Up Against Goliath With Nothing

“How did I end up in this situation? I was down to my underwear. No armor and no weapons, aside from a helmet that's practically useless in this battle. And a gigantic swamp wolf mid-air diving down to shred me apart. How funny is it that turning invisible is practically useless?”

Those were what Kitezh thought were going to be her final words. Reality did not return to her until she was thrown to the ground.

Thanks to Lev’s beast like strength and speed, he carried her inside the bastion halls.

“Lev, what about-“

“Get down!” shouted Lev, as he shoved Kitezh to the floor

“BARK! GRRRR!”

The snout of the swamp wolf was nearly the size of the wall itself. Its barks were so loud that they vibrated the bones of the people inside. It breathed heavily through the halls. Warm, ominous winds could be felt.

CRASH!

The bastion shook, but not too violently. The monster growled like a broken motor.

“Its big ass head can’t get inside. The bastion is truly a stronghold to hold against a monster the same size,” said Lev.

CRASH! CRASH!

Its mighty paws banged and scratched the walls.

“That thing knows we are in here, no matter what. There is no escape from here. As soon as it smells us, it will snap right at us,” said Kitezh

“Quick, check the halls for supplies. There’s gotta be some sort of weapon. No way am I going up to a giant with just my fists in my undies,” said Lev.

They rummaged the hall. The wolf began to peer inside, and then bared its teeth toward the windows.

Lev picked up something long and sharp, looked at it for a bit, and turned to the wolf’s mouth.

“God damn demon!” Lev swung his arm at the wolf.

“BARK!”

“Woah!” Lev stumbled back and dropped the object. It wasn't a sword, but just some useless scrap metal.

“BARK!”

“SHUT UP!” Lev threw the metal scrap at its mouth, straight to the gums.

The wolf winced a bit, but opened its mouth. A stinky smell came from its mouth.

“Oh shit, run!”

Lev grabbed Kitezh again. She choked a bit from the force.

A large plume of sludge vomit was emitted from its mouth through the windows. The sludge started to roll and spread like it was ice cream melting on the hot sidewalk.

“We have to get up the stairs. That floor will kill us!”

Lev carried Kitezh up the spiral stairs, only to find a dead end. It was an opening to the top of the bastion.

“One step out there, and the wolf would surely jump at us for a meal. Even then, he’ll probably vomit down the stairs, and we’d be screwed,” said Kitezh.

Meanwhile, Frigyes and Marigold witnessed the action from the pier.

“Are they alive in there? That wolf is looking inside the bastion like it's searching for something, so maybe they’re still putting up a fight!” Frigyes yelled. “Marigold, my weapons are frozen in the river. You're the only one with a wand to save them!”

“I can’t. I’m all out of power. I used it up freezing the river,” said Marigold. “Agh! Kitezh is going to die because of me!”

“Gimme that. I won’t break it,” said Frigyes, as he carelessly snatched the wand out of Marigold’s hands. “I still have all my magic power. I’m most proficient with fire skills. But, would that work on a giant amphibious monster?”

Frigyes and Marigold ran closer to the swamp wolf. Frigyes used a spell to scan the monster.

“Yep, we’re dead. That thing is resistant to fire spells.”

“It’s worth a shot! We need to save them!” yelled Marigold emphatically.

Frigyes held up the wand, but hesitated.

“Come on, you want to see people die? Use something!” exclaimed Marigold, shaking Frigyes's arm.

“If I attack it, it’s not going to help much. It will only get our attention and kill both of us.”

Frigyes put down the wand and looked carefully at the wolf.

“There has to be a weak spot. That’s our best bet!”

“Come up with something quick! We really have no time to think!”

Two groups are both stuck and separated. One of them needed to make a move. Both have no idea how they were all getting out alive. However, both of them had one thing in mind. A weak point.

The wolf continued to vomit out its sludge. The white floor of the bastion hall had now become a disgusting black pool of poison.

Kitezh thought about it. Why did this wolf suddenly vomit out sludge? She suddenly got an idea.

“It’s the mouth. You agitated it with that sharp metal, and now its vomiting up the sludge. We need to aim for the mouth,” said Kitezh

“Aim for the jaws of death, hurling up poison? We’re really out of options,” replied Lev.

“It's us that are out of options. But maybe not Marigold and Frigyes. They’ve still got magic powers. We’ve got to tell them to aim for the mouth.”

Kitezh looked up at the sunlight coming through the top of the bastion opening.

“Lev, pick me up. You need to charge up to the top. We have to scream it out for them to go for the mouth.”

“I’ll do my best. I’ll be honest, I don’t know how fast this monster will catch us. So, don’t blame me if we die. This is going to be on you!”

Lev charged up the stairway. The light bathed on Kitezh. Lev caught his breath, and was ready to scream.

BOOM!

The swamp wolf slammed both of its paws on top of the bastion.

Lev knew there was no chance to scream. His legs thundered across the stone top. Ahead was the castle of the bastion. Lev made it through the entrance as the wolf slowly crawled toward it.

Lev carried Kitezh up to the top of the castle. The sights above the whole town would probably be their last, as there was nowhere else to escape. It was a long drop down to hard stone, or a ravenous swamp wolf.

“Damn it! Now what?!” yelled Lev.

He kicked against the cannon at the castle wall. Kitezh looked at it and back at Lev.

“We’re not going to fire it, look down there,” said Lev, pointing down below the wall.

They did not need to look down, as the swamp wolf was already clawing at the walls of the castle, ready to perch on top. It was only moments until their death.

“We could jump, if you want the cowards way out of this life,” said Lev.

Kitezh would take those words as defeat. She began to contemplate jumping too. However, she was thinking of that idea differently.

“Are you willing to be a dead man again?” asked Kitezh.

Lev looked at her, confused.

“I know at this point, it’s going to mean you figured something out to get us both out of this shit.”

“Well… Not exactly… For you at least.”

Lev fiercely grabbed hold of Kitezh. He was pissed off.

“What the hell are you saying?!”

Lev was full of rage. Kitezh remained unfazed.

"BARK!"

She knew the moment the swamp wolf reached the top, Lev was going to accept that crazy risk that could end his own life.