Chronicles of Akhani - 13 - Enter Sand Dragon
Akhani crumpled down to the sand below. No black smoke rose from him unconscious body, so Zhorovna knew that the evil spirits were still inside of him. And, with that, she knew that her battle was just beginning.
Zhorovna carefully assessed the situation, and determined that it did not make sense to stand ready for combat. Likewise, she thought it wise to retain a weapon of her own from that moment on. Her assessment would prove correct sooner than she would expect.
Within Akhani’s stash, Zhorovna had found a bundle of rope. After a short inner debate, she bound Akhani’s hands and feet. Doing so was risky, both to their relationship and in the instance that any enemy would happen upon their camp. However, it needed to be done for her own safety.
While gathering up all the essential items of the camp, the sack of mushrooms caught Zhorovna’s eye. Hesitating for just a moment, she wondered just how valuable those mushrooms would be. Would the added weight be worth it to them? Her hand stopped short of grabbing the sack when she heard a deafening shriek.
The ground below her feet shook causing her feet to slowly sink into the sand. Looking up, she saw a large insect-like creature standing at the top of the northern dune. The creature had wings that were wide and translucent. The skin was the shade of the sand mixed with black and gold in diamond patterns. Its arms stretched nearly as wide as its wings and, in place of hands, had two crab-like claws. A scorpion-like stinger sat at the end of a long, thin tail. Pitch black eyes on the front of its head were all pupil and though the gaze was unidentifiable, Zhorovna knew it was staring right at her.
Zhorovna gripped her newly acquired sword and attempted to shift into a defensive stance only to realize that she was unable to move. She had sunk so deep into the sand from the quaking ground that it was impossible for her to lift her feet.
Dropping her weapon, she frantically dug the sand that had engulfed her feet. Sweat poured down her face and soaked her hair as she scooped each heavy handful of sand away from herself. Her heart pounded and she glanced up only to find what she feared most.
The creature was walking towards her on its large lizard-like hind legs. Poison gathered in beads that dropped from fell from its fangs. Pulling back its head into its body, it let out another blood curdling shriek towards Zhorovna who was at last freeing her feet from the sands.
Grabbing her sword, she darted behind an acai palm for protection. She wondered to herself, could this be a sand dragon? Did my binding of Akhani inadvertently summon the foul creature? Were the evil spirits that powerful already? She asked herself these questions with her heart pounding furiously within her chest.
When Zhorovna poked her head from behind the palm, she couldn't believe her eyes. Looming over her companion, the sinister wretch was inhaling black smoke that rose from Akhani. It became clear that the spirits were transferring themselves to the more powerful host. Zhorovna knew that if she did not act fast, it would be impossible for her to drive the beast off.
Sprinting from her hiding spot, she quickly closed the gap. Still preoccupied with the transfer, the dragon did not lift its head. Leaping towards the fiend with sword at the ready, Zhorovna made the only battle cry that she knew.
“FOR THE FATHERS!” she bellowed while sailing through the air.
A blinding light sprang forth from her blade as she uttered these words. Simultaneously, a black cloud engulfed the dragon. An inferno blazed where smoke and light met. A blast was felt only by the two foes, and they were both knocked backwards into the sands. The blast shook Akhani back to consciousness.
Bound and unable to move, Akhani looked around in confusion. After scanning his surroundings, he realized that Zhorovna was in the midst of a battle with a sand dragon and, somehow, he was hogtied on the ground. His heart had never felt so conflicted in his life.
His heart screamed for him to help Zhorovna, but something else, more powerful than his heart, held his tongue. Thrashing bodily, his inner war raged. His teeth ground as his bond with Zhorovna was being thrown into question. Like a newborn screaming at the first gasp of air, Akhani let forth his cry.
“GRAB MY KNIFE!” rang Akhani’s voice triumphantly.
Zhorovna pulled the ceremonial blade from her belt which shone with a deep azure radiance. She gathered all of her heart towards prayer as she made one more charge towards the beast.
As her prayers became more focused, the light from the blade became more true. Utterly engulfed in a sea of blue light, the dragon no longer could see Zhorovna. Striking hard into the head of the vile creature, sparks flew into the surrounding air. The dragon’s shriek became a whimper.
Tears of joy ran down Akhani’s face as he witnessed Zhorovna pull the blade from the fallen dragon. His only concern upon awakening was for the safety of his companion. The outcome of the battle seemed improbable to him. He had never seen any other being, besides his fellow Xotokians, slay a sand dragon. Something within him knew that Zhorovna was not alone in that battle.
Likewise, something in Zhorovna knew that Akhani could be trusted once more. With some hesitation in her actions, she freed her friend and gave him back his blade. Something in the way that they looked at each other in that moment let both know that trust could reenter the relationship.
“We must go. It’s no longer safe here,” Zhorovna stated as she gestured towards the gathered supplies.
“I know,” Akhani replied with his eyes fixed upon the slain dragon. "Nowhere is safe."
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