The webbed feet of the Gippies continued to eat up the distance. Dariea had managed one more Jump for the group, but it hadn’t taken them far. She grumbled about the group size a bit more afterward but there was nothing more she could do. The Gippie’s handled the portals fairly well, but she hadn’t been to Goshnia for some time and familiarity with the intended destination was one part of the process apparently. The weather was improving at least and the soggy grass was drying up, allowing their mounts to travel faster than previously.

Gryff had at least shut up his complaining about the journey, though he still seemed far from happy. Robin had begun singing crude travel songs, which Jano enjoyed but wasn’t sure on the etiquette on joining in. He’d even began to pick up on some of the lyrics to a few of them. Her particular favourite was ‘The Lazy Ruler’ which Jano was almost sure it would be inappropriate to join in with. But he would sing along in his head.

‘The lazy ruler in red,

The lazy ruler in red,

Oh,

They rule mainly from their bed.’

It had many verses with many different colours and several intonations of the lazy ruler and what they got into in their spare time. Jano thought it was kind of catchy. She started up a fresh chorus as the sun hit its peak.

“Could you be quiet?” Gryff asked in a defeated tone.

Robin looked at him as though she had suffered a great insult. Then she smiled. A total change of perception. “Why don’t you make me?”

Gryff fired a lazy fireball at her. Robin effortlessly span it away in a cluster of wind. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

“Don’t tempt me.” He said. His Gippie slowed. Jano looked ahead as his began to slow down too. He saw Dariea a little way ahead come to a complete halt. Robin spurred her mount on and Jano did the same, pulling up beside his master.

“What’s the matter?” He asked. Robin looked at him quizzically.

“Something is nearby. Be quiet, everyone lower your mounts as we practiced. Jano, make sure they’re all tied to something sturdy.”

He did as he was told. He found a solid looking trunk, its top half had been broken by something, a storm perhaps, and it lay just off to the side. But the nature of it made it relatively easy to tie the Gippies to it. Hopefully it was nothing serious and his choice of stables wouldn’t be tested too harshly. He felt a pit of anxiety rumbling through his stomach. His spirit tingled. Something wasn’t right. The problem was, he didn’t know what.

He took the reins from Gryff and tied the last of the Gippies up. He started to wander back toward the main group when he saw it. A huge cat like creature, with flaming eyes and a thick green vine for a tail looked just to the side of where Gryff had stood. It was hiding it’s time for just the right moment.

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“Gryff! There’s something behind you.” He whispered as best he could.

Too quiet. Gryff didn’t so much as stir. He shouted the words this time. Dariea reacted the fastest, a bolt of violet flashed past Gryff, missing him by a hands distance. Robin hauled herself in the air, swirling wind at her feet.

“A Topoclaw!” She shouted. “Fuck I didn’t think they would be this close to the road.”

Dariea had darted forward. Jano pulled his scythes from his back. Instinctively, he gathered two Stone Spears and fired them where he had last seen the Topoclaw. He heard an animalistic shriek behind him. He turned just in time to see it leap over him.

“Uh guys. I think there’s two of them.” Gryff was facing an even larger version of the predator. In a moment, he was consumed by flame. A beam of white hot fire burst toward the creature.

“Aim for its tail!” Dariea shouted. “Robin, you help Gryff.”

Jano hoped that meant she was coming for him. He faced down the Topoclaw with another set of Stone Spears. He fired one toward its front paws causing it to rise up, then as its tail flickered into view he aimed his second toward it. It made contact and the beast screamed again and leapt further away. He quickly tried to summon his shield but it only half formed as it was struck by a giant paw.

He was knocked back far enough for Dariea to overtake him. A tendril of shadow wrapped the creature up and hauled it into the air. It wriggled and shifted, but it was no use. Dariea stopped and turned to him.

“Would you care to finish it off with that scythe of yours? A Topoclaw is a perfect creature to drain its spirit. They are very powerful when fully grown. Shame these are just barely past adolescence.”

He looked over his shoulder to see Robin and Gryff working together to create a whirlwind of flame to trap the creature before Gryff destroyed it with a blow.

“Come on, they're fine. We may as well keep one for some meat. Try and do a good job of it.”

He headed over to it and killed it as quickly and humanely as he thought possible. He felt the rush of its spirit flooding into him. As it did so, he felt invincible. He felt like he could take on another by himself. As though the whole world couldn’t hurt him. Then it stopped and his spirit was buzzing with power.

“Process it. Channel it into your spirit. If you wait too long the excess strength will disappear and leave you with nothing.” Jano began to focus. He forced the energy through his spirit. It was the essence of the creature’s own spirit. And it fed him.

“Also, don’t get too big for your boots just yet. An adult one of those things can destroy entire villages if there isn’t a skilled defender handy.”

Dariea grabbed a knife from her gear and headed toward the animal. “Robin, could you check on the Gippie’s? I’m sure they’re still there but just calm them down if they’re excited. I’ll get us some rations for the day ahead. Gryff get a fire going. We might as well eat some of it while it’s fresh.”

Gryff huffed into action and Jano heard Robin comforting the mounts. He channeled the Topoclaw’s essence, trying not to waste it. He didn’t like killing, even when he had to, but if he was going to do it he didn’t want it to be a waste. He could sort of tell the difference now. When he had felt the essence of the Shimmer feeding his spirit it was just a small ripple added to his strength. This had rushed into him. And the animal was vibrant and strong. He could sense a number of things about it and they whirled about in his senses as he processed the last of its essence.

He shuddered to think of someone doing the same to him. Then he tried to put it out of his mind. He made a note: he mustn't let someone kill him with his own scythe.