Elena pushed the awful sensation to the back of her mind, deciding to analyze it later. You know, when she wasn't in danger of dying at Tsavitee hands.
Taking a chance, Elena glanced behind her, slowing when she found her trail entirely blocked off by adult Tsavitee battling among themselves. No pint sized assassins in sight.
Despite the reprieve, Elena didn't let herself relax. Danger still stalked her steps. An ever present reminder that there was no safety net in the form of an aunt or uncle to catch her if she faltered.
With that thought at the front of her mind, Elena turned to find her path obstructed by a Tsavitee demon.
He grinned down at her, showing sharp teeth as a pair of war drones flanked him. "Fresh meat."
Despite their name, war drones weren't actual drones in the way Uncle Jin was. Or machines of any kind.
Elena wasn't sure where their name came from or why humans chose it when there were so many other options. Maybe it was because of their resemblance to the drones of Earth's bees? As in they had one purpose in life. In this case killing instead of breeding. And also tended to be extremely short lived.
They were built like walls. Angry, vicious walls who were currently blocking Elena's path to salvation.
In the past few minutes, Tsavitee had started streaming toward the wall in increasing numbers as they snatched the coins and fled. That by itself wouldn't be cause for concern. Except the environment of the cave was quickly becoming unbearable. The air hotter. The walls steaming as drops of water evaporated from their surface.
What did she want to bet that it wouldn't be long before this place was uninhabitable. She didn't think she wanted to be here when that happened.
"You sure you want to do this? You saw what happened to your companion last time," Elena bluffed, reaching behind her for the femur she'd found the first day. The days since had been spent sharpening the bone's tip until it was a lethal point.
To call it a weapon was an insult to weapons everywhere. But it would do. More importantly, it was the only thing she had.
"Are you sure you saw her pick up an exit pass? There's not much time left if you're wrong," the smaller of the drone's pointed out.
Ah ha. Elena had been right about the coin's ability to get her out of here.
The demon exposed an incisor. "Best to make sure. Either way, the welp will make a tasty snack."
How lovely. They were planning to eat her.
Elena eyed the trio, trying not to let their size difference intimidate her. As Auntie would say, it wasn't the size of your weapon. It was how you used it. Any sharpened object would do in a pinch if applied in the proper fashion.
Her bone pick included.
Uncle Jin would follow up by pointing out that all monsters had a weakness. Eyes and throats for starters.
It was just too bad her opponents' greater height meant her targets were so far off the ground. She was pretty sure any attempt to pounce would result in being snatched out of the air before she could do any damage.
Maybe if she scaled their bodies like a tree? It always worked for Aunt Kira.
"Grab her," the demon ordered.
That was her cue. Elena broke left before spinning back to her right and slipping through the tiny opening her feint had created.
But not before she buried her bone pick in the side of the demon's leg.
His scream made a bloodthirsty smile form on Elena's face.
Good luck chasing her now.
She yanked the weapon out of his leg, drawing another pained sound from him as blood spurted. Then she was up, surging past him with as much speed as she could.
The wall the general boy had strode through beckoned, calling her name and promising safety she wasn't sure existed on this world. The fact the demon had referred to the coin she held as an exit pass gave her hope that at the very least, she could escape this pit.
If she was wrong—well, she'd be trapped and likely dead soon after.
Elena preferred to think positive. Auntie said a person's thoughts helped shaped their existence. It didn't matter how beautiful your surroundings or how blessed your life if all you saw was darkness.
