The forge fell to his knees by Azteron's side, and grabbed at the pool of blood, desperately trying to put it back into his father's body. The blood only matted the minotaur's fur more, and the rest slipped through his metallic fingers.

"Father!" Angon cried. "Wake up!"

Buster shoved past the group and rushed around the opposite side of the fallen pair. He began running his hands over Azteron's blood spot, and shook his balding head.

"Azteron's been stabbed, and he prolly ain't gonna be making it." Buster grumbled.

He put his hands together and whispered a prayer to Sheeva, mainly out of habit. Then with all the conviction in his heart he put his hands to Azteton's wound.

A bluish light emanated from his palms and he could feel the wound trying to close. It would take time for the spell to fully take effect, and the dwarf knew Azteron may nto have that much time.

"Is he going to die?" Angon whispered.

"I don't be knowing." Buster said, sweat beading his forehead as he strained to get out his healing energies. "How's the girl?"

Lavina was kneeling next to Ramona, and had rolled her onto her back. Ramona's head lolled about on her shoulders.

"There's a wound on the back of her head." Lavina said. "I think she was just knocked out though. The blood is all Azteron's."

"How could this happen?" Angon breathed. "Who did this?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Gavin said, standing over the forge with his arms crossed. "It was that female orc and her goons. She's probably on her way to Mount Chronos right now, and who really knows what she's out to do."

"She's going to summon... Torchwood." Ramona coughed, opening her eyes. Still weak, she had to close them again.

"What is Torchwood?" Angon asked, turning to the half-elf.

"A god." Lavina said.

"That bitch has Soul Rupture." Gavin shook his head. "No we're all doomed. There will be no hiding if that god comes to the mortal realm!"

"But wait..." Ramona forced a grin. "I have this."

The hafling held up her hand and between two fingers she displayed a chunk of blade.

"That's from Soul Rupture?" Lavina asked.

"Uh huh." Ramona whispered. "So Gonzeelda can't enact her plan."

"She can still summon.... The god." Azteron whispered through bloody lips.

"Shh." Angon said. "Don't talk. You need to get better."

"You still must go after her." Azteron shook his head. "Her spell may not be as potent as with the whole of Soul Rupture, but it could still cause devastation beyond the mortal scale."

The minotaur tried to sit up, but Buster forced him down to his back.

"Stay put!" Buster snapped. "If ye want yer wound to close, then ye need to stop reopening it!"

"I must prepare." Azteron whispered. "I must do something. Anything. Torchwood will need to be stopped."

"I'll stop him, Father." Angon said.

Azteron turned his head to Angon, although he couldn't see. A tear escaped the minotaur's eye, and he smiled.

"So have you chosen?" Azteron whispered. "Have you chosen to stay as you are? A powerful..."

"Forge." Angon nodded. "I am a forge. But my decision will have to wait until we deal with Gonzeelda."

"H-hello?" A familiar voice came in the front doors of the church.

The group all turned to look, save Buster who was entirely focused on his healing magic.

Standing in the doorway was the small gray wolf of the druid tribe.

"Hero! You're alive!" Lavina gasped. "We thought..."

"My tribe was wiped out." He said, sulking in. "But it doesn't look like this is the time."

"It's okay." Gavin said. "Come in."

The wolf walked next to the fallen pair and stared at them.

"Who is he?" Hero asked Lavina.

"My father." Angon replied. "The orc woman stabbed him. She's head for Mount Chronos to summon Torchwood."

"A god?" Hero whispered. "Is she the one who killed my clan?"

"She's partially to blame." Angon said. "But we don't have time to talk."

He stood up, and turned for the doorway.

"Where are you going?" Lavina asked the towering forge.

"To find and kill that woman." Angon shook his head. "She will pay for this."

Lavina looked down at Ramona and sighed. The halfling had slipped back into the unconscious. She took up the piece of Soul Rupture and handed it Gavin.

"What?" Gavin cocked an eyebrow.

"Ramona is too weak to travel, and Buster will need help with Azteron." Lavina said, frowning. "Go with Angon, and make sure he stays safe."

"And leave you here?" Gavin gasped. "I can't—"

"Please!" Lavina begged.

With a solemn feeling in his heart, the sol elf nodded. "Fine. I will go with Angon, but the two of us against three orcs and possibly a god... the odds aren't in our favor."

"I'll come too." Hero said, standing and looking at Lavina. "I don't know how much I can do, but at least they won't be alone."

"Thank you." Lavina said. "But are you sure you're able?"

The young druid nodded. "I may look like a wolf, but I was of the balancing tribes of Anhsook."

"It's settled then." Gavin scratched the back of his head. "We head to Mount Chronos."

Angon was already out the door and walking away, Hero gave a small bark and chased after him. Gavin on the other hand stayed behind a moment. He turned to Lavina and kneeled down next to her.

"You stay here with Buster and the wounded." Gavin said. "I know you love to go chasing after Angon. You did it once already, and you've been there for him. But you know very well that we may not return from this journey."

"Go." Lavina said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't like goodbyes."

Sighing, Gavin walked out the door and shut it behind him.

Buster glanced up for a moment and then looked back to Lavina. "Ye know I don't need yer help. Why aren't you going with them?"

Lavina sighed, still holding Ramona's head in her lap. "I didn't go because Angon doesn't need me as a distraction."

"He fought well enough when ye were there before." Buster said.

"No." She replied. "It's not that. I mean when he makes the decision to become mortal again, or stay a forge. I don't want to get in the way of his choice. Out of sigh, out of mind."

As sweat dribbled down Buster's nose he said, "Don't ye be forgettin', that forge has you in more than his mind."

"I know." She said, sadly. "He has me in his heart."

***

Heading east through the plains, Gonzeelda ran. Budge and Weiggs ran behind her, Weiggs carrying Tricia. The orcess had barely broken a sweat. She knew the Mountain of Creation was only a couple miles away, and so was her chance to ascend to godhood; by seducing and marrying a god. She would be taken to the realms of the great deities, and from there she would go on to rule the cosmos.

Gonzeelda giggled, picturing the legions of orcs she would command just by being Torchwood's lover. She would be able to hunt down the Lich Lords of the Blood Tomb and destroy them for ever daring to attack her. But then what place did Budge and Weiggs have in her plan? And what of her newly adopted daughter, Tricia?

Surely Torchwood would allow her playthings.

A sudden pang hit her heart. What if Torchwood wouldn't allow it? What would she do then? A grin crossed the orcess' face. She would just have to slit the orc god's throat as he slept.

"I so tired." Weiggs complained, coming to a stop. "Budge you carry daughter."

"She not my daughter. She yours." Budge replied, continuing to jog after his mistress.

"No fair!" Weiggs cried. "She your daughter too!"

Tricia was riding Weiggs' shoulders and she knocked on the orc's head.

"What?" Weiggs grumbled.

"Hurry and catch up to mommy!" Tricia said. "She'll be mad if you don't!"

"She can be made all she want." Weiggs crossed his arms in defiance.

"I heard that!" Gonzeelda shouted back.

Startled, Weiggs started running once again and Tricia began to giggle.

Within an hour, the party of orcs and Tricia arrived at the base of the largest mountain on the face on Anhsook Del iris. A clear path ran up the side, fully encompassing the mountain as far up as the eye could see.

"Let's hurry." Gonzeelda said. "Those buffoons will surely be right behind us."

"Baboons are coming?" Budge cried. "I hate baboons! They have big red butts!"

"And you're about to have a big red nose after I beat it in!" Gonzeelda grumbled. "Just move your arses!"

Gonzeelda picked up Tricia from Weiggs' shoulders and kneeled next to her.

"Time for a big climb." She said. "Are you ready? If monsters attack we'll need your magic."

"Okay!" The hag child said. "You can count on me, Mommy!"

The orcess turned back to her orc goons. "You two take the lead. And be ready. Who knows what kinds of guardians are waiting for us!"

"Got it." Budge said, drawing his battle-axe.

Weiggs was still doubled over and panting. He looked up at the mountain and shook his head. "I no make it!"

"Then stay here and face the wrath of the homunculus." Gonzeelda shrugged. "If you want to die, so be it. I an trust you, right Budge?"

Budge looked back, and a funny feeling crossed his being. Although he nodded, he didn't feel like she could trust him for some reason. He had a boiling anger that couldn't be extinguished—He had tried for days.

Still, the orc shook his head and started the trek up the mountainside. Gonzeelda walked past Weiggs', keeping Tricia right by her side.

The short, fat orc watched them go, but from in the distance came a howl. Chills ran up and down his spine and he shook his head.

"Mistress! Wait for me!" He cried, ignoring his tired legs, and running to catch up to his companions.

A score of minutes into their climb, they still had made little headway. They still pressed on, climbing round and round the mountain.

Looking up towards the snowcapped peak, Gonzeelda continued to grin. It was so close. No one would be able to stop her now. She was so obsessed with her own victory that she didn't notice the creature standing against the rock wall. And Budge didn't notice because he was Budge.

The humanoid, figure stepped out in front of Budge causing him to screech. It was covered in rubbery brown skin, and had a long crooked nose. At the end of each arm were clawed hands and its eyes were a sickly yellow. The monster opened its mouth and bared rows of two inch pointy teeth.

"What it is?" Budge cried, stumbling back into Gonzeelda. He knocked his mistress over and Tricia fell back as well. Only Weiggs was left standing to face the monster.

He ran forward with his axe and chopped straight down, severing the monster's arm before it ever even had time to react.

Green blood sprayed out to the side, splattering the mountain path, but it didn't seem the slightest bit phased; and that was because before Budge's eyes, a stump emerged from the point of severance and within seconds a full arm had grown to take the old ones place. Meanwhile, the arm on the ground was growing too; an entirely new body.

"W-what is dis thing?" Weiggs cried as the creature slashed at him. He brought up his axe to block, then retaliated by cutting off the creature's legs.

Gonzeelda couldn't help Weiggs, or even explain that these were deadly monsters known as trolls. They would keep replicating from every severed body part. She wanted to tell him, because he continued to swing his axe, making countless more of the ugly things. But she couldn't. Because Budge's hands were wrapped around her throat, choking the life out of her.