Chaos erupted around the riders. The Death Eaters were everywhere! They all
doubled back to protect the fortress entrance and their injured comrade
inside. Lyle's eyes are open wide in astonishment.
"What's wrong!?" Cota yells over the sound of the firing and explosions; hoping Lyle is not hurt.
"It's not like a game" Lyle stutters. "They told me it was like playing quiditch, you had to strategize, but it's nothing like that"
'No!' Cota's mind screams. He had found the flaw in Lyle's perfect personality. Lyle was born for the pressure and excitement of a game. This came as somewhat of a shock to his system. He knew that he would loose and there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing.
"Keep it together, Lyle" Sandra calls. "You are the team captain in my book" She knew how to snap him out of it. However, Lyle simply nodded and blinked, clearing the glazed look on his eyes. Cota saw the Death Eaters everywhere he looked. The riders were constantly casting shields and did not have anytime to attack. Cota looked out and saw the horrible condition that Paula was in. She moaned and grabbed her bleeding shoulder. She had to get out or at least somewhere safer, somewhere away from the debris and heat of the spells.
"Lyle, Sandra!" Cota called out. "Can you guys cover for a while?" He asks.
Lyle glared at him. "Don't be a hero!" He lectures.
"She's gonna die Lyle! No one is watching that cares who the hero is! There isn't a star player!" Cota retaliates.
"Go ahead and do whatever plan you have, Cota. We can hold 'em for a bit" Sandra instructs.
"D'ya think we can?" Foramier asks.
"We can hold for one" Zalik states, he looks in Cota's eyes, he knows that Cota is the best choice because they were the ones that had been taught the shield spells, he only knew one.
"Get her out of here Cota, I'll cover you!" Trevor states, his eyes burning the truth in his words.
Cota jumps off Pat, spins around, and retreats into the fortress. "Quick! They are advancing!" Sandra yells. He hurries over to Paula.
"Come on, I'm getting you out of here" He explains.
"No, don't bother. It's my fault for being stupid" She states.
"No one knew they were going to counter attack, it's not your fault" Cota protests.
"But why me? Why did it have to be me instead of someone strong like Sandra, why not her. I feel like a complete wuss" Paula mumbles.
"You're not a wuss, a wuss wouldn't have come. You came and you fought, now it's time to retreat and fight another day" Cota states, pulling her to her feet.
He hauls her out and onto Pat. Daisy will follow. Cota sits behind her with his hands around her waists, holding the reins. He waits only a few brief seconds, and receives a 'be careful' look from Zalik.
"I'll come back" Cota assures them.
"Bring some reinforcements 'eh" Foramier says.
Cota flashes a smile and quickly charges forward toward the enemy. Trevor follows through his promise and begins rapid cover fire. Cota blasts through and toward the hill. Pat strides up it, legs pumping hard on the ground. Cota barely dodges the attacks and gets up the hill. Letting out a brief sigh of relief as Pat starts over the hill, and then he is hit. The attack grazes his shoulder and blood splatters, creating a mist of sparkling blood. It felt like a freezing cold knife. And he clenches his teeth together lest he scare Paula. They reached the top of the hill with barely anymore then their lives. Daisy soon follows and Paula mounts her. They start riding toward the academy, eager to get reinforcements. Then, suddenly a shrill, high-pitched, scream of agony arises over the hill. Cota stops and turns around. Paula watches as if in a dream, a strange mist surrounds Cota and his eyes shine through, sad and heroic.
"No" She whispers, already knowing what he is going to say.
"Go, go to the academy, and get reinforcements. I can't leave" He states and heads back toward the hill. "We need every one that can fight to do so"
"No!" Paula barks and turns to follow him. Cota simply looks back at her. His eyes mystical, brave and strong, their gaze alone makes her stop. He does not say anything, simply turns back to the hill and rides.
"I'll get help! I promise" She calls after him.
Cota strokes Pat's neck as they ride down the path for a side attack. Cota can see the turmoil. He spurres pat who rears up and then shoots forward like a cannon. They became a blur and Cota raises his sword. A blue light surrounds it and he speeds faster toward the fortress. Cota swings the sword skillfully at the closest Death Eater and nails him, then rides on to help his teammates. The Death Eaters weren't expecting a side attack. The moon isn't the only source of light, the attacks light up the sky. Cota can't see anyone's face or details just colors. Yet, that is enough. He sees Trevor and Foramier fighting to the west. Lyle and Sandra to the east and Zalik, alone on the north. He is able to confuse the front line of Death Eaters enough that his teammates can get a better defense up.
"That was quick" Zalik states as Cota came to a halt beside him.
"Sorry" Cota apologizes.
"Don't be, you may have just bought us another hour" Zalik states and whips his chain scythe out at an attack.
"Right, wands out do you think?" Foramier says as three more Death Eater's appear.
Lyle nodes. They'd fight armed to the teeth; each rider holds their weapon in one hand, wand in the other and had many weapons among their outfits to use if necessary. Cota grippes his sword as the Death Eater's advance.
Paula gallops at full stride, leaning forward and urging her horse on faster. She has to reach the academy, she must, or everyone will die! Daisy trudges on and Paula can see the mist of the horse's breath. Ignoring the pain, she jumps over a fallen tree branch. She slides to a halt as a figure appears infront of her.
"G-get out of the way!" Paula gasps as the tries to force the pain out of her mind. "I'm in a hurry...MOVE!" The figure raises his wand and smiles, it's a Death Eater. Paula reaches for her staff.
"I don't think you want to do that" The Death Eater warns her. "Now, get off the horse"
Paula hesitates, she might be able to grab her wand, but at what cost. The Death Eater starts a spell and Paula gets off Daisy. The man walks forward, still pointing his wand at her.
"Put your hands on your head and turn around" He commands.
Paula follows the order and he grabs her staff and wand. She feels herself shaking with fear and tries to push it away. The Death Eater grabs her hands and yanks them behind her back. He ties them and pushed her to the ground. A smile forms on his face, he grabs her arm and hauls her over against a tree and ties her to it.
"There now. That should prevent you from doing something stupid, for the time being" He states, lips curling.
"Daisy, go get reinforcements, now!" Paula commands and is hit in the face by the Death Eater.
Daisy rears and turns, barely grabbed by the man. He holds the reins tightly and pulls.
"Go!" Paula urges.
Daisy rears again, knocking the man down and gallops out of reach. The Death Eater grabs a hold of Paula's hair and puts a knife to her throat.
"Your horse is supposed to be so loyal; lets see if it lets you die" He grins.
Daisy stops, knowing her owner's danger by the aura radiating off of her. The horse hesitates unsure of what to do. The Death Eater presses the steel harder against Paula's throat. Daisy slowly walks back and is grabbed by the man and the reins are tied to another tree. He gags Paula and gives her an evil glare that sends shivers up her spine.
"Lord Voldemort likes to have a hostage in order to get a few... favors... from who ever is opposing him, thanks for bein a volunteer" The man grins cockily.
'T-that means...that, that.... he'll kill everyone else!' Paula's eyes widen as the realization kicked in, she struggles and pulls against the ropes, but to no avail. They are too tight and where was she going to go anyway? He was standing right next to her. Yet she had to try! She couldn't just let them be killed! She twists and fights, but the ropes are too strong. The man smiles and kneels, putting his face only inches from her's. Paula continues to fight, not caring what he does, just caring that she needs to get help. However, he doesn't do any of the things she expects him to, he simply laughs. He kicks at him and he laughs harder, grabbing her feet and begins tying them together. He finished and stands up again, looming over and putts a hand on her shoulder. The touch makes her freeze and quit fighting.
"Can you hear it?" He asked. "That is the sound of your friends dying"
The massacre continues. The riders were forced from the fortress and were completely surrounded, but no one was ready to give up yet. No one was left uninjured. Lyle's arm was tied up with Sandra's scarf, posing as a sling; Trevor had cuts all over him and a deep burn on his leg. Foramier had a broken arm, a cut in his torso and had been poisoned, Zalik had a patch over his eye, made from foramier's bandana, and blood was running off his leg and down to the ground, he had a burn mark on his arm too. Sandra had also been poisoned and is covered in cuts and bruises. Cota has a broken rib, a cut on his forehead, spilling blood over his face and he was sure his right leg was broken. The Death Eaters, however, looked surprised by the small number of people opposing them. Foramier is hit with a lightning attack that shoots him off his horse. He lands on the ground a few feet from the Death Eaters, face down. Cota bounds forward, unwilling to watch a teammate die. He puts himself between the Death Eater's and Foramier. Swinging his sword enough to block their attacks. When they take a break in attacks, he wields his sword.
"Ignis!" He calls and fire shoots from his sword and hits a number of the enemy. "Foramier! Get up!" Cota begs, not knowing how much longer he could hold them back.
Foramier doesn't not move; he doesn't even seem to breathe. His clothes are not the cheery bright colors of when this started; they are burnt and covered in dust and soot. Zalik comes around beside Cota and Lyle jumps down to help Foramier. The enemy took this to their advantage and broke the riders into groups of two's. Each group lost sight of each other as the enemy's created barriers of fire. Cota looked at Zalik, the fire blocked their exits, and the smoke choked them and stung their eyes. The Death Eaters simply retreat; they'd shoot anyone trying to get out of the fire. The fire blazed and Cota found it to be pitch black. It wasn't as bright as he had imagined at all, it was dark, hot, and hard to breath. He couldn't see Zalik beside him anymore. They both drew their wands. Trying every extinguishing spell and water element spell, they knew, but the fire was too big for two people. The horses moved around nervously, the hot ground sending pain up their legs.
"If we can get out we can help everyone else" Zalik stated.
"IF" Cota called back. He began coughing, and endless coughing that never ceased and burned his throat. His vision was foggy and his mind panics.
"We have to jump through!" Zalik yells.
"They'll attack" Cota coughs.
"Which death would be less painful?!" Zalik shouts.
"...On the count of three" Cota suggests, nervously.
"Nope, on the count of one.... ONE!" Zalik spurs Tanius and launched forward.
Cota can't talk with all the smoke in his lungs, but Pat knows what to do and charges forward.
Both horses leap gracefully out of the fire ring and quickly gallop west. They see the other fire ring and Zalik attacks the Death Eaters guarding it while Cota helps extinguish the flames.
"Zalik!" He chokes out after a few minutes. "I ca-"He starts coughing again. Zalik understands and takes over trying spells while Cota uses his sword on the enemy. When he fights, it seems more like a dance, a much- rehearsed dance where each movement leads to the next and everything is smooth, yet it can be changed just as smoothly. His sword creates a tone like a few keys on a piano while it sails through the air. A tone of speed and persistence. Zalik manages to lower the fire and the other riders jump through and they travel west again. This time Zalik and Cota fight while Sandra and Trevor douse the flames. Zalik is hit hard and drops from his horse. Cota rams his sword at the Death Eater, cutting him badly. The Death Eaters retreat for the time being and Cota jumps off Pat. He kneels next to Zalik.
"Zalik!" Cota yells.
Zalik slowly opens his eyes. They seem drawn back and far away.
"You have to get up" Cota states, trying to pull him to his feet.
"No, no" Zalik protests, his voice barely a whisper.
Blood seeps everywhere around him as he lay there on his back. Warm, sticky blood, flows from the wound in his side. It is too big to be healed quickly enough.
"C-come on" Cota smiles weakly. "You got to get up so you can go home and see your family and your fiancé"
Zalik laughs and a smile forms on his face. A light returns to his eyes and a soft sparkle joins it. "I can see them from here, thank you" He states.
Cota looks at him with confused eyes. He can easily tell how bad the injuries are, but... Zalik looks up at him.
"My family and fiancé live at Riverside cemetery" He states.
Cota shakes his head. "Get up" He begs.
"You know as well as I do that it wouldn't help" Zalik replies, moaning with pain. Cota watches as Zalik's eyes begin to close. "You have to go; everyone needs to run while there is still a chance. Especially you kid, get out before you... end up like me. I can see in your eyes that you got something wonderful worth living for"
Cota felt hot tears on his face, burning in his eyes and choking in his lungs. The Death Eaters retaliated, charging forward, the shots barely missed Cota as he moved to block them from hitting Zalik.
"Go, Cota!" Zalik demands, using the last of his strength to push Cota roughly toward Pat.
"Zalik!!!!" Cota cries out, his ears ring with a loud tone, his senses telling him to run. The Death Eaters appear from everywhere, surrounding them both.
"Any last requests?" One of the Death Eaters asks.
"Only that you burn in hell" Zalik replies bravely.
Cota watches in horror as they attack Zalik. "God no!!" Cota screams. 'Zalik can't move, can't fight, he's not a threat!' Cota's mind screamed this at them. 'Leave him alone he's no threat! He's no threat to you!' "He's no threat to you!!!" Cota screams, his mind jumping, trying to block this out, trying to somehow tell himself that they wouldn't kill a defenseless man who was no threat to them. However, before Cota can move they kill Zalik. Destroying him with a crushing blow. "God no" Cota cries, his voice breaking. "God no! Oh God no!! God NOOO!!!"
Tanius bites at Cota, forcing him to mount Pat. Tanius bites again. "Lyle!" Cota yells reluctantly. "We need go. Now!" Cota forces back tears and grits his teeth, his voice is sharp and screams of the pain he feels in his heart.
Lyle nods and Foramier, Sandra, and Trevor take off. Lyle in the lead with Cota close behind, he knew what Death Eater killed Zalik and he was going for revenge. He breaks apart from the group with Tanius following closely. He raises his sword to deal the lethal blow as the Death Eater prepares to attack. Yet, he stops the blade from killing and deals a paralyzing cut below the man's ribcage. Tanius snorts and Cota pulls the Death Eater onto Tanius's back after pulling off Zalik's saddle and leaving a blanket. The man was not respectable enough to touch Zalik's saddle or horse. Cota ties the Death Eater and climbs back onto Pat. The set off at a lope, eager to get out of the attack zone.
"What are ya doin'!" The Death Eater demands, lying on his stomach. "Why not jus' kill me an get it o'er with?!"
"I think it was best put as, I'd rather see you in Hell then go there myself" Cota spits back.
They charge forward and Sandra's horse stumbles when it is hit with a simply jelly-leg spell. Sandra falls and is quickly followed by Foramier. The Death Eater's circle them, dragging them back toward the fortress, back towards their deaths. Trevor turns with Cota to help them. Lyle follows, but has no choice except to turn back when he is attacked and hit with a nearly fatal wound. He charges over the hill unable to do anything except watch in horror as Cota is knocked off his horse and into a circle of Death Eaters. Trevor disappears and Foramier and Sandra are long out of sight.
"What's wrong!?" Cota yells over the sound of the firing and explosions; hoping Lyle is not hurt.
"It's not like a game" Lyle stutters. "They told me it was like playing quiditch, you had to strategize, but it's nothing like that"
'No!' Cota's mind screams. He had found the flaw in Lyle's perfect personality. Lyle was born for the pressure and excitement of a game. This came as somewhat of a shock to his system. He knew that he would loose and there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing.
"Keep it together, Lyle" Sandra calls. "You are the team captain in my book" She knew how to snap him out of it. However, Lyle simply nodded and blinked, clearing the glazed look on his eyes. Cota saw the Death Eaters everywhere he looked. The riders were constantly casting shields and did not have anytime to attack. Cota looked out and saw the horrible condition that Paula was in. She moaned and grabbed her bleeding shoulder. She had to get out or at least somewhere safer, somewhere away from the debris and heat of the spells.
"Lyle, Sandra!" Cota called out. "Can you guys cover for a while?" He asks.
Lyle glared at him. "Don't be a hero!" He lectures.
"She's gonna die Lyle! No one is watching that cares who the hero is! There isn't a star player!" Cota retaliates.
"Go ahead and do whatever plan you have, Cota. We can hold 'em for a bit" Sandra instructs.
"D'ya think we can?" Foramier asks.
"We can hold for one" Zalik states, he looks in Cota's eyes, he knows that Cota is the best choice because they were the ones that had been taught the shield spells, he only knew one.
"Get her out of here Cota, I'll cover you!" Trevor states, his eyes burning the truth in his words.
Cota jumps off Pat, spins around, and retreats into the fortress. "Quick! They are advancing!" Sandra yells. He hurries over to Paula.
"Come on, I'm getting you out of here" He explains.
"No, don't bother. It's my fault for being stupid" She states.
"No one knew they were going to counter attack, it's not your fault" Cota protests.
"But why me? Why did it have to be me instead of someone strong like Sandra, why not her. I feel like a complete wuss" Paula mumbles.
"You're not a wuss, a wuss wouldn't have come. You came and you fought, now it's time to retreat and fight another day" Cota states, pulling her to her feet.
He hauls her out and onto Pat. Daisy will follow. Cota sits behind her with his hands around her waists, holding the reins. He waits only a few brief seconds, and receives a 'be careful' look from Zalik.
"I'll come back" Cota assures them.
"Bring some reinforcements 'eh" Foramier says.
Cota flashes a smile and quickly charges forward toward the enemy. Trevor follows through his promise and begins rapid cover fire. Cota blasts through and toward the hill. Pat strides up it, legs pumping hard on the ground. Cota barely dodges the attacks and gets up the hill. Letting out a brief sigh of relief as Pat starts over the hill, and then he is hit. The attack grazes his shoulder and blood splatters, creating a mist of sparkling blood. It felt like a freezing cold knife. And he clenches his teeth together lest he scare Paula. They reached the top of the hill with barely anymore then their lives. Daisy soon follows and Paula mounts her. They start riding toward the academy, eager to get reinforcements. Then, suddenly a shrill, high-pitched, scream of agony arises over the hill. Cota stops and turns around. Paula watches as if in a dream, a strange mist surrounds Cota and his eyes shine through, sad and heroic.
"No" She whispers, already knowing what he is going to say.
"Go, go to the academy, and get reinforcements. I can't leave" He states and heads back toward the hill. "We need every one that can fight to do so"
"No!" Paula barks and turns to follow him. Cota simply looks back at her. His eyes mystical, brave and strong, their gaze alone makes her stop. He does not say anything, simply turns back to the hill and rides.
"I'll get help! I promise" She calls after him.
Cota strokes Pat's neck as they ride down the path for a side attack. Cota can see the turmoil. He spurres pat who rears up and then shoots forward like a cannon. They became a blur and Cota raises his sword. A blue light surrounds it and he speeds faster toward the fortress. Cota swings the sword skillfully at the closest Death Eater and nails him, then rides on to help his teammates. The Death Eaters weren't expecting a side attack. The moon isn't the only source of light, the attacks light up the sky. Cota can't see anyone's face or details just colors. Yet, that is enough. He sees Trevor and Foramier fighting to the west. Lyle and Sandra to the east and Zalik, alone on the north. He is able to confuse the front line of Death Eaters enough that his teammates can get a better defense up.
"That was quick" Zalik states as Cota came to a halt beside him.
"Sorry" Cota apologizes.
"Don't be, you may have just bought us another hour" Zalik states and whips his chain scythe out at an attack.
"Right, wands out do you think?" Foramier says as three more Death Eater's appear.
Lyle nodes. They'd fight armed to the teeth; each rider holds their weapon in one hand, wand in the other and had many weapons among their outfits to use if necessary. Cota grippes his sword as the Death Eater's advance.
Paula gallops at full stride, leaning forward and urging her horse on faster. She has to reach the academy, she must, or everyone will die! Daisy trudges on and Paula can see the mist of the horse's breath. Ignoring the pain, she jumps over a fallen tree branch. She slides to a halt as a figure appears infront of her.
"G-get out of the way!" Paula gasps as the tries to force the pain out of her mind. "I'm in a hurry...MOVE!" The figure raises his wand and smiles, it's a Death Eater. Paula reaches for her staff.
"I don't think you want to do that" The Death Eater warns her. "Now, get off the horse"
Paula hesitates, she might be able to grab her wand, but at what cost. The Death Eater starts a spell and Paula gets off Daisy. The man walks forward, still pointing his wand at her.
"Put your hands on your head and turn around" He commands.
Paula follows the order and he grabs her staff and wand. She feels herself shaking with fear and tries to push it away. The Death Eater grabs her hands and yanks them behind her back. He ties them and pushed her to the ground. A smile forms on his face, he grabs her arm and hauls her over against a tree and ties her to it.
"There now. That should prevent you from doing something stupid, for the time being" He states, lips curling.
"Daisy, go get reinforcements, now!" Paula commands and is hit in the face by the Death Eater.
Daisy rears and turns, barely grabbed by the man. He holds the reins tightly and pulls.
"Go!" Paula urges.
Daisy rears again, knocking the man down and gallops out of reach. The Death Eater grabs a hold of Paula's hair and puts a knife to her throat.
"Your horse is supposed to be so loyal; lets see if it lets you die" He grins.
Daisy stops, knowing her owner's danger by the aura radiating off of her. The horse hesitates unsure of what to do. The Death Eater presses the steel harder against Paula's throat. Daisy slowly walks back and is grabbed by the man and the reins are tied to another tree. He gags Paula and gives her an evil glare that sends shivers up her spine.
"Lord Voldemort likes to have a hostage in order to get a few... favors... from who ever is opposing him, thanks for bein a volunteer" The man grins cockily.
'T-that means...that, that.... he'll kill everyone else!' Paula's eyes widen as the realization kicked in, she struggles and pulls against the ropes, but to no avail. They are too tight and where was she going to go anyway? He was standing right next to her. Yet she had to try! She couldn't just let them be killed! She twists and fights, but the ropes are too strong. The man smiles and kneels, putting his face only inches from her's. Paula continues to fight, not caring what he does, just caring that she needs to get help. However, he doesn't do any of the things she expects him to, he simply laughs. He kicks at him and he laughs harder, grabbing her feet and begins tying them together. He finished and stands up again, looming over and putts a hand on her shoulder. The touch makes her freeze and quit fighting.
"Can you hear it?" He asked. "That is the sound of your friends dying"
The massacre continues. The riders were forced from the fortress and were completely surrounded, but no one was ready to give up yet. No one was left uninjured. Lyle's arm was tied up with Sandra's scarf, posing as a sling; Trevor had cuts all over him and a deep burn on his leg. Foramier had a broken arm, a cut in his torso and had been poisoned, Zalik had a patch over his eye, made from foramier's bandana, and blood was running off his leg and down to the ground, he had a burn mark on his arm too. Sandra had also been poisoned and is covered in cuts and bruises. Cota has a broken rib, a cut on his forehead, spilling blood over his face and he was sure his right leg was broken. The Death Eaters, however, looked surprised by the small number of people opposing them. Foramier is hit with a lightning attack that shoots him off his horse. He lands on the ground a few feet from the Death Eaters, face down. Cota bounds forward, unwilling to watch a teammate die. He puts himself between the Death Eater's and Foramier. Swinging his sword enough to block their attacks. When they take a break in attacks, he wields his sword.
"Ignis!" He calls and fire shoots from his sword and hits a number of the enemy. "Foramier! Get up!" Cota begs, not knowing how much longer he could hold them back.
Foramier doesn't not move; he doesn't even seem to breathe. His clothes are not the cheery bright colors of when this started; they are burnt and covered in dust and soot. Zalik comes around beside Cota and Lyle jumps down to help Foramier. The enemy took this to their advantage and broke the riders into groups of two's. Each group lost sight of each other as the enemy's created barriers of fire. Cota looked at Zalik, the fire blocked their exits, and the smoke choked them and stung their eyes. The Death Eaters simply retreat; they'd shoot anyone trying to get out of the fire. The fire blazed and Cota found it to be pitch black. It wasn't as bright as he had imagined at all, it was dark, hot, and hard to breath. He couldn't see Zalik beside him anymore. They both drew their wands. Trying every extinguishing spell and water element spell, they knew, but the fire was too big for two people. The horses moved around nervously, the hot ground sending pain up their legs.
"If we can get out we can help everyone else" Zalik stated.
"IF" Cota called back. He began coughing, and endless coughing that never ceased and burned his throat. His vision was foggy and his mind panics.
"We have to jump through!" Zalik yells.
"They'll attack" Cota coughs.
"Which death would be less painful?!" Zalik shouts.
"...On the count of three" Cota suggests, nervously.
"Nope, on the count of one.... ONE!" Zalik spurs Tanius and launched forward.
Cota can't talk with all the smoke in his lungs, but Pat knows what to do and charges forward.
Both horses leap gracefully out of the fire ring and quickly gallop west. They see the other fire ring and Zalik attacks the Death Eaters guarding it while Cota helps extinguish the flames.
"Zalik!" He chokes out after a few minutes. "I ca-"He starts coughing again. Zalik understands and takes over trying spells while Cota uses his sword on the enemy. When he fights, it seems more like a dance, a much- rehearsed dance where each movement leads to the next and everything is smooth, yet it can be changed just as smoothly. His sword creates a tone like a few keys on a piano while it sails through the air. A tone of speed and persistence. Zalik manages to lower the fire and the other riders jump through and they travel west again. This time Zalik and Cota fight while Sandra and Trevor douse the flames. Zalik is hit hard and drops from his horse. Cota rams his sword at the Death Eater, cutting him badly. The Death Eaters retreat for the time being and Cota jumps off Pat. He kneels next to Zalik.
"Zalik!" Cota yells.
Zalik slowly opens his eyes. They seem drawn back and far away.
"You have to get up" Cota states, trying to pull him to his feet.
"No, no" Zalik protests, his voice barely a whisper.
Blood seeps everywhere around him as he lay there on his back. Warm, sticky blood, flows from the wound in his side. It is too big to be healed quickly enough.
"C-come on" Cota smiles weakly. "You got to get up so you can go home and see your family and your fiancé"
Zalik laughs and a smile forms on his face. A light returns to his eyes and a soft sparkle joins it. "I can see them from here, thank you" He states.
Cota looks at him with confused eyes. He can easily tell how bad the injuries are, but... Zalik looks up at him.
"My family and fiancé live at Riverside cemetery" He states.
Cota shakes his head. "Get up" He begs.
"You know as well as I do that it wouldn't help" Zalik replies, moaning with pain. Cota watches as Zalik's eyes begin to close. "You have to go; everyone needs to run while there is still a chance. Especially you kid, get out before you... end up like me. I can see in your eyes that you got something wonderful worth living for"
Cota felt hot tears on his face, burning in his eyes and choking in his lungs. The Death Eaters retaliated, charging forward, the shots barely missed Cota as he moved to block them from hitting Zalik.
"Go, Cota!" Zalik demands, using the last of his strength to push Cota roughly toward Pat.
"Zalik!!!!" Cota cries out, his ears ring with a loud tone, his senses telling him to run. The Death Eaters appear from everywhere, surrounding them both.
"Any last requests?" One of the Death Eaters asks.
"Only that you burn in hell" Zalik replies bravely.
Cota watches in horror as they attack Zalik. "God no!!" Cota screams. 'Zalik can't move, can't fight, he's not a threat!' Cota's mind screamed this at them. 'Leave him alone he's no threat! He's no threat to you!' "He's no threat to you!!!" Cota screams, his mind jumping, trying to block this out, trying to somehow tell himself that they wouldn't kill a defenseless man who was no threat to them. However, before Cota can move they kill Zalik. Destroying him with a crushing blow. "God no" Cota cries, his voice breaking. "God no! Oh God no!! God NOOO!!!"
Tanius bites at Cota, forcing him to mount Pat. Tanius bites again. "Lyle!" Cota yells reluctantly. "We need go. Now!" Cota forces back tears and grits his teeth, his voice is sharp and screams of the pain he feels in his heart.
Lyle nods and Foramier, Sandra, and Trevor take off. Lyle in the lead with Cota close behind, he knew what Death Eater killed Zalik and he was going for revenge. He breaks apart from the group with Tanius following closely. He raises his sword to deal the lethal blow as the Death Eater prepares to attack. Yet, he stops the blade from killing and deals a paralyzing cut below the man's ribcage. Tanius snorts and Cota pulls the Death Eater onto Tanius's back after pulling off Zalik's saddle and leaving a blanket. The man was not respectable enough to touch Zalik's saddle or horse. Cota ties the Death Eater and climbs back onto Pat. The set off at a lope, eager to get out of the attack zone.
"What are ya doin'!" The Death Eater demands, lying on his stomach. "Why not jus' kill me an get it o'er with?!"
"I think it was best put as, I'd rather see you in Hell then go there myself" Cota spits back.
They charge forward and Sandra's horse stumbles when it is hit with a simply jelly-leg spell. Sandra falls and is quickly followed by Foramier. The Death Eater's circle them, dragging them back toward the fortress, back towards their deaths. Trevor turns with Cota to help them. Lyle follows, but has no choice except to turn back when he is attacked and hit with a nearly fatal wound. He charges over the hill unable to do anything except watch in horror as Cota is knocked off his horse and into a circle of Death Eaters. Trevor disappears and Foramier and Sandra are long out of sight.
