Violet shook, standing at the top of the stairs leading down into the station's basement. The roar of an unknown beast reverberated through the halls, and it lingered in her bones. Her team was out of sight now, still tending the fire they’d created. Their sudden panicked voices carried toward her, heard over the crackling of a distant fire.

“What was that?!”

“Is there something else here?”

“Where’s Violet?”

“Violet!”

She wanted to call out to them, but she felt stuck. Some mix of fear and curiosity shackled her legs, binding her where she stood, and a weight pushed against her chest. It was as if the beast in the basement had chased all the air out of her lungs with the force of its roar.

She stood at the top of the stairs, enthralled. A mouse tail flickered in and out of view at the bottom, its owner just past the bottom step. Faint shadows played against the wall in a dim, almost mystical light. In shifting shades of blue and green, the weak light cast silhouettes of the basement denizens, clueing her into the actors of the scene.

There were the few mice that had managed to throw off the hold of her Skill, excitedly and furiously gesturing in the dark. She heard their frantic squeaks from where she stood. They were gesturing to–

A shadow crossed the light. It was large, dwarfing the mice. The shadow covered most of the light, and she no longer had a view of what was going on. As she heard the soft, thudding impacts of whatever was down there, she shook herself. I don’t have the time to just sit here waiting for it.

“Guys, there’s something in the basement!” She called out, taking a few steps back towards where the group was. She could hear the others making their way to her.

A sharp, short growl drifted up the basement stairs. Violet started to run, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end.

She didn’t have time to go far. With a few bounding impacts, the beast emerged from the basement. She turned just in time to see a mossy-green tiger, covered with delicate flowers in bloom peeking out of its pelt. It had startlingly white teeth and claws, both extended toward her as it flew through the air at her.

She had a moment of anger and regret as the predator approached. Those stupid mice didn’t tell me about this.

At the last moment, Grant slid between her and the tiger, with his shield up. The claws made contact with his final ‘reflect’ enchantment, and the cardboard addition lit up. In a wave of force, the tiger was tossed back, letting out a low, disgruntled roar.

The enchantment wasn’t able to redirect all the force, and Grant was pushed back into Violet. The two fell to the ground as the rest of their party thundered down the halls, forming up around them.

The tiger paced, eyeing the newcomers. It limped lightly on one of its front paws, but seemed otherwise unharmed by the blast of reflected force.

Grant got back up with a groan, shield out as he sized up the new threat. Without taking his eye off the tiger, he addressed Violet. “Are you hurt?”

She stood shakily and checked herself over. “No, I’m okay!”

Ramy moved in front of her, taking a place on the front line. He jerked his chin at the beast. “This came from the basement?”

Violet nodded. “Yeah. I think… I think some of the mice called it up.”

He glanced back, eyebrow quirked curiously. “What, like they called up security? You think they’re working together?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Maybe, I– Watch out!” She shouted as the tiger leaped forward again, though not as forcefully. It was a short leap, not even bringing it in striking range. The party members on the front line, Grant and Ramy, flinched, getting into a defensive posture. The beast backed up, circling again. Watching them. Gauging them.

One of the examiners called out from the back row. “Be careful. This one looks intelligent, and strong. We’ll step in if we need to.”

“What, you think it’s testing us?” Kevin asked, glancing back at the Vanguard members.

They nodded.

He frowned. “Well, two can play at that game.” He loaded up his slingshot, taking aim at the large beast. Its eyes flicked over to him, noting the movement. At this distance, the metal ball was barely in the air before they heard a meaty thunk. The tiger let out a hissing growl, and the steel ball hit the ground, a crisp clacking resounding as it bounced along the concrete floor.

Frank glanced at the others, holding his little paper dagger in front of him. “Uhh, is it just me or has this thing just totally eaten two of our attacks without much trouble?”

Ramy grunted. “I don’t think my fists would do much, and I don’t like the idea of getting too close. Maybe we just need to try something else. A little fire?” He asked, turning to Mai.

She shook her head. “I’ve got one left. With all the plants on it, it does look like it would be effective, but we might need it.”

“I might be able to hit it’s eyes,” Kevin said, raising his slingshot again.

The tiger hissed, and surged forward.

Grant raised his shield, moving to cover the group. Reaching out, the beast took a contemptuous swipe at him.

With that one blow, Grant staggered, struggling to keep on his feet.

With a victorious, almost playful growl, it moved in to swipe again. He managed to get the shield in the way, but he was taken to the ground.

“Grant!”

Ramy and Frank came in from the sides, trying to get it off him. Ramy slammed his wrapped fists into its side, and it grunted in pain. Frank sliced at it with his dagger, drawing lines of blood across it. Instead of the bright red they were used to at this point, a deep, viscous purple seeped through the wounds.

It thrashed against them, knocking them aside and jumping back.

Grant stumbled to his feet with his friends' help. His shield, being an enchanted lid off a dumpster, now had a deep gouge rent through it.

The beast didn’t let up, lunging forward with claws extended to grab Frank. He screamed out as those claws pierced him, hooking into him. With ease, the tiger pulled him away from the group.

Frank pulled his paper dagger to cut the beast and distract it, but it quickly slammed him to the ground when it noticed the weapon in his hand, knocking it from his grip.

As it casually pulled him, he felt like a toy in the grip of an over-large cat.

Suddenly there was a thunderclap of noise, and his world shook. The tiger let him go, and Frank tumbled to the ground. Dazed and confused, he looked around.

The tiger was on the ground, thrown from the sudden impact. Standing above it was–

When did the examiner get there?

One of the Vanguard was standing beside the beast, panting in exertion, rubbing her shoulder where she’d rammed into it. Glancing back at where his party was clustered, he could see a spot where the concrete had been shattered. The other examiner was rushing up, giving quick orders to the group.

“It’s time to go! Mai, get your molotov ready!”

The tiger, only temporarily stunned, got back to its feet as Frank dashed back to the group. The examiner that had saved him turned to head back as well, helped along by her comrade. With a jerk of his hand, he signalled to Mai.

A spinning bottle sailed through the air, splashing fire across the beast. It screamed as the fire quickly caught on its body, spreading through its pelt and bursting the flowers along its back. For the first time in the fight, it truly seemed in pain.

It also seemed angry.

The group ran, chased by the roars of the damaged beast. Violet glanced back once, as they neared the main door, and saw a few mice doing their best to put the flame out.

With mixed emotions, their exam ended and they headed back to the parking lot they’d started the day in.