Wondering what it could be, she turned in the direction she'd heard it come from.Wondering what it could be, she turned in the direction she'd heard it come from. Hands wrapped around her shoulders, and a voice screamed in her ear, "The Knife points the way! The Knife is the sign! The Knife to The Key! The Key will be mine!" Kitty struggled with her assailant, who felt light and hairy. She threw it against the ground, shouting "Pendor!" *Kitty?* "Help!" she screamed as hands scrabbled for her in the dark. The dragon rolled over and began to stand. She punched her assailant. There was a loud "Oof!" as she was released. In the dark she saw a tall, stick-thin shape against the light of distant ringworld sectors, and it cast a glance at Pendor. "Mine!" it shrieked, screaming, running for the dragon. Kitty ran after it, trying to grab it as it leapt up onto Pendor. Kitty reacted with horror when she realized it was going for the splint. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" it shrieked more. Pendor screamed aloud as the cloth gave way and it pulled the staff free, twisting the wing as it did so. There was another, much louder CRACK! as it leapt off. Pendor howled in pain and fear. Kitty jumped for the creature, hauling it to the ground. "Bastard!" she shouted, punching it. "Mine! Mine!" it shrieked in return, pushing her free and scrabbling to it's feet, running blindly into Pendor's head. The dragon, incoherent with pain, opened his mouth and bit down hard. There was a single, final shriek from the creature, and it died. "Pendor?" There was no answer except for monstrous waves of pain. Kitty took one look at the wing and her heart broke; there was blood and bone, showing through the wing. "Oh, god," she said. "Oh god, oh, god. |