The Crystal Trials

13 Dath

I breathed hard in anticipation for the pending fight. Nik wore a serious face and looked positively radiant riding Ameer's panther like a born warrior. Women and children ahead screamed at the Axion's destruction. As they approached, I shifted one hand into a bear claw. It had taken me many days of practicing to get that right. My other hand I left for magic or calling on my sword. Above us Emyr remained a phoenix so she could send fire raining down if needed. Rayze remained a wolf, her silver coat a great contrast to her golden human form.

Erix shouted something from ahead. The extremists were coming. Some of the robed figures were throwing burning bottles into homes and shops. A woman above the shop nearest me screamed for help. Her daughter was trapped in a room by fire. I took off and bound up the stairs as other students did the same to the other homes. Some stayed behind to fight. My attention split. Nik stayed to fight. I hesitated. Then decided I would have to help the little girl quickly. At the top of the stairs, there was a rising inferno. Grabbing onto my blue pool of water magic, I drenched the flames. Yanking the door down revealed a little girl holding her baby brother. Brave soul.

I grabbed them both and stuck them on one hip, the girl holding fast to her brother. Her large eyes full of trust. The mother next. I offered my hand to the mother who took it graciously. Suddenly, the floor below exploded, and I had to turn onto my back to catch our fall from the impact. I gained my bearings quickly and yanked the family into my arms again. Damn. The stairs were blocked by another fire. I couldn't cast fast enough so I made a snap decision.

"Hold on tight everyone," I told the family. With a running start I leapt from their balcony to the street below and shifted midair to catch them on my bear belly. My back hurt from the impact, but my bear's muscle withstood the one-story fall. The mom and the kids hid behind me as I stood up. Surrounding us was a group of Axion members.

"Dathwait! I'm coming!" Oh, gods please no. My heart couldn't take it. Nik wasfighting the members between us. The ones surrounding me started to close inand I wrapped a protective arm around my back to the family. They didn't evenflinch at my large paw.