Part 1
Earth shattered under the ogrekin's girth! We landed with both Mack siblings bouncing around in the van's back, while BB and I successfully braced ourselves up front. That hill ogre managed to leap, with us in tow, over the entire river. On our flight over, several birds picked away at the creature's thick skin, with a few ripping chunks out of Jordie's vehicle, lo', we survived. "O-Ok, Anesha, now what?" Despite his insistence of appearing tough, Jordie's complexion had gone grayer than that pig creature cowering in his arms.
The invisible flow of mana only offered but so many clues as to Bramble's and Fate's location. On my radar, spread across Gold River, A myriad of small mana signatures appeared to be moving with clear intent. (They have a target, it would seem. They are heading toward a singular location. Is it Fate?!) Among them, a stronger signature gleamed, lo'; I could not discern whether it was Fate or Bernadine. (Likely, Fate is still healing. If the seed were active, I would know. It must be Bernadine.) Nearest Gold River's park, close to our planned rendezvous, that large signature appeared unbothered by all the smaller ones. (There has been plenty of time, and she was given a substantial head start.) No time to waste considering possibilities or worse case scenarios, as they were already upon us! "Quickly! To the parks!" I ordered BB!
"Gotcha'!" Before he could engage his vehicle, however; that ogre roared forward, running flight of foot! "Was this the plan?!" Bernie was nearly tossed into my lap, which I avoided by booting him into the vehicle's rear alongside his compatriots.
"It was not, lo', we have little time to waste!" Viewing the forest encompassed road before us, lamplights and moon rays could hardly hope to pierce a veil of darkness cast upon the trees by night. Only that lonely and recognizable house in the distance stood out; our base of operations, Arnold's home. (There is quite some way to go until reaching the bridge. I believe we shall be fine, as this ogre moves quite a bit faster than Arnold's old truck.) Lo, we were immediately stopped, a joke at my expense by the universe, one is sure. All three of the boys were tossed into the front seat, nearly touching me! "Repulsive ogrekin! For what reason do you have to suddenly halt? I was clear that we need...oh. I see." Down before the ogrekin, wolves; many so ferocious beasts, all magically empowered by Bernadine's azure scales and crimson fins. "Leap across! Do not waste your time engaging them!" Despite my instructions, we were dropped! Those birds returned, attacking the hill ogre from behind and causing it to release us to defend itself.
"Holy shit! We're going to die, bro!" Jordie screamed, squeezing his yelping pig creature!
"I will allow no such thing! Skip!" The amount of mana needed was substantially different from what I was used to. Four people, little creature included, and the van, I slammed my boots into the floor and propelled us upward just enough to slow the descent and land with only a small thud.
"Wow! Good shit, Anesha!" No time for praise! I escaped through the van's open window and drew my saber. The wolves were attacking! Azurite fangs hungry for my throat aimed to kill me, lo', I deflected them! Blocked two such attackers, with more continuing after me! I leapt, as did they, biting at my literal heels!
"Skip!" Further up, I moved, avoiding the loss of my feet to such beasts! Again, I stepped on air, flipping forward and away from them! 'Skip', a medium level spell; one which allows Magekin to leap forward along the wind. With my physical prowess, and tutoring by master, I was able to fully employ it with a combination of momentum and strength! (Simple animals; chase me.) Those dogs were not smart, lo', as pack animals; they attempted to surround me! Reshrinking my saber, my next move was one master had shown me numerous times before; a technique made perfectly for her, being of small stature! I landed with many wolves pouncing toward me! Down, I reached, taking a handstand! "Raze, earth beneath my feet!" Boots ignited; I spun! A whirl of blazing kicks, blasting beastly heads and fangs back! I did not slow, swinging low, momentum carried my movements, sweeping the dogs' legs from under them; then back up into a handstand and whirling about into a cyclone of flaming death! (Master loves this technique, coiling serpent. She would use her smaller size to twirl under attackers and strike out like a cobra!) My guard was lowered, focusing elsewhere! Foolish!
