"Good morning, mom."
Kynn enters his mother's room and kneels at her bedside.
His mother's aged features shift and stir as she begins to wake.
"Alpin... good morning..."
Her voice is frail and fatigued. After all of these years, she still can't recognize him at first glance.
"It's just me, mom. Kynn."
"..."
"...Today," Kynn does his best to sound upbeat. "I'm going to head out and try to capture a hoarbane. I asked Nola to dig a hole to contain it. You remember Nola, right?"
"..."
"...Once we have the thing stuck, we're going to test all the weapons we have on it. If all goes well, we'll be able to know how to kill them. And then... I'll finally be able to find a cure for you."
"...K-kynn?"
The boy's eyes widen and sparkle.
"...Yes, mom? I'm here."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The woman's eyelids fall over her damp pupils.
She succumbs once again to the luring sound of sleep.
Kynn's eyes water tenderly.
The boy leans over and kisses her on the forehead.
"I love you, mom."
...
The son makes his way to his mother's door and closes it for the final time.
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
Korlin speeds toward the hole in the wall. His legs are trampling faster than he thought to be possible.
Blowing snow rakes his eyes. His limbs are numb and cold, but the pulsing adrenaline keeps him moving.
The mother slithers behind him.
If he stops running for even a second, it could mean his life comes to another end.
He keeps his eyes forward. Survival is the only thing on his mind. All his hubris and ambition have been swept away.
His honey-hued irises spot another human beyond the hole. Sirius stands in the opening stunned and motionless.
His survival cogitation is overridden by a wave of guilt.
"SIRIUS! GET OUT OF HERE! RUN! HELP THE SICK!"
Korlin's bloodcurdling scream reaches Sirius' earshot. The boy struggles to grasp the situation.
"What have you done..."
An enormous, thin figure rapidly follows Korlin. A haunting red glow emits from within the fog. It's a massive bulbous.
An absurd amount of snakelike arms wiggle and propel the monster forward. Each slam into the ground resounds and rattles the outpost's walls.
A rush of sheer horror runs through Sirius' body. If no one can even kill a hoarbane... there is no way that thing is killable. It's impossible. To fight this monster is suicide. The only hope for survival is to escape.
-I need to warn everyone.
Sirius bursts from his frozen feet and doesn't look back. Whatever Korlin has done can wait. If Sirius sticks around for the boy to get through, he could get himself killed.
The boy sprints through the outskirts and pushes his lungs to reach the main settlement. A clinging desperation to live and warn keeps him moving.
"RUN! WE CAN'T STAY HERE!" Sirius has never screamed so loud in his lives. "IT'S COMING!"
A number of snowsquallers come out of their homes to see what the ruckus is. Mutual worry and confusion are spread among them.
Aureole rushes out of a medical hut.
"Sirius? What-"
"RUN! TELL THE KING! EVERYONE NEEDS TO-"
crash
An explosive sound erupts and the ground beneath trembles.
It comes from the wall.
Sirius pivots and gazes upon the source.
The wooden walls which protect and encapsulate have shattered.
Above where the small hole in the wall existed, the mother bursts forth and collapses all meaning of safety.
Splintering lumber scatters along with the falling snow. The form of the mother comes into detail.
As the warriors previously detailed, the monster is that of a terrible plant.
A thin, thorny, and ice-coated plant that towers above all of the outpost's watchtowers. A horrific, pulsating bulbous rests in place of pistils.
Multiple branching stems act like arms. Hardened with a sheet of impenetrable ice, the tentacles that swing rupture everything in their path.
This creature goes beyond that of a monster. It's a force of nature.
A calamity.
Korlin has brought upon the end.
-Korlin... what the hell did you do?!
Is Korlin alright? Did he make it inside? Is he alive?
None of these questions enter Sirius' thoughts.
Can I trust you not to do anything rash?
-I guess I can't trust you after all...
A lump forms in Sirius' throat. A mix of betrayal and terror.
Sirius whips back around to Aureole. Her gradient eyes are wide and full of fear. Sirius runs up to her and places his hands on her shoulders.
"Snap out of it. We need to go!"
"W-what should we do?!"
"I don't know. At the very least we need to leave the outpost. We're not safe here."
"What about the hoarbanes? If we leave, we'll be attacked..."
"We can at least ward them off, but we don't stand a chance against that thing. Tell the king, get him to issue an evacuation."
"What about the people in the medical huts?!"
"I don't know! Okay? I don't know..."
"...Pholy is another hut further down the road. Can you help her get everyone out?"
"I can do that. I think I can do that. We'll get everyone to the main gate. Good luck!" Sirius retracts himself and runs down the road. Aureole sprints toward the king's quarters.
There is no time to waste.
Sirius' heart throbs in his ears.
The ground continues to tremor. He looks back at the monster...
-It's inside.
Resident snowsquallers are panicking. Distress sounds throughout the outpost. Some of them run. Some of them stare on in horror. Some of them scream.
Sirius throws himself into the nearest medical hut. Pholy is here. She's trying to calm down frightened children.
"Sirius! What is going on?!"
"I need your help evacuating everyone from the medical huts!"
The sickly squallers overhear their conversation. Trouble spreads among them.
"What do you mean?"
"What's happening?"
"Why is everything shaking?"
The ill squaller's voices overshadow Sirius' instructions.
-I need to be blunt.
"Anyone who can move, help those who can't!" Sirius shouts. "The hoarbane's mother has infiltrated the walls! If you want to live you need to get out of here!"
...
A deafening silence overtakes the building.
And then...
Panic.
-That probably wasn't the right move...
Pholy runs over to Sirius.
"Are you serious?"
"Mm, get everyone out of here. I'll go evacuate the other huts."
"What about Aure?!"
"She's going to get the king."
"Have you found Korlin?!"
"..."
"Sirius?"
"Mm, I found him. He's probably fine." Sirius pivots to leave the hut. "Hurry! We'll need your flames to escape!"
"Wait! Where do I take them?!"
"Uh- The main gate!"
Sirius sprints back toward the hut Aureole was assisting in.
The mother is well inside the outpost. The east wall and watchtower have fallen.
The monster moves with haunting grace. Its motions are fluid and unpredictable. It slithers like a snake along its stems.
A figure pops out from underneath the monster.
It's a ball of ice... No...
It's a hoarbane.
Multiple of them.
They're coming in from beyond the broken wall.
-Shit. They're breaking in...
Sirius bursts through the entrance to the hut and demands everyone to leave. Immediately. He helps the sick onto their feet and instructs the healers to do the same. Thankfully, many of the sick push through to assist the poisoned.
The tremors are getting louder. Faster. Closer.
This hut is the closest one to the east wall. It'll be the first of the main settlement buildings to get in its path.
Sirius leads the majority of the squallers out of the door.
"We'll take over here!" One of the healers shouts to Sirius. "Help the other huts!"
"Got it!"
pound
pound
As Sirius steps out of the door, his peripheral vision catches sight of an icy tentacle.
POUND
A massive, thorny arm is being hurled right toward his face.
...
Carpi's arm invade his thoughts.
'The hoarbane's poison is slow to kill, but that thing... it's almost instant.'
Purely on instinct, Sirius rolls to the ground.
whoosh
A shredding gale of air sweeps over him. And behind him...
crash
...
The medical hut is cut in half.
The roof rips apart and blows away. Chunks of wood splinter and shoot off into the distance. Cries erupt from within the building. Horrific, agonizing screams.
The sick and the healers...
Are they alive?
Sirius tumbles onto his feet and runs. The mother is close. Too close. If he hadn't ducked, he would have been sliced in half.
Those who removed themselves from the hut scamper and cry. Everyone desperately runs from the beast behind them.
Correction:
Beasts. Plural.
Hoarbanes begin to flood the streets.
Nothing has ever looked so dire.
Snarls of the ice-coated wolves come up from behind him. They bare their jagged fangs which drip with poison. The red bulbouses in place of eyes stalk the fleeting townsfolk.
To the boy's left runs a woman.
A hoarbane approaches behind her. Sirius contemplates whether to fend it off or not. He knows how to stun them. But does he really have time to stop and help other people right now? Korlin told him to help the other sick people.
Despite his reluctance, he slows and slides over. He lifts his leg and slams his foot into the beast's bulbous. The hoarbane wails and topples onto its side.
"Thank you..."
Sirius doesn't say a word. To make up for lost time, he picks up his speed, leaving the lady and everyone else behind.
The road leads him to Pholy's hut again.
There is time before the mother will arrive. But the hoarbanes are faster, so there is no telling how fast they will show up.
Pholy is by the door, assisting people out of it. She spots the boy.
"Sirius! Is everyone alright over there?!"
"No time! Hoarbanes have broken in!" Sirius continues running past the hut. He heads for the next hut.
"Should I slow them down?!"
"Do what you can!"
Sirius' voice grows faint as he gets further and further away.
Pholy assists a few more people.
"We can take care of the last few," a healer tells Pholy. "Please, don't let those things any closer."
Pressure swells within her.
"...Alright."
Pholy leaves behind the hut and runs toward the approaching monsters.
"What the fuck...?!"
Hoarbanes run low to the ground. If it weren't for their bulbouses, they'd look like flying chunks of ice.
They're rapidly approaching.
Pholy lights her hands on fire. The ends of her hair and the light in her eyes blaze with a bright fushia.
Swiping her palm out in front of her, a surge of flames bursts forth.
The inferno travels and makes contact with the hoarbanes' frosted armor. The wolves keel over and cry. While it'll be temporary, a few hoarbanes are out of commission.
But only a few.
Dozens of hoarbanes are spilling into the outpost. The mother opened the floodgates, and it doesn't look like it'll close anytime soon.
-I'm the only one who can do this...
Pholy groans. It's way too much responsibility.
-Do I go for the hoarbanes or the mother? Will killing the mother stop the hoarbanes?
Whatever the answer is, she needs to act fast. The mother is drawing near.
The sporadic movements of its arms cut through the nearby buildings like butter. It's utter devastation. The plant-like monstrosity towers and intimidates the girl.
But this is no time to feel fear.
Pholy's fingertips ignite. She stretches her arms out wide and swiftly slams her palms together. The impact of her hands barrels a firestorm at the mother. The flames dance through the snow-streaked sky and collide against the mother's icy body.
...
There is no effect.
-What...?
Her flames are powerless against it.
The beautiful blaze simply disperses when hitting its armor.
Pholy's body, while burning hot, freezes in place.
The feeling of hopelessness is all the more present.
Her bright eyes dim and shrink.
bark
A hoarbane's call is what snaps her out of her daze.
The frosted wolf leaps at her face.
Acting on instinct, she swipes her hand and throws a ball of fire at its face. Not wanting to stick around, Pholy runs away.
She dashes back through the street and passes the now-empty medical hut. The small feeling of relief is immediately cut short as a group of hoarbanes runs past. They are chasing a small group of squallers.
Pholy groans and chases after the pack.
-Aureole, Sirius... please hurry!
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
Aureole dodges past falling debris swept up by the mother.
Distant growls of hoarbanes propel her faster.
The lunim girl reaches the king's quarters.
She throws open the door and stumbles into the main room.
"Your majesty!"
Accompanying the king are three warriors and a young boy. The king fidgets in his throne.
"Ah, Aureole!"
"Your majesty, you need to order an evacuation! The hoarbane mother has entered the outpost!"
"Yes," the humble king is distressed. "I fully agree. The issue is how we will escape."
"We're telling you!" One of the warriors yells. "Once we get everyone to the gate, we warriors can protect the carriages. We'll fend off any trailing hoarbanes!"
"That's suicide!"
"You think we don't know that?! With all due respect your majesty, you're being far too indecisive right now! Our job is to defend the people of the outpost, and we can't do that if you won't place your faith in us!"
"...Very well..." his tone is somber.
"Sirius is already gathering people at the main gate!" Aureole shouts. "Pholy should be helping too! We just need you to come to the gate and everyone should follow!"
"...You three," the king speaks to the warriors. "Go and swiftly round up the remaining residents on the outskirts. Then get to the gate as soon as possible."
"Yes sir!" All of the warriors shout in unison. The three of them promptly run out of the building.
"Let's go, your majesty!" Aureole calls.
"..."
"Your majesty?"
"Dad?" Quilo shakes his father's side.
"I will remain here."
...
Quilo's face distorts.
"What are you talking about?" Aureole approaches the man.
"As king, I have the duty to stand with the outpost. Until its ruin, I am to remain here and defend it."
"Dad! No! You can't stay here!"
"Quilo..." the king places his hand on the boy's head. "Go now. I want you, at least, to live a long life."
"No! You're coming with! You-!"
"Your majesty!" Aureole interjects. "Apologies, but I cannot allow you to stay here. I still don't know much about being a ruler, but what I can tell you is that your duty includes more than just defense."
"..."
"After the evacuation is done, the people will need a leader to bring them together. If they found out their king had stayed behind to perish, what do you think will happen to their morale?"
"...There are many squallers who are more than capable of taking my position. I am but a king in name alone. Staying behind is the least I can do for my people."
Aureole grabs the man's wrist.
"Then don't flee as a king. Flee as a father."
"..."
The king's eyes land on his son.
"Please..." Quilo's voice cracks.
"Do you really wish to leave your son all alone? To grow up without a dad?"
Tremors shake the tense room.
"...No. No, I don't. You're right... I will go."
Quilo's face lights up with overwhelming joy. He jumps into his father's arms. He hugs him tightly.
"Quilo..." the king clears his throat. "Now is not the time. We must leave."
"Yes, will you be fine without any guards?" Aureole questions.
"We will see," the king stands from his throne. "Let's go."
The king motions everyone out of the building. Aureole and Quilo rush out of the door, trailing right behind the king.
Snow and dust shroud the air. Debris and shards of glass litter the streets.
The king is surprisingly fast for his age. Upon further inspection, he's using the snow below him to glide him forward. Many of the retreating snowsquallers use similar methods of escape. With their ability of snow manipulation, they can carry themselves anywhere as long as there is enough snow.
All of the squallers in sight use the ability, apart from the boy sprinting beside Aureole.
Quilo runs just like her.
"H-hey, can you promise me something?" Quilo asks Aureole. He makes sure his father can't hear him.
"Um, sure."
"...Can you promise to protect my dad?"
"..."
"No matter what. Don't let him get hurt. Please."
"...I promise you. I won't let anything happen to him."
Her response extracts a smile from the boy.
"Thank you."
While still distant, the main gate forges into view.
The gate is swarmed with snowsquallers. Carriages are overflowing with bodies desperately wanting to leave. The door remains shut.
"We're almost there!" The king roars. Faint quakes rattle the ground below them, thankfully, the mother is far behind. "Once we're at the gate, we'll have the ill depart first-"
growl
Suddenly, a hoarbane emerges from fallen rubble.
It leaps out at the king. The monster's fangs are ready to sink into his flesh.
An intense desire to protect springs through Aureole's veins. She just promised the boy to protect his father. She can't let him down. She needs to be useful.
Without considering any consequences, Aureole throws her arm in between the king and the wolf.
From what she has gathered by listening to others, the hoarbane's get stunned when its bulbous is harmed. Using this knowledge, she lunges at the beast and grabs the red orb on its face.
Aureole's fingernails dig into the blob. She tears into the mass and rips it off the hoarbane's face. Blood spews from both the bulbous and the fanged face. The predator shrivels and cries.
Aureole flings off stray blood from her hand.
-Gross...
"Thank you, Aureole. You will make a fine queen one day."
"...No problem."
growl
Another hoarbane comes up from behind them.
The king pivots and whips his hand in the direction of the beast.
A flurry of snow sweeps off the ground and spirals at the hoarbane. The snow bounces off the monster's icy skin with no effect.
"Just as I was told," the king groans. "Our snow is powerless against them. They don't even budge..."
growl
Another one appears.
And another.
Then another.
...
They're surrounded.
"Dad... what do we do?!"
"I don't know... Do you think you can use it?"
"You know I can't!"
"...Aureole? Any chance your wings can fly us to safety?"
"Ha... I wish."
Aureole wiggles the tiny wings on her back, but sure enough, they aren't nearly strong enough to lift her.
"Do you happen to have any blessings? Anything that can help?"
"...I do... but, I don't know if it'll work."
"Well now is the time to try!"
"...Alright..."
-I have light compatibility. With it, I am technically able to use Blessings of Lior. As I am, I'm only able to produce the lowest level blessing: Mirage. If I'm able to use it, I could summon projections of myself to act as decoys. The problem is that I have no idea how to use it. I can repeat the incantation, but drawing out the mirages is near impossible...
This isn't the time to hesitate... is it?
"Hurry!"
Aureole takes a deep breath.
She calms her heart and listens to it beat inside her ears.
"Distort the waves of light that flicker in thine eyes, refract mine vessel and bemuse all which witness.
Blessing of Lior: Mirage!"
With the incantation spoken, Aureole is granted the ability to produce the blessing.
She strains her body. She tightens all of her muscles, causing veins to bulge from her skin. All her concentration is fixated on producing a clone.
The outline of her body begins to distort. For onlookers, it looks as if her skin is wobbling and glitching.
Using all her focus, a brief apparition of herself fades in and out of existence beside her. The warped image is an exact replica of Aureole's body. If not for its instability, it could act as a perfect distraction.
Unfortunately, the hoarbanes aren't stupid.
And they won't wait any longer.
One of the beasts lunges forward, directly at Aureole's oblivious body.
The monster's ferocious growl snaps Aureole out of her concentration. The mirage dissipates, proving her efforts useless. Her eyes widen at the sight of the horrific beast. She freezes.
"Aureole!"
Before the beast can reach her...
The king leaps in its way.
Placing his body in between the girl and the wolf, his skin is met with fangs.
The jagged teeth sink into the king's arm, injecting him with deadly poison.
"Dad!"
Quilo is filled with dread. Guilt downpours onto Aureole.
Grinding his teeth, the king uses his other arm to assault the hoarbane's eye. His burly fingers intrude the bulbous and pop it. In the beast's agony, it retracts its fangs and flails back.
"We need to go!"
The king grips the puncture point to try and relieve the pain. He turns to face the hoarbane blocking the pathway to the gate. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he charges towards it with a mighty roar.
"What are you doing?!"
As he is already poisoned, the king finds no reason not to put himself in harm's way.
Before the beast can attack, the king barrels his arm into the hoarbane's face. Smashing the bulbous on its head, the king flings the dog off to the side.
"Run through!"
The king signals his son and Aureole to head toward the gate. They do as they're told and run through. The king trails their escape, ready to fend off any pursuers.
Using his affinity, the king stirs a whirlwind of snow and slush. He entraps the assailing hoarbanes in the cyclone. But, as proven earlier, the hoarbanes are unaffected by the snowsqualler's abilities.
"How do you feel about slides?!" the king asks.
"Slides?!"
"Run up the hill!"
Following the lifting of his hand, the king conjures a mound of snow in front of the three. Quilo sprints up the hill without hesitation, he must have done this before. Aureole and the king follow suit.
As they run up the dune, the king disperses the snow behind them. This makes the hoarbanes unable to follow.
At the zenith of the mound, Quilo leaps off without fear. At their current elevation, a fall would no doubt lead to injury, if not death. Aureole, at the dune's climax, dithers but reluctantly jumps.
The king is last to enter freefall. As he does, he gathers snow in the form of a massive slide. The snow packs together and becomes solid.
Quilo lifts his legs and lands on the ramp with his rump. Aureole mimics the boy, but her landing is a little more rough.
"Ow..."
The king lands on his feet and skates down the icy slide. The king continuously lengthens the end of the slide, to make sure their velocity doesn't cease. He uses the left behind snow to throw at the longing beasts.
Their momentum carries them all the way to the main gate.
Sirius assists ill squallers into the carriages.
There aren't enough carriages to fit everyone. But he, along with a few guards, continue to pile people into them.
"Carefully now..." he gently lifts a child into its mother's arms.
"Thank you, young man..."
The sound of sledding enters his earshot. Sirius peers over and finds three people sliding over on a snowy slide.
-What the hell...
He spots Aureole. She's the only one spinning in circles. It's slightly comical.
The forming ramp concludes near the carriages. Quilo slows his descent and dismounts with perfect precision.
Aureole is rocketing down at full speed. She's going to hurt herself.
Instinctively, Sirius stops what he's doing and begins rushing toward the base of the slide. Before he can get there, Aureole's butt collides with the ground. Instead of stopping, her momentum carries her forward.
Trying to stop herself, she extends her legs. Unfortunately, she doesn't stop. Instead, her body leans forward and launches her into the air.
As Aureole flails in the air screaming, Sirius extends his arms and runs into the right position. Aureole's body soars through the air and slams right into Sirius' arms.
With her body on top of him, Sirius topples to his back and slides backward into a carriage wheel. His head pounds right into the wood.
"Ow..."
Aureole lifts her head and finds Sirius' squinted eyes.
"Are you alright?!"
"Y-yeah... are you?"
"I'm fine, I just had a little scare."
"Thank goodness," Sirius breathes a relieved breath. His vision focuses and he notices the blush on Aureole's cheeks and ears. His cheeks begin to burn red.
-Why am I so relieved...? She's so close.
Their eyes connect and don't detract from each other.
The cold makes their mingled breaths visible.
The distance between them is almost nonexistent.
They could almost melt together.
"Are you two alright?!" The king roars, knocking both of them out of their daze. Aureole jumps and falls off Sirius' chest.
"Yes! We're fine!" she declares. Her pointed ears are wiggling.
"Sorry, I should have made the end a little smoother."
"Don't worry about it..."
The king turns to Sirius. The man pretends as if his arm was not bitten.
"Thank you, lad. For beginning evacuation efforts."
"No problem. This should be almost everyone."
"The warriors are gathering the people on the outskirts, once they return-"
"King Bora!" A guard at the top of the gate's wall shouts down. "Kynn and his team have returned!"
"Let them in!"
"Yes sir!"
The guards gather at the wall's chains and begin to lower the gate.
As they do, another group of squallers come toward the carriages. Pholy is leading them.
"Pholy!" Aureole runs up and wraps her arms around the girl.
"Aure, are you alright? Did anything happen?"
Aureole's arms tighten.
"I couldn't do anything... I couldn't use it again..."
"Aure... it's alright." Pholy tightens her grasp as well.
The main gate of Laurent's Outpost descends. The door falls and in comes Kynn and a group of warriors. A few of the warriors are dragging the body of a hoarbane inside. The wolf is alive, but the bulbous is exploded.
As Kynn runs inside, he sees the hoard of people and carriages.
"What's going on?"
"Kynn!" The king strides over to the boy. "We've been infiltrated. The hoarbanes' mother has broken through the wall. We are all evacuating."
"Evacuating-?" Kynn's eyes widen. "What about my mom? Is she here?!"
"I'm not sure."
Kynn jumps on top of a carriage and scans through the swarm of people. She's not there. He goes from carriage to carriage hoping to find her.
"Dad?" Quilo pulls on his father's sleeve. Worry is plastered all over his face. "What about your arm?"
"I'll be fine," he assures. Patting his son on the head, the man turns to Sirius. "Have you evacuated the homes?"
"No, I only focused on the sick. Most people in the homes ran out once the mother broke in."
"Hm... Kynn-"
"I need to go get her!"
Kynn shouts and jumps down from the carriage.
"Wait! Kynn you shouldn't run off alone!"
"I'll be fine! You can leave without us! We'll catch up!"
"Wait-!"
pound
"What..." Kynn's mouth drops.
POUND
"The mother..."
The twisted plant monster emerges over the horizon. Its whip-like arms crash and ripple the land.
The snowsquallers in the carriages shriek in terror. They beg to leave the outpost immediately. The children are crying.
Adjacent to the mother is hordes of hoarbanes.
An army.
A coalition of vicious beasts with no concept of mercy.
"Get the people out!" King Bora demands. "All warriors and guards depart with them! Let no hoarbane take our lives!"
"Yes sir!" All present warriors and guards shout and scamper around. The carriages begin to depart as the looming monstrosity approaches.
As the carriages drive over the gate and leave the outpost's boundaries...
Another problem emerges.
growl
Outside the outpost's walls is another swarm of hoarbanes.
Exit is not an option.
Hysteria ensues.
The snowsquallers have had enough. Tears and cries spill from the carriages. Many have accepted their fates.
"Can we handle them?"
"No..." the king's heart sinks. "There are far too many..."
Dozens upon dozens of hoarbanes wait for them outside the walls. Even attempting to attack will lead to certain death.
Death stands outside and inside the walls.
Face the hoard or face the mother.
They must pick their poison.
"Get everyone back in! Then close the gate!"
...
"What do we do?" Sirius asks.
"I don't know..." Pholy says. "...Where's Korlin?"
"..."
"Sirius? Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"I thought you knew where he was..."
"I did... I don't know if he's alive anymore."
"What...? Where was he?"
"..."
"Where was he?!"
"I don't think you want to know."
"..."
pound
The mother's advance hasn't faltered.
The remaining carriages enter back in the outpost. The guards shut the gate. They're back in the same position.
"Pholy," Aureole calls for her. She motions the girl to follow her.
Facing away from everyone, the two talk in private.
"What is it?" Pholy whispers.
"I know you don't want to... but do you think..."
"I don't think that's a good idea-"
"If you don't, we'll all probably die. It's our only chance right now."
"..."
"Please. You shouldn't have to, but I don't think we have much of a choice."
"Once I do it, I'll be out. If I miss... you'll be left defenseless."
"I know, but I believe in you. I know you can do it."
"..." Pholy takes a deep breath. "Make sure nobody comes near me."
"I will," Aureole hugs her friend. "Thank you, Pholy. Don't overdo it, okay? I need you to come back."
"...I will. Take care of me when I come back."
"Of course."
Pholy smiles and retracts from her friend's arms. She gives her a nod and turns to face the encroaching mother.
"I need to go to my mom!" Kynn exclaims to everyone. "I'll be right back! I'll damage as many as I can!"
"Kynn! No that's suicide!"
"I'll be fine! Please, let me save my mom!"
"There's at least a hundred over there! If you go in there, you'll be shredded within seconds!"
"It's better than waiting to die here!"
"Kynn..." Nola, along with her sister, steps forward. "Please..."
"Nola..."
"She's probably fine," Nola's sister comes up to Kynn. "I don't want to lose you so easily..."
"Nuray... sorry, I can't just leave her to die." Kynn turns around and begins running toward his home and mother.
...
"Wait."
Pholy grabs Kynn's shoulder.
"Pholy? What do you want-?"
"Step back."
"What- Sorry, I need to save my mom-"
"No. Let me handle this."
"What are you going to do?"
"Something stupid..." Pholy sighs. "I might die and I'm not sure if it'll even work... but, I have to try."
"You stay back and defend the people, if the hoarbanes come they'll need you to protect them."
"Go back, Kynn. If you stand near me, you'll melt."
The look in Pholy's eyes tell him everything he needs to know.
"...Okay... I'll trust you."
Pholy nods. "Can I see your sword real quick?"
"Hm? Sure..." Kynn unsheathes and hands the girl his sword.
"Thank you."
With the blade in hand, she puts the metal to her palm.
slice
Pholy cuts her hand with the sword, causing blood to flow from her palm.
"What are you doing?"
She winces from the pain but swiftly places the blade to her other hand.
slice
She cuts her other palm. Blood now seeps from both her hands.
"If I don't make it... protect Aureole." Pholy gives the sword back to Kynn. "Have her give my mom my regards."
"...Okay."
The mention of her mother has Kynn understand her resolve. Kynn nods and reluctantly jogs back to the carriages. She waits for him to move a considerable distance away. She ignites her hands with pink flames.
With everyone now behind her. With everyone watching...
Pholy slows her heartbeat and consumes a deep breath.
"Great god of fire, I call upon your seething heart and beckon for your blood. From thy furnace, I draw your marrow, ignite mine ichor and imbue it with thy rage. Broil my being and inflame which brings my life.
Blessing of Kindnel: Bloodflame!"
Pholy's fushia eyes begin to darken. Their bright pigment converts from a beautiful pink to a deep crimson. The ends of her hair shed into the same raw color. The pink flames burning on her fists rage into a bloody red.
Pholy raises her cut hands.
From the bloodied wounds erupts an inferno of raging bloodlust.
Pholy's mind is lost.
Flames consume her.
The sound the blaze produces is that of a monster's shriek. Like a siren warning those who oppose it of death.
As she sways her arms, the bloody blaze encircles the girl. Wind rips around her. It only fuels the firestorm.
She is encaged in a murderous inferno which begs to be released.
In her eyeline encroaches the mother.
Flames do not discriminate. What they see is what they wish to consume.
In her current state, Pholy cannot possibly restrain the flames' desire.
And so...
The flames unleash.
With a haunting cry, the crimson blaze bursts from Pholy's hands. The jet soars through the cold sky, incinerating the air and falling snow.
It travels faster than one can blink. The flames reach the mother's body and engulf it in an instant. The ice-covered monstrosity is swallowed by a sea of crimson flames. The inferno spirals around all its limbs, leaving no room to breathe.
The mother has no mouth to cry from.
Instead of wailing, it throws itself from side to side. The beast swings its thorny arms and demolishes everything in the immediate area. It lashes and flails, obliterating nearby hoarbanes like they're glass.
Pholy continues her assault. The lines between herself and the bloodflame are blurring. No emotion, no thoughts, nothing apart from fire exists with her.
Bloodflame.
An expert-level blessing for those with a fire compatibility. It draws from the user's blood to empower the potency of their flames. When expelled, the flames can burn through all forms of matter. But, as Pholy hasn't trained her compatibility much, her bloodflame isn't nearly strong enough to melt more than strong metals.
Pholy is barely advanced level with her compatibility. In order to use bloodflame, she must let her mind be consumed. As long as she uses it, she is not herself. Nor anyone. At this point in time, luck has taken the wheel.
The more bloodflame is used, the more the user is weakened. If used for too long, the user will lose all blood and die.
...
Onlookers gaze on in horror and marvel. The sight is full of beauty but mixed with deep disturbance.
The hoarbanes which followed the mother scatter and retreat.
"How much longer can she stay like that?" Kynn asks.
"I don't know," Aureole responds. "But the longer she does, the more blood she'll lose."
"Hm..."
"Should we stop her?"
"We just need to ensure the mother is dealt with. Once that happens, yes."
"She's not conscious like that. She could die..."
"Is there a way to stop her?" Sirius questions.
"I'm not sure."
"The ground below her is melting. If she loses sight of the mother, will she stop?"
"Maybe? I don't know! She's only used it once before! I wasn't there!"
The mother continues to squirm and decimate.
The firestorm around Pholy begins to burn brighter. The blazing ball expands and sends a heatwave ripple throughout the outpost. The beam of pure heat strengthens and singes the mother even more.
Pholy's flame is unnaturally hot. Too hot. Too expensive.
She's losing far too much blood.
Aureole fidgets. Concern for her friend takes hold of her.
"Pholy! Please stop!"
No response.
"Kynn!" Aureole faces the awed boy. "Can you blind her?"
"Blind her?"
"Use the snow! Do something, please!"
"She burns any snow around her! We'll need something else to snap her out of it!"
Aureole shrinks and ponders to herself. Kynn continues to observe the onslaught.
Sirius looks around near the mother. A few hoarbanes lie still on the ground, burning to a crisp.
"The hoarbanes don't burn."
"Hm?"
"Look," Sirius points at the hoarbanes burning with the bloody fire. "The ice around them instantly melts, but their bodies won't."
"What are you saying?"
Sirius turns around to the warriors who captured the hoarbane.
"If the hoarbane won't burn instantly, we could use one to knock her out of it."
"You want to throw a hoarbane at her?" Kynn asks.
"It's just a thought."
"Let's do it!" Aureole agrees. "Fast!"
Sirius is surprised she agreed so readily.
"I'll do it," Kynn doesn't wait to hear a response. He walks over to his fellow warriors and asks them for the hoarbane which is repeatedly getting its bulbous popped. The warriors hesitantly agree and hand him the hoarbane.
Kynn drags the hoarbane by one of its legs. He starts heading toward Pholy's burn ball of death.
"Kynn! What are you doing?!" Nuray shouts.
"Don't worry! I'm just going to throw this dog at her!"
"Wha...?"
Kynn presses forward, not looking back.
The heat radiating from Pholy makes the boy sweat.
Heatwaves shockwave from Pholy. Snow particles dust off of Kynn's skin.
Highlighted by the bloodflame, Kynn trudges through the red snow. He closes in on Pholy, standing right outside her sphere. With the hoarbane in tow, he lifts it up. The creature is surprisingly light to Kynn, due to how much adrenaline he's carrying with him.
"For mom..."
Gripping one of the wolf's melting legs, he leans back and winds up a pitch. Kynn, using all his strength, launches the hoarbane toward the blazing girl.
As the hoarbane enters the bloodflame ball, all of the ice surrounding its skin instantly evaporates. The bulbous on its face melts into a red slush. The beast flails through the burning mass and slams into the back of Pholy's head.
The rough, burning flesh of the hoarbane collides with Pholy's hair and topples her forward. The mindless girl loses her balance and falls face-first into the dirt. The impact of her head meeting the ground, and the loss of vision, causes the flames to slowly disperse.
...
"Thank Alsi..." Kynn collapses to his knees. "I was scared I'd have to throw my sword at you."
Pholy is motionless. Blood pools from her hands.
The roasted hoarbane also lies still.
"Pholy!" Aureole sprints over as fast as she can. She skids across the ground and picks up Pholy into her arms. The girl's skin is scorching, but Aureole bears through it. "Pholy..."
Pholy's eyes remain open. The crimson color is returning to fushia.
"..."
"Good job. That was amazing. You did so well..." Aureole compliments her bleeding friend. Tears are welling up in her eyes.
Pholy's gaze meets Aureole's.
The flaming girl smiles, and her eyelids fall.
Kynn stands stiff.
"She's not... dead, right?"
"No, she's still breathing. But we need someone to help her."
"Nuray! Get over here quick!" Kynn crouches down to inspect Pholy's wounds. "It looks like Nuray will be able to heal her wounds. She should be fine."
"Thank you..." Aureole smiles, a tear streaming down her cheek.
Nuray rushes over and immediately begins healing Pholy. Kynn thanks Nuray and looks out at the mother.
As he does, cheers from the snowsquallers erupt near the carriages.
The ice surrounding the mother has melted. Its plant-like arms are charred and continue to burn. The mother continues to thrash its appendages.
While the mother looks like a plant, it sure doesn't burn like one. The bulbous on its head also remains intact and unaffected.
Not a single hoarbane apart from the one beside Pholy is in sight. They've all run away. And now, the mother follows.
The mother turns away and begins its retreat.
"It's running..." Sirius says, coming up from behind Kynn.
"Yeah-" Kynn's mouth suddenly shuts. "Shit!"
Kynn abruptly bursts from his place and sprints toward the escaping mother.
"What's wrong?"
"Sirius! Follow me!"
"Uh- Okay!" Sirius doesn't think, he just follows the sprinting boy. "What are we doing?"
"It's heading toward my mom's house."
...
The look in Kynn's eyes is dangerous. Almost scary.
Sirius doesn't say another word. Neither of them do.
Kynn uses his snow manipulation to propel him forward. His concentration is at a zenith. Sirius can hardly keep up.
The mother's rampage sweeps rubble around it like a whirlwind. Stray pieces kick up and fly toward the pursuing boys.
Kynn weaves them with precision. Sirius not so much.
Kynn surges ahead, leaving Sirius far behind. Nothing else rests on his mind besides saving his mother.
His house comes into view.
The mother is on a direct path toward the home.
"MOM!" Kynn screams, using all his power and speed to fling faster. The boy pushes past his limits. His lungs burn and his legs ache. Having just returned from a mission, he's exhausted. While capturing the hoarbane, he had to fend off four others.
Pushing past his fatigue, Kynn almost catches up to the mother. Snow explodes behind him, launching each step far further than humanly possible.
The mother nears the house. It closes the distance faster than Kynn can reach them.
"NO!"
The house enters the mother's range.
The raging monster winds back a throned arm.
The world slows before Kynn.
"No..."
He won't make it. He can't.
The mother is too fast.
...
It swings its arm.
The burning appendage glides through the wind.
All within a moment, Kynn's world collapses.
The mother's massive arm collides with the wooden walls.
Without a chance to blink, the limb's mass and momentum obliterate the building.
CRASH
Kynn's home splinters and shatters. The support crumbles and walls implode into ruin. Glass scatters and wood fragments into oblivion.
The mother stomps over the remains of the home. Its arms thrash the prevailing panels, reducing them down into dust.
It tramples over the foundation like it's nothing more than a crack in the sidewalk.
The mother continues on its path and continues its rampage past the home.
...
Kynn drops to his knees.
His childhood home which he has grown up in since birth was just annihilated in front of him.
And inside was...
"Mom..."