2nd of Mirtul:

Yesterday morning we left Carnath and found the undead horde by late afternoon. More than two dozen zombies were coming towards us from up the road! We quickly discussed our plan of attack and then split into groups of four. Adrala and Israel went with two guards around to their left. Elisha and Yukouth went with two other guards around to the right. Swift and I, along with Captain Gerryl Ironkind and guard Nalra Wildbrow headed straight towards them.

Swift shifted into his weretiger form as we advanced toward the hoard. I heard the guard next to me gasp slightly. I turned and gave them a reassuring smile and readjusted my grip on my mace. Nalra smiled back and took a firmer grip on their hand axe.

I knew the others were circling around to flank the zombies, and from my left, I saw three magical darts and two hand axes fly into the hoard. I heard the sounds of battle to my right and pictured Elisha attacking, always on the move, never staying in one place.

Swift's sword blocks a zombie attack on me, bringing my attention back to the battle in front of me.

Gerryl took a beating from a zombie attack, knocking the wind out of him. And before he could catch his breath another zombie rushed out of the mob, almost straight at him. The creature just missed as it ran right past Gerryl.

I've never seen one move so fast!

Swift growled showing his menacing teeth, and rapidly attacked the three zombies closest to us, only just missing the one in front of me.

I held out my badge of Kelemvor and shouted "Cinnos!" Two of the zombies were hit with my radiant light. The one between Swift and I struggled to stand.

I could just make out the two guards with us working together to chop the undead with their handaxes.

From my left, I heard one of the guard's distraught cry, "Garrus!" And then I saw lighting erupt around a zombie.

"Thanks!" Israel called out.

Adrala responds with, "You OK, if I move up?"

I didn't hear Israel reply because I watched as Nalra crumpled to the ground from a zombie's attack. And then the captain fell to his knee, when the zombie rushed him again, clawing through his armor.

I cried out, "Midir!" and a flash of light streaked towards the zombie near me bursting it apart.

Then I took a calming breath and prayed to Kelemvar, "Spare Nalra, a fighter of your cause." And I could tell the guard was stable, for now.

Next to me Swift turned to the captain and encouraged him, "Gerryl, focus on my voice. You can make it through this. You must stand." And the man rallied back to his feet.

The battle from my right had sounded like it was going well, but then I heard Yukouth exclaim in anguish, "Jinnip! Not you!"

Then Elisha cried out, "Yukouth, wait! Let me help you!"

"I must avenge her!" Yukouth called back.

My attention was drawn from the fight around me when I heard the sound of a zombie bursting apart and Yukouth's scream of pain before he suddenly went silent.

Swift saved me from another attack when I turned and saw my beloved companion lying still, the poison spewed from the zombie still sizzled on his armor.

"NO!" I screamed and I felt light erupt from deep within me, pouring out of my whole body. I ran towards Yukouth and fell to the ground next to him. The pain I experienced from the burst of radiant light was nothing compared to the pain in my heart seeing my fallen friend.

"Zira! What are you doing!?" Swift exclaimed. He quickly dispatched the two zombies he had been fighting and raced after me.

Later I found out, that Swift had to shield his eyes to get close to me and winced in pain from the light radiating out of me.

I felt him put his hand on my arm, and he spoke softly, "Zira, I need you to listen to me. You're hurting yourself and everyone around you. Please Zira, take control of the light. We need you."

But it was no use, in that moment I was lost in my grief.

"Kelemvor. Marat. Please one of you help her." I heard Swift pray.

I was pulled back to the battle when a guard cried out in pain and fear, "Dumathoin, save us!"

I looked up and saw three dead guards had risen as zombies and were attacking the others. Elisha was standing protectively over one of the guards fighting off a zombie and one of the newly risen zombie guards. I stood up and moved closer to them holding out my badge of Kelemvor. I focussed the light from within into my spell and radiant light dropped the zombie.

Then I knelt down, touched the guard, and prayed, "Kelemvor heal your warrior's wounds."

The guard looked up at me in awe, their face a glow from my light, "Thank you."

The light faded away and I collapsed to the ground exhausted. Before my eyes closed, I saw a cone of flames, from across the battlefield, char the few remaining zombies to ash.

When I came to, I saw Israel and a very beaten up Adrala tending the campfire. And Swift was bandaging up Elisha. The two conscious guards were sitting on their bedrolls dumbfounded.

"She's awake!" Adrala called to the others and she brought me over a canteen of water.

Israel helped steady me as I sat up and took the canteen.

"Zira you were glowing!" Adrala said in awe, "And your skin still has a slight glow to it."

"I don't know how it happened. I saw Yukouth go down, and something inside me just burst." I turned to Swift, "I'm sorry I hurt you. I had no control, but I think I could learn to control it."

"I'm just glad you're alright Zira," Swift said.

"We checked the zombie bodies for Eldora's mark, but they only had Velsharoon's symbol. At least we know she didn't send them after us. And then we burned them," Elisha said.

"We didn't burn the bodies of the guards or Yukouth. I'm hoping your god can help make sure Yukouth doesn't rise like the others so we can get all their bodies back to Thornhold," Israel said and put his arm around Adrala as she started to cry.

"I just can't believe they're gone," Adrala said through sobs.

I leaned over and hugged her, "I will personally give them a proper funeral when we return to Thornhold. And I will ask Kelevmor's assistance to keep Yukouth from becoming one of those abominations."

I went over to Yukouth and the other corpses, set a copper coin on each of their eyes, and prayed to Kelemvor, "Help your warriors' essences find their way along on their next journey. And keep their bodies safe from undeath."

After the simple ritual, I tended to everyone's wounds, using my magic one last time to heal Gramnam who was unconscious and had the most severe injuries. Swift cooked us a simple meal and I was happy to see color return to Nalra and Brallela faces as they ate. After a quiet meal, everyone retired to their sleeping rolls.

Swift and I took the first watch, which has given me a moment to write. I know when we return to Thornhold I must speak with each guard's family, so they know their loved one was important to me and the cause. I feel numb and responsible for our situation. Not a one of us left this battle unscathed.

I looked across the fire and had a moment of Deja Vu. In the firelight, Yukoth looked like he was lying on his bedding, just like he did in my dream.

Z

I really struggled writing this one. There was a lot going on in the battle, but I only had Zira's eyes and ears to show it with. I'm pretty happy with how it finally turned out. :)