out for the glory

The impact rippled through the young boy's body, rattling through his joints, his teeth, his crystals. He doesn't flinch, but perhaps he wants to. Straightening up, righting himself, he gazed over his shoulder in time to see the worm. Erik rounds on his back legs, the gleam of his eyes near orange as the lava. A growl from his guide, a quick evaluation of his stance-- they would need to fight the beast. He wouldn't back down, he wouldn't bow out.

He would always do his best work with his back against the wall, after all. Erik would find a way to attack the worm. As the predator's beast began to lower in his direction, the boy struck out. He would find a way to attack, he would rely on all of the training he'd had thus far. It leaves his heart pounding in his chest, the rush of blood in his ears. By the gods, he would make them proud.
"Speech"