From Two Perspectives

Finally! I have finished the "From Two Perspectives" assignment, and even though I've only edited it a few times, here it is in all of it's rough draft glory!

Ruby's perspective:

One of the Shadows jumped on Kellan, yanking him backwards and pulling him to the ground with a sickening thud. Ruby let out a small squeak, but was unable to do more than watch.

As her eyes darted frantically between Kellan and Elliana, she realized why the Shadow was trying to push Kellan on his back. If the Shadow succeeded, Kellan's neck would be exposed to it's vicious fangs, providing a quick and easy kill. Ruby's eyes widened.

"Ellie! Help him!" She yelled, as loud as she dared, keeping her eyes fixed on the Shadow just in case she needed to run. When it didn't react and continued nuzzling Kellan, she tore her eyes away only to be filled with more dread. Elliana was engaged in combat with three other Shadows. Ruby herself would have to do something.

She glanced back at Kellan, and nearly passed out. He was finally face up now, and his face didn't look good. He looked dead, and even if he wasn't yet, the Shadow loomed over him ready for the kill.

Without acknowledging what she was doing, Ruby closed her eyes, stood, and screamed as loud as she could. Maybe, just maybe she could draw the Shadow's attention away before it killed him. Ruby slowly opened her eyes and brought her hands up in front of herself defensively. Every head was turned in her direction, every eye on her. Ruby's stomach lurched and terror seized her. She felt a tear trace down her cheek and she began shaking uncontrollably. Through her tears she sought Elliana’s reaffirming and familiar shape.

     "H-help." She pleaded as her lip trembled.

   

Elliana's perspective:

The Shadow lunged at her with fangs bared and Elliana hastily moved out of the way, narrowly avoiding it’s razor sharp teeth. She scrambled backwards as Aisling, her sword, appeared in her hand.

“Kellan!” She called, “Back to back, always. Get over here.” She stabbed a Shadow in it’s gut and it melted into a puddle of darkness.

“A little busy.” Kellan grunted, pushing one off his blade like it was almost nothing, and slicing another. It was super convenient that she had a battle genius for a brother.

Elliana backed up to a tree so that she was protected, then she went full fledged Warrior mode. Fighting Shadow’s came so easily to her now, that it was like a routine, a dance routine, maybe. Something that you practiced so often, that there was no possible way you could forget it. She dodged, sliced, and defended with a natural ease and grace. Benefits of living in the dream world, she thought.

Interrupting her thoughts she heard Ruby scream, “Ellie! Help him!” Elliana risked a glance and what she saw brought a wave of nausea. Kellan was on the ground, face first, his back was bleeding, and a Shadow was trying to prod him over to get to his neck. Oh, Etheral. She thought. Not him too.

Ellie desperately tried to get to him but her moment of indecision had slowed her down, diverted her attention and now she was hopelessly too far away as the only family she had left was about to die. She felt tears sting her eyes and pain build up in her chest.

Then the loudest, most desperate scream Elliana had ever heard in her life, pierced the sky. Echoing in and out of the hollow chasms of rock. Everything stopped, everyone stopped and stared, at none other than cowardly, timid, Ruby.

~E.K.M.