Elara looked determined and took a step closer, with the strange man beside her.
The big Umbrathrax monster growled, but she wasn't scared.
She knew she could use her voice to make even scary creatures feel better.
"We've come to help you," she said, her voice kind but strong.
She looked right into the creature's eyes, showing that she cared.
The Umbrathrax looked at its hurt leg and then back at them.
Even though it was hurt, it seemed to know that they now wanted to help.
"Stay right behind me, milady. I'll take away the stone," the stranger said firmly.
Elara clenched her fists, feeling frustrated by the stranger's overprotective words.
"I'm not some delicate flower," she thought, her determination growing stronger. "But fine, I'll play along for now."
She took a step to the side, her eyes narrowed in defiance, showing she wasn't fully on board with his plan.
"I'll stay close, but I won't just stand by like a helpless puppet," she mumbled under her breath.
Elara's eyes narrowed as she watched the cloaked man reach for the shiny object. "What's he doing?" she thought, her curiosity piqued.
But then, he stopped, and Elara's interest grew even stronger. "Why did he stop? What's wrong with it?" she wondered, her challenging spirit shining through.
"It's locked," he whispered, looking concentrated and concerned.
Elara felt curious about what was happening. "Can you fix it, milord?" she asked, sounding strong and a bit challenging.
He nodded slowly, looking calm. "Yes, I can," he said in a careful voice. "But it's going to take some time."
As he explained the stone's workings and rituals, Elara's eyes glazed over a bit.
"I don't get all this magic stuff," she admitted to herself, struggling to follow along.
"But if it helps the Umbrathrax, I guess I'll let him do his thing," she mumbled, not wanting to admit she was a bit lost.
Elara's serious expression didn't waver as she offered her support.
"Take your time, milord," she said, her defiance masking her impatience. "I'll keep an eye on the Umbrathrax."
With a determined nod, Elara stood guard over the creature, her eyes never leaving the cloaked man's actions.
"I won't let anything happen to you," she thought, her fierce protectiveness shining through.
"Just make sure you stay safe," the stranger said as he worked on the creature's leg.
Elara's eyes were glued to the cloaked man, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"He used to be all tough in battles," she observed, a thoughtful frown on her face. "But now, he's acting all gentle to help the creature."
She found herself fascinated by the change she was witnessing.
"It's like watching a magic trick," she mused, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "I didn't think he had this side."
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pondered, "What kind of person is he, really?"
She couldn't help but wonder about the man behind the cloak.
Watching him work, Elara noticed his focused expression. "He's really into this problem," she noted, a hint of admiration in her tone.
With every move he made, she felt like she was watching a performance.
"It's like he's leading a secret show," she thought, her imagination running wild. "I wonder what he's thinking."
She crossed her arms and leaned in a little closer, her gaze fixed on his hands.
"He's smart and confident," she concluded, her voice carrying a touch of respect. "I might not understand everything he's doing, but he seems to know what he's about."
Scrawwwllll!
A loud screech echoed in the air, coming from the Umbrathrax. It seemed like the cloaked man touched something he shouldn't have.
Elara acted quickly, not even thinking. She ran to the creature's head, going from being challenged to wanting to keep the cloaked man safe.
Also, it was like she could feel the creature's pain, and she wanted to make it feel better.
Then, something amazing happened. She made a sound that sounded like the Umbrathrax's cries.
"Rrrrrrrr…."
She was surprised by her own voice, but she knew what she meant. "Don't be scared. He's trying to help you," she said in a voice like the creature's own.
The cloaked man looked surprised and interested. He stopped and stared at her, as if he had seen something new.
*whimpering*
The big Umbrathrax seemed to calm down when Elara talked to it. Its head lowered, showing that it was okay with her being there.
Elara felt excited and unsure at the same time. She felt a connection with the creature that she couldn't explain. And she knew she needed to help it.
"What was that?" Elara asked the cloaked man, sounding surprised. "How did I do that?"
It was unusual for her to admit not knowing something, but this strange thing made her do it.
The cloaked man looked at her for a moment. But his face was covered, so she couldn't see what he was feeling.
He looked back at the stone and kept working.
"We can talk about it later," he said, staying calm. His words didn't show what he was thinking or feeling.
"Okay," Elara said, knowing that they needed to focus on the stone right now.
She could tell that getting rid of the stone was important. And she wanted to help as much as she could.
When the stone made the creature upset, Elara knew how to make it feel better.
"Hmmm…" She hummed softly and gently to make it feel calm. And she reached out gently to comfort it.
They worked together for a while. And a strange connection grew between them as they functioned together.
Elara looked at the cloaked man's hands. He was moving the stone in a careful way. 'He is interesting to watch.'
She smiled as she thought, "Well, this is different. I've never been on a team before, but maybe it's okay," she thought.
'He's really good,' Elara muttered to herself. Every move he made was careful and exact.
He seemed like he knew what he was doing and was in charge. Even though his face was hidden, she could feel that he was strong.
Even though he seemed mysterious, she liked how sure he was of himself.
At last, they managed to free the trap, and the Umbrathrax made a sound like it was hurting and feeling better at the same time.
"Graahhhhhhhhhh!"