Gabriela and the Mad Dragon part 1 House of Thorns
Gabriela worked her way through the thick underbrush of thorns and thistle. Thankfully, she wore heavy clothing to keep her skin from being peeled from her body. Sweat poured down her face, her muscles ached, and her breath was labored. No one had come to this temple in more than a thousand years, the only reason she knew of it was because of Biba her contact in the criminal underbelly or Oshireth.
As a treasure hunter you have to always be looking for new adventures in long forgotten places. This had always been her dream to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Sometimes she was angry that she never came back from her last adventure. Leaving Gabriela in the care of the local church her mother sought out something called the Thorn palace, the place she herself now traveled to.
Maybe she would get her answers or maybe she would suffer the same fate as her mother. Either way this was the journey she needed to take in order to move on to the next one. Despite the thorns it was beautiful, there where flowers of every color bright with a slight luminescence. This drew many small birds like sparrows’ and hummingbirds, as well as many insects. Most of the bugs she had never seen before so she took a few to give to the entomologists back home. “Never squander a chance to make a new contact,” her mother always said.
After several long grueling hours in the brush she made it to a clearing with massive fortress gate. Heavy moss covered most of it except an oddly newish looking wooden door to the right. Gabriela cautiously made her way to the door, her ears seeking any sounds that might indicate danger. Kneeling down to check for any trip wires or traps attached to the door. She jiggles the handle, but It’s locked. She reaches into her satchel and plucks the lock picking set her mother left her to practice with all those years ago.
A few light turns of the tumblers and the lock gives way with a satisfying “Clink.” The door opens with a slight “eerr,” revealing a square room with furniture that seemed too small to belong, it was almost child sized. Moving over to a table that had been pushed into the corner Gabriela searches a stack of papers. They have sketches of hallways, rooms, what looks to be a grand hall.
“Put down my drawings!” came a high-pitched shriek. Startled she drops the papers on the floor. Standing in the doorway is a barley two-foot-tall humanoid woman with dirty brown hair. Her angry gray eyes could’ve blasted wholes through Gabriela. “I’m sorry I thought this place was abandoned,” she said to the small woman trying to sound more confident than she was.
“Well Clearly you were wrong. Now be on your travels sad one.”
Gabriela was taken back by her way of speaking. “Why would you call me sad one?”
“Because I can see your sadness. It sits there like a picture easily read is your way of being.”
“How can you possibly see that I’m not making any faces or anything.”
“My people can read the being of others much the same you read books.”
“My way of being?”
“How your feeling I recall your people say it.”
This whole interaction was starting to make Gabi fear the worst, but this was her only lead. She had to make the most of this opportunity. “I want to apologize, I didn’t mean to intrude on your home. It’s just that I’m looking for my mother and this place was where she said she was going. She looks like this.” And gabi pulls out a small locket with a picture of the two of them.
“She was here, but the angry one took her. I am all that remains no others like I live. I am the last I must write so that others will not befall our plight.”
“The angry one?”
“Yes, he’s is full of anger still flying across the sky sometimes. He only destroys, never helps. Others of his kind help, but he never does.”
“Where do I find this angry one?”
The woman regarded Gabriela with squinted eyes. Then lifts off a pendant and hands it to her. “This will light your way, keep it safe and it will do the same for you. Take the tunnels down below you will find what you seek.”
“Why would you help me?”
Now the woman’s face drooped, and shoulders gave way. Looking back up at Gabriela she says, “Because I am alone, and you are alone this makes us kin of a sort.”
Gabriela bends down and hugs the strange woman who hesitates at first but then reciprocates. With tears her eyes Gabi says, please be careful. If the angry one returns hide, or run, but just live and write about me in your history books.”
Gabi walks to the back the room where another door is. Behind it is a dark stairway leading to her destination were ever that may be. “one more thing, when you need the amulet to do something just think about it with purpose.” Gabi nods then heads down the stairs.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 2 Lurking eyes
Gabriela moved slowly down the stairway taking note of the pictograph carvings. Some are of what looks to be stories of hunters tracking down dragons and wyverns. Until coming to the end, there she sees a large Blue dragon that kills the hunters. She stops to look closer its eyes shimmer, two sharp protrusions shoot out from the wall one of them grazing her left cheek. she Falls backward against the wall and begins to tumble down into the darkness.
After rolling for a minute or two she stretches out her legs and arms, wedging her body in place. She can feel the skin where it has been scraped and bruised blood is dripping from her right elbow. Her heart beats like a drum and her lungs burn like she’s been running for a long distance. Gabriela strains as she swings herself around to sit up. Reaching into her satchel she pulls a small vile filled with a thick purple liquid. Popping the cork she drinks it down and her scrapes and bruises begin to heal.
“Well, that was close. Now let’s get moving Gaby,” She says to herself. Taking few minutes to pull her cloths and gear back into place she continues her trek down. After thirty minutes the stairs come to a domed landing with four other pathways. Searching the landing she finds more paintings though severely faded. Each doorway has its own painting next to it. The one on the furthest right has what looks to be a tangled ball of ropes or vines. The one next to it has something that looks like flowers but is so faded she can’t be sure. The third one is so far gone she can only see that they used very deep red paint.
The last one though Farley well preserved, it has a river with a man in a boat. “right well this is a bit of a pickle. Which way am I supposed to go?” Gabi rubs her temples then a small bit of light shot out from the pendant the old lady gave her. It shot a pin sized light beam into the tunnel with the man in the boat. “I guess this is the way.”
Just before she could step into the new pathway, she heard a soft. “sssss,” From behind her. Turning to see where it had come from, two red eyes appeared in the darkness from the tunnel marked with tangled ropes. Then two more, then more and more until there were five sets of red eyes staring at her from the darkness.
“Tell usss, who are you and what isss your business here?” The voice made her stomach feel like it was twisted in knots, she wanted to run but her feet would not obey her. It felt as if her body had been anchored to the ground.
“I am Gabriela I was just having a look around. I didn’t know anyone else was down here.”
“We have been here for a very long time, itss our home let’sss us hide from the world of light. We do not like the light, it hurtssss usss.”
“Come closer so we can ssee you better.”
Gabriela’s feet begin to move her closer to whatever is hiding in the tunnel, she tries to resist but the eyes compel her. As she is brought closer the tunnel is illuminated by the amulet she is wearing. Giving her just enough light to see standing, or maybe slithering a large serpent. Its scales are black like the night sky with five heads it has two arms and shoulders like person.
The light also reveals a slew of bodies that lay broken their flesh Long sense been removed many of the bones have scape marks though it seems they’re more likely bite marks. Suddenly though she comes to a stop only a few feet away from the entrance. The creature shifts uncomfortably at the light.
“Turn of the light so we can get closer.”
Gabriela fought the command struggling to do the opposite. Her mind raced thinking of the other bodies and how she didn’t want to be among them. Thoughts of finding her mother and going on adventures. She began to sweat heavily from the effort until finally she seemed to have control of her body again. Focusing on the light instead of dulling it She makes it brighter. The creature screams in pain as blisters begin forming on its skin. Getting more angry now and frustrated, it lashes out trying to grab the amulet from around her neck. Reacting to this she pulls her crossbow and shoots it striking just above the clavicle where all the necks meet.
One of its heads spits out a green spray onto the ground then becomes limp no longer moving. The attacks become more desperate and frenzied now clawing at her face and arms. Unable to reload her crossbow she pulls her dagger and starts stabbing at the necks where they meet. One of heads manages to bite down on her forearm and it begins to burn almost like it had been lit on fire. She slices that head off which causes the creature to go more berserk. It grabs her lifting her into the air then throws her down into the pile of bodies.
It lunges once more, but she pulls a rusted longsword from the pile and impales the creature through the chest. It writhes in vain to get away crawling only ten feet before succumbing to its injuries.
Finding herself winded once more, Gabriela looks at the wound on her arm. There is now a spiderweb like look to her skin around it. reaching into her bag she pulls a flask with lime green liquid and soaks a bandage. Placing the bandage on the wound it begins to bun once more. but now the bandage begins to turn black from the ichor that had been pumped into her from the bite.
Once out of her completely she felt much better. Without the anti-venom she would absolutely have been a goner. Not wanting to miss a good opportunity for some gold or long-lost antique. She looks through the pile of bodies first finding a handful coins, some gold, silver, and coper. Just as she’s about to move on to the creatures body she sees a glint under a knight whose arm clutched by his other hand. As she rolls the body over revealing an arming sword with a very intricately carved handle made from ivory. There are scenes of battle inscribed on each side.
The blade is still in its scabbard which is made of metal wrapped in leather. The leather is mostly rotted away leaving the just the metal, but it is glowing a dull turquoise. Pulling the sword from its sheath emanates electricity but its focused, like it was designed not to hit the wielder. She turns her attention to the creature. Now that she isn’t being beset by mouths trying to bite her face off, she can see it has many necklaces hanging on its body. most of them made of gold and jewels. Next to it she finds a crudely made sack filled with trinkets of all kinds.
“Might as well take it after all you have no further use for these my many headed friend.” Now toting a small fortune Gabriela begins her descent to toward the man in the boat.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 3 A Brief Respite
Gabriela was sore, tired, and more than a little worried about what lay ahead of her. After almost two hours of walking down flights of stairs she comes to a door. She puts her ear up to it to see if she hear anyone rustling around on the other side. After hearing nothing she tries the handle which happens to be unlocked. She draws the blade she had acquired earlier, it brilliant glow filled the space. The air is less musty, with a hint of chemicals floating around. It’s a small room, perhaps fifteen by ten or so. There is an alchemy table with various vials of unused liquids. Some of the beakers have been smashed, some thrown against the wall.
There is a fine layer of dust on everything, cobwebs cover much of the furniture. But to her surprise there is one corner that has been cleaned and kept neat. There is a small bed roll with a handful of torches sitting next to a bag of dried fruits, jerky, and bread. Next to that is are several glass jars of water.
Gabriela put her things down by the bedroll. She then locked the door she came through and jammed it so it couldn’t be unlocked from the other side. Then she pulled from her bag a small metallic ball with a single blue button on it. Pushing the button six legs pop out, three on each side. A single eye stalk protrudes from it. The skittering automaton beeped and clicked at her expectantly.
Pointing to the opposite door of the one she locked she says, “watch that door. If anyone come or anything comes through it sound your alarm, then zap them with your laser.” The tiny spider like bot raised a leg in salute then pointed its eye at the door. She however took to eating some of the dried fruit and jerky, drank some water. Then curled up on the bedroll to try and get even just a short respite from her ordeals of the day.
As she sleeps her mind begins to race like she’s dreaming but it feels more real. She finds herself standing at the edge of a large city being beset by a large blue dragon. It’s at least three hundred feet long, it passes over blasting the city with bolts of lightning from its mouth. Gabriela can smell the burning ashes of human remains even taste it in the air. People are running, mothers clutching their children as they’re incinerated. The city guard fire arrows, ballista, rifles, cannons, but to no avail.
She then hears a deep grading voice, “Give me what is mine.” Though the voice isn’t yelling at her it frightens her. The words are fill malice, and anger. She tries to run, but when she turn there standing in front of her is the blue dragon. It lowers its head to better look her in the eyes. She can feel its hot breath on her face and see scars in its scales. It reaches out with a claw lifting up the necklace. Once again it says, “give me what is mine.” This time much more forcefully.
She pulls away and as she does it rears up then opens its mouth, the huge, jagged teeth are stained red with bits of limbs stuck in-between. Then it lashes forward chomping down on her. This forces her to wake up gasping for air. Her hands are shaking, heart racing, legs ready to run. After realizing she is still in the small room her nerves begin to settle. She checks he time peace to see how much sleep she was able to get. Four hours, not bad for a place like this, she thought.
“Alright little guy I’m good to go you can go back in the bag.”
She pushes the button and it’s legs and eye stalk are drawn back into its body. Placing back in the bag she sets about looking through the contents of the room, specifically the chemistry table.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 4 Rivers and Rouges
Gabriela set about really going through the things she had taken from the snake creature that had attacked her. Most of the trinkets were silver or gold cups, some jewelry, and scant amount of coins. There was, however, a bracer that caught her eye. It was high tech with a readout display that popped up when you tapped it. “This could definitely come in handy.”
It had an automatic adjuster, which meant that it would fit whoever wore it. It also contained a tremendous amount of data already stored in it, including what appeared to be a map of the catacombs underneath the castle. She couldn’t be certain if they were still accurate, but she could hope.
Interestingly it also had a scanning mode. Turning it toward the chemistry table it began to identify all the chemicals, possible mixtures, and their uses. There were enough supplies to make a few healing tonics and three acid grenades. Those would welcome additions to her pack sense she had no idea what other foul creatures waited for her.
It took thirty minutes to mix and craft what she needed. She also decided to leave the cups, which might alert any hostiles to her presence. She instead just kept the jewelry as it wasn’t as heavy and didn’t clank around as much. After repacking her satchel with including a hefty amount of the dried meat and fruit she was ready to continue this strange journey.
Slowly Gabriela peered into the hallway though a crack in the door. Noting so far. She opened the door to a tunnel the walls were covered in thick blue moss that was slightly iridescent. She expected it to smell foul, but it didn’t, it smelled almost like mint. She had never seen moss like this before. taking a small pouch from her bag she took her dagger cutting a clump she placed in the pouch. Botanists would pay a handsome price for anything previously undiscovered.
As she trekked down, she began to notice the air was getting slightly wormer and there was a slight breeze. After a few more meters she could hear rushing water. “Gabi you must be getting close to the river, which means your one step closer to finding a way out of this place.”
Not long after hearing the water she could see an expansive cavern, the stalactites, and stalagmites are so big they met making it look like a colosseum. Like crown jewel almost in the center was river. There were all sorts of flora and fauna. Most looked rather benign, but there were a few that seemed to be on the hunt for food. A giant centipede for one, she had fought one some years back and was only able to kill it by a grenade set to a trip wire.
Sneaking down to the river she couldn’t help but to take in the rather sweat odder of the blue florescent fungi that grew up the stalagmites. It grew in sort of a blanket that had the texture of sponge. Being careful not to alert the centipede she took a small sample, then moved on to try and find any sort of pathway. She tapped the bracer pulling up the scanning function then put it to work. It only had a range of one hundred meters, so she had to move several times to avoid detection by the predators she had spotted.
It finally pinged finding a small mostly rotted dock, hopefully though it would at least provide her with a sense of direction for now. Everything was fine until she spotted fast movement in her peripheral vision. There was a small stone hut next to the dock from what she could tell. She had a choice to make at this point. Move like a bat out of hell to get to the hut or walk like nothing was wrong and hope whatever it was wasn’t hungry. She didn’t have to wait long for an answer.
a human sized raptor jumped out from behind a cluster of rocks Gabriela instinctually flashed her new sword. Swiping it across the creatures front shoulder tearing through with little resistance. The raptor shrieked in pain. Now she had no choice but fight while trying to make it to the hut.
As she turned to make a short sprint an arrow zipped past, striking the wounded creature in the neck. Then another which hit it squarely in the chest. This time though there was wet pop, as the right side of the chest is blown open.
“That went surprisingly well,” says a smooth deep voice from the shadows.
“Who’s there, show yourself,” Gabriela demanded.
Out steps a strapping young man about her height. He is wearing a thick padded tunic that mimics the surrounding terrain. He has short brown and red beard with a shaved head. His eyes are a blue, gray and he walks with the sort of swager that most would find annoying. But given the fact he may have just saved her life she would reserve judgement.
“Most would say thank you rather than make demands.” He says with a smirk.
“I’m sorry it’s been a rough few days. Thank you. My name is Gabriela what’s yours?”
“Theodore, Hercules, Edmond, Geffrey, Oscel, Arun’, Thellin the third, and I am at your service madam if you so desire my aid.”
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 5 Returning the Favor
As Theodor offered Gabriela his hand, she questioned his sincerity. Given the fact she herself had been attack by another being less than eight hours ago, she felt it could be trap. She began to scan the cave for anyone else that might be hiding. She spotted none but kept her body poster in a defensive stance just in case.
“I do appreciate what you did their killing the raptor, but how do I know you’re not just as bad or worse?”
“Why my lady I am absolutely cut to the heart that you don’t trust me after saving no less.”
“It’s just that in the last day I’ve been attacked by some snake thing with several heads, and it almost turned me into a snack.”
“I see well I won’t make you join me in the hut for a bowl of stew and coffee, however that’s where I will be if you wish to tag along.” With that he turned and headed for the hut. She didn’t get any of the creep vibes from him that she had from the snake creature. She started to hear the sound of many legs on the ground and decided it wouldn’t be so bad to have company for a change.
The cave had so many colors from bright pink florescent moths to dark brown backed beetles, that when they weren’t moving looked like tiny pebbles. This long-lost world is what gave birth to legends and lore. She made sure that her bracer had complete readings of everything, tunnels, insects, birds, fish. Gabriela wanted to have as much information to sell as possible.
“So, what brings you to this great hall of lost history?” Theodor asked.
“My mother is missing and this, or I should the fortress above ground was her last known location.”
“I see. Well, me and mine have looked over this cave system for a few days now and haven’t run into anyone.”
“You and yours?”
“You didn’t think I’d be stupid enough to come here alone? There is a dragon on the lose around these parts, and he doesn’t like it when people start snooping.”
“Just how many of you are there?”
“There were admittedly more of us a few weeks ago, now there are decidedly less.”
His none answer and the rambling way in which he chose to speak was not filling her with confidence. She steps in front of him placing her hands on her hips, giving him a scowl. “Three. There are in point of fact only three of us left.” His gaze is nervous looking away to the side.
“Out of how many?”
“Two hundred.”
“Two hundred! What exactly where you looking for with that size of group?”
“Keep your voice down you might attract those raptors again. We were looking for a place called Bacuri’.”
“Let me guess you never found just an angry dragon.”
“O no we found. Your standing in it. We just didn’t know it was inhabited by some snake people that sacrifice trespassers to the big Blue dragon they worship.”
“So, how did you and the other two get away, and why haven’t they found you yet.?”
“Camouflage, they have a hard time seeing anything through this foliage, or at least this particular plant. That being said we should get you indoors before they spot you.”
The huts door was lined with the same florescent plant Theodor was covered in. Before entering he knocked three times. Gabriela followed behind once inside she could they weren’t in much better shape than she had been. There were two others as he said. An older human male who seemed to be suffering from the same poison she had to deal with less than eight hours ago. He was tall muscular with dark thick ash colored hair. His breathing was very labored, he didn’t have long before the poison ended his time. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the antidote and handed it Theodor.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“The antidote. One of those snake things bit me I just so happen to keep antivenom around for such occasions.”
“Get bit often then do you?” the third one says. she a Ratak’kus with white fur except one eye which is gray. She also has one arm that is mechanical from the elbow.
“Often enough that I learned to be ready for what you don’t expect. He will die if you don’t give him this.”
He takes the vile and pours into his friends mouth. They wait for what seems like hours before seeing signs the poison is regressing. Slowly blackened ichor seeps from the wound where he had been slashed. His breathing returns to normal as his flutter opens. They are deep orange which is strange for a human.
The Ratak’kus looking up with tears in her eyes grabs Gabriela by her hand. “Thank you for saving him. You could have kept that to yourself, but you chose to help us.”
“Hay it was technically self-serving our chances of survival are better with four instead of three.”
“Thank you all the same.”
What a strange group people you’ve managed to find Gabi. She thought to herself. Now all they had to do is make past the snake people, and massive dragon that for some reason wants her new necklace.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 6 Traps and Mazes
“Gabriela is there anyway your Codex can find a way out of here?” Theodor asks.
“My codex what are you talking about?”
“Well, that’s what the thing on your wrist is called. They’re used by the Knights of Akoria. They scan and store information, which is then used to field troops, plan city construction, as well as send and receive video audio signals.”
Holding her arm up she says, “It may have found one by now I took some scans earlier.”
Tapping the screen, she pulls up a 3d model that takes up most of the room. The tunnel system is expansive, there are miles upon miles. She hadn’t realized it scan such distances. It also gives her the general location of groups of beings that are moving about.
“This one here.”
The Ratak’kus points to a small tunnel that runs south-east and up. It intersects with only one other tunnel at a rather large structure before continuing to the surface. “This could be the best option sense it gives us the ability to watch our six.”
“We best get moving then,” Theodor says.
Gathering their few things, the mixed group ready themselves for what they hope will be a rather benign trip back to the surface. Gabriela couldn’t help but feel that this adventure might have been more than she was prepared for. She had found herself chased by an angry dragon, almost killed by some snake person, and ambushed by a raptor.
“Sandi’ you bring up the rear and use the shadow protocol.” Theodor tells her. She gives a nod then taps a small patch on her armor, which then shimmers turning her into or at least appearing to turn her into shadow. “Come on big guy you’re walking with us.”
Staying low and seeking out darker paths, the small group of adventurers make it to their desired tunnel without incident. Though many things still lay hidden in this trove of wander, survival means leaving it behind, for now.
The tunnel, though dark is partially lit by blue moss that grows along the ceiling and walls. Death and decay fill the air like a heavy fog, filling Gabi with fear. The feeling of dread and despair starts to become too much adrenaline runs through her veins telling her to run. Her heart pounds in her ear like a base drum. Her vision goes blurry, and she becomes dizzy. Catching herself against the wall sounds of screams hit her hundreds, thousands, to many to count. She once again finds herself standing in a field of dead. The ancient blue dragon descends causing the ground under her to shake as it lands.
“Give me What is Mine,” it says snarling.
“What is it you want?” she asks.
“I want what is mine.”
“What is yours?”
“Everything.”
When all the cobwebs are finally swept from her skull the others are standing next to her. Their faces range from confusion to concern. Gabriela can’t hide the fear that is pushing its way into her legs. “We need to get out of here now!”
“What is going on, what just happened?” Theodor asks.
“I’ll explain once we’ve left this place behind.”
“Fine but I want more than its complicated,” Theo says.
They all pick up the pace while trying not to be noisy. The corridor, however, is dark, and the floor is slick. The smell of decaying corpses only get stronger the closer they get to the structure they saw. Finally arriving at the entrance, they all stoop low and hug the walls scanning for anything that might give chase. But the only thing is this room is a pile of crushed corpses. As they’re about to move through to the next tunnel movement in the pile of bodies catches Belgur’s eye. A large writhing patch of limbs twitch. Raising to its full height of seven plus feet.
It looks like three torsos have been sown together. It has six legs two elongated in the back and front, while there are two straight down. It has eight arms, two going in every direction. Its head is bulbus with sunken eye sockets but no eyes. Its jaw extends opening wide enough to begin swallowing an entire arm without chewing. Its skins leathery, pale, covered in some kind of slimy substance.
Belgur brings the others attention to the creature and gestures for them to be as slow and steady as possible. They each go one at a time but staying in arms distance. Sandi makes it across first and readies a crossbow, having already cocked it she only needs to place the bolt. Three quarters of the way there Belgur slips his knee clanging against the ground. The metal on stone echoes through the chamber.
The creatures head whips around staring at them, and for a moment they think it is too dumb to know anyone is there. But then it lets out a blood curdling scream like hundreds of people being torn in two. with unworldly speed it lunges at Bulger.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 7 Nightmares of flesh and Bone
Bulger is slammed against the wall before he can bring his shield up. Sandi fires her bolt striking the creature in the neck just under the jaw. Thrashing about one of its clawed hands rakes across Bulgers chest, but his armor hold. Gabriela draws her sword without thinking and charges the creature. It lashes out at her but its arm it severed by Bulgers shield, which has a sharp circular blade at the bottom.
The creature rears up on its hind legs in anger leaving the belly exposed. Gabi and Bulger both take slices at it opening up large gashes. It’s blood is thick and gray; it looks more like a mucus than blood. Two bolts strike it in the throat then explode spraying bone and blood across the large room.
“Are you two, ok?” asks Theodor.
They both check themselves for wounds but find none. “I think we may have gone unscathed.” Bulger says.
“We should double time it. That just made a lot of noise.”
As they turn to run down the tunnel a deafening roar comes from above. Seconds go by that feel like hours before they hear a rumbling as stones begin to fall into the cavern. “Run!” Gabriella says. From her vantage point she can see the catlike eye and dark blue scales of a Dragon. It’s mouth open chest puffed as it positions itself at the top of this chamber.
It’s mouth opens to reveal rows of sharp teeth, fire gathers in the back of its throat before pouring down like a river. All four of them are just able to make into their desired tunnel exit. As the fire whips through the main chamber, it forms a sort of tornado that burns all the body parts to ash. The wall and floor of the chamber begin to glow red before some the stone melts. It becomes hard to breath from all of the heat and smoke.
Theodore throws a small device that emits a spark then blue haze covers the entrance of the tunnel. The begins to die down smoke also seems to be blocked by his device. “We need to keeps moving!” Sandi’ says while still trying to catch her breath. Moving as fast as they can down the tunnel it begins to slope upward in a circle. From behind them creams and cries of furry echo through the many chambers. the group come to a halt when the tunnel ends at a chasm. Fast moving brackish water awaits bellow, while ceiling is covered clusters of purple crystal.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise.” Theo says smirking more to himself than the rest of the group.
“You want to let us in on your revelation.” Gabi says.
“That crystal is one of the most stable explosives on the planet. If we could knock some down, we could leave a nasty surprise for our would be captures. Then make our escape with current.”
“How do you know where that even goes?”
“We came across it on our way in. The exit is I would say an hour swim. It comes out just above a saltwater lake to the south of where we came in.”
“I can bring some down Sandi’”, says.
She takes aim with crossbow and fires a bolt. As it hits its target the head opens up revealing a saw-like tip that dislodges a sizable piece of crystal. It lands mostly on the landing they’re on. Theo wastes little time pulling out a kit and grinding it down. He mixes it with some other powders and a liquid that immediately makes it light up. He pores it all into a grenade then throws it in the tunnel behind them.
“Jump!”
The explosion rocks the chasm raining down large chunks of debris into the river. Water rushes over Gabi, almost overwhelming her. But the others work to keep her with the group. After an hour of struggling, they are all spit out into night air. After getting their bearings they make their way to shore.
Gabriela and the mad Dragon part 8 Final Stand
“We need to find a place to hide if that dragon comes after us, we’re screwed,” Theo says.
But it’s too late a roar pierces the night light thunder. Followed by a flash of flame from the top of the mountain they just escaped. She turns to Sandi and asks, “What else can this thing on my wrist do?”
“Lots of things they designed them to serve a number of rolls from medical support to war planning.”
“Do you know how to use all the functions?”
“Yea but I…”
Gabi hands her the device. “You take this and hide somewhere we’ll give you time to ambush.”
“If we don’t make it, I need you to tell anyone and everyone that this ugly bastard is coming. Maybe it will be enough time for them to prepare defenses, or just time to run.”
“Wooo, I have a plan that might just work.” Theo says as he pulls out a handful of those crystals from the cave. Then he digs out a roll of tape. “Take these, tape the smaller ones on to your crossbow bolts. Make sure to use the explosive tips I made you. As little as they weigh it won’t affect the accuracy. Aim for his wing joints if we can keep him grounded, we might have a chance.”
Sandi looks around for a good hiding spot seeing a few large trees that have fallen. She works quickly to ready her bolts. While the others keep a look out for the dragon. Bulgur adjusts his amor pulling tight any lose straps. The sun begins to rise at their backs bring warmth and just a small amount of comfort.
“It’s so beautiful. The small moments that we take for granted, the sun rises, the smell of flowers, waking up next to the ones we love,” Bulgur says as he looks over where Sandi is hiding.
“Don’t get to mushy I’m still hoping to get out of this alive.” Gabi says.
Before their conversation can continue a deep voice echoes across the lake. “Give me what is mine!” The enormous visage of the blue dragon dives off the mountain heading for them.
“Get behind me now!” Bulgur says. As they do the dragon unleashes a torrent of fire engulfing them. But the flames do them no harm, he has activated some kind of energy shielding. Gabi never knew such things exited assuming those types of devices to be myth or rumor. “When I say move then run to the left flank.”
Bulgur pulls a cylinder from his belt aiming it at the center of the flames. He holds his breath then pushes a button on the top. It launches a heavy spike at the mouth of the dragon, slamming into the back of its throat. “Go now flanking positions.”
The flames stopped as it gagged trying to dislodge the spike. Its wings flapping around made it hard to close. As the group moved in blades drawn to cut it down. The dragon tried to take flight. But as it did a bolt whizzed by Theo hitting the right-wing joint, the explosion was bad enough to blow off part of the wing. Writhing back forth it tried to cradle the wing, but another bolt struck severing it the rest of the way. a fountain of blood was now pouring from its back.
The dragon turns toward Sandi’s position and sprints. He is so much faster on all fours then they thought he could be. She dives deeper into the fallen tree right as his mouth closes down where she was hiding. “Noo!” Bulgur cries out. It turns back its head and smiles eerily. Tyrlus hits Bulgur with his tail like a whip, with a thunderous crack. Bulgur is sent backward his helmet split.
His head is bleeding, and Gabi can’t tell if he is dead or just unconscious. But it doesn’t matter now. They need to kill this thing. She makes a desperate move, taking the pendant in her hand and she yells out. “Hay Tyrlus if you want this come and get it!” He turns to face her readying himself to sprint. As he begins to lung Theo runs full speed, drops to his knees sliding under Tyrlus. He stabs the dragons abdomen with another cylinder getting kicked in the process. He’s thrown thirty feet hitting the ground hard.
Gabi thinks about when she made the pendant light up in the tunnels, but this time she needs it to be brighter than sun she needs to blind him. She looks away as the light gets so bright, she begins to feel heat. The dragon roars grinding to a halt, then a loud popping sound. The ground under her shutters, she is still alive. She turns off the light and looks around. Tyrlus is laying on the ground, his eyes and face scales are burned, and his belly is split wide open.
She moved slowly toward him, Tyrlus breathing is labored as he tries to lay still. As she gets close being only inches away, he speaks. “You are brave like your mother.”
“What do you know about my mother?” she says with tear beginning to stream down her face.”
“She came to my home looking for a relic, one I had long forgotten about. The eye of Hagerium which you now hold in your hand.”
“Why did she want this?”
It is rumored to be a key to great power though I could not find where the power lay.”
“Did you kill her?”
“No she eluded me and must have figured out how to use the eye.”
“How did the other woman end up with it?”
“I do not know. That is something you’ll have find out on your own.”
With that he breathed his last. She dropped to her knees and cried clutching the pendant. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, then a second, and third. She looked up to see that everyone had survived. Sandi was missing her mechanical arm, Bulgur’s right eye was swollen shut, and Theo was holding his side.
“Well I think we should get the three of you cleaned up, you look like hell raked over.”
THE END…FOR NOW
