Appo struggled to follow Jere through the twists and turns of the streets. Adok seemed equally confused. Sand blew in their eyes as they ran, obscuring much of their sight. The wind had been picking up through much of the morning.

“Any idea what’s going on?” Appo huffed as kept pace with Adok.

“No clue. I think Eevi ran ahead.”

“What? Why?”

Adok shrugged. “Dunno. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

The two found Jere hiding behind a structure corner. Appo nearly ran out into the open before he came face to face with the Temple, catching sight of the mass of screamers. Appo repressed a yelp as he slid back behind Jere. No one had screamed, at least not yet.

Appo pressed his hand against the wall, squished between Jere and Adok. Out of the three, only Jere had a proper view of the clearing around the Temple. “What are we doing?” Appo asked. “Where’s Eevi?” No answer. Appo crouched around, peering through the dust storm. Jere pushed him back at first but gradually relented, keeping one of his hands on Appo’s tunic.

Hundreds of screamers surrounded the courtyard, coalesced into a tight circle around the Temple. From here, Appo could hear the sea of cries and whines and moans that echoed through the courtyard. He had never appreciated how awful their noises could be until now.

But then he found what Jere had been staring at: Eevi, standing defiantly not ten meters ahead of them, carrying two pots that she had pulled from a nearby cart. She pressed forward with no hint of self-preservation.

“What is she doing?” Appo whispered. “They’re going to see her!”

“She’s giving us a chance,” Jere grumbled.

The answer left Appo stunned. It was suicidal. Had she been contemplating it all night? Was that why she refused to speak with them? Appo wanted to stop her. But Jere pulled back on Appo’s tunic, keeping him firmly in his grip.

Before Appo could ask any more questions, errant screams pierced their ears.

“Hey!” Eevi yelled, bashing her pots together in a reverberating twang. The sound of a thousand screams unleashed, drowning out her noises. The three covered their ears.

As the screams shifted away, Appo leaned out from behind the corner again. Hundreds of limping, decaying bodies swirled around the Temple. They tripped and trampled over each other. Eevi had run to the other side of the Temple, ducking and twisting and sliding out of the way of the screamers’ jagged nails with ease.

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After running around the Temple once more, the screamers had collectively become a moving mass, more akin to a giant slug than individuals. Another couple dozen exited the Temple, their coordinated movements dissipating once coming outside. Eevi looked back at the horde, banged her pots once more, and gave a rousing holler before sprinting off away from the courtyard. The vast majority of the horde followed, leaving the several dozen trampled screamers crawling on the ground after her. When it was all said and done, there were barely a dozen who lined the walls of the nearest entrance to the Temple.

“Where is she going?” Appo asked.

“Her tavern,” Jere said, stone-faced. “Only thing in that direction.”

“Will she be okay?” Adok asked. Jere didn't reply.

Appo looked out again. A dozen screamers were far more manageable than the horde that once surrounded the Temple, but still be formidable. If any of them chased them inside, they’d have no way of defending themselves.

Before Appo could offer any suggestions, Jere sprinted out in front of them, charging forth with his spear outstretched. Appo and Adok could only follow.

Jere’s first victim was a broken thing, crawling forth with shattered legs. He thrust his spear through the screamer’s back, and it immediately fell flat. Jere pulled out the spear and charged again at a standing screamer, crushing its sternum with the blade. Again, the screamer fell instantly. Jere continued forth, swinging and thrusting at another two before the others took notice.

Appo stayed behind Adok, who had unsheathed his scimitar. Most of the screamers ran to Jere, who swung his spear with a skill and ferocity Appo had only assumed he possessed. As Appo reached the halfway point, Jere had killed or maimed at least six screamers. The others along the wall had finally taken notice, but they reached Jere one after the other. They fell to him easily.

When Appo reached the Temple entrance, there was only one screamer who had yet to move: a former Temple guard who had scratched off the entirety of her ears. Adok ran forth, plunging his scimitar into the back of the screamer, who released a gasp as it crumpled to the ground. With no one left, Adok ran into the Temple, looking around to see if there were any inside.

“Don’t see any!” Adok yelled. “Get Jere!”

Appo turned, finding Jere still several paces away. He had killed all the screamers, save for a few already wounded. It mattered not. Jere impaled them with his spear, twisting it through the bones before moving on to the next one.

“Shit,” Appo mumbled, before turning to Adok. “Wait here!”

Appo ran back outside, seeing that Jere had succumbed to pure bloodlust. His face contorted, his mouth locked in a grimace. Jere wanted to kill them all.

“Jere!” Appo called. Jere didn't answer, continuing to thrust his spear into the broken screamers, many already dead. Appo closed in, calling his name out again. This time, Jere turned to Appo, as if he were about to swing the spear at him. Appo did his best not to waiver.

“Jere,” Appo said once more. “Let’s go.”

Jere watched him for a second before looking around. Thirteen corpses lay around them all, either still or squirming. A few in the distance were making their way towards them, but slowly. Jere inhaled, taking it all in, before pulling his spear out of his fresh kill.

“Right,” Jere said.

The two entered the Temple, the few limping screamers closing in behind them.