It was over in seconds.

Earth and rubble fell into the circular abyss and she stood up to look down into the gaping maw beneath her.

Her boots remained firmly on the ground beneath her, and she dared not get too close to the edge, lest the same fate befall her. A gauntleted hand tightened on her sword; a useless gesture, but one that she preformed regardless.

"I... my kingdom truly is lost," she muttered in Ciccan. "I am a princess to nothing but ash, dirt, and rubble."

Some ten hours later and she was back up on her feet. The cat trotted to her side and rubbed up against her leg. The fur was soft when she ran her hand through it.

"I'm grateful for you, my little companion," she spoke out loud for the first time in *days* and felt her throat protest.

With this beast slain, her eyes turned to the blocked road ahead. There was no other way that she could advance toward the next level of the city. She would have to climb.

Webbed feet. That was certainly strange. *Where have I seen webbed feet before?* she wondered while she raised her hand to press against the long cuts on her cheeks. Warm liquid slid down to stain her sleeve red while she stood there.

And now, this thing was slain. Now she could truly rest. And she needed it.

Arissa made her way back to the remnants of the fire and proceeded to strip out what little cloth she had to make into bandages.

Two parts hit the ground with a sickening flop and she exhaled. The cold night air stung against the fresh wounds on her cheeks and she shuddered in pain while she moved the sword and wiped it against the fur of the beast, and finally got a good look at her foe.

It seemed almost birdlike, with talons for front feet, but with strange back feet, webbed between the toes.