Chap 22- Skirmish with Giants -version 3.0 edited

Felicia-animal speaker

Ilkar- elven mage Julatsan refers to his style of casting*

Drizzt Do'urden- drow warrior

Lesil- minor character, a native of Calaius, tanned elf warrior

Serif- Fel and Ilkar's familiar can morph into different forms

Guen- panther of Drizzt

*According to barclay's world, mages are from 4 schools Julatsa, Xetesk, Lystern and Dordover. Calaius is like South America, hot tropical climate, humid ***************

one year later somewhere on Calaius remote islands

"Huge creature behind you, don't panic. I will lure it away," Drizzt spoke commandingly. Ilkar swore softly, not turning around to look. Both his feet were on sinking mud and he was fast losing the battle. An elf is naturally lightfooted so that prevented him from sinking as swiftly as a human would. He was clad in forest green tunic and leather. Another elf and Felicia were balanced on a tall tree above him. The other elf wore nothing but a leather tunic and had some native tattoos. She bent as much as she dared from her perch and stretched out her hand.

Ilkar flashed to why the hell they were here, confronted by dangerous reptiles? That native Lesil had been adamant they should take this path to find some of his lost tribe. Because of the honourable nature and kinship of elves, he didn't refuse. They were his friends so they agreed. Ilkar regretted not requesting for more help.

The creature was a giant reptilian lizard, as huge as an old rainforest tree. Who knew how many of its kind were coming? Its panting was hot behind him. His heart raced. Drizzt narrowed his eyes and tapped his sword on a bough. "Look here! Come!" he taunted, tossing a pebble on the lizard. Provoked, the reptile hissed, turning to face him and unfrilling its fringe. The spine was layered with spikes and inside, Drizzt saw the purple colored tongue. No teeth. He used himself as bait since its focus was now on him, and summoned Guen the panther. The panther appeared in a mist of smoke.

The reptile's yellow eyes dilated. Serif in the form of a dire wolf pounced from the left, while Guen did on the right. They raked its scaly body with claws and teeth. The drow rolled from its front legs striking, managing to stab its underside. The wounds healed. Damn!

The tail swished dangerously above the mage who was looking up.

A rope unravelled by the two above. Take it! The younger elf signed. Ilkar gripped the rope. The mud was fast going up his boots and calves. Now or never! His hands were sweating profusely. "Come on," Felicia urged tugging him up.

Serif and Guen were each flung in opposite directions. As paranormal animals, they both rolled up ready to continue the offensive. "The underbelly! Not the hide, it's impenetrable!" the dark elf shouted when they rushed forward.

The lizard batted him, because of his agility Drizzt did not take the full brunt but he was still stunned. Panting he watched through blurry vision while the wolf and panther hounded its undersides. At least it wouldn't go for Ilkar now…

Meanwhile the mage's hands were chafed from rope burn. The pair of them were relentlessly dragging him up. His feet were free of the ground but progress was painstakingly slow. Unused to physical exertion, Ilkar tired. He still had some mana left. "Never mind, let me drop. I have an idea!" He began to cast, concentrating hard.

"No! you're almost there!" she returned, one hand open. The branch she was on groaned. The native shook his head and uttered something in elvish. "Shit Lesil help me! Ilkar now!"

The levitation would last approximately few seconds, he hoped to reach the tree top level. The rope burn on his palms ached and a migraine was building. The Julatsan breathed in, tuning out the surroundings. He floated.

Drizzt made a Darkness globe over the lizard's head. People would see a black bubble over it and the reptile screeched, charging blindly. Serif snarled, snapping. Then he dug in as much as he could with Twinkle with its fire and the other scimitar's cold fire.

Lesil grabbed Felicia's waist while she stretched to her utmost. He prayed to Cefu god of the canopy that the trees would protect them. Ilkar opened his eyes now. Their hands about to touch, he risked moving one hand from the casting. Just as her fingertips brushed his, the levitation failed and he swooned. "No!" vaguely he heard people shouting. Drizzt watched in horror.

The mage expected to hit the forest ground. His vision went white, black and then stabilized. View of the dappled sunlight and tree leaves. What? He found that he was suspended in mid air. Gods I'm not dead, and am intact, but why? Inhaling deeply to slow down his pulsing heartrate, Ilkar assessed the situation. Around was the call of insects and dappled foliage, and blinking, his snowflake-tinted vision eased. He wanted to get up but something fast had latched firmly on his legs. So Ilkar tried to move his arms. A new wave of panic washed through him. His first reaction was to scream, but that might attract the attention of an arachne. It must have spun an ancient gigantic Web.

Too long had he been away from his native forests, for the mage had been staying with humans. Some of the elders had spoken of unspeakable mythical creatures that were carnivores and their prey was not just limited to wild animals like deer and cattle.

The lizard shook off the dark globe and prepared to launch its long tongue. But the three below did not allow distraction. Guen roared and tore her claws into one of its eyes.

It shook its head vigorously to dislodge. Drizzt smiled and sliding underneath furiously attacked the underbelly. Green fluid splashed out, and the lizard's legs gave out. He winced as some of the blood burned his bared skin. Felicia assessed these. Ah they were able to connect by the Blue Rings! Why didn't she think of it before? Shouting would agitate the lizard, sensitive to sound.

Forgot to mention its blood is acid. Don't let it hit you, Drizzt!

Thanks. Could have told me earlier. I'm fine, help Ilkar! He sounded sarcastic but she couldn't tell his expression. Ok. The fair elven mage was stuck in this giant invisible web. It had saved him for now, but the owner of the web would return soon.

Ilkar struggled. He could not help it, the prospect of being devoured by spiders was horrifying! More of the powerful silk adhered to his clothing. Lesil shouted, in their tongue, " Moving will attract the female Arachne! Stop we're coming!"

Ilkar don't move. We're coming to cut you loose, Felicia said loudly.

I know. I can't. Go for help. I'm tired, he replied. His feet were both glued and only his head was free of the web. Lesil instructed in broken common which strands not to step on as they navigated to him. She didn't want to listen, it was his fault! She wouldn't forgive herself if he got hurt. "We must not…. spider come soon. Listen, don't make mistake."

Lesil reached him first and producing a knife, sawed at the part holding Ilkar's legs. Soon he could move one leg and mouthed- hand. Fel reached his other side and clasped his hand. They smiled. "Almost out." She encouraged.

Below, the lizard was now lying down, still. Drizzt caught his breath, mentally storing away his pain as a trained warrior. He just noticed his left hand was cut. He didn't take his eyes off the fallen creature, it was still breathing. As Drizzt was binding his hand, Guen growled. Serif howled, it was stirring once more. The wide eyes opened. "Felicia sing to it! Use your magic," Ilkar said, not able to look down. His hazels were determined, fearless now.

She had doubts if she could calm it down from here. So far she had only been able to charm small animals up close, like mice or birds into showing their mind-pictures of what she needed or where they had run to. During a moment of enthusiasm, she could summon owls and mice to attack their enemies. And that had been easy, for the animals were more able to bond.

This creature was angry, hungry and hostile. Felicia inhaled sharply. Go back to where your home is, she hummed, palm out in concentration, reaching out mentally to the creature. Now blinded by slashes, it hissed and swished its tail. Serif growled, planting himself in front of Drizzt to protect him. Lifting its head, the lizard sniffled loudly and the tip of its poisonous tongue slipped out to taste the air. Yes you understand me friend. We mean no harm. Go home. The language of the song was not coherent to the other companions, but Felicia instinctively had perfect control of the pitch and frequency. She smiled as the reptile ambled away in the opposite direction. Can't believe my Gift worked from this height, and it means I don't just reach out to small animals, but even aggressive predators. However, it was dangerous to disrupt a Spell and she continued intoning the same tune until her breath was out.

Lesil had finished removing the last of the sticky webbing from Ilkar's right hand. He supported Ilkar to stand and motioned to follow him, stepping on the non-sticky strings. The native could see what the rest could not.

Drizzt dismissed Guen back to the astral plains. He noticed the sky's golden rays had receded. "Come boy." Serif's tongue hung out and his tail wagged happily. He butted his leg gently.

When they had successfully climbed down onto stable ground, Felicia hugged Ilkar tightly. "I'm fine, you did well there. You didn't even need training," he said, stroking her hair.

She blinked back tears. "I can't lose anyone else, not in this place." Everyone pointedly ignored Lesil. After all he had insisted they travel by here to find his lost people. Lesil spoke sharply in elvish, and the dialect was only understood by Ilkar. The mage sighed and shook his head. "We cannot go on now, we're all tired. The sensible thing would be to wait till daybreaks tomorrow."

"No we cannot wait, my sister is among the lost elves! I read the signs, they were last here!" Lesil snapped. Then he relented, since they were helping him. "I regret the dangers. Tell them, Sorceror."

To Fel and Drizzt they were nattering. Sighing Ilkar translated, "I said we need to rest now it's too dark. Now he says his sister is lost too and he wants to continue."

"But that's crazy! No way, we don't take orders from him, he's not experienced at all!" she burst out. Only Drizzt was calm and observed the restless native. "He wants our help, he's got to be patient." She glared at Lesil. The native swallowed. He did like the girl but she seemed to have concern for the sorcerer. "We're not going anywhere you asshole! Drizzt let us see to your wounds."

The dark elf showed her his acid burns. She healed the smaller cuts immediately, whispering. Lesil protested as they settled down and Serif retrieved their packs. Ilkar immediately went to sleep as soon as he finished some food. Drizzt covered him with a cloak and stared at the native, who flinched. He tried to show that he was worried and neutral. Drizzt intimidated him, when he said something rude, the ranger could not understand their elvish dialect but he showed no concern or panic of his words.

Drizzt said in Common, "It was a real danger. You need to calm down. That you should be able to understand. We set off when we are rested, otherwise it's suicide."

Lesil scowled. Of course they weren't panicking, it was not Their families gone missing.