Charlotte swallowed stiffly as Kayden approached her. Despite their travels together, she'd never seen him actually fight before. He'd made slaying that Dragon look so easy... And Char just felt... lost. The pink-haired Dovaa helped her to her feet, smiling calmly all the while. he dusted her sides and back off while she stood rigidly, staring with wide eyes at the spot the great beast had gone down. He waited patiently for the blond girl to collect herself, and when she had, Char whispered, "Thank you..." in a quiet, awed voice.
He just smiled and shook his head. With a chuckle, he patted her on the back to coax her into walking forward with him. Char was overwhelmed with the disappointing sensation that he still thought of her as a child... And after that, well, she probably would too. She sighed dejectedly. "I just didn't expect it, that's all. I can definitely handle it on my own, though!" She said stubbornly.
"I know, little un." Char's lips puckered at that. 'Little one?!' Great. "I'd offer my advice, lass, if yer up for it." Frankly, the Orderite girl wasn't sure if she was up for it. She already felt like he was being condescending toward her... Nonetheless, she nodded unenthusiastically. "Don't be distracted when yer hunting." He warned. Charlie's cheeks turned pink as she realized he must have followed her from the ship, watchful as he was. "'Specially since ya were out lookin' on yer own. Ya gotta be careful, diligent, Char." He told her.
"I don't have anything to fight with..." The blond girl muttered. She'd been right, of course. His advice did feel like a scolding. "What do I do about that?"
"Be creative!" He laughed. "Ya are, aren't ya? Find something to fight with! Anything will do."
Slowly, Charlotte nodded. Yes, a rock or a stick or something would at least offer some form of defense when she had nothing else. It would be a challenge, but maybe she could do it on her own, yet! "Don't follow me this time!" She ordered, ambling away from her friend. Kayden's answering look was skeptical, but he didn't disagree...
Char set off on her own again. Despite the vast open space she was offered, she didn't run, but crept quietly, slinking amongst the tall blades of green grass. Every so often, she come up on a bird that would shriek and flutter off when she came to close. It was amusing, but not at all what she was after. On one such step, a pretty green bird leaped from the cover of grass, diving toward the sky. Almost instantly, a large emerald-colored dragon snapped it out of the air with powerful jaws. Char gaped. She hadn't even noticed the beast! For something so large, it was even better at creeping than she was... It turned murky brown eyes on her, ready for the main course.
Charlotte grimaced at the dragon and swallowed, determined to hold her ground and not flee like a panicked rabbit. She was afraid to look away, but still didn't have anything to fend it off with! She delicately lowered herself to the ground, hoping beyond hope that there was something, anything beneath her that could spare her. Her fingers wrapped around something long, and tangled.
With a snarl the dragon jumped at her. Squeaking, Char yanked at whatever she'd fond on the ground beneath her, nearly tripping as she yanked it from beneath herself. Another mass of brambles. Freakin' brambles, everywhere! She flapped them blindly, and although it gave the dragon pause, he didn't stop for them. Char took a step back, tossing her arms out. The Dragon's snout bumped her hard, knocking her over with little effort. A bared tooth dove into her arm, though Charlotte hardly felt it from the adrenaline. She flailed in panic, tangling the brambles around the beast's muzzle until it couldn't even snap at her any more. It took the little Orderite a moment to realize this, but as soon as she noticed the creature was more distracted with trying to free itself than attacking her, she rolled to her stomach, shot to her feet and darted away as fast as her short legs would carry her.
Reply
