Cliver waited to see what the creature would do, then it breathed ice at him. With no time to dodge he drooped the ax, ducked his head, crouched and brought up the log in both hands, trying to fit as many vitals as possible behind it. For his trouble he felt three shuttering thunks as they impacted the log and a gold, burning pain as they embedded in his right shoulder, his upper right arm, and his left thigh.