Leprechauns

Dropping both his helmet and sound cone, Nurlan swatted at the leprechaun on his shoulder. Knocked to the ground, the small creature was dazed for a moment before disappearing from view.

The General gripped his bloody ear. The bite marks were clearly visible.

"Oh!" Mairwen produced a cloth and hurried to dab at the blood. "Are you alright?"

"Blasted little devils!" Nurlan spat as he grimaced. He took the cloth from the princess and held it to stop the bleeding.

"Are leprechaun's bites poisonous?" the princess asked with an anxious expression.

The thought had not occurred to him. After a flash of panic, the color returned to his face and he shook his head. "It does not seem so, but it sure is a blasted nuisance. They are worse than fleas!"

Mairwen looked out at the army and her face fell. "It seems they are far more dangerous, too."

————

Timur was the first unlucky man to be attacked by the leprechauns. He felt the sting on his neck and, like Nurlan, reacted by slapping at the obnoxio