Fight

My 1st Wildlands one-shot is published! Check Out Mystery of Thorngage Manor

The smoke and fire billowed into the air. A caustic smell hung in the air. The rag tag group weaved through an unplanted field. The scout leading them had tears streaming down her face. Duty required getting these people to safety. Two arrows notched on her bow emphasized the danger. She kept her breath quiet and made sure the others were following her foot falls exactly.

A few whimpers and breaths could be heard from the others. The scout could only hope they were quiet enough. She heard some rocks shift. Her hand went up as a signal for everyone to stop. The knot in her throat got higher and higher. She had not been brought up to believe much in the gods. She trusted the forest and they were almost across the field. The trees loomed ahead. She closed her eyes.

Lavani, hear my plea. Let us reach those trees.

She may have said more but the tears streamed harder, and she needed to stifle any sounds. As the group waited - the shadows they cast in the moonlight lengthened. The space around them became hushed. The sounds from the burning village seemed far away. With a sigh of relief, the scout moved everyone forward. They continued undetected, hidden from the world by the spirit of the forest.

Once in the safety of the trees, the scout dared to look back at the village. The dragon spewed its acid one final time then took flight. It headed Northeast, away from them. Smoke continued to float into the air from several buildings. Artie came up to her.

"Evette, I'm sorry." Artie wasn't sure what else to say. The dragon tossed Evette's brother across the village and through a brick wall. Hobbs and Sergio didn't fare much better. Artie and Evette had been searching farms near the forest's edge when the dragon appeared in center of the village. Buildings shattered as its form erupted across the square. Any defense crumbled with the town. The pair gathered as many townspeople as possible and got them into the forest.

"We had no tools to fight it. We did what we could and saved lives." Artie continued. Evette didn't respond. She just kept her eyes on the fields and the village.

An undead head reared up in the field from some rubble. Evette put two arrows into its head. It did not get up again. Artie got his bow ready. This fight was not over yet.

I appreciate you reading my flash fiction article. The Storytelling Collective's #FlashFicFeb Challenge inspired this article. It is now going to be background for a 5e one-shot adventure I wrote called "Recover My Arrows". Get quick access to more flash fiction, poetry, novels, and ttrpg games built around my stories by joining my newsletter or following my world:

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Fight

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