Merryn Followed the street as it lead to a good-sized town square decorated in marble that flowed center into a simple circle-shaped pattern extending to the north and beyond. A plaque on the left read: Magna center. Surrounded by a series of other buildings and assorted shops. Some people jumped a little when she moved too close.

The people here bustled about busy with their work while others walked about the square in a hurry. The men’s cheerless chatter about how unusually cold it was, something about a magistrate and if this shipments of wheat would arrive soon. They cleaned a dirty sandstone relief of Olenus riding a horse and holding a limp woman. She tapped her fingers on an elbow. I don’t like it here much. Still, maybe this place has a harbor.

Making her way further in several small temples were placed between the market buildings hazed by a bouquet of spicy incense.

How odd they didn’t even reach to houses rooftops, such a travesty. Even the columns on them were stunted, the gods deserved better and must be insulted with such piddly temples. It’s amazing the city still stood.

Merryn hastened ahead over to a small fountain where several small stone benches were and sat, facing the way she came the churches steeples stood above the homes and buildings. So exhausting, this isn’t a town but a small city, almost like they tried to hide this fact. Opening her pouch she shook it until smooth cold coins and one tiny opal bumped her fingers, she took them. Yes, should be enough. The neck wound smarted and leaked every time she moved. It should've been healed by now. Need to buy a scarf or maybe a veil and cover this.

She stretched and searched for any shops selling scarfs. So far just a few multi-colored waist sashes. No scarfs. A while later she found the inn nothing special much like the rest she’d seen to this day, except for a long winding stairwell near the back by the booths. Inside a tiny blond barmaid took her to an empty booth.

“The Inn keep is busy today so I’ll be taking your orders, lady.” She trembled while curtsying and quickly scampered off through a door near the booth before coming back out with a bowl of buttered bread and a large ale. She set them both down with a thump. She darted a look to the entrance and back to Merryn. Everyone’s so nervous here.

She looked at the food and the girl and ground her jaw. Very rude. “Can’t I take an order?” The bread looked alright. She rubbed her neck but stopped when touching the cut it was still tender.

“This is it we be busy today.” The barmaid lowered her head as if a crack in the floorboards was more interesting. “Please, leave the coins on the table when you leave.” She wrung her hands and ran upstairs. Such a flighty type.

This whole town was strange. She took a sip, then almost slammed it. “What if I’m scaring them?” Have to try being kinder.

A somewhat familiar man came from the second floor, halfway down he locked eyes with her momentarily before continuing to gallantly walk ahead. His warm brown thin eyes held an attractive point where they met his high olive tinted cheeks, his thick shiny black hair pulled up in a high and tight strict ponytail. A sword on each side of his hips, one was longer and thinner while the other much shorter.

If it’s he then he’s more reserved then last time, and kind of grumpy — I’m overthinking this. She clutched the mug in her hand watching a moment longer. I’m glad he got away, Maxwell sometimes will lash out.

He sat at the table across from her in the middle of the room with a deep-set scowl.

She watched him over the lip of the mug while taking a sip. He didn’t fit in with the rest here, the gear was far too mismatched. Have seen him before. She attended to her bread, continuing to check the entrance, stairs, and windows.

The barmaid came through the entrance dusting off her dress, dropped the food and drink at his table, skipped the curtsy altogether, and ran back upstairs.

His scowl deepened, he took the curved sword out of the sheath and placed it on the table beside the drink then ate and drank in silence.

She finished the bread and nursed the ale. It’s been so long that even this cheap stuff tasted lovely. However, nothing would ever replace the wonders of a dwarven made beer. A thickness in the air hung heavy pressing down like the start of a storm. She watched several shadows pass by the tiny left side window. More people running around.

Two people arguing upstairs. “Do it now!” A man’s voice boomed.

The man at the table put his drink down while watching the stairwell he placed his hand near the weapon.

Three more sips, then the door, then leave this place. A thought continued bugging and buzzing around. Why bother helping humans all it ever brought was sorrow. The kind of luck that came her way was the worst. Besides a man this handsome tended to pull trouble to them, they stuck out too much.

The barmaid came down again with insanely huge doe eyes. She was crying and her lids puffy. That jerk made her cry! Well, if she asks I’ll help but she seems alright otherwise, I don’t know what’s going on so don’t want to make things worse.

The barmaid sniffed and took the bowl and mug away.

Merryn touched her arm. “Miss?”

The barmaid flinched.

Hope she doesn’t get too angry at me. “If you — “

“No. Please, leave.” She took the dishes and went into the kitchen. Yup, I have to stay out of it.

She can handle it. She left and as she was about to step outside, the ground shook and rumbled. The few people outside ran through the streets and hid in the houses slamming the doors.

She stuck her neck out the doorway checking the area. There. A shady spot between two houses a short distance away, it was a place to call him without being seen. People didn’t react too well to Kage’s appearance. Over in between the buildings, she checked to see if the man or any other had seen her. Should be all right, it was getting darker so that would help.

“Feared Kage, wrap the shadows tight with a kiss of the night.” She whispered.

He came through a broken clay pot, his spirit as transparent as ever. He touched her hand, triggering the spell of hidden, with its coolness covering her body she shrunk back into the shadows of the buildings biding her time.

“Beware the effects are shorter this time and the exhaustion slightly longer.” His voice faded as he left.

A giant mass of brown fur hulked above the buildings it cast a shadow over the square. She gaped tilting her head following its contour, her breaths became shallow and quickened — she shrank lower backing away further between the buildings.

Merryn pulled the daggers out, but a tremor built up in her hands making her drop them they rattled on the hard tiles.

The creature and old man turned her way and promptly tripped over his own feet, he fell face first sliding right next to her. “It’s back again!” That’s never a good thing to hear. I knew this was the wrong town even though it’s by the coastline it doesn’t even have a port! My luck this week, it’s zero. Nor any birds or gulls… maybe the monster ate them. Monsters it has monsters I’m jumping for joy here. Only monsters are referred to as it.

The creature squeezed a huge paw between the buildings swiping at him. The sun broke through the clouds bathing her in light breaking the spell. The creature clawed the buildings apart facing into the sunlight, little round furry ears and familiar muzzle filled with teeth, it stared right at her.

It’s huge. A huge bear. She nearly chewed her lip off before stopping. Stay, hide or death wish.

The old man curled up into a ball whimpering so hard snot bubbles formed on his nose.

Death wish it is then. Snatching his arm she dragged him while running away. Going to die. Going to die.

The click-clack of claws behind her. This is probably a mistake. The bear had already closed the distance, any closer and it's breaths would warm the back back of my neck.

The bear roared while chasing them spewing spittle on her hair.

Her body tried to lock up with effort her feet moved away. Her thoughts turned to mush. Hide. Must hide! Bursting through the square she took a turn back to the inn and smacked into the man from before.

The old man flew into the air, crashed through the entrance way, and tumbled on top of a table then smashed and broke it crashing to the floor. Oh goddess—is he? She wheezed laying still waiting for her screaming body to calm down. The almost healed wound on her side twinged. She hissed.

The poor old man managed to crawl inside and leaned against the wall on the floor.

The bear stuck its nose through the opening sniffing.

Go away. Go away!

“Where did you go? Co — “ the swordsman yelled an inaudible string of gibberish.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

A thud. followed by the clank of sword sheaths hitting pavement.

"Creator of all, this is bad!"

The bear pulled its head out growling as it smacked the tall man. It lumbered off into the city.

Easy now… she flattened against the wall next to the doorway, beyond the frame back out there the man’s hands twitched.

Can’t just leave him. Outside she checked around. It was gnawing on some meat at a large street stall.

Huh. It wasn’t trying to eat them. She kept low to the ground while padding over to him. One more step. Bending over, she squinted focusing her vision. He wasn’t hurt too badly; a few scratches. Oh! He’s the swordsman from the inn. Is he a swordsman? The armor is softer than I’ve ever seen before; it’s quilted maybie?

Grunting she yanked and pulled on his arms dragging him away toward the inn. He’s as heavy as a lead brick. Sweat dripped from the sides of her face and off her chin. Should be able to toss him on a shoulder like a sack of berries. A series of yanks and pulls later she dropped his legs. She leaned on the opening pulling in tight breaths.

The old man mimed a clapping motion and gave a quick smile.

At least he’s alright.

“Wake up.” Merryn shook his shoulders.

He groaned.

She smacked his cheek.

“Blast it all, wake up!”

Yanking at his arm hard, she pulled him into a seated position.

He snapped awake and caught her wrist. “Quit it!” His brows converged like they’d run off the tip of his nose.

The gigantic bear flitted from one building to the next eating scraps then it bent down to sit on a small shrine. A few people by it ran screaming. The bear sat and crushed the shrine to rubble, a cloud of dust puffed up hiding the buildings. More people panicked and took off, mothers scooped up children playing in the streets others ran out of sight.

The dust cleared and the bear rose again, its nose twitching, as it sniffed. She moved back to get out of its path, gripping the daggers tight so they wouldn’t get dropped again. Can’t afford to lose them now, not with that eating machine here. I’m insane, that must be the only reason to even be this close to it.

The man armed with the swords looked at her as if expecting something.

“Help me. If we waste time people will die.” He drew the long sword out in a fluid arc pointing it at the bear.

It ignored him breaking into a large window and pawed at something inside.

Should just leave, can live with more guilt. Maybe. “And, your name is?” Her heart still thudding in her chest she paused, let her hands lower a bit and focused on slowing it, while keeping the bear in her sightline.

He nodded his head just a touch. “Parcival.” He tilted his chin toward the bear.

“Great. Try not to get eaten,” she said. At this point, he was less worrying at this point than the beast. She sighed. Helping humans never worked out well. But, I guess they aren’t all the same. Besides dad’s one too, quit acting like a fossil.

She gripped the handles even tighter focusing on the sensation while inching nearer to the beast. Can’t act like prey, push harder.

Parcival closed the distance, then made hopefully ‘follow’ motion with his hands, it was different here, need to stash that way and remember it.

He must be mad to actually fight it. Really don’t want to do this. Merryn padded behind weighing each footstep stopping beside him.

The bear approached a two-story hose with bold white and gold carvings of the Elaema on the walls and several other gods gracing the sides of the entrance-way. It stuck its face into an open window. A frantic woman inside screamed, opened the door, and ran out into the street. It pulled its head out and crunched into her arm. Blood squirted in a spray and splattered on the building wall, it soaked her golden toga along with the buildings surrounding her to a bright dripping mess. Don’t think about it. It's just a mess. Don’t. Look away. It tossed the unfortunate woman to the side, where her body rolled over and smacked on a large barrel.

She shuttered. Wetness blurred her eyes, she rubbed each one at a time keeping track on the bear. That poor miserable woman. “Couldn’t even do anything…” Hiding now was tempting, but it didn’t sit right.

Its fangs dripped vivid blood — the color of fresh mashed chilis — into a large pool under its mouth. The woman shuttered now torpid.

She died! Why is every animal or monster around here so hostile? Merryn pushed her feet into the earth building up tension, held both blades flat together. Whispering, “Merge.” The daggers combined into a short sword. Ten seconds.

A white flash of fur streaked through the buildings from the left, it bounded toward the bear while running forward with shining silver impaling the bear’s paw. Han pushed his weapon in further twisting it.

The bear roared and slashed at him.

Han bounded out of the way while slashing up the bear’s arm, he ran around it and shot behind ignoring the attacks.

It growled spun around following him with a snapping of jaws.

Merryn quickly danced away, then ran around its back. Nine seconds.

Han stopped bending over the body of the woman in the golden toga, he leaned over with placing his head on her chest.

Eight seconds. Glad he’s helping.

It lunged behind Han its claws aiming for the back of his head.

Maybe she wasn’t dead. “Ugly beasty!” She bellowed this deep from her chest. Let this work. “Hey, stupid honey-licker!” She stomped her feet and clanged her daggers together. Six.

The lump of fur looked over its shoulder, huffed, and lumbered back her way beady little eyes glittering.

Joy. Five.

Merryn’s brain and body didn’t agree yet she ran over close enough to the bear’s backside that body heat warmed her face. She jabbed both daggers into its rib cage. “The dark gods curse you!” Ripping them out she hopped back. Four?

The bear’s face contorted at a sharp angle while its furry brows became sharper folding down over its eyes, as it turned unhinging its jaw wider than a pit of spikes, with saliva dripping between its demonic fangs.

“Well aren’t you handsome.” Ick. Not a normal bear, some sort of abomination...

Parcival caught up to her and stopped cold as he took in the sight, his face paled.

Impressive. The daggers separated, and she juggled them a little, and regripped them.

Han picked up the woman, practically bounced away back toward the church.

So glad he got her.

It moved again drawing her attention.

The bear continued to morph its bones cracking and moving into new laces elongating it was hard to even guess at its forum now. It just was. A moment later it finished all that was left originally was its still small round ears.

That. Is. Not. A bear.

Han bounded back running on all fours and leaping at it, he pulled out a folded object, that sprung open into a thin odd sword, he chased the bear mid air pushed off of it with his feet, somersaulted and landing beside her.

She brandished her daggers above her head jumping at it, a burning lump in her throat as she screamed. “Die!”

It dodged away lunging at Han.

She tried to shield him by getting in the way, but it slashed his chest before she could even move. It’s way too fast.

He hissed running over to her clutching his chest. “I urge you, help us!” His whiskers quivered. His eyes held a fine line of tears to them, threading to shake loose from a light body tremor.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do.” She resisted a compulsion to pat his head as he was a man after all… well, a fluffy man-beast.

The thing gurgled and whipped its grotesque paw at Parcival a claw cutting above the right eye. He poked at the paw enough for it to whine and pull away.

“I heard everything, what say we join up for now?”

She nodded. “All at once, got it?”

####

Maybe an hour or so later the bear abomination finally collapsed its entrails spewing out. The stink thickened the air, she pushed back an urge to vomit. The people came out of their houses and several even ran up to kick the corpse. A moment later it burst into flames. Everyone backed away, the smell of wretched burning flesh thick in the air it soon became a soldering pile of ash.

Several came over and a little lamb of a child hugged her leg, a woman came over from behind the ash pile. “Joarke!” She ran over, wringing her hands. “Sorry about this.”

She pat his head a little too hard and pried him off handing him to his mother.

A gaunt man with bandages wrapped around his chest and arms, slowly weaved through the buildings from the approximate area of the church. Though stricken his shoulders and back were straight, his head held high and his grey eyes even this far away were bright and sharp. Bold white and gold carvings of Elaema were embroidered on the edges of his pants.

Several people went over to him. The woman from the flower shop walked alongside him. “Magistrate you shouldn’t be up.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine.”

He stepped over. “Han told me everything, thank you all for saving my daughter.”

Parcival placed his hands on legs and bowed, straightened then wiped the blood away that dripped into his eyes. “Glad to be of help.” He then fell face first his sheathed swords clattering.

Merryn startled for an instant, before bending down by him. Help him? Leave him?

Han went over tugging on the Magistrate’s pants leg. “If you’re well enough to be out of bed then help carry him back to my place.” He looked at her. “You too.”

Merryn grumbled. “Sure.” She picked him up by his feet and the Magistrate by under his shoulders. So heavy. Really should take the armor off. He’s a pretty tough human, and interesting. I wonder what else he can do?

####

Soon they were back at the church again, Han went ahead and opened the doors. Parcival was laid on a cot in a backroom.

“I made some tea, help yourself.” Han pointed at a little table near the doorway.

She shook her head. “A bed?” A weight like a lead brick pulled on her body, making her knees wobble.

Han took her back to the same room as before.

“Thanks much.” She laid her weapons near the bed then drove under the soft blanket.

— — At this time this still a semi edited draft, I realized I was missing something big to do with the plot, that’s going to send a wave of change coursing through it. (I love these kind of edits, they're fun.) So give me some time as, I need to do a revision on the other chapters I have so far. (I haven’t posted them yet as they need a couple of edits. All typos will fall! Bwahahaha. *cough sputter*)