17 - Unwanted Visitor

We called it a night shortly after. Juliana and Katie slept in the Temple, and I tried out our log tent. I had slept in worse locations. That didn't mean that it was all that bad. The wind was kept away. It didn't rain, so that wasn't tested, but the dirt ground - after a little clearing off - was more comfortable than the stone floor of the Temple.

Plus, for the first time in five days, I didn't have to sleep in the same space as the women. I wouldn't admit how much sleep I lost to the idea, but it was a nonzero amount.

The Ancient requested I stick him in the ground at the entrance of my tent, to keep watch. Having someone watching my back was another thing that helped me sleep. My sleep was very restful.

I woke to a telepathic message from the Ancient. *A beast has entered the clearing. Please awaken.*

I blinked and sat up to feel awake. Outside, I heard a rasping sound. I crawled to the entrance to see the monster that had intruded.

It seemed reptilian. Almost like an eel with arms and legs, and over 6 feet tall. What should have been its head was just a circular mouth at the end of the conical body. A forked tongue danced around like a snake. It stood on two muscular legs, with a pair of shorter clawed arms able to reach its jaw. It stood over our campfire, seeming to be searching for something. Our dinner, I realized.

I moved as silently as I could, pulling the Ancient from the dirt.

*You intend to engage it?*

*Yes. We can't let it eat all our food.* I thought that to the Ancient as the reptile located a woven bag that contained cooked chicken.

I stepped out of the tent carefully, standing upright. It didn't seem to acknowledge me as it tore into the bag, gobbling a large portion of chicken. As I took another step, a twig cracked under my heel. Its head snapped towards me, tongue flicking out.

It hissed before dartiing forward with its powerful legs. I sidestepped it as it charged past me. It stopped, tasting the air again, before locking on me again.

"It's blind," I realized.

*But not deaf. It also has a good sense of smell, or taste.*

It charged again, hissing. I dodged out of the way, but it reached a claw out to catch me with its attack. It tore three holes in my shirt, and my side immediately burned.

I cursed. "Where was the Barrier?"

*It surprised me as well. This kind of beast has not attempted to enter the Temple before.*

I didn't have time to keep arguing. It had turned back around. I held my side with one hand, and the Ancient with the other.

It charged me again, and I clumsily dodged to the other side, bringing my sword down on its hand.

It screeched, an unearthly, piercing sound. Its tongue flicked faster.

*Can you stop it?* I asked.

*From screeching? No.*

It turned to me, malice radiating from it.

I shook my head. It charged again, head-on, clawed hands ready to tear me to pieces.

I pulled on my mana. Rather than power erupting from my hands like it had in another world, it flowed right into the Ancient.

At the same time, the beast slammed into a glowing blue barrier, which shattered on impact.

I pulled a little more mana, and stepped onto another barrier, leaping up and over the thing's head. It looked up at me, and I sliced its circular mouth in two.

The screeching returned, but quieter. Everything was more muted. My hand was soaked.

*You will not be able to finish it in your state. May I step in?*

Too tired to resist, I answered, *Yes.*

As though an observer, I watched myself dart forward and stab the monster in the torso. The screeching gradually ended. It collapsed.

And blackness.

I felt like I was moving. I heard faint whispers. Voices I think I knew. A scream.

I slowly opened my eyes. Above me, a stone ceiling, illuminated by bright torches. I sat up, and my head began to throb. I put a hand to my head to try to quell the throbbing as I looked around. I was inside the Temple of Swords, deep into the original tunnel, but not at the fork in the path. Katie sat against the far wall, sleeping. Her glassy sword was propped up next to her.

*You have awakened.* The Ancient noted.

*What happened? My head hurts.*

*After we fought the blind reptile, the Angel healed your wound.*

I patted at my side. It was like I had only been injured in a dream.

*How long was I out? And why does my head hurt?*

*You expended your energy too quickly, which I had not expected possible, considering your companion who wields the Sorceress. The barriers you created stretched your energy beyond what it was used to.*

*And how long was I out?*

*Do not fear. You have only slept until midday. The battle was last night.*

I nodded, then caught my head. My brain was too easy to rattle. Instead, I leaned against the wall, still sitting, and watched Katie's sleeping form.

*She stayed up through the night watching you. She only fell asleep recently.* the Ancient added.

Her mouth was partially hanging open, and her blonde hair was tangled around her shoulders. So gentle. So innocent. So young. So fragile.

Preferring not to fall back asleep, though I could feel it coming, I stood up carefully and left the Temple to find Juliana. She was weaving Leafberry strands into rope by the entrance.

She looked up at my approach. "You're up! We didn't know how long it would be." she said.

"I'm still somewhat tired, but I'm trying to wake up." I replied.

"And Katie? She was pretty worried about you."

"Ancient told me she had just recently fallen asleep, so I didn't want to wake her."

"Makes sense. Would you mind taking these inside?" She asked, handing me a coil of ropes.