Unlikely Friend

The torrent of gunfire against against wind arrows continued, Morrgen and Rellana alternated between a salvo of bullets and reloading while facing off against Marionne in a battle of marksmanship. All while Alara went toe to toe against the 30 foot monstrosity of vicious might.

Alara's metal spear parried the Zerden's gargantuan fist, although she held her ground, Alara was being pushed back by the desert beast's primal strength!

From atop the beast's head, Miryam's pistol had a clear shot of the Frost giant.

"Steady now, Clint." Miryam urged, putting Alara into her flintlock pistol's iron sights. Miryam's finger finally pulled the trigger. "What the...!"

The Naga's aim skewed, her bullet grazing Alara's cheek as a flying dagger hit her pistol and messed with her aim. Miryam's vision locating where the daggers came from.

"Tell me, Naga, you ever tangled with a real snake before?" The Gorgon's pristine mask turned sideways in inquiry, they are indeed in rush but these bandits will not let them pass without a fight. Yazmin may as well enjoy the carnage.

A superiority complex fueled by their gift of turning others into stone. While the blessing that the Nagas received from Medusa were an extra set of arms. Arms that Miryam will use to put the Gorgon in her place.

Accepting Yazmin's invitation, Miryam's tail coiled before launching her like a spring. Scimitars on both hands, Miryam flew from their pet and straight down to where Yazmin stood.

Scimitars against daggers, the two snakes began their dance blades. Their mobility on sandy soil both equal, their snake halves allowed them to reposition in the blink of an eye, going in circles while their dual blades sparked against each other.

Such was Miryam's skill in swordplay that she rained slashes from differing directions towards Yazmin. Of course, the asssassin did not lag behind, there is only one swordswoman she would recognize as her better.

Thus, Yazmin's dagger parried all of Miryam's strikes.

It appears they are evenly matched, but Miryam still a trick up her sleeves. Two if were going to get literal.

Their blades and daggers locked into a standstill, Miryam praised the Gorgon during their heated clash.

"Not bad, not bad at all, Gorgon. But tell me, can you parry this?"

With two foreboding clicks, Yazmin gazed down to find two pistols aiming straight at her stomach. The Naga got the Gorgon.

"Go ahead, shoot..." While their arms remained preoccupied keeping the other's weapons glued, Yazmin's encounter with her lover kept her wise about the limitations of her mask. The pristine cover of her face dropped onto the ground, unveiling Yazmin's golden eyes and a smirk. "...I dare you."

The Gorgon cornered the Naga.

+++

On the opposite end, Alara kept on deflecting the Zerden's swipes and punches. The fact that she was able to engage the gigantic beast in melee wss testimony to both her strength and skill!

Preoccupied with Alara, the beast shrieked as a humungous fireball made from dark flames crashed into the monster's side. The fireball from Maessha tipped the Zerden off balance, but the attack only managed to enrage the beast.

Finally, Alara's spear pierced the thick skin of the Zerden's arm, only for its hand to envelop Alara, raising her up high before before slamming Alara flat on the ground. An ordinary race mgiht have beem splattered into gore but the vicious slam managed only to render her entire body reeling from the agony.

Another dark fireball launched as vengeance for her lover, this time straight into the monster's face.

The Zerden shrieked in agony.

Of course, the frost giantess will not let a monster disrespect her like that. Her body still aching from the slam Alara arose, jumping high to deliver an uppercut into the Zerden's lizardlike jaw.

A punch that send the beast reeling from the devastating punch of the Amazones, the might of winterlands smashing into the desert's apex predators.

+++

Back to the snake women, at the standstill with mutual destruction. Miryam's pistol ready to spill Yazmin's guts but not until she paid the toll of becoming a statue.

"That's a fearsome Zerden you ride, do you think your ferocious pet will mourn you after I turn turn you into stone?"

"How about your companions? Can they navigate this treacherous desert after I blow your innards out?"

Yazmin cannot die yet, the life of her unborn child and Althea depends upon this journey. Even if his healing is not as potent as a cleric's, Yazmin had faith in the wood elf, she is willing to make a bet that Marionne 's first aid can patch her would be holes.

Better yet, Yazmin's opportunism had plans for Miryam.

"The lair of Zerdens, we are planning to make a pass at Arhu plains."

The Naga's brow shot up. Arhu plains are one of the few places where bandits NEVER make camp. Zerden packs are territorial, mercilessly devouring those that dared step upon their part of the desert. Even on a full stomach, they rip apart these interlopers with their ferocious strength.

"Make no mistake, your companions are barely able to handle one, but to pass through a lair of them!? I'm afraid that whatever it is you are seeking past Arhu, death is the only thing you will find."

Yazmin's lips curl into a smile, "Not if you help me."

Sheathing her daggers, Yazmin unveiled from her the pouch of her vest a snake bracelet made from pure gold, coiling into a circle. Its eyes adorned with pure ruby, reflecting the glow of the desert sun in its wealth.

A treasure that Miryam could pawn for hundreds of gold pieces. An extravagance that Yazmin was willing to part for to save her one and only treasure.

Spinning the pistols, Miryam hostelered them in her waist, while her scimitar she sheathed behind her back. Faced with what makes a bandit tick, the promise of wealth would be more than enough to make her see past this little scuffle. Miryam smirked.

"Of course, let the Vipers escort you across Arhu...friend."