Thread: Life's Journey (The_Gladiator & darkangel76)

The expected attack came after the boat entered a particularly narrow section of the watery cleft, that map makers cleverly had named the narrows. It had another name, the troll narrows, or simply, the killing gorge. Taurean couldnt see them, couldnt see the ropy green hair, the jagged teeth and long dirty fingernails, almost like claws, the almost squid like rubbery bodies, but he could hear the chuff of their breathing, could hear those nails scratching at the sides of the boat. He could feel the growing tension in Rhonwhyns body, the priestesss tension bleeding into her touch on his thigh as she clamped down on the leather of his pants. Despite her fear she had grabbed the oar as instructed, demonstrating she had some degree of poise in a crisis. He had no time or energy to spare to offer her any comfort. Even if he could have, he suspected his comfort would seem hollow and empty in the face of what he knew was all around them. The actual attack came with the suddenness of any ambush. Her hand was yanked from his thigh, leaving a cool emptiness in the wake of her touch. He could still feel the sides of her bottom and hips pressing against him, but the sudden loss of that death grip contact surprised him. He missed a stroke and they jounced against a rock, a move that may have worked to their advantage for he heard a meaty thwack that had nothing to do with the boat hitting the submerged rocks. Even though he did not see the strike, it was obvious that rhonwhyn had landed a hit on one of their attackers. Almost an instant later, the priestesss weight shift, causing the boat to rock dangerously. Taurean swore as his eyes flicked their red glow piercing the inky blackness. He could see the looming shape of one of the trolls coming out of the river water, one hand scratching and scrabbling at the side of the boat while the other had a solid hold of Rhonwhyns ankle. He could see the heat in telltale rivulets that meant she was bleeding from the tare of the claw like nails of the beast. She screamed once for him, a clipped call that was his name. It was a cry for help, a sound of controlled panic. It was obvious that she had cut it off not wanting to attract more attackers but yet she still needed assistance. She flailed ineffectively at the creature holding her, the hurried blows bouncing harmlessly off the creatures rubbery hide. It was strange how time always seemed to slow in moments like this. Even though he was moving with lightning speed, there were details that were burned into his mind that were crystal clear. It was strange how the details that stuck out were the least relevant as well. Taurean could see his oar coming out of the water, the right handed instrument turning into a deadly weapon as he swept it through the air towards his left foot where Rhonwhyn and her attacker were struggling. The hiss of the oar through the air was audible. Drops of water spattered through the air, fanning out in an arc as the sweep moved towards its inevitable target. He could see some of the cold drops splatter against Rhonwhyn, some sliding down the front of that flimsy night gown. It was little details like that that stuck out. Her life was threatened and yet he wondered if she was cold? The side of the oar like a blade slammed into the trolls arms and there was a snap that sounded like an ax snapping wood as the wood snapped the bones of the troll. The blow had been strong enough to sever the limb that was holding fast to Rhonwhyn. The living limb continuing to claw at her as the disembodied wrist and forearm flopped around. The troll still clung tenaciously to the side of the boat despite the broken appendage that it was using to keep the death grip. Taurean gave one grunt of effort as his left hand oar made a similar sweep up from the water to connect sidelong with the side of the trolls skull. There were two snaps with that strike, first the snap of the trolls neck incapacitating the creature. The second crack was not a good noise though it heralded the breaking of the oar, the flat blade snapping off the shaft. Taurean knew this was not good news for them as the boat began to pick up speed as their uninvited troll guest floated away leaving behind his arm. The troll wasnt dead and the troll would grow a new forearm, for that matter the forearm would grow a new troll. However he could not help Rhonwhyn deal with the arm at that moment, he had more pressing concerns, trying to keep the boat going and from the rocks with his single remaining oar. He had discarded the worthless oar shaft in the bottom of the boat, his now free left hand clamping down on Rhonwhyns wrist, strong fingers locking tight as he reeled the woman back in, needing her to not be half over one side of the boat, they were rocking dangerously and although there were likely to be further troll attacks, at this point the current could kill them as easily as the trolls. Taurean did not have the luxury of being able to handle one crisis at a time, no rather he had to try to prevent the disasters in order of potential lethality, and at this moment capsizing the boat was a greater threat to them than the risk of more trolls.