"What is happening here" Village Chief Dean called from behind them, Joseph turned to look at him, his companions turning to do the same.
"Good morning, Village Chief Dean, we were just coming to see you" Joseph mentioned as he checked his mind's eye.
'They are still a way off yet; we have time to try and get ready.'
"A short while ago our senses showed us that not far from the village, there was something that was stronger than is normal for the area." Joseph said.
"As I was heading out to confirm our suspicions, I came across Aven at the gate talking to the guard about a malikia that he claims to have seen" the minute that he said this they all watched as the Village Chief Dean's face went bright red.
"Don't listen to that boy, he does nothing but cause trouble" exclaimed the Village Chief Dean.
"There is no possible way that the boy could have ever seen a malikia in the forest let alone close to the village." The Village Chief Dean was getting louder the more he said.
'What is this? Is this kid really that much of a troublemaker? Or is something else going on here?'
Joseph let the man keep going as he scanned with his senses again.
'They are making decided progress towards the village they don't appear to be going anywhere else.'
"Sir, no matter what we have to check on this, even if the boy is being truthful or he is not, we are still picking up that several somethings that are out there and are making their way towards the village and at a fast speed." Said Jonathan as he joined in the conversation.
Joseph looked at Sabrina and Damian,.
'They are also getting frustrated'.
"Bang"
'What the?' Josephs spun around.
The boy was now sliding across the ground his dagger in hand and standing just in front of him was a 2-meter long malikia and it stood taller than the boy.
'What? How?' Joseph's eyes widened and he started to move his hand coming up. Golden stand swirled and then formed into a sword.
'This isn't one of the ones that we sensed; this is not good'.
The creature kept attacking the boy in quick succession and Joseph could see how the boy was trying to avoid the claws and then how he managed to caught the creature's claws with his dagger.
'Not bad kid' thought Joseph as he and Sabrina made their way forward.
'We are not going to make it.'
A bolt of lightning flew between Joseph and Sabrina who now had daggers in her hands.
The bolt hit the malikia and it started to topple over sideways, forcing the boy to go with it.
Just when he thought that the boy would go down to the boy managed to pull himself free.
"Move back Kid" shouted Sabrina as they made their way forward from the gate.
'Why did we take so long to notice it? Even if we get close, we can't get in between them.'
As the malikia recovered and got to its feet it alternated between looking at them and staring at the Boy.
It finally made a move but instead of coming after them as they all hoped it went back to attacking the boy.
'No, it is moving even faster now'.
Joseph's worry suddenly turns into shock as he watched the boy's movement improve and he started to react better and move just a bit neater.
'Well would you look at that his using his sense in battle.'
Now instead of just dodging, Joseph watch as the boy, Aven started actively deflecting the claws.
Finally, the boy made a lunging action forward and manage to get past the malikia.
As he stood Joseph saw that on the dagger there was now blood.
The malikia quickly turned to attacked the boys back and Joseph finally managed to arrive by the boy and stopped the attack with his sword.
"Well done kid" Joseph said as stood between the creature and the boy.
'I'll have to remember your name boy, you're going to be one to watch.'
"Watch closely, maybe you'll learn something new" Sabrina said as she stepped up to attack the malikia.
Sabrina's daggers flashed as she targeted the legs of the malikia, and he pushed the creature away the second she got herself clear.
It fell away and then Jonathan released a lightning spell and he brought his sword down as the malikia laid stun on the floor.
As the fight finished. Joseph turned and looked at the boy "Aven wasn't it?"
The boy was stood dazed.
"Yes sir, my name is Aven"
Joseph smiled.
Joseph walked up to the boy. "Well done." He said, he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and leading Aven back towards the gate.
He focused back on to his senses.
'There are still four of them out there' he glanced back at the carcass 'but are there only four of them?'