3 . 6 . 14

The Monstrous Monstrosities Appear Once More ~ Chapter 32

(Astrid's P.O.V.)

Our horses seemed exhausted, lethargic, and tired. After deciding that going any further would cause our companions to collapsed, we hopped off and walked along side them. Silently, we hiked the narrow path before us. The surrounding area was graced with trees and plants of other kinds. The atmosphere was tense, yet we never halted our travel for even a second. We were all lethargic, exhausted...tired.

All of a sudden, I heard a faint sound- a soft cry into the distance. Clint stepped on a twig, then we all, in sync, stopped. We hastily shifted our gaze around us, desperately searching for the cause of the mysterious sound. The suspense was killing us. We anticipated an ambush by something. But what?

I caught a glimpse of red. A crow approached us at a blinding speed, its wickedly ruby red eyes glaring into the distance. I tightly gripped my staff and braced myself for attack. Kathrine and I stood back to back, reassuring each other with our presence. Clint and Tiberius did the same, their fists ready and clenched.

"Kathrine, go!" I yelled at my best friend.
She cast a spell and ran off like a cheetah. Then, she hit the crow with her staff our of the air and held it by the beak.
"Your turn, Astrid!"
"Haiiiii~" I replied.
"Water aero Phoenix....rise!" I summoned my old pal.
'Attack that damned creature.' I told it in my head.
'As you wish, milady.'
'Who you talking to?' I scoffed.
"Nice one!" We got it!" Clint cheered.
"I think we're in trouble though...look at who's here..." Tiberius pointed towards the dark end of the path.

There, was a flock of these creatures known as the Ruby-eyed Crows (I read about it). Their eyes gleam a brilliant red, but their feathers are a pure, obsidian black. In flocks, they're incredibly dangerous, also considering the danger of their howls. They let out high-pitched, incredibly deafening, agonizing 'squeals' that would knock us dead unconscious. Luckily, the one earlier was cut off by Kathrine. But now...in a flock? We're doomed.

"Do you know any spells or anything at all that can block out sound?" Kathrine asked all of us.
"No...not that I know of at least..." I replied truthfully. We kept a low profile to not startle the flock and cause our doom.
"Wait...I think we know something..." Tiberius wandered off to his horse. His steps were slow and calculated.
"Oh! We know a potion. It doesn't block out sound, but it prevents something from making sound for a couple moments at most. It's pretty basic...but that's only if we have everything we need. What'd that crow drop earlier?" Clint explained.
I checked my inventory. "Uhh...a ruby Gemstone..." I answered him, quietly.
"I think that's it...I didn't get anything. I guess it goes to whoever took the last hit." Kathrine said.
"I think we have what we need...but you guys have to hold off the pigeons for us to work." Tiberius suggested.
"Sure, no biggie." I shrugged.
"No problem there, just work, potion masters." Kathrine teased.
"Yeah, yeah..." they replied in unison.

"Ready, Astrid?" Kathrine raised her staff.
"Oh, I'm ready alright, you?" I asked her.
"Ready when you are. Let's go?" She replied.
"Let's goooooo~!"

Kathrine charged into the darkness at supersonic speed. With her staff, she fended off the crows. It's my turn, now. Dolphins can survive on land, right? Ehhhhh...it'll survive.

"Assist me, aqua mystic dolphin!" I called out. The mystical creature appeared before me, and slowly floated. It released a deafening sound that outmatched some of the crows'. I could still hear the sound, but it wasn't...whole, so it took little to no effect.

"Go! Kathrine! It's your turn now!" I yelled into the darkness.

Her staff glowed a dangerous purple, and she struck some of the birds down to the ground. However, some began to unleash their deathly noise, and I started to lose consciousness. I raised my staff, and recited: