“How could y’all be this stupid?!”

Jo squeezed her eyes shut and tapped her head against the doorframe, hoping beyond hope that the house would come crashing down and put her out of her misery.

“Been asking that for a while.” She mumbled.

“Oh, and you’re one to talk,” Cruck’aa snarled. “If I remember –”

Jo cracked an eye just as Nura whirled on him, towering over the Aarakocra with rage so palpable it sent a shiver up her spine. He tried to slink up the stairwell away from her, yellow eyes wide, as Nura laid into him.

“Shut your fucking beak!” She spat. “All you’ve done is whinge and complain about nothing since I’ve gotten here! Speak with purpose or don’t speak at all!”

Doriyah laughed for them both as Jo bit her tongue; leaning in one of the chairs at the table, he pointed a finger at Cruck’aa like a child at a zoo.

“Look!” He cackled. “He’s afraid of a woman!”

In a heartbeat, Nura was on him, looming only because he was seated. His stupid grin seemed to rile her more as she hissed and jerked a finger in his face.

“You have no room to speak,” Nura said. “considering this mess is entirely your fault!”

“Sure, sure,” Doriyah waved her off. “heard that one before.”

“Then what do you intend to do about it?!”

“Uh, nothing until Pavel gets back.” He shrugged. “Isn’t that why you two came over here? Wait for him to figure –”

“You don’t need to wait for another to figure out how you plan on getting us out of this mess!”

“Working on it, doll-face. Trust.”

Jo shoved off the doorframe, leaping towards Nura as she pulled back her fist, much to Doriyah’s amusement. Yet she stopped short as the door burst open, slamming against the wood where Jo had been standing. Pavel stepped in a moment after, light in streaming around him as he stood in the threshold.

“Whoops.” He said, closing the door with his foot. “Didn’t mean that.”

Dirt and dust coated his clothes, his golden locks equally gross, looking as though he’d gone tumbling through the ruins rather than searching through them. Despite that, he seemed to have nothing on him, save his sword in one hand, with its empty and broken scabbard in the other.

With a nod at Jo and Cruck’aa, he moved towards the stairs, probably to go clean himself. He stopped short, however, when he caught sight of Nura, now flipped around and staring daggers at him from across the room.

“Oh, uh…” He shook out his hair, as though it would help. “Hello! And who do I owe the pleasure of meeting?”

Jo began to speak, hoping to start the conversation on the right foot, only for Nura to stomp to past her so violently, boots hammering against the wood, that she sputtered instead.

“You’re,” Nura spat, somehow looming over Pavel despite lacking the height. “the bleeding heart, aren’t you?”

“I…” Pavel’s eyes widened. “I’m pretty sure my heart is fine.”

His words hung in the air. Realization smacked Nura in the face a heartbeat later, forcing her back a step as she stared at Pavel with her own wide eyes. Jo would have been impressed had it been anyone else, but she’d figured Nura to be smart enough to realize quick that Pavel was…well, Pavel.

“Anyways,” He continued. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Pavel! Are you Hugo’s wife? He made mention of you.”

But Nura didn’t hear him; shaking her head, she stumbled past him and leaned against the wall beside the door, running her hands through her hair. Wide eyes staring at nothing, she remained utterly silent as her future crumbled before her eyes.

“Right…” Pavel said, glancing around. “I take it a lot has happened?”

“None of it good.” Jo said. “Didn’t find anything?”

“Ah, no,” Pavel’s face darkened. “I found evidence of the barbarians though. Similar mutilated bodies, like what we saw in the woods. They’re old, but it’s a clear sign. It’s a good thing we stayed, because I’m pretty sure they’d do the same to Hugo and his family if given the chance. Doubt they’d listen to reason.”

The confidence in his voice should have been reassuring, yet Jo could only cringe at just how behind he was regarding the situation.

“Pavel,” She began. “been talking to Nura – her, yeah – and about those barbarians? We made it worse.”

“What?” Pavel asked.

“Allegedly.” Cruck’aa grumbled.

“Oh no, we did.” Doriyah said. “I take full responsibility for my hi-jinks.”

“Your what?” Pavel asked.

“When they spotted you yesterday,” Jo said. “they – that tipped them off. Know we’re here now. Should have realized it sooner, getting rusty.”

“Well, maybe I am too,” Pavel said. “because I fail to see how that’ll be an issue. If we were facing a military, sure, but these people seem like nothing more than woodsmen gone insane. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

His words hung in the air as he glanced about, trying to meet everyone’s eyes, blind to the mounting rage behind him. That quickly changed as Nura grabbed him and flung Pavel around, clutching at his tunic with both hands as she pulled him in.

“They’re meticulous you idiot!” Nura hissed. “Doesn’t matter what you think they are, y’all tipped them off and now everything I’ve figured out and planned is fucked! Everything! They’ll send more of them now and demand more from us, all because y’all wanted breakfast!”

“Dinner, actually.” Doriyah said, smiling as Jo glared at him.

“Ma’am, I understand the frustration,” Pavel said. “But rest assured, we’ll figure something out. That’s why we’re here, to help.”

Jo couldn’t see what kind of face Pavel had made to her, but whatever it was, it only furthered the rage on Nura’s.

“Y’all don’t get it,” She growled. “you just don’t fucking get it. Can’t see past anything but your good intentions.”

“What? Ma’am, I don’t think –”

“No, you don’t, and that’s your issue.” She shoved herself off Pavel, barely moving him. “I had everything figured out. I did. I knew how they worked, knew how they acted, knew how to keep them occupied. Had all the time in the damned world to figure out what we could and then y’all just walk in and fuck everything up!”

“Okay,” Pavel began. “I understand that but we’re here now! Whatever you planned, we’ll make it work. Or change it, whatever –”

“Nine Hells, we never wanted you here!” Nura yelled. “Never! All y’all did was mess everything up and now you promise to fix it?! Be better off just leaving!”

Despite agreeing with her, Jo couldn’t suppress that twinge in her chest as Pavel glanced back at her, face falling; whatever he’d been hoping for from the conversation, it wasn’t this.

“Well…” He began, turning back to her. “I’m sorry you feel that way ma’am, but –”

“Think her names Nura.” Doriyah said, feet thudding onto the table.

“Uh, right, Nura…” Pavel spread out his hands. “I’m sorry you feel this way, Truly, all we – most of us want to do is help. I apologize if my friends here went and messed everything up, especially after we’ve only been here barely a day. That wasn’t our intention. But if that’s the case, if we have messed things up…then it’s our duty to fix them. I know you probably hate us right now but…if we can fix the problem, it’s the least we can do.”

Jo sighed. It wasn’t the worst argument to make; part of her even agreed with it if they truly had made the situation worse. Despite that, she was sure that a part of him just wanted to be involved to assuage whatever guilt he now felt. Nura seemed to be of the same mind, as though she continued to glare at him, she remained silent.

It was Cruck’aa, however, who spoke up first, feathers still ruffled.

“As much as it pains me to admit it,” He said. “I’m in agreement. Should these two have screwed everything up, then we must fix it, if only so we can leave quicker.

“What the fuck…” Doriyah breathed, hand on his chest.

“Yes, fine.” Nura barked. “The thing is right. The sooner you fix this –”

“Thing!?” Cruck’aa caught on.

“– the sooner y’all are out of here.” She stomped towards the door and shoved it open, glaring at them over her shoulder. “Come then. Everyone is at my house.” And she left before any of them could respond.

Silence hung in the air as they stared at each other, Jo’s gaze sliding between Pavel and Cruck’aa, ignoring the chuckling coming from the table. After a moment, Pavel shrugged, turned and followed out the door.

“Should have left the moment we found our answers.” Cruck’aa muttered bitterly.

“Look at that,” Jo shoved off the wall and moved towards the door. “another miracle.”

The crunching of rubble underfoot seemed louder than usual, the sound bouncing off a few of the remaining walls scattered about the ruins. Yet it did nothing to drown out the pounding in Serena’s ears as she made her way towards the barbarians. Nura’s house, despite having a decent view of the hole blasted into the city walls, proved further from the pair than she thought, giving ample time for her decision to turn itself over and over in her head.

There was no regret within her chest, no dread of facing the men alone; no, it was the usual second-guessing that chewed her lip and set her hands atremble. She hadn’t a clue what the situation was for Nura and her family – even stepping up to, hopefully, scare the barbarians away might prove worse for them in the long run. But what other choice did she have? To stand by when she was more than capable was just as bad as acting without knowing. At least, that’s what Serena told herself to quiet her heart.

The minute of walking seemed to stretch to an hour, yet within a minute they met in the middle all the same, the barbarous pair halting between two ruined buildings, eyeing Serena with outright hostility as she approached. Up close, they looked horrific, both in almost matching attire. What seemed like a pair of tunic and pants were actually rough-strew garments, obviously handmade; the furs wrapped about their bodies seemed dark brown, though from dirt or their natural color, she couldn’t tell; worst of all were the bones that adorned their shoulders, holding the furs in place, looking more decoration than functional armor.

And the smell…

Serena cringed back, eyes watering as the stench wafted over her – somewhere between a decaying corpse, left baking in the sun, and that horrible dumpster they always walked by on the way to Werond’s favorite restaurant. Almost inhuman.

The pair glared at her, hate smoldering within their eyes. Bahamut’s Teeth, they were as beady as Cruck’aa’s, maybe worse.

“You!” One barked, the taller of the pair, exposing broken and missing teeth. “You’re new! Where’s Nura!”

“We only talk to her!” Spat the other, thin and narrow like a post.

Serena suppressed a sigh, raising her hands as she realized that she’d need to talk to them.

“She’s not here,” She signed. “you can talk to me. What do you…”

Her signs trailed off as the pair flinched, shying away with spears leveled. The tall one hissed and jabbed his spear towards her, a threat had he not been further away.

“What is this magic?!” He demanded. “I will not suffer you, witch! Speak plainly!”

“This is the only way I can talk,” Serena signed. “so get used to it. Nura’s not here.”

“Lies!” The narrow one yelled.

“Speak with your mouth!” Screamed the other.

“I am! Gods above, you think I want to freak everyone out?!”

Evidently, asking them to think proved too much for the rough pair. Both contorted their faces, as though digesting what she’d said, only for the taller one to quickly shake his head and step forward, spear still raised.

“Enough of this, we won’t deal with you.” He said. “Take us to Nura. Now!”

For a moment, Serena considered it. She hadn’t a clue what to say or do with the two, after all, and Nura was far more equipped to handle them than she was. But the very idea of bringing these savages anywhere near the children dashed all thoughts of following through.

“No,” Serena signed. “I only came over here to tell you to leave. So…leave. Now.”

“What?!” The narrow one spat.

“Who are you to demand such a thing?” The tall one yelled.

“It doesn’t matter,” Serena signed. “I’m telling you to leave. She…can’t meet with you anyways.”

“And why not?!”

“Because she can’t. She’s busy.”

“With what?!”

“She’s just busy! Come back tomorrow and she’ll see you!”

The tall one smashed the heel of his spear into the ground and stepped forward, eyes darkening as his voice lowered to a growl found more at home with a bear than a man.

“Listen girl,” He began. “you don’t seem to understand how this arrangement works. Shut your mouth and take us to Nura, or else –”

“Or else what?!” Serena spat back, teeth gritted. “Don’t fucking call me girl and demand shit, you don’t get to do that! Nura’s not going to be seeing anyone right now, so piss off! Don’t make me – “

But the thin one let loose a bellow, thrusting his spear forward –

“Enough!” He screamed. “Get this magic from my head!”

– and charged

Serena flinched, the spearhead an inch from her heart before she twisted her fingers and vanished. She landed on her feet some paces to the side, the barbarian stumbling through silver mist.

“Back off!” Serena signed as he whirled around. “I don’t –”

He screamed and charged again.

Cursing, she vanished again, reappearing where she was before. The barbarian screamed louder, head on a swivel.

Serena raised a hand towards his back, fire igniting across it, aiming between the shoulder blades; the blast wouldn’t kill, hopefully it’d be enough to –

Another yell – another curse as she remembered.

Jerking back, Serena flung up her other hand as the taller man lunged at her, spear flying towards her heart. The head slid off the translucent barrier that erupted from her fingers and covered her chest, moving towards –

Serena screamed as the tip slashed across her shoulder, blood spraying onto the dirt, soaking her arm as a burning pain flooded through it.

She leapt back, barely dodging another thrust, just as the other came barreling towards her, another war cry at his lips.

Twisting her fingers, Serena teleported further back, watching as they thrust through the silver mist where she’d been barely a heartbeat ago.

Somehow, their faces contorted further, rage fueling their limbs as they sprinted at her, both now eerily silent. Arm burning, biting back another curse, Serena raised her arms, hands laced together, waiting as the pair drew nearer – nearer – nearer –

At the last second, arm slick and spasming, a stream of fire erupted from her palms, wide as she was tall, roaring at the barbarians like dragon fire.

The thinner barbarian screamed as the flames engulfed him, body barely visible in the torrent as he stumbled back, spear thrown away; his friend flung himself to the side at the last second, crashing into the dirt, the fires barely licking his arm.

Serena pressed forward as the burning man continued to stumble back, his screams of agony accompanied by a terrible chorus of popping and sizzling, until his throat burned through, and he fell silent.

She flicked her hands, the stream evaporating, yet the barbarian remained engulfed, the features of his body melting away under the intense heat, the terrible smell of burning flesh filling the air. By the time his body fell to the ground, he was more pile of burning flesh than person.

Serena flipped around, arm outstretched and palm pointing towards the barbarian still on the ground. But he’d already thrown his spear away, face pale, eyes wide as he gaped at her. Scrambling to his feet, the barbarian raced away, never once glancing back.

She watched for a moment as his form began to shrink, until he finally threw himself through the hole in the city wall and into the fields outside. Sighing, she spared a glance at the dead barbarian, stomach twisting as the flames began to subside.

Bahamut’s Teeth, that wasn’t how she’d expected that to go. Then again, given that they were wild bushmen, maybe she should have –

Pain flared in her arm, causing her to gasp; Serena clapped a hand to the cut, hand coming away wet, the wound burning as though a fire raged just beneath her skin.

Why was it burning? She’d been cut before, but never had –

The realization smashed into her chest.

Cursing, she ripped the sleeve of her tunic, exposing the wound as she twisted her arm – superficial at best, but deep enough that the poison might have already seeped in. But what was she to do? She couldn’t cure poison, and while healing the wound would help with, well, the wound itself, it wasn’t the right magic to stop whatever was on the spear. But it wouldn’t help, it wouldn’t help – by the gods how did she mess up this bad? Why didn’t she teleport back, she could have, it would have been easy, but she didn’t – gods above, she wasn’t about to end up like Nura’s family from her own stupidity but what was she to do, they didn’t have any cure, any antidote, if she went down like this she’d be a burden to everyone and she’d killed one of them hadn’t she, she had to tell them, Bahamut’s Teeth she had to tell them, she couldn’t if the posion got to her, how fucked would they be if she never told them, gods above why didn’t she just turn away when she had the chance, why did she stay out, why –

She straightened up, sucking in a breath as she fought against the talons of panic that gripped her heart and shook her body. She couldn’t panic, couldn’t panic, it’d only make things worse, but what was she to do? She had nothing, nothing to heal her, nothing to save her, she had…

Her flames.

Before the idea could shift into a terrible one, Serena ignited her hand and, flames roaring, slapped it onto her open wound.