[Brinniel]

Desolyn charged toward Dorlas expecting to catch him by surprise, but she realized she was mistaken when the Easterling brought up his sword, ready to block her attack. But Desolyn did not slow. Instead, she picked up her speed and when she reached him, her spear met his sword.
As their weapons clashed, Des could feel the man's strong arms push against her frail ones. Dorlas was no match for her.

For a second Desolyn hesitated, an action she immediately regretted. Dorlas took advantage of this situation and swung his sword at her, slashing the girl's face. Blood ran freely down the right side of Desolyn's face, blinding one eye. Dorlas swung his sword at her again, but this time Des was able to dodge the blow. Remembering the spear in her hand, the girl thrust it at the man, this time hitting his upper leg. Dorlas winced in pain, but Desolyn could see that the wound was not deep.

The Easterling lifted up his sword again and Des raised her own weapon in defense, but she soon discovered that this time neither her nor the spear were strong enough.

The hunter charged forth, his sword splintering the spear as Desolyn was thrown back into a tree. Before she was able to recover herself, Dorlas had reached her. He thrust his sword into the girl's shoulder, pinning her to the tree. The Easterling smiled as she gasped in pain, pleased to see her suffer. Chuckling, he released blade and pierced Desolyn's other shoulder. The hunter gazed at the girl, his eyes fierce, showing no signs of relent. Unable to hold his stare, Des glanced down at the ground only to discover a shiny object hidden in the dirt. A dagger. Desolyn knew it would not be much against the sword Dorlas held, but she knew she should try. Her life no longer mattered. To Desolyn, it was already over.

As Dorlas released his sword, Des dropped to the ground, snatching up the dagger. Ignoring the blow to her back, she shoved the dagger into the man's stomach. The Easterling gasped in surprise and took a step backwards, but Des did not let go of her weapon. Dorlas dropped his sword and pulled out his own dagger. He thrust the weapon into Desolyn's chest several times over in an attempt to free her, but Des only plunged her dagger into him further.
Finally, the hunter stumbled and fell, bringing the girl down with him. Dorlas then dropped his dagger and Des released her's. Weakly, she stood up and grabbed the Easterling's fallen sword. Turning back to Dorlas, she raised the sword above her head and stared down at the hunter. His eyes were marked with surprise and fear, but he no longer resisted her as he clutched his bloodied stomach in anguish. Crying out, she brought the sword down into her victim. Covered in blood and only barely alive, Dorlas twitched in his anguish. Frightened at the movement, Desolyn raised the sword and plunged it into his body again. And then again. Wild with fear and madness, she continued to hack at his now lifeless body until she could raise her arms no more.

It wasn't until Desolyn finally did stop when the agony of her wounds returned. The girl glanced down at her chest only to discover a mass of torn flesh. Clutching her ruined body, Desolyn cried out in distress. Her head began to swirl and she collapsed on top of Dorlas's corpse. Moaning, Des lay motionless as she waited for Death to claim her. I do not want to die, she realized. But it was too late for that. Darkness swept over her and Desolyn saw no more.

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]