We Can Be Heroes ...?

15

Shion huddled behind the rubble alongside Dave and a far-too-cozy Jova as they watched Mila edge closer to the corner where the skeletons had returned, running back to the positions they had left while chasing Shion. Mila made several, worried glances back their way, flexing her grip upon the black staff. It was Shion's idea and she feared she had brought their doom upon them all.

"I' will work. I think i' will, anyways." The cigarette dangled from Dave's lips and Shion wished he'd put it out, the smoke drifting across her face. "I' migh' work. Ge' ready t' run. I' migh' no' work."

That did nothing to stave off Shion's worries and, as Jova's fingers tightened around Shion's arm, they watched as Mila readied herself. As though her life depended on it, which it probably did, Mila took in one last, long breath, pointed her staff and summoned Bob. The rabbit appeared in a flash and ... sat there, snuffling the air. Mila prodded the blue rabbit with the staff and it made one hop, coming to a stop once again.

"Scare him!" Jova jumped up, cupping her mouth with both hands to call to her sister, then dropped back down. "This isn't going to work."

"Hey! Yah! Boo! Shoo! Run, Bob, run!" Mila jumped up and down, waving her hands and the staff in the air and Bob turned away. "For fuck's sake! Move, you furry little bastard!"

Mila launched a kick at Bob, but stopped before her boot touched the nose-twitching rabbit. If it didn't move soon, Mila would have to summon him again as the rabbit reached its time limit. This wasn't going to work and Shion knew they were going to blame her. She chewed her lip as she tried to think. Mila had said she didn't summon Bob often, perhaps she had never really learned how to make him do what she wanted.

"Have you tried thinking about it?" She stood, on tip-toes to look over the rubble, and leaned forward as she shouted. "Like my ring of healing. Think about what you want him to do."

"What do you think I'm fucking doing?" Mila stamped her foot, glaring back at Shion. She raised her staff, pointing it toward the corner. "What am I supposed to do? Point and think 'attack'?"

Bob took off at a run, bounding along the dusty ground, clouds bouncing into the air as he ran. As he reached the corner, Bob seemed to turn in an instant, disappearing around the corner, out of sight, and then nothing happened. The sounds of the skeletons rousing came around the corner, hiss and clicks of jaws, the swish of weapons in the air. Mila began to panic, waving her staff as though urging Bob to return.

And he did. The little bar above Bob's head showed that the skeletons had managed to hit him once, at least, but now the little creature ran back, making zig-zags as he ran, pausing, sniffing the air, before jumping away again. And the skeletons followed, heads tilted low as they chased the cute, blue bunny that appeared to evade them with ease.

Caught by surprise at the speed Bob returned, Mila almost fell into the detection range of the skeletons before she managed to shake herself into action. One skeleton turned its bleached white skull her way, but Mila ducked around a standing piece of rubble and its attention returned to Bob, who now bounced around in a circle as all the skeletons tried to attack the little creature. Arrows missed by fractions of an inch, fire from staffs singed Bob's blue fur, curved, pitted swords swiped grooves in the dirt, but Bob evaded further harm.

Except, Bob began to fade, his time almost up and Mila, hidden behind a fallen pillar, hadn't seen it. Shion raised herself up, waving her hands toward Mila, then pointing toward where Bob had faded away. The skeletons, bereft of their tiny enemy, began to turn back, but Mila had finally noticed Bob had gone. In another flash of magic, Bob returned and, this time, Mila had better control of him.

With a wave of her staff, she sent Bob running away, closer to the point where the skeletons would break off engagement, but not quite that far. With a face filled with concentration, Mila continued to guide Bob as the skeletons rushed after him. Without looking at them, Mila waved toward Shion, Dave and Jova, urging them to head toward the corner while the skeletons were occupied.