Hive: Part Two

Trenton softly sighed looking into the open area that wasn’t large enough for the purification battle. His golden pecan, long face was neutral but his deep green Demon eyes were assessing the situation. All he knew about Londra slightly terrified him. He hoped the M-M with Londra’s face only had a few of her soul pieces. Fern touched his elbow, “you see it too. It doesn’t have a sixteenth of the mana, so we are just fighting a fraction. We can do this… but even a fraction…”

“Here we go,” Trenton projected, shrinking his size to match the male M-Ms, joining Alex, and Belle heading towards the males. Fern shrunk, hoping for a sneak attack but figured it wouldn’t work. Peter stayed next to Beta who was just watching but not calmly like normal, his whole body was tense. Jackie stayed next to him as well, her indigo eyes trained on the female M-M. A moment later the basket was destroyed while Jackie began to purify. Usually, they would gloat, but both were focused on Fern.

The moment Trenton engaged a dark yellow, male M-M his face changed to Julius with his body structure causing him to miss completely. It laughed then began to attack. The blue one next to him also changed to Julius. Now Trenton had one on each side realizing that Julius was much more of a fighter than he knew. He looked over to see that the two Alex was taking on looked like Julius as well while the last three changed into Zeke. Belle was now taking on two Zeke like M-Ms while Beta’s sword tried to keep the seventh away in hopes of finding an opening.

A scream rang out as Fern was smashed into the ceiling then fell to the ground right before Peter’s feet. Her pink, butterfly wings were torn yet slowly healing while she moaned in pain. Jackie was instantly trying to help heal her faster, while Peter moved before her to protect them. Beta moved behind, but his sword was lucky and removed the head of a dark red M-M the moment Fern screamed. Peter was purifying while trying to figure out what had happened. The female seemed board, sitting back down in the chair. Then five small flair spells were flying towards them. Peter knew that a simple barrier wouldn’t stop it, so he reinforced it with earth walls before moving his group away hoping the spell didn’t follow. “Flair coming in,” he yelled. “Put the M-Ms in between you and the spell. Hurry! I can’t hold it for long!”

The fighters looked up to see the walls breaking. Each twirled around their opponent that they were not having any luck with. Three of the M-Ms lost parts of their bodies making it easier to take the heads but the heat had them all moving slow. The heat seemed to be trapped in the small area they were in. Luckily the other flair spell hit a wall, so Peter was quick to start the Purifying Flame. Beta moved them back and helped cool them off. The other three M-Ms were burning but not stopping, a horrifying vision.

“Trenton,” Peter started, his white rabbit ears moving in every direction while his white rabbit tail was stiff. “I don’t know what she is doing. But there is something in the air…”

“Belle, can you read it?” Trenton asked handing Alex a towel. Alex ducked behind him to dry his shoulder to reattach his right arm that had slid down since he was sweating so horribly.

“I can but… I have no idea how to stop it,” Belle sighed, looking down to see that Fern was finally sitting up looking horrible. Jackie was still with her.

“Whatever spell was used,” Jackie started in her precise way with little waiver. “It is not healing completely, even with my help. It is like she has been slammed against the wall twenty times, without any protection. So many broken bones…”

“Look out,” Beta yelled but his sword was there to take another head while Alex got another. The last male backed up and went to sit next to his master.

“That is one way to do it,” Alex sighed, rubbing the sweat from his square, cognac face while his steel grey eyes watched. His short, auburn hair was plastered to his head, controlling the pain that was suddenly cycling through his body. “Pretend to be exhausted.” Trenton smiled, wiping sweat from his own forehead.

“Who is pretending,” Peter mumbled. It was then they all noticed that he and Trenton were sliced open in multiple places. “I don’t even know when it happened…”

“We need to end this,” Belle stated keeping her voice and sharp, oval, light beige face neutral. She had sweat dripping off from her long, Elven ears and could feel it running down her long, platinum braid to her bare leg. “Could you use the shadows?”

“No, I am too wounded right now,” Trenton whispered since the pain was intense.

“Could you turn them into portals?” Belle wondered, her deep blue eyes focused on the female M-M. “Then I could go through them…”

“It is an idea,” Peter sighed. His white rabbit ears were healing, and his short white hair was now covered in his blood while it dripped down the side of his ivory, diamond face. “Not a good one but whatever she is getting ready to do will be… this is before she even learned all the new spells. Scary yet her face is always so sad.”

“I can, but not for long,” Trenton responded motioning to his shadow. With little fear on her face or even in her deep blue eyes she stepped into the shadow and appeared behind the M-Ms. Like that, it was over and everyone wanted to laugh and cry. Yet it was Alex that fell to his knees.

Belle was beside him instantly, trying to figure out what had happened. “Was there part of the spell I didn’t purify?” she asked softly. “It was easier to see after she was beheaded.”

“No, not you…” he sighed, rolling to sit near a wall. He knew the pain, the others had told him about it… it was stronger now. “Must be some of my pieces were in somebodies M-Ms.”

“Not to be a… well anyway,” Peter started since all were turning to white ash. “That Londra had twenty-two pieces of soul with in her with a few others. Londra was in the Challenge for four years… we have lots of pieces left.”

“The ones that looked like Zeke and Julius had around twelve to fourteen,” Jackie stated, her long, blue tail rubbing Fern’s bare fawn-colored leg. “Are you good, Fern?”

“No, I have no idea what she did, and it bugs me! So many broken bones and my wings would have been useless for the rest of my life if not for the skin spell,” Fern grumbled, with hands on hips. She fluttered her pink, butterfly wings before bringing them into her body. She debated about locking them inside since she could use magic to fly. They were a weakness and a strength, then again everyone had weaknesses and strengths. “I couldn’t read half of it and what I could I had little time to counter. I want to know why she focused on me!”

“Simple,” Alex started softly, his eyes closed leaning against the wall with his prosthetic right arm in his lap. “you already answered it. You are the only one here who could figure out her spells. I do wonder why she didn’t target Belle too. Yes, it was an M-M but there was enough of Londra in it to think that way. I am almost evened out,” he added wiping down his shoulder with a fresh towel that appeared in his lap as Belle appeared next to him to help put his arm back on.

“Okay,” Beta started with a mew after all the items were purified. “Glad the heat is gone, thanks Belle. It looked like I took a bath in a swamp. Anyway, we don’t know what is coming at us, but I think that Belle should be the main purifier for the next round. For the simple reason she wasn’t hurt in this area. It might be because the few... almost friends she had at home were Elven.”

“That is a good idea,” Jackie nodded, with her large head. “I too will save my magic for purifying just in case. While you stay back to protect us both.”

“Exactly,” Beta answered while his grey tail curled behind him.

“Agreed,” Belle nodded. “Peter is a great fighter too. Trenton, when you are ready.”

“To be an Elf,” Alex and Peter mumbled almost in unison then smiled slightly.

“The next area is straight through here,” Trenton started, dispelling a fake wall. It revealed another open area. Once the spell was gone all they could hear was giggling. “We go in fast and just start attacking. That laugh could only mean one person. Not quite fair.”

“Anna,” Fern sighed in her mind. “I will head right for her. Here is hoping it has less than twenty pieces. That seems to be the point where they change.”

"You are right, sorry forgot about that," Alex added. 

“Yea! It is my turn!” a dark pink, female, M-M yelled as the group came running in. “Told you that there weren’t enough pieces in it to stop them. I am right again!” she laughed turning into a dark pink, M-M, version of Anna complete with loin cloth and ten necklaces covering her breasts. “Oh, look a Fairy,” she smiled reaching out to grab Fern. But she missed, three times before beginning to pout. “I just want to play,” she yelled stomping her foot causing land spikes to erupt from the ground. They were able to dodge while she giggled. "Just kidding! Let's play for real now!"

“I don’t sense any eggs,” Beta said trying to figure out who the four male M-Ms were. Two were dark grey while the other two were beige. Not too tall either and not moving.

The fake Anna let a burst of magic rain down on them, but Jackie and Belle quickly dispelled it. “Rats! I hate pretty people. Oh, the eggs. I ate them. A few tasted like white rabbit,” she laughed starting to attack Peter. She laughed as he dodged and dispelled her attention. Anna came up behind, but the M-M was ready with her own lance. Alex, and Fern moved closer only to have a barrage of magic flung in their direction as she continued to laugh. Somehow, she was able to attack Peter and Anna while keeping the others back with magic. A frantic dance accented by elemental spells. Trenton simply watched the four male M-Ms that were not moving. He would have to intercept them since the other four were immersed in their battle. He had no idea how long they battled but were out of breath and dripping from perspiration since the female M-M had used all kinds of fire magic in the small area warming it up considerably. “Oh, this is so fun! Wait, aren’t you four going to help! There are the cats, a pretty Elf, and the tall one...” She turned to look back and, in that moment, Beta saw an opening. Before she could say anything else her head was off and Belle’s flames were burning strong while the others made ready for the next attack.

“Finally,” the two, dark grey, male M-Ms said in unison. “She was so annoying,” they added coming out of the shadows watching the rainbow fire purify the female M-M. What they did next surprised everyone. They merged into one and took on the face of Trenton. The beige ones came out of the shadows and did the same thing, merged. Not that any wanted to watch them eat each other but… this one looked like Alex, a mean version with red eyes and a sneer.

“That isn’t good,” Peter sighed, pulling his ears and tail inside so they didn’t get hit. His human form didn’t limit him, but he liked his ears and cute white tail. “Neither is this… need a few minutes,” he said breathlessly moving quickly towards Belle before sitting on the ground groaning. With ease, she used a spell to pick him up and moved near a wall.

“Here,” the fake Trenton said with a cold smile on his face that was a mix of dark grey M-M and Trenton. Alex and Peter were now before the fake Alex. “Let’s have some fun. Twist them up.” Belle put up a barrier to protect them wondering if there had been a way to block that shadow spell. She didn’t know a lot about shadows.

“You didn’t bring me the Elf,” the M-M version of Alex stated, showing he had two real hands before swinging. Alex helped Peter up and was thankful for the barrier that gave them a chance to get ready. But fighting himself from before was going to be difficult. He wasn't that strong now.

“I wanted that creature gone, her spell needs to finish. Then we will play with her,” he replied. To which they both agreed with laughter. 

Belle reached down to touch Beta then Jackie to help calm her nerves. She would not let the fire be tainted. A moment later the female head turned to white ash as the body slowly faded.

“Everyone on the ground, kneel before me,” the M-M version of Trenton said in the most seductive way, while his red eyes glowed with a crewel smile.

“No! Stand and fight,” Trenton said in a similar way. “Beta, Jackie?”

“Oh, I understand,” Belle nodded, and began to look for ways to block the effects of the dark magic since the Purifying Flames were finished with the female M-M. Frequencies were all she could think of as she started to kneel but then was standing, reaching into her vault pulling out a thin sword.

“Strip down…” it started again.

“Shut up! Don’t listen to him, only me!” Trenton yelled, using shadow to get him there. His attacks were blind, but it was enough to get the attention of the laughing M-M.

“Good, keep it up,” it laughed. “Create more for us to feed on… so much anger.”

“Didn’t think it would last, but the negative coming off from him is tasty,” the M-M version of Alex sighed, quickly swinging towards Peter who was still struggling. Alex moved to intercept. “Oh, the little human thinks he is a hero. He planned this all. We know that we will fall, but in the end… well, might as well have some fun first. There are little versions of Peter, so he won’t be getting up any time soon. Once he gets over the pieces she ate, the others will be purifying more. So, coward, how long can you keep up with me? How does that fake arm feel. Wow, you look weak.”

“What should I do?” Belle wondered watching the two battles as Fern stood next to her. “We can’t get in to help either of them. I have never seen Trenton so focused on fighting.”

“We watch and add to their skill,” Jackie stated, taking this moment to move Peter back to them. “Alex isn’t a coward!” she yelled. “Trenton, you are more than your voice!”

“Good thinking,” Fern sighed, fisting her hand for a moment before forcing her body to relax. “I am going to work on taking down the items and tents from here. There are no other M-Ms in the area and like you said, we would just be in the way. Both are fighting so quickly...”

“Plus, they have to do this,” Beta sighed. “Or nobody will be able to purify the soul pieces. They have to accept their past and realize what their future holds.”

“That M-M version of Anna had thirty-six pieces, then twelve pieces of Peter, with fifteen random souls,” Belle stated. “It was hard to purify. Glad the Londra version had less, can't imagine...”

“But he is a coward!” the M-M laughed acting as if his swings were easy. “He couldn’t even tell you that the teleportation just took his hand! No, he was ashamed that he was caught and tortured by Bishop Hood, two villages away. That is how far he was teleported! Then brought to Clifton where the other Challenge was.” Alex continued to fight but let the tears fall from his steel grey eyes. “They wanted to know where the survivors were. They cut off a piece every few days and threatened to toss him into the Challenge. They showed him how horrible the others looked, even showed him a friend that he could pull out of the Challenge, but he didn’t care about any of that. He would have told them if he knew just to stop the pain! He would have even gave them his Elf to stop the pain.”

“Oh, my,” Belle whispered, tears forming in her deep blue eyes. “Alex! I believe in you!”

“Ah, you have a cheerleader,” the fake Alex crooned. “I will have fun with her while you watch!” Alex faltered a little before returning to match its sword strikes. He glanced back to see Peter was on the ground beside Belle, but he wasn't moving.

“You are right,” Alex sighed. “I would have given them any information, but they didn’t want to hear what I could give. I told them all about M-Ms and all they could do. How do you think Hood came up with the idea.” This caused the M-M to pause for a second. That was all Beta’s sword needed to connect. Belle’s flame was instant and pure, while tears stained her sharp, oval, light beige face and her long ears drooped. Beta brought back Alex as pain cycled through his body placing him next to Peter who was starting his pain all over again.

Fern didn’t see that battle because she was watching Trenton. “Have you told her yet? Your little Fairy? Your first was because you told her to get naked with that voice! That isn’t even the worst part. You like that power! You liked what she did to you! You even liked seeing her tears, knowing there was nothing she could do to disobey you.”

“Shut up!” Trenton cried out softly. So much pain in his voice.

“Your mother had to tell you it was wrong, while your father was appalled that you thought of it at only sixteen,” the M-M continued while the two exchanged blows. “They locked you in the forest until you could control your voice. Then…” it laughed. “Just as you understood that it was wrong to use women… even though it disgusting.” It laughed some more, “you were enslaved and they used you for that reason! They used you so they could do those things to women… did you like watching? Did you still know it was wrong?”

Trenton’s blows became faster and stronger, so the M-M had to stop talking for a while. Trenton couldn’t keep this up. He wasn’t a bad fighter, but his emotions and anger were feeding this darkness, making the M-M stronger. He had to do something… “Stop!” he said with a silky, seductive voice. The M-M froze with a cruel smile on its face as Trenton took its head. But not before it could laugh.

With tears streaming out of her vivid blue eyes, Fern stopped purifying the tents and wrapped the M-M in pure colored flames. It's laughter just disturbing. She would not let the spell be tainted by her sadness or Trenton’s emotional pain. Londra had taught her how to do that while Anna had added a few more tricks. She felt Jackie bring Trenton back to the group while Peter was slowly standing against the wall. His dark pink eyes full of pain.

“Jackie,” Fern started softly, “I am going to need help… there is a lot of pieces.” Jackie rubbed against her soft fawn colored leg while adding to the fire.

“Can I help?” Peter asked, standing next to Belle. “I want to see if I am balanced again. That was a lot. Must be there were quite a few pieces in play somewhere else.”

“That is fine, but it is your call,” Belle started simply, hoping her ears were straight. She wanted him to rest but understood the need to do something to help distract your mind. “You could always work on the items. The head is finally turning… I lost count of how many pieces of Alex it had with a few other souls.”

Peter sighed rubbing his short white hair, realizing it was still full of blood. “I am washing my hair then…I got the items,” he added with a half-smile.

Trenton sat next to Alex watching the M-Ms turn to white ash. Both leaning against each other from the intense pain. Both feeling defeated. Beta pushed them both with his large, grey head to sit in between. “Alex, you aren’t a coward. If I was being chopped up, I would tell them where any of you were. For several reasons, the first being I don’t like pain. The second, I know that you would get away. Your memories are your own, but you might want to share them with Helen. I have a feeling you haven’t and that is why it was so strong.”

“No,” Alex whispered. “Parts of Green Cleanse felt this… I don’t think this strong,” he continued softly. “There was a camp that we thought was only a three to find out it was a five. Half of us were captured while the others had to retreat, heal, and come back with help. Helen was part of that group. Leaving her… it tore me apart, but we were ready two days later. They told me how horrible it was when the pieces of their souls were purified. But, none of those M-Ms could talk, just switched back and forth.”

Beta nodded his head then turned his blue eyes on Trenton, “you learned, get over it. Animal instincts control all of us at some point. You acted on what you didn’t understand. It isn’t who you are now. If it was, I would have already ate you, and Londra would have let me if you were that twisted,” he ended, standing to check on Belle who was practically done and trying not to laugh.

With Jackie’s help, the other M-M was also white ash. Fern came over, placing her hands on his golden pecan shoulders hoping he didn’t pull away. He just sighed. “We all have a past. Yes, we have talked about a lot with each other, but there is always more. The hard stuff… that comes when we really trust each other. You would have told us about it, just like I will tell you about my darkness when I am ready. It has to do with extreme jealousy that almost killed my sister. I am sorry you didn’t get to wait.” He reached up, placing his hands on hers but said nothing. “We are supposed to meet up with Mara’s group but if things keep going this way…”

“Agreed,” Trenton said softly. “I think we should just step in the large trap. Get everyone together. That is the only way we make it out. I can’t reach Mara yet, but Ryan and Iris agree. The largest open area is where Mara is now, so we will head that way.”

“Way to talk,” Beta stated his whiskers twitching while his grey tail swirled. “The first step to recovery is to take control. See how easy it was to use your normal voice? Don't be afraid of you power, it is yours and you control it not the other way around.”

“How did you become so smart?” Jackie wondered in her precise way, as her long, blue tail circled.

“Listening to Londra and her family,” Beta chuckled. “A bit from Alpha, but don’t tell him. Let’s take down the rest of the stuff then meet up with them.”

Mara’s Team

“Are you alright?” Alden wondered, knowing Londra wasn’t since her body was so tense.

“We do this like any other,” Londra started, trying to stay focused. “Delta, take out the eggs while Trinity purifies them. Alden, you are on purifying duty… probably the whole time. Sorry. Mara, work with Helen and Julius to take out the males that will show a different face soon. I will work on the female that has my face. I know how to fight myself. I have done it for a long time,” she finished with a smile. They dashed into the open area of the tunnel and instantly the female was gone. Then it reappeared before Londra, who smiled and countered the attack. This caused the M-M to revert to her original form for a moment, showing her eight necklaces. “Eight?” Londra mumbled. “Really? I deserve so much more.” With that the two began to go at each other with magic and weapons. Disappearing and reappearing in different places around the area.

Helen, Julius, and Mara headed towards the five, deep blue, six feet tall, males that now looked like Alex holding a thick sword and shield. Helen was not amused. Her dance was more violent than usual, as she took on two, but still, she couldn't connect with the head. Julius took one on the left while Mara took one on the right, keeping the one in between busy so it couldn't get to Trinity and Alden. 

Delta sighed, then stretched his large panther form. The basket of twelve eggs was destroyed and Trinity was purifying. They both watched and waited standing next to a stiff Alden. “Nothing to do but wait for an opening,” Delta sighed watching the battle of the Londras. “Maybe the middle one in a moment but the way they are fighting… I have wonderful control of my sword, but they are all too close at the moment.”

“I have never seen something that disgust yet excites me,” Alden admitted. “Londra is matching spell to spell and weapon to weapon blocking any overspray.”

“The spells aren’t simple,” Trinity said in her slow way while they waited. “If one connects, we would all be hurt. I believe in friend Londra, she is very good with magic. Look, middle.”

“Got it,” Delta said, his sword taking off the head of the middle M-M between Juluis and Mara. This is when Julius back up, using his shield to block the blows but battling pain. “So, Alden, do you have this? Julius needs some back up. Think there are some of his pieces being purified.”

“Go, there are none around but the ones before us. Helen just fell one… I don’t think we need protecting,” Alden motioned to Trintiy which one she should take.

Delta jumped into the battle, pulling Julius back and showing them all just how good he was at dodging. Julius knelt next to Alden, trying to control his breathing. He watched as the other three Alex M-Ms were beheaded. “Wonder who is fighting me… hope they are done… this is not pleasant. Feel really bad for Alex right now.”

“Londra is trying to finish her because she knows there are two others of her,” Trinity stated slowly. “Oh, there! I will start… wow,” Trinity slightly growled as Londra came back to the group, holding a lamp in a dome. She sat it next to Julius and helped to purify one of the males before falling to the ground.

“Wow,” she moaned, turning her body so she was sitting with her hazel eyes closed near Julius. “Guess the others are finishing up too. I had hoped that I was faster yet it seemed to take forever,” she whispered. “Read that this would be bad…”

“Stop talking,” Mara sighed, standing behind her. Julius and Londra sighed, leaning against her strong, ivory legs with slight ribbons of violet. “Helen is working on purifying the camp with Delta helping where he can. I don’t dare because I have a feeling that the teleporting will come down to the three of us.”

“That is a good idea,” Alden projected, finishing up with the males. “Do you need help, Trinity? Or do you want me to help Helen?”

“I have this. I am strong,” she said proudly and slowly.

“You certainly are,” Londra stated with her eyes closed. “I can’t believe that was almost thirty minutes. What a strange work out.”

“How are you talking?” Mara wondered looking at the pain on Londra's round, light beige face.

“She likes pain,” Julius slurred, closing his green eyes tight. “But, for real, it is her amazing mana.”

“That is true,” Londra whispered, feeling Delta climb into her lap. “I will need to fight the next one. No way I can purify… can’t imagine what color my flames would be.”

“They are all white ash,” Trinity stated in her slow way. “The others are done and heading back. Helen did so much! I think she was a little bit mad to see them turn into Alex.”

“Ready?” Mara wondered, holding her hands down to help the two up. “The next area is the largest in the tunnel, but the ceiling is twelve feet up. The female is you… but stronger and the males with her appear to be Zeke and Rus. The M-Ms are all seven feet tall.”

“How can you tell that now?” Alden wondered, holding Londra steady for a moment.

“Now that we have engaged, I have a way of understanding the energy flow,” Mara stated, glancing at Julius who was still not steady. “I think we will be staying in the next area, while the others come join us and the M-Ms come to us. It is the only thing that makes sense. I will share with the others after the next area is clear. Why did you choose a lamp? They are horrible to purify?”

“It was easy to hold, and it can go on Delta's tail if I can't keep track of it,” Londra shrugged, her hazel eyes blinking the tears of pain out. She needed to focus her mind... she smiled at Alden who was trying not to watch the sweat, poison, and brown-green blood run down her mostly nude body. She sighed, his marbled, blue-green eyes were so beautiful, just like his long, accented, beige face. He wiggled his long ears far from his head and she nodded.  “I am ready… wait, is there any more of me?”

“Yes, but they are male,” Mara stated moving them to the next area with shadows. She wanted to laugh at the frown on Londra’s face.

A black, female with twelve necklaces stood before them with three dark green, and four dark brown males. “It is about time,” the female stated, her face changing to look like Londra’s. “How am I supposed to kill you if you are not here.”

Londra didn’t take the bait but looked around, “I take it you got hungry?”

“Na, I already sent them away, to other camps. The levels above, they are fighting young Green Goblins with a few pieces of all of you mixed in. Figured you would never notice the addition of pain, but it would slow you down and make the young ones better than they would have been. The ones right above you are fighting older ones, with a few more pieces. But the best, that didn’t stay here are now all around the continent slowly rebuilding the level five camps. We will take this continent! Use the darkness that is plentiful and make it our own!” She said with a smile. “All I need to do is kill you, Anna, Robbie, and Trenton then we can play with the rest while the others wait… then we take them slowly…”

“That isn’t your plan,” Londra responded watching the males come alive instantly. They rushed her but met the others. Trinity and Delta stayed back, waiting. Londra believed in her team… but it was a bit small. One more person could turn the tide. She teleported on the other side of the M-M with her face and voice. “It was Robbie’s, not smart enough to be yours. You let him win. He is a man after all of course they would all listen to him.”

“Shut up!” she yelled, beginning the attack. Londra was able to counter and protect the others, but this one was definitely stronger. “Look how great I am! I am black but can use magic! I can’t believe you can fight with all that flab bouncing around. That Elf must be blind or a chubby lover. So gross. How could anyone want something like you. I am not fat.”

Londra didn’t take the bait, she wouldn’t. Though… no focus! She took a second to look around. Two males were in Trinity’s Purifying Flames. Julius was still going strong so there wasn’t another of him right now. He was battling the Rus look-a-like while Alden was taking on the other left. Mara and Helen were trying to find an opening with the Zeke look-a-likes. Delta was sitting next to Trinity looking proud, so that told her that his sword had taken out the two in the flames. “I guess this is a battle of endurance,” Londra said a bit breathlessly. “I just must keep you busy until they get done. Good thing it is me.”

“I will win!” it shrieked as another male lost his head. “They should have used more pieces. I told them not to thin them out and fewer but stronger would be better. But they wouldn’t listen. It takes too long to place more pieces inside. We have had a month! Even the other females agreed with me. If they didn’t split Sasha’s six ways but put them into one…”

“That is true,” Londra agreed. “If there weren’t so many mes… Delta wouldn’t have been able to take your head. He is part of us, after all,” The female never realized that Delta’s sword had found the opening since it had been hiding behind Londra. She felt Mara pull her back as they grouped together around Alden and Trinity while trying to calm their breathing.

“Damn, I forgot what a beast Rus can be,” Julius sighed, leaning against Mara who simply nodded. “You okay?”

“No,” Londra whispered as walls came up around her.

“She is throwing up,” Alden sighed, looking at the walls with a bit of sorrow hidden within his marbled blue-green eyes. “I am glad we finished the males before this.”

“Agreed,” Trinity said softly twitching her green then white ear. She dug her socked feet into the earth just enough there was only a bit of orange, white, blue, and green showing. Delta came up beside her to add to her power since there was little he could do for Londra, and his purification wasn’t that good. “There are a lot of pieces in this one.”

“Once I can breathe, I will work on the items,” Helen stated, blinking her watery green eyes. Her strong hands on her hips to keep her back straight to help with breathing. Her long, left ear was a bit droopy but was slowly lifting while she tossed her long, platinum braid back looking to the ceiling while slowly walking around. Her sharp, oval, light beige face was moist from perspiration and the brown-green blood slowly running off. With a hand she whipped it off quickly, letting it fall to the ground.

“The others are heading this way,” Mara informed them, her breathing mostly under control since she had used shadows to move quickly. Her large wings were helping Julius from tipping over, but she needed to pull them in soon. From what she could see they would be more of a hindrance in the next battle. “Trenton’s mind is a bit more closed off than normal. His team will be here first… or is…”

Belle was the first to come into the opening with an exhausted looking Peter behind her without his rabbit ears out, which spoke volumes. She nodded to her brother, squeezing Peter’s ivory hand, and began to take down the tents. Fern fluttered behind her to help, while Alex just looked at Helen with a mix of emotions. Trenton moved to stand next to Mara having a conversation without any words, glancing at the pale Julius who was slowly running his strong, light tan fingers through his short, red hair. Beta sat down next to Delta, looking at the walls. Jackie stood next to Trenton, waiting to see if he was truly fine. The camp was clear when the other two groups came in. The male M-Ms just let them pass without incident.