this case, though, it meant I wasn’t likely to hear echoing voices despite the emptiness of the space. Not until I got clo—.
Link!
Paige’s shouted warning came just as a body slammed into my back and drove me to the ground. It was hard to say which was more surprising, the blow or the fact that whatever had hit me was so stealthy that Paige missed it until too late. I wriggled and writhed, trying to turn myself over, because the only thing more dangerous than being on your back with an enemy on top of you was being on your belly with an enemy on top of you. I caught a glimpse of a figure straddling me, a voluminous hood and robe obscuring any details about my attacker.
I didn’t have time for a better look as I could feel several sharp points attempting to drive through my armorized shirt. I sent a jolt of electricity through my skin powerful enough to send the assailant scrambling backward. Leaping to my feet, I flicked my staff to extend it to its full length. My attacker hissed and dove back at me, swiping with whatever handheld weapon was under the sleeves of his robe. I blocked one strike, then another with the staff before I managed to get it behind his feet and sweep them out from under him. I assumed it was a him, because, while not as large as any brute, he was bigger than me, so probably male. I slammed the butt of the staff down at him, but he was already gone, rolling away and flipping to his feet, all in complete silence.
I switched my vision through infrared to ultraviolet, but the deep hood still kept his face hidden, though I did catch a glimpse of bared fangs. The tail that swished angrily behind him was my second clue. I was fighting a lynix. It was time to throw him off balance. I slammed the butt of my staff into the ground again, whispering to Paige, “Flame on.” In perfect harmony with me, she projected holographic flames that shot from the base of the staff in a line across the floor, flaring up in a cascade of fire as they went.