~ 3 ~
Flight
“Damn it!” Shining slammed his shoulder into the bipedal wolves, raising his sword to block the slash from an other's claws. “There's too many of them!”
Spike stood dazed.
“Get it together!” Shining pushed back the claw, and in tilting his sword, delivered a slash to the wolf's neck. He quickly hopped back and in front of the drake. “I can't take them all on myself.” He glanced around. “Quickly, we need to find an opening.”
Spike was still just as dazed. “Shining... is that—“
“No questions, Spike!” Shining looked straight, saw something, and took a stance. “We'll talk later! For now, I need you to hop on my back."
Spike stared at him for a second. He huffed. “I didn't ask for your help.”
“And I wasn't asking you either.” Shining spun the blade in his magic, the collected blood splattering onto the snow. “I was commanding you. Now do it!”
Spike glared at him.
“Fine,” Shining said, “have it your way.” His magic manifested itself around the drake just wolves began to pouch, each in the air once the drake was on his back, but by the time they reached their target, the stallion had already broken forward in a burst. “Hold on tight to my mane!”
Spike was already doing so out of instinct.
Shining charged forward with his blade straight, spotting a wolf that stood in his way, arms wide as it prepared to bring its claws down upon them, though the stallion did not break his course. He saw the claws drop in his peripheral vision, but that was nothing compared to seeing the tip of his blade drive deep into the creature's chest; he withdrew his blade a moment later and jumped up on the creature, hooves colliding against its chest as he weighed it to the ground, using its weight to jump forward and over the next set of the wolves.
A few seconds later and snow crunched underneath the stallion's hooves. He continued his forward motion the second he landed, looking over his shoulder to see two wolves on his path, each on all fours and gaining speed. He turned back and looked right into the claw the swiped across his face.
The claws dug deep into his snowy cheek as the impact sent him twirling through the air. Spike held on for only a second, letting go of the mane when he was high in the air, falling and then colliding into the snow a moment afterward. He felt a similar impact just behind him, confirming with a glance that Shining was behind him and laying on his side; three trails of blood leaked down his cheek.
Spike to his feet quickly, stumbling back and forth as the wind pushed him about. When he looked up, the wolf already stood before him, towering and growling; its claws dripping with blood. The drake fell back out of shock, crawling backward as the wolf began forward, flinching as he felt his body come against Shining.
Spike felt the shadow of the wolf upon him, causing him to look left and right for something, anything that could save him. A few inches away, something glinted in the snow. Spike made a lunge for it immediately, gripping the handle of the blade as his muscles flexed to hold it up, pointing its tip at the upcoming beast.
The wolf didn't cease in its steps. It walked straight up to the drake, stopped before the sword, and in raising its paw, gripped the blade, and with a sharp and strong yank, pulled it out from his claw and tossed it back into the snow.
Spike gulped.
Two more wolves joined the current one at his sides, each rising to their legs.
Spike couldn't stop himself from shaking as their shoulders blanketed his body. He looked over his shoulder at Shining, who had yet to move since he had fallen, and then back forward at the upcoming beasts. He couldn't think, he couldn't feel anything but his fear, and in curling his claws, turned around and made a run for it.
He left Shining behind.