Book 2 Chapter 18

Garm’s form expanded, body rippling. The sand around his paws was pushed back and away as he grew. In an instant he reached his full size, looming over the beach as he stood near Tirr. He lifted his head and let out a long terrifying howl.

The Starfish seemed to sway in surprise as it watched its new opponent grow. Facing a creature now nearly its size, it felt a certain uneasiness about it and the other individuals on the beach. It raised itself, letting out a piercing cry as a counter to the great wolf’s howl.

As it cried, the water around the Starfish started to froth and bubble. Dozens of swaying forms rose out of the water, working their way out of the water and up the beach as they listened to their parent’s orders.

Garm ignored the small things, letting out a growl so low that the sand around him trembled. He lowered himself to a crouch, his body tensing and winding up like a spring before launching himself forward. Dust and sand flew as the wolf charged at the giant Starfish.

The Starfish raised itself angrily, lifting its arms and the strange closure that was its mouth. It gathered itself straining its body before spitting a clot of its acidic liquid at the still airborne wolf.

The acid struck Garm in the chest, leaving a quiet sizzling as it tried to eat away at his fur and body. Though the giant Starfish’s acid was more effective than its children’s. Garm still paid it no attention, refusing to slow down as he rushed at the Monster.

They collided with a grating crunch within the shallows of the beach. Water rose in a colossal splash as the force pushed the Starfish back deeper into the shore. The skin on its body was covered in dense layers of coral and barnacles that acted as a set of thick plate armor. Yet as Garm’s body tackled into it, the protective armor was crushed as if it were paper, falling away in large chunks to splash down into the disturbed water below them. The Starfish let out a cry of pain, moving its arms over itself protectively as the wolf readied its next attack.

Tir watched as his guardian crashed into the Sea Beast expectantly and wasn’t disappointed as it reeled back in pain from the collision.

“Tirr!”

He turned, hearing Maria’s cry as she appeared behind him, swinging Bren’s hammer in a wide arc to blow away a wave of acid spit that was close to striking him from behind. He looked around with a frown.

The beast’s cry had summoned the creatures from within the town as well. They swarmed towards him and Maria, trapping him and his apostle between the two groups coming out of the water and the town.

He waved a hand dismissively, sending out a wave of flame towards one of the approaching groups. Three of the Starfish upfront let out and agonizing screech as their insides boiled, but as they fell more stepped into their place, raising themselves to launch another wave of acid attacks.

Tirr’s eyes narrowed and he raised a shield in front of himself quickly, blocking the front attacks while Maria guarded the back. As the attacks stopped, he channeled his Fire Blessing to let out another attack of his own, but was forced to raise his shield again as more acid came flying at them.

Maria once again defended his back with another swing of her hammer. As she swept the acid away some of it landed on her arms, burning away at her skin. She healed herself quickly as she backed closer to Tirr readying herself for the next attack.

Tirr glanced at Maria’s healing arm and then looked up towards where Garm was still fighting the Parent. Garm held the advantage as he deftly dodged the Starfish’s slow-moving arms to land his own attacks. Still, it was obvious the fight wouldn’t be over anytime soon, as the Starfish’s sheer size and mass lent it strength.

He turned towards Maria, “We can’t stay still, or we’ll be nothing but target practice.” He focused on his Life Blessing, letting it fill his body with energy and strength. “Keep moving and don’t let them all catch you.”

She nodded, focusing her Blessing, if they couldn’t fight back with their own ranged attacks then they’d have to close in and fight where the creatures couldn’t keep firing. As soon as they were ready, they dropped their defenses and sprang forward.

In the shallows not far from them, a massive arm came sweeping down, narrowly missing the giant wolf it was aiming at before crashing into the shore, causing it to explode in a spray of sand and seawater.

Garm took his chance immediately, lunging forward with his massive jaws to latch onto one of the arms, biting down with all his strength. His teeth sank into the creature with a crunch as he tore through the hard scaling. The sizzling yellowish blood seeped out from the would as the Starfish let out a mournful wail and tried to pull its arm away.

Garm crouched, centering his strength as he jerked his head pulling at the arm with all his strength. The coral armor was pulled away as the Starfish’s flesh stretched and tore. It swung its other arm in a desperate attack, forcing Garm to let go to avoid the crushing blow, before reeling back further into the water. Garm sensing his victory, let out an excited howl as he pressed forward deeper into the water.

On the beach, Tirr and Maria dashed to avoid the oncoming acid, closing on the beasts nearest to them. As the Starfish charged at him Tirr twisted his body, swinging his leg around in a vicious kick. It struck the nearest beast with a crack as its body shattered and was thrown back. Tirr rolled along the ground coming up in front of another creature before sending it flying with a fist.

Maria wasn’t as fast as Tirr, but she moved deftly enough to avoid the sizzling acid. She swung Bren’s hammer with enough force to lift the sand and dust off the ground. The hammer tore through two of the Beasts, who dropped to the ground twitching as they blood leaked onto the sand. Maria didn’t have time to celebrate as she moved onto the next, channeling her blessing as she brought the hammer down in an overhead strike crushing another creature into paste.

Tirr took the chance to look around as he finished off another one. There seemed to be no end of the creatures, He knew he would be fine keeping this up himself, but Maria was already exhausted after a long day of healing. He wasn’t sure how long her strength would last.

Worried, he glanced towards Garm after killing another beast just in time to see him Rip into the Starfish’s arm. He praised his Guardian in his head… Until he watched the Starfish reel back further into the water and Garm chase after it.”

“Idiot!” He yelled as he struck down another one of the children, “Don’t follow it too deep!”

But Garm had already lunged forward once again, too caught up in his excitement at fulfilling his masters’ orders. He raced forward to finished off the opponent in front of him, only to suddenly feel the ground beneath the water disappear causing him to stumble from the sudden change in depth.

The Starfish seemed to have been expecting the error, and one of its arms whipped forward, slamming into Garm’s shoulder and sending him further off balance. As Garm tried to right himself its arms closed around him wrapping themselves around the giant wolf as it pulled itself over him. Garm struggled, but had too much difficulty steadying himself in the sudden depth.

“Dumb pup,” Tirr cursed, crushing another beast under his foot. He should have realized Garm was too young, He held an absolute advantage in physical strength and prowess, but didn’t have the experience this Beast did. As he worried about how to help without leaving Maria. A sudden horn sounded from the Town.

Dozens of people in blue robes appeared from its streets as they headed onto the beach, led by Nerida, who wore a concerned expression as she looked for Tirr. As his eyes closed in on him, she let out a relieved sigh. “Assist them!” She ordered before moving forward herself water collecting in a ring around her…