First Attack

"Stay behind me!" Demi ordered. Grateful and surprised, I did what I was told. The others had caught up to us, including Jer and Derek. It seems they decided distraction was no longer necessary and their weapons were drawn. They circled the tainted as Demi continued to attack. I figured this was a good time to pull out my own weapon so I attached my lantern to my belt and got ready to fight for my life. At this point the tainted was getting angry and it flung debris at Demi with its mist.

What unfolded before my eyes was a beautiful sword dance. The five of them took turns attacking their target with movements so precise it seemed prearranged. I was standing there ogling when all of a sudden an explosion of mist came rushing from the mutant. It grabbed our weapons, flinging them away in all directions. Then I heard a terrifying roar. At first I thought it was the tainted but then I saw its attention was focused on Dave. Dave had gone crazy! With eyes filled with madness he rushed towards the tainted. The bear-like man was surprisingly nimble, dodging the streams of mist cast his way. He grabbed the tainted by the neck and started bashing its head on the ground. I stared at him in disbelief as he pulverized the thing. I almost felt sorry for it. I promised myself to never even look at that man's sword.

When our once handsome target had turned into a bloody pulp, Derek managed to pry Dave away from him. He was heaving and didn't look like he had fully regained his senses.

"Your sword was flung that way!" Derek pointed to something glittering in the distance. At that Dave turned around to retrieve his prized possession.

"Well, now you know what happens if someone touches his sword!" Brandy started laughing. "Made our job easier! It was a close call for you."

"Yeah, a lot closer than I would have liked." I turned to look at the mutant. Beneath the pulverized flesh, black mist was ascending.

"Um guys, I don't think that's normal."

The group turned to look at where I was pointing. At first it wasn't noticeable but the mist was healing the wounds it touched.

"Oh shit! Dave! Get that sword over here and finish the job!" Derek yelled.
Demi moved in front of me once again in a protective stance.

Sword in hand, Dave came running back to where we were and plunged the sword into the mutants head. Or he tried to but was blocked by the mist that had formed a protective barrier around its host.

"I think we should retreat. The rest of us still have to find our weapons and we don't know what we're dealing with. This mutant is clearly different than the ones you guys have killed before." This shit is crazy and I wasn't worried about seeming cowardly.

"I think Taya is right. It will be daylight in a few hours and then we can search for the rest of our weapons and come up with a strategy."

"Alright, let's return to our makeshift camp and come up with a plan."