Cornered 6

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Tommy stepped back. 'Crazy. What do I do? Why me?'

"Relax, Dummy." Dagger said, her eyes still red, here palm bleeding. "Keep those two safe."

With that, she took a rope from Fatty's pack. He didn't resist at all, confused blubbering his only response. Then, she started climbing up.

"I'll throw it down when I can. Take care."

Then, she was gone, hidden by the fog.

Tommy channeled his mana, to the extreme. The fog didn't seem to affect him. No, he too was being effected. He found it hard to focus. Fear crept in. The sight of Dagger's blood lingered, as he was reminded of a sight - cut fingers and blood all over him. He tried to ignore, to think of something else. However, he couldn't avoid it. Thoughts spiraled into a vortex as he recalled everything from yesterday.

The memories were so vivid right now. He had been unable to do anything, just a weakling. Like he had always been. Trying to be strong, to put a front, yet relying on someone else to save him. No, he had to be strong.

He could always leave. Like they left the woman behind. Climbing the rocks wouldn't be hard. No. No, these guys had been good to him, saved him. They could have left him multiple times, but they didn't. He already thought of them as friends.

No, it was his turn. He spread his mana over himself. The confusion lessened. He wouldn't be able to do this for long, the deep exhaustion would eventually come. But he could try extending the protection over them for a little time.

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He tried. Trying to impart his mana to them. That didn't work. It was like he was in a bubble. He trying to wrap them in it, the mana stuck to him. He tried to pour it out, but it would slip off. He thought of throwing it, but then thought better of it, reminded of the explosion.

"Mage, what's happening."

It was the Fatty. The fog had gotten so thick that he had to hold onto the two to not lose sight. It appeared something had worked, but he had no idea what. Fatty was normal for the moment, so he said,

"We are stuck in the fog but don't worry. Dagger's gone up. She'll throw a rope and we can follow."

"Is this Mana Fog? We are so screwed."

"I know man."

"You know, I can't decide if you are good or bad luck." He laughed.

"Screw you Fatty."

"Hah. You finally call be Fatty. Screw you too, Dummy", Fatty said, jovial and uncharacteristically happy. The smile turned into a deep laugh, it continued, the mirth muffled by the fog.

Tommy kept trying, getting some semblance of response for each of them a couple more times. He wasn't sure if he was doing it, or if they were adapting to the fog, but the responses got more frequent.

That's when something hit him in the back, a serpentine thing had smacked him.

"Ah!"