[Child of the 7th Age]

Andreth glared in horror at the Half-Orc who grinned wildly back at her. Although a small pool of blood dripped down from his wound onto the ground, he appeared as vigorous and hearty as before. She carefully calculated where he stood and cocked an arrow, then drew back and let it fly, hoping it would hit its target.

She scrambled back towards the lean-to where Bird and Volondil lay. It was partially disguised by the pine boughs that Hinura had brought just a few moments before. She wondered whether she should get inside with them. For, unlike the others fighting near her, Andreth had no sword, and her dagger seemed like a pitiful thing when measured against those of the Orcs. Moreover, she had no wish to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a Half-Orc who stood a full head taller and a great deal stronger than herself.

She decided that it would be foolish to stand there without securing a weapon that would be sturdy enough to provide a defense should her arrows fail. Andreth fell to her knees and groped for the hatchet that she'd used to hack the tree branches down for the lean-to and sledge such a short time ago. Her fingers tightened around its shaft. She grabbed it tightly in her right hand, devoutly wishing that she'd have no further need of it.

[ December 06, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]