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You can catch the previous installment plus links to even earlier installments here.

As previously stated, this story is copyright Emily Rush on the date of writing and publishing… yada yada yada.

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He lets out another battle shout as he plunges his lance in to the beast’s neck. He can feel skin and muscle part underneath the keen point of his spear. He knows that this is just the beginning of a long and arduous battle. He’s not sure who will be the victor though. Will he live or will he die? These are thoughts that didn’t enter his head until now. And even though they pop in to his thoughts while fighting, he doesn’t pay them much mind. Just fleeting contemplations that appear momentarily and then disappear back in to the aether of his brain.

The creature bellows in pain. The first wound has been struck in this war.

In the background, he could hear the various chirruping of the surrounding creatures reacting to the pain of this creature.

He instantly blocks it out as he maintains his firm grip on his weapon as it’s still plunged in to the beast’s neck. It helps him stay on the back as the creature below him reels back a little.

He uses the stability of his lance in the beast’s neck to jump over to his head. As his feet hit the hard bone of this creatures skull, he struggles to pull the weapon out. He didn’t realize that the muscles would be so taught and tense. With a hard, swift jerk he manages to free his lance from the creatures neck. A plume of blood spurts out from where the lance once existed.

He starts looking for another vulnerable spot to attack the beast. He sees nothing from the top of the head.

“Shit.”, he says as he realizes that vulnerable spots here are in the beasts face.

He closes his eyes for a moment as he continues to ride on the head.

“Must think. Must think.”, races through his mind as he ponders some other way.

He shakes his head.

There’s only one solution…”, he thinks as he slowly makes his way down to the beast’s muzzle.