“What the hell was that!” yelled Tompson “it, it talked how did it talk!”

“The monster,” said Sio shaking uncontrollably. “It's an ancient.”

“A what?” I ask Sio

“An ancient,” she repeats trying to pull herself together. “Monsters don't die of old age, they just get stronger, faster, smarter. That monster must be hundreds of years old to be able to reach into Stacy's mind and take our language.”

“How do you know that?” asked Tompson. Sio and Lucille shared a knowing look, Lucille simply shrugged to Sio.

“It’s your secret,” Lucille said turning away from Sio to help Jimmy with Stacy. Sio turned away from all of us and took two deep breaths. She began taking off her gloves then her hat and glasses making a point of showing us nothing.

“Legends of my people, and experience,” Sio said turning around. A collective gasp echoed out of us as we saw Sio. Her skin was gray, not dull or sickly but a vibrant living grey, like the glowing gray ash from a campfire. The next thing I noted was scars all along her arms looking like wicked purple welts. On her left shoulder was a tattoo that had jagged scars crisscrossing it making it impossible to make out what it was. Her hair was a deep red, almost scarlet it moved much smoother than normal hair almost as if she was underwater. And her face, she was beautiful. Her eyes showed gold like a wolf, her teeth were pearl white like a predator's gleaming maw during a full moon. Around her eyes was another tattoo almost too light to see. It looked like a purple silhouette of a bird, maybe a crow or a hawk, on her face. It’s wings stretched over her eyes like a mask. The last thing I noticed was her ears. They poked up a good 9 inches up and behind her head. Sio looked amazing, she looked dangerous, she looked wild, and she wasn't human.

“I knew it!” whispered Stacy groggily still on the ground trying and failing to push Lucille away as she wiped the blood off of Stacy's face.

“Are you ok?” Jimmy asked helping Stacy up and into a chair.

“No!” Stacy said. “But we can get to that, I won the bet Jimmy! She’s an Elf I win, pay up Dude.”

“What?” Sio said outraged. “I am not an Elf. Elves are short.”

“See,” said Jimmy waving his hands at Sio, “She said she's not an elf you don’t win the bet. She doesn't even have wings how can she be an elf?” Stacy rolled her eyes.

“Pixies have wings, Jimmy! Elves have pointy ears, she's an elf I win.”

“I am not an elf. I am Vrisstil.” Sio said waving at herself.

“The Elf’s right,” said Jimmy. “She's not an Elf you don't win.”

“Can we get back on track, please.” I say. “As interesting as your bet is, and as fascinating as you are Sio. We do have a monster issue.”

“We will talk later you two,” Sio said pointing at Stacy and Jimmy. “As for the monster, my people have faced ancient monsters before, all the legends agree on a single fact ancient monsters mean death. I’ve heard stories of entire tribes being wiped out in a matter of seconds by an ancient monster. They are disasters only the worst of nature's wrath can match.”

“Ok,” said Tompson. “So what? We can’t fight it so we run.” Sio shook her head.

“There is no running, it knows of us. The moment it became aware of us, our deaths became certain the monster will be on us before we make it back to town. And even if we get to town it won't matter, it will not care about the falls or how many of us attack it. We are no match.”

“I don't think it's an ancient,” Stacy said.

“What? Why!” Said Sio whipping about to face her.

“When it was in my head I saw glimpses of it’s mind. I couldn’t understand most of what I saw and whatever language it thought in was so foreign I couldn’t even guess at what it was saying. But I got feelings real clear, it’s desperate it needs something from us. From Sledge specifically, I think the monster is close to becoming an ancient but it's lacking something. Once the monster saw my memories of Sledge doing magic I felt hope and greed. But I also felt a sense of fear, of Sledge. I think if given a choice the monster would steer clear of Sledge but whatever it needs it's pushing it to act. I could be wrong, the mind was so different from my own the way it thought made no sense.”

“So what do we do?” asked Tompson. “It’s almost an unbeatable monster that's on its way to kill and eat us. I don't think our odds have improved much.”

“Not much no,” I say. “Although if we fight it, hit it hard and fast we may stand a chance, maybe. But we have an advantage the monster doesn't have, one I'm going to use to the fullest.”

“What’s that?” asks Lucille.

“We get to choose the terrain. We can set traps slow it down and bleed it.” I point to Stacy. “If you can get a drone on the monster we can see the path it’s taking and set up some surprises.” Jimmy took a step away from Stacy.

“I got just the thing.” He says. “I have some ideas on what I can add. I have a few canisters of tear gas, 10 sticks of dynamite, and a few cleaning chemicals I can make a few fire bombs out of.”

“I'll get a drone on it asap.” Stacy said.

“Good,” I say to Stacy waving Tompson to follow me. “When you get a visual let me know the eta. I’m going to set up the playing field. And maybe make something to give us a chance.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Tompson as we left the tower.

“I’m going to see an old oak about some nuts.” I say. The next few hours were a frantic blur of preparation- dozens of pitfalls and mud pits to slow it down. A few large clay barrels full of tree sap and a few gallons of diesel fuel. No idea where we had the fuel or why we had it but I decided not to comment it was being put to good use. I mean who would complain about over 40 gallons of what was essentially a poor man's napalm. One nasty little surprise I made was a bunch of enchanted flashbangs. Won't do much to hurt it but if its senses are anywhere as advanced as most monsters were then a flash-bang could be devastating.

“I’ve got eyes on the monster,” Stacy yells from the tower.

“Finally,” said Tompson pulling himself out of a shallow pit. “I was getting worried.” We made our way into the tower the team was looking between the laptop and a small map of our surroundings.

“So?” I ask.

“It’s taking its time getting here.” Says Jimmy. “That’s why it took so long to find it, we figured with its size the speed it would be moving at considerable speeds. But it’s moving slow, even slower than our best projections.”

“So we have- how much time?” asked Sio standing beside Lucille. Lucille looked at the map once more.

“If it keeps moving at the speed it is we have maybe 3 hours,” Lucille said.

“That's much slower than we thought. Why is it moving so slow?” I ask frowning while looking at the monster on the screen. Jimmy points to the left side of the monster, with the drone so far away it's hard to make out what he is pointing at.

“I think it’s injured or was injured real bad and it never healed right.” I look again and I see a few lines on its side but not much else, the drone is simply too far away for a better view.

“See there,” Jimmy said pointing at the monster's back left leg as the leg almost gives out. “The leg keeps giving out, whatever hurt it did a damn good job. The way the monster moves makes me think the left back leg is almost paralyzed.”

“Good,” I say. “We need every advantage we can get let’s load up the jeep and set the traps.” With that Tompson, Jimmy, and I start loading up everything we thought we could use. We drove a good hour as a drone lazily flew behind us keeping watch.

“PSSST,” the radio sounded. “This is Lucille at home camp do you read, over.” I grabbed the radio.

“Loud and clear, home camp, over.”

“Monster is 20 minutes inbound to your current location, best get to it.” There was a hesitation then her voice came over again. “Good hunting guys, over.”

“Roger, over.” Jimmy stops the jeep and we jump out. Tompson and Jimmy grab the explosives and start placing them. I start moving boulders into place to funnel the monster. We move as fast as we can, setting as many explosives as we can. Now for the dangerous part. I stand alone on the other side of the traps, waiting. I’m the bait. Yea me giving myself the short straw. After only a few minutes I heard it, a low rumble. The monster shook the ground and broke trees with It’s sheer size. Then I saw it a few hundred yards off, the beast was huge, seeing it over video didn’t do it justice. Clawed feet slammed into the ground as it walked shattering stone and gouging the earth. The sun reflected off its thick scales making the monster almost glow with vindictive glee. A forked tongue shot out of its mouth tasting the air, a deep rumbling hiss exuded out of its chest sounding like a plague of locusts.

“SnAcK.” It spoke its eyes zeroing onto me. “BrAvE,” the monster said its chest heaving as it gurgled in mocking laughter it started moving toward me slowly confident in itself. “I wAnTeD tO HuNt YoU DoWn, FeAr MaKeS MeAt So SwEeT.”

Forcing my growing panic down I ignore my urge to run to hide. I look at its side and see the massive half-healed gouges along its side and underbelly. The wounds look raw and infected the monster's legs looked swollen and off-color. Maybe gangrene had set in.

“Why would I need to run?” I call back projecting as much confidence as I could. “You’re already half-dead by the looks of that leg of yours.” The monster’s eyes narrow and its tongue flicks out angrily.

“PeTuLeNt Bug!” It roars, I cover my ears trying to stop my eardrums from bursting at the sheer volume. “EvEn HaLf DeAd YoU WiLl Be An EaSy MeAl!” With that, it rushes me faster than I anticipated. Guess talking is over, seeing the monster rushing me I do the only sensible thing I could do. I turn tail and run as fast as I can go. The jeep's engine roars to life Jimmy driving free from thick foliage coming to me fast. Without slowing the jeep side door is flung open and I jump in Tompson grabs my shirt and pulls me in as Jimmy slams the gas and we take off. The monster roars again, gaining on us fast.

“Ready!” Jimmy yells, tossing me one of the transmitters we have with us.

“Ready!“ I call back. “In 3,2,1.” BOOOOOM. we set off the dynamite right as the monster crosses over our trap dust and debris flying high into the sky covering the monster. Jimmy looks back and starts to slow down

“Don’t slow down.” I yell at him and the jeeps picks up speed again

“Did we get it?” Tompson asks.

“ROARRRRRR,” the monster roars. The jeep’s windows rattle. The monster explodes out of the dust cloud with a mad gleam in its eye.

“Go GO GO” I yell as the monster starts catching up to us.

“Tompson here eyes,” I say tossing him the binoculars. He takes them and looks at the monster.

“The old wound has reopened,” he said half panicked. “The rest of it looks fine, I don't think the dynamite did anything. But the open wounds are bleeding really bad, and I'm seeing what looks like a lot of puss oozing out of the wounds, hard to tell with both of us moving as fast as we are.”

“It's still gaining on us!” Jimmy yells at us swerving around a fallen tree.

“On it!” I say climbing over the back seats into the trunk, I push the glass open. “Tossing tear gas!” I call pulling a pin out of a canister and tossing it. Four more canisters go out the back of the jeep smoke billowing into the air.

“Tompson?” I ask.

“It's slowing down!” Tompson shouts happily. “It's pawing at its mouth. I don’t think it did anything to its eyes but the gas is really messing with its mouth. Ya the monster stopped chasing us I think we stopped it for a bi…” Tompson stopped talking mid-word.

“What’s Wrong?” I ask reading our last canister of tear gas we had on hand.

“It bit off it’s own tongue, the monster grabbed it’s tongue pulled it out as far as it could, and chomped down. The thing bit it’s own tongue off.”

“PFFFFT” the radio called. “Are you guys ok? We lost sight of you all when the explosions happened I think a rock hit the drone and took it down. Over.” Jimmy grabbed the radio.

“We’re all ok, we lost the monster, for now, heading to site 2 for the second set of traps, over.” He yelled.

“We will send out another drone, over.” I moved back up to the seat Tompson was sitting in he sat staring at his feet shaking horribly. I grabbed his shoulder.

“Hey, you ok, kid?” He jumped badly, gasping, dropping the binoculars. He looked at me wide-eyed panting.

“How… how are we going to fight that monster? We set off bombs and all it did was open old wounds. How are we going to kill it? Can we even kill it?” Looking at Tompson I have to admit I may have handed him more than he could handle. I was supposed to be looking out for this kid. He’s not me. Not a soldier for as long as he could remember. He hasn't seen the worst humanity has to offer. He hasn’t seen the monsters I had. He hasn't struggled like I had, a kid alone in a war zone taking rations from long-dead soldiers. Ignoring the smell of the dead ignoring family photos as I desecrate forgotten dead for a meal, for clothing, for anything to sell. When I was his age I had faced the harsh truths of life and realized I could die at any moment. I wasn't invincible. I wasn't the hero of a story where some kind of plot armor would come and save me from a bad situation. However, I had killed monsters. I knew they could be killed. Tompson’s still a kid, a kid over his head. I shake my head smiling a fake smile and laughing a fake laugh.

“Kid it’s fine.” I say messing up his hair. “It can bleed it can die. It’s big sure, mean, and tough. But that's why you make a battle plan when facing overwhelming odds. Our first idea didn’t work out like planned, ok we move onto the next idea, then the next, then the next. Until we find something that works and we take it down for good.” Tompson stops shaking and gives me a weak smile

“Ya, we got this.” He says. I slap his shoulder.

“Of course we do, all part of the plan. Why don’t you go in the back and count what we have left.” I say giving him something to occupy his mind.

“Ok.” He said climbing over the seats into the back. After he heads to the back seat I look forward and see Jimmy looking at me from the rear view mirror. Our eyes meet and we share a knowing look, the dynamite didn’t do nearly what we had hoped it would. We were fighting a thing legends speak about with hastily made defenses and weapons we had no idea how effective they were. I grabbed a small bag of rocks I had in the front passenger seat and started enchanting more flash-bangs. Who knows how effective they would be but every little bit helped. I almost had the entire bag done when we came to a stop.

“We’re here.” Jimmy yelled. He grabbed the radio.

“Home camp, do you have eyes on the Monster? If so how long do we have? Over.”

“This is home camp the monster is maybe 30 minutes behind you. It’s slowed down a lot from the open wound. It’s been bleeding real bad, over.” We jumped out of the jeep, Jimmy popped the hood of the jeep and started unplugging the enchanted generator out of the engine. Tompson and I walked around the jeep to a large pond or small lake.

“You think we have time for this part of the plan.” He asked.

I loosened my shoulders and popped my neck.

“We will, I’ll move fast.” I pulled hard and deep on my earth mana a small land bridge rose out of the water from our side to the other shore. Jimmy ran over to us holding the generator.

“I’m ready, the camp is about a half-mile on the other side of the lake. Once the monster falls into the water you guys need to move fast.”

“We got it,” said Tompson. “Why are we leaving the jeep again?”

“See the canisters on the top of the jeep?” I say.

“Ya?” he says.

“It’s full of homemade napalm. The plan is to get the water as cold as possible and put the heat into that huge bolder. Once its on the land bridge I’ll blow the rock that will ignite the jeep making the way we came unpassable. That’s why Jimmy grabbed the enchanted generator. That's our power supply we can't lose it. Then I collapse the land bridge sending the cold-blooded monster into ice water. Hopefully slowing it down and letting it bleed out more.”

“Ok, why do you have to collapse the land bridge? Why can’t it fall on its own and we can get out of here?” I shake my head.

“I have no idea how heavy the monster is, if I overestimate the weight the monster has a nice stroll over the bridge. Too heavy and the first step it brakes through on its own and sees the trap.” Jimmy hesitates for a second giving me a nod before taking off over the land bridge I made. Once he got over I started working my magic and moving dirt tons and tons of dirt. In only ten minutes I had covered the lake in a layer of compacted earth making an insanely large pit trap. Now was the hard part, I reached for my fire mana remembering how I had almost lost control the last time I used fire on a large scale. Shaking my head clear of any doubts I parted a small bit of dirt so I could put my hand in the water. Then I raised my other hand to a large boulder back the way we had come. With an iron will I called forth all the heat in the water and sent it into the center of the boulder. I was almost immediately overwhelmed by the heat. I had vastly underestimated how much heat was in the water. I could feel how much I had called the fire hidden in the lake responding to my beckoning. I wasn't dealing with a bonfire I was fighting for control of what felt like a small sun. I struggled as I pulled the heat from the water barely containing the heat as I sent it into the boulder. Heat waves soon covered the bolder as it cracked a dull glow starting to form in its core. As one hand slowly got colder the other felt the intense heat emanating from the rock. But I knew what was at stake I knew what failure meant. I. Don’t. Fail. That’s why I’m alive and others are dead. So I pushed more and more, when I didnt think I could go any further I held strong grinding my teeth and pushing the whispers of doubt back into the dark recesses of my mind. Then I felt it, a piece of slush ice on my hand. I stopped the flow of heat the lake had cooled, I did it I cooled the lake.

“I got it,” I say panting surprised at how much that had taken out of me.

“Good timing,” Tompson said. “I just got off the radio the monster is about 3 minutes out we need to get ready.” I nod and stand up I wave my hand pulling moisture out of the air making a glob of water float over my hand. I swallow the water down.

“Neat trick,” Tompson says handing me half the enchanted rocks I made.

“Tastes terrible,” I say palming a handful. We cross most of the way over the lake and wait as I raise a mound of earth to hide behind. Soon the monster comes into the clearing, eyeing the glowing boulder warily, it flicks out its ripped tongue and winces. Snorting in anger it moved forward slowly eyes moving over every surface. Tapping Tompson on the shoulder I mouth three, two, one. He turns invisible and runs to the shore. While I take a small knife and cut my leg letting it bleed for a moment before healing it. With the smell of blood, the monster's head snapped in my direction, I drop to the ground and start crawling away from the monster to the shore. The monster stalks forward eager for an easy meal. The monster sees the jeep and moves slowly expecting a trap but once it's clear of the jeep I can see excitement fill its eyes the monster rushes forward as fast as its injured leg lets it. The monster was solidly on top of the lake when I sprung the trap. With a heave of earth mana, I sheered the bolder open. The molten rock exploded toward us the side of the lake the jeep was on became a hellscape of fire and molten rock. The monster looked back surprised, then back to me anger etched clearly on its bloody face. I smiled at it and waved jumping to my feet and running to the shore. The monster roared and started charging. Only for an enchanted rock to explode at its feet. A flash of light and what sounded like 20 sonic booms went off disorienting the monster for a few critical moments and letting me get to safety. Another application of earth mana and I broke the earth dome over the lake. The monster blind, deaf, and hurt fell into a freezing lake. Monster or not, not many things can handle much time in an almost frozen body of water let alone a lizard. That's most likely cold-blooded, once its head was under I ran. I ran for all I was worth, I had half a mile till I got to camp with no contingencies no defenses. So I ran full sprint like death was on my heels. I will not die to that monster. Heart pounding, legs burning, frothing at the mouth I made it to camp.

“Sledge,” Sio yelled seeing me first, “are you ok?” I practically collapsed into her arms she handed me a water bottle. I drank deeply from it, wisely she pulled the water away from me before I could drink to much and get sick.

“That sucked,” I said gasping for breath, rubbing my legs as they cramped. I can run, I can run well- jogging for 20 miles with a 40-pound pack. I can do it, it sucks but I can do it. Full sprint in dense forest for half a mile, no never again if I can help it.

“I’ll be ok I just need a few minutes,” I say.

“We don't have a few minutes,” called Lucille. “The drone that’s been on the monster, it looks like the lake really slowed it down it took a while getting out of the water bleeding a lot doing it. But once it got clear it started moving and moving fast it will be here any second.”

“Ok,” I say trying to stand up despite my legs not wanting to work. “I'm not at my best but that’s ok we need to get to our places. Tompson, you ready?”

“Ya ready,” Tompson said going invisible.

“Good,” I say. “Sio…”

“BZZZZZZzzzZZ!” My bee hovered in front of my face suddenly bobbing up and down.

“Not now,” I say trying to wave her away. “Sio…” I try again.

“BZZZZZZ!” My bee buzzes angrily.

“What!” I shout at the bee she lifts her legs and she held up a drop of honey.

“I’m confused,” I say to the bee. I can sense her urgency but not what she wants.

“Maybe,” Sio said amused. “You should eat the honey.” I roll my eyes

“I don’t have time for this!” I dismiss the bee only for her to charge and smack into my lips. I fling my arms up. “Fine!” I yell and open my mouth and the bee tosses the small drop of honey into my mouth. I swallow it.

“There happy! Can I go now?” I say and the bee bobs happily and flies away.

“Ok, Sio…” I say, only to stop as the honey hits me. Energy filled my body like never before. It’s like if a fire took cocaine and then took a syringe full of adrenalin straight to its heart.

“Holy shit!” I say practically vibrating, my legs stop cramping, my thirst goes away I feel like I could fly and write a book at the same time.

“30 seconds!” Stacy yells closing her laptop she jumps into the moat I had made and merges with the water disappearing.

“Go,” said Sio. “I know what to do.” I nod and run to my place. A few hours ago I had an idea. Since I read of it I’ve been fascinated with the idea of the Trent form. I hadn't got it to work so far, it just didnt feel right taking over a tree. No matter how odd that sounded I just couldn't do it, well then i had a thought. If I can’t take over an already grown tree why not grow my own Trent body. That's why I got the oak tree to give me a seed. What stood before me was a 30-foot-tall, 12-foot wide at shoulders knight made of hard oak. In one hand it held a heavily enchanted tower shield and in another was a knotted club with spikes infused with so much magic the thing was practically glowing. In the swell of its back was my war axe, too small for this form to use effectively but I wasn't about to leave it out of the fight either. I placed my hands on the tree and felt it accept me openly. And for the first time, I fused with a tree. It was as if I no longer existed, the body of Sledge was gone. All that was left was me and the will of the tree working in tandem to move. Nature mana flowed freely into the Trent giving it life and power. Its eyes glowed deep forest green and we took a step our mighty trunk lifted out of the ground then slammed down indenting the earth roots shooting out into the soil giving us extra purchase. The monster crashed into the clearing sending broken trees sprawling. I felt anger fill the Trent at the destruction of the surrounding trees. I raised my mace-club and I hit my shield in a challenge with three loud BOOMS. The monster's eyes widened, fear crossing its eyes before rage took over. We charged one another I raised my shield and placed my shoulder behind it putting all my force behind the shield. The second before we hit the monster rose up trying to overwhelm me with its size. I braced, roots shooting into the ground deeply steadying me as we collided. In one hit I almost lost, the power, ferocity, and sheer size of the monster almost bowled me over. Seeing as a fight of strength wasn't a fight I was going to win I shifted to the side getting under the monster and shoving. I knocked the monster on its side and before it could recover I hefted my club and swung “WHAM!” the monster took my club under its eye its head snapped to the side and it was fully over on its side I raised my club again and started beating its head. Swing “WHAM!” swing “WHAM!” On my fourth swing out of nowhere, the monster’s tail shot out like a whip taking me in the side with such force i was flung away roots and all. I fell in a heap i could feel part of my chest was caved in thankfully I was in my Trent form. Natural mana flowed to the wound and started healing the damage. Before I could recover the monster was on me. Teeth the size of a humans arm bit down on my leg. Like an alligator, the monster went into a death roll taking me with it. I spun and spun completely at its mercy when.

“BOOM!” “BOOM!” Flashbangs started going off. The monster stopped rolling disoriented, swinging blindly I hit the monster on its head knocking it off me. I try to stand but my leg gives out, well whats left of my Trent leg, it looks like I put it in a wood chipper. ‘BOOM” I look up to see Tompson visible throwing the enchanted rocks and Stacy was half formed half out of the water throwing enchanted rocks as well. Seeing the monster occupied I pulled deeply on my natural mana trying to regrow my leg. The two hold the monster off for only hand full of seconds the monsters tail swings and slams next to Stacy missing her by inches. She screams in fright and dives into the water while Tompson going invisible and runs. I didn’t get the time I needed to regrow my leg but I was able to give myself a peg leg. Not what I hoped for but better than nothing before the monster could get its feet under it I run. Shield held in front of me and shield tackle it, flipping it on its side. Roots and vines explode out of me trying to trap the monster. The roots grow as fast as the monster rips them apart. It flails I swing my club over and over at it’s jaw. Fangs shatter in its mouth, blood and drool flow freely out of its mouth. But it’s not enough, bloody wounded the monster breaths deeply and exhales. Bolts of electricity come shooting out of its mouth arcing all over my body. Even in the tree I can feel the damage taking its toll. The electricity flash boils the sap inside the Trent and small fires start all over my body. My body locks up I lose my shield and mace and fall over with a great crash. The monster is on top of me instantly it’s claws digging into my chest a crazed gleam in its eye as it leans close.

“ YoU” It says gagging on its own blood and missing tongue. “WiLl DiE sLoW!” Electricity starts building in its mouth as it inhales building up power. Just as it's about to kill me a gleaming arrow hits its eye

“ROARRRRRR!” it bellows falling off me scratching at its now destroyed eye. Looking over I see Sio with a bow in her hands. Tompson and Jimmy over an unconscious Stacy, her scalp bleeding badly. Tompson started dragging Stacy away from the fight as Sio and Jimmy gave what cover they could.

“Bzzzzz” I see my bee flying in front of my face a small glob of honey in her legs. I open my mouth not knowing what the honey will do for a tree. Again a surge of energy flows into me my body rapidly regrowing and healing. I stand up slowly my body responding sluggishly. Another arrow hits the monster only to bounce off. The monster reaches out and grabs a small boulder. With power and accuracy, the monster throws the rock at Sio faster than should be possible. I watch helplessly as the rock leaves the monster's clawed hand. I watch as it flies and watch in horror as Jimmy moving faster than should be possible pushes Sio out of the way. Taking the rock full on. I watch helpless unable to do anything as I watched a good man, a good friend die.

“NOOOOOO!!!!” I yell, a torrent of rage and hate fills me, and as if the floodgates open my magic explodes. I reach and grab my war axe, the item glows green natural mana infusing the weapon. My axe changes before my eyes. The war axe becomes more of a woodcutter's axe the metal handle becoming a knotted wood. I could feel the weapon, filled with nature's wrath, and I learned something about my magic. Up until this moment I have only been feeling and using one side of natural mana. So far it's been sunshine and rainbows growing tree houses and barries. But this axe represented the other side of nature. Nature is cruel, wicked, and unforgiving. Strong eat the weak and the unfortunate die horrible deaths being eaten alive. Where there are flowers there are thorns where there's babbling brooks there's rapid rivers and jagged rocks. Where there were sunny days, there are wicked storms. The rage of the Trent from at the monster's disregard for nature and my own rage merged together. As I watched my friend die, the man who put salt on everything. The man who I barely got to know, I raised my axe high and stepped forward. The monster grinning looked back to me. I swung down with all I had.

“SHLUNK” the monster takes the axe to the neck. It eyes wide in pain it thrashes trying to dislodge the axe. I step forward and kick with my pegged leg stabbing into its side. I grow the leg into a long spike spearing the monster’s body into the ground roots and thorns shoot out growing deep.

“NoOoOo” it hisses choking on its own blood the monster's clawed hands reach out grabbing onto my leg and clawing at it. I raise my axe and swing.

“THUNK” I cut into its neck again my axe embedding itself into its spine. The monster's body starts convulsing as I rip my axe free. Blood flows from the wounds like a crimson river. It inhales deeply lightning starts to build in its mouth. I lean down with a left hook i punch its jaw shut. A soft “fwomp” goes off in its mouth and smoke billowes from its mouth nose and neck wounds. I grab its head and lift it up and aim my strike and cleave its still blinking head from its body. I watch as the light from its eyes dim. I drop the head and kick it aside. As the fog of rage leave me the heavy weight of grief take hold. I don’t remember leaving the Trent body or grabbing my axe. I just remember holding Sio’s hand watching as Lucille held Jimmy's body crying. I don’t know how long we stood there but after a while I heard our jeep drive up with Tompson driving. The jeep had seen better days windows were cracked and it looked like it was half melted on one side but it ran. He got out and came over to me.

“I figured we could use it.” He said pointing to the jeep. “Didn’t know if we would be staying.” I pat him on the shoulder.

“You did good kid.” Looking around the area is destroyed. The tower is gone the ground is pulverized. The blood coming off the monster smelled like fermented sewage. The team packed up what was left. Crying Stacy and Lucille are barely able to walk. Tompson and I wrapped Jimmy up in a canvas tarp we found and loaded him onto the top of the jeep as respectfully as we could. No one wanted to bury him here. By unspoken consent, we loaded up with me in the driver’s seat and started driving.

“Where are we going?” Sio asks in the passenger seat.

“The one place we know a crazy powerful monster isn't,” I say

“Where?” ask Tompson.

“Where the one we just killed came from,” I say heading to the gate.

No one was looking back. No one saw the battlefield as the fires went out or the last of the tower fall over. No one saw the Trent look down on its own. No one saw as it reached into the monster and rip out a glowing orb. No one saw the Trent swallow the orb. No one saw as the Trent in a flash of green be healed become bigger, stronger, and more defined. And no one saw as it started walking after the jeep.