The wind howled, ferociously blasting the four heroes as they trudged across the tundra. Cyrus and Archibald had packed plenty of clothes for their journey but none for sub-zero, freezing weather. In order to combat such a chill, the party simply wore several layers of clothes. None of them were extra thermal, rather they were long princely robes and fur coats Cyrus had packed for his vainer days.

“I hate wearing so much clothes,” Oga pouted with a large, white dress-shirt draped over her tiny body.

Black dress pants trailed on her legs, tripping her up. “An Orc needs to move freely to attack!”

“I hate wearing so much clothes too, future beauty,” Antonio said with a grin and a lift of his eyebrows. “They inhibit the charms of my perfectly cut bod….mmmph…”

Van, who had been searching through Archibald’s briefcase, hurled a scarf at Antonio’s mouth.

“Hey, I found a scarf!” she exclaimed. “Antonio can have it. It’ll keep his mouth bundled up.”

“Mmph!” Antonio shouted angrily.

Cyrus stomped on the cold dead grass ahead of everyone else. His stomach grumbled, but for once, he ignored it. He found himself more dedicated to Princess Trinity Toccatta than ever. After several wild adventures and encounters with the Everbloods, he was ready to finally face the nefarious demons head on. He still had to get across a huge tundra but he wasn’t going to let it stop him from accomplishing his mission.

Much to the party’s dismay, the tundra seemed endless and no matter which way they looked, all they saw was frozen grass and maybe a few rocks. When Cyrus bumped into a short sign post, it almost seemed like a miracle. Everyone stopped to marvel at the only message written by human hand for miles around. Cyrus read it out loud to his friends:

“Beware the Multi-Beast, yah.

50% Man

35% Lion

15% Bird

100% Evil

That’s 200% of something to stay away from, yah.”

“Hey look,” Oga yelled in her raspy voice. “There’s something written at the bottom: ‘See next sign to the left.’”

Sure enough, there was another sign post to the far left. As everyone walked over, they noticed an unsettling pile of human bones next to it.

“If yah don’t want to end up like Fred ‘ere, listen to what we said. Beware the Multi-Beast!” Cyrus read again.

“Pardon me, muchachos,” Antonio asked. “But what exactly is a Multi-Beast?”

Cyrus’ eyes illuminated with the amount of books he had read. “I remember reading a story about a creepy, bespectacled scientist who found ways to mix animal and human parts together. The Multi Beast is one of the abominations he created!”

“That’s sounds horrible!” Antonio exclaimed.

“That sounds awesome!” Oga added.

“That sounds….like a campfire story,” Van responded with her arms crossed. “I’ve traveled this world more than any of you and I’ve never seen anything as ridiculous as a…”

Van heard a snort. Warm breath lingered in the frozen air; it brushed against her neck.

“Ok Antonio,” Van said with a smirk. “If you really think creeping around me and breathing on my neck is going to make me interested in you, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Vanessa, I am a gentleman, not a mouth breather,” Antonio said peering out from behind the sign post. “And besides, I think you’ve got another suitor!”

Oga, Cyrus and Antonio shuddered as a large creature with the head of a young, dark haired woman with gaping fully white eyes, prowled forward on tan limber legs. It flapped its magnificently white wing span before letting out a horrible roar. Everyone screamed in terror.

Soon, the four heroes were dashing madly across the frozen plain, their feet clomping into the earth with a powerful intensity as the four legged beast gave chase.

“Why must I have the worst luck with women these days?” Antonio shouted. “First that insane elven babe who tried to kill us and now this terrifying beast woman!”

“I haven’t had much luck either,” Cyrus mumbled as he ran, remembering his terrifying encounter with the Everblood, Rosemary.

“Guys!” Cyrus said all of a sudden. “I can’t breath this air anymore. I’m getting all phlemy. I might have to…”

The young prince’s heavy body collapsed on the ground. Everyone slowed down to help their friend, but soon realized they wouldn’t be able to run at all. With a mighty leap, the Multi-Beast jumped over everyone nearly blotting out the sun. It landed magnificently on its four legs right before them, growling and hissing.

“Well…looks like this is the end…” Antonio said, stumbling backwards over Cyrus.

Van quickly grabbed his staff and thrust it at the beast. “What do you want you foul beast?” She growled at it.

“I want….” The beast growled back. “I want…”

Suddenly dark red pupils returned to the beasts eyes and the creature’s lips jutted out in a way that was irate but recognizably human. Her tone was deep and husky but also offered a shred of humanity. “I want a proper apology.”

“You what?!” Van exclaimed still holding the staff in the beast’s face.

The beast took a paw and shoved Van’s staff aside. She closed her eyes and spoke in a prideful and haughty tone. “A creature as magnificent and noble as myself deserves not to be called ridiculous. I am the guardian of the sacred Tri-Temple appointed by the Creator herself.”

“She’s certainly not a humble lady beast,” Antonio quipped.

“I heard that you ignoble fop,” the Multi-Beast said, causing Antonio to hide behind Cyrus.

“So you’re not going to eat us?” Cyrus asked.

The beast let out a chortle and extended her front legs to show them off. “Of course not, I live only on kale. A single woman must always remain fit and limber.”

“So what was all that about you eating people?” Cyrus responded.

The Multi-Beast sat up on her hind legs and crossed her arms. “Calamity has struck the land where the Everbloods have taken up residence. Frostulas have invaded the blessed Tri-Temple, and as a result, the local townspeople have taken great pleasure in defaming me. Unfortunately, as a Multi-Beast, I cannot hire an attorney.”

Cyrus quickly raised his hands. “Fortunately for you, Multi-Beast, we have come to liberate the land from the Everbloods. We know they’re in that abandoned fortress at North Point. Hopefully once we vanquish them, it will set everything right!”

“Unfortunately, as it currently is,” the Multi-Beast continued. “The Frostulas have created an impenetrable snowstorm that prevents you from reaching North Point. I fear you must have to deal with them first.”

“And we will,” Van shouted. “As a royal knight from the Kingdom of Toccatta, I pledge to keep all innocent people safe from all harm.”

“That’s very noble of you,” the Multi-Beast said. “Perhaps I should trust your word. Though silent action roars above loud promises.”

The beast bowed her head. “But I can sense the good in your hearts. It strives to make things right. Climb upon me and I will take you to the village.”

Cyrus, Oga and Antonio all hoisted themselves upon the Multi-Beast. Cyrus could tell she was surprisingly strong by the fact that she never groaned from his weight. Or perhaps, he was getting lighter- a thought he took much happiness in. Van was the last to climb on but just as she did, the beast lightly bucked her. Van fell to the ground and looked up at the beast. “What gives?” She asked.

“First,” the beast said in her prideful voice. “An apology is in order.”

Cyrus, having gotten to know Vanessa Montero, could tell she was very strong willed herself and didn’t like being told what to do. Cyrus could see that spark of anger in Van’s eyes but she took a deep breath. “I am sorry, oh great beast…”

“For…?” The beast responded.

Van grimaced but continued to talk with a polite voice. “For saying you are ridiculous…perhaps, you can tell us a better name to call you.”

The womanly beast paused for a second before Cyrus could tell that she found the answer satisfactory.

“I am Teela, the guardian of the Western Tri-Temple and the most eligible Multi-Beast bachelorette in the kingdom.”

“She’s a desperate one if she keeps mentioning that,” Antonio said with a sly grin.

“Silence fop, or I will buck you too but…” Teela said sharply before turning to Van with a gracious expression. “I appreciate you asking my name, young one. I can tell you have a noble heart beneath your feisty exterior. One that humbles itself when required. Perhaps…”

“What?” Van asked.

“Perhaps you may be the one…” Teela paused. “Climb on and I will take you to the village.”

As Teela galloped across the plains at three times the speed of a human, snow fell at an alarming rate. Everyone shivered and clung onto the Multi-Beast praying the storm would stop, but judging by Teela’s words, they knew it wouldn’t happen. Through the dark gray veil of an evening blizzard they could see the faint horizon dotted with flames. Teela slid to a stop in front of them.

“Here we are,” she said. “Frostly Village. You can find refuge here, but I would like to warn you that folks here aren’t right in the head.”

Everyone was wordless as Teela continued to talk. “Before advent of Everbloods, people prayed at the Western Tri-Temple for a plentiful harvest, and even if you don’t believe in all that religious hooey, they had a good harvest year after year. When the Everbloods unleashed a heinous kind of arachnid from the Dark Realm-the Frostulas-they invaded the temple and brought forth an eternal winter.”

“And what became of the people?” Cyrus asked.

“Without their harvest, they embraced the darkest form of thinking-nihilism- and now engage in bizarre rituals in hopes an enormous blizzard will sweep over the whole world.”

“Nihilists are such petty people,” Antonio responded lounging back. “I’m glad I’m not one. I believe in babes.”

“The pettiest,” Teela said. “I hope you will liberate the temple from the Frostulas after you rest here. But just remember, these people could snap at any second. Fear rules a mob like a blood thirsty king.”

“Geez, big cat lady,” Oga grunted. “Must you always talk in metaphors and riddles?

“I’m part Spinx, honey,” the Multi-Beast said in her brash voice. “It runs in the family.”

The four thanked Teela, and as they walked towards the small cluster of cabins, a sight in the town-square caught their eye. Villagers of all ages danced around a giant maypole with an enormous flame at the top. They twirled a shiny silver rope around the pole. The way everyone plodded and lurched around the maypole gave Cyrus the creeps but not as much as the man at the front gate. He sported a blond beard, a green knit cap and wore a thick brown coat and heavy snowpants. But his attire wasn’t the creepiest part of him, he had a bright, white smile as white as the blizzard itself and wide unblinking eyes.

“How yah folks doing?” He asked in a chipper accent. “Yer just in time for our Frostpole!”