Nari's blood pounded in her ears as she leapt from her horse, rolling across the damp forest floor and coming up in a defensive stance. The silver-haired creature tilted its head, water still dancing between elongated fingers.
"Seril, wide formation!" she commanded, not taking her eyes off their opponent.
The younger warrior dismounted with fluid grace, circling to the creature's flank. "What is this thing?" she whispered, her remaining short sword gleaming in the moonlight.
"Whatever it is," Nari replied, pulling her backup blade from its sheath, "it bleeds like anything else."
The creature's lips pulled back in what might have been a smile or a snarl, revealing teeth too numerous and sharp to be elven. Without warning, it thrust both hands forward. The water around its fingers hardened into jagged spikes that shot toward Nari with a sound like tearing silk.
WHSSSHHH!
