"I would say this was a pleasant surprise but nothing really surprises me." Emery shrugged, tossing her staff between her hands.

I stared in horror at Whinnie, Augustine made it sound like he was dead. He snickered, throwing something up in the air and catching it.

"Always a smart aleck Emery." Whinnie laughed. Emery rolled her eyes, "At least I have a shred of intelligence. If you were smart you'd have changed professions after the incident." She mocked, adjusting her posture.

"You mean this?" He lifted his neck showing a large scar hidden under his chin. "It was unfortunate but I would say it gave me a shift in perspective."

It must have been the wound Wren inflicted. It was amazing he survived it.

Whinnie shifted his gaze over to me, "Who's the girl? You're not one to make friends." He said, once more catching whatever he was throwing. Emery didn't flinch, "She's none of your concern" She stated coldly.

Whinnie laughed, "Oh ok, so she's a touchy subject. What about the giant? You attached to him too?" He gave an evil smirk, "Will you cry when I kill them?" He made pouting eyes.

Emery rested her staff on the ground firmly, "I don't really believe in forming attachments but, I'm getting more and more attached to the idea of reopening that scar of yours."

He keeled over in a laugh, "Wow what a zinger! Honestly I love it when you get feisty."

"Glad you're amused but I'm getting tired of waiting. Are your friends going to keep playing hide or can we get on with this? " Emery huffed, tilting her frown. I darted my eyes around the forest trying to guess where the others could be hiding.

He snorted, "Alright old woman, lets see what you got." He flicked his head, jumping down to our level. The forest around us rustled.

Emery turned her head to Ari, "Here's your chance to repay your debt to me." She directed, Ari's eyes growing wide. "Protect Phyn." She commanded, swinging her staff off of the ground taking a combative stance.

Whinnie spat on the ground and unsheathed his sword. "Don't hurt yourself." He mocked closing the distance between them. "Don't start a battle you can't win." Emery returned, bringing her staff around.

I held my breath as chaos erupted. Half a dozen red and black guards flew out of the forest, all wielding silver blades. Their faces covered by black steel, they moved strangely.

I darted my head around trying to anticipate their moves. I didn't have a weapon and there was not much I could do.

Ari rolled up his sleeves with a shrug. Two guards approaching, ready to strike, Ari swung his fist around sending the first guy barreling into the other. The two of them flying across the clearing.

"HA! PUNY ATTACKS. I WILL SEND YOU ALL RUNNING SCARED." Ari boomed. The guards reorganized, shuffling around.

"I AM ARI KING OF THE CARNIVORES AND I WILL DEVOUR YOU." He grinned at unwelcome guests. They hesitated, sizing us up.

I looked back at Emery and Whinnie. Emery moving gracefully around his attacks, she dodged blade countering every swing. Ducking around him, she was fast.

I turned my head back seeing Ari kick another guard to the ground, the others changing up their positions, they had a new strategy.

I gulped, looking around for anything I could use as a weapon if I needed it. There was nothing on the ground. Flipping through my pack I found nothing useful. My heart pounded in panic, booming in my head. They were approaching all at once, now nine of them. Ari couldn't take all of them.

"Feel that heartbeat Phyn!" Emery called, struggling against Whinnie's blade. "Embrace it don't fight it." She hissed, flipping back from Whinnie's jab. She thrust her staff clear into his stomach and He grimaced.

What? Why would Emery mention that now? I didn't let the question stop me though. My heartbeat pounding in my head I breathed and followed it. Ari punched the first guy, taking a jab from the other, my heart crying out.

The world fell quiet. No the world was pulsing, like a heartbeat. Everything seemed to slow in my mind. I moved towards Ari, in beat with the rhythm, my own heartbeat joining the song.

A third guard poised his sword to strike Ari. I reached out my hand, straining, I caught the edge of his armour. Suddenly he was gone.

I blinked in shock, the world seeming to regain a normal pace. My surprise was interrupted by a loud crash behind us. The guard that had just disappeared crashing through the trees, falling to the ground in an unmoving heap. Had I done that? How on earth? My mind raced. I shivered at the thought that I had maybe killed someone.

I turned my head just in time to catch the next knight coming for me. Ari grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I hissed out a breath stepping back. I needed to keep my head.

I focused on my heartbeat once more, letting it direct me. Ari caught up in a fight with three of them. I was left alone with one. I bit my lip shifting with the pulse I found.

The armoured man swung his sword at me and I jumped back. I left with the pulse, disappearing myself. I reemerged directly above him, using my weight and gravity to knock him to the floor.

My feet hitting his back, the force toppling him. The armour crashed breaking apart at the force.

I rose up finding only the armour at my feet. Did I make him vanish too? I stared in confusion. I didn't think I had.

I looked up finding Whinnie approaching me, Emery pinned back fighting more guards. I stared wide-eyed, as he shrieked a terrible laugh. "The Wander girl, Emery. You were holding out on me."

A sick excitement in his eyes as he walked up to me. "All the stories and all the legends and what we get is a skinny little girl." He stared at me with a hint of disgust. "Can't pick your heroes I guess."

He put on a more friendly demeanor. "You like my little armor puppets? Quite shocking aren't they?" I blinked, realizing what he meant. No one was in the armor. I scrambled to my feet, Whinnie's eyes fixed on me.

"Stand back." I hissed, grabbing the sword from the mess of armour. I pointed at him fixing it towards his heart.

"Your gonna wanna put that down." He smirked, pulling whatever was in his pocket back out. "I may not be the most experienced fighter but I have no problem cutting you." I growled back, not letting him get to me.

He shook his head, "No that's not what I mean."

He threw up the little rock thing in his grasp and caught it. I frowned confused, the sword suddenly growing heavier it fell towards my knee, I jumped back confused, just missing it from scraping my skin. Staring at it in horror, I looked back up at Whinnie.

He kept coming closer. I put more strength into wielding the sword, it flew up, swinging towards my face. I yelped, throwing it down. A shallow cut dripping blood from my temple.

"I control that sword as well as the guards. I wouldn't suggest trying to fight me with them." A friendly grin that just made me feel sicker.

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"I'm not afraid of you. Stay back!" I threatened, walking backwards. The space behind me, running out. He laughed at my attempts to be intimidating, "I'll take my chances. It's not every day one gets to destroy a legend before it even begins."

I stopped, a new anger finding me. I was going to make him take me seriously. "This is your warning." I stated. Finding my heartbeat once more.

The guards fighting Ari and Emery suddenly turned their heads and darted in my direction. Closing in, encircling me, Whinnie laughed. "How many can you get at once Wanderer?" He challenged, walking back towards Emery.

My head grew fuzzy, the pulse seemed to intensify. "Don't you dare underestimate me!" I growled, from somewhere deep inside of me. The circle growing smaller. I was gone before I could even blink.

Opening my eyes, I watched the puppets crash into one another. I took a breath, jumping back into the rhythm, that now seemed so natural. I grabbed hold of the first guard, sending him barreling from the sky into another. The crash of metal and flying pieces of armor, signifying a sense of victory.

The next guard swung his sword at me, slicing my arm. I jumped back, the sting of the wound, bringing me back to reality. I fell back in a panic crawling away.

Ari jumped up behind him, ripping the metal helmet from the armour and pulling the rest of it to pieces. "MERE EMPTY SHELLS!" He said, turning back to punch a dent into another.

"NO MATCH FOR THE KING OF CARNIVORES." He laughed. "Thank you." I gasped.

Standing back up, I watched Emery collapse. Whinnie swinging his blade up he poised to strike.

I screamed, running, inviting the pulse, just as Whinnie looked up. I ran right into him, somehow skipping the distance.

With enough force to knock him down. I reached for his blade fighting him for it. "Big mistake little girl." He hissed, turning his blade towards my stomach. "No." I smirked, no time for a witty response.

A quick burst, set shivers down my spine and suddenly I was falling through the sky. My grip latched tightly onto a wide eyed Whinnie, both of us barreling to the ground. The twisted tree branches below ready to tear us apart.

He stared at me in horror, thrusting his blade towards my stomach. I grabbed it first, causing the blade to vanish to the world below.

"You're the one that's made the mistake." I said calmly, letting him go. The wind tossing up my hair, I let myself disappear. Regaining the rhythm, I found myself back on the ground. I looked up just in time to see him crash down, breaking tree branches as he fell to the earth.

I took a breath, my hands shaking. A moment of horror at what I had just done. I hesitated, finding myself running towards the spot where he would've dropped. I had to see if he was still alive. Why I didn't know, he had killed my friend. The thought punched me in the stomach, slowing me slightly.

Pushing past the brush, I found a battered and bloody Whinnie lying against a mess of branches. He gave a weak groan, a small nine-sided wooden dice in his hand. This must have been what he was tossing around. I tiptoed, carefully reaching for it.

His eyes flew open. I stepped back afraid, his breathing growing harsh. He tried to move, failing to get far, caught by his injuries. I stood timidly watching him. I didn't know what to do. He gave a pained smirk, "You gonna kill me then? Finish the job you started?" His voice hoarse, still with a mocking tone.

I froze staring at him. My lip quivered, as I fought back the image of Freya, covered in blood. "You killed someone I loved." My voice slowly lost Its steadiness. He coughed, grimacing in pain, "So, I've killed lots of people."

"You don't regret it?" I clenched my fists.

"A leopard can't change his spots, regret is pointless." He gave a weak laugh.

"You are not a leopard." I scowled back, angry tears blurring my vision, "You make choices and you could've done differently."

He stared up at me dryly, "I would kill them again just to know I had that to hang over your head, you smug self-righteous little-."

"Little what?" Emery asked, coming through the bushes. Whinnie gave up the insult, glaring at her with contempt.

"I feel a little unloved that Augustine is sending lackeys to try and stop me. He should really come himself, if he wants me dead." Emery crossed her arms.

"Augustine doesn't have time for vermin like you." He spat out. Emery laughed, "Sure, It's definitely not because he's a coward." Whinnie's eyes lit up, "You wouldn't speak such vile things if you understood what he represents!"

"You want me to finish him?" She asked, in a chilling practical tone.

"What? No, I don't want anyone's blood on my conscience."

"He wouldn't be, he'd be on mine. Besides he's just gonna cause more trouble later if we don't." Emery argued.

"Ya but-"looked back at him, struggling to try to get away, "He'll probably die out here anyway." I muttered.

"Then it doesn't matter." Emery said, pulling out her dagger. "No!" I called pulling at her arm. "Please don't!" I pleaded. Emery shoved me off frustrated.

"In real life Phyn, if you don't kill the bad guys they kill you." Emery’s expression hardened.

"Please." I said once more. She sighed, staring at Whinnie. "You're lucky the Wanderer's squeamish." she snarled.

She glared at me once more before turning back towards the clearing. "Let's go Phyn." She grumbled, "Leave this pathetic mess to wallow in his defeat."

I followed, shaking, surprised she had listened to me.

"I still haven't lost you know!" He called after me, freezing me in my place.

"If you think that you're deluded." I yelled back, continuing my path.

"I'm not the one living in a delusion hun. You're playing a game you don't understand." I ignored him and kept walking. "Listen you don't know what you're up against!" His voice called out from the woods haunting me. Didn't know what I was up against. I knew plenty, more than enough. Why I fought to spare his life I didn't know. What a horrible man.

I walked back into the clearing finding Emery and Ari. Emery was limping, she tried to hide it with her posture. Emery frowned, staring at my cheek.

"Here." She said, walking over and wiping the streak of blood off my cheek. I flinched, the cut still stinging. "You are too pure for this world Phyn." She whispered.

Stepping back she gathered Ari. His side was bleeding slightly. Thankfully it only looked like a surface wound.

"Come on, let's keep moving." She commanded, waving her arm and limping onward. She didn't let up. Marching back on our trail I looked around every tree suspiciously. Every nerve set on edge, the slightest noise was drawing my attention. I was ready if we had more enemies to face.

Whatever happened in that clearing, I was doing something different than before. That rhythm I was tapping into, it felt so much more natural. Less like getting kicked in the stomach and more like jumping in cold water. It was weird to compare.

I put my fingers to my wrist to feel my heartbeat. Something in it helped me find the pulse. With all the talk of blood magic I guess it wasn't ridiculous to think my heartbeat had caused it. I had never made something disappear without me going with it. I had never really seen what others see. I didn't know what to do with any of this.

"Emery what happened back there...with my ability."I asked, feeling brave enough to interrupt her frown. She looked up, brightening her gaze, "That Phyn was lesson two. A little haphazard considering the situation but you performed better than expected." She grinned, a glimmer of pride in her eyes.

"That difference in feeling is what you want, you feel no ill effects, no?" She clarified. I nodded, "I feel normal. Does that mean my ability is all fixed?" I suggested, hoping it was true.

"You need more practice. It's not a matter of a one time fix it's a shift in pattern. You also need to learn how to tap into it without being pumped full of adrenaline. If you tried now, trust me, it'd be harder."

"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" I narrowed my eyes at her. Emery sighed in frustration. "Believe it or not but I'm not always trying to put you into danger. I knew someone was looking for me here, I didn't know who and I didn't know till we already set off. Not to mention I made provisions in recruiting our giant friend over there." She pointed at Ari.

"I only know bits of things and certainly not everything. I can't control what I glean." A glum look finding her face.

"Sorry I didn't mean to accuse you." I said trying to disarm her irritation. The leaves rustling in the breeze that swept in. More of the sky slowly coming into view.

"You surprised me today Phyn...with what you said." Emery's voice breaking from its usual sternness. "I don't have many people who would stick by me like that. Especially after knowing about my past." She ducked her head, uncomfortable with the emotion.

"I'm just saying I appreciated it, thanks." She replied gruffly. I smiled, that was gold from Emery "That's what friends are for." I returned. She gave a fake gag, "Just don't make us matching bracelets and we're good." She muttered. I laughed, "Oh come on don't tell me you wouldn't wear one, if I made us matching bracelets." I poked, causing her to roll her eyes.

"I certainly would not. Please stop talking about this."

Ari ran back, an excited look in his eyes, "I SEE OUR DESTINATION." He yelled running back to where he came from. I cheered in relief, running after him. I paid no more heed to the ache in my legs, we were here. The trees lessening the landscape turned into a grassy meadow.

Excitement growing, I was looking forward to civilization. A chance to rest my feet, eat something other than badly charred rabbit. I was hungry just thinking about it.

Ari stopped puzzled, staring out under his brow at the cityscape below. I coughed back something smoky in the air. I stopped, paralyzed at the view I saw. There stood South Gate, our destination city, erupting in red flames. Smoke pouring out of the city walls. A mess of burnt orange and ash. It nearly blocked out the sun.

I choked back tears, my eyes stinging from the air. "What is this?" I whispered at the insanity below. Terror and anger fighting in my heart. I couldn't believe it. Emery limped up, resting her staff beside me on the grassy hillside. "This, little one, this is war."