SCREEEEEEEE!
Once again, the massive bat crashed against the knight's shield, sending him staggering back. He was able to regain his balance easily enough, but the winged beast was relentless. With another shriek, it charged at the warrior's shield, threatening to rip his shield away with its gnashing teeth, if not the arm it was strapped to. Yes, he had fought against many Rodents Of Unusual Size, but fighting one gifted with flight was ridiculous! The knight wasted no time in thrusting his sword into the bat, but he only managed to slice into its boar-sized ear. The wings were flapping far too hard and fast for him to so much as touch it!
"
Cheryl, have you found it yet?!" he called out behind him, putting his weight into a shield bash in hopes of shoving the bat aside. Annoyed, the foe kicked up more dust as it flew a little higher to get out of the knight's striking range. The knight panted, unsure how much longer he can keep up a fight against such a fast creature.
Behind the knight was an unusual sight. A life-sized ball-jointed doll that was moving of its own accord. Though not as nimble nor dextrous as a human, that didn't stop her from scrambling upon the ground to rip up the many roots entwined upon the forest floor. The jaw of the doll slid open, allowing for an almost distant voice to echo out. "
Not yet! Buy me some time!" she called back.
"
I've been buying you time!" the fighter shouted back, exasperated. The screeching bat cut him off as it dived at him once more. This time, the warrior had been knocked onto his back with a loud clatter, his shield arm pinned to the ground thanks to the sheer weight of the winged mammoth. Leaning upon its massive knuckles, the bat leaned in close to snap at the armor. Its rancid breath was more than enough to make its victim gag, but not enough to kill his will to fight. The sword slashed out at the beast, this time ripping through its cheek. With a shriek of pain, the bat recoiled, allowing the knight time to strike the leg pinning him down. With wild flaps, the bat hopped off of the knight, finally freeing him from the overgrown rodent's grip!
At last, the doll found what she was seeking. After rolling aside a massive log rotting with age, Cheryl found a round trap door of ancient bronze adorned with a pair of dials. Opening it was simple enough. She sunk her fingers into the dials, turned them until they were both horizontal, and lifted up the door. A ladder led down into darkness. Though she knew not what lie below, she knew of the immediate threat behind her. Cheryl quickly began to descend the first few rungs before hollering at the knight.
"
Grayson! Over here!"
The knight turned enough to see Cheryl's head disappear into the ground. The trap door was left wide open. If nothing else, that obnoxious beast can't open the trap door once it's closed. He made a mad dash for the hole in the ground and grabbed at the handle beneath the lid. Grinning widely, Grayson simply jumped down into the hole, pulling the trap door shut along the way. The bat crashed against the now-sealed hole, its frustrated screeches echoing through the forest as it dug away at the metallic door with no avail.
