Gabriela and the mad dragon

Bulger is slammed against the wall before he can bring his shield up. Sandi fires her bolt striking the creature in the neck just under the jaw. Thrashing about one of its clawed hands rakes across Bulgers chest, but his armor hold. Gabriela draws her sword without thinking and charges the creature. It lashes out at her but its arm it severed by Bulgers shield, which has a sharp circular blade at the bottom.

The creature rears up on its hind legs in anger leaving the belly exposed. Gabi and Bulger both take slices at it opening up large gashes. It’s blood is thick and gray; it looking more like a mucus than blood. Two bolts strike it in the throat then explode spraying bone and blood across the large room.

“Are you two, ok?” asks Theodor.

They both check themselves for wounds but find none. “I think we may have gone unscathed.” Bulger says.

“We should double time it. That just made a lot of noise.”

As they turn to run down the tunnel a deafening roar comes from above. Seconds go by that feel like hours before they hear a rumbling as stones begin to fall into the cavern. “Run!” Gabriella says. From her vantage point she can see the catlike eye and dark blue scales of a Dragon. It’s mouth open chest puffed as it positions itself at the top of this chamber.

It's mouth opens to reveal rows of sharp teeth, fire gathers in the back of its throat before pouring down like a river. All four of them are just able to make into their desired tunnel exit. As the fire whips through the main chamber, it forms a sort of tornado that burns all the body parts to ash. The wall and floor of the chamber begin to glow red before some the stone melts. It becomes hard to breath from all of the heat and smoke.

Theodore throws a small device that emits a spark then blue haze covers the entrance of the tunnel. The begins to die down smoke also seems to be blocked by his device. “We need to keeps moving!” Sandi’ says while still trying to catch her breath. Moving as fast as they can down the tunnel it begins to slope upward in a circle. From behind them creams and cries of furry echo through the many chambers. the group come to a halt when the tunnel ends at a chasm. Fast moving brackish water awaits bellow, while ceiling is covered clusters of purple crystal.

“Well this is a pleasant surprise.” Theo says smirking more to himself than the rest of the group.

“You want to let us in on your revelation.” Gabi says.

“That crystal is one of the most stable explosives on the planet. If we could knock some down, we could leave a nasty surprise for our would be captures. Then make our escape with current.”

“How do you know where that even goes?”

“We came across it on our way in. The exit is I would say an hour swim. It comes out just above a saltwater lake to the south of where we came in.”

“I can bring some down Sandi’”, says.

She takes aim with crossbow and fires a bolt. As it hits its target the head opens up revealing a saw-like tip that dislodges a sizable piece of crystal. It lands mostly on the landing they’re on. Theo wastes little time pulling out a kit and grinding it down. He mixes it with some other powders and a liquid that immediately makes it light up. He pores it all into a grenade then throws it in the tunnel behind them.

“Jump!”

The explosion rocks the chasm it rains down large chunks of debris into the river. Water rushes over Gabi almost overwhelming her. But the others work to keep them all together. After an hour of struggling they are all spit out into night air. After getting their bearings they make their way to shore.

UNTIL NEXT TIME……..