Element. Flame of Elisar

t d

d to an extremely powerful man, of a disgusting app

ace, and agreed with all his silly remarks, nodding all the time yet deep

to buy some bread and milk, and left the place. The Sun was about to set, and half way through

the mountains whose snowcaps created the feeling of a surreal pi

d at since it was one of the most beautiful places in the area, offering a perfect view of the entire Falls Valley. And that f

ething strange and uncomfortable. As if feeling somebody's gaze, I jump

ounds of this world had been turned off at a clap. I could hear neither the sound of grasshoppers jumping all o

remaining food into my bag, and rose up about to move..

all – the size of a decent horse, with a long muzzle resembling that of a horse, too; its entire body was covered with a strange pattern, as if carved with some sharp tool. Two large burning eyes, huge

cut me off from the only escape way... the only way, to be exact... Now in front of myself I could see a path, with the monst

o the right, trying to slip between the monster and the rock, and applying a maximum of acceleration to this. Some hope of that! This be

nly one who could move so fast. Yes, high self-esteem is abund

t, and then, as if reading my thoughts, it jumped forward, leaving me with no choice but the only thing I could do – rush through the bushes! Those plants that might seem so lovely at first sight, with all those sm

yself back together I rushed on. The burning pain in the back was unbearable. The beast g

ust a matter of time... And at that point I felt a blow that threw me to the stone ridge. My eyes dimmed and pai

myself into the ground... The monster was approaching smoothly, and its disgusting tentacles stretched forward. That terrible view

t be something else... It's wate

ole body, and I was out of breath again, yet running, for my life literally, and it was my last chance to survive, shrinking inevitably second after second. And as I ran up to the cliff edge, I looked up praying and asking for a safe landing (or safe splash, to be exact)

at sounded familiar from time to time, my own moans, torch light in

ont of me with a cup in her hands, and Elcha sitting on a chair a little away. And then I felt a disgusting bitter taste

h all the known or, actually, unknown caves in the area. The thing was that the decoction had one very important property – it was a surefire

g me as she could help crying.

r ribs broken!" Nargara shouted. But

less?" I asked t

me smiled sadly, and only that moment I could see how exhausted she looked. She had to try be

r than of a local witch. She never looked her age and for someone from outside she might look like a woman around thirty. The only part that would give away her age was the eyes. Th

eyes were fu

o you remember?" she ask

" Elcha jumped in rub

it was a beast?

hose were from some huge claws! Did that ambush you? I think you would have escaped otherwise, w

h. "Don't be running ahead of the hounds! You

ured look pursing her lips, and only her eyes r

equally inquisitive, b

nd then rushed... All I could do was run through the bushes... And my back, yes, it hit quite badly just when it was catching up. Fast beast, indeed! I would never believe an animal cou

ed up, all pale and h

eaction frightened me.

n her face. But back then she was scared, and I could tell she was scared

t of tentacles?" she asked

s very peculiar, as if decorated with some pattern. And the tentacles mov

o keep her face calm, I could

?" she asked

what species it w

something as she took her empty gaze away. "And,

s. Or she was just tired. As I did not understand it, I went on scrutinizing

ed some footprints. We followed them and came out to the cliff, and the place was all in blood..." she paused, apparently appalled at the picture that her verbal recollection brought back to her mind, and then continued, "Yoos said that the prints led to the waterfall, and then disappeared, so we decided to move along the river. And after a while Truvle found you... When he brought y

it was there. And then we got all these decoctions, just forcing them down into you, in

rra said in a squeezed voice, "We sh

ind the mours? Yuck!" I smiled and made a wry fac

ous, so I had to turn to some radical measures," Nargara smiled, too, and then added in a tough tone, "but don't

rry you," Elcha lau

sincere smile as my hea

, but Mammy wouldn't let him in anyway. She told to come again as soon

ulling the blanket over my head. As I looked out of th

e everyo