Chapter 29

Part 1

“We have to go after them!”

“Fate, calm yourself!” Arguing with Anesha clogged my chest with anxiety, but a monster kidnapped Rita right in front of our eyes! I was nearly inconsolable!

“Y’all two!” A voice called from somewhere. Moonlit trees cast shadow down the incline making everything, aside from the still unconscious ogre beside us, blend together with the dark soil at our feet. From beneath a pile of leaves and dirt, an orange jacket and hat emerged! An old Native American man with more wrinkles on his face than trees in the woods surrounding us, rose up. “Y’all some kind of theater group dressing like that?” Anesha didn’t bother to duck behind me and conceal her mage’s robes, eyes tracking the hunting rifle the man carried instead. A nudge at my knee from Bramble implied I was supposed to speak. “What were ya’ doin’ with the girl?”

“Well…we’re…whatever!” Trying to construct a lie about our situation and goals would waste precious time! “Look, we’re going to help that girl who was taken by that monster!” Anesha’s eyes and nostrils flared with rage, but quickly she rescinded them, rolled her eyes, and groaned.

“Fine.” She begrudgingly huffed.

“Doesn’t answer my questions. What were ya’ doin’ with Rita?”

“You know her?” The man nodded.

“We haven’t the time to chat idly. I shall do what I can to track the creature.” Anesha brought up her radar while I closed my eyes to focus on our surroundings.

“Ya’ two going to just stand there and play with ya’selves? Monster’s this way.” The old man pointed back over the ridge. “I’m going. Ya’ two can do whatever ya’ want.”

“Wait, hang on!” I jogged behind him up the hill and Anesha followed suit.

“Slow yourself, Fate. Bramble, come!” She lifted the shar pei faced dogman and slammed him against my chest. “Clutch him upon your chest, understood? Though we endeavor to rescue the girl, we cannot become reckless. Remaining concealed is our objective.” Even without closing my eyes, I could tell copious amounts of mana was pouring out of me.

“Okay.” With Bramble absorbing the mana I was outputting; even powered up, lugging the dense brick of a familiar around was annoying. We caught up to the hunter just walking over the hill. Dark skies and rolling fields of tall grass awaited us. “I’m Fate Isley, by the way.”

“Didn’t ask.” Soldiering on through the grass, that grumpy rifle totting old man kept his gun at the ready.

“OK…what do we call you?”

“Don’t care.” It already felt like pressing my nose into a wall talking to him.

“…” I looked back to Anesha who offered me about as much in the way of conversation.

“Down!” He flagged us to crouch, like him! I did, Anesha didn’t bother.

“Do not order me around.” Instead of following his instructions, Anesha stepped out in front!

“What are ya’ doin’?!” The hunter lowered his gun, and reached for Anesha’s shoulder! I was able to stop him just in time, grabbing his hand just short of losing it.

“Uh…s-sorry. She doesn’t like to be touched.” I felt if the old man’s wrinkled face could form another expression aside from a scowl, he would’ve, but that fit how he probably felt about me just then.

“…Nothing.” She confirmed, radar in hand. With my heightened senses, I could tell Anesha was right, and as I stood, there was nothing but a moonlit grassy field. “Honestly. Was that you attempting to hunt?”

“…” The old hunter got up and locked eyes with the witch standing several inches shorter than him. He groaned, seeing little reason to yell at the arrogant woman and soldiered on.

“Humans…” Anesha followed, as I shivered under the suffocating tension.

“Mister…hunter, are you going to ask about anything? Like…what that monster is, or…us?”

“Nope.” Zero hint of interest.

“…I…hope the ogre is ok.”

“Why? That was simply a beast. Focus on what is in front of you.” Anesha spoke curtly, not breaking stride.

“…*sigh*…” Part of me expected that response as we continued on in silence. Despite the season, a nightly chill hung around the hills. Anesha and I wore our jackets, which contrasted with the old hunter’s. Ours were dark colors, yet he stalked around in a heavy orange vest over a thick black jacket. His hat matched the vest, pants and boots matched the jacket, but still he managed to blend into the woods while observing us before. “How much of us our…display did you see back there?” The awkward silence in the dark night managed to force my hand. It was either talk or hum.

“…You got a problem where you have to talk or something?”

“He does.” Again, my self-confidence was attacked. Finally, another path, but mostly thin trees and a dirt road. “Stand back.” Anesha stepped forward, drawing her radar. “…”

“…Hm…” On the ground, the hunter ran his fingers across a noticeable divot in the dirt. “It’s this way.” He pointed east and walked off before Anesha could finish her scan.

“Hey!” He ignored her completely! “Listen to me!” Seeing Anesha fume as someone disrespected her brought me the tiniest speck of catharsis. We followed, until the hunter dropped suddenly, tracing his fingers over the ground again. He then pondered, while Anesha pulled up her radar! “There is nothing further down this path!”

“…No. There isn’t.” He agreed, giving Anesha room to smirk smugly. “Come on. This way.” He began jogging north!

“What?! No, you fool! Nothing is that way!” Reaching her boiling point, the witch jumped in front of the man, stopping him! “You old fool, that is not the right way! Look…” Before she could use her magic again, the man waved Anesha off and walked by. “Enough of this! Fate, this foolish old man will only serve to impede us. He is nothing more than an idiot, stuck in his old ways.”

“Listen here, girl.” The man turned around and got up in Anesha’s face! He’d moved so much faster than either of us were prepared for, that even Anesha herself was caught off guard. “That little girl, Rita, is the daughter of a friend of mine. The entire town is looking for her, and since I know these hills better than anyone, they asked me to look for her. I’ve been tracking that monster for weeks, so if you want to go wandering around in the dark, be my guest. I don’t have time for some stuck-up magic girl and her pansy friend.” That last stray fired in my direction hurt. The old hunter went back to eying the ground, and making way toward what he believed to be the monster.

“…Fate. That monster was goblikin. In human terms, a species of goblin; one that mimics Magekin in the sense that they use magic. Typically, they aren’t smart enough to mimic medium or higher-level spells, lo’ their mana cache is greater than humans. The cantankerous old fool will get himself killed. Of that, I am certain.” Anesha spoke calmly, but I could tell she was still angry with the old hunter. “For it to have revealed itself to us, the goblikin likely smelled the seed’s mana from your fight with the ogre, and came running. It took the girl…”

“To lure us in.” Anesha’s point was made. “…You don’t want to go, right?”

“…No, I do not. My better judgement says it would be best to turn around, have Bramble continue to absorb the mana you’re outputting, and continue our journey. All of that being said…” A thought lodged itself in Anesha’s throat, fighting hard to escape but she held it down. “You! That’s right! You would make it difficult! You’re such a fool! So much a fool you’d never allow a child to be in distress such as this! Correct?!”

“…Y-Yeah.” She wasn’t wrong, but it felt like I was being scapegoated.

“You understand the outcome of your disobedience?” She lifted her hand, again bringing up that glyph!

“Yeah, yeah, yeah! You don’t need to demonstrate!” Ducking behind Bramble probably wouldn’t have saved me, but I still did!

“Good! Then…in order to make our working relationship continue on unhindered, we shall pursue the goblikin, rescue the girl, and then be on our way! Will that stifle your constant, endless, pestering?”

“…Yes?”

“Good! We’ll follow that old fool for the time being.” Off she walked, confusing me a bit, but with her head held high. I could only assume Anesha was happy with the outcome.

Part 2

We found ourselves outside of a cove, the goblikin’s dwelling. Clear water from the titular Gold River drained into the deep cavern, leading schools of fish to swarm the entrance. Cold air wafted outward, mixing with the summer night. The brown-gray cave walls standing several times taller than me were clammy against my cheek, and ever so slightly damp. Noise from outside would echo in and fade along the cave’s interior! “…He always like this?” Spotless river water so pure, that through the lens of my phone I could capture the majesty of the cove’s stalagmites peeking out of the reservoir like small spires of stone! Moonlight broke in from the entrance, and a few open sections overhead, glittering off the damp walls, creating reams of light throughout the interior!

“…Unfortunately, he is. Fate!” Anesha’s angry voice bounced off the walls magnificently as she called for me!

“Huh? Oh, sorry. It’s just, this place is cool!” I yanked myself away from taking pictures and rejoined the group.

“We are expected, thus there is nary a reason to remain hidden. Best prepare.” Several blips appeared on her radar. “Walking into a den of monsters once more? This is becoming an exercise in my ability to maintain sanity.” Anesha sauntered on down the only stone pathway available. “Old man, you stay here. Otherwise, Fate would split his attention between you and the goblikin.”

“Not happening.” The man said, checking his rifle. “You two, I hardly trust. Ya’ let her get taken in the first place, and I still have no idea why she was with ya’. I’m going, and I’ll get her back myself if I gotta’ do it alone.” Anesha looked to me, as if I was supposed to change the man’s mind. When I shrugged in return, she frowned and returned to walking the path, as did I.

“Uh…” Darkness swallowed us quickly. The thumping of Anesha’s boots, and glowing threads on her robes became my tether to reality. Unintentionally, I crowded her, but a cruel glare over the shoulder shooed me away. From below my sight, a purple glow silhouetted the area; it was Bramble. He cheated a smile up to me, remembering my discomfort with the dark. “Thanks…”

“So, your dog glows in the dark too, huh?” The hunter said, seeming less surprised and more exhausted with the revelation.

“You seem to accept such things without difficulty.” Anesha made the point.

“Been around a while.”

“…Obtuse old fool.” Like oil and water, I was beginning to think the two would never get along.

Rays of light shown from around a corner up ahead. Growling, heavy breathing, and the smell of sulfur met us before the sight of our impending enemies. As expected, the goblikin awaited, seated atop an ornate stone, surrounded by bones, shiny rocks, and scraps of metal. At his side, with streams of tears pouring down her cheeks, Rita knelt with her head within the goblin’s clutches. Before I could make a move, Anesha raised her hand to my chest, gesturing for me to read the room. We were in a large open-air cave, and far to the brim, watching us, were more hill ogres! Several smaller ones, still larger than any human I’d ever seen, stood at the lip of the water-logged room, cooing and grumbling. With matted fur marked by burns down to the flesh, the hill ogres averted their massive inky black eyes, frightened by the goblikin.

“…Pukwudgie.” The old hunter muttered, training his rifle on the creature.

“…Pukwudgie? A pukwudgie?! No way! Seriously?!” Couldn’t swallow my excitement in time! “Sorry! I didn’t mean to. It’s just – wow! If I had time, I’d get my phone out and take a picture.”

“Your phone’s already out, kid.” He pointed out, correctly. I ashamedly slid the device back into my pocket. The pukwudgie, cryptid of Wampanoag legend; my friends would’ve flipped for a photo! I’d have been even more enthusiastic if not for the slimy creature’s leering gaze stretching across the room.

“Anesha, what’s the plan?” Despite the monster’s insistence on drawing us in, it didn’t so much as move from that makeshift throne.

Those greenish grey lips rolled back, showcasing sharp white teeth, and a smile so devilish it tinged the air with rotten malice. Rita shuttered, paralyzed with fear as her head was fondled in the monster’s grip. With its free ashy hand, the pukwudgie pointed across at us, at Anesha. “…It beckons.”

“What?! Why you?”

“Girl, that thing is going to kill ya' if it gets its hands on ya' .” Every time it seemed the hunter lined up a shot, the goblin would laugh and pull Rita in the way! “Bastard.” He grumbled, lowering his weapon. “Well?”

“Well, what? I’ll go.” Without hesitation, Anesha stepped into the cenote, having the water raise above her ankles. “It’ll be difficult, but if I can cast a spell up close, maybe I can disable it. From there, Fate, I’m expecting you to-” The goblikin screeched, growing impatient!

“No, don’t go! It sees you as a threat and wants to take you out first!”

“Kid’s right. I’m no threat, and I guess it doesn’t think he is either.”

“Silence, both of you!” That confident stride, Anesha always moved with no apparent worries. Always sure, always planned perfectly, always ready, but I knew she didn’t plan to take that thing on. Deep down, it wanted the seed’s mana, I could tell! If I was a more tantalizing prospect, it would shift its gaze to me. Eyes closed, breathe deeply, focus, and exhale…

The seed burst with energy! Electricity crackled across the hairs on my arms and legs, steam exited my pores, fire surged beneath my skin, I was outputting more mana than ever before! Every eye, even those unacquainted with mana, bore holes through me! Anesha’s face of disbelief was surmounted by anger. The hunter, confusion and discomfort. Bramble, a growing dissatisfaction. The pukwudgie, most of all, lust for the seed’s mana!

“You…!” The pukwudgie cut off Anesha, pointing that long finger at me and howling! It was greedy, wanted the mana immediately, couldn’t wait, and was falling into my trap.

I released Bramble from my arms and hopped down into the cenote too. Walking by Anesha, I tried to impart, only using eyes, what I needed for her to do. We’d trained and fought together, she’d taught me plenty, but could I trust that she’d pick up on my plan? (Please, just follow up. In any way, please!) She narrowed her eyes, frowning, as always, but began mumbling under her breath.

“Kid…w-what the hell did ya’ just do?!” That was the first time I’d heard our hunter companion raise his voice.

(Oh right. Too much mana messes with normal people, makes them feel intoxicated. I’ll apologize for that later.) Wading through the calf high water, I slowly made my way over to the pukwudgie’s throne. My sneakers were soaked, but since they’d already been scuffed numerous times, water damage didn’t matter. I was just happy the cold water and slippery rocks beneath me offered enough stability to walk unabated. “Don’t worry, Rita! Everything is going to be fine!” Each step closer, I could feel the malice grow, even the ogres were hungry for the mana. Good mana was like a drug to everyone, everything, an exhilarating vanilla scented aroma that would ignite every synapse in your brain the second it’d reached your nose. I was used to it, having copious amounts pouring out of me at all times, but I wondered how cryptids perceived it. A snack, a drug, or life force itself?

Part 3

The pukwudgie shrieked, throwing up its hand! I stopped, and from both sides of the cavern, the ogres charged toward me! (Seriously?!) Before they could make me into a sandwich, I leapt away, rounding off a backflip! That steady ground, more slippery when doing flips. My shoe slid and I collapsed in the water! Again, the ogres were on me!

“Dastard! Igni-” Anesha’s chanting was halted by the pukwudgie lifting Rita up! The monster held her dangling by the head as it cackled! The intent was obvious.

(This thing wants me to fight? Why?!) I dodged again, thankfully having a safer landing. The ogres hesitantly approached, almost fearful. Laughing that sounded like a sick dog’s bark, the pukwudgie kicked its dirt covered feet in the air with hysterical joy! (The pukwudgie is using Rita as a hostage. It’s just an animal, a cryptid…why is it acting like this?!) I took a deep breath and focused, recalling what Anesha had taught me and what I’d seen from those videos Teddy sent. Those ogres were smaller than the one I’d fought before, but they were still bigger than any person I’d ever been around. One approached, and with preparation, I grabbed its incoming hand under my arm, and with my free hand, tossed the creature twice my size into the other! Both crash-landed into the pool, sending water everywhere and astonishing all in attendance, myself included. (How’s that for overthinking?)

Once more, the ogres looked to their leader. A face of dissatisfaction, and a ball of fire swirling in the creature’s hand was their response. The pukwudgie launched that blast, not at the two in the pool along with me, but a small hill ogre crouching down on the brim! With flames torching the fur and burning its skin, the tiny ogre wailed! Both of the fighting behemoths lurched toward the smaller one, however the pukwudgie’s loud shrill cry froze them! More barks, threats; to which the hill ogres begrudgingly followed. They charged me, and before I could dodge, the pukwudgie again held up Rita!

(Does it want me to just take it?!) My feet froze up, and I took a slap from an ogre! With a mitt the size of car door slamming me, it rattled my body and launched me skipping across the water like a stone! Rolling to my feet to alleviate the impact did little as the next shot from the other mammoth cryptid blasted me into the wall! (Fuck! That hurt really bad.) My bones bent but didn’t break, I knew what a break felt like by then. Anesha, I could see her, under her breath she was chanting and behind her back, a hand with something faintly sparking. (She wants an opening.) Her eyes were moving between me and the pukwudgie. (She needs me to make an opening. I’ll get one, but she’s not going to like how…) I stood my ground. Another slap, then another, and another, and another. I was rag dolled around, but did everything I could to turn and move with the blows, just like Anesha said, just like the videos showed. Side swipes were easy, just turn or jump, but the blows to the back, or against the ground, they sucked. Like a mad king atop his throne of bones and iron, the pukwudgie just cackled away! “…Rita…close your eyes!” She did just that. A kid having to watch someone get their ass kicked while trying to defend them was wrong.

Finally, a punch sent me skyward. The energy to right myself and land on my feet wasn’t present. I somehow managed to land flat back into the water, best I could’ve hoped for. “How long we going to sit here and watch the kid get mauled?!” The hunter drew his rifle and aimed for the ogres, but I stopped him by standing back up, exhausted but alive. The cold water felt nice, at least, running down my bruised body. My black ‘Summer monsters love fireworks’ tee-shirt Mom bought remained intact under my jacket, a small victory.

I cheated one last glance over to Anesha, and moved! Under a swipe from one ogre, dodging the fist of another, I hopped up to the pukwudgie’s face, only for it to pull Rita in the way! My knees bent and I slowly fell toward the ground. The goblin let its guard down, and more importantly, Rita. Those beady eyes were focused on me, greed compelling it, but hubris became the monster’s downfall.

A current of yellow electricity flowed in between her index and pinky fingers; and as if she were loading a bolt into a crossbow, Anesha pulled back on the line! “Striking flash, oh thunderous arrow!” In an instant, faster than a bullet, and with the magical force of lightning itself, the witch unleashed a deafening blast which shook the cavern! The electrical arrow struck the pukwudgie in the chest, sending a tremendous shock throughout it, causing the monster to release his grip on Rita! Pulling every ounce of energy left in my body after that trashing, I stomped the ground, crouched so low my forehead was a centimeter from the floor, and launched the most intense backflip kick to the pukwudgie’s chin I could muster!

The attack was so fast and intense, my brain hardly registered it! Within the blink of an eye, I’d rotated all the way back onto my feet, fast enough to see the pukwudgie blasted up into the ceiling, cracking his dome off the rocks above! (Rita! Rita!) I hurriedly reached out, hugged the girl to my chest, and bounded backwards into the pool of water with a splash! She was safe! I saved that little girl, protected her! My strength, the seed’s power, all that training, working out, losing sleep, worrying for everyone around me, they paid off!

“Fate, right yourself!” I sprung up again, landing between Anesha and the old hunter! Both prepared, the hunter with his rifle and Anesha loading another bolt of lightning, aimed at the hill ogres. The behemoths didn’t move, or show any hostility for us. They were astounded, gleefully yelping to each other as the goblin’s body finally left the cratered ceiling, crashing back down the earth.

A twitch from the pukwudgie’s fingers sent the ogres in a fearful backpedal. Slowly regaining its footing, the goblikin beast spat several shattered teeth onto the ground into a puddle of blood. It screamed an ear-piercing wail, charging up a fireball in that ashy hand, until a roar rumbled the cave, our bodies and the walls alike! Arriving in from behind us was our freshly awoken ogre ally! As if singing for their returning champion, the ogrekin were roused at the sight of him! Fear beset the pukwudgie’s eyes, though it screeched back.

“Anesha, you said that ogrekin tend to follow the victor of a fight, right? Do you think this pukwudgie won a fight and now our buddy here wants a rematch?”

“The possibility exists.”

For some reason, the ogre eyed me. I hadn’t even gotten up off the ground with Rita yet, still in my arms, but I gave the ogre a thumbs up! He smiled, and roared again! The hill ogre jumped down into the pool as the other two climbed back onto the brim. All eyes were on the pukwudgie, backed against his throne. It scoffed and jumped down into the cenote as well. Air brisk, night silent, and mana still thickly hanging about, the fight began!

Part 4

The pukwudgie laughed as it circled our allied ogre, keeping its distance while unleashing a stream of fire from its ashy hand! The flames bombarded the ogre’s defending hand like a hose, only leaving room to shield itself from the onslaught! The fight had only just begun, but our friend was backed into a corner quickly. His movements were slow and lumbering, unable to compete with the magical flames cast about by the goblin monster. Though the gap in strength was clear, so too was the gap in ability. “He’s got to fight back! Fight back Mr. Monster!” Rita, as well as the other ogrekin, cheered fervently!

“He can’t. He’s under fire, literally! The ogre is going to have to reach through the fire or figure something else out! Come on, you can do it!” I also got in on it!

“…” Though we rooted for our ally, both Anesha and the hunter looked on with chagrin. “You two…” Anesha grumbled. “I’ll just end this myself.” Again, she charged up an electrical bolt!

“You can’t! This is a duel between these two and only these two!” Seeing the desperate battle exhilarated me to the point I’d stopped Anesha without any fear! Our ogre friend wanted the fight, so we could only support him from the side lines.

With his gigantic mitt, the ogre swung at the pukwudgie who simply jumped away! Another fireball swirled in its ashy hand; lurching back, the goblin blasted our ogre in the face! It fell to one knee, panting heavily, left arm seared with deep burns. Cackling an impudent laugh, the pukwudgie kicked water into the behemoth’s face. Every ogre watching the battle grew fearful of their former leader’s defeat, until the small monster from before roared! Though the child’s fur and skin on part of its head was burned black, it still howled with a rousing cheer! The sight of its injured ogrekin stoked an even deeper drive to claim victory for our ally! He stood up and charged once more! Slamming fists down into the cenote, sending a small quake through the cavern and launching water everywhere; splashing us, the surrounding ogres, and the goblin, who reacted in a noticeably odd way. It quickly brushed away the water, trying desperately to keep the ash covered hand dry. I wasn’t alone in realizing that, as the ogre looked to me, almost as a confirmation. I smiled, it smiled, and we both knew the next move!

“Get him!” I shouted, so enthused I’d jumped to my feet, still carrying the tiny Rita in my arms like my own child, cheering her own guts out! With an open palm the ogre slapped the water’s surface and sent a wave along, drenching his opponent! Soaking wet, the goblin quickly realized how drastically the situation had shifted. The malicious cryptid frantically dashed for the small ogre, planning to take another hostage! I may have made it in time to stop the beast, but it wasn’t necessary as the small ogre was saved by its leader grabbing the spindly outstretched legs of the pukwudgie! It turned and slung the pukwudgie, cratering the creature in the wall and ending the fight, victorious! “Hell yeah!” I caught myself cheering and cursing while still holding a child.

“Hell yeah!” Rita repeated!
“No, no cursing!”

“But!”

“No! Cursing is bad!” I tried to stress and maintain any form of respectability around the kid. Watching the ogres file into the pool to hug and applaud their leader was heartwarming. The smallest of ogres climbed atop its apparent father’s shoulder and the two nuzzled their burnt heads together. I thought it was sweet, but a sour expression plagued Anesha’s face, though that was normal. “Thank goodness. Everything turned out alright, right?”

“Ridiculous. Your insistence on involving yourself in squabbles of non-humans and Magekin is intolerable! Would I’ve had half a mind before; I’d have simply told you how foolish your decision was! I mean honestly…” Hearing the characteristic bombardment of verbal abuse begin from the irritated witch gave me an idea. I whispered to Rita, then set her down to see the results of my experiment.

“Thanks for saving me, Miss Anesha! You were really cool! You’re like a goddess or something!” Not quite what I told her to say, but it clearly struck a chord with the witch. I’d never expected the object of my torment to instantly blush such a stark, bright red! Though she turned away to save herself from the shame, even her ears had changed colors! I had to physically stifle a laugh. “Uncle Arnold, you were cool too!” Rita turned to the old hunter as he placed his rifle on his back.

“Didn’t do much.” Arnold, the agitated old Native American hunter cracked his neck.

“You aren’t going to try and hunt these monsters too?” Smugness returning in full, Anesha smirked.

“Nope. Not my problem. Let’s get ya’ back home, Rita. Your mom and dad are worried.” After readjusting his cap, Arnold reached out his weathered hand to the girl.

“Hmm…I want to hold Anesha’s hand!” Bad move! She’d already reached out and grabbed Anesha’s, and her overwhelming urge to toss the child was obvious!

Suddenly a feeling crept up my spine. A small wave of mana washed over my back toward my shoulder, over it, and by my right ear. I turned to see it, the pukwudgie! It was jumping toward Anesha, distracted by Rita, joyously smiling at the flustered witch! Bramble and Arnold hadn’t noticed, the ogres had, but it was too late for them to warn us! A dripping claw had reached back, prepared to strike. Maybe it was foolish and I could’ve let it go, maybe only Anesha would’ve been hit, but something in me didn’t want to see that happen.

I leapt in the way, grabbing the witch and little girl up in my arms and shielded them both with my back! The pukwudgie’s claw sliced through my shirt and jacket, into my skin, and down my back. Searing pain from the muscles and flesh of my back being torn was horrible, but an oozing liquid wasn’t expected. It wasn’t blood, that I could feel splayed down the back of my pants and into the back of my sneakers; whatever the pukwudgie had on its claws clung to me and itched too!

Rita was safe, and Anesha was furious. She’d not drawn her saber, but a polearm I had never seen before, one with a glowing azure blade. The humming blade flew over my head, colliding with the pukwudgie’s face, failing to fell the monster! It chuckled, but when those icy blood-colored eyes of Anesha glared unflinching, fear became its reality. An invisible blast, right at the temple, the location of Anesha’s original attack exploded with mana! Another, then another in quick succession! Another, and another, throwing the goblin off its feet! The creature reached out a hand, begging for the assault to stop, yet the pendulum suspended within the curved blade resounded in tune with the blasts. Again and again, over and over, faster and faster, the explosions resounded like a gun’s rapid-fire discharge! Soon, the pukwudgie was no more; just a headless body laid beneath a minced heap of viscera.

“Whoa…how long have you had that…?” My body felt weird. Bile built up in my throat and I vomited onto the ground. It didn’t stop. From my wounded back, seeping into the muscles along my torso and abdomen, swirling into my stomach and being burned away from a building fire in my chest, nausea wormed its way throughout my body. Any strength the seed provided fizzled, and the beating from the battle with the hill ogres was catching up with me. The adrenaline keeping me upright was gone.

“Clean the wound! Bramble, assist me in cleaning his wound!” Anesha shouted to her chubby dog familiar, but I knew what was happening. The seed was fighting off whatever the pukwudgie’s claw sent seeping into my wound. Falling flat on the ground sucked, so I placed my hands on the floor, and gradually lowered to the ground, struggling to stay conscious.

“Sorry, can you take care of this…?” Mind fuzzy, blood boiling, mouth dry, and eyes aching, I was leaving everything in Anesha’s hands.

Part 5

Foolish! Not only Fate, but I as well. Allowing myself, so caught up in my own disorders, to lower my guard, foolish. All for a child, all to lighten my conscience?! Foolish, to allow such flights of fancy to sway me. Weakness in one’s resolve is akin to cracks in the foundation of one’s dwelling! “Clean the wound! Bramble, assist me in cleaning his wound!” With the dogman’s disguise no longer needed his face morphed to that wrinkled old man. Both the hunter, Arnold, and the child, Rita were shocked; odd as they’d seen far more spectacular sights throughout the evening.

Fate was ailing, though had the presence of mind to lower himself to the ground; I’d have commended him if not for the situation. “Sorry, can you take care of this…?” The seed was burning out the greasy toxin plaguing him, lo’ the trouncing received from the ogrekin slowed the healing; demanding attention too.

“Gods…we must clean the wound!” Reaching out my hands, I hesitated. Blood mixed with that clear brown grease, it didn’t disgust me, but the thought of laying hands on another… “C-clean it…” Forcing myself didn’t work either! I couldn’t, I couldn’t! Seeing my own hands betray me and refuse to move, a flashback, unpleasant, one of the many I could count chained me in place! (My hands are my own…I am in control. No one…has dominion over me!)

“My lady…?” Bramble called. He was an anchor to this world, a reminder of my resolve, my reason. “You, human! Arnold, was it? I ask of you some assistance.”

“…” The hunter gazed at me, full of pity, I was sure. Stuck crouching beside a man I could save, panting while staving off an episode, and sweating like a pig. “I’ll take care of the kid, come on.” Despite his age, and crunching knees, Arnold pulled Fate onto his back and started for the entrance.

“Child…Rita, follow the old man.” Following my instructions without quarrel, the girl silently ran behind Arnold. Part of me wished I could be as gentle as Fate with her, frightened as she was, impossible however. “Bramble, clean up!”

“Understood, My Lady.” Drawing in the copious mana Fate had exuded could take a while, sometimes hours after a training session. I could only pray the Magekin tracking us wouldn’t notice the massive spike of mana in this direction. More occupied with licking their wounds, the ogrekin kept their distance from Bramble. Pungent vanilla fragrance tinged the air, yet they seemed untroubled, thus I worried little for my familiar. “I will return to you, posthaste.”

“Do so!” Leaving the dogman, I hoisted Fate’s traveling bag onto my back, and rushed to catch up with the old man and girl. (The barrier surrounding the seed, and runes inscribed, grants me dominion over all functions of it. As Fate grows stronger, the more arduous controlling the seed gets however. Today was an example of that. What is Fate thinking? What does he think…I am thinking? Does think I am so blind as to not see it in him, those rebellious eyes.)

“Here.” Arnold called as I exited the grotto. The old man was truly amazing. He’d managed to climb up hill with Fate on his back, likely aiding the small Rita along too. Due to the awkwardly tall bag, filled to the brim with Fate’s useless hobby items on my back, I tipped over, sliding on my rear down the muddy slope! Mud caked my mage’s robes and had even gotten into my hair! The grime did not perturb me. Once I managed to the hilltop, it’d became evident how prepared the old hunter was. “I’ll clean his wound here, but I can treat him better at my place.” He carried two jugs in the front of his vehicle, using water to clean gunk from Fate’s wound. Rita stood by, holding a box of medical supplies while distressed and rattled. Fate had been leaned into the worn and beaten blue truck’s back, groaning. That meant, at least, he was alive. Grease coated both his back, and seeped into the wounds, yet was being cleansed and running downhill with the water.

“Your home? A minute.” I asked. Sifting past Fate’s clothing, separated by a section of fabric, I retrieved my shorts and overskirt. “Watch this bag, child. I shall return.” Staying in my mud caked robes was unbearable! I took up shelter behind the trees and brushes, then with a deep breath, calmed the mana in my body and disengaged my mages robes.

My changing routine was quick and efficient. The socks and dress were easy to store, as they returned to being separate ribbons of cloth without my mana feeding the stitches. My hat folded up into half inch-thick material, which could fold more so if need be. Finally, the broom was always no more than a snap and minute away. One frustration, my boots. Those crafted platforms were perfect in every way to me, yet were cumbersome to fit into the bag. Akin to forcing thick rubbery blocks into the bag, I'd save them for last.

Donning the tee-shirt Fate suggested, then finally my worn-in jacket, the comfortability was appreciated. Next, fishnets, jean shorts, overskirt, and finally boots…too frustrating to lace up. “Dad?!” An unfamiliar voice alerted me! I reached to pluck one of my weapons from its chain, and stumbled, dashing out of the brush! I silently cursed the untied boot flaps billowing about my ankles.

Peering into the back of Arnold’s blue vehicle bed was a bushel of coffee brown fur; causing me to suspect it was a small bear! If not for her turning to reveal those curious mahogany eyes, button nose, and lips appearing to always be ready for a smirk, I’d have unleashed an attack on that innocent Indigenous teen.

“Oh…that’s not Dad. Uncle Arnold, what’s going on?” Her bright brown eyes were so light, they almost glowed in the dark.

“Lu, why are ya’ here?” Arnold’s wrinkled face didn’t appear to have the ability to frown any further than it always was, yet managed.

“Everyone was looking for Rita! I…wanted to help, and…I was already out.”

“Out doin’ what?”

“…Hanging out with my friends.”

“Doin’ what?”

“…Skateboarding!”

“…” It appeared that the exchange could last for some time, despite my fears of Fate’s condition worsening. “I must ask that we make haste!” Interrupting the proceedings, I was met with a look of fascination by the newly arrived girl.

“Hm…? Uncle Arnold, who’s this pretty girl?” Her index finger reached up to my face, and I nearly reacted with a swipe of my blade! “Oh, sorry! Mom would be pissed if she saw me doing that.”

“Kids shouldn’t be out this late, skateboarding or…whatever.”

“I really was skateboarding!”

“S-Sorry…but can we…hurry?! I-ugh! I’m not doing too good.” Fate pulled himself up, and vomited over the side of the truck, violently, loudly. Clearly, he was detached from the situation.

“Whatever. Everyone in the truck! Lady, ya’ ride in the back with ya’ friend. Lu, ya’ and Rita, up front with me.” Offering little room, it wasn’t as if I cared to be seated next to the cantankerous old man. Regardless, the back was claustrophobic with Fate and I. Even using my boot to keep our bodies from touching, a twinge of discomfort rattled goosebumps throughout my skin. “My place is in Gold River, so it’s not too far. Buckle up, kids!” We set off. Warm air descended onto the evening, the bed of the truck was tight, and my mind was far from at ease. All that planning, as it would seem was the pattern by then, was out of the window.

“It may be best I simply make several plans from now on…or give up on planning as a whole.”

End of chapter 29