Lana heard the subterranean roar and smiled. She turned to the team, "does anyone care to accompany me on an excursion?"
Lana looked to her apprentices, "best to sit this one out and stay up here. Allow the trees to guide you to keep you safe."
Lana turned toward the gaping entrance her brother just created. She put on her stages of armor. Over her shoulder, "someone should wear my choker since I am no longer able to… Follow me if you choose."
Sil hastily ripped through his bag, pulled out the choker and tossed it to Rene. He raced to catch up to his wife who was walking slowing down. Max was guiding her and Caser quickly joined at her side as well, knowing the twins were safe. He had to make himself small to squeeze in because he was a bit late getting there. Everyone else followed.
The decent took time. Dobin had to go 100 feet down and used an 8% grade. It wasn't too steep but it wasn't a leisurely stroll either. They were halfway down when Lana sent Max ahead. Rene had caught up to them and they could all see well enough as it was only wide enough for a large male. It was impossible for two people to walk side-by-side. With Sil right behind her, Lana was able to hold his hand and close her eyes to focus on what Max was seeing.
He was close to the bottom when she connected with him. She slowed her pace when he entered the cavern and shared what he saw. There was a large golden-colored beast with the mane of a lion, face of a human, body of a dragon and a bushy tail. The wings were huge but the carven was vast. Max was able to show her there was a small tear in one of the wings which indicated it had been potentially in a fight and was unable to fly. Or one could hope so, that was.
Lana stopped and whispered to Sil what was up ahead. He simply whispered back, "winged beast."
When she was sure everyone behind her was aware of what was up ahead, she quickened her pace. Her biggest problem was, she was no longer in her beast clothing. She was no longer quiet. Each step has a slight echo. She discovered a new skill she needed to work on… She decided for now, hovering would work but it would be too late at this point, anyway. The beast knew they were coming. There would be no surprise.
Just as they were coming to the opening, Lana smirked. Max, throw lighting at its back side!
She heard the zap as the lightning flew through the air and the roar of rage as it hit the target. She unsheathed her sword and charged in. The beast was in the process of turning to see what hit him when he heard her approach and decided the diversion was insignificant compared to the whelp that just entered his domain.
He charged toward her as she circled around the outside of the cavern, keeping it focused on her. A very large paw with claws longer than her entire hand was coming her direction. She blooded her sword and swung, slicing off the appendage just above the knuckle. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Rene near the entrance while the others filed around. Sil stayed at her side. Caser ran underneath it while she had its attention and leapt up to swipe its chest with his own claws.
Caser's attack was unsuccessful. The hide was too thick. The beast was no fool. It heard all the feet enter the area and knew where everyone was. It let out another roar but some could tell this roar was different. This time there was a sound of two impacts of something hitting the floor.
Shalt and Alto were both asleep.
"Special attack! Cover your ears!" the group heard Duff yell out.
Lana could see Sil eating something and knew he had used up a lot of energy using Dobin's ability. That or he just wanted a snack. He seemed to like them.
The beast backed up a small bit and swung his other claw in a sweeping motion. Duff had his sai out and was able to hit the beast but again, there was no damage but the attack was deflected. Biff threw the most powerful airstrike at the beast's neck he could and was able to make a small cut, just to the side. "Target!" and he threw another at the same spot indicating he wanted those who were unable to hurt it to work on that spot.
Sil created an earth spear and threw it using Biff's wind to accelerate the weapon. Lana smirked, seeing her opening as she had forgotten she now had wings…
She summersaulted and tripped over her wing and fell. She didn't stay down long because she now remembered she had wings and simply flew up to the beasts' back while her friends were attacking the beasts' neck. It appeared annoyed with them but the important thing was, it was distracted.
Lana noticed that even though the light crystal on the choker was the only source of light, she could still see somewhat. Unlike how a vampire could see in the dark, she still required some source of light. She decided to extend some spikes, fly up high then fold her wings up. Right over the beast.
It howled in rage and pain. She didn't realize it but one if the spikes hit a nerve in its spine. The problem was, her spikes weren't long enough to actually damage the nerve. She was unaware of this simple fact.
The beast reared up on its back feet and raised its wings as though it was going to fly but a single flap told it that wasn't an option. Lana threw Qi-infused climbing-rose vines around each wing and didn't realize how much Qi she used. The wings were sliced off and she started to fall backwards until she remembered her wings again. She heard her friends continuing to slice at the neck. She knew if Sil wanted it, this kill could be his.
In the air, Lana could hear the thwang of a bow. She could see Bonnie standing next to Rene and knew they were working together to make the arrows more effective. Lana realized, they could take this beast down without her. The danger was there, of course. But she decided to let them go a bit longer as they dodged the offending claw attacks and the occasional attempts to bite one of her friends.
The beast made that strange roar one more time and Rene and Bonnie both fell to the ground. Snoring could be heard. Lana could smell the increasing amounts of black blood leaking from that wound. However, Duff, Biff and Sil were all that was left standing on the ground attacking the spot. Lana couldn't let them play anymore.
She had flipped her sword out to the side so she could use her vine in that hand. She flipped it back around so she was holding it correctly then wrapped her other hand around the hilt as well as she stabbed it into the back of the beast. She had to be careful because it wanted to go deeper than the blade so she had to hold it out a bit. She walked toward the head along the beasts' back pulling the sword with her.
The beast reared up again, roaring a deep, guttural roar. She leaned forward and, with spikes on her feet, continued. The beast fell forward. Dead.
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