Toxic Tales: Chapter 20

Fleeing

Achelois dived to the right, just missing the projectile. Eris heard another click, she continued to open the shackles, slowly freeing more creatures. There was another click, she turned around to see one just skimming the spino's tail, and she continued to unlock them. Finally, she got to Elpis, she had brownish-green scales and off-green wings, and she was coated in scars, making Eris have nothing but respect for her, she had clearly survived something harsh making her a valuable ally. One of her wings was broken, she put little weight on it and it had a splint. Eris took a step towards her, holding the keys in her jaws, Elpis backed away, fanning out her frills as much as she could. Eris continued walking forward, seeing the fear in the wyvern's eyes caught her off guard, after all, why would a wyvern fear a microraptor? Finally, Eris got to the shackles, unlocking the ones on her legs first. Click. She started working on the one on Elpis's neck before she heard it, a click, followed by the sound of a thump. Elpis gasped, Eris turned around, seeing Achilles on the ground, with the projectile sticking outside of his flank. "Achilles," she screamed as she sprinted over to him.

"I'm fine, Eris," he said.

"No you're not, let me bandage it, you won't die, you can't," she sobbed.

"There's nothing you can do, there's nothing anyone can do. Just listen to one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Don't blame yourself, or anyone else, this is how it goes."

"I could still save you though!"

"No, you can't, it's too late for me. Goodbye Eris, I'll see you in the stars above."

"No, don't give up, please, you're all I've ever had, please." It was too late, his eyes were closed and his breathing stopped. Eris sobbed, climbing into the bag around Achelois's neck and closing it.

"Get moving, I'd slow you down if I move on foot," she muttered. They started moving due North towards the Great Division.

- Sol