Hopper’s head snapped back as he was yanked from Sarah’s arms. A giant black lizard-like beast with a long snout buried its teeth into the back of his neck, and he screamed in pain. Sarah stood frozen in horror. The lizard threw Hopper across the hollow, and he rolled down the embankment like a child’s rag doll. Hopper landed on his feet and turned to meet the charge of the lizard, ignoring the pain and blood that flowed down his shoulders.
Its snout snapped viciously as it neared. Firelight reflected off its long razor-like teeth. It rose on its short back legs and raced across the clearing, its thick tail flicked like a whip in its wake. The lizard locked onto Hopper’s legs, diving under him, sending them both rolling back down the embankment and into the dying embers of the fire. Tumbling with the serpent, Hopper managed to encircle its thick throat with his hands. The long black snout swung from side to side, biting at his face and arms as Hopper attempted to strangle the lizard. Crawling on top Hopper sat on its chest and continued to squeeze, digging his claws into its thick scaly flesh. Shifting its long body with a jerk, the lizard thrust the sting of its tail into Hopper’s eyes, sending him reeling as his vision darkened with blood.
Sarah’s screams filled the air as the lizard jumped onto Hopper’s back and used its massive jaws to shred the flesh of his already blood soaked back. The shrill howl it emitted stung Sarah’s ears jolting her into action.
A spell! Use a spell to save Hopper! Sarah snatched up her book and tore it open. She screamed the first incantation she came across. The serpent jerked, dropping Hopper as it turned to stare at the sorceress who screeched words of magic. Falling to the ground it began to writhe, shrieking in pain. As she watched, the lizard squirmed in agony. Large open sores covered its body, its claws and tail began to decay from the potency of her spell. In its anguish, it rose and charged her.
Not fully recovered from his battle with the tunnel troll, Hopper’s strength was failing. Still, he knew, if the lizard reached Sarah, she would be dead in an instant. Forcing his body to move, he grabbed the lizard’s back legs. The lizard turned and lunged at Hopper. It grabbed Hopper’s arm, crushing it in its jaws and threw him against the large fir tree.
Dropping the book, Sarah ran forward terrified for Hopper. The lizard turned, its snout was dripping with blood. It hissed and charged. Without a word, Sarah threw her fire spell at the lizard and screamed in rage. Her cry merged with another as Nicole dove into the serpent, her small sword flashing. Jack tackled Sarah knocking her out of the lizard’s path and dragging her further from the battle.
“Get Hopper to the cave!” he yelled, shoving her toward the motionless figure lying in the grass. Sarah raced to his side and lifted Hopper to his feet, pulling and dragging him toward the thicket. Behind her, the brutal sounds of battle escalated as her friends sought to destroy the lizard. Plunging into the brush, she vowed to place Hopper out of harms reach and return to help them. Finding the entrance to the cave, she cast a spell of light Hopper helped her memorize. The small cave filled with a soft white light. She gasped at the sight of Hopper. His blonde fur turned red as the gash in his neck seeped blood with each heartbeat. His nearly severed left arm hung loosely at the elbow as blood flowed freely from it.
Forgetting the others, Sarah ripped the hood off her robe and bound his arm tightly to stop the flow of blood. She pushed the soft fabric into his neck wound and held it there against the flow of blood.
“Dr. Strong!” Sarah screamed, “It’s over. I’m done! End this now!” Her only answer was the echo of her scream. “You cannot allow Todd to continue!” Still, only echoes replied. “I’ll sue you for every penny you own!” She screamed as horror stabbed at her heart like a hot poker. Something was terribly wrong. Was Todd actually injured? Was Dr. Strong so involved with Hopper’s wounds that he couldn’t bring them back? Was the blood she saw real? What was happening? Fighting back the tears, Sarah battled Hopper’s injuries and prayed that she had not become so involved in the fantasy that she had lost her mind.