“Fucking heat, making goblins smell even worse.” Nita groused quietly as she and Kit belly crawled through the grass downwind of the goblins. Reaching the edge of the gully, they both looked down onto the camp. The field of wildflowers within was dotted with goblin corpses, and the butchering in the distance had a strange wild beauty to it, like a morbid old battle tapestry. The Tinker’s wagon was sitting in the middle of camp; its contents spread haphazardly about.

“Shit, what a mess.” She muttered.

“Shh, wait for Cid and Lilly to get this started.” Kit said seriously.

“Yeah, yeah. Now, where is the shaman? Any idea what kind?” Nita asked in a whisper.

“Over there, and don’t whisper its more obvious than talking quietly.” Kit explained pointing out a goblin festooned with bones. “Not sure maybe Necromancer? No visible undead though.”

“Really?’’ Nita said quietly. “Ugly bastard, isn’t he?’’

“I think it’s female; I think those are breasts” Kit observed.

“It’s irrelevant.” Nita said shaking her leg up and down anxiously, her hands opening and closing on the hilts of her weapons.

“Any moment now.” Kit said eyeing Nita’s fidgeting.

“Sorry, I always get like this before a fight. I think it’s the adrenaline; I messed with my adrenal glands a few years ago, and this is a side effect. I managed to make myself respond faster, but I seem to crash harder after as well.” Nita explained.

“Adrenaline? Never mind, you can explain it later.” Kit asked off hand. Keeping her eyes on the camp before her.

BOOM!

A large fire ball exploded opposite them in the camp below, drawing the attention of all the goblins and killing 3 or 4 and injuring more.

BOOM!

Another explosion hit in another group of goblins killing and wounding more.

“He will only have two or three more of those before he’s out. He’s a rather weak fire mage.” Nita said.

“That’s our cue.” Kit said, getting into a crouch ready to sprint.

“Alright, GO!” Nita said, taking off at a dead sprint for the shaman; Kit hot on her heels. Slamming into a goblin with her shoulder Nita barreled through without pause. Kit slipped her saber almost casually into its side as she passed. Nita side-stepped the next one dragging her sword across its neck as she passed. Effortlessly avoiding its attempt to block with a crude club. As Kit viciously hacked at another; driving its own short sword into its shoulder with the power of her blow.

Lilly and Cid appeared at the top of the gully bracing for the swarm of goblins running their way. At least half the tribe was charging them. Cid was prepping another flask, looking for a good group to target.

Nita and Kit were halfway to the shaman when it raised its hands and crystals started forming on her arms and back.

“Shit! Shaman’s a Crystal!” Nita yelled a warning, throwing her dagger as hard as she could at the shaman trying to distract it. Then she ducked another goblin’s short sword.She slipped her sword into its gut then spinning a quick half turn she used her momentum to remove her sword from its stomach and decapitate the next in line as Kit body checked another that was swinging at Nita’s back; stopping quickly to stomp on its neck.

Two more quick kills and the path to the shaman opened and they rushed her. Just before they got to the shaman, she turned, and raising her hands shot shards of crystal at the two. Kit hit the ground in a roll to the side and Nita raised her arms to protect her face depending on her armor and thick skin to protect her. Festooned with small shards Nita took the last two steps to the now crystalline shaman and rammed her shoulder into her face. She found herself tripping on the shaman as she overran her so she dove headfirst into a roll. Coming to her feet in a quick turn she raised her sword in a two-handed grip and with all her power slammed it down on the goblin’s chest, only to have it bounce off the crystal now covering the entire goblin.

“Fuck!” Nita swore looking around quickly “Where is a hammer when you need one.” Spotting a rock, she dove for it, dropping her sword, as the shaman shot more shards into her back making her grunt in pain. Getting shakily to her feet with the heavy Rock in her hands, Nita jumped up and once again used her whole weight behind her blow as she rammed it onto the top of the now rising, shaman’s head.

CRACK! SQUELCH!

The Shamans head caved under the blow, in a shower of crystal shards.

Rolling to her side, then flipping up to her feet and ducking to pick up her sword, she rammed it into the back of one of the goblin’s Kit was fighting.

“Behind you!” Kit yelled, then cut a goblins throat that turned to look over its shoulder.

Nita spun down to her knees, sword out to skewer the goblin that was trying to sneak up on her. Its swing going high.

“Shit. We need to finish this, Lilly needs help! I think Cid is out, and he’s terrible with his sword.” Nita said taking a deep breath, then knocking a club aside and putting her blade into a goblin heart as Kit finished her last opponent.

Kit grunted taking the lead, pouncing on a goblin from behind using her off hand claws to slash the side of its neck. Then rolling to her feet too cut down the next in line. Nita covering her flank easily blocking a couple blows and finishing off another goblin with a quick short thrust. Once they reached Lilly, they took the remaining goblins from behind, making quick work of them.

“I think I love you! That was awesome! You’re amazing.” Nita said to Kit, giving her a quick hug, high on endorphins. “I should have brought my shield.”

Kit stiffened

“Don’t be like that.” Cid quipped. “You’re too cozy with the slaves, and I told you to, but you insisted they were ‘only goblins.’ Idiot.”

“Oh, come on! Don’t’ ruin my fun. You ass!” Nita shot back. Collapsing on to her back, Nita swore as she accidently drove some of the shards in further; her chest heaving.

“One of you has to pull these shards out of my back.” Nita said working to pull some of the larger one’s out of her arms. “I think this armor is toast. Shit! I loved these pants!” Nita continued looking at the holes.

“You do tend to be hard on your clothes.” Cid observed. “Lilly go fetch Rebeca.” He ordered Lilly.

“Sure.” She said taking off with a slight limp.

“Hmm. She didn’t look cut, club?” Nita asked Cid, who nodded.

“Probably a bone bruise or crack; to make her limp like that.” Nita said with a wince as she pulled more shards out, concentrating to make sure she didn’t bleed too much, and accelerating her healing.

“That was intense. Hic!” Nita said giggling with a hiccup, then starting to shake. “Shit, I need help with the shards Cid. The shakes are hitting me. I’ll do too much damage, hic! if I do it myself. Yeah, I know, help me with the armor, I guess you get to see my brand after all.” She said with another hiccup and giggle, at his look and smirk.

“You’re the only non-cat-kin that I’ve met, that is faster than me.” Kit said contemplatively, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

“The tinkers wagon looks intact. Make sure the goblins are not playing possum, then check it out Kit.” Cid ordered.

“Alright.” She said getting up. Kicking the odd goblin and stabbing some in the heart.

“She’s a trooper, and a better fighter than I would have thought even with her background. Ship to ship battle doesn’t always translate.” Cid said as he helped Nita out of her armor and worked on removing shards.

“She did spend a couple years in mercenary bands. Maybe she wasn’t just a whore to them?” Nita contemplated with a few grunts, as Cid removed shards.

“You look like a pincushion, you’re lucky you can make your skin thick like that, or this would have been a lot worse. You could have died.” Cid frowned.

“Aww. You’re worried about me! I love you too!” Nita smirked.

“Shut it temptress!” Cid replied punching her in the shoulder. “I do like your brand; it suits you.” He continued.

“Thanks! Sometimes it's hard being this cool.” Nita enthused then swore as Cid pulled a particularly large shard out.

“Stupid crystal mages.” Cid said, accidentally cutting his finger on a shard, then sticking it in his mouth.