by Wen Spencer
Magic arrows. The damn bitch had magic arrows.
And the damn bitch was going to get nailed from behind. The second wyvern was in a silent dive -- aimed at the elf outlined against the stars. The wyvern on the ground probably was the male, because the one in the air was much bigger.
"Stormsong! Move!" Kate shouted, bringing her rifle to her shoulder.
The female wyvern was still in its power dive, wings folded close to its body, mouth closed, its tiny eyes invisible – a great expanse of bulletproof armor. Kate held her breath, waiting for an opening.
And the chance came, as it swung forward its legs, wings spreading to brake its dive. The vulnerable joints of the wings opened up. She squeezed the trigger, and the rifle kicked hard on her shoulder. The bullet struck the joint, jerking the wyvern sidewises, and then wing folded back at an impossible angle. The wyvern screamed and came tumbling out of the air. It struck the side of the cliff below them in earth shaking impact.
Curling in pain on the ground, Kate reloaded the rifle's magazine. Oh, God, please, let there only be two.
Silence filled the night. Stormsong stood on her rocky lookout, staring down at the ruined mass of the female. Finally she crossed the ledge to Kate.
"I think my leg is broken." Kate didn’t want to whimper, not in front of her.
Stormsong dropped down to her knees and then prostrated herself fully on the ground. "Forgiveness."
"Huh?"
"I have treated you poorly since your arrival, you who have come so far to help us. I believed myself to be superior of all humans and yet found that I was only merely equal. I let it irritate me, and in spite, treated you rudely."
It was as if Stormsong held up a mirror to her soul. Kate suddenly saw her own arrogance and irritation reflected in the elf. This is what was driving me nuts, Kate realized, I saw how I acted with all other natives. I didn’t like what it showed of myself.
"I wasn’t at my best either." Kate muttered, dismayed by the revelation.
"We elves say ‘see the beast in yourself and kill it.’ I have slain my beast."
Kill the beast, before it kills you.
"Ah," Kate said, and meant every word, "how very wise of you."
Elfhome Books by Wen Spencer:
Tinker
Wolf Who Rules
Elfhome
Elfhome Short Stories:
Blue Sky
Visit WenSpencer.com for a full list of books and ebooks available
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Wyvern
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