[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjg4LmU2NjQxZS5WbUZzYjJzZ1IzSnBiVzF5YjNRLC4w/valium.regular.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/7iQBR6p.png[/img]
[color=cadetblue]Time:[/color] Afternoon
[color=cadetblue]Location:[/color] Forests north of Roshmi City
[color=cadetblue]Interactions:[/color]  Malachi[@princess], Belle[@Potter], Myra[@13org] O’ner [@Eviledd1984][/center]

A second owlbear grabbed him, squeezing with an incredible amount of strength. It was enough to break his concentration on the shadow sword, it shattered and the shadows scattered back to their natural places within the forest. He could barely breathe, he heard some of his ribs audibly crack from the force of the owlbear. He tried to call his magic, to force the owlbear’s shadow into something he could use to fight back with. As the shadow began to twist, controlled by limited movements his hand was allowed, the beak of the creature smacked against his head. His concentration broke again, his vision blurred from the force and his ears rang. He tried again, and again he felt the beak crash against his skull, drawing blood. He lost count of how many times the beak struck him, felt calmed by knowing he would at least go out fighting. The life was being squeezed out of him and from the owlbear’s grip there was not even the space for his lungs to expand. Death in combat, at least there was honor in that.

Then the owlbear dropped him, fresh air burned his lungs as he could breathe again. It continued to burn as he gasped and coughed in precious air. The ringing continued, something knocked him backwards and out of the path of the owlbear. Valok whipped blood away from his eyes, his head throbbed and pulsed as he tried to figure out what was happening now. The owlbear was missing an arm. Quick shallow breaths hurt less. Malachi was flung from the owlbear. His head hurt. There was a lot of blood. Only some of it was his. Malachi’s sword was covered in blood. It had been Malachi who shoved him from the owlbear. Why? The light elf had told him to attack, had he disappointed him? How had the owlbear lost its arm? 

The owlbear grabbed Malachi and tossed him away. Had Malachi severed the arm? Had Malachi saved his life? It didn’t make sense why a commander would take such a risk to save a foot soldier. Valok couldn’t figure out what was going on, he tried to get back up but every movement was incredibly painful. That didn’t matter, he was supposed to attack, he struggled until he made it up to one knee. Belladonna was drowning the first owlbear, maybe she had a true killer instinct after all. He reached out with his hand, taking control of the first owlbear’s shadow. Twisting it until it formed a spike that shot upwards through its foot. Weaving it, controlling its movement with his shaky finger and willing the shadow spike to continue to try and strike at the owlbear. Malachi wanted the human protected, that was what he still understood. He was ordered to attack, he had to keep doing so. Valok focused the pain his body was in, into his magic. The other owlbear was a bloody mess, less of a threat, and Mathias was attacking that one.