Nanowrimo 2021 Final Day - Word Count and Favorite Bit (Patreon)

Today I managed to complete the Nanowrimo Challenge by reaching 50,036 words. However, Seek the Oasis is not finished, and I will continue to post word count updates and small snippets until the draft is completed. Thank you for your support!

Massive and fish-like in shape, the creature crashed down atop the bridge in front of them. Shiny, leathery skin wetly glistened in the firelight as it's gaping, circular maw willed with concentric rings of teeth gnashed at them. Wide eyes, milky and colorless, stared down with directionless malice.

Spots around its neck swelled and bulged, and Leonidas dove backwards, dragging Kinri and Aysel with him as they popped, spraying viscous yellow-green liquid across the bridge. Where the spots previously resided, tentacles sprouted, thrashing as squirming with smaller maws of their own on each end.

"So, better or worse than the thing you fought in the spring?" Leonidas asked, shooting Aysel a look of barely concealed worry.

"Depends on your point of view," Aysel said, rolling out of the way as a tentacle slammed down on the spot on the bridge she occupied just a second before.

"Your point of view?" Kinri asked, blade singing through the air. It slashed at the creature's leathery skin, finding it surprisingly thin.

"The other one was grosser," Aysel said. "But I really hate the fact this one's tentacles has mouths."

The tentacle that tried to smash her lashed out at her, and Aysel responded by slamming down on it with the edge of her shield. It shrieked, the tentacle flailing. It slammed into Aysel's side, sending her flying back down the bridge.

"Wrong move," Leonidas hissed. He held up his hands, lighting sparking between his palms. He went it flying towards the creature with a pushing gesture. The creature's muscles seized, paralyzing it long enough for Kinri's blade to fly through the air, partially severing one of the tentacles. The resulting wound let out a spray of the same yellow-green liquid from before, some of it splashing Kinri.

She yelped in pain, the substance stinging her skin. "Don't get the blood on you."

"Can't bleed if I cauterize the wounds," Leonidas said, sending another bolt of lightning at the creature.