19 Baby Face

I draw my sword and stand at the ready.

"Here they come!"

"Kill them!"

The Chiefs rough voice barks out and the two orcs crash through the underbrush with no hesitation.

Bernadette and Alcon rush past me and run to intercept them. They each take one to themselves, Alcon dancing around his and Bernadette deflecting and dodging by the slimmest of margins.

Neither of them try to take head on attacks and they're aiming for the orcs limbs whenever there's an opening.

I can't help but grin.

(Even Alcon is taking my advice.)

"Natalia-"

"Rabbit Foot! Second Wind!"

Before I can even finish, yellow and blue lights surround everyone in the party. After they fade, everyone's movements look sharper and less sluggish.

I turn to Ian. He looks back at me with a frightened look on his face.

"We need to support Alcon and Bernadette. You know what to aim for."

With an audible gulp, he nods and draws a large knife.

His entire body is shaking, his deep breaths not even seeming to help.

I clap him on the shoulder, which somehow makes him shake less, then turn to Matt.

His face is slightly paler than normal, sweat dripping down his face. I can tell that his constant use of mana is getting to him.

Natalia also looks exhausted. They probably only have one or two spells left before they're at their limit, and mana potions of this quality lose effect over time.

"You two try to meditate and get some mana back. If it looks like the battle is taking a turn for the worse, jump in and help."

They both nod, steadying their breathing and relaxing a bit, but still keeping an eye on the battle.

I turn back to Ian and spin my sword in a circle.

"Ready?"

He nods again, turning towards Alcon.

I return his nod and take my own deep breath to steady my shaking hands.

(We'll have to make this fast. The Chief will be tough with these two still kickin'.)

Ian creeps to the side, waiting for an opening, while I charge in and help Bernadette directly.

At this point, Bernadette is doing better than Alcon. With all the blood he's lost, I can't blame him.

***Alcon's POV***

A mixture of sweat and blood trickles down my face.

No matter how much I try, my movements are gets sloppier and sloppier. At this point I'm rolling around like a fucking rat.

The orc swings it's club over and over, but I manage to always dodge it by the slimmest of margins.

As I roll again, I can see the orc change the direction of the club as it's coming down.

(I can't dodge from where I'm at!)

Swinging my sword up as fast as I can, I hit the side of it and throw off it's trajectory, saving myself but less than an hair's width.

(Fuck, that was too close! I'm barely on my fucking feet! I can't let this overgrown puss goblin get the best of me!)

"Come at me you baby faced broccoli fuck!"

The orc looks confused, but continues to swing its club regardless.

Recklessly charging the orc, I fling myself to the side and around the orc.

(The tendon!)

I whip my sword around and cleanly cut both of the orcs achilles. With a roar of pain, it crashes to the ground.

Shakily, I get to my feet. Raising my sword into the air, I give a roar of triumph.

I jump as a bellow of pain comes from right behind me. Seeing Ian stabbing the orc with abandon, I jump in with a snarl and start hacking the shit out of it.

As it sprawls on the ground, Ian pounces on it with feline agility and stabs into its throat over and over again.

Blood spurts from the multiple incisions, and within a few seconds the orc stops moving.

***Kairo's POV***

I glance in Alcon and Ian's direction as a earsplitting roar cuts through the should of battle.

Ian is stabbing the orc over and over again. He continues stabbing even after the orc is obviously dead.

Eventually, he stops and just stares at the corpse, fresh blood splattered all over his already filthy face and clothes.

Ian, still trying to catch his breath, turns and flashes a shaky thumbs up to Natalia.

It seemed like he was trying for a cool or heroic look, but it just looks pitiful.

His entire body is shaking like a leaf in the wind, and the waterfall of sweat falling freely down his face makes him look even more like an idiot.

Reluctantly, Natalia returns his thumbs up with one of her own and an awkward smile.

I frown, already having taken down the orc and letting Bernadette bury her axe in its chest.

Still frowning, I put away my sword, feeling like I'm forgetting about something important. As I struggle to place it, Bernadette pulls her axe out of the orc.

Alcon looks back and forth between Ian and the Orc laying at his feet, then stomps off towards Natalia to get healed, muttering something about people 'always stealing his god damn kills'.

I can see a flicker of movement in the corner of my eye, but don't think anything of it until Natalia's face flits into my vision

Shock, fear, powerlessness.

(Fuck!)

I snap to look in Ian's direction, shouting at the top of my lungs.

"IA-"

But it's too late. His head has already been removed from his shoulders.