Athol - Re-visited in Narrative Format

"One thing I often do to get over writer's block is to revisit scenes I've already finished in a different format. In this case, I moved to a narrative style for the ending of the first volume of Athol just so that I could get a better idea of Ciar's mindset at the time." -Casey

Once the dragon finally stopped moving, Ciar took in a deep breath. He clasped his right arm, which felt numb after swinging the axe against the dragon’s hard scales. That hadn’t been a problem before, but maybe that was why he hadn’t succeeded in killing it the first time around.
“Come on, Ciar,” came Perry’s voice. “We have to go.”
Perry probably saved his life with that glowing light trick. Ciar nodded, not looking forward to fighting anymore monsters today or ever again. As they made their way through the busy streets, Ciar’s numb arm began to burn with a searing pain. He tried to shake it off, but that only seemed to spread the sensation through the rest of his body. He told himself not to think about it, which in turn made his thoughts return to Sorcha.
“Where are we going?” he asked suddenly, realizing that they were getting farther and farther from the school.
“Back to the woods,” Perry replied as he glanced at the street signs uncertainly. “I can’t…it wouldn’t be safe to return to my village so we’ll have to make do with the wilds.”
Ciar stopped dead in his tracks and pounded his numb fist against the wall of a building. “We have to go back,” he demanded.
Perry turned to him with a pitiless frown. “Didn’t you hear them, Ciar?” the elf asked as Ciar leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “Your sister betrayed us!”
“We can’t leave her!” he insisted, his head spinning from how upset he was with Perry. He pushed himself off the wall with every intention of walking away and leaving the elf on his own, but he stumbled back against the wall instead. His legs were now numb and burning as well. What was going on?
“Ciar?” Perry asked with concern. “What’s the matter? What’s wrong?”
“Don’t know,” he replied, shaking his head. He ran his hand over his brow to wipe away the sweat that was beading on his warm forehead. As he did so, Perry began to stare at him with dismay.
“That witch’s blade…” he muttered. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”
“Didn’t exactly have time,” Ciar replied. In truth, he had nearly forgotten about the witch threatening him with a knife, but now he could recall it burning in the same way as it sliced through his cheek.
“It must have been coated in some sort of poison,” Perry sighed. He then recited one of his spells as he held his hand out to the cut running along Ciar’s face. When nothing happened, Ciar turned aside in annoyance.
“I don’t think that’s working,” he stated calmly, though he was starting to panic on the inside. What sort of poison was this if Perry couldn’t heal it?
“It did, there’s just no poison left in the wound,” the elf stated.
Ciar’s legs gave way beneath him and he stumbled forward, unable to use his arm to catch himself. He shoved his shoulder against the wall and locked his knees in place as best he could so that he wouldn’t fall to the floor. He realized now that he probably couldn’t walk anymore.
“What does---?” he started to ask, but was silenced when Perry commanded him with his magic words to sleep. Ciar of course didn’t understand the language, but he felt his eyes closing and he couldn’t hold himself up any longer. He fell forward, but Perry must have caught him because he didn’t ever hit the ground.

“Sorry, Ciar, but you need to stay calm or you’ll spread it further.”

No! Ciar mentally shouted at the elf as he slipped into unconsciousness. His sister was as good as dead if he couldn't reach her. His dreams flooded with the image of Sorcha kneeling down in the empty halls of the school, right where Ciar had left her. She was crying with her face buried in her hands, the indistinct sound of her calling his name mixed in with the sobbing. The girl was so preoccupied with her sorrow that she didn't see Fiona walking up behind her with a long knife clutched in one hand.

Athol and it's Characters (C) SuperheroGeek13