NPF Avatars IV, Chapter III: The Sphinx on the Doorstep

[Skyshot]

Skyshot wisely dove away from the tree he had been standing nearby and took up Nightstorm.

"Not cool..." One of the dryads was heading for him. "Cause critic."

Large wounds burst open over his target, causing it to scream and retreat into the nearest tree. Skyshot let out a sigh of relief and watched for more, but after a few seconds, it burst out of the tree and started coming after him.

"NOT COOL!" He shifted Nightstorm into a quarterstaff grip and swung it like a bat, hitting the dryad across the cheek. He continued to hold it off, backing away, making quick jabs into traditionally sensitive areas, and working to stay away from those claws. It wasn't easy.

Abruptly, he felt a shooting pain across his back. He reflexively dove to the side and spun around. A second one had been behind him, now sporting bloody claws. Very bad.

The one he had been fighting dove for him. Immediately, he ducked and swept his legs, knocking the dryad off its feet. He quickly drove Nightstorm's tip into its throat as hard as he could before the second dryad moved toward him. He stepped forward on an impulse, but wasn't able to get the staff positioned before it slashed his belly, knocking him backwards onto the very irritated dryad he had just attempted to choke. Feeling its claws rake at his chest, he flailed his arms to block and rolled back.

"Little help?!" he yelled out, swinging Nightstorm to awkwardly deflect another swipe.