Salvation

by voroshilov

Like a Dream

Before her stood Joyous-Seeker, a Warrior on either side of him. One had sword drawn, the other two with rifles levelled.

Before them, reeled like a cobra ready to strike, was the worm.

THE SCOURGE OF THE UNIVERSE roared out, the three Warriors pushed back slightly by the sheer force of it.

She wondered how her friends were faring. Were they doing any better than her? Or, maybe, they were all as dead as she was.

Joyous-Seeker’s rifle shrieked as it fired, the orange bolts - which Penumbra had seen rip through buildings - bounced off of the worm like they were nothing.

Part of her wondered what the Warrior with the sword was hoping to achieve. No doubt, thought another part, it is merely a display of courage. True, thought another, or maybe they know something that we don’t.

The worm had yet to strike, no doubt savouring the kill and the defeat of its enemies. Penumbra was thankful that evil was so often obsessed with its ego, giving her a few more moments to contemplate on what disastrous events and consequences had brought her to Terminus and into the path of that worm.

The Warrior to Joyous-Seeker’s left, rifle ready but not firing, hummed a Dominion marching tune. Had it been under any other situation, Penumbra would have felt energised and ready to fight. Yet all she could do was lie, stricken and soon to be killed.

“Be strong Penumbra!”

A voice, audible to her but no one else, pierced through her.

“Fight back, darling!”

Impossible.

“Give ‘em hell!”

It could not be.

“Ya got this!”

There was no way.

“You are our last hope. Penumbra, rise.”

And so she did.

Her mane aflame with magical fire, skin and coat alight and crackling with energy, she pushed herself up.

With sudden, renewed energy, she felt herself change. Her eyes shone silver, iris and pupil red in her left and blue in the right. Bones grew larger, muscles stronger and longer, her wings stretched out.

Light flared all around her.

The worm reeled back. The shadow that had concealed its magical aura previously was peeled away, revealing fear, which evolved further.

The worm was terrified.

THE SCOURGE OF THE UNIVERSE roared, drawing itself up further. It was making ready to attack, but it was hasty, fearful.

Strong enough.

The light had not come from her.

She felt something behind her. Something familiar.

Someone familiar.