I saw people coming from the sides, my people, and I roared at them to stay back.
I turned and faced the one that had attacked me. It was smaller than an average human, at about four foot six inches. I noted once again that it had four arms and two legs, and its head was weird.
I couldn’t find any eyes, or ears on the strange oval, the back of which was covered with a tangle of tendrils or tentacles that waved and danced. Its jaw hinged apart in the middle to expose teeth that were surprisingly normal looking; some were flat, some spiked, and others obviously for cutting, and all were a deep black that reflected the light of the sun.
I slowly moved to the left, edging away from the ship, and starting to circle the creature, keeping it fixated on me. It seemed to ‘look’ at the others, then focus back in on me, brandishing a short club that it pulled from its back and held it in the lower right hand. The stronger upper arms lifted and extended to the sides; three digits tipped with black claws flexed in anticipation as it circled opposite me. Its lower left arm was cradled in close to its chest, and I guessed that it had been damaged in the fall.
I grinned at it while Oracle’s heal landed on me, and I gritted my teeth and growled out my pain as my broken fingers cracked back into place. My opponent froze, glancing toward Oracle, and I shouted out to everyone.
“Leave him! This little fucker’s mine! Get up there and help Lydia!” My blood was up, rage burning through me and setting my soul alight. I took a deep breath and grinned at the creature once again. Oh, I needed this! I drew my sword from the left-hand sheath and swapped it to my right hand, never breaking from watching my opponent. It backed up a little, a lot more cautious upon seeing my sword. I was about to draw a dagger with the other hand when it raised its club out to one side. I paused and watched as it wiggled the club to make sure I was watching, then dropped it to the ground.
It lifted its three fingered hands out, flexing them and making a point. A point I understood, and in my rage-addled state, I totally agreed.
I hefted my sword, then stuck it point first into the ground, and did the same with my dagger. I still had others standing behind me; Oracle fired one last lightning bolt overhead, and a few seconds later, Lydia appeared at the side of the ship.
The fighting was all over now, bar me and my foe. I slowly pulled out each weapon I had, save the razorwire in my belt, dropping each onto the ground behind me before moving forward. He did the same, and we started to circle each other warily again, I noted Cam gathering up my weapons and moving them back out of reach, even as Bob lumbered over with my naginata, coming to a halt at the edge of the fighting circle we’d claimed.
I watched as the creature crouched, one foot ahead of the other, upper taloned hands spread wide, left lower arm kept in close, and right lower arm slowly weaving back and forth. I stepped forward as well, turning so my left side was advanced slightly, left foot and left-hand forward, right foot out to brace, and right arm in closer to my chest.
I slowly shuffled forward, ready for the fight of my life against the little four-armed bastard, when it literally ran at me, arms windmilling. I stopped, frowned, and watched as it came closer. Its feet were triangular, as well as its hands. Two long toes at the front and one clawed tip extended backwards from the heel. I stepped back as it got within arm’s reach, slapping its hands aside as I watched for the real attack.
It tried a kick, a couple of jabs, and then a slashing attack with both upper arms coming in from the sides, and I couldn’t help it. I was holding myself back, but I couldn’t ignore the opportunity. I swept down with both hands open-palmed, slapping the outside of its wrists and driving its skinny arms down, allowing me to ‘Sparta’ kick forward, catching it in its solar plexus. It hadn’t even tried to attack with the lower uninjured arm, and it flew backward with a cry.
I stopped, confused. I was sure I’d felt bones break under that kick. The creature was fast, and seemed like it’d be lethal, but it was…crap. On the upper deck, they’d seemed like death incarnate, so fast, and accurate, but now?
It was seriously disappointing to fight. I straightened up as I regarded the little thing. It was curled up and clutching its stomach, coughing blood onto the grass. It hacked up a thick gobbet, then slowly forced itself to its feet. It lifted its upper arms again, but the lower two limbs were clutching its chest, and it was shaking badly.
“Stop,” I said loudly, gesturing to the creature, and it took a step back, confused. “Can you understand me?” I asked it and got a slow nod in reply. “Can you speak?” I asked, and it pointed to its mouth, the thin dribble of blood that leaked out made its point better than the garbled words I couldn’t understand. I looked up to Lydia, and she looked as confused as I was.
“How many were up there?” I asked, and she replied quickly.
“Three, Lord. One got away; one is unconscious, as Oracle shocked it so many times, it started drooling; and that one down there with yeh.”
“Anyone dead?” I
