Written March 27th 2021 12:23 PM

Sweat was dripping down Ailith’s back and her breaths burned a little as she gulped them down. Of course there was a pit of lava in the Under. Of fucking course there were fire giants living in the pit of lava in the Under. She couldn’t wait to get out of this godsforsaken place.

Ailith dodged out of the way of one giant’s shield, wincing as it whooshed past her, spikes glinting menacingly. The fire giant bellowed as the spikes instead caught Reginald, pulling the rug into the lava, where it lay limply, awating instruction. The sweat dripping into her eyes stung and Ailith wiped her brow, hand trembling with exertion. A shout from across the pit pulled her attention away long enough for her to notice Feyra clinging to the other giant’s shield, hands grabbing for purchase. She was caught on the spikes; Ailith could see one piercing into Feyra’s shoulder, holding her in place.

Ailith was moving before she could think about a plan. Reginald, up! She called to the rug in her mind, willing it towards her. Reginald flew up from the lava looking no worse for wear and Ailith took a running leap, landing on the rug as Feyra fell into the lava, a yell of pain tearing from her as she began to sink.

Go, go! Ailith urged Reginald forward, hand outstretched towards Feyra. The other woman was sinking, torso half out of the lava, pain panting her features, clothes smoldering where the fabric touched the lava. Ailith fought to keep from turning her face away from the oppressive heat, eyes watering with the burn of the air this close to the lava. She knew there was a chance that the only way to pull Feyra out was by touching her skin, but it was a risk she had to take. It would destroy her to cause Feyra more pain, but she had to get her out. Her hand mercifully found purchase on the back of Feyra’s cloak and she pulled, muscles straining against the pull of the viscous molten rock that seemed intent on keeping Feyra within it. Feyra’s breath was coming in pants, her teeth clenched against the pain of the burns on her skin, tears cutting tracks down her face.

Ailith fell back quickly, putting necessary distance between herself and Feyra. Keep flying, get us out of the line of fire. Reginald brought them to an outcropping, far enough away that the fire giants couldn’t reach them, but close enough for Feyra to fire her magic-imbued arrows into them. Ailith couldn’t tear her eyes off the burns covering Feyra’s body. They were angry and oozing, and every instinct told her she needed to clean and bandage them, but she couldn’t. She knew Feyra would have to wait for Ace to heal her, she knew logically that was the safest course of action, but it ate away at her that she couldn’t do anything to help.

“Ashrin!” Talus’s shout broke her out of her thoughts. Ailith jumped back on Reginald, zooming over to where Ashrin had now fallen into the lava, sinking like Feyra. This fight was far from over – there would be time to dwell on her and Feyra’s predicament later.