—ˋˏ✦ˎˊ—

How far did Maya make it with one shoe on and an asthmatic Valkyrie at her side while chased by the undead? You guessed it. 

Not. Far.

More Draugr emerged from the familiar woods, their rotting forms shuffling closer. Though slow and clumsy, their sheer numbers and persistence closed the gap between them. The Draugr were barely an arm's length away, their outstretched claws grasping at thin air.

Maya pushed forward, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. Val leaned heavily on her, each step a struggle. Neither of them had the strength to fight—Val, barely able to stand, and Maya, who never fought anyone other than the bullies back in school. Their pace was faltering, and escape was slipping further out of reach.

I don’t need to be special to fight, thought Maya. She glimpsed at the shield hanging from Val’s arm. The idea that came to her mind was both bold and stupid. A perfect combination for a reckless endeavour. 

“Val, I have an idea, but I need your help.” Maya felt horrible for asking. Val struggled to breathe and not stumble over her own feet, yet Maya wanted her to do more. “I need you to put some distance between us and them.”

Val’s blond hair fell over her pale brown and sweat-drenched face, but she pulled Maya closer. “Hold. Tight,” she gasped before leaping into the air. 

The jump wasn’t particularly far or high, but they put some distance between them and the Draugr. They crash-landed into the bushes with a rough thud. Mid-air, Val twisted her body instinctively, shielding Maya from the brunt of the impact. 

She hit the ground hard, a pained grunt escaping her lips as she absorbed the force of the landing. Maya lay atop her, momentarily dazed but unharmed, thanks to Val’s protective reflexes.

Looking grey and gasping, Val could barely move anymore. 

“Maya,” she coughed for air. “Are… you safe—”

Maya unstrapped the shield from Val’s arm. Her eyes widened. “What. Are. You… Doing?” 

“Helping you.” Maya yanked the shield free. “Sorry,” she smiled, “I’ll be back.”

She ran with the shield in hand.

Clasping it against her chest, Maya tried to syphon some of its strength to her. Sadly, it didn’t quite work like that, but merely holding it gave her some. 

I need to do this quickly and get back to her. How hard can it be to fight off some Draugr, anyway…

Maya’s laughter evaporated as soon as she spotted the first Draugr. Gritting her teeth, she picked up speed and charged, slamming into it shield-first. The force sent the creature hurtling into the nearby lake, but the momentum carried Maya forward as well. 

She skidded across the ground, the shield beneath her acting like a sled. Her chaotic slide knocked off a pair of Draugr from their feet, but her ride came to an abrupt halt when the tall Draugr planted its foot firmly against the shield, pinning her in place. 

Maya looked up, heart pounding, as the undead loomed over her, its glowing eyes staring down menacingly.

“Hey there,” Maya replied meekly. “Can we talk, please?” she asked the Draugr, batting her eyes innocently. It snatched her up by the neck like a kitten. “Oww, oww, oww, watch out for the hair!” 

“Gruuuurgh,” the Draugr breathed out a toxic green fume into Maya’s face. The shadow’s voice echoed again. “Useless, woman. Will death make you tremble?” 

Her eyes widened when the Draugr levelled its axe to her neck. Maya squirmed in its hold and kicked barefooted against its chest, but couldn’t pry herself free. 

In her mind, Maya was already dead. She had hoped to take out at least one of the Draugr but watched the one she knocked away return unharmed, yet drenched and a plastic bag covering its rotten face. 

Oh my hubris, muttered Maya. I thought I could take on at least one. 

Her last sliver of hope was that at least Val could make it out and recover on her own, without Maya running straight to her death. She closed her eyes, unable to look any further.

“Timber!” 

Someone yelled. Roots snapped from the ground, and Maya landed with her butt against the ground. She hissed and saw the tall Draugr pinned down by a large oak tree with the rest crushed for good.

One small Draugr managed to dodge it. However, it didn’t come far as Val put it into a deadlock, lifting it from its feet and choking the living dead out of him. 

The veins on Val’s muscular arms bulged. Her veins glowed brightly as she popped the head from his body, sending it flying into the sky before Val collapsed to her knees, panting. 

Maya stumbled to her, holding the Valkyrie’s face in her hands. “Val, talk to me. Are you alright?” She put her ear against Val’s chest, listening to her breathing. 

A pained wheezing was all she could make out. Val took Maya’s hand in hers. “Home. Safe. For us.” 

Maya nodded, biting her lower lip, unable to suppress a tear. “Of course, let’s get home.”