#Derniergeant Nolbecoeur

[miqomonkly]

5. "I can't move."

"Look out!"

The shout was almost too late; so focused had I'lyanna been on pummeling the coeurl's side that she had failed to notice the levin charge building across its gargantuan whiskers. At the last second, she made a dash to get away, sprinting like it was--

Schzzk!

The pain was something else. Every inch of her skin tingled, like millions of tiny daggers were stabbing her over and over again; this was almost drowned by the sudden sensation of every muscle in her body contracting all at once. Legs, arms, lungs, heart - nothing was untouched.

All of this lasted for a second before it was replaced by a total and complete numbness throughout her form; caught in her sprint, I'lyanna tumbled over herself, scuffing and scraping along the ground until she she at last came to a stop.

Careless, she chided herself. The coeurl was far from defenseless; she'd known that and still charged in like an ox, hoping to end the fight before it had begun. Now, she shuddered and rasped as she fought to regain control of her body. She had to get up. Had to -

Even before she could see it, the Miqo'te knew she was in danger. The thuding was paws on the ground, a low growl crescendoing to a roar. Claws out stretched, jaws wide...

Yalms.

Fulms...

"RAARGH!!"

The second roar of a far less beastial combatant pierced her ears, followed by the anguished yelp of the monster before her. It tumbled out of her view, replaced by the poised form of the Midlander who'd intercepted it. Her axe swung round once more before she squared off against the beast.

"Derniergeant!" Minnow hollered, bracing to charge again, "Keep it off balance! Don't give it a chance to rest!"

"As you say!" came the soft, measured reply as several cracks of black powder resounded through the chamber. The Marauder rushed forward, another war cry upon her lips, as the smaller figure of a Lalafell dashed into Lyanna's view.

"Hold on, my dear!" Tijin urged as he slid next to his fallen comrade. "I'll have you up in a jiffy."

Would that warmth could fill her breast at the bravery and work of her friends; but at that moment, all she could feel was the numbness of unchecked levin surging through her body.

"I... can't... move..." she managed to stammer.

"Fear not!" The Conjurer proclaimed with the wave of his wand. "I've moved a far greater crowd than you! This shouldn't be but a trifle."

Tijin's jocular assertions were met with a loud groan as his esuna took effect upon the Miqo'te. Along with the warmth of relieved tension from paralysis, the registration of several bruises and at least one minor laceration flooded her renewed senses. Thankfully, these would pass as a minor bit of healing came quite quickly afterward, which gave I'lyanna plenty of time to retort, "Is that really the best you can come up with on the spot?"

"In fairness, I'm not normally fighting for my life as I jest," assured the Lalafell. "Much less so four lives at once." As he spoke, he twirled away and thrust his wand toward the threat in question, unlesshing a blast of Aero in the process.

It would not be for a long while that I'lyanna would look back on these memories and laugh. These memories of a simpler time, where all they thought to do was make the world a better place. Where they stood by each other's side as strangers, and yet as close as any friend or family they had ever known.

But today, as she regained her footing and faced down their adversary; as Minnow leapt upon the coeurl's back and hacked at it's spine; as Derniergeant hammered round after round into its hide; as Tijin mocked and heckled it from afar, all while protecting and aiding his comrades...

Today, all she could think about was picking up her knuckles and giving this monster a piece of her mind!

This was SO much fun to write! I'm so sorry it took me so long to answer this, but thank you for giving me a chance to just write. I look forward to doing more of these in the future!