By the time camps had been properly set, Daisy roused those near her. "Go home." She pointed away. "Go. You lost."

The remnants of the army they had defeated stared back at her, but did little to resist her. "We can really just go?" asked one confused man. "Just like that?"

Daisy glared at him for even asking. "Yes, now get out of here."

Cedric was watching from the side. "Why are you letting them go?"

"I don't know." She threw up a hand. "I certainly don't want to abuse them. We won, that was the goal." She lashed her tail for lack of throwing an arm in her fitful pacing. She could already see some people getting up to it. A nearby soldier had been captured and stripped. Another was being dragged away. Daisy growled softly as she stomped her foot down.

"Hey!" Daisy looked up to see one of her own leaders marching towards her. "You, the mouse." She was waving a finger at Daisy with a frown. "Why are you treating them?"

"So what?" Daisy looked over at her. "I never hurt my enemies for fun or spite."

The woman frowned at this. "We're at war, you can't just—" She trailed off with a grunt. "For being effective, you're soft." She took a slow breath. "Look, every one of theirs you get back on their feet is going to come crashing back on us in a few days. Your mercy is making the rest of your friends' lives more miserable. Is that what you want?"

Daisy frowned, glaring up at her. "And you?"

"I know what I want." The woman lifted her chin. "I'm going to make sure they can't fight again for some time."

Daisy's hands fell limply at her sides. "Isn't there an option that doesn't involve hurting people when they're already down?"

She smiled. "Yes. Kill them."

Daisy frowned and looked away from her. "No. Look, the idea is for them not to be able to attack us, right?"

"Yes." She shrugged. "But we can't do that and not mistreat them. Unless you want to kill them. Which would also make sure they can't hurt us anymore."

"Um, alright, so if I can take the fight out of them without killing them, that'd be fine, right?" Daisy smiled, a thought clearly coming to her.

The leader looked uncertain, then shrugged. "Sure. But don't get in the way." The woman walked away, muttering something about otherworlders under her breath.

Daisy looked back towards Cedric. "Get Selena and bring back as many injured that are lingering around the battlefield. As many as you can."

Cedric nodded and darted off. Selena soon ran past with him to start bringing people in.

Daisy focused on her own body and tried to imagine the changes she wanted. When she felt ready, the status showing the proper result, she turned to find Cedric and Selena working, each grabbing one side of a nearly unconscious soldier towards her.

Daisy smiled softly. "Here we go." She crouched beside one as they were put down. "This will be awkward, but change happens in this world. It's not even that unusual." She fed each milk as they came, not directly from the tap, but as quickly as she could. Each shrank quickly, becoming little more than a small furry animal.

Each was fully restored in health, but with no voice or hands, there was little they could do but run off, confused. "Should wear off, they just need to keep themselves safe."

Cedric rubbed behind his head. "Will that be easy, in those forms?"

Daisy laughed at that. "Anyone that bothers those cute little things will regret it. They're afraid, but, cornered, they can and will exact a terrible revenge. They should be fine." She looked over the many she had changed.

Selena nodded as she hugged Daisy. "Oh! What if someone captures them?" She poked at her motherly partner's side gently. "You know, to keep them."

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Daisy shook her head at the idea. "That'd be cornering. They're likely to tear free, and maybe into the one doing the capturing if they're too close. This is much safer for them than the tender mercies of our army." She grumbled softly.

Cedric shrugged. "I like the idea you came up with." He held up his staff as he stood up taller. "It means we win and nobody else gets hurt. We can't save all of them, but some is better than none."

Daisy nodded at that. "Thanks." She stood fully, taking a breath as she did. "So, What did they make for dinner? I should get something in me after all that."

Selena laughed at that. "It's just rations, you know. It's never good."

She rubbed her head gently. "Still better than going hungry." She looked over towards Cedric. "Thanks, both of you." She put an arm around either, walking back towards the campsite. "You were both amazing backup. Couldn't have done it alone. We really are a team."

Cedric smiled at this. "Thanks!" He gave Selena a quick kiss. "I'm glad you're with us."

***

The next morning, the army was on the move. According to gossip, they were headed directly for Lioral to settle the war in a firm and decisive fashion. The Lioral army would be scattered and their leader dealt with before the month was up.

Daisy looked around the other soldiers. Her own side were laughing, talking, or flirting. The mood was positive, cheerful even. She could see more than one person who showed clear signs of having had their way with some captured enemy soldier. She took some comfort in the fact that she at least spared those under her care that humiliation.

In the late afternoon, legs mildly sore from marching, rain began, but it was not water. One arrow became a dozen, then hundreds. All burning with fire as they came crashing down into the ranks.

Daisy was struck in the back of the leg. The flames were quickly put out. She healed herself and rose again. She hefted her shield and charged towards the source. Selena and Cedric were right there with her, which she was grateful for. "All's fair," she grumbled, willing herself to put aside her ire at being attacked without warning. She saw more of them coming. The enemy had been lying in wait for them to come closer.

The enemy rushed forward to meet them. Daisy found her hammer was crushing people who only moments ago had been flinging fiery arrows at her. She brought her hammer down just to hesitate, the young combatant shivering with obvious and complete terror. "Damn!" She could see the others weren't pulling any punches, but she couldn't bring herself to kill this young man.

He was barely older than Michelle. How many like him were here, fighting because they had been told to, not because it was what they wanted? She grabbed the young one and threw him to the ground. "You are mine now. Stay in my shadow." She threw herself at a larger enemy, trusting that little one would follow her.

She bashed her way through the attackers. They didn't stop coming. By the time the fighting had ceased, the army was exhausted and had to set camp right where they were. The army had been defeated. She looked around and started. The child was there, and had friends. "When were there six of you?!"

They were huddled together behind a tree. "We're yours," said the young boy. "They tried to attack from behind, but we're yours!"

She grunted softly, then forced herself to smile at them. "You'll all have to be changed too. Come here, I won't hurt you." She slung her heavy hammer and beckoned the children closer. Three were human, the other half, not. All were worthy of protection in her eyes.

The leader marched up towards Daisy. "I'm going to ask this just once." She folded her arms, glaring down at her. "What are those?"

Daisy rose, putting herself between them and the leader. "They're mine. Just as anyone else here is claiming what they want. Is there a problem with that?"

"You can't just claim—" The leader grunted softly. "Fine. They're yours." She rubbed her face and groaned. "I am so tired."

Daisy let out a breath of relief. Whirling in the soft dirt, she faced the children to find Cedric and Selena already among them, chatting. She smiled at the sight, but her eyes flicked to a new number. Her family number had hopped up. "Hey, not so fast." She batted at the number, but it was just a number, uncaring of her annoyance. "Dang it."

The children came forward to hug Daisy, accepting her as their savior. Daisy wanted to send them off, but the will was faltering. "Where are your parents?"

They shrugged. A few pointed into the distance. "Gone."

Daisy frowned, looking around. She saw another child walking through the battlefield in a dazed panic, clutching a ragged bear. "They called me a paladin. Guess I get to live up to that name. I have a job for you." She gently pet the top of each child. "Find everyone that looks as scared as you were before you ran into me. Gather them up and bring them to me. We're going to help them."