Joined venture

Jp with Lorem and Bandorchu

Gonyaul had finally gotten to his feet; however, he was staying concealed behind a structure. He suddenly saw Alexis moving quickly from spot to spot. Thank goodness she was still alive and mobile. Gonyaul went to step closer to her and nearly tripped on something. It was Alexis’s shield. He picked it up and made his way closer to her direction trying to get her attention.

“Alexis.” He repeated until she could hear his forceful whisper.

It took a moment with the amount of noise the now absolutely livid creature was making, but Alexis realized her name was being called.

Frantically looking right and left, she spotted Gonyaul, a wave of relief flooding through her.

Keeping her head down, she sneaked towards him.

Once they were within speaking distance Gonyaul smiled through the aches and pains. His nose was bleeding again, but he was ignoring it. And there was another sanguine stream sneaking down the side of his neck from underneath his hair. He showed her that he had found her shield, thinking she must have lost it.

“You think it ready give up?” He jested. But his expression showed it was forced humor.

Alexis chuckled lowly.

“Almost, I’m sure.”

She took the shield from him with a grateful smile. With routined ease she fixed it to her arm again. Her dagger probably still was stuck in the creature’s back.

“We somehow have to limit its mobility.”
She stated matter-of-factly.
They were at a mayor disadvantage with its reach already, but its speed made it hard to do anything more than just reacting.

Gonyaul rested his head on the tomb’s side. He wished the Naylmo would keep it down so he could think. He suddenly opened his eyes with what could only be the Gonyaul crazy idea gleam.

“I know. Me get attention you go behind.” He gestured a slicing motion at the back of his legs, around where the Achilles’ tendons are located.

“Need you shield.” He requested.

Alexis already had a protest on her lips. But looking at her friend, she stopped herself. Dedicated warrior or not, she realised she trusted Gonyaul. Trusted that he could do this. Trusted him as she would have a shield brother that had lived and fought through countless battles with her. Maybe even more.

So, instead, she just nodded, and took her shield off again to hand it to him.

Gonyaul took the shield and held it like a sled. He took a long deep breath and nodded to the Alexis to signal he was ready. This could be the last time they see each other. He smiled brightly despite the fear and fatigue.

“I love you.” It wasn’t saturated with romantic undertones, but instead a genuine unconditional trust of familial bonds. If this was it, he could go to the grave knowing he let her know what she meant to him.

Gonyaul took to his feet with a groan and took off running towards the beast at a strategic arc to allow Alexis better access to its backside. He was screaming and banging the shield as best he could.

“Okok in uri, etik, anierustihs nijiur'ne o eterust etik.”

The Naylmo whirled around, one eye squinting, and was able to finally locate the pest again. It roared and struck a pose of dominance; beating its chest violently. Gonyaul paused and mimicked it. It looked like a midget with a death-wish barking at a titan.

The Naylmo snorted at Gonyaul and started its charge.

It was hard. It was hard to let him run head first into danger while she had to stay hidden.
But he was more agile than her, while she was the better attacker. They could only survive this if they trusted in each other’s skills.

As the Naylmo began its charge after Gonyaul, so did she start her charge after the ape.

She would not let Gonyaul down.