Dragon Realm Scorch

The Zacheriah river crashed against the protruding rocks as Avalon struggled to keep her head above the water. Her coat and Silencer hung heavy, hindering her movement, and her boots became like weights tied to her feet as she struggled to stay afloat. She twisted and turned in the currents as she slammed against nearby rocks and knocked the little air she’d managed to keep. The river threw her against a large wet boulder and she desperately clung to it. She screamed out, fear rolling through her body like the rapids themselves. Her fingers finally gave out and she was swept under the water once more. As her head dunked up and down, she spotted the swamp rat bounty hunter grasping a rock not too far away from her. Fighting against the bashing waters and blinking away the stinging droplets, Avalon swam to Guster. The current nearly pulled her away, but she grabbed his coattail, then the hand he extended, and clawed her way to the boulder. Guster grunted as he pulled Avalon to the jutting stone. Despite the quartz surface being so slick, she found a decent grip.

“Hey blue, you miss me?” Guster gasped, still out of breath. He did his best to keep a calm demeanor, but in truth, he was terrified. His body was still feeling the effects of the poison, which made each limb feel like it was tethered to an ox.

By Thorton, I could use a cigarette right now.

“Shove it, Guster. Can you move your legs yet?”

“Heh, ‘fraid not.”

Avalon heaved herself higher onto the stone and extended her arm. “Come!” she commanded. Zooming from downstream came her sword, whipping into her hand. She breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed her Silencer.

Avalon wrapped her arm over Guster's shoulder and gripped his tunic. “We need to get to the calmer part of this river and make it to shore. Don’t drown until then.”

Guster clenched his eyes closed and took a deep breath as Avalon pushed off the rock and let the currents engulf them once more. Avalon’s free arm ached as she kept Guster's head from dipping underneath the water. She could feel her tired muscles burn and her mind roaring to stop. Stop to save herself. To abandon this role of being the bounty hunter’s savior. She pushed down her negative thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand. One step at a time.

Soon the rapids slowed into a gentler part of the Zacheriah. With the last ounce of strength she had left, Avalon paddled to the shore and dragged Guster onto the bed of pebbles.

Guster rolled onto his side, spurting out water. His throat was still swollen and throbbing. A thin film of mucus dribbled from his nostrils and around the rim of his lips. His eyes were red and irritated, but he was alive. He would later thank the angel of chance and chaos for the sliver of luck he was granted this day.

Avalon's body shivered, not just from the cold dampness soaking her through, but from the strength she'd just exerted. Her body tried to give in, but she knew better. Siv would be looking for their bodies to confirm the kill. Avalon would do the same thing if she was in her shoes.

Avalon grabbed Guster's jacket and tried to drag him into the brush.

“Hang on, give me some time to rest up. If you haven't noticed, I nearly drowned,” coughed Guster.

“I'm in no condition to fight Siv off you this time. We need to get moving before she finds us.”

Guster pushed off the ground and sat up. “I can feel dis poison wearin’ off. I think I can walk on my own.”

With the Silent One's help, they both limped off the bank and made their way to the golden grass that lined the shores.”

Avalon managed a weak chuckle. “It looks like you lost your hat.”

Guster reached up and pawed his damp hair. “Damn, dat was my favorite one too,” he sighed. “Hey, dere's a town not too far from here, de ole’ Irvine colony. You can trade your sword in for a pair of horses and maybe a new hat if dere's a haberdashery.”

Avalon glared at him. Trade her sword? “I will kill you myself, Guster.”

“What blue, you ain't buyin’ me a new hat?” Guster innocently asked.

“I'm not trading my Silencer.”

“Blue, dat rusty thing can easily buy us a couple of horses at the least. Oh! Maybe a hot meal and to stay at de inn. Imagine it, blue! A soft bed, warm blankets, a cushy pillow...” Guster drifted his head into the clouds just thinking about a good night's sleep.

“I would never sell this sword. And while we’re on the subject, my blade is not rusty!” Guster grinned stupidly. “Just think about it, blue.”

Avalon tapped a finger on her chin and gazed off into the distance as if pondering the decision, then turned back to Guster. “No.”

Avalon grunted as her leg gave out. Her legs buckled underneath her and he dropped to the ground.

“Avalon, you ok?”

“Let us rest here,” Avalon said weakly.

Guster rested his head against a small stone and did his best to get comfortable. He laid one hand onto his chest and instinctively went to cover his face with his hat, but stopped short with a groan. “Blue, I don't think I can go any further without my derby.”

Avalon collapsed on the ground, unbuckling her belt and opening up her coat so that she could breathe easier. She spread her arms across the ground and stared up at the sky. “You'll manage,” she finally responded. “How far are we from the desert?

Guster gestured to a large formation of spear shaped rocks out in the distance. “Deres de Pike Rocks; Irvine is a day's walk beyond dem. De desert’s a three day journey on foot, but a pair of horses would get us dere faster. We need dem horses if we are going to catch him.”

“What is Uther doing in the Deserts of the Damned?” asked Avalon.

“His new master is after some seal dere.”

“Seal?”

“Yeah, sound familiar?”

Avalon harkened back to her history lessons on ancient Draak Terra lore.

A council of mages created five powerful wards upon the realms to banish the gods into the Heavens…

“Vaguely, though I have no clue why Uther would be involved with them,” said Avalon.

“It don’t matter anyways. Uther is goin’ to be just another gladiator in a few days once he dances with the Night Whisper again,” Guster rolled to his side. “Get some sleep, blue.”

Avalon looked to the clear night sky.

Vada, every time I see the stars of Scorch, I seem to think of you. I miss you. I miss you so much. I wish I could be by your side, but I have to do this. This final fragment of my past lingers between us, but once it’s been shattered, you and I will be together again. Wait for me, Vada.