---

The sun beat down on them as they tread down a decline of rough dirt and coarse grass dotted with wild flowers. Rahdayo and Teefee walked at the front, the two talking and laughing as they went. A budding relationship that she could only feel… What? Excited? Content? Fearful? Moss shook her head. Zafrina walked just before her, carrying not only the wrapped burden on her back but some man's growing child in her womb. A man who would never know it existed. The goblin still wanted to curse her out for her stupidity but it wouldn't really be beneficial. Zafrina had survived twenty-four winters and by all accounts was an adult. She knew the consequences of such an action and now she had to bear it or choose whatever she wished for it. There were other ways, after all. But that would just be between the two of them, for now.

She covered her eyes as she looked up at the Itzala, the sun. Moss always had the strangest feeling that it was watching them and not in a good way. She looked over her shoulder back to endless openless. This hilly expanse of land was almost deserted, save those animals that called it home. Still, she felt like she needed to be alert. One could never be too careful.

Eventually Zafrina had lessened her pace to walk beside Moss. The goblin was always jealous of those with longer legs, being able to walk at whatever pace they chose. Hmphm. She eyed Zafrina, the stoic talyrian looked contemplative as she stared ahead, no doubt at the other two.

“Are you well?” Moss asked her.

“I’m fine.” Zafrina replied, glancing at her.

“You know, we never did finish our discussion about those two.” Moss said, lowering her voice. Teefee might not have been the sharpest tool in a shed but she did have good hearing. “Do you want your brother to be happy?”

Zafrina pursed her lips. “Of course I do. She… She makes him laugh. He needs that.”

Moss smiled softly at that. “I haven’t known Teefee as long as I have known you, Zafrina. She may be dumb and prone to her own vices but have you considered she might actually want your brother as a husband?”

The goat girl blinked and looked at Moss incredulously. “Would her people even let that happen?”

Moss considered before saying, “Sometimes Teefee talks about her older sister, Shahari, and how she would be arranged to someone far away. Unless other cat clans exist, I assume it is possible. I mean,” they both looked at Teefee, who had spotted a bird flying past and was now chasing it, much to Rahdayo’s chagrin. “If they’re all like her, I think it would be easy to set up.”

Zafrina's tinkling laugh made Moss look back at her with an eyebrow raised. “To that, I think you might be right, master.” she said before her face slackened. Then she asked, in a very quiet voice, “He should stay with her, shouldn’t he?”

Moss nodded. “Traveling companions often become more on the road. It would be best if he did stay with Teefee, settled down, maybe cook for a living. Your brother is wasted like this.”

Zafrina sighed. “I don’t know. It would be difficult without him. For me.”

“Zafrina.” Moss said in a gentle voice, “You should stay with them too.”

The girl whipped her head to stare at Moss. A flash of pain behind her eyes was evident before they narrowed. She stopped walking, so did Moss as the two fully turned to one another. “No.”

“Zafrina…”

“No. I refuse.”

“Zafrina.”

“You can’t make me leave you. It isn’t fair!” Zafrina bawled her hands into fists, leaning forward as she did. “I’m not cut out for some homebody life.”

Moss held up a hand to silence her. “You have life growing within you. You would be severely hampered on the road when you begin to show. You have to start thinking about more than just what you want but that of your baby, Zafrina.”

The girl’s face contorted with anger but she shut her eyes and then exhaled a long breath.

Moss went on, “If you think I’m saying this because I don’t want you along, that wouldn’t be true. But please, Zafrina, sometimes we all have to make difficult decisions for the ones we love.”

“I don’t love it.” Zafrina snapped. “It’s a stupid mistake.”

“Do you truly believe that or are you just saying it?” Moss asked.

To that, Zafrina did not have an answer. Moss slowly approached her, the girl’s expression downcast. She took her hand and said, “We know nothing of the future right now. Things may come to pass yet that change our decisions. But you must think on what I’ve said. Again, it will be alright.”

Zafrina nodded and the two began to walk again. It seemed Rah had gotten Teefee back in line as well, as the two were now holding hands as they walked. Each time something caught the cat girl’s attention and she would begin to go after it, Rahdayo tugged her along. Her tail swished back and forth but it didn’t look like she was protesting.

When the sun was beginning to dip overhead, and their feet were growing worn of the day’s travels, Teefee was the first to spot it. The two paused in their walk and waited for Moss and Zafrina to catch up.

She pointed up ahead, to a copse of trees, as the land was gradually shifting back to wooded areas, interspaced with long stretches of grassland and meandering rivers.

“Mistress!” Teefee said, “Teefee sees people.”

“Do you now?” Moss looked out towards where she pointed. Indeed, two wagons highlighted by the beginnings of a fire.

“Hmmm. Come on then and be prepared. Let’s see what’s up here.” The three began to follow their mistress towards the fledgling camp, with little protest. She glanced at them occasionally and found that their eyes were ahead. Zafrina behind her, Rahdayo in the middle and Teefee at the end, almost clinging to Rah. The cat looked oddly protective, which was a good sign.

As they got nearer, Moss could smell the smoke and something savory cooking in the wind. It made her stomach growl. The two wagons had been pulled by great lumbering beasts, almost like a horse and a cow had a cross- she had really never seen anything like them as they grazed from the grasses nearby. She could see people too and they had obviously seen them as a few were walking out to meet them.

Moss stopped a respectful distance away in the twilight. Deep purples tinged with the faintest red were upon the horizon. That view never did get old. When the two men stopped, for they were men, humans by the looks of them, she spoke. “Hail travelers! We come in peace.”

A short squat man with a faded hat spoke, his voice older, “Well met upon this fine evening, madam. What business do you have in these parts? Haven’t seen many folk about, if I do say.”

“We could say the same!” Moss confided, “Our business is our own, no offense good man, but we are simply traveling north towards the big cities.”

“The big cities aye? Plenty of those along the coast, strange way to travel across the land to get to those.” the man said.

“Ah but it is! If I had some wealth to my name, I’d have chartered a ship straight to the narrows of Thysia and Sylann but I thought my pupils needed some well worn practice of dealing with foot sores, so here we are.”

The older man chuckled. “Fares fare. You seem a harmless lot but one can never be too careful these days. Come on in, we’ve got food and a fire.” he waved and a relief washed over Moss as she began to walk over.

“I understand that,” Moss nodded, “But I can assure you, you won’t regret letting us sup with you. I’ve two Talyrians with me, who know a thing or two about cooking. They’d be delighted to whip up a trail feast.”

As they met up with the men, Moss could see that the speaker was an older human, as she thought, with a graying beard. The one with him was a youth perhaps the same age as Rahdayo. Both had dark brown eyes and well worn clothes. The younger man had keen eyes on Zafrina, the most girl blushed ever so slightly.

“Names Percy and this is my grandson, Pieter. Now we’ve not heard of a Talyrian before but if they know how to cook, that’s always welcome.”

“They call me Moss, and this is Zafrina, Rahdayo and Teefee.” she pointed at each. “And yes, I’m sure you will have no complaints.”

They all began to walk back towards the wagons. Percy said, “Say, you’re one of them goblins, miss Moss? Haven’t seen one since I was a younger man.”

“Is that so? And here I thought my kind scuttered about everywhere.”

“Me and my folk, we keep to ourselves. Haven't seen the likes of any of your companions before either, truth be told. Ain't anyone's fault.”

“Ah. Yes, I haven't seen much of humans to be fair nor any others that look like my friends here. Teefee hails from the plains of Pantheras, nearer to Thysia than we are now. Rah and Zafrina are brother and sister. Talyrian folk who come from the deep south of the Origin.”

“It's a mighty strange world we live in, full of interesting folks.” Perry said, stopping next to the wagons and jestering for them to follow Pieter. They did so and entered into a most human-like world. All eyes fell upon them, some with fear and others wide with mysticism. Children in small cloth garbs hid behind their parents as Percy introduced them. A wave of tentative relaxation fell over them after that and Moss instructed Zafrina and Rah to help with the cooking. She took Teefee to the side for a brief moment as the camp came to life once more. Someone broke out a flute and drum, beginning to play a quiet soft tune. Background noise for the conversations to come.

“Teefee.” Moss said to her as she grabbed the cat's shoulders and shook her. Teefee let her body sway back and forth as her eyes darted to and fro. There was wide mischievous intent brimming within her. Moss shook her harder and said her name at least three times before she focused on the goblin. Teefee’s eyes dilated as she saw Moss. “Mistressssss.” she pouted, “Let Teefee go, she'll behave. Teefee swears it!”

“Listen to me very carefully girl. Do not,” She leaned in and made Teefee lean down, “Take anything from these people. Keep your hands to yourself. If you do, I will give you a nice scratch later, alright?”

Teefee’s eyes went wider with glee. She began to purr smugly. “Mistress scratches? Teefee will be a good girl for Mistress scratches. Of course. Or course.” Her tail swished to and fro, a mind of its own truly.

Moss patted Teefee’s head and the girl leaned into it, then into Moss altogether. She almost knocked her over but Moss hissed and she backed up a bit.

As the night wove into being and the Hand's light became obscured by clouds, the burning bonfire was the source of many tales. Moss learned that the humans were from a band who had come down from Sylann holdings, after becoming ostracized by Snouters who had taken their lands from them. Thus struck out seven families for a new home. Their voyage had led them far, very far, perhaps farther than any human they knew had gone and still they had not found what they sought. They were kindly people who were in hard times but they were surviving all the same.

As children, with their giggling laughs as they chased and were chased by Teefee, began to settle down for the night, Moss was struck by just how tolerating these people were. Removed by snouters, they had every right to turn her away. To keep their children close and to spit at the food Rah and Zafrina had taken over to cook. But they had not. On the contrary, they loved the food and praised her pupils for it and they had encouraged their children to play while Moss told a few of her own stories. They had welcomed them in without a thought and in such a cruel world at times, it was a breath of fresh air.

“There’s a kingdom south of here called Ahdor.” Moss said, as the conversation had turned to the talk of places. Around the fire now Zafrina sat by her, rubbing pots with a cloth to make them shine. Rahdayo was doing the same, glancing at Moss and Teefee. For the catgirl had done well and now lay her head in the lap of her Mistress, content as Moss massaged her head. She was sure the humans thought it a comical sight but they said nothing. Perry sat with a few of the older men, as most of the women folk had set up tents for slumber and the more able bodied men were standing watch. Moss went on, “You’ll reach Sweetdew first no doubt, nice quaint town. Might even be a good place to call home.”

“Ahh, is that right?” Perry puffed on a pipe, the curls of smoke drifting up in circles. “How do they treat humans, if I might ask?”

Moss shrugged. “Can’t say I say any, but in my experience, if you add and not take from such villages or towns, they welcome newcomers. I take it most of you are farmers? Why else would snouters take your land.”

“Most of us are, that’s true. Some of the women are good seamstresses and old Abrhon was a smithy. Sons are his apprentices. They had to leave most of their things behind to those damnable devils.”

“I’m surprised the local law didn’t aid you, I was under the impression Sylann had a tight justice system.” Moss mused.

One of the men chorted, then hacked on a cough. He spoke, his voice baritone. “The law is only upheld the closer one gets to Sylann. Everyone knows the Assembly only cares for its war mongering and not upholding property law.”

“Well,” Perry added, “I doubt Moss does.”

“You’d be correct.” Moss said, thoughtful. “That sounds just a little concerning.”

Perry nodded. “They say it wasn’t like that at one point in time but with Thysia claiming land north of the river, I suppose the threat was great enough to take seriously.”

The other chimed in, “Oh, there’s never been an open war between the two city-states. It’s all huff and bluff so they can gobble up more land for their own gain.”

“There’s that theory,” Perry nodded. “Another is, ever since the Hand manifested by the Goddess, that she no longer visits the city as much and mortal minds now rule.”

Moss tilted her head at that.

“You mean…” Rahdayo cut in and all eyes fell upon him, “That the Hand,” he looked up at it, or where it should have been visible behind the clouds, “It wasn’t always so?” He sounded puzzled by this, perhaps almost skeptical.

Perry chuckled. “Aye, there was a time when only the stars hung in the night sky. Back when I was around your age.” the old man tugged at his beard thoughtfully.

Rahdayo said nothing more but looked uneasy as others nodded and chimed in. To Moss, it was just something that better lit the night sky. Had not all of creation been created so? It was a strange thought, to be so at ease with the sheer notion of a being capable of such a feat. But hadn't Galaxor created the Dominion and brought time to heel?

“He’ll be thinking on that one for a time.” Moss mused as Rahdayo went back to scrubbing his pots.

“Have any of you ever been to the cities?” She found Zafrina asking.

Perry shook his head. So did the other man. “I saw the great walls of Sylann once but my dad had been in a hurry and we went no further.” Perry confessed. “I don't think any of us have actually been to either. Sorry miss.”

“Strange.” Zafrina furrowed her eyebrows. “I guess I assumed you had, you all seem so learned. Apologies.” She went back to scrubbing, face flushing red.

“Oh now, none of that. No harm in asking questions. As old Nym here says, Sylann's all warmongering nowadays but they still do good. Every child gets to learn. The great university in the city sends out teachers to educate the youths who can't go inside the walls. It's quite a feat.”

Old Nym barked a laugh. “Aye, I'll give them that. At least if you're educated, you can see the perils and flee.”

“But why?” Moss found herself asking. “Wouldn't they want the uneducated for menial labor and farming?”

They shrugged. “What the Goddess wants, she gets and she doesn't want dumb peasants. So now those that back any wars are culpable to them.” Nym said, lips thinning.

“Like any grand place, there is always contradictions and hypocrisy.” Perry added. “We are learned but not enough to have saved our land. Sylann teaches but justice is often not with coming. It's a time of changing winds and we left on them. Still, we are better off than our ancestors out in the wastes, preyed upon by… Well, we shan't go down that road tonight.”

“Fires burning low.” Nym said, getting to his feet. “A pleasant sleep to you all.” He smiled and walked off.

Perry likewise stood. “You may claim this fire as a resting spot for the night. It was a good meal and good company.” He gave a small bow. “Goodnight now.”

They all said farewell to the man, left alone now as the fire dwindled. Rahdayo came over to Moss and Teefee, who by that point had fallen asleep.

“I'll take her.” He said, bending low and wrapping his arms around Teefee. He lifted with surprising ease, cradling her in his arms. She puzzled her face into his chest as they lay down next to the fire. Moss rubbed her hands together and watched as Zafrina lay down on the opposite side of them. Moss was about to lay down as well but hesitated. Where was…? Panic struck her as she looked for the bundle. Not seeing it she went over to Zafrina and hissed, “Where's the bundle?”

Zafrina snapped an eye open and grimaced. “It should be where I left it.”

“And where is that?”

She sat up slightly. “You said start cooking so I sat my pack down and…” Her eyes trailed over to her pack, the bundle was gone. She sat up and they each looked at one another before the search was on.

With Zafrina at her side, they quietly began looking over the camp. Only a few were still awake and they had to act nonchalantly about their business. The only others awake were the… Watchmen. Moss walked to the outskirts of camp and sure enough they began to hear hushed whispers behind the wagons and the dim light of a torch. Several young men stood around an object glowing faintly. The torch cast them in a sinister light.

“See, I told you. I did, I told you.”

“With this… we could take back our land!”

“Get our revenge on those fucking pigs.”

“But what of them? We can't just steal. It ain't right.”

“What ain't right,” came a silky smooth voice, “Is that they carry this around, wrapped up, so no one can see. So go on Damyl, pick it up.”

“No!” Moss shouted.

Moss rushed forward, the sound of her shout made the men turn and jump. “Don't you dare touch that.” She snapped with anger. Two of them took a step back, while the other three looked at her, unmoving. Moss came to a stop before them, her hands moving to her daggers. With any luck, Zafrina wouldn't be noticed moving behind them. “Step away. Now.” She commanded.

They didn't move.

“Why should we listen to some green skinned brat?” One of them said. She hadn't seen him before. A gangly man with long dark hair and sharp features.

“We should do as she says.” One piped up, the same who had been against the stealing in the first place. He was a bit pudgy, thick of face but lean of build. By the gods he was tall.

“Shut up!” Someone hissed, she couldn’t make out which one. The torchlight was beginning to fade.

That silky smooth voice said, “It’s ours now. Pick it up Damyl.”

“Why don't you pick it up Pieter?” The one called Damyl chimed back, it was the man with sharp features. He looked hesitant. She shoved that aside as she took in the new name.

“Pieter? But your grandfather-” Moss began before being cut off by a laugh.

“Those senile old men don't know what's best for our people. And it isn't these wilds or some town in the middle of nowhere. My dad was butchered by those fucking pigs, they'll get what they deserve. Pick it up Damyl!” He hissed.

Damyl began to lean over and Moss stepped forward shouting no. The man hesitated as if second guessing himself, Moss threw her dagger, aiming for his hand but it was too late, Damyl picked it up.

He screamed as a great blade cut a swath before him at lightning speed, cutting the dagger Moss threw in a blink and severing the left hand of Pieter. All the men fell to the ground in a panic. Pieter screamed and the camp began to wake.

The sword then lifted itself high, for Damyl had no authority over it, and radiated the grand beauty of its creation. Shimmering silver, like moonlight itself, erupted and bathed them all in its pale glow. “Drop it!” Someone shouted but Damyl only screamed with lungs not of his own. Moss stared in abject horror, unable to do anything. Memories flashed before her. Her cousin picking it up after being told not to. The pain in his face… The same in Damyl’s and then… Damyl’s veins coursed with a bright light, starting from his hand and pulsing down, down, down. Where his veins were visible, the light spread until Damyl was a living star. Just like Desmond, he exploded with a violent burst, sending shards of light outwards.

One cut her cheek as it passed, she didn’t even blink.

When the shards faded to dust, the sword floated back to the ground like a leaf. The only sounds were of Pieter crying. Yet, there was something else… Something that had not happened before. One of the men had not fallen like she had thought, instead, he stood over the sword and then glanced at her. It was the tall one with the big head, except, his face wasn’t quite right. It looked like it was shifting? Were her eyes playing tricks on her? No… She took a step back as the man’s forehead just… Fell away in a bloody splat to the ground. This revealed a thing of pure nightmares as a glowering red eye seemed to form, then blinked at her. His body began to contort and break. People began arriving and shouting in horror.

It opened its mouth and a scream-like wail exploded forth, causing her to grab her ears in pain. The wail continued as the thing’s, for this was no longer a man, tore, then ripped open causing the scream to end with sudden force as it was replaced with a gurgle. The thing fell over, spasming on the ground as it gasped for breath until it stilled.

The worst part of it however, was somewhere, deep in that dark land, it was answered.
Moss turned to the travelers.

“Run!”

---

Her heart was thundering as her feet carried on. She clutched the sword in her arms, now tightly bound once more. It had been a foolish, stupid mistake to leave it unwatched and now, now they paid for it. She grimaced as a dent in the earth almost made her trip. She picked up her pace once more and looked ahead. The thing about being a member of a shorter race, was that your legs didn’t carry you as far as someone who had longer appendages. As such, Teefee, Rahdayo and Zafrina had a substantial lead upon her and several humans ran in front of them. That wasn’t necessarily their fault however. Everytime they began to slow down, she shouted and cursed them to go faster. The humans never did slow, sure they staggered but the gods had blessed them, it seemed, with unnatural longevity when it came to running. But she knew why, didn’t she?

Something terrible pursued them in that dark night. Baleful howls echoed behind them, pierced time and time again with a very human scream. Moss didn’t know if it was real or not. In the confusion of the camp, people ran every which way. There had been no order, just chaos. She had said run, hadn’t she? Regret was like a bitter root that one tasted too many times in life. Knowable but never forgettable, even if you didn’t think in the moment. She was stupid, she had caused this mess and now, she had to get as many people safe as she could.

She remembered Perry's grief at the loss of Damyl and Pieter's betrayal, who's veins had begun flowing with silver. Coupled with the blood loss, there was no future for him. He and Perry had stayed behind, for Perry could not flee due to a bum knee. She would not forget his kindness. That she swore to herself as the inky black of night swallowed the trio ahead of her. Clouds had rolled in front of the Hand. She was alone and her eyes, unlike the other three, did not work well in the night. Which was ironic since she was born underground. Something screamed behind with sudden violence. She winced as it sent her ears ringing.

“Use me.” A quiet voice whispered into her ear. She jumped and spun her head around but there was no one there.

“Caress me.” The voice came again with feminine candor. Again she looked but there was no one there.

“Wield me!” This time a different voice spoke, more masculine and raging.

She fully whirled and came to a stop to listen as she gasped for breath. She slicked the sweat off her brow and moved wet strands of hair back. She knew she couldn’t speak, for fear of what it might bring. But there was no one around her, wasn’t there?

Unless…

She looked down at the blade and found her hands shaking as they gripped the cloth.

“Maseline.” The voice, a woman’s voice she had heard once before so long ago. Soft but reassuring. It came from the sword. “Duck!” The sword commanded.

Duck?

She fell out of instinct as something sharp sailed in the air just where her head had been. A rush of air followed and Moss felt her body jump into action like a well oiled lantern. With the sword still clutched in her arms, she got on her back and brought the sword up as a shield. And it was well she did, for a creature as dark as the night raked claws into the cloth. She heard a ripping sound and then the thing screamed in pain, before it abruptly turned and ran. She could hear it crashing across the land.

Moss blinked. The entire interaction had lasted no more than a few seconds. Her body and mind didn't even know how to react. Should she be afraid? Exhilarated over not being killed? The sword did not speak but she looked it over and saw that where the thing had swung at it, the cloth was torn. Black blood stained the cloth but not the blade itself. The thing was dangerous and she didn't know if she should be more afraid of it or what hunted them.

Them!

Moss scrambled to her feet, careful not to touch the blade where the cloth no longer covered it and began to run.

---

Zafrina clutched the handle of her short sword tightly, for if she didn’t, it would shake too much. Her hands were clammy and periodically she'd have to switch holds and wipe her hands on her tunic as they ran. She was sweating profusely by the time they came to a stop to just breathe. She gasped for breath as Rahdayo looked at her, his golden eyes now dark as night.

“Are you alright?” He asked between gasps.

She nodded her head, “Of course. And you?”

He nodded as well, then looked over to Teefee, who was stretching out her arms before touching the ground by leaning over. She barely looked winded. Rahdayo smiled before he looked back at Zafrina. He raised an eyebrow and looked lower. It seemed she had unconsciously placed a hand on her abdomen. She withdrew it and walked past him. That would not be a topic of discussion right now.

“Teefee.” She said in a hushed whisper. The cat girl glanced at her with large pupils, she was sitting on the ground, legs straight before her. She had her arms touching her toes. Teefee's white hair caught a beam of the Hand's light, flaring with brightness before it faded to Grey by an obscuring cloud. The cat's ears twitched with what seemed to be impatience. “You seem to be faring well.”

Teefee flashed a grin. “Teefee's siblings would play tag for days across the plains. Teefee would never get caught.” She seemed to say with an air of pride. Zafrina just frowned. This was the girl Rahdayo was having relations with?

She turned back to her brother, who was staring off into the dark from which they came. Zafrina cocked her ear to listen for sounds. They had found themselves in a low dip in the land, either side surrounded by trees. Like great silent watchers. Sand and pebbles were beneath her hooves. Yet she could only hear screaming very faintly. Far, far away. The humans they had been following were gone, the trio had lost track of them with such little Hand light. She walked over to Rahdayo and followed his gaze.

“I no longer hear her.” He whispered.

“She said to keep running.” But even as she said it, Zafrina could not hold back the worry in her heart.

“We should go back and find her. What if something happened?” Her brother began to walk but Zafrina sheathed her sword and grabbed him by the wrist.

“No.” She said firmly. “We can't do that little brother. She's more experienced than any of us. She will be fine. We should keep moving.”

Teefee came up and hugged him from behind, leaning against his back as she nuzzled her face into his tunic. Zafrina felt a pang of loneliness at the sight. Foolish at such a time when their lives were in danger.

“Mistress will be fine. Teefee knows this.” The cat girl said matter of factly. For once it seemed she was focused enough to know their situation wasn't the time for games. “Come, Teefee thinks we should keep going. Teefee’s hair is prickly. Which means Teefee is frightened.” she murmured that last bit, almost as if she was ashamed to admit it.

Rahdayo turned and held her tight in one motion. “Hey now, don't be afraid. It will be alright, you'll see.” he placed a hand on her head and Teefee stood up on her toes to press into it. “And yes, you're both right. We should go.” he glanced at Zafrina, doubt in his eyes.

Zafrina nodded. It was the right choice, even if it felt wrong. She had to tell herself Moss would be alright. Yet, try as she might, she couldn’t help but feel it was wrong. She was still shaken up by what she witnessed. Teefee and Rahdayo began to walk.
She began to follow but in the moment she took a step, she became keenly aware that it was too late to run. Something descended upon her from above in a silent swoop. With a terrible scream that wasn’t her own, she was pinned to the earth. Her very breath was knocked out of her from the force of the blow. Her eyes bulged as she saw the thing whose claws pressed into her arms. A demon from ancient stories. Sinewy wings flapped, gusting a foul stench that would have made her vomit if she could breath. The thing looked like an overgrown leech. It had no eyes, just a gaping circular mouth upon its flabby head. From the gnashing teeth came pop, pop, pop. The sound of hunger.

She took a sputtering breath as the things drool hit her in the face. Then she screamed, trying in vain to free her sword arm. To free either arm. The thing knew enough to pin her. To keep her from being dangerous. That fact alone made the terror truly sink in as it lowered its sucking mouth towards hers. Then something tackled it with a great yell, Rahdayo, freeing her from its terrible gasp. She wasted no time getting to her feet and pulling her sword out. That was her brother! He was rolling on the ground, the creature slightly larger than he, as they tussled. He had grabbed it’s head, keeping it away from his face but the thing’s muscled bulged as it attempted to tear into him with its taloned feet. Rahdayo yelled out in pain as he was cut. Zafrina began to panic, she couldn’t get in a hit in fear of- There!

She stabbed her blade into the creature’s neck as Rah held it outward. The blade slipped in like butter and the creature reared back, flapping its wings as it freed itself from Rahdayo, taking her sword with it. It began to sputter, black blood coating the ground as it twirled and spun, gurgling with its terrible pop pop pop. Then it collapsed in a heap, muscles quivering as it grew still.

Zafrina went to Rahdayo, who had managed to sit up. She began to look over him as he looked at the demon with a wild look in his eye. He had been cut on the outer part of his thigh, torn straight through his clothing into the flesh. Not deep but it was bleeding.

“We need- we need,” she stammered before taking a deep breath. Her nerves, by the gods her damn nerves were frayed. She gritted through her teeth after a moment, “Teefee, cloth!” When the cat girl made no reply she said it again.

Nothing.

“Teefee?” Rahdayo called and Zafrina looked up to follow his gaze.

The white haired girl’s ears were pressed back, almost flat against her head. Her hair was standing up, like the heckles of a dog or her smaller cousins. This would have been intimidating if not for the fact that Teefee only held a dagger, gripped in both hands as she shook violently. There was a wild mad terror on her face that made Zafrina pity her. It was the same terror she had once felt, paralyzing and all controlling. If she heard them at all, she couldn’t react. Teefee’s knees buckled and she collapsed onto them, still clutching her knife. Seeing this, Rahdayo pushed up and got onto his feet. Zafrina didn’t even try to stop him. It was better to keep his leg moving before it stiffened up. It still needed bandaging and then cleaning before any infection set in but…

She watched as her brother approached Teefee from the side, dropping to his knees beside her. Teefee, at last, glanced at him as he placed a hand upon her dagger and pushed it down. They said nothing as he placed his other arm around her and pulled her to his chest. She dropped her dagger and clung to him. Zafrina looked away and up into the sky. They weren’t safe here. Not anywhere that was open.

She retrieved her sword and noticed her right hand was slick upon the pommel. She prodded her arm and found she too had been cut but there was no pain. Her blood was up, the fire in her veins ready for anything now. She ripped a part of her shirt off beneath her leathers and began to wipe her blade clean, her own cuts could wait. It was stupid to be caught unawares. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

A twig broke and she swung to the noise.

“Take her and run!” Zafrina called out to Rahdayo.

“But Zafrina-” he began to protest but was cut off as a small figure carrying a package twice her height stumbled through the brambles and nearly into Zafrina. She had raised her blade, poised to strike, but had stopped when she saw the all too familiar, and most welcome sight.

“Moss!” she exclaimed, lowering her blade.

Moss looked as if she had been running for days, and her dark hair was plastered to her forehead. She set the clothed blade down and rested her arms on her legs as she huffed a breath.

“Have to keep moving.” Moss managed to say. “Being hunted.” The goblin’s almost glowing eyes fell upon the corpse of the demon they had killed, then she looked back at Zafrina. A look of shock and awe upon her face. “Good.” Moss said, nodding in approval. The praise was welcomed and Zafrina could not help but stand a bit straighter. Moss looked over at Rahdayo and Teefee, who by this point, was crying softly. Moss looked back at Zafrina, an eyebrow raised.

“Battle shock and Rahdayo took a cut on his thigh. She’ll be fine but he might not be able to walk for long.” They both made their way over to them, Moss dragging the bundle behind her. As short as she was, the goblin stood at the same height that they knelt and she placed a hand upon Teefee’s shoulder. The girl paid her no mind.

Moss said softly, “Teefee, there is no shame in it. We all freeze up and I don’t blame you for it. But you cannot let it consume you right now. We have to keep going.”

“She’s right.” Rahdayo murmured into her hair. Teefee’s ears twitched and her head snapped to the side, eyes focused on the silent trees.

“Teefee…” She whispered, “Teefee knows what’s coming.”

“Teefee…?” Rah asked her. Zafrina looked into the trees, the same as the cat girl, who began to shake again. She noticed the girl turn away and bury her face back into Rahdayo’s chest as red eyes pierced the darkness, peering at them. One pair, another, then another.

“Moss…” Zafrina hissed, getting her sword up and into position, going to stand in between the trees and Rahdayo.

Moss cursed under her breath and laid the bundle next to Teefee as she took out her daggers. She came to stand next to Zafrina.

The red eyes came to the edge of the creek bed, looking down upon them but obscured in darkness. Zafrina felt her arms begin to shake in anticipation and fear.

A raspy voice cut through the growing tension, like a rock jutting up through a river. “Gob-lin.” it said, the words sounded forced and wrong. Too much pronunciation on the gob part of goblin. “Give it to ussss.” it hissed. Another pair of red eyes joined them in the treeline. Zafrina could feel her heart begin to beat loud and fast. Could they hear it?

She glanced at Moss, the goblin poised to strike with her ever calm face. “How do you know about it?” she asked the things.

A deep throaty rattle came. Was it laughing? A tree branch broke, making Zafrina jump where she stood.

“We know powerrrr.” It rattled, as if that would explain anything at all.

Moss seemed to nod however. “And you hunt it for what purpose?”

Deathly quiet, then it answered, “To returnnn.”

“Zafrina. When I make an opening, you must run.” Moss said quickly. “Do not look back. Get to the city, whatever it takes.”

“But-”

“Whatever it takes.” Moss’s words hit hard. With a solemnity she had not known she possessed, Zafrina dipped her head in acknowledgement. “Yes, master.”

The beasts attacked, stepping through the trees and down onto the sandy beach. They were as if a human man had been corrupted by some foul runic arts but worse. Too long limbed, with hands that almost dragged upon the ground. Bodies of skin with bone impressions underneath. Wisps of long dark hair tattered around their heads with sunken expressions, hateful and violent. They didn’t look like human men but at the same time they did. Three went for Moss while one was upon her before she could fully react. It struck her on the side as she lifted her blade and pain blossomed as she cursed. It swung again, twitching erratically, aiming for her head. She almost fell backwards to avoid the blow, touching the ground with her free hand to keep herself up. She then kicked out her legs and swept the thing off its feet. It fell to the side with a snarl. Zafrina jumped at it, intending to impale it with her sword, but it rolled out of the way and her sword hit sand.

She brought the blade up and staggered backwards as it swept at her with its claws. It snapped its teeth at her, red eyes with but a pinprick of black that moved in the same erratic fashion. Zafrina took a deep breath as it twisted its leg up into the air and over its head and used that momentum to stand. It was unnatural and horrifying but she had already slain a beast, hadn’t she? The demon lunged at her with deadly precision. Zafrina could only hope to weather the blow, there would be no dodging.

Claws raked her face causing pain and blood. She managed to deflect its next blow but blood obscured the vision in her left eye. She couldn't wipe it away as another blow came, raking her right arm. It lunged with its head, teeth gnashing. Zafrina dropped low so that it went over her and then brought her head up into its lower jaw. Her horns reverberated from the blow and as the thing became dazed, she swung her sword and sliced its throat wide open. It clutched that cut flesh with a claw as black blood oozed from the wound. The thing sputtered and Zafrina swung again and again and again, cutting it open and spraying its black blood across the ground. When it fell down dead she almost lost her balance and joined it on the ground. Her head felt light as she remained on her feet. She blinked and looked over to Rahdayo and Teefee, they hadn’t moved from where they sat. Her brother had gone very pale and Teefee still clung to him like a lost child. He glanced at her and smiled softly. What did that mean? A loud wet sound brought her senses back to the battle. She turned to see that Moss had slain two of the beasts but still fought the other one.

The sound she had heard had been one of the beast's innards, cut wide at the stomach, spilled open. It lay on the ground, crawling toward Moss. Zafrina was amazed that it had any sort of guts at all, being so lean and bony. The other had died from a knife wound to its eye socket. Zafrina noted that her master was slower than she usually was. Exertion was taking its toll at last. She had to move quickly.

Zafrina went over to the crawling demon, coming up behind and decapitated it in one fell swoop. She inched forward, testing the distance as the blood about her eye still trickled hot down her face. They were circling each other. Moss glanced at her, and said, “You must go now, Zafrina. This is the only opening you might get.”

Zafrina hesitated.

She looked back at Rahdayo, who stared up at the dark sky. It began to rain. Thick cold droplets. She shivered as they hit her warm skin.

“We can’t make it without you now.”

The demon lunged at Moss, she sidestepped at the last moment, and stabbed the thing in the back, leaving a long grisly wound. As it recoiled away, Zafrina pounced and managed to cut its arm as it evaded her. Moss kept up the assault with a well flung dagger that embedded itself into the creature’s chest as it had looked at Zafrina. It turned back to Moss and Zafrina lurched forward. It went on like this for several moments, as the demon grew more and more desperate. Finally, streaming blood from numerous cuts, it swung at Moss with groggy speed. The goblin ducked and used her height as an advantage by ramming her remaining knife into the creature’s neck.

It sank to the ground, pulling the knife and then throwing it at Moss. It hit her in the head, pommel side and she cursed. Zafrina got behind it as it gasped for breath and skewered it between the eyes. Gore erupted and it fell over with a dull thud.

Zafrina felt her legs give out and she sank to the ground, breathing heavy. So too did Moss, who lay facing up in the rain. Zafrina likewise looked up, hoping to wash the blood from her face and the reek of the demon’s blood from her nose. After a time, her master began to laugh wildly.

“I thought they’d be harder to fight.” She mused. “Rahdayo?”

"Yes, mistress?” her brother called weakly.

“How are you two holding up?”

“We’ve been better, mistress. We’ve been much better.”

“And you Zafrina?” Moss called to her.

“I’m alright.” She lied. She was not alright. She felt weak and beyond tired. Her face stung with pain and she was pretty sure she’d have a nasty scar. Furthermore, Rahdayo wasn’t any better than her.

“Let’s get out of this rain.” Moss said, groaning as she got up. “Water might rise if it keeps up.”

Zafrina blinked as a droplet splashed into her open eye. She shot up and rubbed at them, before looking out. Her heart stopped as she looked into the trees. Red eyes. So many red eyes. She clambered to her feet in a panic and almost fell as she ran over to Rahdayo and Teefee. Moss had noticed too, curing under her breath. They had been too slow.
“And here I thought it would have been easy.” Moss muttered. “Damn it all.”

“Teefee,” Rah began to murmur, “You need to run.”

The cat girl looked up at him, her hair sopping wet and plastered to her small face. She still looked like she was in shock but her eyes hardened a bit as she shook her head.

“Please, for me?” he asked, pleading.

Teefee kissed him. Zafrina looked away, back to the treeline. She touched her belly and shut her eyes. A whisper escaped her lips, sad and forlorn, “I’m sorry.”

Zafrina opened her eyes. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.

The demons came.

---

Moss held the dagger in her hand tight. The rain continued to beat down in sheets that made the creek rise. Water began to slosh over her feet and she shivered from the cold. This was not how she had envisioned she would die. Certainly not with her pupils- her family, by her side. No, they were going to live far longer than she. Somewhere safe with their own families. Not where civilization never crept and children's stories turned into living nightmares. Moss prayed to any god who might have been listening. But none answered.

The demons came.

Then the bundled sword embedded itself into a charging demon. Cloth and all. The thing screamed as it died, suffusing with a terrible light as it became molten. Moss was too stunned to take a step back. That had not been how Damyl or her cousin Desmond. It was terrible. She watched as the cloth burned away into cinders and the sword ate it all up, hovering in the air as if on a phantom wind. It was a brief flash of light that lit up the world in the pouring rain. Only to be snuffed out by something far worse than any demon. That, she had always known.

It didn’t make it any less surreal.

The sword shot towards another demon, bisecting it as it spun into another, cutting its head in half like a watermelon. There was a sickening sound as the corpses hit the water with a splash. Black blood intertwined with brimming silver, leached from the corpses like paint hit with lacquer. The other demons paused, re-assessing with what little time they had. Evidently, they did not care if they died. For one struck out towards Rahdayo and Teefee, seeking to bypass Zafrina who stood guard over them. As the sword twisted in the air, cutting down the others with grisly efficiency, this lone demon sought those that could not fight back. Moss felt her feet begin to move but she could only watch as it let Zafrina swing at its arm, hacking into the flesh and leaving the limb dangling.

Moss began to shout.

Rahdayo put up his arm to ward off the attack as the demon’s claw swiped.

The sword found its mark true, embedding itself into the side of the creature, penetrating the flesh all the way up to its hilt. The beast dropped dead as the sword slipped out. The sword swirled around and cut in half another demon as it sprang at them. Moss felt a sigh of relief as she got to them. They were unharmed. They were fine. They would b-

Zafrina screamed.

Moss looked at her with wide eyes, she had dropped her sword and now clutched her left wrist. There was a cut there, beginning to flow with silver and red. The goblin cursed as she rounded Rahdayo, who was trying to stand, and Teefee who had pressed her hands over her ears. Pieter flashed before Moss’s eyes. He had been cut. His wound had been a mere scratch and yet…

And yet…

Moss cursed and pushed Zafrina to the ground. She fell to her knees, oblivious to it all as she began to spasm.

“Hold her still!” Moss screamed at Rahdayo. The boy obeyed with fear in his eyes.

Moss plucked Zafrina’s sword from the water and rose it high. “Forgive me.” She cried as she brought the blade down upon Zafrina’s upper arm.

There was a stark silence amidst the rain as the blade cut true. Zafrina’s arm fell off into the water and the dark haired girl lost consciousness. Rahdayo had to hold her up or she would have drowned. He looked at Moss with a mix of terror and anger.

Moss couldn’t think of that now. “We need to bind that wound and stop the bleeding.” She leaned down to inspect the cut, it had been right above the elbow and now just a stump. But she only saw red. Not the poison. Zafrina might end up hating her but at least she’d live. That was if they could stop the bleeding. If she lost any more blood…

Moss ripped some cloth from the lower part of her shirt. A long strip that she tied as tight as she could above the cut to staunch the flow of blood. Rahdayo ripped off half his shirt and began to hold it to her stump.

“Keep it there. Keep it there.” Moss said quickly, falling to her knees before Teefee. She grabbed the cat girl by the sides of her arms and said her name. Teefee’s eyes were shut tight and she was murmuring something to herself. Moss began to shake her, repeating her name. When she at last yelled it, Teefee’s eyes snapped open and she lowered her hands from her ears.

“Teefee! You have to be brave now, do you understand? I need you. Zafrina needs you. Rahdayo needs you.” Moss pleaded.

“Teefee-” She croaked, “Teefee isn’t brave like big sis Shah. Teefee is scared.”

“It’s okay to be scared at a time like this, sweet one. But you can’t let it control you. No more hiding now. Your family needs you.”

Teefee shut her eyes as if steadying herself.

Moss gave her a final push with, “You can be brave like big sis Shah, Teefee. I know you already are.”

Teefee opened her eyes with a look of determination. She nodded in agreement and Moss smiled at her. “We need to get out of the creek and into shelter. Can you help with that, Teefee?”

“Teefee can help. Teefee will help!” She got to her feet and went to Rahdayo, who also smiled at her. They began to drag Zafrina toward the other side of the creek. Moss looked back at the battle but found that the sword was hanging in place above its triumph. Cautiously, Moss made her approach.

The sword glowed softly, its reflective surface like a mirror. She saw herself, a version of herself that was battered and bloodied. She wanted to hate the sword. It was too perfect. Too dangerous. Yet some innate part of her could only feel awe. It had slain the demons, that was evident by the black streaks in the water. Silver-tinged, as the water rose. It was up to her calves now.

The sword seemed to hum as she stood before it. Then it began to speak.

Voices alone, conjoined, loud and soft. Male, female, deep and light. Twisted and angelic.

“Use me.”

“Caress me.”

“Wield me!”

“More, more, more.”

“No no no!”

“Whyyyyy?”

“Stop it!”

“Don’t, please don’t!”

“I hate you!”

“Love me.”

Madness. It was madness. Could a sword even go mad? Moss took a step back. This was beyond her. It was beyond any of them. Where was the voice that had helped her? Why did it not speak? Where was it?
The sword’s point was suddenly right before her. Moss froze. Her reflexes hadn’t been fast enough. She was caught. Oh by the gods she was caught. Panic swelled within her.

The sword spoke again.

“Moss.” It was the woman’s voice from before. “I can’t control them.” She sounded strained, as if her focus on the conversation was an afterthought. “So many voices. So much passion. You can’t… Touch me... Bare. Do you understand? I apologize about... friend. The killing was… Is… Almost quenched. We must… Go home. To her. Fix… Control.”

Moss blinked as the blade flashed with a bright light. Before her there came a very strange thing. Her mind couldn’t comprehend it at all at first. A wooden boat that had, mysteriously, silver-like… wheels? It was a buggy! A buggy! A goblin buggy from the lands across the sea! Where goblins lived on the surface in their Tricity and held grand races. Moss felt her heart jump with excitement. A loud thunk shocked her back to her senses. The sword had fallen into the water. How would she… She noticed something white in the buggy. It was cloth.

Carefully, ever so carefully, she wrapped the sword once more and got into the driver seat of the buggy. Truth be told, she had no idea how to use it but she had a vague understanding of how. There seemed to be some strange devices at the front. A smooth bone wheel she placed her hands on. She felt her feet touch something and the buggy lurched forward, jostling her. Moss began to grin stupidly. This was going to be fun.

Yet it was not the fun of it that propelled her forward. After securing her wounded pupils in the back and the sword, Moss had taken them up and out of the creek. It was still dark and there were no roads to speak of, so it was all chance. Well, until Teefee flicked something at the front and light burst forth. After a few stern words with Teefee, Moss had told her not to touch anything anymore. She didn’t want to end up breaking something or sending them into a ravine at a sudden burst of speed. She had no idea how to use the buggy as it was, well, at least properly. She took the path of least resistance. It was a bumpy ride all the same. But at least now, they had a chance.

Moss looked back at Zafrina and Rahdayo. He had her propped up against him in the back, the young man looking sleepy. Zafrina was still unconscious. The bleeding had stopped but she looked too pale. It drove Moss to action. They had to get help. They just had to.

But would it be too late?