Nest: Part One

Londra looked towards the sun and the cloudless sky, as if the day was helping them. She knew there were six people, slowly flapping to stay perfectly disguised but she couldn't see them. She turned to face the crowd; all dressed the same except for Twilight Star who wore color proudly. The others kept the off-white color because it didn’t matter to them. She used a spell to strengthen her voice, not that it was needed since everyone was quietly waiting full of nervous energy. “Okay, everyone is set for three hours. From this point on there is no communication other than through mind links. DO NOT ENGAGE any M-M until everything is set. Avoid them and stay in your parties. We will be moving fast; thus, everyone keep an eye and ear open. When you get to your floor, group up and use your mental links to plan. When your barrier creator returns and finalizes your floor, activate the communication box and when you see it go green, attack. It is up to you if you want music. You might want to keep your stealth skill, spell, or item active until all are in position to attack the first grouping of female M-Ms. Good luck to us all!” With that she waved and Mara nodded. Instantly everyone was moving to form lines, ready to run.

Mara was the only one that had been able to see the layout of the nest completely, thus she was leading. Her wings were inside her body, which was only a bit taller than six feet currently. Her thin, violet-navy horns had shrunk with her body, so they only added four inches to her height instead of six. With focused navy-blue Demon eyes, she began to move knowing they were all right behind her. Using a spell to monitor each M-M they entered the top camp, strangely suspended above the second with tree-like pillars. All their intel showed if they entered the second level, they would alert the M-Ms since they all came in the top and left through the top. Mara led them to the whole in the ground that would take them to the second floor, shaking her head at the construction of it as she jumped down making sure it was safe for everyone. But since there were already three parties gathering, she needed to move. She asked Anna and Londra for a bit of magic to make sure the M-Ms didn’t move. Now that every M-M was still, she continued to lead them through the second level to another whole in the floor. Now they were underground. She waited until her team was down and the next was coming before winding her way through the uniquely dark tunnels continuing to the next. Now there was a ramp made out of dirt, easier to navigate than an open whole. She paused to use her mental links, checking to make sure everyone was still close and continued that way until they were on the sixth floor, grouped together just off from the dirt ramp. She could see in the dark but being underground was unnerving. It was silent until the earth groaned as if it was in pain.

Londra squeezed the box, signing they had made it. The others grouped around her to see that they were all positioned on the floors. They could feel the barrier spell being applied and knew it wouldn’t be long now.

“The stealth spells seem to be working perfectly,” Mara shared. Her navy-blue Demon eyes connecting with Anna and Londra while her thin, violet-navy horns continued to glow slightly since she was hiding their presence from the M-Ms. The slight glow made her long, tightly braided, blue-black hair shimmer with her slightly longer blue-black fingernails. “Thanks for the extra help with the moving M-Ms.”

“Not a problem,” Anna responded, looking around the creepy tunnel. Her nervous hands smoothing down her short, pleated, turquois skirt. “It wasn’t hard to do, just made them turn around or wait. Are they still waiting?”

“Yes, none have moved since the two of you did that spell,” Mara reported, touching Julius’ tense light tan shoulder gently. “Iris, Ryan, and Trenton do you have your females marked?”

“Yes,” Trenton replied, taking Fern’s delicate hand for a moment, gently rubbing her fawn-colored knuckles. “Thought I would have to stay shorter but the ceiling… do you call the top of a tunnel that? Anyway, it is eighteen feet from the ground.”

“That isn’t good,” Ryan sighed, her tail was slightly bigger showing her nerves. She hated being underground. Marrow placed his hand on her dark honey shoulder, gently rubbing careful not to pull her dark violet bra strap. It helped him center too. She reached up to hold his hand for a moment. “It means they are all tall, like a heightened level five camp.”

“That doesn’t sound fun,” Julius grumbled, blinking his green eyes hoping they focused soon. The dust with the dim lighting made it hard to see anything. He flexed his hands while trying not to let worry spread over his light tan, square face. He adjusted his chest strap again, not that it needed it. “Lots of jumping, good thing I am with Delta. He makes flying so easy.”

“Right now, we all have only two females a piece,” Iris pointed out, holding Momo’s deep honey hand. Neither had their wings out since they knew how tight the tunnels could be. “I agree that using the stealth to get the first would be very beneficial. Wish we could have done it like this… so much easier getting here thanks to Mara and the new skin spell.”

“The females are all around eight feet tall,” Mara informed them, blinking the dust from her eyes. “I am glad we did a few starless night battles, the darkness here is… strange.”

“We can add lights after we start,” Helen suggested, holding Alex’s hand before they parted. “I feel Robbie’s barrier below us… oh, and there he is.”

“It is above now too,” Robbie said, taking a moment to readjust his buttercream chest strap while pointing at the box Londra was holding. It showed that all barriers were up. Robbie saw that Londra closed her eyes for a bit and knew she was telling the other captains her plan. The box was no longer glowing.

“Just in case,” Londra started, “we are going to get to our first female and hold. Once you are there let me know. When everyone is in position we will attack.”

“Everyone meaning everyone?” Fern wondered, itching her nose, blinking her vivid blue eyes. They wouldn’t stop watering. “That is a lot of planning.”

“Not really, they are already moving into position,” Mara stated, itching her nose. “We should be too. Ryan’s group goes first into the tunnel.”

“Wait,” Anna mumbled as magic twirled around their faces. “To help with the moisture, mold, and dust in the air. It won’t interfere with the other spells since I slid it under.”

Londra hugged her, “you are amazing. We are so lucky to have a spell craftswoman like you.”

“Ah, shucks, you would have thought of it sooner or later,” Anna smiled nodding to them all following Ryan into the tunnel.

Mara’s Team- Mara, Julius, Londra, Alden, Helen, Delta, and Trinity

Mara waited until the other groups had gone through the main part of the tunnel before leading them to their first female who was relaxing and playing with her stringy black hair and six beaded necklaces, while five males rubbed her body. Londra listened; all were in position. She activated the box to see everyone else was there too. She pushed again to signal that everyone could start. Mara reverted to normal height, so the M-Ms were only six inches taller. Julius rolled his shoulder while Helen nodded that she was ready. Alden simply moved his long Elven ears. Delta sprang forth, in his large black panther form to destroy the basket of eggs that wasn’t far, while Mara used the numerous shadows in the widened tunnel to get behind the female instantly. None were able to scream or even move because their heads were taken that fast. Trinity and Londra worked on purifying the group while watching the brown-green blood flow off from the warriors who were moving back towards them. The silence was eerie because all they could hear was the gentle burning of the precision rainbow flames.

“We should be good to move soon,” Londra projected. “I didn’t hear any screaming, so I didn’t want to chance it. Way to go team.” She reached out to pet Delta’s large black head before reaching to stroke Trinity’s large, soft orange head.

Alden shrugged deciding to get rid of some of the items there… just like a level five camp. Tents, beds, tables, chairs, couches, blankets, lamps… the items were everywhere. Helen nodded and began to help. Julius continued to keep watch.

“Our other female isn’t too far away and isn’t moving yet,” Mara projected. “But it feels different… like she wants us to come get her. She is at the end of a tunnel… it is wide…”

“We don’t have a choice, right?” Julius shrugged, squeezing her ivory hand with ribbons of violet and blue-black fingernails. He gave her a dazzling smile while tossing his short, red hair around his square, light tan face. She smiled as Londra chuckled. “How many males and are they all eight feet tall too?”

“She has her basket next to her but is just waiting with six, ten feet tall males,” Mara answered, squeezing his light tan, strong hand. “Yea, figured they would get larger quickly.”

“I get the ones bending down to serve her,” Julius stated, blinking his green eyes. “Ready?”

“That was a lot of negative,” Alden mumbled through the link, his beige, long, Elven ears drooping for a moment as his blue-green marbled eyes connected with Londra.

“Agreed,” Helen sighed, tossing her long, platinum braid back, motioning to go.

“Yes, all finished,” Trinity said slowly. Londra pet her soft, unique, large head again. Even in her large form she spoke slowly but looked more like a lion since her hair was so long. Her orange head with a green left ear and a white right ear pushed the focus to her sparkling blue eyes.

Londra reapplied the stealth spell and they moved to their other female. Mara was right, it felt like a trap but there weren’t any other M-Ms around. So, they did it the same way except Londra was attacking while Alden stayed back with Trinity. It was easy but the laughter of the fading M-Ms had them all on edge.

“Watch out,” Delta yelled, shrinking and jumping into Londra’s arms trying to control the speed at which she was slammed into the side of the tunnel. Trinity had done the same for Alden since they were still working on purifying three of the males. Julius, Mara, and Helen were all thrown into the tunnel sides too. Hard enough to kill, if it wasn’t for Delta’s quick spell. Now they all had a few broken bones, but they were healing, yet the pain… Delta moaned in Londra’s arms as Alden and Trinity continued their Purification Flame spells. He slid down the wall while holding Trinity to sit on the dirt ground. It didn't matter if the sharp rocks tore up his skin more since everything was covered in brown-green blood the skin spell started to heal them.

When Londra’s eyes cleared, she noticed that five, ten feet tall, male M-Ms had pushed through the wall. All five had injured themselves so they couldn’t move yet. She was in a corner, covered in dirt and rocks while to her left was Mara and Julius both trying to move but neither could. Julius' leg was bent backwards while Mara's feet were sideways with bones protruding from just above her short, deep violet socks. Alden, Helen, and Trinity were grouped together to her right. Helen's arm was doing an eerie dance as the bones realigned while Alden was covered in his own blood, mixing with the brown-green blood. Sighing she tossed Delta’s sword into the air, and he expertly severed the heads of the healing M-Ms who were saying such horrible things. Through her pain she worked on purifying them keeping her mind and flames pure.

“So, just to… inquire,” Julius groaned, rolling to his left three times so he could use the tunnel wall to stand, “that wasn’t magic or a projectile?”

“Correct,” Mara grumbled, crawling up the wall to stand beside him. “Yet, just enough M-M that both spells worked to heal us. Not enjoyable but…”

“I have never seen that before,” Helen sighed, looking at her own blood covering her body. She washed it away with a simple spell, doing the same for the rest. “It isn’t a waste of magic, it helps keep your spirit up,” she stated. “I felt them nearby but then they disappeared. Can they use a stealth, too? Because we used it?”

“No,” Mara said licking her lips after spitting out some blood. Her ribs had been broken but were now healed. “I had them marked but didn’t expect them to come through the tunnel wall since it is made of thick stone. They sliced themselves sending the blood through then their injured bodies. I guess that is one way to get rid of them.”

“I don’t understand,” Trinity said slowly as Alden stroked her to help them both, “and I don’t like it.”

“There are more coming and no way out of this open section of tunnel,” Alden projected. “Somehow the tunnel wall reformed so there is only one way out…”

“Figures,” Julius nodded, rolling his shoulders and wrist. “Did Trinity and Delta shrink to heal faster? I know that Delta saved us from going splat but…”

“That is correct,” Delta grumbled. “I did not like that. They used their blood to make it harder for my gravity to stop them… like oiling the sharp, heavy rocks up. I can see them using that trick again, but I just don’t know how to stop it.”

“Neither do I,” Trinity added slowly. “Alden and I held on and no reattaching heads!”

“You did spectacular,” Mara commended, smiling largely at Trinity who purred. “Damn, Delta is right, be ready. We have three coming towards us through the opening and six approaching the wall. They are slicing themselves as they push through the wall. Strange…”

“Alden and Helen,” Londra started, “the three coming the normal way are yours. I am going to try to reinforce the wall, but it might backfire so…”

“I will stay with them to purify,” Trinty exclaimed slowly causing everyone to smile. She grew to her larger size again following Alden and Helen. It wasn’t long before they were engaged in battle. The tight quarters made fighting difficult, swords connecting with the walls instead of the M-Ms. Yet they had taken down one successfully that was over ten feet tall while working on the other two. Trinity was happily purifying.

“That is new,” Julius pointed to the brown-green blood oozing through the wall. “I guess we can thank Robbie for his barriers, or this would all come down on us.”

“It isn’t a spell or curse magic…” Londra mumbled trying to get a read on what they were doing. “Julius, move all the way to the back wall and stay there." She paused to point. "If Mara, Delta, and I can’t stop the sharp, jagged, large rocks from moving it will be up to you. Take the heads and either I or Alden will purify. They should be out of the way… I hope.”

Delta was in Londra’s left arm while Mara was holding her right hand. Together they searched for any way to stop it while hearing Helen announce two more were coming their way. They were unsuccessful as the wall turned into rocks, blasting them into the tunnel wall. All three had used gravity magic to slow them down but still… Julius was free to move but the wall had gotten Alden and Helen. Helen had moved to cover Trinity so she could keep her flames burning true. The two that were coming in were also struck by the rocks, slicing one’s head off and immobilizing the other. Trinity started that one and used her magic sword to finish off the other so they could burn together. Helen slowly petted Trinity waiting for the spells to heal her, keeping them both focused. She delicately spit up the blood in her mouth while wondering just how much of her body was broken. She didn't dare look, just keep stroking Trinity.

“Londra?” Julius mumbled, “now? They are healing but it will be a while. All six are…” Rainbow flames, burning bright and true covered the one that had lost its head. He looked over to see Londra’s focus was on it while the bones in her body began to heal… a few of the wounds had M-M blood contaminating them so that was being push out as well.

“I can handle… two more,” she whispered, tears streaming out of her hazel eyes from the pain. “My flame will not falter now. Go!”

“I feel useless,” Mara moaned, her left horn was slowly growing back together since it had been snapped. If it wasn’t for the skin spell and the additions, that could have left her unconscious for days and weakened her for the rest of her life. She debated about bringing her horns in after they were healed but it helped her focus her shadows. Yet the pain of them breaking was more than a bone… she would bring them in. Her longer, blue-black nails also helped with magic control, but they too caused intense pain when snapped. “We couldn’t stop them, nor can I help purify because then I won’t be able to teleport us out of here…”

“You are right,” Delta moaned, rubbing his body against Londra’s arm with watery golden eyes. “You must save your mana because I am sure a few teams above us will freeze when it comes to getting out of here. Teleportation is frightening when you are unsure of your ability plus the tunnel will be caving in on them.”

“There are ten open areas in this level,” Mara continued because she needed something to occupy her mind instead of the sharp, cycling pains of healing. “Yet, I fear we are stuck in this one until the end… we have more coming towards us… Julius, watch out the wall is…”

“Reforming,” Julius finished, while dodging, jumping, and rolling out of the way of the rocks reforming the wall. Two jagged rocks sliced open his right arm. It was slowly healing. He watched as three M-Ms bodies continued to reform.

“Do it,” Londra yelled. “Those three are ash and Trinity has the others done.”

Julius nodded, taking the heads of the last three, slowly moving back to his corner. “I hate this,” he grumbled, using his shaky, hands to wipe off his light tan, square face and shake loose gore from his short red hair while watching the others with concerned green eyes.

“This is not fun,” Alden projected, his voice layered in pain like everyone else’s. His blue-green marbled eyes were closed while his long, accented, beige face showed his pain. He tossed his long, braided, brown hair back after rubbing out some of the blood and poison. “So, do we need to do the same thing? Fight off the ones coming this way while waiting for the ones to come through the wall? Can you all hide against the back?”

“Yes, and I don’t think so,” Mara answered, leaning her head against the dirt and rock wall after pulling in her thin, violet-navy horns, shortening her blue-black nails, and closing her navy-blue Demon eyes. “They waited until we were gathered before it. If we all stand against the back that is where the rocks will be focused. Then Julius wouldn't be able to attack while we heal. Wait, can you use Purifying Flame on them? Would that stop them? Even the void spell didn’t work…” her voice faded as her body finished healing.

“I think it is the only thing I didn’t try,” Londra admitted softly. Her curvy body covered in dirt was being washed by the spell because it was pulling the brown-green blood off, and everything that was in the path of it. She thought about laughing but it wasn’t that funny, yet it was a positive for the day. “I couldn’t even destroy them with magic… like the blood absorbed it.”

“Even if you can, the timing will tricky,” Helen stated, slowly standing using the wall to steady her toned, light beige body. She needed something positive… she looked down at her M-M outfit that was orange, even if it was covered in dirt and blood. The thought of Alex made her smile through the leftover pain of healing. She closed her green eyes for a moment as her left, Elven ear went stiff. “They will still hit, if it works, I think, but if Delta uses his gravity magic maybe not so many broken bones. I don’t like seeing my ribs. Guess it is a good thing Alex is with a different team…”

“This is like a level five times three,” Julius sighed, looking down at his dirty maroon shorts and dirty brown boots. “At least the dirt and our blood isn’t stopping the skin spell from working… So, the same? I must watch you be smushed again? Can’t say I enjoy watching my lovely Demon and friends be in pain.”

“Hopefully not as smushed,” Mara smiled. He grumbled leaning in his corner.

“Here comes the bait,” Alden stated through the link, reaching back to pet Trinity. “I don’t feel a lot left so here is hoping this is the last...”

Helen nodded, making ready while Trinity shrunk and waited behind them. She didn’t like watching them get hurt but her job was to purify, or they would be hurt worse. She watched; their movements were slower and a bit sloppy, which she understood.

“Here comes the blood,” Delta sighed, staying in Londra’s arms. Her hazel eyes were closed as her magic was creating a wall of level twelve Purifying Flames. The rocks flew, with the eight large M-Ms. The flames slowed the rocks enough; Delta was able to mostly block them. Instead of being smushed they were just pushed against the wall really hard and fast. “Still not pleasant,” he mumbled feeling his cracked ribs begin to heal. "Better than having my rib stick out though." 

“I hate dislocated shoulders,” Mara growled, pushing the rocks off from her to intercept the two M-Ms that hadn’t been injured. “Oh, they are fifteen feet tall!”

“Do them all,” Londra instructed as Delta moved the rocks away from them. She was covered in bruises this time, not the same pain but still…

“I will help!” Trinity yelled slowly. “Mine are done, let me have a few.”

“Sure thing,” Londra moaned waiting to see which ones Trinity chose. At least her magic was lightning fast, like her mind. Maybe that is why she spoke so slow.

“Not sure what the others have,” Mara started, her breathing a bit labored but was slowly evening out. “But that is all I sense. Can we sit for a moment?”

“Sure,” Londra said since she was still propped against the wall. “Look, the tunnel is rebuilding again. Such a nice wall,” she sighed. Alden and Helen slowly sat next to her as Julius moved to help his tall Demon sit. Trinity climbed in Alden’s lap. “We walk to the other area after a short rest. We purify the items from here. I need to save a blanket or something…” then all agreed in silence.

Ryan’s Team-Ryan, Marrow, Robbie, Anna, Sasha, Fenten, Theda, and Katie

Ryan, Marrow, Robbie, Anna, Sasha, and Fenten stood in a tight circle waiting for the signal watching the female slowly counting her eggs without a care in the world. Theda and Katie sat near their feet watching. A strange sight but so was the five males that were just bowing to her while she counted out loud. It was hard to make out how tall they were but if they didn’t move it would be so simple…

“Just like we planned,” Anna started through their link. “Robbie and I will purify. Theda gets the eggs, Sasha the female. Then the rest of you work on taking the heads. All is fine. Maybe if we don’t make noise the next group will be…”

“Thanks for not saying it,” Ryan sighed, her tiger striped, silver and dark grey ears on the top of her head stiff as she listened to everything. She closed her silver-violet Demon eyes for a moment as she found her courage. “We have seen a lot, but it feels off. Like they are making it easy for us… don’t want to complain but…”

“Agreed,” Marrow nodded, his silver eyes outlined with green, gold, and yellow darted around the opening as he rolled his dark brown shoulders careful not to move the chest strap. “I think we stay silent. There is the signal.”

The team sprang into action, and all were headless before any noise could be made. The team made faces at each other, shrugging and helping to purify since the battle may have been easy but there was plenty of negative emotion and souls to purify.

When the final one was white ash and the items were gone, Ryan said through their link, “taking us to the next female. I assume we are staying silent. I haven’t heard much, just a few wandering around. I can’t see them as clearly as Mara can, but I can hear them.” Her silver and dark grey striped cat ears moving around on the top of her head causing her short, black hair to wave while framing her dark honey, diamond face. Her long tail moved around her as if it was checking the area before wrapping around her stomach, right above her short, dark violet skirt. The others nodded and they were off to another open section of the tunnel.

“Thanks for the magic mask,” Sasha projected to Anna, her evergreen eyes surveying everyone. She wanted to smile but her buttercream hands continued to shake slightly. She fisted them while deciding to keep her legs. If she used her snake tail any M-M with ties to the earth might be able to sense her, the same with her scaled legs. “I can see the dust and mold in the air.” She bent down to wipe off some gore from Theda’s large, fluffy yellow face and Katie’s large, fluffy green face. She smiled, touching Katie’s indigo tipped ears while Katie purred a bit.

“Should have thought of it before,” Anna sighed glancing at Robbie’s pensive, soft-oval, buttercream face. She wondered what he was thinking about so deeply. He must have noticed her eyes because his connected with hers. “I hope the others figured it out.”

“Not to sound… crass,” Marrow began, helping the brown-green blood off from his bare, dark brown, muscular legs. In the dim light it was hard to see his undertones of yellow in his skin. He also shook out his short, pale yellow hair. “But we have shown them enough. This one feels strange… it is a trap but for the life of me I can’t figure out how. The six males around her are twelve feet tall but other than that…”

“Yea,” Fenten sighed. He took a moment to shake some blood out of his short, indigo hair with almost steady caramel hands. “I feel that too. Let’s just go get this over with and hopefully the trap isn’t too horrible.” Since they were trying to stay hidden, he shrunk to his small Fairy size. When Robbie nodded, he flew forward with the rest of the team.

Robbie and Katie were on to purify this group. Katie’s flames burnt the eggs that Theda had crushed while Robbie was working on the female that Theda had also beheaded. For the size of the males the others didn’t have too many problems. Sasha’s longer tail made it easy for her to take a head from behind, while Fenten flew past one before enlarging to take another head. Anna teleported and used the steps Theda provided while Marrow and Ryan jumped to reach the head showing their skills and leg muscles. Fenten easily finished the last while the group moved back towards Robbie and Katie. They circled around them, watching, listening, and waiting for the eerie feeling to subside while purifying the items in the area.

The silence was deafening until… “Congratulations, meat sacks! Such lovely nipples… the things I will do to them,” a crewel voice cackled. A green male, that stood thirteen feet tall, covered in wrinkly skin that looked like it was patched together moved before them with six following. He held a thick mage staff and was wearing six necklaces like the females did.

“It is male,” Ryan mumbled, watching the last of the others turn to white ash as the spirits and pieced faded away. They all began to back slowly towards Anna, while she was focused on what the male was about to do.

“I wonder if you will burn or just run around screaming! I don’t have to keep you alive… the others will fall when they learn of your death. Plenty to play with and enjoy,” it laughed before a massive flair spell filled the area. Theda created transparent walls, but they were cracking even with Katie’s help. Their fluffy tails curled around each other to keep the power even. Anna tried to reflect or dispel the massive spell, but it was just too high a level.

“Ideas?” Marrow wondered, pulling the group closer together. His strong hands aching for his weapon that he just stored in his vault. He hated doing nothing but with the blazing fire they were trapped. He didn’t like that feeling either, nor did any of his teammates by the look of it. “We can’t move like this. The fire is all around us.”

“I don’t know,” Anna whispered, her light tan face beading with perspiration. Her hands were before her helping to protect them. Thus, Theda and Katie’s wall moved back a bit to form a protective barrier around them all. Theda faced forward while Katie faced to the back with their tails still curled together. She could feel Robbie close but knew he was analyzing… what he did best. If there was a way he would find it.

“Flair isn’t something that will be reflected with the skin spell,” Sasha stated, switching back to her legs because there wasn’t room for her tail. Her nervous hands rubbing her buttercream arms. “It is a magic that isn’t normal. My scales won’t help with it either, more like a hindrance. Same with Fenten’s lovely wings.”

“Our walls won’t hold,” Theda growled, power could be seen flowing off from the lion sized, long haired, yellow cat. His hazel eyes continually blinking from the heat. “Even with Katie expertly weaving hers with mine they are just breaking down.”

“Almost as fast as we make them,” Katie added with her own growl, digging her large green paws into the ground, her tail still curled around Theda's. The magic they were using made her long hair wave. Her amber eyes were so dry she too was blinking. Since seeing was optional thanks to her mana sense, her indigo tipped ears were slightly moving and listening to everything.

Robbie shuffled behind Anna and put his arms under hers, letting her hands interlock with his to strengthen the shield that was protecting them all from being burnt to a magical crisp. He felt her pulse race, almost as much as his. Being this close with so little clothing was quite the… boost. They heard the mage M-M yelling and swearing. Yet the spell continued to wrap around them.

“I feel something coming,” Sasha murmured, pulling her lance from her vault nearly poking Marrow. She like the others had stored their weapons since they were so close to each other. “They are moving through the flames! It is hard to see but I feel it!”

“Our walls are holding back the magic,” Theda explained. “We had to change them, in order to keep them going… the M-Ms will not be stopped by them. Look alive!”

“So we have to protect the four of you and stay in this little box?” Marrow grumbled, accidently bumping Ryan then smiled as he held her tight so she didn’t fall. “That won’t be easy. Can you make the box bigger?”

“No, can you!” Katie grumbled, her large green paws digging into the ground deeper, cycling mana from the earth to keep the walls up. “That is as much as you will get.”

“It has to take a breather… hopefully soon,” Anna panted, taking a moment to glance at her hands intertwined with Robbie’s. They were burning from the strength of the spell. The skin spell was helping to heal but it wasn’t fast enough. Oh, she hoped it stopped before the bones started to burn. The skin and tissue could be fixed with magic but the bones… oh that would take so much more and if it did it again… “Fenten, when it does, you and Ryan are the fastest. You need to race towards it.”

“So tall,” Ryan sighed as the M-Ms broke through the walls. She wiped the sweat from her dark honey brow while her diamond face tried to show nothing. Her silver-violet Demon eyes darted around. It was going to be difficult. “There isn’t a lot of room.” It was red, holding a long sword that would easily slice Robbie if she wasn’t careful. A yellow one was now sparing with Sasha, while a blue one was engaging Fenten. Marrow was trying to push back a white and a violet one. Meaning, there was one left guarding the mage.

Marrow couldn’t move like normal… this was all sword to sword. His silver eyes outlined in green, brown, and gold were focused but there were two before him and they were six feet taller than he was. Maybe… he began to move the ground he was standing on up. Now that was better. His strikes were harder and faster, but they were getting in just as many knicks as he was. Their brown-green blood mixed with his as it ran down his body and his dark yellow shorts. The magic around him was healing his wounds but not as fast. He dug deep within his memories for techniques he hadn’t used in forever. He took one head, but the other was able to slice Anna’s leg before its head feel to the ground. Then a thought hit him, who was going to purify if they were all fighting. He was working on clearing his mind when rainbow flames covered the two decapitated M-Ms. Fenten had finished his and stared at Sasha long enough to recenter himself and purify.

Marrow was breathing hard, “sorry, that one I couldn’t block.”

“It is fine,” Anna replied softly, in so much pain. Now she wondered if her and Robbie's skin would be melted together when the spell stop. He could be stuck right behind her. She smiled through the pain. “We knew that… tight quarters... The incredible heat is slowing the healing down… but it is still working. No way... to help it work... faster at this point.”

“Yea, sorry Robbie,” Sasha sighed, moving closer to Fenten to help give him a magical boost while touching his bare caramel shoulder. “Tight quarters are hard to fight in.”

“We only have a few wounds,” Katie mumbled. “Oh, it is receding… Sasha can you purify or take over Fenten’s spells?”

“Not a problem,” she smiled, taking Fenten’s human hand for a moment. She looked over to see Ryan turning into a tiger that was silver with dark grey strips. Both were ready. They followed the flames back to the caster, which he wasn’t expecting. Fenten got him while Ryan took down his guard, barrowing Theda's sword so she didn't need to change. Sasha immediately started the Purification Flame. It wasn’t her strong suit, but she would do it. Marrow understood, placing his hands on her shoulder giving her mana to keep the flame pure and strong.

Anna slid to her knees taking deep, cleansing breaths trying desperately to realign her body. Robbie took a step back and began to wander their safety circle trying to clear his thoughts and move the muscles that had healed. Both looked down at their healing hands thankful they hadn’t melted together to tightly. Ryan lumbered back to the group, still in her tiger body. She looked at the exhausted Theda and Katie. She returned to her human body to stroke their large heads. Everyone was now waiting for the next attack.

It was Sasha that broke the silence, “I can’t go underground… there isn’t enough space due to the barrier but there isn’t any way they can either. I hear a staff coming…”

“Yea, in our silence I could hear the slurping of them eating one another. Can we do that again? I know you all have gobs of mana but that was a lot,” Ryan wondered looking at Marrow who shrugged. “We have never encountered any M-M Sharman that can create level twelve flair spells… heck, not even level six and we have been doing this for a while…”

This caused Marrow to chuckle, “Yea, a while but we are still a bit rusty. Working on that.”

“Well, you didn’t bring us down, that is for sure,” Robbie encouraged, flexing his healed hands understanding it wouldn’t be long before they were burnt again. He hoped none of them realized just how much damage his and Anna’s hands took. “If it doesn’t last longer than what we just encountered we can do it. Theda and Katie are using a mana calling spell to suck in any extra, non-tainted, energy in the area while Anna and I naturally recover magical energy instantly.”

Marrow smiled, “you need to pick one and keep using it.” He laughed at Robbie’s confused oval, buttercream face, which is what they all needed. “It is either mana or magical energy. We all know what you are talking about, so choose one to use.”

“Oh,” Robbie chuckled realizing what Marrow was trying to do. Yes, he and Rus were much alike yet, now that Marrow was comfortable, he was less… sharp than Rus.

“I want a different location,” Anna decided, standing up and walking towards the entrance of the open area. Maybe then the holy fire won’t circle us as thickly… but we will really have to move when it slows.”

“What is this we,” Fenten joked breathlessly. “I understand and will be ready. We have this… mostly. So glad this healing spell is so strong, I lost count of how many hits they got in.”

“It is much stronger than the original,” Ryan confided, her tiger ears nodding with her head. “You did a marvelous job… one Sharman and six very large M-Ms. I would say around fourteen feet tall?”

Sasha sighed, “looks like it.”

“Oh, no words just…” Anna started quickly forming her shield. Robbie was behind her instantly while Katie and Theda began to form the walls around them.

“I hate waiting,” Marrow grumbled, rolling his wrists and shoulders.

“This is stronger, but I don’t think it will last longer,” Katie said, digging into the ground with her green large paws. “It is still a twelve but focused on the shield. There is overspray but not as much. Theda should be able to keep the walls going while I help with my magical sword. Fire isn’t one of my favorite elements and his walls are stronger.”

“Okay,” Sasha nodded, “but we will see when we get there… or now,” she yelled quickly parring the first attack. The sword was huge, as were the arms on the red, fourteen feet tall M-M with two heads. “At least there are only two muscular arms,” she sighed softly. It was taking all that she had to keep from losing a limb. This time Katie’s sword took the fifth, meaning there was still a guard with the spell caster. The flame may not have wrapped around their dome of protection, but the heat was intense. Her blood, their blood, poison, and sweat gushed down her body as she looked for some opening. His legs… they were apart… could she… well might as well try. After the next attack she switched quickly, slinking under him and jumping up behind in one fluid movement that rewarded her with two heads and a brown-green blood bath. Wiping her face long face so none of the yuk went into her mouth or eyes, “Katie, I will take the other if you can… purify?”

“Already figured that,” Theda said in his monotone way. “My walls don’t have to be rebuilt so I took over the sword part but would love some help. It is hard to fight in such close proximity… I have been trying to protect Robbie but sometimes my sword goes past me so fast… my lovely fur is icky looking too. I look like I had a nasty bath.”

“We understand, Theda,” Robbie responded softly. Their hands and parts of their arms were burning this time. All the way up to their elbows. The pain was intense so it was interesting to him that he could tell the difference. “The spell is lessening. Fenten and Ryan make ready.”

“Yea, sure,” Fenten sighed, looking to Sasha to take over his battle. “Can’t get rid of this one but I will go get the fire master.” He shrunk to use spells and skills to fly faster.

“Know what you mean,” Ryan growled, hating that Marrow was now taking on hers after he fell his own. At least there were only two left over here…

“Go,” Anna yelled. “I will purify since the others are busy. Don’t worry just go!” She released the shield spell and controlled her breathing to make ready for the Purifying Flame spell she would be doing any moment. She didn’t need hands to do that. She pulled them in close to her body hoping nobody noticed. She thought of the feelings running through her with Robbie's mostly naked chest against her back. Her fire would be true because of that. Fenten and Ryan complained but finished off those two with ease. The two behind them were now burning as well.

“I don’t feel any more coming,” Robbie sighed, rotating his wrists and flexing his healing hands. He wanted to watch because it was interesting to him, but he didn't want the others to notice. “Maybe just hide out here for a moment…” he moved to lean against the tunnel wall as his body finished healing. He didn't realize how many slices his body had taken.

“We don’t have to move,” Anna said trying to sound happy but failed. “We are in the direct center. Everyone else comes here. We just have to get rid of the items around us.”

“Anna?” Fenten started looking into her pain filled, deep green eyes. “Show me your hands.” Anna sighed moving her hands away from her body. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

This caused Sasha to look at Robbie, “Wow, that looks horribly painful. I really am sorry about all the slices…”

Robbie smiled at her, “you took more than your fair share of bladed attacks.”

“Wow, look at you try to pretend all is good,” Marrow grumbled, looking at their hands while knowing it was so much worse before the spell started to heal them. He wondered how far up their arms. Ryan was next to him and motioned to the elbow and he sighed softly, “Then again, it wasn’t like we could come up with any other way.”

Ryan and Katie moved closer to Anna. “They are healing right?” Ryan asked with concern on her diamond face as her tiger ears drooped in sadness. “I don’t know a lot of healing spells but… I could give mana to Katie.”

“No, they are healing and look so much better,” Anna smiled but her words didn’t do anything to reassure them. “We rest, then purify, and wait.”