Flinch, the professional

Flinch bit his tongue to clear his mind with pain. His life was at stake, this was no time to listen to his second head. He quietly picked up a rock and threw it onto the bear’s tunnel. The two women looked at each other, nodded and moved towards the tunnel. They reached the entrance and were about to take a step, when they both recoiled. “Shit.”, Astra managed to say while Valery only managed an “eep-“. They were both charged by the crystal infused dire bear. ‘Yes! Deal with that, bitches!’, Flinch thought in silent triumph.

Valery steadied herself while Astra leaped back and held her staff high to give the Paladin plenty of light. “Stay back!”, Astra barked shortly before the bear smashed into her. She blocked the impact mostly with her sword, the sharp crystals that hit her armour left deep scratches on the plates but didn’t cut her. “Athain, Goddess of honour and virtue, bless me as your servant to defeat this unholy beast!”, she groaned during her power struggle with the bear.

The second paw swung around and smashed into her unguarded side, sending her flying and crashing through a crystal stalagmite. Flinch could clearly see blood, the Paladin was injured. “Goddess Athain, bless me with the power to heal your subjects!”, Valery had raised her glowing staff in the direction of the Paladin. These gods really seemed unfair to Flinch. He watched Astra rise from the pile of crystal shards and charge the bear again.