Chapter 20:

Visiting the North

Twilight Star: First Goal


 “Well,” Anna started full of excitement, her light tan, heart shaped face and deep green eyes practically glowing, “according to Joan the town is full of interesting things. While Ralph states that the arrogance in the guild hall is stifling. Both said that the items for sale were poor quality or fake so we should just leave and not waste our time.”

“Speaking of time,” Zeke started, scratching his green chin, “did you know that the happy dancing and singing would do that? I mean, we didn’t have a battle until we were practically outside the town lines. Then they seemed to be so enraged it was a bit easier.”

Sasha chuckled softly, her evergreen eyes rolling, “yep, so easy. Nothing like battling dog sized squirrels on fire that want to kill you.” She gestured okay with her buttercream hands.

“Don’t know if it will ever be easy,” Robbie sighed with his whole toned body. His green eyes lost in thought as was his softly accented, oval face. Anna gave him a little push forward as the group started to walk towards the Guild House. People smiled and waved at the sixteen since they were partly responsible for the uptake in all kinds of food. “No matter how deep I scan them, they are all different then what it says. It is frustrating. I am beginning to wonder if I should bother scanning.”

“It helps,” Zerina stated with a slight smile on her long, cinnamon face with a shrug that showed the extra muscle she was adding from constant training and battling. “It gives us a starting point. I believe that once the negative energy settles back down, they will be easy.”

“That will take a while,” Calla sighed, playing with a stray strand of golden hair with her thin, light green fingers, careful not to get her pointed, slightly coned shape, white fingernails caught in the strands. “The continent is saturated, thus all the Green Goblin activity. Just look at how often the item that they guild supplied us with goes off. I guess they don’t attack as much during the day. Anyways, it was nice to speak with others from different areas today. Fenten just smiled at the small group of traders, and they were spilling their stories. Lots of stories about near misses with groups of Green Goblins but I was beautiful.”

Fenton chuckled, fluttering beside them in his small form, a haze of blue, indigo, and white behind his swaying, short, indigo hair. “Yes, they went on and on then realized that she was a Goblin. Then they couldn’t stop tripping over their compliments to her. My did she blush.”

“Awe, no fair,” Anna sighed walking beside Londra who was taking it all in while smiling. “We just met the silent broody type, like Rus.” This caused them both to hold their laughter.

“I am not brooding,” Rus grumbled, rubbing his brown hands against his dark blue pants.

“Somebody called him gorgeous,” Fern chuckled, fluttering around before taking her human form to walk beside Zerina. “He has been speechless since,” she smiled so deeply her soft fawn, oval face glowed with her vivid blue eyes. Her butterfly shaped wings folding to create a cape of pink and white with spots of blue, orange, and yellow. Her loose, violet hair tucked behind her slightly pointed ears.

Zerina laughed, while tears of joy appeared in her deep blue eyes outlined in white, red in silver. To disguise it she ran her hands through her short, turquois hair.

“Were they drunk?” Alden asked telepathically causing many chuckles. His accented, long, beige face was neutral like his unique marbled blue-green eyes, but his long, Elven ears, far from his head wiggled enough to move his long braided brown hair slightly. “He is smooth... like leather made by a grand artisan…”

“True, but don’t touch, pretty boy,” Rus sighed, closing his oval, dark grey eyes while the others had their laugh. He flexed his muscular arms, then rubbed his bald head in a nervous gesture. “Glad you got some information, Calla.”

“Yea,” Julius started feeling a bit sorry for their friend. Yet, it was so fun to make him uncomfortable. The smile on his square, light tan face faded while his green eyes became serious. “Turns out that every section of the continent had a challenge. Just ours lasted longer than most.”

“How are we splitting up when we go shopping?” Fenten wondered changing sizes to walk next to Sasha who was slowly slithering with them. Nobody seemed to stare anymore, and she was almost comfortable in either form. Well, he always stared, couldn’t help it. Her tail was so unique the browns on the top and bottom then the yellow down the sided with the crisscrossed green and red. Then there were her beautiful curves… he looked away quickly causing Sasha to blush and Fern to laugh.

“I have been pondering that,” Londra started, she was in the lead but had an idea of what was going on behind her. Fenton was staring at Sasha again. With a slight smile on her serious, round, light beige face and light in her hazel eyes she continued, “from what the others said, the guild is the only place that had a problem with mixing of races but…”

“We can all teleport,” Peter commented, his long, white rabbit ears twitching. He wanted to laugh at Fenton but there were times he couldn’t help but star at Belle. With his dark pink eyes he glanced that way but never moved his ivory, diamond face. “I love Sasha, which is strange for a rabbit to say but I don’t think the two of us would be able to shop together.”

“True,” Trenton chuckled softly with his deep voice. He and Mara were walking behind since they were so tall and had Demon eyes, they seen all the different emotions running through the group. It made him smile, lightening his golden pecan colored, long face. He turned to look at Mara quickly causing his short, layered, black hair to move around his slightly pointed ears. “Don’t think Mara and I should go together either. Too many would swoon… she is almost as gorgeous as I.”

Mara nodded in agreement. Her oval, ivory face with undertones of violet showing happiness after so long. Not only that, but she also had a true friend in Trenton… no in them all. They were about to come to a narrow part of the street so she pulled in her large, black Demon wings quickly causing her short, thick, layered, blue-black hair to wave around her thin, violet-navy horns.

“I agree,” Anna sighed after looking back at the two. “They are beautiful in many ways. I wanted to shop with Londra. Do you think groups of four would be too large? I mean, that is an average size of a family.”

“It is a Manor Town,” Belle started in her crisp way. Her sharp, oval, light beige face and long Elven ears from head didn’t move as her deep blue eyes looked around. Her short platinum hair was held back by those ears. “One of the biggest in Archduke Dristen’s domain. I don’t think that four would be too large. I would like to go with my brother; we haven’t done anything together in so long.”

“I would like to go with,” Calla started, a smile on her light green, diamond face and a glow in her light violet eyes. She wiggled her Goblin shaped ears, “Fenten, Sasha, and Zeke.”

“Oh, well that would be nice,” Zeke said softly causing a few to snicker. He just realized that he hadn’t said anything because she was walking next to him. He heard a few comments about the nice green couple making him hope. Oh, he also hoped his long, green face and golden eyes were still neutral.

“If that is what we are doing,” Zerina chuckled watching the warrior and the male battle within the muscular frame, “I would like to go with Rus, Fern, and Trenton. What a group, right?” she ended with a smile.

“Yes, I love you two!” Anna yelled, turning around to smile at everyone, her deep red hair dancing around her light tan, heart-shaped face. “I want to go with Londra but… I think Londra, Alden, Belle, and Peter would make a better group. That leaves me, Robbie, Mara, and Julius.”

“Works for me,” Julius smiled glancing back at Mara. His green eyes were full of excitement. “I like shaking things up plus I am used to your rambles.”

He understands,” Anna projected to Mara who was trying to keep pink from entering her ivory face with ribbons of violet, yet she couldn’t control her horns which had a sheen.

“I don’t know,” Robbie started, finally coming back to the group from his thoughts. “They don’t seem very well balanced. Sometimes just seeing someone that looks human in a group helps to settle down the haters…”

“It just hit him,” Rus said with laughter in his voice. “That other than my bald head, most think I am human. The only ones that don’t look human are Zeke, Calla, Peter, and Trenton. Once Mara pulls in her lovely wings and horns, she is mistaken for a tall, beautiful woman.”

“Oh, my Rus,” Mara started, her voice smooth as honey causing many to laugh nervously. “I can’t believe you think I look like a… beautiful human.”

“You forgot about Belle and Alden,” Londra stated, giving Mara a look. She just smiled.

“Nope,” Rus stated, “because they are with you. Who better to be with than someone strong enough to have a slave crest on their right hand. They are beautiful Elves and always will be. You could dress them in rags and they would still walk with pride.”

Smiling and still joking they entered the Guild House. Elaine was talking to one of the three new parties, Wind Cutter, so she just pointed to the glowing circle near where the bathrooms were. As if they couldn’t figure that one out. They waved and walked through.

Now they were standing before a large desk with three receptionists staring at them. Londra hoped her mouth was hanging open because the size of this Guild Hall was immense. All she could see were shop stalls. A tall, male, Elf looked them over. “You must be…” he paused to look down at the desk, “Twilight Star. The other two parties were rude and took no quest while they were here. Nor did they buy from the approved merchants that reside here. Because of this, our Guild Master states that you will take a quest, or he will charge you fifty silvers for abusing the guild system.”

“What!” Anna demanded moving closer to glare at him, darkening her deep green eyes and somehow making her heart-shaped face look stern. “This is supposed to be a reward. It isn’t our fault that all you showed the other two parties were imitations. Do you think we are stupid! We have appraisers within our party as well. Why would we waste our money on junk. Does Continental Guild Master Lenardo know? He said we were free to shop in the town and didn’t need to spend one coin at the guild.”

“He is not our boss!” a large, black man yelled coming forward.

“Oh, I see,” Londra started with honey in her voice but ice in her hazel eyes with a round face full of gentle venom, “you don’t like females or the mixing of non-humans. What a narrow mind you have. You must be the Guild Master since everyone is now staring. Such a big hall, why would you need outside help for quests unless you bullied them all away. So many stalls yet where are the adventures? How many parties reside here? Were you part of the Challenge? Did you knowing the parties and adventurers you thought worthless were being stripped of everything including their dignity? Did you watch?”

“Shut your filthy mouth, female!” he screamed, his muscular body quivering yet none of them moved away in fear. “Take a quest or leave! Step out that door without taking a quest and you owe us fifty silvers for taking up our time!”

“What can’t you do?” Londra continued sweetly. She moved closer to the desk to see a list of quests. They were all located to the south, where the Green Goblins were known to live. This was a trap to see if they would run into them… they could talk about it out of this horrible building that seemed to ooze negativity. “Okay, we will take the wolves quest and chickens. I do love eggs in the morning.”

“You can’t purify the eggs,” the Guild Master spat. “How stupid are you.”

“You can and we do,” Anna smiled. “I am a spell crafter and found a way. Are we leaving, Captain Londra. The odor in here is stifling.”

Londra excepted the two quests with a smile, “out the southern gate I assume.” All three receptionists nodded yes. “Well, see you in a few hours. We are going shopping first.”

Once outside the air was full of salt and they could see the large ships at the docks not too far from the Guild Hall. It was as big as they thought. Londra started down the steps. “We have the funds and don’t have to take the quests,” she started as they all followed. “It puts us dangerously close to the Green Goblins. It is a group decision.”

“I say, we explore the town,” Anna started, threading her arm through Londra’s with a smile. “Don’t fret about it and enjoy the sights and sounds,” she paused, her deep green eyes focusing on Robbie with a little wiggle of her red eyebrows. “Then we meet at the southern gate to talk about it in about… two hours? Besides, we have been dangerously close to them before. No talking until then, deal?”

“Okay,” Londra mumbled looking around. “The ships are made of wood with so many large sails… like in history books,” she stopped at sharp pain entered her head.

“What else would they be made of?” Zeke wondered, moving to face her only to see Alden rubbing her hand to help with the headache from a memory. “Glad I don’t have to deal with that. You okay?”

“Yea, I think maybe another day I will explore the docks to see if something else wants to cause me pain,” she mumbled, enjoying the little hand massage that was easing her headache. “We all agree then? Meet at the southern gate in two hours?”

“According to the map, there are all kinds of shops everywhere,” Robbie started, changing the subject while truly wanting to explore. He activated his Lacrama to show the map of the large town.

“Nope,” Zerina chuckled, moving by him, “I know that look. You were going to divide the shops. This is free time. As in we just go where the wind takes us.”

“Let’s start walking,” Rus agreed, motioning her to go first. “We were just making sure Londra wasn’t going to be crazy…”

“Ha, ha,” Londra chuckled pushing them gently forward. “I said another day. That was quite the headache…” Together they walked into a square then each went a different direction. Few bothered any of the quartets, so they tasted, investigated, purchased, laughed and got to know each other just a bit better.

“Let’s stop here,” Alden projected, his face not showing any reasoning. They were near a small little café that appeared to be run by a group of Sprites. “Outside seating?”

“Sure, we haven’t had any real food,” Peter stated, his long white ears slightly moving as he listened to all around them. “The outside patio doesn’t seem to have anybody there.”

“It is fine with me,” Belle said crisply, which was the way she always spoke.

Londra nodded, heading to meet with the hostess, a tall, handsome man with unique golden, transparent, oval shaped wings. She wanted to get a better look but that would be rude. “Hello, can we sit out here?”

“You may, but there is limited selections since the food must be brought from the kitchen,” he replied with a smile. He then looked at the unique group with a smile. “Go ahead and choose your seat and a server will be out soon,” he motioned, handing each a small menu.

They followed the path and chose the table closest to the door. “I think I will pick chicken salad just because everyone thinks rabbit people eat nothing but lettuce,” Peter said, laughing at his own joke.

“You like chicken,” Belle stated. “It actually sounds good from the description. Now brother, is there a reason that we stopped? We have around twenty minutes until we meet up with everyone. Do you want to talk about that night more? I really don’t know what else to say. I truly am sorry that you were forced to take my place as a slave, but I was poisoned…”

“Belle, dear sister,” he projected to just her. “I do not fault you nor blame you. How could I, when you met the same fate. I respect you dear sister and I think us being in this group could teach us how to… relax a bit more.” His long ears wiggled slightly before he continued, now including Peter and Londra. “I told her we were fine. She is a good little sister. I thought a light meal might be a nice way to end the two hours of free time.”

“Also, a good time to think,” Peter agreed. “I have had a good time. Here comes the server.”

“Hello, do you know what you would like?” the lovely, Sprite with long, flowing blue hair asked taking note of the unique grouping. Her turquois eyes stopped on Londra.

“Yes,” Londra responded with a smile. “Four Chicken Salads with sparkling fruit juice to drink.” She paused to see everyone nod at her. The server nodded and headed back in.

“Okay, I think it is horrible that towns sell off members to the King just so they don’t have to pay tax,” Peter started, his dark pink eyes full of compassion. “I also thank you both for sharing that with us. I didn’t know that was a thing.”

“I find it appalling as well,” Londra added. “The only ones that can purchase some like that… have nobody that can oversee them. They do it to show off and well…”

“So articulate, captain,” Alden project to them with a slight chuckle. It was strange to see his body laugh with no sound coming from his mouth. “Also, thank you for your kindness.”

“It was horrible,” Belle admitted with a bit of emotion in her crisp voice. “But Spella helped in so many ways. Also, all of you are just so… loving.”

“Why do you know how to do everything?” Peter wondered, looking at Alden. “You was a prince, why are you such a good cleaner?”

Belle hid a laugh behind her light beige hand, her deep blue eyes glistening.

“It isn’t funny,” he explained through their link. “I was the second son and until our father’s greed killed his first. I wasn’t worthy of his attention, didn’t even have a real name until he passed, just second. I wanted to change the stuffy town so they could see that all were important, especially those who make and grow things. The best way to find out their true opinions is to be one of them. I dressed down often and would report to my brother what I found. He too hated our town… I believe that is why he died.”

“That explains a lot,” Londra commented seeing the server coming out. Peter jumped up to hold the door for her. This flustered her a bit, but she recovered with a gentle smile. She place the four bowls of chicken salad on the table with the sparkling juice. Londra’s Lacrama glowed. With a smile she accepted the bill and gave the server a tip. This caused her to really become speechless. She bowed twice. “We just leave things on the table when we are done?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “My thanks. Is there anything else?”

“No, we don’t have time, but this looks wonderful,” Londra smiled watching Peter open the door for her again. His long white ears waving at her. “You are such a good flirt.”

“He isn’t flirting,” Belle said quickly. “He is just that well-mannered.”

“Coming from such a large family does that,” Londra smiled. “Six children, your mother must be a saint.”

This caused Peter to laugh, “she is but a bit of a control freak. I am glad that we can talk and that none of them were taken. Then again, I was with a group of traders. Having a mouth instead of a rabbit nose means you are strong; thus I was taken. I wouldn’t change it because I met all of you.” This caused them all to smile with emotions running through everyone’s face in different ways.

Alden nodded as they all began to eat. Just when they were all ready to stand, “Please, stay seated. I found something to give to the ladies of our party. I would like to put yours on now.”

Londra watched him expertly place a headband on Belle who was sitting so stiff, it was a bit funny. “When did you sneak away to find them? What are they made out of?”

“They appear to be made from dragon scales,” Peter stated, moving to get a better look.

“Wait, there are dragons here? I so want to tame one,” Londra said quickly then heard static from her familiars who were wandering around the town covered in an invisibility spell.

“Yes, but they live in the mountains and aren’t dangerous unless the villages they protect forget to feed them. Then again, if they become tainted… it is a dangerous battle,” Alden provided while weaving Londra’s through her hair. “I am glad you had it shaped but are you going to grow it out?”

“Maybe,” Londra answered, enjoying what his fingers were doing to her scalp. “I just don’t want to deal with tying it back before we battle. Then again, for some reason I feel like I wore it as a tail all the time before… we ready now?”

“Yes, they are to help boost mental focus and clarity. Good things for those who cast spells often. Didn’t find anything that would work for us males though,” Alden stated.

“Let’s head to the southern gate then,” Londra decided while trying to get the emotions in her throat to even out. “Before we get there your thoughts?”

“I so want to say no,” Peter started, walking beside Belle. “Yet, I want to go forward. They think we didn’t earn this, but we have trained and battled. My answer is yes.”

“I also think that way,” Belle sighed, reaching up to touch the headband with happy ears. “I want to say no… but I don’t want to be afraid.”

“How do we figure out how to fight Green Goblins without fighting them? Nothing has been easy but together… I really don’t sound like an Elf,” Alden projected with a bit of emotion showing in his long, accented, beige face.

“Yea, you are right,” Londra shook her head in agreement as the gate came into view. There were also four large booths, two on each side. The merchants were a mix of Sprites, Humans, Goblins, and Beastpeople. One of the Sprites fluttered towards her.

She took her human form instantly before the group. “You are the third group to come this far. If you are truly thinking about going out the gate, stop by our booths. We all sell things to aid against Green Goblins or what we call Manifestations of Malice. Well, M-Ms for short. It is wrong to associate them with Goblins of any level.”

“You are right about that,” Londra said as Delta appeared beside her in his panther form, but the Sprite didn’t flinch. “How about them?”

“You must be a Feline Drake, and such a powerful one that has been loved so,” she smiled. This caused the other three to appear. “Oh, they are all so magnificent! I don’t know about anything to protect them. So much isn’t known because those who live… do so because they have fled. We sell things to help ward against nightmares and the two poisons that the Templars have encountered. We have a friend that lives… she helps. Also have some swords, shields, and snacks. Oh, here are some more, are they with you?”

“Yes, but if you have talismans that warn against nightmares…I would love to look,” Peter said, petting the large version of Alpha. Such a unique sight for the merchants to see. Alpha didn’t look too different large, just had puffier white cheeks. His sleek black, legs, tail, ears and eyes were black while his stomach, chin, cheeks, and feet were white.

“That sounds inviting, in a strange way,” Zeke stated since they were all close enough to hear what Peter said. “Had fun, by the way.”

“I think we all did,” Trenton said with his deep voice causing the female before them to flutter her eyes. “Robbie, what is the chance, I know you are pondering it.”

“He is, but at least he waited until we got here,” Anna stated with a sigh. “Wow, that is a lovely headband…” before she could say anything else Alden was behind her placing one on her head. “Oh, we all get them… that is so… nice.”

“Sixty two percent,” Robbie stated. “How about this. Those that are brave or stupid and want to do the two quests, head to look at the talismans.”

Londra nodded, taking a deep breath then following the Sprite to her booth. She would look back after… but everyone was walking forward with her. “So, we are all crazy?”

“Yes,” Calla stated softly behind her, her nervous, light green hands were rubbing her brown pants. “I am afraid but… we are not going back, right?”

“Right,” Zerina and Fern said together causing a bit of nervous laughter. They both walked for a few steps with their hands fisted as they steeled their nerves.

“Wow,” Belle stated, looking over Londra’s shoulder. “Those are high level Elven spells in those necklaces. I don’t even know what some of the characters are…”

Londra smiled at the Sprite that had brought them and the Goblinesta. “Might I ask what they all do?” She noticed that the males were looking over at the weapons booth.

The Goblinesta smiled, showing her white animal like teeth while her golden eyes soften. “The necklaces are to ward off nightmares. The pins are for focus but in reality, what you ladies are wearing on your head are stronger but maybe for the males. Last, the hair items are mostly for show, but do help increase speed if one has the agility to do so. Many just buy them because they are so beautiful.”

“They certainly are,” Zerina mumbled slowly touching a clip with her strong, cinnamon hand. “Such craftsmanship… it is amazing.”

“I agree,” Calla added, moving closer to the table. “I can do that with a spell but never with something that…”

“Tiny,” Anna finished with a sigh, trying to figure out which one she wanted. “Not to be rude, but do you really make enough to make ends meet? How many even come close to the southern gate.”

“Actually, we do. The Templars come at least once a month and by quite a bit,” the Sprite smiled. “They don’t use the southern gate but travel by boat to their next destination. But they run into M-Ms enough to resupply monthly. They don’t fight but still run into poison. They don’t talk about it at all.”

“Wow, so it is that bad,” Sasha mumbled looking at the selections. “I have never worn jewelry of any kind. Alden put this headband on, and it was so wonderful…”

“Okay, how much for the necklaces?” Londra wondered, rubbing Sasha’s back.

“Two silvers a piece,” the Sprite started, waiting for the haggling.

“What colors do you want?” Londra asked those around her. “My appraisal is A rank, and these are remarkable. I figured we could all wear a necklace.” She looked up, “we will take twenty of them. One for each of us and my four Familiars. It can’t hurt right?”

“That is forty silvers,” the Goblinesta mumbled. Londra just nodded, handing her four ten piece silvers. The Sprite used a spell to make sure they were legit then nodded.

“I want black,” Delta started, shoving closer to the table and Londra. She chuckled taking one with a black stone, using magic to attach it to his neck. He shrunk down to his normal size with his wings flapping. “I knew that it would work,” he stated.

“I would like green,” Theda decided, showing a bit of excitement as the ladies stroked him. Londra did the same for him.

“I don’t care,” Alpha started… “but the white one would blend with my neck.”

“I would like blue,” Beta said, waiting his turn. Soon all four were flying around showing everyone as the others slowly made their decisions.

“We purchased twenty of each of the two antidotes,” Zeke stated smiling. “Take a look at the bottle, the marking looks familiar.”

Now everyone was crowding around him staring at the bottle. “Oh, a white lotus with a GC in the center… the party that Alexander was in, Green Cleanse. It looks like his belt buckle… and the bag that he wears,” Anna stated.

“Did you say, Alexander?” a Beastwoman with deep, silver, wolf ears and a tail asked.

“Yea, he doesn’t have an arm,” Julius clarified. “Does now though.”

She produced a letter and handed it to Julius. “If he is the same, he will be able to open it. I won’t say anything to our… craftswoman until he does but… it was really nice meeting you.”

“Also got some swords, they are in-between normal size and long swords,” Rus stated, his oval, dark silver eyes watching everyone’s nerves beginning to show in various ways. “They are in our shared vault with the potions. Here is hoping we don’t need to use them. I am ready to take on some chickens.”

Londra nodded as everyone began to take out their armor and weapons. “It was nice meeting you all. We won’t go too far from the gate… so the snacks might look great when we come back in.” She nodded her head as the group headed for the gate. It was opened and they could hear the man reporting back that a group was heading out.

They had taken around thirty steps when they heard the first cries of tainted chickens. “That is nice, we don’t have to wait long,” Sasha mumbled, rubbing her slightly scaley, buttercream hands together as her body tensed up. “The air here is strange…”

“I love chickens,” a strange, deep voice said with a bit of a growl. They all looked behind them to see the Feline Drakes were large… the size of a horse, and their eyes were so blank. The stones around their necks were glowing brightly. Before Londra could do anything the four were flying towards thirty, tainted chickens.

“That can’t be good,” Belle mumbled, letting the fear she was feeling move into her sharp, oval, light beige face. Her whole body was stiffening. “Look at the chickens. They are larger and all red. As if covered in blood.”

“We need to get closer,” Londra stated, a bit frantically, unaware that she was already moving towards the battle with shaky hands.

“Can we trust them?” Fern wondered, moving closer to Trenton. “They are giving off a different aura.”

“Yes,” Londra yelled over her shoulder. The chickens were defeated and the four were before her begging for help with tear soaked eyes. She folded her hands together to make the deepest purification spell she could. She then felt Robbie, Peter, and Anna add to it while Zeke, Calla, Sasha, and Fern were working on purifying the battlefield.

She watched them slowly shrink back to their normal sizes. Sitting, focused on them because she believed in her team, her hands began to stroke the cats before her. “Better?”

“Much,” Deta sighed in his normal, adolescence male voice.

“I think we need to sit this one out,” Beta responded in his normal, even toned male voice.

“That wasn’t pleasant,” Theda sighed, his monotone voice back to normal.

“To the vault,” Alpha stated, not as proper as normal but close. The four disappeared into her vault. She closed her hazel eyes and put extra purification within the vault with a light sleep spell. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she stood.

“They would have been lost if not for the necklace,” Alden mumbled in her mind.

“I know, guess I owe them quite a bit,” Londra sighed, looking around at everyone’s fear.

“We agree,” Fenten said returning to the group, landing on Londra’s shoulder. “Thirty-two tainted wolves headed our way. We can still see the gate but far enough away that it shouldn’t be a problem. Just focus our spells away.”

“They look like the chickens,” Trenton started, his deep green, Demon eyes searching for a reason... “Bigger than normal, red, and dripping blood. The negative energy is actually visible around them.”

“I have seen much,” Mara added, nervously moving her blue-black hair around her violet-navy horns. “But they are creepy… and coming fast.”

“I say circle up,” Robbie started. “Fern, Fenten, Calla, and myself in the middle to push back any that might try to jump over us. We stay here where the air is not as destructive.”

“Yea, necklaces are already working,” Rus commented, looking down at how the silver pendent was glowing. “Quite the headache too.”

“Let me add a bit more then,” Londra decided. Soon a white, silver, and gold glowing circle of runes was under their feet. It pulsated seven times before dissipating.

“Thanks,” Zerina sighed. “That helped a lot,” she added starting to roll her wrists and shoulders making way for the onslaught that was coming towards them.

Robbie pulled out throwing daggers while letting his crossbow hang on his belt. Calla, Fenten, and Fern spoke softly about which spells to start with. Zeke raised his large shield and axe above his head working the tension out of his muscles while Rus beside him did the same with his two handed great sword. Anna was on one side of the circle while Londra the other just in case they had to step in to help with the magic. Julius was beside his sister with his green eyes focused forward, but his hands gripped his sword and shield tightly until his breathing calmed. Mara pulled in her wings while reading her double swords. Trenton stood with his lance in the ground beginning to roll his wrists. Alden stood next to Belle with a slight smile, both had bucklers and thin swords ready. Peter looked so peaceful with his white rabbit ears and short hair but in his hands were a sword and shield that he more than knew how to use. Sasha had decided to stay in her Beastwoman form since movement was easier that way and she was faster. She had her rapier, but her fingernails could also be used as weapons, like her strong snake tail.

These things were horrible looking, and they were not moving but letting them come to them. Which didn’t take too long. The first five were there to pounce onto the line only to be met with air spells holding them in place while five swords removed the heads. Calla began to purify the five as the next came in fast. This time it was those with pole weapons that halted the wolves while the swords and axe wielders took their heads. The next group came in faster with another practically on top of them. The circle changed a bit so those with more strength were in between to help take of their heads after the others wounded them. This took a bit more, causing most to end up with claw marks on their bodies somewhere. Yet together they took them down, never letting the mages in the middle take any damage. The thirty-minute battle was a struggle won with teamwork and persistence. Fern began to work on the wounds that she and Robbie hadn’t been able to tend before, while he scanned the area for anything else that might attack. Fenten and Calla slowly purified the air and land where they stood. A circle of cleanness in a landscape that was dull and darkening.

“That was fun,” Rus stated dryly, rolling his muscular shoulders. “Glad it is over though, and I can still see the gate. I don’t get creeped out easily, but can we leave?”

“Almost,” Robbie said absently. “We shouldn’t leave any extra darkness, so we wait for the purification spells to finish. Shouldn’t take long.”

“Done with the healing,” Fern stated, moving closer. “Robbie, what is bothering you?”

“Don’t know for certain,” he mumbled getting the attention of everyone. Robbie never mumbled. He also had pulled his pure white, feathered wings out of his body to enhance his magical abilities. They were a perfect upside-down u shape that reached two feet above his head and stopped just below his ankles. They extended enough he could cover four people in them. Londra thought he looked like an angel but wasn’t sure what that was exactly. “Just feel like we are being watched but I can’t find anything else. I know that the extra negativity makes all the tainted animals stronger and the scan less helpful, but I can always find them…”

“I feel eyes too,” Shasa hissed a bit while turning back into her human form. The switch was fluid. She could take off and put on pants and shoes with magic in mere seconds. “Maybe from the gate?”

“Doesn’t matter, as long as we can get back in,” Mara sighed pulling her wings back out and fixing her short, blue-black hair around her thin, violet-navy horns. It was a nervous gesture that only Trenton and Julius caught.

“All good, let’s go,” Calla stated, unsure if she wanted to remove her light, protective, mage armor. It just covered her shoulders, back, and chest without much shaping.

Fenton shrunk to his Fairy size to sit on Londra’s shoulder scanning the area with magic and his light blue eyes. His little, head twirling enough that his short, indigo hair danced around his slightly pointed, caramel ears. “There is something in the air.”

“Yea, I feel it,” Londra sighed trying to get the kink out of her neck. She had been so worried and tense about her cats that now her body ached. “Keep the armor on and weapons ready until we get through the gate. Let’s move,” she motioned to Rus and Trenton who were in the front while Zeke and Alden took the back.

“Londra?” Anna started, reaching for her hand, grasping it tightly. “Please tell me that is you,” she whispered looking down at the glowing ground.

“I can’t move,” Trenton stated with a hint of fear entering his deep voice while his deep green Demon eyes tried to find anything...

“It isn’t me,” Londra answered looking down. “Is it a teleportation circle? I asked Spella about that. I thought that magic was lost… she couldn’t teach it…”

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