Exton

Frontal attacks and brute force has not worked. Tannr is down. Hugh is down. At the rate things are going, it could take them all out. Marc took out one tail, leaving five still flailing. The men move quickly, dragging Hugh and Tannr out of reach. Both men are pale, barely standing, although Hugh keeps trying to go back into the fray.

As the creature takes another swipe at Marc, Addley twists, barely dodging one of the tails. Another tail dives for Addley's back and Allah's Light leaves a trail of light as it slashes, lobbing off the stinger before the mercenary is struck.

A scream pierces the air and Ob launches himself upward. Tannr is writhing on the ground as Marc works at removing the barb. Claw like hands snap at Addley as he throws one of his blades. It strikes just above an eye, bouncing off the tough shell. The creature opens its mouth and screams again, the sound reverberating in his skull. Ob shakes his head, fighting off whipping tails that try to knock him from the air.

Allah's Light takes another tail. this time cutting through shell and not joint. It takes Ob a moment to realise its signifigance. He spies Hugh back among the slashing tails and calls to the giant.

 "Can you catch the tails? Give me space!"

Hugh bellows, the words unintelligible. He grapples for a few moments as Ob climbs higher, gaining a bit more altitude. Two tails are still free, but they are striking at Hugh as Ob points Allah's light straight down and draws in his feet. The gargoyle folds his wings tight and drops from the sky, becoming nothing more than dead stone. The force of his fall displaces enough air to make the creature look up. It moves, but not quite fast enough. The gargoyle lands on its back, knocking it flat as Allah's light shears through the back of its skull.

It bucks, twisting even as Ob pulls his blade free. Clawed hands grasp a wing, trying to pull Ob off its back. Ob jerks, slipping on the carapace. He locks his legs as best he can and beats his wings. The creature lifts slightly from the ground, twisting even harder. Sharp teeth scrape over stone scale, leaving ragged gouges in his arm. Ob jabs Allah's light again, this time through the side of its head, pinning it to the ground.

It screams, thrashing wildly. Ob tries to lift, but is pulled to one side as the body tries to roll. His wing is still clasped tight in the creature's death grip. It convulses again and Ob screams, Pain lancing through his back and down his arm. Stumbling away, Ob feels Pandora pushing at the wall between them.

He feels her worry, even as she sheilds the children from his pain. Tori plunges into his mind and quickly away as she sees Tannr's fall. Ob touches Pandora, telling her he is fine, even though she can tell something is not right. He gently pushes her out of his mind, telling her he loves her, that he will be home soon as they can. As soon as he can focus, Ob turns his attention to the rest of the team.

Tannr is down, twitching and muttering as Marc tries to staunch his wounds. Addley and Andy are busy trying to move the dead mass of tails. Left arm limp at his side, Ob stumbles to the pair.

"Where's Hugh?"

Both men look at Ob, then back at the tails. Ob can just see the man's body. He tries to lift Allah's Light but his arm refuses to lift. Sheathing his borrowed blade, Ob shift's the sword to his right hand. He swings the blade, hacking into the tails. As they seperate, the Ravens shove them off Hugh. His body is a mass of wounds, limbs lying at awkward angles. Andy leans over and slowly closes his friend's eyes. They grasp his arms, pulling the giant's body away from the creature's. As they stoop beside him, Ob stumbles, nearly falling.

Andy helps Ob kneel. It is only then that he sees the odd position of the gargoyle's wing. Ob leans on his good hand, focusing past the pain, listening to the forest. He looks at the two Ravens.

"We can't stay here. We've got to move."

He tries to stand, listing to the left. He winces as he moves his left wing, feeling something grind. His arm refuses to cooperate.

"I think I am... un poco herido." At the raised eyebrows he repeats himself in English. "I think I am a little hurt..."

The men look over his back. He feels fingers trace along the base of his wing. One of the men mutters, then asks, "Does a little hurt mean deep cracks on each side of your wing... stone dust grinding out everytime you move it?"

Ob sighs. "No, mi amigo... It means my wife is going to be *muy enojado... more than angry, with me." He grins as the men step back around him. "Mi Bruha will not let me come play with you boys anymore."

Sobering, he watches Marc finish binding Tannr's wounds. Addley and Andy begin to gather discarded weapons. Every man watches the trees, listening carefully. They all know the Drow can't be too far behind. Tannr moans softly, one word slips from his lips, "Red..."

and Ob feels Tori's scream.