.

Chel flew amoung the trees, his pale eyes searching for the band of lizardmen. It wasn't long before he saw the trampled grass and broken twigs that left a path that a blind man could follow.

It was maybe five mintues until Chel came across the lizardmen. They had halted in a clearing. Chel noted with a sense of grim satisfication that many were wounded and at least a third of the band had been left behind as corspes.

They were speaking to each other in their gutteral language, which Chel understood but no elven throat could ever hope to speak. He landed silently, wings folding behind his back. His long delicate fingers sprouted claws and fangs began to slide down past his bottom lip.

Kemi had been set down in the centre of the circle of lizardmen. He looked terrified, with good reason to be. His eyes rolled in their sockets, desperatly seeking a way out. One of the lizardmen saw this and grinned,

"No way out, soft-skin," he said in broken, hissing Commen. The reptillan warrior got to his feet and advanced towards Kemi, "T'Lady won't mind if you arrive a little cut up and I'm bored." He branished a handful of curved claws and a slow, sadistic grin widened on its face.

The dark-haired elf scrambled to his feet, swaying like a drunken man. A cackle escaped the lizardman and he lunged... and missed. Chel's eyes widened as Kemi leapt for a break in the line, towards freedom.

Unfortuntly for the elf another lizardman seized his ankle and the pale elf hit the ground, his mouth forming a silent cry.

"Now, holds still soft-skin..." the lizardmen closed in and Chel's body tensed, ready to spring.

"What the-" a lizardman growled, confused. Chel strained to see. Abruptly blinding light shone from the centre of the huddle... where Kemi was. Chel's pupils narrowed to slits and the winged elf screamed along with the lizardmen as the light burnt at his eyes.

Then all the winged elf knew was blackness.