"Tyrion, answer me, you little runt!" Amadeo shouts into the wire as they near the square. From behind the stall, Tyrion jumps, speaking as if to no one. "Bloody Hells, lad, you can't just shout in my mind like that."

Amadeo rolls his eyes. "We're getting close." To the wire, he whispers once more. "Listen, we're heading your way. Do you have any gear?"

"Only our own things. We kinda left the room in a rush."

"That's not good. I have my component pouch at least, but Hope...We don't have much choice though. Where are you guys at?"

"East of the square. Look for the overturned fruit stall."

"Understood. We'll be there soon." Pocketing the wire, Amadeo gestures down the street. "Take a right here! Look for a fruit stall!"

Hope nods, turning the corner. "Yep, that's them alright. I'd know that rainbow of color anywhere."

Anna blasts another zombie, sending it toppling over the small mount of corpses the two have made. As she turns to blast again, her eyes widen and she leaps over the stall. "Hope! Amadeo! You're ok!"

Hope stops and sets the wizard down, huffing and puffing as Anna leaps at the two of them, wrapping both in a strong hug. "We were so worried about you guys!"

"We're fine. But what in the Hells happened here?" Amadeo looks around at the carnage as Tyrion moves to them. "We're not certain, but we're pretty sure it was that man. Hamund Dane. We saw something from the window of the room and rushed out here, and...well, you can see the result. Looking good, by the way, Red." He takes a moment to eye their bikini clad companion.

"No time for jokes, Tyrion." Hope clenches her fist, fire in her eyes. "We need to get to the square."

"But what about you? Don't you need a weapon?" Anna readies her rod. Hope sighs and nods. "I'd feel alot better, that's for sure. But we don't exactly have much to choose from. These things carry rusted weapons, and I'm not terribly comfortable taking something into battle that could break on me."

Tyrion pulls a dagger from his boot and holds it out. "Don't lose it. This is my prized possession."

Hope takes it, looking the weapon over curiously. A handle of bone, probably deer, and a blade of fine steel. Notched along the handle are the letters 'F.A.'

"Where'd you get it from?" Hope asks, admiring the craftsmanship. Tyrion just smiles. "My mother made it for me."

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

"Who's F.A., then?"

"Never you mind that. We've got an invasion to blast into oblivion." Tyrion loads the Gust Shot, and the gang follows him toward the square. Hope shudders, trying to calm herself. It can't be him, right? It's been twenty years, surely he'd be dead by now, or somewhere else far from here.

But as they enter the square, her eyes fall on the griffon, now sitting on its haunches. The beast nudges the hand of the man stroking it. "All filled up, aren't you, Pathos?" His words are gentle and soothing as he smiles at the beast, who looks up as the quartet steps up. It squawks, and the man turns to face them.

Those brilliant blue hues fall upon Amadeo first, then Anna and Tyrion, finally settling on Hope. He narrows his eyes for a moment, then blinks in surprise. "Little one, is that you?"

"Hello, Dane." Hope's words come out soft, faint, barely a whisper. She stares at the face of the man, wrinkles and long healed scars covering him.

Dane looks her over. "So Mira restored your arms. I'm not surprised. She was always so sentimental."

"Yeah, they're all better now, no thanks to you."

"Yes, I'm sure you're still upset, but...Is that what you wear into battle?" Dane eyes her outfit, and Hope glares, covering herself. "It was supposed to be my day off!"

"I see. Terribly sorry to ruin your day." He pats the griffon's head. "If you're thinking of fighting me, I would not recommend it. My friends are filling the streets with blood as we speak, and you four are certainly nowhere near ready to face me."

"If we have to, we will." Tyrion aims his crossbow. "Your 'friends' tried to eat me, and I don't take kindly to things trying to eat me." The bolt flies, hitting Dane in the chest with a reverberating 'pang', the bolt splintering on impact. Dane barely seems to notice it, gripping his tunic where the bolt impacted.

"Pathos, find a perch." The beast squawks and takes off, soaring into the air to land atop a building several yards away as Dane tears the tunic off. Beneath it lays a bronze armor that rises and falls with his breathing, seemingly molded to his very skin. He draws the greatsword from his back, gripping it loosely. "It's best if you run while you can."

"I'm not afraid of you anymore." Hope holds the dagger Tyrion gave her tightly in her fist.

"You will be, little one. You will be." A force of dread exhudes from Dane, washing over them like a tidal wave.

Amadeo takes a step back before Tyrion pushes him forward. "Oh no you don't, lad. Not today." The wizard nods and takes a deep breath before standing firm.

Hope shivers, her hands shaking, but she doesn't budge. Anna quivers, holding her rod tightly to her chest. Her breath catches in her throat, her heartbeat quickens, and she shifts in place. To her eyes, unable to look away from this giant of a man, his visage appears to darken, the wicked gleam of a violet flame erupting from his form.

"Come then. Let us see your resolve break like water on rock." Dane flips the sword to its sharpened edge, the blade beginning to glow with a violet hue.

"Everyone be careful. He's not your standard foe." Hope stands firm, resting a hand on Anna's shoulder.

"Yeah, I figured that was the case when he gave orders to a bloody griffon." Tyrion loads another bolt. "Any plans in mind, I'd love to hear em."

"I've got nothing. We may have to just hold him off until the guards or the guild or both get here." Amadeo lights his hands with a flickering flame.

Anna remains silent, shaking in Hope's grip. "H-How do we face something like that?"

"The same way we've faced everything else." Hope takes a deep breath, calming herself enough to stop shivering. "As a team."

The party prepares themselves as Dane hefts the blade high and charges. "Give yourself to Zerak!"