Snippet #1690042

~Leilatha~

Leilatha had thought her death was assured when the hairy beast had flung her. Instead she landed hard on her back, cracking several ribs on impact, she lay there for several long moments waiting for the beast’s face to obscure her view and end her life of endless torment. When he did not appear, she mustered her remaining strength and sat up, instantly she became dizzy and barely turned her head in time before she vomited the entirety of her breakfast. Her face wrinkled in disgust. What kind of warrior losses their breakfast so easily? Someone who is weak and deserves to die. Leilatha knew there was no room for weakness in the arena or in the life of a gladiator.

She wanted nothing more in that moment than to lie down and surrender to the pain that pulsed over her entire being, but she would always be a fighter and she refused to abandon her team. With almost supernatural determination, Leilatha began to put one hand in front of the other clawing her way to the fight. Her left side lagged badly and she had trouble feeling the left side of her face. Minor details it seemed, for when she caught sight of the tiny Anvain standing up to the beast, weaponless and alone. It triggered something deep within the jaded elf, perhaps a dormant mothering instinct, or a primal desire to protect those of the same species.

Whatever it was it gave the near spent elf strength to stand up and drag-run across the distance, almost without slowing her charge, Leilatha wrenched her sword free from the smaller Minotaur’s body. It seemed to be the perfect opportunity Cutlass had just struck a blow to the axe-wielding Minotaur’s shoulder, he swung his axe trying to catch the Centaur but the arc was cut short as he went to clutch his shoulder in agony. Anvain seemed to be carved in stone, she had not moved since Cutlass’s brilliant kick. Foolish child! Leilatha thought angrily. As she began to shout for her to get out of the way, an idea began to form in her head. It was true the small elf was in a very dangerous position, standing so close to the monster. However, Leilatha could use this chance opportunity to step on Anvain’s back and pierce the Minotaur’s throat in one smooth movement.

While the Minotaur was busy watching Cutlass with his angry black eyes, Leilatha used her last remaining strength to take a running leap, she placed one foot on Anvain’s back, pushed with all her might and Thump! She had badly miscalculated her landing, for she was now wrapped around the Minotaur’s neck. The sight would have been almost comical had Leilatha’s life not been in peril, his expression quickly changed from confusion to murderous rage. When his lifted his head to look her in the face Leilatha took the opportunity. Sliding her sword into the space between his chin and her body she used her full weight and leverage to pierce his neck. She only stopped her thrust when she could see the sword tip protruding from the back of his neck.

Leilatha breathed a sigh of relief. She had done it, the beasts were dead, and the gladiators had triumphed! They would all live to see another day. Exhaustion suddenly overwhelming Leilatha, forcing her to release her death grip on the creature’s neck. As luck would have it she landed directly on Anvain, who had just begun to right herself after the first incident. Anvain’s face was roughly shoved into the dirt when Leilatha impacted into her, she lay there stunned and choking on a mouthful of blood covered sand. Leilatha practically unconscious was glad she had a soft landing; completely unaware Anvain was now pinned underneath her.