The Jem

~55~

Autumn looked around the battlefield with dread creeping into her body. Every muscle was like stone and she had just witnessed Crimson get stabbed then taken away. The scream that flew out of Darya was layered with agony and regret. Autumn had adjusted to only hearing sounds so everything she heard was full of feelings that she could easily name and pick out.

Ember had run up to her and hugged her tightly but all the happiness on her face was wiped off when they all began fighting once more. Clay's armies had arrived and were extremely helpful. Mara had bought her pack and others to help and Ember and the giants set off destruction everywhere. And before Crimson was taken away, she had called up every animal in the realm. There were lions, tigers, unicorns, an infinite amount of birds, elephants, leopards, panthers, goats, foxes, flesh eating mice, deer and so many more, all following the nature wielder's commands.

Autumn still had no clue if her dear friend was breathing, but she hoped and prayed she was.

~

Deeja tore through warriors as if she were cutting wheat and Jermine had shifted from dragon to dinosaur continuously, crushing and ripping through his enemies. Ember kept burning everything and the giants he asked to lead followed his flames and picked up soldiers like action figures and tossed them and squashed them, Brice and Darya froze soldier after soldier and Autumn had hypnotised thousands and turned them against their fellow friends.

People didn't stop fighting, even the humans were playing their part well but the soldiers kept coming. When suddenly Jermine heard a familiar voice-Hunter. He turned to him and found him panting and sweaty. "Is Crimson ok?" Jermine asked hopefully. Hunter nodded.

"But she can't fight at her current state. She has a mild poison in her blood." Hunter explained breathing heavily. "She's cleaned and bandaged up she just can't move properly." He clarified.

"Well are you coming to fight with us?" Every word Jermine said was a roar as he towered over Hunter. He nodded again and discarded his gloves. "I thought you said you won't use your magic," Jermine moved his head to the side.

"Crimson said I could." Jermine grinned at that."What?" Hunter snapped.

"Dude your whipped."

"Says the guy who brushes his girlfriend's hair for fun."

"She's not my girlfriend, we bang for fun. And her hair is soft." Jermine roared, a hint of amusement in both their eyes.

"You told her you loved her." Hunter fired back with an evil laugh.

"Who told you that!?"

"Deeja told me and Crimson."

"Oh that Feline is gonna pay!" Jermine's nostrils flared.

"Whatever Feral! Let's go kill someone." Hunter ran towards the field that was sugared with lifeless corpses that had hollow expressions merged into their faces.

~

The numbers of 7th realm soldiers were decreasing now and they began to die quicker. Hunter had taken enough souls to last him a lifetime of bad memories and guilt and Deeja was full of every type of species that she could go without food for another 5 hours or so. Jermine's scaly feet had blood, flesh and bones stuck to them and it made it uncomfortable to walk around. Darya, Ember and Brice were growing weaker and Autumn's eyes were sore, itchy and red. She looked like she hadn't taken a nap in 2 weeks.

They were all breathing unevenly and their magic was draining. Hunter ran towards a tall woman wearing yellow around her thighs. That's what all the 7th realmers wore and if not they were recognised by their ora's. He placed his pale finger on her dark chin and she began to shrivel but before she fully disintegrated away she placed her scarred hand on his wrist and dark black blotches started to appear on his muscled left arm.

"What are you doing?" He gritted his teeth at her. She laughed dryly. "You'll get what's coming to you, soul sucker!" Her old voice sounded ancient and terrifying. Her wrinkled old hand was the last thing he saw before it fell off into a pile of her ashes.

Hunter looked at his arm in disgust. Then the black blotches stopped spreading as it reached his elbow. "Hunter!" A soothing voice called. He rummaged through his pocket and placed his gloves back on then turned to find Crimson standing in front of him holding her stomach.

"I've come to help." She smiled but he frowned.

"No your going back to rest. Crimson please!"

"No Hunter. I will not let my friends fight this alone. I won't do that to them, to you." Her voice softened again but then her gaze slid to his arm. "What's that?" She reached for his arm. He didn't fight her for long, he knew he couldn't win.

"I don't know." Hunter showed her his arm fully. She examined it carefully for a minute then gasped, "Plaguferorus" more to herself than to him. He gulped, his bile churned in his stomach and burned. "What's that?" Her eyes widened..."Crap!"