I brace for impact, but it never comes. Instead a whooshing sound comes from overhead and a loud metal clang comes from nearby. I look up and in front of me is none other than Charlie’s dad. He’s holding his axe, though it doesn’t really look like one more like a tall shield attached to a pole… kind of.

“Hey there kiddos. Hope I’m not too late to the party, I had to drop by home to pick up my axe.” He stands proudly with his axe sunk into the stone road, whip firmly lodged underneath.

“Great. Another problem. I wish the Boss had done some recon into who was living here. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with this kind of shit.” The masked rider complains, probably rolling their eyes under there.

“Language.” Charlie’s dad and my mom say sternly at the same time. He lifts his axe up out of the street and lowers himself into a fighting stance. Mom hurls her needle at the rider and it sinks into their arm.

“Fuck! This thing is tiny! Why does it hurt so much?!” They scream, ignoring our parents’ previous warning. The wolf lowers itself and its fur bristles again like before. Then it lets out a thunderous howl, which is immediately responded to by two nearby howls.

“Well that’s bad.” Charlie says, apparently having returned to stand by me.

“Charlie? I thought you were running.”

“I was but then I heard Father and looked back and you weren’t following, so I just kinda… came back.”

“Ah. I suppose I probably should have been running too. So… should we do that now or…”

“Nah I kinda wanna watch this.”

“Okay.”

As we finish speaking two smaller wolves, probably only a few feet taller than me, come running in from a nearby side street. The larger wolf barks something out and the two smaller ones split, charging around it and towards me and Charlie.

“Now should we run?” I ask, getting ready to bolt towards where the center of the town is.

“Yeah, now's good.” Charlie responds as she dashes off, away from the hungry looking monsters that just showed up.

“Kids!” Charlie’s dad cries out as the wolves dodge a wide swing from him. He turns to Mom and calls out, “Venna! Take them back to Melody! She’s back at our house!”

Mom nods and jumps back as the larger wolf takes a swing of their own. She throws her needle ahead of us and begins to fly forwards. On her way past us she reaches out and grabs Charlie by the waist, continuing to rocket forwards.

“Oliver! Try and keep up! I can only carry one of you!” Mom calls back as she hurries forwards, landing and then throwing her needle again.

Okay. Sure. Just out running a couple of wolves. No big deal. I turn back to look and. Oh gods above they’re right behind me, only just a few feet back! I hope this works!

I hold my hand out and will another tentacle to appear. It wraps around me and then throws me through the air. Just as I had hoped it would. Although now that I think about it, I didn’t plan on the whole landing thing…

As if to make a point about looking before you throw yourself, I find myself rapidly falling towards the stone ground. This is probably going to hurt, but I try to pull my head in and land in a roll of some kind. Guess Mom’s lessons on how to avoid injury are really paying off as I manage to, with some difficulty, roll and stumble onto my feet to continue my run.

I can’t believe that worked! I pump my fist in the air as I keep running, now having put a decent distance between me and the jaws of those wolves. I think I’ll only do that if I absolutely need to in the future, or at least until I practice or something. Mom’s now behind me, but only for a little bit as she jumps again through the air with her needle, and looks at me.

“Good job Sweetie! You could use some more practice but nice form nonetheless!” My cheeks flush for a moment with embarrassment. Feels weird to get a compliment on the battlefield, er, while running away from predators. Not really fighting much right now.

We keep moving and eventually take a turn towards where Charlie’s house is, which happens to be pretty close to the center of town. Outside I spot Charlie’s mom waiting nervously, as we come into view she looks relieved for a moment before spotting the two wolves chasing us.

“Mom! What are we going to do about them?!” I call out as I try to run a little faster.

“Don’t worry! Mrs. Teafle can give us a hand with that!” She says as she shoots forwards again and lands next to Charlie’s mom on their porch. Kinda wish I could be there, but not really enough to want to throw myself again. That hurt.

Mom sets Charlie down and says something I can’t hear to Mrs. Teafle. Apparently whatever it was shocks both Charlie and her mom as they look very surprised at whatever it was Mom asked Mrs. Teafle to do. Then she waves at me, making a gesture to hurry and points behind me.

I don’t turn to look, because I’d just rather not and close my eyes. I call forth another limb to throw me forwards and as I sail through the air I open an eye when I hear a voice say, “Briarield!”. Underneath me though, is a large line of bramble covered roots that is stretching towards where I had come from and spreads out into a sort of wall. Mom jumps up into the air and catches me before I can hit Charlie’s roof, thankfully.

Mrs. Teafle stands up from where she had crouched down and pulls away from where the line of roots had sprouted. She dusts herself off and turns back to us.

“Well I haven’t had to make anything like that in a while, so I think I’m going to sit down over there now. Charlie, if you wouldn’t mind getting me something to drink really quick please?” She says as she walks over to a chair and drops into it. She looks really tired.

Charlie turns and quickly heads into the house to do as her mom requests. A few moments later she returns with a small cup with water inside. Her mom takes it and thanks her, before downing the cup in one go.

“Ah… that’s better. Now would someone like to tell me how you ended up being chased by two, larger than normal, wolves?”

“Adolescent Thistle Wolves actually.” Charlie corrects and then pauses. We all look at her confused, which is funny because she looks the same way. “How did I know that?”

A colored spot forms on the back of her hand, answering the question. She holds it out and shows us that it has changed. What was previously an unidentifiable blot of dark blue now is shaped a little differently. The head of a beast, similar to the wolves chasing us, is now sticking out of the slightly smaller mess of color.

“Huh. That was fast.” Her mom comments as she slumps back into her chair.

“Mom, can you do me a quick favor?”

“After you brought home a couple of wolves? Sure, why not.”

“I need some wolfsbane, blue not purple. And your old mortar and pestle too.”

Charlie’s mom gives her a surprised look. “Blue wolfsbane? I know that wolfsbane sounds like it would be good to use against wolves, but it really isn't. It’s pretty much just poison, though the blue variant is useful for softening furs for clothing.”

“I know, that’s why I want some.” Charlie says with a determined look.

I, however, am very confused. Why would she want a bunch of poisonous flowers right now? I don’t see how that’s going to help us. I turn to look at the wolves, who thankfully have resolved to stalk around the outside of the newly formed bramble wall. Though it seems like there are fewer brambles than before…

Charlie’s mom sighs and holds out her hand. A green Inkling, in the shape of a basket with plants sticking out from it, forms as she whispers a different incantation.

“Growerb.” Small green stems begin to shoot from her hand and bloom into bluish flowers. “My old mixing bowl should be in my room, in the chest near the foot of the bed.”

“Thanks Mother.” Charlie hurries inside again, presumably to grab the aforementioned equipment. She quickly returns with a small stone bowl and sort of small club looking rock. Then she goes back inside and rummaging can be heard from nearby the door. She returns again, this time holding what looks like… garlic?

“I don’t want to push you for any filler fern heads right now so I just grabbed some garlic from the kitchen. Is that okay Mother?” Charlie asks as she places the cloves into the stone bowl.

“I suppose… though what is it that you’re doing anyway?” Her mom hands her the flowers, giving a curious glance over the odd display of ingredients.

“Yeah, actually I don’t really get it. Why do you need those plants?” I ask, confused.

“Really? Do I act that dumb now?” She sighs. “I know that I skip a lot of lessons with Sister Abigail, but I do know how to craft a simple poison for increasing bleeding.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

We all stare at her, before her mom rolls her eyes. “Apparently I did not. Were you ever going to tell me or your father that you know how to make things that could be dangerous?”

“No…”

“Well alright then, suppose we’ll figure that all out later then. So are you going to explain or are we going to have to figure it out for ourselves?”

Charlie sits down and starts crushing the cloves of garlic with the pestle. As she does she explains how garlic apparently can be used as a blood thinner, which can cause fatigue or something if too much is used on a person. Then she starts to pull the petals off of the wolfsbane, continuing to explain how because it can be used to soften dry or bloody fur for getting it treated for turning into clothing. Afterwards, she puts the petals into the bowl and mixes the two pasty plant matter into an odd, puke colored, goop.

“That should do it, and just in time too.” She looks over towards the bramble patch her mom grew and, to my surprise, it has more or less disappeared. The roots that had sprouted from the ground are mostly gone now and the wolves are beginning to close in, noticing their chance. Then she turns back to the ‘poison’ and sticks her finger in it, following that she puts it in her mouth.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Her mom cries out in alarm. She lunges out of her chair and slaps Charlie’s hand out of her mouth.

“Checking if it’s ready!” Charlie responds while nursing her hand. “Now… how to put it to use…”

I swear. My friend is crazy, sure she wasn’t always this way but still, licking poison? I don’t know what I’m doing here sometimes. I’m younger than her, but I have to be the one to get her out of trouble! Like seriously, there’s only so many times you see someone get stuck on top of some high up place before you start trying to remember how tall everything is…

Charlie snaps her fingers and her eyes light up, in all the worst ways. “I have just the idea…” She rubs her hands together, the same way she does right before trying to do one of her more ridiculous plans. “All we need is for Father to get back to us and then we should be all set!”

As if on command, we hear a loud whooping and watch as the massive wolf from before stumbles into view. On its back is Mr. Teafle and the rider, locked in close combat as the wolf tries to shake the former off. The rider has a wicked looking blade and is making quick jabs at Charlie’s dad, who is blocking each with his axe and taking the time to use it as a paddle to slap around the monster that they’re riding.

“Man! It sure has been a while since I’ve had to fight someone face to face!” The rider exclaims as they take a swipe at Mr. Teafle’s feet.

He jumps into the air and dodges the blade, before countering with an attack of his own. “You sure are a difficult opponent. Though I wonder if that’s just because I’m out of practice…”

The masked rider seems to take offense to that, as they then let out a shrill whistle. The wolf that they’re standing on begins to bristle again, but this time instead of the fur straightening out after a moment, some of it juts out and towards Charlie’s dad. He finds himself surprised at the attack, momentarily taking focus away from his opponent to jump off of the wolf’s back.

“Hey, Mrs. Giterale? Can you distract that monster and its master? I need Father to put my plan into action.” Charlie asks my mom, drawing our attention away from the spectacle and smaller wolves closing in.

“I suppose I could do that. Oliver, dear, would you mind giving me a hand? Or rather a tentacle in this case. Just grab the rider so that they can’t give the wolves any orders.” Mom turns to me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Though you could also just grab the wolves if you think you can handle multiple targets.”

I give her a nod. “I think I’ll try for the rider. It doesn’t feel like I can summon more than one of those things. Plus I’m getting a little dizzy.”

“Okay. Pace yourself, I can handle all of it if you don’t think you’re in good condition to continue.”

“I’ll be fine Mom, I can do this. I have to do this.” I give her a determined look, to which she sighs and shakes her head. We turn and face the oncoming danger and I try to spot an opening to go after the masked rider.

“Looping Swirl!” Mom spins her needle again and it forms a thin circle of thread in the air. Then she throws it forwards and grabs hold of one of the wolves, dragging it off balance and to the ground. “Go on now. Grab that weird cultist so that Charlie can try whatever ridiculous idea she has.”

“It’s not ridiculous!” Charlie huffs as I run off while one of the wolves is down.

I quickly spot the rider, now sitting down on the wolf’s back, and will another tentacle to whip around their face to pull them off. It lashes out and, with a sickening crunch that makes me wince, the lower half of their mask crumbles as they are pulled to the ground.

“MMMMMFF!” A muffled voice cries from the ground. Charlie’s dad notices what I’m doing and flashes me a thumbs up.

“Mr. Teafle! Charlie needs you for something!”

“Oh? Then I suppose I’d better get over there.” He turns and takes off, dodging a swipe from the massive wolf’s paw that’s attempting to keep him here.

With the rider currently on the ground I get a good look at them. Turns out, they’re a woman. Sunburnt skin, dark brown locks of hair, the standard dark clothing. Yep this sure is a weird looking person. I take a moment to study her mask, now that it’s broken. It’s some kind of demon’s face, red with white accents. Plus this odd looking brand is in the center of the forehead, between two horns. I don’t know what it means but this is definitely an organization of some kind, this was planned to some degree and they’re obviously doing this for a specific reason…

Now, in a moment of sudden clarity for the situation, I realize that I’m currently a sitting duck where I am. Thankfully, it seems Mom takes notice of this as well as she sends her needle to grab me. I’m pulled back to her side, which while still has wolves around, is safer than being by myself next to that massive monster.

“Thank you. I think I’ll go wait next to Charlie now, if that’s okay.” I say as, without waiting for an answer, start running away from where Mom has the wolves distracted. As I head back to relative safety, I notice that Mr. Teafle has already made it there and is currently being instructed by my… friend? I’m not really sure if that’s right or not yet, it kinda feels right but also a little up in the air.

“Okay Father, all I need you to do is smear this paste on your axe. It should be able to cut through their fur even when it’s hardened, plus it will also help slow them down!” Charlie claps her hands together as she points to the stone bowl on the porch.

Her dad gives her a look, then shifts his gaze over to Mrs. Teafle who gives him a reluctant nod. Then he turns back to Charlie and smiles. “Whatever you say, Charcoal.” He sits down and begins to carefully spread the goop on the edges of his axe. It coats the blade nicely and he holds it up to look at it.

“That should do it.” He stands up and begins to walk back into the fray. Breaking into a run, he holds his axe overhead with his one hand as he charges at one of the smaller wolves. It yelps as he takes a swipe at it, finding purchase on its side.

The wolf starts to bristle, before its fur smooths out again faster than usual. Its movement becomes slow and unsteady as it falls over, not dead but extremely tired. I look back at Charlie, who’s grinning ear to ear, in surprise. Never really thought that her plan would work that well, I mean I knew it’d work but not like that!

The other wolf that Mom is currently distracting, hears its partner in this hunt yelp in pain before slumping over. This takes its attention away from Mom for just long enough that she can get behind it and tie up its legs. The wolf falls to the ground, struggling to break free of what should be very thin threads, while Mom cuts the string from her needle. She jumps back in preparation for the larger wolf and its master, who has managed to break free of my tentacle’s grasp.

“YOU LITTLE BRAT! I’M GONNA KILL YOU!” The woman shrieks as she scrambles up the side of the massive monster. Then she digs her heels into its side. Its fur bristles and it starts to grow in size, this time the fur doesn’t smooth out.

“Well that can’t be good…” Charlie’s dad quips as the beast turns and barrels towards him, saliva trailing as its jaw hangs open. His eyes widen for a moment before he finds his composure. “Earth’s Maw.” In a flash of metal and light, his axe digs into the ground and he swings towards where the wolf is coming from. Large, jagged rocks shoot out on either side of a widening crack that travels from the place where his axe first cut the ground, towards the monstrous wolf.

It leaps into the air, only to have a final outcropping sprout out at the end of the large tear in the ground and slam against its stomach. The wolf howls as the wind is knocked out of it and it falls to the stony street.

“Get up! GET UP!” The rider is furiously kicking at the wolf's side. “You stupid mutt! Just kill them already!”

The beast slowly rises to its paws, a little shaken from the impact to its gut. Its fur bristles again as it tries again to lunge at Charlie’s dad. He side steps it as it crashes into the ground behind him.

“Yikes, I feel bad for having to fight a dog. Even if it was trying to eat my daughter.” He places his axe over his shoulder as he stands in an almost mocking fashion. “Your master over there must be pretty bad at this.”

“SHUT UP! I FUCKING HATE THIS STUPID VILLAGE! BOSS SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE EASY!” The hood of the woman’s cloak falls back as she starts to pull at her hair. The wolf snarls as if offended that it is being shown pity and takes a swipe with its paw towards Charlie’s dad.

Mr. Teafle almost gets out of the way, but the beast is moving faster than before. It catches him on his side, but he shrugs it off like it was nothing. Badass.

“Is that the best you’ve got?” He mutters something I can’t quite catch under his breath and a see through barrier of some kind forms over his skin. “Hey Venna, mind checking out this ‘Boss’ character she keeps mentioning.

Mom nods and reappears by my side. “Oliver, you're coming with me. We’re going to find this ‘Boss’ and stall for time.”

“Huh?”

“I figured that you’d just try and follow me if I left without you. So I might as well make this easier for the both of us.” She takes me by the waist again and we fly onto a nearby rooftop.

Once up there, she scans the horizon before a large pillar of fire erupts into the air. It comes from nearby where the church is. “I suppose that’s as good a place as any.” And with that, we take off jumping between the rooftops of the village towards the church.

I wonder if Mom ever did this when I wasn’t looking… That’s not important right now. I have to focus. Something, probably whatever started the original fires, is attacking the church. I hope that Sister Abigail is safe. Oh! I probably should have told Charlie that we’re heading towards the church, huh? Welp, what are you going to do? I'm sure she’ll figure it out if she wants to follow us.

As Mom and I arrive at where the source of the fire should have been. Except for… nothing’s here. No people, no animals, no cultists wearing demon masks, nothing. It’s honestly a little off putting. Something’s not right here. Where’s the danger?

“I don’t like this.” Mom says. “There should at least be signs that someone left the area. These burn marks are fresh, yet there’s nothing here that could have started it. And I doubt anyone could have run away from here at the speed we got here…”

Suddenly another burst of flames comes at us from nearby. Mom grabs me and rolls us off the building, using her needle to keep us from hitting the ground by suspending us in the air and then slowly lowering us to standing on the street.

“Hmm. Guess you noticed me just in time.” A new voice calls out from overhead. The head of another similarly masked rider, though I can tell that they’re a man with how deep his voice is, suddenly appears above us. Slowly the rest of his body appears as some kind of invisibility fades from him and so does a large, but smaller than the wolf, lizard.

Its charred looking scales are covered in red splotches of color and soot marks. I’m going to take a guess that this thing can start fires somehow, like the dragons of legend. Its eyes are weird, as they move in different directions simultaneously. It probably could see us coming if its eyes can do that. Slowly it lowers itself and its master down with its tail to meet us, hanging just above suspended in the air.

“So, what can I do for you?” I can only shudder as I try to imagine his smile behind the mask.