It was nightfall by the time we arrived at the southern fields, the stars shining brightly overhead. A soft wind blew, stirring the dry grass, and the smell of earth was strong in the air.

It would have been a pleasant scene if not for the blight fiends. They moved in a large group, their dark shapes barely visible against the night sky. And somewhere out there were Greta and Penny, trapped behind the line of monsters.

Gus and Eliaria were the only ones who'd volunteered to go with me, the others had not wanted to risk their lives, preferring to hide within the town's walls behind the barrier.

Gus crouched beside me, resting his short bow on the ground. "How are we going to find them?" he asked.

I scanned the fields, trying to pinpoint the fiends' exact location. I needed to know exactly where Greta was if I was going to get her and Penny back. The monsters were all scattered about, so it was impossible to make a specific location.

"We need to get closer," I said, standing up. "Any suggestions?"

Eliaria frowned, thinking. "I could create a diversion, but I don't know if they would take the bait."

"We might have to fight our way through them," I said.

I was sure I could manage it, but wasn't so confident in the other two. I'd fought beside Eliaria and I knew what she was capable of, but Gus was a liability. He was not trained for combat, and although he could shoot a bow, he wasn't the best shot. The prowler wasn't his summoned creature, it was the Protector’s, and it couldn't or wouldn't follow us so far away from its summoner.

"If we attack head on, it could spook them," Eliaria said, looking at the group of monsters again. "That might drive them towards the girls."

"You're right," I said, looking at the field again. "We need to gather them together, then attack."

"Sounds good," Eliaria said, a smile spreading across her face.

I looked over at Gus. "Are you okay with this?"

He nodded, his eyes wide.

"Eliaria," I said, drawing a card from my soul, "you better take [Sky Shield] you are going to need it."

She looked at me and nodded.

I leaned in forward, "Ok, here's the plan."

***

Gus pointed into the distance, and I followed his gaze, squinting against the darkness. "The rabbit traps were set beneath that tree," he said, "if Penny and Greta are anywhere, they are near that area."

"Ok," I said, "I'm going to approach from the east, get in position with Eliaria and when you are ready, I'll begin."

"Got it," Gus said. He gripped his bow tightly and slunk off towards where Eliaria hid.

I took a deep breath and began walking forward. The long grass swished around my legs as I moved, the sound seeming impossibly loud.

As I got closer, I could see the dark shapes of the blight fiends, their bodies moving with an unnerving fluidity. The moment I made my first move, they'd notice me. This wasn't a stealth mission, and I didn't have time to waste sneaking about.

I summoned [Rootbound Bison] and [Candlewick Sprite] into the field in front of me, and with a mental command, sent them charging forward.

The bison sped off through the long grass with the flaming sprite atop its back. It would have been a comical sight had the situation not been so damned terrifying.

When they were close enough, the sprite, using what little magic it had, ignited the dry grass, leaving a trail of fire behind them as they ran.

The effect wasn't instantaneous, but slowly the fire caught and began to spread, gaining in speed as it grew hotter.

The blight fiends let out loud cries backing away from the flames, their movements panicked. But the bison wasn't running at them, instead it ran in a wide arc, the trail of fire funneling the blight fiends close together.

In the distance, I saw Eliaria leaving her hiding spot and approaching the monsters. She closed her hands together in prayer, and the sky began to darken. She cast [Hushfall] and the rain began to fall, the soft pitter-patter of the raindrops soothing my nerves.

A blight fiend left the frightened pack running straight at her, but she didn't back down. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes narrowed and a grimace on her face. She looked like a completely different person.

"Now, Gus!" she yelled.

Suddenly, an arrow streaked through the air, missing the blight fiend by inches. It let out an angry hiss and charged towards her, its claws extended.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Come on, damn it!" she shouted, her voice strained, as she continued to channel [Hushfall].

Gus stood in the grass, another arrow notched, and loosed it again. I wanted to help, but I had to trust them, this was part of the plan.

The blight fiend lunged at Eliaria, but she was quick and ducked out of the way. A javelin of pure light appeared in her hand, and she thrust it towards the blight fiend's chest, skewering it.

The fiend hissed, and stumbled backwards, its dark blood staining the ground. But before it could recover, she raised her hands, two more javelins appeared in them, and with a cry, launched them towards the monster. The first one missed, but the second struck home, piercing the creature's chest and knocking it to the ground.

By now the rain was coming down hard, the grass wet and slippery. But Eliaria stood tall, her eyes flashing with anger as she stared at the dead blight fiend.

I couldn't help but smile, watching her.

Heavy rain fell on the gathered monsters, and thick smoke rose from the smoldering grass, enveloping them in a dense fog. I could just about make out their shadowy figures moving in the haze, the rain fell on one side while the flames raged on the other.

The blight fiends were panicking, and the smoke was starting to sting my eyes.

This was my chance. I started to run directly at the immobilized pack. As I got closer, I could make out their individual forms, and the sight sent a chill down my spine.

They were twisted versions of the animals they were based on, and the resemblance was uncanny. They were larger than a man, and their bodies were covered in fur or scales, and their limbs were elongated, giving them a spider-like appearance. They had sharp claws and fangs, and their eyes glowed with a blue light.

I released [Toxic Barrage], surprised by how much stronger it was now that my deck only contained cards of my own affinities. Globes of venom the size of my fist sped toward the pack, striking several of them in the chest. Their flesh sizzled and smoked, and they let out a chorus of pained howls. The fog and venom mixed into a thick cloud, and I heard the blight fiends' cries cut off as the venom stunned them.

The few fiends that managed to avoid the effects of the barrage turned and tried to flee into the darkness, but Eliaria and Gus were there firing arrows and tossing divine javelins at them, keeping them from scattering.

"Come on," I whispered, watching as the fiends fell one by one. "Just a little bit longer."

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed out of the mist, an orange glow illuminating its body, and the sprite riding atop the bison emerged from the mist. As soon as the monsters noticed the bison, they turned on him.

With a thought, I commanded the sprite to release a spark of flame and simultaneously, I dismissed the [Rootbound Bison].

The sprite's flames ignited the toxic cloud, and a deafening explosion filled the air.

I activated [Shroud Form] just as the world was engulfed in flame, and the air was rent with a piercing screech. I passed through the flames unharmed, the veil of shadow surrounding me keeping the heat at bay.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Eliaria and Gus hiding behind a massive [Sky Shield] that floated above the battlefield.

The world around me was an inferno, the smoke and ash rising high into the air. The grass was all gone, and the dirt was scorched black, the air heavy with smoke and ash. The rain had stopped, and the flames were slowly dying down.

In the middle of the destruction, lay a small group of fiends, their bodies twisted and burned beyond recognition. I scanned the bodies, praying that I would not see the girl's bodies amongst the carnage.

The smoke and ash had obscured the night sky, and it was difficult to see anything.

"Greta!" I called out. "Penny!"

I walked through the ashes, stepping over the fallen bodies, searching for any signs of life.

"Where are you?" I called out, desperation creeping into my voice.

A faint sound reached my ears, a coughing. It was coming from my right. I moved toward the source, my eyes scanning the terrain for any sign of Penny and Greta. As I got closer, the terrain changed, the ground became uneven, and there were patches of dead trees.

I saw something glint in the distance, and I sprinted towards it, hoping it was them.

"Penny! Greta!" I called out, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I got closer, the sight before me caused my blood to run cold. A massive blight fiend was standing over a prone figure, its jaws dripping with saliva.

"Penny!" I cried, running towards the girl, but I was too late. The blight fiend lunged—

The young girl screamed and at that moment Greta, the burly barmaid, burst out of the grass. She flung herself at the blight fiend, her eyes filled with rage. She grabbed onto its back, and the creature thrashed wildly.

"Take that you bastard!" she yelled, as she swung her club at the monster's head, knocking it to the ground.

She continued to hit the blight fiend with her club, until its head was reduced to a bloody pulp.

"Greta!" I said, rushing over to her. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow, and that was when I saw the cut on her arm. It was deep, and blood was flowing freely from the wound.

"You're hurt," I said, examining the cut. "We need to get you some help."

"Oh shit!" she cried, as she saw the wound, "the blight, it's in my blood, it's spreading."

"What?" I exclaimed, as the blackness spread up her arm, like a vile oil.

"Cut it off!" she shouted.

"What?"

"Cut off my fucking arm, now!" she yelled.

I clenched my jaw, and grabbed my dagger, raising it above her arm. I didn't have time to think, and with a single, swift motion, I sliced through the flesh and bone, severing the infected arm.

I let Greta go, and she fell back to the ground, her face pale. She groaned, clutching her severed arm, the stump already black and oozing.

"Did it work?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Is it still spreading?"

"We have to cauterize the wound," I said, inspecting the remaining stump. "But I think we did it."

Greta let out a ragged cough, her eyes rolling back into her head. I cursed and ripped a strip of cloth from my shirt, wrapping it tightly around her arm.

"Don't you die on me," I growled, as I tied the knot.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me, her expression confused.

"Penny?" she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Is she alive?"

I glanced at the girl, she was rocking back and forth, holding her knees to her chest.

"She's safe," I said, trying to sound reassuring.

"Good," Greta said, closing her eyes again.

"We're going to get you both out of here," I said, as I gently lifted Greta off the ground, carrying her in my arms.

***