Two days later found them on the outskirts of the Errolt ruins. Bird felt apprehensive as they stopped to make camp. Basalt had placed them on orders to make minimal noise. The air in the forest had changed making Bird feel nauseated. Hardly any animals made noise and all the trees had a sickly yellow tinge to the leaves and bark.

Several warriors were already sick with fever in their tents. The healers were hard at work tending to them; even Yena was adding her talents to tend to the sick.

Bird was sitting in a wagon when Apple walked up with a rolled blanket in his arms. “Hi, Bird,” he said when she looked up. “This is for you.” He pulled back the blanket to reveal a sword, sheath and belt.

“You’re giving me a sword?” Bird said excitedly. She stood up quickly then sat down when her head began to swim.

“Are you okay?”

“Whatever is going around got to me this morning.”

Apple felt her forehead. “You feel warmer than normal. I’ll have Yena look you over.”

“What is this sickness? Even the trees and animals are suffering.”

“It’s miasma. Some people are more sensitive to it than others. When creatures of darkness gather in large numbers they produce a miasma that kills everything around it; animal to bone and cities to ash. They must have a demon with them.”

Bird shivered. “What are demons like?”

Apple paused for a moment before speaking. “They are the embodiment of the darkness. To stand in front of one is to stand in front of the bottomless void that sucks everything into it. Each varies in size and strength, but all are deadly.”

“Are we going to fight it?”

“Not unless we have to. I’m not even sure if we have enough warriors to face one at this level,” Apple said waving his arm to encompass the trees. Bird looked at the browning grass and the spotted leaves of the trees.

“Then let’s hope we don’t encounter it.”

Apple nodded then handed the sword to Bird. “How does it feel?”

Bird gripped the hilt and cut through the air in front of her with a sharp stroke. “It’s light enough for me to wield. Thank you.” Apple drew close and ran his thumb over her cheek.

“Bird, I want you to be careful. Stay near me or Lore when we go into battle. If we get overrun I want you to open a gate and take Lore with you.”

“Apple I’m not leaving you and the others! We go together.”

The dragon looked surprised for a moment then he sighed and shook his head. “You’re stubborn and loyal, which aren’t bad things, but I want you to be safe. I’m not saying this just because I’m your guardian, but because I care about you.”

Bird put down the sword and stood up in the wagon again. She jumped down then hugged Apple. “I can’t tell you not to worry about me, but please at least trust me to not get into too much trouble.” Apple kissed the top of her head.

“Okay,” he said.

Evening came and Yena returned from her rounds of the camp. She looked tired as she sat next to Bird, but was able to smile. Adwin began to massage her shoulders and she sighed in relief. “Thank you, Adwin. This miasma is strong; I’m not sure how many people will be able to fight.”

“Do not worry my love. All we need to do is destroy this camp. The Vanguard has already interrupted their supply line. Once that is complete we’ll return home,” Adwin said. He nuzzled Yena’s ear. “I can’t wait to see our egg.”

“Egg?” Apple said.

Adwin smiled brightly. “Yena and I are going to be parents. Our egg is due to hatch in a month.”

Yena gave a small smile. “We had wanted to wait to have children, but I decided that we have waited long enough. Bird is going to be the godmother, and Lore, we want you to be the godfather.”

Lore turned to Bird. “You knew about this?”

Bird ducked her head feeling her face heat. “Yes, Yena asked me.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me that you would become the mother of someone else’s child?” Lore leaned in close to her. “You don’t want to have my baby?”

“H-huh?” Bird squeaked. Lore smiled then picked up her hand and kissed it.

“It’s alright, I’m teasing.”

“Well isn’t this a cozy group,” Maddox said walking up to them. Apple immediately stood and kissed his brother’s cheek. “How is my youngest brother this night?”

“I am well, Brother, thanks for asking,” Apple said. “What brings you here?”

“I just wanted to wish everyone luck, especially you, Lavender Blackbriar.” Maddox smiled, but Bird could see no joy in it.

“Please call me Bird,” she said. Maddox bowed before her.

“I thought it would be rude of me to address you so informally. Please excuse me.”

“Are you done?” Lore snapped. Maddox frowned and waved his hand as if to clear the air.

“I am. Be well.”

The older dragon walked away slowly with his hands behind his back. Several people bowed as he passed. Apple turned to Lore glaring.

“What was that about, why were you rude to my brother?”

Lore threw up his hands. “Avalon, please don’t be offended when I say that your brother can get mounted by a boar. I don’t see why he needs to come over here and harass Bird.”

Apple rolled his eyes. “You may not think this, but my brother is kind.”

“A kind executioner, really, does he apologize before or after he severs your head? Does he bring you flowers so that when you’re burned the air smells sweetly?”

Apple growled and Bird smacked Lore’s shoulder. “Lore, calm down, he hasn’t done anything to hurt me,” she said.

“Lore, Bird is right. There is no reason for your rudeness now. He hasn’t done anything,” Apple said.

“So are we supposed to wait until he does?” Lore demanded.

“He won’t do anything unless Bird is perceived as a threat. Charging in now will only do that. Stay out of trouble and he won’t become a problem.”

It was Lore’s turn to roll his eyes. He stood up and walked away. Bird reached out for him then stopped. How was she going to comfort him? While she believed Apple was right Lore did bring up a valid point; Maddox had not done anything yet, all they could do was prepare.

“Let him go,” Apple said. “He needs time to clear his head."

Bird did not see Lore again until morning came. The camp had come to life just before dawn. They donned armor and weapons and were eating a cold breakfast so that fires would not give away their position. Lore was silent as he sat next to Bird and picked up a biscuit. She placed her hand on his arm and after a few moments he turned to her, his eyes looking red and bleary.

“Did you sleep?” she asked. He shook his head and took another bite from his biscuit. “You should take a nap now before we leave.”

“I’ll be fine, I have this,” he said holding up a small linen packet. “This packet, when steeped in water creates an energy boosting drink. If I have two of these I will be fine.”

Bird took the packet from him and smelled the bitter grounds and dried vanilla bean. She had never smelled such a plant before and wondered how it tasted. Lore took another packet from the pouch on his belt and dropped it into a mug of water. He breathed fire on the metal mug until the water began to steam. After a few minutes he removed the packet and added sugar from a small bowl. He offered the cup to Bird and she cautiously took a sip. The flavor was something she could not describe, but the mix of vanilla and the sweetness of the sugar complemented it.

“This is good,” Bird said as she handed the cup back to Lore. He drained the cup swiftly then filled it with water and began the process again.

“It’s one of my favorite drinks. I’ll teach you how to make it when we return home.”

Bird sighed. It would be nice to return home and sleep in her own soft bed again. For a brief moment she wondered how Sarene was doing. They had barely spoken to each other when Bird and returned from training and now she was gone again.

Bird tugged at her leather armor unaccustomed to the fit. The skin on her sides had begun to sweat irritating her skin.

“Stop playing with the armor. If you don’t you could make it useless,” Lore said as he watched her.

Bird opened her mouth to respond when a shout was heard.

“EVERYONE FORM UP! MOVE INTO POSITIONS FOR ATTACK!”

Bird leapt to her feet with Lore who drained his mug in one smooth motion and tossed it aside. They fell in behind Apple, Elys, Adwin and Yena as they moved to where all the dragons and witches were congregating.

When all members had formed up they moved into the forest. They traveled for thirty minutes until they reached the ruins of an old fallen tower. As one the dragons shimmered then leapt into the air. They flew off in v formations and began setting fire to the forest ahead before circling back and picking up their witch companions.

Bird felt apprehensive as Lore carried her over the flames of the forest toward the main ruins of Errolt. A horn was blasting in the distance and tigers and Seekers were running from the flames in panic.

A few spotted the dragons and stood their ground to fight. Bird swallowed hard as the first of the dragons reached the tigers. The two titans clashed in mid-air, the tiger having leaped impossibly high and ensnaring the dragon’s wing.

Suddenly a volley of arrows was released from the shattered rooftops. Instinctively Bird cast a shield around herself and Lore. The shafts bounced off the barrier and fell harmlessly away. Bird felt her heart race as spells began to follow the arrows.

“Lore, take me over the rooftops!” Bird yelled. Lore ducked his head in acknowledgement and soared closer to the enemy.

***

The first thing that Dia smelled was the smoke. Her nose twitched as she smelled the burning wood and grass. Soon a horn bugled an enemy attack. Growling she left her headquarters in an abandoned temple and faced into the wind where the smell of fire came from.

She reached for her sword then paused as a new smell met her nose, a familiar smell. “No, not here, stupid thing!” she growled. She thought the last time she had smelled this magic it had been a delusion, but now there was no mistaking the familiar scent and feel on her skin.

Dia tasted ash in her mouth as tears fell from her eyes. How was she to keep her promise now? To do so would be to betray her gods and destroy everything she had worked for.

The scar on her face began to ache from her irritation. She had to make a decision and soon before it was too late.

***

Bird opened a portal and blasted fire at the surprised Seeker. He jumped back screaming as his cloak caught fire. Bird swiftly broke her barrier and raced forward while the Seeker was preoccupied with putting out the flames.

She pulled out her sword then hit the unfortunate witch in the temple dropping him with one blow. She turned to find Lore engaged with a tiger, both in their deadly forms. Despite his size Lore seemed to dance gracefully around the enraged tiger avoiding blows while serving his own.

Bird reluctantly pulled her eyes away from him and turned to face a white haired man. His eyes widened in shock and he pointed at her. “There she is! The one we were ordered to capture!” Confused Bird raised her sword to him; who had ordered to capture her? “Stay still child and let me bind you. If you do you will not be hurt,” the white haired man growled.

“I hardly believe that!” Bird said angrily.

“We’ve heard how you escaped capture last time, Lavender, but you will not get away this time!”

“How do you know my name?”

The tiger raised a spear and leveled it at her chest. “Your choice, Lavender, come quietly or come bleeding.”

“I’ll never go quietly,” Bird growled. The tiger began to circle to her left and she matched him step for step. Suddenly he lunged and Bird parried the tip of the spear away. The tiger corrected himself then thrust his spear so quickly that Bird could not see it.

The head grazed her cheek leaving a burning pain in its wake. Startled she backed away a step. The tiger took advantage of her surprise and began a barrage of spear thrusts. Bird struggled to block each thrust and soon found herself exhausted.

Her lungs burned with each heavy breath and her arms felt like leaded weights attached to her shoulders. Suddenly she was struck in the head from behind and she crumpled to her knees. Before she could cast a barrier her sword was kicked from her hand and she was grabbed by her hair by a second tiger.

“Let go of me!” Bird yelled.

The tiger shook her and she cried out in pain. Summoning light into her hands she formed a rope and hooked it around the tiger’s neck. The tiger screamed in pain and released Bird to claw at his neck. His face began to turn purple. “Filthy whore!” the first tiger shouted. He used the butt of his spear and hit Bird over the head.

The last thing Bird saw was the spear butt heading for her head.

Dia was running toward the burning ruins when she came across a group of tigers hauling an unconscious woman through the streets. They saluted and she saluted back. As she was about to dismiss them she caught sight of the face. Her heart stopped cold.

“Bird,” she whispered.

“Ma’am?” the lead soldier said. Dia drew her sword and before any of the tigers could speak she severed his head. As his body dropped she turned to the next tiger and stabbed him in the stomach. By that time the rest of the tigers responded by dropping Bird and reaching for their weapons.

“She’s gone mad!” a female said. “Call for help!”

Snarling Dia changed into her tiger form and pounced on the back of the would-be messenger. She broke his spine then turned to stand over Bird’s prone body. The last three soldiers turned into tigers and immediately attacked Dia. Snarling she bit into the shoulder of the tiger nearest her and pushed her into the ground. She jumped away quickly as the other two tried to tackle her. Switching back to human form she picked up her sword and shield and parried both tigers at once.

Using her inhuman strength she threw them back and slashed the throat of a male as he lunged for her. He collapsed gurgling. The last male and the female she had bitten growled while backing slowly away.

A low moan caught the tigers’ attention. They looked at Bird as she slowly sat up clutching her head. Her body swayed before dropping. “Leave us now or I will kill you!” Dia hissed. The female tiger shook her head and then nodded to Bird. “No, you can’t have her, she is mine.”

“I don’t think that is your decision to make, Beloved.”

Dia whirled around to find her husband standing behind her. He smiled and drew his sword. “I’ve been waiting for this moment, Dia. Do you know how hard it is to resist killing someone? I’ve been dreaming of the day that I would use your bones to decorate my fireplace mantle. As for your fur… I think it will make a nice cloak don’t you think? You’re so cold to me in life, but you’ll be warm in death.”

“Snow, you have one chance to turn around and walk-away. This doesn’t concern you,” Dia said slowly.

“My wife killing my soldiers and defying orders does not concern me?” Snow giggled and unhooked his shield from his back. “Give me the witch and I promise your death with be quick.”

Dia laughed then lifted her shield. “I’m sorry, but I cannot do that on my honor.”

Snow shrugged. “Oh well, slow death it is. You two grab the witch, I’ll hold this traitor here.”

“No!” Dia roared and turned to block the other two tigers that had returned to human form. She charged them, but was staggered as Snow’s blade cut through the back of her right thigh.

Screaming she blocked his next blow and delivered her own to his shoulder. Snow touched his wound then licked the blood from his fingers. “You may have cut me, but you have yet to best me,” Snow said. He hefted his shield up and attacked again. Dia hopped on her left foot as she blocked all of his blows despite her own wound.

With a loud grunt she brought down her sword on Snow’s shield shattering it. As she lifted her arm again for the killing blow she was caught from behind as the other female tiger cut through the back of her leather armor and to the muscle below. Dia screamed and fell to her knees.

With a back handed stroke she eviscerated the woman. Snow regained his feet in front of her. “Well, aren’t you in my favorite position?” he smirked. Dia stuck her sword in the ground and used it as a cane to pull herself to her feet. “Don’t get up on my account.”

Dia swallowed back bile as her back muscles twitched furiously around her new wound. She noticed that Snow’s shield arm hung slack against his side, but knew that injury would not hinder him.

Both tigers turned swiftly when they heard a shout behind them. Bird was awake and on her feet. She was holding a rope of light that was wrapped around a tiger soldier’s neck. Cracking it like a whip she sent him flying away from her. With a wave of her hand she erected a barrier to protect her. The tiger stood up slowly and charged Bird. With one smash of his fist he shattered the barrier. As his muscles clenched to leap forward he was knocked back by Yena who had landed on his shoulders.

The dragon woman breathed fire over his face choking him. She then grabbed his head and snapped his neck before turning to face Dia and Snow.

“You dare harm my family?” Yena hissed.

“Yena, don’t hurt her, she was trying to protect me!” Bird yelled.

Yena looked over her shoulder briefly then turned back to Dia and Snow. “You defended her, Cat? To what purpose?” Yena said.

Dia snorted. “I made a promise years ago to keep this child safe. I’m not about to go back on it.”

“A promise… to whom?”

“Her mother.”

Bird felt a chill run down her spine. Her mother had asked a tiger to protect her? Where was this protector when Oliver Redfield had come to her village? Where had she been when her family was murdered?

“Traitor,” Snow hissed. He looked between Dia, Yena and Bird, weighing his options. “I will not forget this, Dia. Mark my words I will sever your head myself!” Snow changed into a tiger and swiftly bounded away.

Dia wavered on her feet as the tension in her body released. She looked warily at Yena then at Bird. “Bird, it’s so good to see you again,” Dia said.

Bird looked askance at the tiger before cupping her elbows. “How do you know I’m called Bird?”

“I know because your mother told me. She loves you very much.”

“You mean loved. She’s dead.”

Dia shook her head and dropped her shield to place her hand over her heart. “No, she still lives inside me.”

Yena paled then backed away to take Bird’s arm. “We need to go before we are found,” she said.

“We can’t leave her here,” Bird pleaded. Yena growled and looked at the ground.

“I do not trust this tiger, but if that is what you wish?”

“Yes.”

Yena picked up Bird over one shoulder then ran forward and picked up Dia in one smooth motion. She leaped up onto the nearest roof and began to run. She leaped from rooftop to rooftop deftly avoiding the small battles that were occurring in the broken streets below.

Suddenly a strange quiet fell over the ruined city. Yena stopped in her tracks and put Bird and Dia down. “Oh no,” she muttered and turned to face the north. A shadow had appeared on the horizon that seemed to eat everything around it as it moved swiftly south.

The wind shifted direction and flowed toward the shadow. As it drew closer the winds grew stronger picking up loose debris to hurtle toward the dark mass.

As Bird watched the shadow move she noticed that it looked like a hole hovering in the air. The outer edges writhed like smoke around the edges. Sharp pain like needles riddled her skin and she hissed in pain as it intensified. Flakes of skin began to break away exposing the sensitive skin below. More flakes peeled from her face and clothing.

“Yena, what’s going on?” Bird shouted as her blood soon began to follow the wind.

“They have wakened the demon,” Dia said from the floor. “We need to get away now before it consumes us all.”

“I agree with you,” Yena said. Suddenly Lore landed on the roof and quickly changed to human form and hugged Bird.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” he said covering her in kisses. Bird wrapped her arms tightly around him crying.

Yena kneeled next to Dia and placed her hand on her knee. She whispered under her breath then stood up. Dia hissed in pain then turned her leg to expose the wound that was now rapidly healing. “I’ve only partially healed your leg. We don’t have the time for more.”

“I never thought I would be saying this to a dragon, but thank you,” Dia said. She stood and tested her leg.

“What is a tiger doing here?” Lore growled. He pushed Bird behind him.

“Don’t, Lore, she’s protecting me. Besides I have questions for her,” Bird said.

“Those questions will have to wait,” Yena said. Bird gasped when she saw the patches of raw flesh on Yena’s face. She knew that her own must also be as damaged.

Lore picked up Bird. “The demon is too close. If we fly from here it will immediately attack us,” he said. Yena pointed to the west where the fires were burning.

“We need to avoid the rest of the fighting. Let’s head there.” Nodding in agreement Lore ran and leapt to the next rooftop with Bird in his arms. Yena and Dia followed closely behind.

Bird bit her lip and buried her face in Lore’s shoulder as the pain in her body intensified. It felt as if cold blades were being dug into her skin and pulling out chucks of her. Her whole body had begun to ache and her scalp felt on fire.

She whimpered as she felt more skin tearing away. “Don’t worry Bird, we’ll reach the edge of the city in a few minutes. Bird nodded smearing blood on Lore’s shoulder.

“Okay.”

An unearthly sound came from behind them. The sound was like metal grinding together to create a shriek. The air around them wavered as if they were traveling through water. The tiger and dragons’ movement became sluggish as they fought to move through the sound wave.

The noise ended abruptly and they all staggered as their movements became unhindered. “What in the hells was that?” Bird shouted over the ringing of her ears.

“The howl of a demon, it has the ability to alter the fabric of this realm and slow time while not affecting itself,” Yena said as they leaped to the next roof. A horn sounded behind them and Yena looked over her shoulder to see a squad of four tigers racing across the rooftops after them. She halted in her steps and turned to face them.

“We don’t have time to fight them Yena,” Lore said stopping in his tracks.

“If we don’t stop them here they will continue to chase us.”

“I agree with Yena, put me down,” Bird said.

“But Bird…” Lore pleaded. Bird shook her head and wiggled down.

“What about you?” Lore asked Dia.

The tiger shrugged. “I personally don’t care about what happens to them. All I want is to keep Bird safe.”

Lore growled deep in his throat. “Fine.”

Bird summoned light into her hands and formed a sword. The tigers cleared the last roof between them and plunged into their attack. Lore and Yena moved smoothly between their assailers while Dia struck out at one that tried to flank them. Bird called down lightning and sent it toward the fourth tiger who rolled to avoid it.

He leapt back to his feet in one smooth motion then swung his sword. Bird fell back then threw her sword of light at the tiger. He held up his blade to block it, but the sword passed through as if it lacked substance and struck the tiger in the chest.

The tiger’s skin paled suddenly then began to glow. Cracks appeared on his skin that burned bright as if a flame was just beneath. The tiger began to scream in pain. The horrible noise had Bird covering her ears.

The other tigers stopped fighting and stared at their brother-in-arms as he began to float off the roof still screaming. All the cracks in his skin began to converge until none of his skin was left to be seen. The glow of his body cast rainbows over their upturned faces and they gasped as one when he exploded.

Bird crouched low to protect herself from the blast. Lore threw himself on top of her and shielded her from the flaming ashes that fell.

“Bird,” he whispered in her ear, but she barely heard him. Her whole body began to shake and tears fell from her eyes.

“I didn’t mean to kill him,” she said softly. She looked over Lore’s shoulder at the remaining tigers. They stared at her with hatred and fear.

Bird flinched.

“Let’s go, they outnumber us,” one of the tigers said.

“Yes, Sir,” the other two said in unison. They jumped down from the roof and disappeared into the streets below.

“I expect that they’re getting reinforcements,” Dia said.

“Then let’s not be here when they return,” Lore snapped. He scooped Bird into his arms and ran to the next building. Dia and Yena followed close behind.

They reached the edge of the city and paused on the roof to catch their breaths. Lore set Bird down and she clung to his arm for support. Her body could still feel the presence of the demon, but it was not as strong as before. She looked to the north and saw that the monster had turned east.

“Yena!” came a faint shout.

The small group looked past the broken city wall to see Adwin waving toward them. They smiled and waved back, but Adwin kept waving and pointing while running toward them.

“What does he-,” Yena began when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. She quickly pushed Bird away and stepped into the path of the spear.

Yena curled over as the spear took her in the side. Bird screamed and reached for the woman’s hands. “Yena, you’re going to be okay. We’ll get you to a healer!”

Yena shook her head. “No, Bird, this wound is too severe and we no longer have the blessing of our god to allow us to heal so heavy a wound. Without access to heaven we have become mortal.” Yena touched the tears on Bird’s face and kissed her cheek. “The Oracle told me months ago that I would die protecting you. I was scared at first, but now I’m happy.” Yena smiled while tears fell from her eyes.

“Yena!” Adwin yelled.

“Go, there are more tigers here,” Yena said standing. She broke the shaft of the spear close to her body. Dia immediately leaped from the roof. Lore hesitated with Bird in his arms. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy you time to escape.”

Lore leapt from the roof. Bird screamed and tried to free herself from his embrace as more tigers breached the roof they had just occupied. She watched Yena fight each tiger as her dodges became slower and her swings wilder. Though gravely wounded, Yena was able to bring down all but one.

The last tiger thrust his blade into Yena’s chest and she fell smiling off the roof and to the ground.