[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Kane and Jerika were mostly hidden by tall grass as they crouched, looking on as the elves all regrouped. The inside of the cave was chaotic, and Jerika could tell from her spot so far away from even the mouth of the cave. Jerika tasted blood in her mouth; she had bit down on her tongue when Kane had pulled the arrow from her wrist, and now she had an almost useless right hand and forearm. She had seen worse though, and she knew many men who had bitten clean through their tongue or had bitten off their lower lip when such wounds were treated.

Hesitating, Jerika turned to Kane. “Thanks,” Jerika mouthed, surprised that her voice had given out on her.

“For what?” Kane smiled crookedly as he whispered…still whispered.

“Taking care of my wound. Not even my own brother would have cared if such a thing had happened to me if it was him there,” Jerika had regained the power to use her voice as she explained to Kane.

“Well, what do you say we go with a bang?” Jerika began to whisper too as the Elves and one Man began to gather outside. They were missing one, by Jerika’s count, but that was terrible if all those Orcs and Easterlings had only killed one.

“What do you propose we do?” Kane wondered, his voice staying neutral. Slight realization showed on his face though.

“Ambush,” Jerika replied simply, a grin growing.

“We’ll be killed for sure. Two against seven?”

“Not if we get one of them. They’re a close kind, closer than some of the ties in our race. They won’t hurt us if it would mean risking one of their own. Besides, if they truly meant to kill us, they would have back there. I would not have a wound in my wrist; I would have one in my neck or stomach. You would not have been knocked on the head; you would have been speared through the heart. Besides, it’s good exercise just pushing your luck,” Jerika hoped Kane would join in.

Not waiting for an answer, Jerika sprang from her place in the brush and spun her only remaining weapon – her dagger – in her good, unscarred left hand.

Sprinting to the incomplete gathering of Elves and one Man, Jerika leapt to tackle the Human. Jerika wrestled him to the ground, and kept her bony knee shoved onto his spine. Wrapping her bloody right arm around the fallen Man’s neck, Jerika positioned her arm so that her elbow was under his chin. He looked as though he was eating dirt, as Jerika shoved his face into the ground. Then, quickly and strongly jerking her arm left, the man’s face went left as well. A loud crack sounded as she pulled his neck a little too far. He was not paralyzed though.

Ooh! That must've hurt! Jerika thought to herself. No man would declare her a rat without paying the price!

Searching the grass around her, Jerika grabbed a discarded bow and pulled the wooden edge under the Man’s neck. Then Jerika grabbed her dagger in her left hand and held it dangerously (for the human at least) close to her prisoner’s neck.

Looking up after her attack, all of her prisoner’s companions had joined the group, staring at Jerika who had their dear friend firmly pinned to the ground.

Where's Kane?