Four days came and went since Morgen’s arrival and training began. It was hell.

  Running before the sun even reached the horizon to mark the morning of a new day, not a day went by where Lucina wasn’t dodging golden weaponry and trying to concentrate on Flare Storm.

  Some days she got further than others, but throughout most of the she struggled to even get past the first line or even summon a single flame.

  Just when the sun managed to finally peak over the horizon on the fifth day.

  “With flames as numerous as—

  Three golden blades stabbed the ground and like the morning sun, they erupted in a flash of light that sent her sliding on the wet dew grass.

  When she came to a stop and her eyes slowly opened, all she could fell was her now wet back.

  “Ow.”

  There was no attempt to get back up and a yawn fought its way out.

  ‘The sky sure feel cold this morning. Maybe it’s because the sun isn’t out yet.’

  Her gaze on the dark blue sky didn’t last long. Shifting her head, watching Morgen took over her view from above. An armory of golden blade were at the ready, just waiting for her command.

  “Come on Lucina, we’re just getting started.”

  A tired, sore groan came from her as she slowly sat up.

  ‘I hope everyone else is doing alright. I wonder what they’re up to?’

  A hand came down over her to block the view.

  “You can hear me right Lucina?” A sudden turn of her and the following nod made Morgan smile. “Good now get back to running, it's too early for your break. That is unless you’d prefer a few rounds of combat?”

  Shooting up to her feet, Lucina took off running, chanting with Morgen following right behind her.

  —-

  Repeated metal banging echo and smoke rose from behind the back yard. There was a slight pause between each hit, the noise came from a small structure.

  Smoke left the chimney, the noise got louder and it got hotter.

  Peering inside, sparks flew off red-hot heated metal. Crimson eyes didn’t waver with each strike. A scared right arm rose and slammed the hammer down, while his left held a pair of tongs to hold it down.

  With each hit the metal would slowly cool until a golden color was exposed and its shape refined, the metal changed into a dagger.

  “Roy, think you can turn up the heat? It’s gonna take another round or two before this is done.” Whipping the sweat out his face, his shirt clung to his body.

  Turing to see his scarlet haired brother, a groan followed from the boy. “Why did you wake me up for this?”

  He may be reluctant, but he still extended a flame covered hand and then exposed the metal to the new flames. The dagger went from its golden color and quickly became red then bright yellow.

  The final few pounds continued to bring the blade to shape. Setting the hammer down and picking up the still hot blade with the tongs, Red placed it in the water. Steam cloud rose as the blade was quenched. Sizzling water filled their ears with its echo.

  Pulling it from the water, while it was still hot. Red was now able to touch it. Looking at it, it gave off a small shine from the sunlight that made its way in from the window. Its golden brown color remained firm and its handle felt right, even if it was a little rough.

  “Nothing a little grinding can't fix. I still have to sharpen and polish it, so I’ll smooth out the handle when I do that.”

  “It looks nice and all, but I’m going to assume you’re done with my help. I’m to bed.”

  “Come on, Roy. We still gotta think about what we’re gonna call it.” Looking over the blade, a few names came to mind. “Saberhorn? Lyeonya’s Edge? Nemean blade? What do you think?”

  “I don’t know.” Roy paused with a yawn. “Why not just call it Liger Fang? I mean it kinda looks like a fang.”

  He took a moment to think, looking over the blade. “I like it, thanks Roy.”

  “I think I prefer, ‘I thought I told you to stay in bed blade.’ But then again that’s just me.”

  “Maybe, but don't you think that's a bit long for a name don’t you think?”

  Slowly they both turned around. The sound of a foot tapping against the floor was finally heard by the two. Crossed arms hung just below her chest as one finger rapidly tapped her arm.

  The other was standing still.

  Roy immediately took several steps back and started looking for a way out.

  Red however tried to remain calm. “Hey, morning Mom, Maryan. I thought you said you were going to be having meetings all day with some of the nearby towns’ leadership.”

  A disappointed, annoyed look marked his mother’s face. “Yes, I did. We finished sooner than I thought. So I came back to see how my eldest son was doing. And what do I find? You swing that hammer when you need to be resting.”

  “I mean… you told me no magic or swordsmanship… you said nothing about working on my crafting.” When he spoke, Lyn stopped her rapid taping and approached. “It's not like I was using magic; it was Roy.”

  Maryan just waited at the door, trying not to laugh at the sight. "At least they aren’t throwing fireballs at each other this time, Lyn.”

  “Leave me out of this!” Roy cried out, the moment he saw an opening he took it and tried to run out of the small building. Only to be snatched in Maryan’s hold.

  “So I figured—

  And chopped her hand against his head, swiping the newly made dagger in her other.

  “Ow.”

  “Smart ass.” Lyn shifted her hand to her hip and a deep sigh followed. “I really should have been stricter when you were little. Now look at you, blatantly disobeying me.”

  Her hand ran over his right arm, tracing the scar. Moving to his sweat soaked shirt, pulling it up to get a look at his chest.

  “Mom, what are you doing!?”

  Looking over the faded marks on his chest, only finding three thin white lines.

  “Well, at least you’re healing.” A tired sigh escaped when she let the shirt fall back in place. Her expression calmed but still remained disappointed. “Go put on some clean clothes and go to bed. If you can’t get to sleep, I'll make a lesson plan for you, assuming you’d prefer that.

  Knowing his defeat, trapped against a wall. There was no way out, even against the LigerHorn there were more ways out. He simply nodded and made his way out. But he was stopped for a moment as an arm wrapped around him. A simple hug was given.

  “Now get back to bed.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  Watching him walk off, Maryan follows him to make sure he didn’t try anything funny. The movement they were no longer in her lint of sight, Lyn’s gaze shifted to the new dagger she held.

  ‘Liger Fang, huh. It’s well made.’ Another groan escaped.

  “I know I raised him right but… why did he have to turn out so much like I did at that age!?” Her hand covered her eye as laughter followed. “If this isn’t karma for the worrying I caused my mother when I was a kid, then I don’t know what is.”

  Looking out into the sky. ‘Isn’t that right Wendy?’

  —-

  “Moooo.”

  The low sound of mooing cows echoed across the grass land as a farmer’s herd was grazing on the grassland just outside of Phera’s southwest wall.

  Bulls mooed out while they pulled wagons filled with the wheat, corn and beans that the farmers picked. While mother cows grazed and nursed their calves.

  Herding dogs kept flocks of sheep from wandering off.

  Bugs leaped into the air with each fallen stock. Pheraian knights walked along side adventures, waving to farmers and travelers as they moved around a grid-like perimeter.

  The rustling of grass went unnoticed by a farmer while he cut down a bundle of wheat with sickle. Until a nose curling stench washed over him. Covering his mouth and nose, the moment he turned around to face the smell, a large brown creature tackled him to the ground. A long nose connected to needy eyes as a pair of bucked teeth snapped.

  This was one massive rodent of unusual size. Eyeing down the prone farmer, the rat leaped at him with its jaws open.

  An arrow shot into one eye and out the bother, sending the rat to the ground dead. In a single shot.

  “Nice shot Fir!” The man turned to see an ashen gray hair boy approaching. His attention first looked to the dead rat then shifted to the farmer. “You ok sir? Did you get cut anywhere?”

  The farmer simply shook his head before getting up and taking all the wheat he gathered to the wagon, all so he could continue the harvest.

  “How was everything Ash? Was he… BLEE! What is that smell?” The moment Fir arrived the smell slammed her like a tsunami. Invading her nose, it burnt her nasal hair and made her fur stand on end.

  Out of sheer reflex, she covered her mouth and nose. Becoming oblivious to Arthur approaching from behind and slapped her back.

  “If you think a Stink Rat smells bad on the outside, wait till you get a whiff of the inside.”

  Yellow eyes watched Arthur pull out a knife as made his way to the rat. The smell worsened when his knife struck at the rat’s anal glands. While he slowly worked on the rat, the smell went from worse to vomitous.

  It took everything she had not to vomit. “How can you both…” She gagged on her words. “Get so close to that and not throw up?”

  The brothers looked at each other. Arthur just motioned his head at Ash to go talk with her.

  When Fir took a set in the grass, Ash followed her. “After a while of being exposed to smells even worse than that, you kinda go nose blind to it.”

  “Yeah, no thanks. I like having a sense of smell.”

  “Well then you and your old man joined the wrong business.” Arthur called out as he removed one of the glans. “Cause this is some of the tame stuff.”

  While Ash laughed, Fir just rolled her eyes. “So why are we out here?

  This time it was Arthur’s turn to laugh. “And I get told I have a short term memory.”

  Fir threw a rock at him. She didn’t hit him, she could have and wanted too, but didn’t.

  “We’re here to help watch over the farmers and their livestock while they graze and gather their harvest.” Ash spoke up causing them to look away. Fir turned to him, while Arthur went back to focusing on getting the other scent gland and monster stone.

  “Ok. I know that much already. But mind telling me why did we take this job? This seems more like something that the Pheraian military should be doing.”

  “It’s only been like this for years now.” Ash answered her. “It used to be like that. But then Lyndis came up with the idea to have this become a joint venture between the military and adventurers who are in the Golden Scale Guild’s registry. Kinda to help foster a better trust between them.”

  Arthur was quick to add on more information. “And when it comes to getting the job, the wait list is like a mile long. I went to the guild before sunrise every day for a month just to get us this small section. Not even bringing up Lyn’s name or using my charm helped.”

  Ash and Fir both groaned, rolling their at his comment before laughing with each other once they regained eye contact.

  “But what makes this job so special then? The reward was only 70,000 runix per group for almost a month of work. I mean still it’s a lot of money but we make that much at the apothecary in little over a week.” Fir questioned

  “After the guild’s tax policy, its more like 65 or 60 thousand runix.” Ash was quick to make a correction.

  Her attention snapped from Ash to Arthur.

  “What, they take that much? These guild policies are ridiculous.” She shot onto her feet and stomped the ground, her ears and tail pointed straight up. “Wait. We make less money doing this job for a month then we make in a week at the apothecary. Then why are we out here?”

  “Now you’re starting to see things like me and Mom.” Arthur didn’t even turn around with his comment.

  “There are a few reasons, like the extra money you get from monster stones.” When he spoke, Fir turned her attention to Arthur as he pulled out the rat’s core. “But the big reason why we wanted to take this job is because it’s cheaper to get the monster parts we need for potions and elixirs.”

  “Cheaper?”

  “Yeah, you see we try to buy any of the monster parts from adventures, they tend to ignore us and go right to the guild for a better payout.”

  “And when we finally get someone willing they make the guild’s prices look cheap.” Arthur spat on the ground and pulled the last scent gland out before placing it into a sack. “I mean the going rate for Stink Rat scent glands is about 500 runix a pound, per gland. So these two might cost around 12 or 13. The ones you’ll see from the guild and other adventures are never that low, and the quality? Don’t even get me started.”

  No question was asked, Fir simply turned to Ash for confirmation. “Yeah sometimes they aren't even in good condition either and a lot of the good ones get bought out by Potion Parlor and their cronies.”

  “So you guys took this job to cut out the middle man and get some money out of it.” Fir’s gleeful grin grew grand while the approving thumbs up Ash and Arthur gave her.

  “Fir catch!” Only for that grin to sour the moment she caught the bag. The smell that rose from the bag caused her grin to cease.

  Without a second though she dropped the bag.

  “Hey, what did you do that for?” Arthur cried out.

  “Don’t you, “Hey.” me! You know I can’t stand the stench from those.”

  But before they could continue, a new set of screams chased their heads to snap. Without a second though, the trio ran at a break neck pace towards the screams

  —

  Moving over the field's hill, the trio came to find the scream’s center. Stranded in the middle of the beanstalks. Three figures ran through the crops, circling the two in the middle like sharks, waiting to close in for the kill.

  A boar-like creature with rounded bodies, armed with four large tusks and sharp spines ran down its back.

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  “Damn, the Razortusks are early this year.” Arthur groaned when he pulled a single blade from its sheath. “They don’t normally show until later in the season.”

  His sword wasn’t the only thing drawn. Fir was just as quick on the draw, an arrow was already getting lined up.

  Ash however.

  “I don’t think they will be needing our help. It’ll be over before we get down there.” Shock covered their faces, Fir almost looked disgusted. Arthur was already gone. “I almost feel bad for the boars.”

  That moment was interrupted by an agonized squeal.

  The duo looked past a running Arthur, seeing the charging Razortusk was kicked into the air. A blue scaled arm rammed its fist into the pig’s body. Loud, echoing cracks traveled from the impact as it was sent flying. The moment it hit the ground leaving a bloody splat.

  A draconian armed with a blue and silver colored shield grinned at the sight. Simply rolling shoulder and neck.

  “Hector isn’t likely to break a sweat.”

  Only two remained.

  Their attention shifted away from the girl who sat on the ground in fear, to blue scaled draconian.

  Snorting and kicking up dirt. Leaping forward, they both curled up into balls and rolled like wheels. The two hogs tore up the ground with their rolling charge.

  Hector moved to the side of the first one, its rolling came to a stop as its trotters slammed into the ground.

  “Watch out!” The girl cried to Hector.

  Her cries reached the draconian, turning to watch the second boar close the distance.

  With a simple heel turn, Hector slammed his tail into the monster’s side, tearing up the crops while it slid.

  There was a slight wince in his eye at the damage. ‘Ok that’s gonna upset the crop owner.’

  Both Razortusks shook their heads as they centered themselves, reading their next attack. The first came rolling in again. Once again Hector gave a simple smirk, throwing his shield at the rolling monster. Beanstalks were cut down and painted red as the spinning shield cut the boar in half and pierced the ground. The two halves slid across the field, leaving the core stone exposed to the air.

  “Look out the second one is right behind you!”

  Shooting his gaze back, only to find the boar was a foot away. Its tusks were lower and rose up for a strike.

  Flesh and bone colliding caused the farm girl to flinch.

  A few single drops of blood hit the floor.

  A low growl came from Hector as he held the Razortusk back by the horns.

  Thrashing in his grip, the sharp tusks cut into his hands. “Ya know, that stings.”

  With a simple, rapid snap of his wrists. He broke off the tusks. The boar bellowed in pain, a pain so intense that it didn’t notice Hector’s tail slip underneath and with a flick. The boar was launched into the air.

  Brown eyes watched the boar fall.

  A fist rapidly rose.

  Fleshed squired flesh and the boar went limp. Falling to the ground lifeless as a stone was pulled free.

  “Thats the end of that.” He took a moment to look around. “… that damage is gonna come out of the reward money.”

  “Hum… excuse me.” A soft voice made him turn. Watching the simple girl approach him. A soft, bashful smile dominated her when she took his hand. Wrapping his cut palm in a green cloth. “It isn't much but please. Consider this a token of my thanks.”

  “Thanks, but you…” Hector watched the girl run off. Yet even from a distance he could see her growing a warm color. “… didn’t have to do that.”

  Watching the girl run to rejoin the main farming group, he simply walked to regain his shield.

  The wind was calm and carried away the scent of blood. However, the moment he pulled his shield free, a horrendous smell passed his nose.

  “Yo, what took you so long to get here?” Turning to the voice, he watched Ash call out with Fir running behind him.

  His eyes shifted just in time to watch as Arthur attempted to check on and likely make a move on the running farm girl. Only to turn stone white when she ran past him without a second thought or a moment to look back.

  A small chuckle came escaped from him and slowly raising his hand to greet them.

  —

  The wind blew with each berry and bean that was picked. The gravel beneath shifted with each step from the group as they moved around their section of farm

  “So this is the area we got? Not bad. Ash, mind lending me the map of the area?”

  With a nod Ash reached into his bag and handed the map to Hector.

  “Yeah, the main issue we figured out is going to be that small forest in the western corner. We’ve had a few monster sightings there.”

  “I see. I say we go there and set up a shift system with one of us standing there, while the others continue to observe the rest of the area.”

  There were two nods in agreement.

  “Hey, who died and put you in charge? After all, you got here late.” Arthur called out as he snacked the map away from Hector. “If anyone should be calling the shots it should be me.”

  ““No.””

  Ash and Fir both denied Arthur’s attempted power grab.

  “Sorry brother, but if Red isn’t here, I'd follow Hector’s lead.”

  It was like an invisible arrow shot through his back and out his chest. Gripping where his heart was, Arthur stumbled back

  “Even my own brother.”

  The group couldn’t hold back their laughter, but for one.

  Fir’s laughter ended sooner than the rest. “So why were you late Hector? Did something happen?”

  “Oh that. Yeah, my sparring session with Achilles ran a little long. I still can’t seem to get this thing to bounce back like he can.” Their gaze fell to the shield. “I figured I’d join him on the walk back to see how Red’s doing.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Lyndis found him in their backyard forge working on that horn he got. Now he’s currently suffering through one of her study sessions.”

  A groan turned laugh escaped from Ash at the news. “Figured. After the last time, I’m not even shocked.”

  “Like is he an idiot? If I was in a situation like that, I’d do nothing but sleep.”

  “Arthur, you already look for an excuse to not get up in the morning.”

  The oldest Cromed brother punched his younger’s shoulder.

  “I know the suffering he’s lounging thought right now. May God have mercy, for Lyndis’ study plans have none.” Hector’s tone was mournful.

  The renard’s eyes watched the Cromed brothers place their hands on his shoulders in a sign of solidarity. “Wait so how long have you guys known Red anyway?”

  Their shared “moment of morning” came to end when Hector turned to Fir.

  “I’ve known Red since I can remember. Our parents have been friends since forever, so we were gonna end up as friends regardless of what we thought.”

  “Yeah, by the way, I forget wasn’t Miss. Tastu, Red’s—

  A blue scaled fist came down on Arthur’s head. “Please don’t bring that up, I rather not recall that.”

  “So then how did you two meet Red?”

  His mood changed on a dime. Spinning to face her, Arthur took on a dramatic pose.

  “It was a tale of fierce conflict, a battle of right and wrong. The day our group started with a simple—

  “My brother sucker punched Red when he tried helping me up.”

  Ash put an end to his brother’s performance. Fir went from interested to a deadpanned expression and Hector filled the field with his laughter.

  “Hey there’s more to the story than that!”

  Fir turned to Ash for answers, not even giving Arthur the chance to tell the story.

  “It all started about a week after we moved to Phera. Our parents were still in the process of getting the paperwork to turn the home they bought into a business. After a long day of paper work, our mother took us to the nearby playground and—

  —and that’s when our encounter happened." Arthur cut him off. “For whatever reason, we ended up getting into a fight with another group of kids.”

  “Let me guess, Arthur provoked it.”

  Another low chuckle came from Hector

  “Hey!” Arthur’s shout echoed across the fields. “Why do you always assume I’m at fault?”

  “So how does this all lead to you all meeting?”

  The trio gained a nostalgic look when they turned to the sky.

  —

  Feeling wood chips stab his legs, rear and left hand. Charcoal back eyes looked at his brother’s back as he stood between him and a small group of four.

  Pain from his cheek spread through his body. Eyes grew wet, the dam tried to hold back the painful tears from flowing.

  “Why the heck did you hit my brother?” Arthur’s voice cracked when he tried to cover up his higher pitched voice with a deeper, threatening tone.

  There wasn’t a direct answer.

  Only a pair of hands, shoving him to the ground.

  “What was that for!?” His voice cracked again when he shouted, glaring at the central boy. “Are you gonna—

  “Shut it loser. A pair of dummies like you shouldn’t ta—

  He didn’t get a chance to finish. Arthur pushed himself off the ground and tackled the kid.

  Watching the pair roll across the ground, charcoal black eyes turned to find the other three stood over him. Wicked smiles grew as one hit his fist into an open palm.

  With a single step forward, a fist rose and Ash flinched with fused arms.

  Waiting for another wave of pain, charcoal eyes opened just in time to watch the lead get tackled by a red eyed boy. The two rolled to the side.

  His gaze shifted to the back two. The moment they tried to make a move on the party crasher, two blue scaled covered hands grabbed them. Before either of them could react, let alone turn to face the hands’ owner. Their heads were slammed together.

  The slammed duo turned to the second new arrival. They had to look up, even only being a year older he still stood a full head taller than them.

  They took a step down… and ran. The one that got tackled by the one with red eyes, took off running too.

  Shifting to find Arthur and one he fought, at the sight of his back up running away, he turned tail and ran after them.

  “Hey, you ok?”

  Ash turned his attention back to find the boy and draconian stood in front of him with a hand stretched out.

  “Need a hand up? It’s nice to meet you, my name is R—

  A fist distorted his face when it collided and pushed against his cheek.

  It was like watching in slow motion, one eyes closed and the smile he had was smushed when the fist ran across his face.

  His eye closed and even his nose started to bleed as the hit continued, launching him to the floor.

  “Get away from my brother!” Arthur cried out when the boy hit the ground.

  —

  “Ok hold on, wait just a minute.” Fir, interrupted Ash. “Arthur, you hit Red when he was going to help Ash up. Why?”

  “I dun know.” There was a simple shrug of his shoulders. “Heat of the moment?”

  “Fir, you need to remember that Arthur here tends to act first and think, well he doesn't think.”

  Green eyes glared daggers at the draconian as his brother and zoophian quiet laughter was hidden by the wind.

  Still they continued to walk around their assigned territory. Watching crops be picked and cut down. Shepard kept their flocks together.

  The hot sun baked their backs from the cloud spotted blue sky.

  Slowly the rows of corn and gravel road gave way to an open field where a large boulder acted as a halfway marker with a small forest on the other side.

  Fir’s nose twitched as she took in the air and came to a stop. Ash, Arthur and Hector stopped and turned to watch Fir simply reach back, drawing her bow.

  A simple breath escaped once the arrow was freed. Cutting through the warm air for yards, it slowly sunk until a low thunk that only she could hear echoed from a tree.

  A gurgling snarl was followed by a fur covered hand trying to pull it out. Blood spurted out with each pull of the arrow, painting its grey fur covered body red, snapping jaws howled in pain at the effort.

  Dozens of eyes watched the hand fall limp and the humanoid canines turned their attention back to where the arrow came from. Their growls echoed and jaws snapped.

  A sole individual stood a full head taller then the rest. Scars covered its body and with a single howl, a single to attack, they charged.

  “Looks like we have company. I count about 25 kobolds.” Eyeing the pack, noticing that they were gathering around kobold 26, the one she shot.

  “Kobolds huh.” Arthur was the first to look where the arrow was fired. “Rumor has it, the tailor in the town center is looking for some monster fur for her next line.”

  His swords were quick to be freed.

  Fir fires another arrow, nailing another kobold.

  There was subtle chanting from Ash, wind started to form a sphere in his hands.

  Hector reached for his shield.

  However sharp fox eyes watched as the two bodies were slowly swarmed but large insects that match the size of a large cat with yellow colored exoskeleton. In the front were spine covered legs and in the back was a pair of large leaping legs. Attached to the end of their abdomen was a long needle like spike

  But the real money maker was attached to its oval shaped, raspberry colored face. A pair of strong, sharp mandibles cut through the slain’s body. It only took a few moments for the still warm body to vanish, leaving only chopped and broken bones.

  “Along with a small swarm of crickidids .” Fir didn’t hesitate to aim and fire another arrow. Flying through the air, it priced through the eye and out the skull of a charging kobold. One of its companions turned to watch it fall, only to meet the same fate the moment it faced forward.

  An arrow hit the exact same spot.

  “So Ash, Arthur.” Hector’s voice caused her ear to twitch in his direction. “So outside the fur, do your parents use anything from those things I should be aware of?”

  “Maybe their stingers could be used for something, but other than that I say we just take them out.”

  “Alright, you heard the man!” With a blade pointing forward he took the first step. “Let’s teach these werewolves why they’re only able to come out on a full moon!”

  “You know kobolds and werewolves are different monsters right?” Fir called out as she notched another arrow.

  “Arthur, werewolves are stronger and stand about two taller than kobolds. Their fur is darker and covers their whole body. They’re more common in deeper dungeons and rarely come to the surface. Plus if they do, they tend to travel in much smaller groups.” Hector was quick to add on. Each comment seemed to bear down on Arthur.

  Ash watched with light laughter that could barely be heard over the noise from Razor Wind.

  “Put a sock in it Hector. You all know what I mean.” A tired groan came from him. Lifting his blades up he took a calm step forward. “Let's just cut these things down before they become a problem.”

  Their attention moved from Arthur to the charging pack.

  With the swing of his arm, Razor Wind was tossed and an arrow was freed.

  The buzzsaw wind blade cut through several kobolds and crickidids , some were cut in half and the rare few who were able to get out of its path were lucky with only a lost limb.

  One of crickidids that leaped over Razor Wind had an arrow go through its head and out its abdomen.

  Hector and Arhur charged in, following the wind sphere and the arrow.

  Many of the humanoid canines continued their charge. Another arrow came flying, entering the lead kobold’s eye and piercing though the back of its skull. One of the kobolds turned to watch its companion fall to the floor and the moment it turned forward.

  “Ora!”

  Only to be met by a shout and a blue scaled fist. A fist that rammed through the monster’s head, there was a headless body slammed into the ground.

  A trio changed their charge from up the hill and towards the draconian, he turned to face them.

  Of the three, the lead closed the distance the quickest. Reaching out its arm, the trio would only watch its arm get sliced off. Before it could even howl in pain, everything went upside down and smaller. Unable to change its gaze, the kobold could only watch its companions’ bodies get dismembered in a flash. The floating head hit the ground the same moment its body fell.

  “Damn, what happened to saving the fur for the tailor?” Hector joked. His eyes darted to a charing kobold. With a simple spin, he slammed his tail into the monster and sent it flying at Arthur.

  The duel swordsman responded by slicing the kobold into thirds.

  Low growls and chirps caught their attention. Looking behind them several charging kobolds and crickidids ran and leaped at them.

  “Move!”

  Without a second the front line duo moved at the sound of an approaching buzzing. Watching a Razor Wind disk fly past them, it cut thought the charging monster. Moving faster than a raging breeze, the wind ripped apart both canine and insect with ease. Making its way to the back line dominated by crickidids.

  Looking back, watching Ash approach with Fir at his side.

  However from the left, a pair of kobolds snuck by.

  The renard was quick to act, faster than any word Ash could have spoken, two arrows were fired within a second of each other.

  They at their target, they connect. The first punctured its chest and the second hit its throat.

  But from behind the koblod the second one emerged and closed the distance. Between Ash and Fir, they shared a single thought.

  ‘‘It used the other as a shield!’’

  Her hand didn’t reach for another arrow, instead she grabbed the dagger at her waist and rushed in.

  Her yellow eyes focused on the kobold. Her ears picked up on Ash’s shout.

  “Gale Strike!”

  A burst of wind from Ash’s hand forced Fir forward with great speed.

  The same couldn’t be said for the kobold, the sudden strong breeze almost sent the beast flying back.

  Leaving it open to attack.

  An open Fir didn’t waste, in a single motion she tackled the monster to the floor. Rolling across the ground, she pinned it to the ground. Raising her dagger to the side, she slashed at its throat, killing it.

  Taking a calm breath, that calm didn’t last with the arrival of low ringing chirps. Shifting her attention, finding a swarm of crickidids 20 strong started rubbing their legs together. Creating a strange ear piercing song.

  Shooting off the ground in a dead spin, Fir charged them. Firing an arrow that brought an end to one of their songs, but only one.

  With one of their songs brought to a forceful end, they just ‘sung’ louder and faster.

  Ear piercing chirps assaulted brought her charge to the end. The echoing penetrated her ears, everything else was shut out.

  ‘Too loud! It can’t even hear my own heart beat!’

  Fighting against the pain, defiance took over and lined up a shot.

  Letting the arrow fly, it only got worse.

  The ringing chirps grew louder, so did the pain.

  Her bow fell to the ground and her hands moved to cover her folded ears, trying to block out the noise.

  ‘I can’t hear myself think.’

  ‘It feels like my ears are about to burst!’

  Trying to stop the noise from entering, she left herself open.

  The noise stopped, her eyes opened to find dozens of crickidids leap. Their mandibles made slicing motions each time they opened and closed.

  ‘I can't move! I don’t have time!’

  Everything went silent and slow as her gaze was fixated on them. She barely had time to raise her dagger…

  The crickidids dominated her attention.

  … or hear the following cry and rushing of wind.

  “Cyclone Assault!”

  Before they even came close to landing on her. Not even a second passed and she watched two spirals of wind blow past her.

  Brushing past her long hair and tail, it drowned out their noise. The wind just ignored her.

  Twin cyclones snatch each and every crickidid in its vortex. It was like watching invisible spinning blades cut and slice each bug to bits.

  It was horrifying to watch, but also in a strange way satisfy. Like the same way watching an animal hunt down and claim its prey.

  The cyclones disbursed marked the end of the spell. Watching the blended crickidids fall to the ground, their bodies made a sickining splat when they hit the ground. The only parts that had a gentle landing were the antenna and the wings, that even when cut fell like fallen leaves.

  But, it was a sight she coudn’t watch for long. The rustling of grass caused her to snap her gaze to her back.

  “Fir you alright!?” Only to find Ash’s out reached hand “I cover you, you cover me. That was our deal right?”

  Her friendly grin was his answer.

  The two made their way and rejoined Arthur and Hector.

  —

  Between the human and draconian they smashed and slashed kobold and crickidid to pieces with ease.Smashing his shield into another kobold, the cracking of bones echoed with fractures that came from its body. His tail slammed down and crushed a crickidid, a splat followed when it was planted against the ground.

  Sneaking up from the side, where Hector had his attention lax, a crickidid leaped. It’s razz colored jaws opened and closed, like two knives, sharpening each other each time they crossed.

  A blue scale hand shot out, gripping the big around the base where its neck and body met.

  Turning to look at the bug, staring into the crickidid’s hey black eyes. Its limbs clawed at his arm, but that went ignored. It couldn’t even scratch his scale covered arm. Staring into its void like eyes, he could see his own reflection.

  ‘These things, their bright colors. Soulless eyes. Their whole form is just…

  Razor blade like mandibles came down on his wrist and the moment it bit down.

  Like a wine cork, its head popped off. Bile oozed out from its body, coating his hand.

  “Gross.”

  Shaking the goo off his hand, another crickidid tried to attack. Only to be smashed underneath Hector’s boot.

  Shifting forwards Arthur, he didn’t have the same issue.

  Cutting down crickidid after crickidid like a monster cutting blender. Severed heads, legs and bodies surrounded him. The bodies just kept stacking up, to the point where the bugs’ fluids covered his blades.

  A low growl caught his attention. Standing before him, reaching his height was the scar faced kobold.

  Its feral howl was followed by its charge. Closing the distance a fury of slashes followed. Following each swipe from the kobold, he just stepped back, barely even using his shield to block its attacks.

  Eyeing its claws moments, the following strike was a wide strike that came from the right. With a swift counter of his shield, metal clashed with bone. The sound of bones breaking echoed and a pain filled howl followed. It’s arm broke and snapped, fingernails were shattered from the impact.

  Reeling back but driving back in by pain and fury. With wide open fangs it went in for a bite, only to receive another counter strike from the shield. A bone shattering crunch echoed, blood fell from a mashed snout, teeth fell from a slack jawed mouth.

  The pain that spread across its head, blindsided in that moment. It barely recognized a sudden impaling pain emanating from its chest.

  It was quick, blue scaled arm pulled free from the kobolds chest. A firm grip held its stone.

  “You know, I thought this one would have been a little stronger.”

  Watching the pack’s leader fall, the rest took off running back into the forest.

  “Just gonna come out and say this. That was brutal.”

  Turning to find the others had regrouped and made their way towards him.

  “Yeah, if either one of you gets into a fight with him, just leave me out of it.”

  “Don’t worry Fir, only my brother is dumb enough to do that.”

  A chuckle came from the draconian as he turned back to now limb filled field. “Lets some of these stones then get back on patrol, last thing we need is something else attacking those farmer while we were out here 'playing'."

  Three nods followed and they got to work.

  It was going to be a long time and hard work, but so far, they just kept walking with energized steps.