The bandit I hit staggered but stayed on his feet, yelling about bites and pups. Behind him, I heard Meli cry out again, heard another bandit curse as her magic found its mark.

Then the idiot in front of me started twirling his scimitar, going on about some "Greatest King's sword fighting technique."

He charged. His own sword's pommel smacked him in the face. He tripped over a rock. And then he was down, face first in the dirt, not moving.

I almost would have laughed if the situation wasn't so desperate.

Then pain exploded in my chest. A crossbow bolt punched through my armor, right where my heart should be. The impact drove the air from my lungs. For a second, everything went white.

But I was still standing. Still breathing. The draconic blood in my veins surged hot, pushing back against the pain, knitting flesh and stopping the bleeding almost as fast as it started.

I pulled in a deep breath and ran. The crossbowman was already reloading, but I wasn't giving him the chance. My boots pounded against the earth as I closed the distance.

[b]"Meli! Get away from them if you can!"[/b] I shouted.

My longsword came down hard, aimed right at the bastard who'd just tried to put a bolt through my heart.

[hider=Combat Actions]
Bonus Action - Second Wind: Recovered 10 HP (https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29615)
Movement - Rush the crossbowman
Action - Longsword Attack
To Hit: 17 (https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29612)
Damage: 12 (https://www.roleplayerguild.com/rolls/29614)
[/hider]