Slimantha, along with Samuel and Rose, stepped into the blackened grove. It was night, and the smell of smoke hung in the air. The grove’s trees were charred, and blotches of grass were too. Bill, a man made of flame, stood in the grove, facing one of the charred trees. He reached his right hand out and touched the tree’s charred bark. The bark crackled and popped, further charring. Little red embers drifted up.

“Can you not do that?” Slimantha said. She stepped forward, her brown eyes on Bill the Flame Spirit. A patch of charred grass was at her right.

Bill drew his hand away from the tree. His flaming eyes went to Slimantha. “No,” he said. He turned to another charred tree and further charred that tree too.

“Those poor trees!” Rose said, her pink eyes wide. She wore a look of horror.

Slimantha glanced at Rose and then returned her brown eyes to Bill. The wind gusted, blowing the long locks of her brown hair. The leaves of the charred trees rustled. Embers scattered. She reached her left hand into her left pocket and pulled something out, something with bread and cheese. That’s right. She pulled a cheese sandwich out.

“Will you stop for a cheese sandwich?” Slimantha asked, holding the offered sandwich out.

Bill’s eyes went to the sandwich. He cocked a flaming eyebrow, his right flaming eyebrow. “No,” he said. Guess he wasn’t hungry for cheese sandwich.

Slimantha took a bite of cheese sandwich. She chewed and then swallowed. Her lips formed a cute smile. Her eyes went to Samuel. “Want a bite?” she asked.

“I am good,” Samuel turned her down. His blue eyes followed the sandwich to Slimantha’s lips as she took another bite. “Why do you even have that sandwich?”

“Why?” Slimantha looked at the partially eaten sandwich. Her eyes went back to Samuel. “Isn’t it obvious? This is my emergency sandwich.” She took another bite and then stuffed the sandwich back into her left pocket. She chewed and then swallowed.

“Well, if it is alright with everyone, I’m going to go back to scorching me some trees now,” Bill said. Before he could turn to one of the already charred trees though, a large bird cawed as it swooshed right in front of him. “What’s this?” The bird had left something, something metallic and pointy, at his feet. He bent down and picked the object up. “A sword?! Cool!” He looked at Slimantha, Samuel, and Rose. “You know what? I’m going to stop with the tree scorching and head home to play with my new sword.” He held the sword up. “How awesome is this?!”

“It would have been funny if that sword got pilfered by another bird when he held it up,” Slimantha said, her eyes on the sword. “It didn’t though.” She looked at Samuel.

Samuel sported a look of shock, his eyes locked on the sword now held by Bill. “That weapon,” he said. He took a shaky step toward Bill. “You must give me that magic sword.”

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“Magic sword?” Bill said. His flaming eyes looked more closely at the weapon. His eyes then went to Samuel. “Look, punk. I think there has been some sort of misunderstanding here.”

“That magic sword was stolen from me.” Samuel took another step toward Bill. “I must have it back.”

Bill smirked. “Well, punk, too bad for you because I’m not handing it over.” He stuck his flaming tongue out. “If you want it, come take it, punk.” His flaming eyes flashed. Embers swirled around him. “Think you can take it, punk?”

Samuel balled his right fist and then rushed the flame spirit. He closed the gap between them easily and then threw a right-handed punch. The punch did not work. “Ho~~t!” he howled, pulling back. He shook his right hand wildly, pain shooting through it.

Bill just stood there with a dumbstruck expression. For a moment, he just watched Samuel hop around in front of him. Then he laughed a rumbling hearty laugh. “Are you a moron?!” he said. “I am made of flame! What did you think would happen?!”

Slimantha pouted, puffing her cheeks out. Her brown eyes were dead set on Bill, who was still laughing at Samuel. She huffed and started walking toward the flame spirit. The grass crushed beneath her feet. As she walked, she balled her right fist, viscous blue materializing around it. Bill’s gaze met hers, and the flame spirit stopped laughing. His expression shifted to one of horror.

“No bulli the hero!” Slimantha said. She threw a punch and knocked Bill out cold. The viscous blue around her right hand vanished. Bill lay unconscious upon the forest floor, the grass beneath him charred. A few red embers drifted up from his unconscious form.

Samuel stepped up, shaking his right hand a few more times. “He is not dead, is he?” he asked.

“He’ll be fine,” Slimantha said. “He just needs to sleep it off.” She bent over and snatched the sword off a patch of slightly charred grass. “Here you go.” She cheerfully handed the sword over to Samuel. “Rather lucky that bird brought your sword back.”

“It certainly is rather lucky.” Samuel’s blue eyes went to the sword he now held. Though the sword did have a metallic gray blade and brown hilt, something seemed off with it. His smile melted away, and a drop of sweat rolled down his right cheek. “Actually, this is a different sword.” He sighed but then slid it into his sword sheath. “Well, at least it fits my sheath.”

Slimantha pulled her emergency cheese sandwich back out and took a bite. She chewed. Her brown eyes went to the sheathed sword at Samuel’s left hip. She swallowed and then glanced away. She returned her emergency sandwich to her left pocket. She then looked at Samuel, her brown eyes serious. “I got it. The birds must be preparing to go to war.”

Samuel blinked. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Then why do they want the swords?” Slimantha said. “Think, Samuel. Think. It all makes sense now.” She clenched her right fist. “They are obviously preparing to go to war, but who are they going to war with?” She shifted her weight onto her right leg.

Samuel sighed. “A few birds snatching swords does not necessarily mean the birds are preparing to go to war.” His blue eyes met Slimantha’s brown momentarily, and a small blush formed on his face. He looked away from the tan-skinned woman.

“You OK?” Slimantha said. “You look like you might be getting sick.”

“I am fine,” Samuel said. “Let’s go to that Bleakfyre you mentioned earlier.”

Slimantha gave a happy nod and turned to Rose. “You coming?”

“Sure,” Rose said. She looked at Samuel and fluttered her pink eyes. “Let’s head to Bleakfyre.”