Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 16:49:41 EST
From: The Dreamer <ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Mista][L] Firecat: Blown to Pieces

>As Firecat readied for another attack, bitter cold struck him, knocking him
>into a daze.  As he recovered, he was hit again.  His normally roaring fires
>reduced to a mere flicker, Firecat looked for the source of the cold...and
>found it.  The Water elemental was directing streams of his essence at
>Firecat, an extremely powerful weapon in his current form.
>
>Feeling weak, Firecat shifted back into his Gnome form and drew an axe.  He
>shifted his attention toward his watery enemy and charged in that direction.

Firecat noticed that he was not alone anymore.  Two humans had also joined the
battle (Redlin and Eric) and now the odds were more to his liking (even though
they were still outnumbered 3 to 1).

As Firecat approached the Water, it sent forth a stream of water, but Firecat
nimbly dodged the blast.  Finally, he was within striking range of
his target.  With a mighty yell, Firecat swung the axe with all of his might
while continuing to run past the elemental.  Unfortunately, the axe passed
through the Water with little resistance causing Firecat to lose balance.  As
he passed the Water, he slipped on some newly created mud and fell hard on his
butt.  Embarassed, Firecat flushed with anger.  He got to his feet and prepared
for another attack, but the Water hit first.

Firecat felt like he was standing in the ocean and hit with a 20 tall wave
knocked him under the water.  The concussive force of the attack had been
enough to stun him for a moment.  The Water took this time to wash over
Firecat completely, trying to force its way into the Gnome's lungs.

Firecat came to his senses and resisted the pressure of the Water
forcing its way down his throat.  Panic began to surface in his mind, but
he quickly pushed it asside.  To lose control now would be to die.

He looked through the water that surrounded him and then tried to run.  The
water slowed him considerably, but he was able to make his way across the
plaza.  He approached the Fire with the Water still wrapped around him.
When he was within thirty yards, the Water became noticeably hot.  Within
ten it began to steam away...and this was enough.

The Water withdrew its mass from Firecat to keep from evaporating.  It
reformed away from him and then shot a stream of (still hot) water,
pushing the Gnome closer to the Fire.  In turn, the Fire was splashed by some
of the Water's spray.  It turned to see the steaming form of Firecat.
Enraged by the water that had hit it, the Fire collected energy and directed
a firey blast at Firecat.  He was engulfed in a blaze that would have killed
a normal man, melting him into ashes.  Firecat's form DID melt, but only to
be replaced by his feline form, now recharged by the blast, but the stress
of so many attacks took its toll.  Firecat fell into unconsciousness.

The Fire would have finished the creature off, but it seemed to have no
effect against Firecat.  He send this as a mental message to the large
Earth who then instructed the Water to finish the job.  A little resistence
there.  The Water was afraid of Firecat.  After a little more "encouragement"
from the Master Earth, the Water agreed.  He began collecting water to
replace that which he lost from the Fire's heat.

A crash from above...toward the Dragons Inn heralded a rescue.  Shadow,
Firecat's companion and wolf-mount, crashed through a window on the
second floor of the building, driven by the sight of his master, fallen
in combat.  Shadow lept to the ground landing on one of the smaller
Earths to break his fall.  He lept across the battlefield and arrived at
Firecat's side.  In this form, Shadow could not touch his master, but he
would do everything in his power to save him from attack.  He took the
full force of the Water's blast, the pain strengthened his determination.

     Love and Peace and Protective Friends,
                 -The Dreamer-
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn