[Ridge]
"In the trees!" Someone yells above the sound of screams and metal hitting metal. I barely have time to look up before a figure lunges itself on top of me.
A man appears to be dropping down from his hidden position among the branches. There's a whole group of them, trying to surprise us with an ambush during a fight. I dodge just before the man hits the ground. Unfortunately, that doesn't leave enough time to casually step out of the way.
Instead I'm forced to shove my own body weight to the side, toppling over in the process. The man lands on his feet, but loses his balance and falls to his side. I follow suit and crash against the side of a tree in my efforts to avoid him.
Crawling up to his hands and knees he unsheaths something short, shiny, and sharp. I groan, rubbing my back and willing myself to sit up. As the Dwecian man lunges at me I roll to the side with a pained grunt.
His dagger embeds itself into the tree trunk. There isn't a wasted second though as he abandons it and comes at me with his bare fists. It's all I can do to dodge.
I'm tired, weakened, and although I'm strongly opposed to this diagnosis- disabled. I can't run, the best I can do is stumble. On my good days I can even hobble. There is no running though, and after a while walking requires assistance.
So I stumble through the woods, evading the man's attacks as well as I can. I glance around frantically and it hits me. I'm slowly being pushed away from the herd. We're rounding the edge of the battlefield.
I swallow my pride as panic threatens to crawl up my throat. If this man actually gets ahold of me while in the midst of the fight, it wouldn't be so preposterous to think that an ally could come to my aid. Out here though, my options become much more limited. I need to get back to the fight.
Cussing my own ego I yell out, "KADE!"
I know he was around somewhere. I know I can trust him to help me if he can. As long as it's within his physical capabilities, he'll come for me. I don't really have to worry. Is it selfish to use what's at my disposal? Or is it smart? Whatever it is, I've been utilizing it a lot more often lately. It's been working out well for me too, considering I'm still alive.
The problem with this reliance, my Noble is human too. Well, human enough. Being some sort of monster doesn't make him invincible. He doesn't come, and the man's attacks get closer and closer to hitting their mark.
Dammit. Why did we have to immediately go and attack the next camp? Shouldn't we have reconvened at our camp, with the injured and our other people? We should have learned something the first time our scouts were threatened into leading us into an ambush. Who knows if that's actually what happened this time, but something sure did go wrong.
"KADEETH." I let his name tear out of my throat, ripping it raw. To add to the sting, the Dwecian man's palm encloses around my neck as he finally worms his way into range.
My scream is all but cut off as his momentum takes us both down to the ground. A root burrows into my back uncomfortably, but it's the least of my concerns.
Both of his large hands clasp around my throat. It's not pretty. It hurts. I don't know if it's as bad as Tristan's attack, it's been too long since then. I've forgotten the immediate extent of the pain.
This is current though. So it feels like the devil itself is burning the handprints of hell onto my skin. I hit, and claw, and scream the best I can. My fingers eventually leave the man's torn arms and face to search for leverage, or a weapon.
I scramble around in the grass and dust for anything to help me. I'd take a rock, even a freaking twig right now. Predictably for me, I find nothing.
As my vision starts to boot in that familiar way, I hear screams. Yelling in response to my calls earlier. I don't know how I know that, I can't make out any of the words. There's only a feeling in my aching gut.
My gasping weakens as a loud clang cuts through the fuzzy noises. It's loud and distinct, like metal hitting bone. The pressure on my windpipe disappears, but the pain doesn't.
The spots in my vision expand. There are all sorts of colors exploding in front of my eyes. I don't even know if they're open or not. I feel strangely present though. Usually when this happens I can't form such coherent thoughts.
I feel hands on my body, skimming over the places that feel on fire. A hiss leaves my chapped lips, which only further causes me pain. I guess if I live, which I'm sure I will at this point, I'll be taken back to Camp Riddle with the other injured.
Maybe I'll wake up before they transport me, and I can convince them to wrap me up and let me stay. Sure, I'm no good dead or hurt, but I'd really be useless sitting back at camp waiting for their return.
Why do I feel so present? Why do I feel so calm? How am I already planning my next move and I haven't even fully passed out yet? This is wrong isn't it? Is it more serious this time, even though it feels less?
Something seems off.