Merlynn, Gloria, and Abbey walked briskly in a triangular pattern with Merlynn at the lead. The sun cast slim warmth on them as it crawled along the windswept buildings giving them some sense of ease however, Merlynn still felt chilled to the bone with her lack of attire. She pulled her coat tightly around her trying to trap what semblance of body heat she could. “Where we headed?” Abbey finally asked after several minutes of pensive silence from being on high alert. “The Addled Mimic…I need a drink.” Merlynn answered in a low stern voice peering around the corner of the wall they were pressed against. Merlynn raised a cautious silencing hand towards Gloria and Abbey who were also pressed against the wall, albeit with goofy expressions. The alleyway Merlynn peered in seemed almost normal, apparently being unaffected by the husks from earlier or even the stragglers that still roamed. Occasional gunfire could still be heard in the distance along with a few remaining sirens and waning car alarms. “There’s still some husks running around then.” Merlynn thought to herself when she suddenly saw a black blur shuffle quickly into a pile of trash. With a small gesture of her hand Abbey and Gloria fell behind Merlynn as she slowly wrapped around the corner, her staff outstretched in front of her with its top aimed at the suspicious blur.

As they approached Merlynn focused raw will into her staff causing the runes to spark to life burning in a cascade of color along with a humming white glow at its end. They slowly continued their approach when a raspy wail screeched from behind them causing all three to spin fervently, Gloria whipping her pistols out promptly and Abbey lighting her fists up with a golden fire ready to rip any husks asunder. Their attention flooded their surroundings finding no signs of husks anywhere. “Roofs clear.” Gloria spoke drawing her sight from above to in front of her then side to side. “The left’s good too!” Abbey confirmed as she swept her vision from where they came from then to the right. “Right’s clear as well.” She continued. “Careful girls, they may be husks but it could easily be something else, the Flayurian could have brought friends or even pets.” Merlynn noted, her charged staff trained on the lightening path in front of her. All three women then jumped in the air shrieking as a loud clamorous clash of metal banged behind them. They all spun like mad women training their weapons and fists on the blurry trash from before. “Mawe.” Came a rather deep abrupt meow from a large male black cat who was now licking himself on top of a metal trash can lid, his outstretched leg poised.

“Oh, toil and trouble cat!” Merlynn cursed as the three of them eased their weapons. As they approached the cat however, a window a full story above them shattered. They immediately cast their vision and weapons up to see six dark figures drop to the ground like large drops of black ink. The figures splattered one after another congealing to a solid gelatinous dome a few seconds after impact. All six opaque blobs jiggled slightly before shimmering once in unison each revealing a pair of comical eyes that began bouncing slowly up and down. “YOU GUYS ARE SO DANG CUTE!!” Abbey squealed as she broke formation to kneel and scoop up one of the blobs. “Wait Abbey!” Merlynn snapped as she began charging her staff again with her will.

“Aww these cuties couldn’t hurt a thing!” Abbey giggled as she picked up the nearest blob causing its eyes to bounce out of rhythm. The creature felt solid and not sticky like Abbey would have assumed. Despite Merlynn’s warnings the creature remained complacent even letting Abbey pet it and scratch its right eyeball which formed a black eyelid closing it tightly inviting Abby to dig in a little. The creature then began purring like a cat and shimmering turning into literal putty in Abbey’s hands which she manipulated with glee. Merlynn and Gloria both stared stunned and speechless until the remaining blobs began hopping in place turning their bobbing gazes to Abbey and her newfound friend. The blobs then suddenly began grunting and chuffing like a pack of dogs as if angry with their fellow blob. The eyes of the blob in Abbey’s hands slipped through its body and out the end facing the other blobs narrowing its eyelids in anger. Then two thick light blue eyebrows popped up above its narrowed eyes and it let out a roar which the girls thought sounded like the tyrannosaurus rex from the movies. The sheer force of the roar pushed Abbey back a foot and sent the other ocular globs splattering on the nearby wall. The blobs were not finished, however. As soon as the roar stopped the other blobs melded together as they sloshed to the pavement, their eyes fusing together growing with each pair.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The blob that had remained in Abbey’s hands began to panic frantically trying to run away or make itself smaller. “You never cease to amaze me, Abbey. Your kind heart even won over an Eyed Goo.” Merlynn giggled as she stepped beside Abbey reaching an open palm out to calm the writhing Eyed Goo, Abbey was now holding onto with a death grip. She stroked the creatures gelatinous form as it settled rolling its big eyes around to look at her. “Aww there, there little guy it's okay! You are such a cutie!” Merlynn cooed as the Eyed Goo began to purr and rub up against her hand. “LADIES ARE YOU FORGETTING SOMETHING!?” Gloria snapped as she pointed in the direction of the massive Eyed Goo that formed a makeshift maw in the attempt to swallow Merlynn and Abbey whole. “Burst!!!” Merlynn barked as she slammed her staff into the massive Eyed Goo willing her thought and intent through the staff sending a burbling torrent of wind outward popping the Eyed Goo like a balloon splattering the area in a sticky ichor.

The mess of ichor quivered then rapidly congealed into one massive form again. “Toil and trouble these things are annoying.” Gloria scoffed as she holstered her pistols. “Fine, not enough wind for ya? Ancient ones of North, South, and Trade! Hear my call and answer my plea! Come to my aid and render my foe! Sylphid Sisters!” Merlynn chanted as a ring of energy formed around her then shot into the sky in a light green pillar of light. Upon reaching the clouds the light coalesced then scattered as three different colored orbs of light plummeted from the sky to hover around Merlynn. Inside each of the pulsing motes of light was a small girl who looked identical to the next aside from their simple clothing and hair matching the color of the light each resonated with, one red, one blue, and the last yellow.

“Tear away! CYCLONE!” Merlynn shouted pointing an open palm towards the massive Eyed Goo instructing the Sylphid Sisters forward. The motes blinked as if in agreement then darted to the Eye Goo and began rapidly circling it. The sisters spun faster and faster sweeping wind around within their circle forming a towering torrent of wind that scattered the massive Eyed Goo on a molecular level. With the final drop of Eyed Goo scattered the cyclone dissipated and the sisters returned to hover around Merlynn. “Thanks ladies, these are for you.” Merlynn thanked them handing them each a cookie she produced from her coat pocket. The three sisters took the cookies with great appreciation then with a curt bow disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“That never gets old! EVER.” Gloria rolled her eyes as she brushed bits of Eyed Goo off her. “What do you mean Gloria that was epic! I didn’t know you could summon monsters Lynn!” Abbey exclaimed as she squeezed her new Eyed Goo friend in her arms. “They aren’t monsters Abbey, those girls specifically were Elementals, even more specifically they are the element of Wind personified in a way.” Merlynn explained as she headed out onto the main street. “Elementals? Wind personified? I don’t really get it…hey wait… can you summon other, um Elementals?” Abbey asked as she caught up to Merlynn's side matching her pace. “Oh yeah…there's plenty of annoying little buggers she can summon…big ones too.” Gloria spat in disgust as she brought up the rear.

“Wow, I wanna see a big one now!” Abbey bounced in excitement as did the Eyed Goo she carried. “Hehehe well I know a place where you can see plenty ‘big ones' if you know what I mean.” Gloria cackled with a devious smile. “Gloria!” Merlynn scolded Gloria as they all stopped in front of a large building with a sign that read in big bold letters, Addled Mimic, Cards, Comics, and Booze! “Enough questions and dirty tricks. Now momma needs her drink.” Merlynn scoffed as she grabbed the double doors of the shop by the handles opening them wide and stepping in.