From: dementia@cheshire.oxy.edu (Daniel Steven Reinker)
Subject: [blade] Meshtak defends himself as best he can
Organization: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041 USA.
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 04:09:28 GMT

(For the record, I'm Reinker the Younger...Matt is my elder brother
by two years.)

     Meshtak fell backwards in shock, and just managed to avoid the
creatures claws, more by instinct than skill. The awkward dodge put
his foot in the puddle of blood, and he slipped to the ground. His 
strange attacker, some creature that Meshtak couldn't identify, loomed
over him, its very manner indicating that it considered the battle
already won. Meshtak's veteran mind recognized this as a great
advantage...the way the creature acted, its confidence, its choice
of attack, all showed a lack of experience in fighting opponents.
Meshtak's only hope was to use this to his advantage.
    Meshtak pretended to wait in complete helplessness for the 
creature's inevitable attack, and when it came, he easily avoided it, 
reaching behind to grab its arm and pull it forward. It snarled and
managed to keep its balance, but Meshtak got a chance to scramble
to his feet.
    The two opponents circled each other, Meshtak looking to dodge
the creature's next blow, the creature looking to plant his claws in
Meshtak's hide. While they circled, Meshtak let his eyes wander as much
as they could around the kitchen, looking for some kind of weapon. It
was another reflection of the attackers inexperience that a cutting
dagger, probably used by Liera for chopping food, was left on the
table. 
    Meshtak began to slowly ease his way over towards the table,
careful to keep his intentions secret. To distract his opponent, he
spoke. "Who are you, to bother the house of a widow such as this?
What manner of evil commands you?"
    "Don't pretend not to know me, fool!" snarled the creature. "It
is because of you that I am in this hideous form! You will pay!" It
lunged, an attack that Meshtak easily side-stepped. Meshtak began to 
see another potential advantage; the creature was obviously easily
angered, and angry fighters tended to become sloppy.
    So Meshtak openly sneered at the creature. "I know of no
creature as ugly as yourself, you wretch. Better to die
than to live such as you."
    The creature screamed in rage at this taunting, and stormed in
at Meshtak, flailing its claws. The attacks were for the most part
blind and with no purpose, and Meshtak ducked by them. His hand closed
around the hilt of the dagger, but he decided to keep it hidden and
pursue his advantage. Approaching the door, as if he meant to take
flight, Meshtak swung it open.
    "You will not escape Mechatak so easy!" howled the beast, and 
rushed in with both claws. Meshtak ducked the attack, and swung the door
on the creatures outstretched claws. Holding the door closed with all
his draga strength, Meshtak brought out the dagger. The beast's eyes
grew wide as the dagger dove in for his throat, but the door held his
claws and kept him from escaping.
    Just before the blade was to strike, the creature's form grew
hazy and he disappeared. The dagger dove through empty space, and the
door slammed closed. Meshtak looked around, but there was no sign of
his attacker. "A teleporter?" murmured the draga uneasily. "Or 
teleported?" He had no answer; all he knew was that his attacker was
gone, and Meshtak was left with as little answers as before.

Meshtak the Draga

-- 
"You can't help that. We're all mad here."-The cheshire cat, Alice in WL

"A mass hysteria/a megalomania/reveal Dementia/reveal"-Metallica