The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,56

going to burst out at us. Nothing happened.

“Are … are we supposed to fight the big wall of fog?” A bewildered Kendall whispered.

Before I could answer the haze started moving, swirling and gathering into three distinct locations. “No, look, something’s happening.”

The fog came together to create three identical shapes—gargantuan, hulking, menacing bodies. Their size double that of Gabe’s human form. The freakishly large arms that took shape were the size of my entire body. A lump grew out of each set of bulky shoulders, forming a makeshift head. Empty holes with glowing red centers were the closest they came to having eyes. A black slash echoed a crude mouth on each. Their formation complete, they moved with soldier precision into a line opposite us. Standing side by side, slightly hunched, posed for battle.

“Well, that’s alarmingly intimidating.” I blurted out.

“Can we ask them to try for another shape? Like maybe fog bunnies?” Kendall peeped.

A low rumbling growl came from the monsters. Then, in trained unison, they marched toward us.

“Here we go.” I said.

Kendall whimpered and Gabe growled. Together, the three of us braced ourselves.

Gabe and I charged at them leaving a hesitant Kendall behind. Gabe-lion sprang into a pounce at the same time I leapt into the air for a side kick.

It amazed me that my body knew how to do this. Before my little “upgrade” I tripped over my feet at the mention of physical activity. Now I jumped high enough into the air to be head level with the monsters with no difficulty at all. But my abilities didn’t make me impervious to harm, as I found out when I passed right through the foggy creature and landed flat on my back with a painful thump. My own groans didn’t drown out Gabe’s howl of pain as he crunched to the ground not six feet from me.

I rolled to my side and saw the monster stomp straight at me. Still smarting from my fall, I didn’t rush to dash out of the way. His balled up fist would just slip right through me, so I saw no reason to move. I had time to regroup before I got up and played along with the little charade.

I noticed a second too late that his incoming fist suddenly had pallor and texture to it. The monsters could solidify. He punched me in the face with a fist bigger than my entire head. Black spots danced before my eyes and warmth dribbled from my split lip and bloodied nose. I curled into a ball and covered my face with my arms just in time for the next blow to come. The crunch and shooting pain that followed told me he cracked at least one of my ribs. I tried to shield myself as much as possible from the kicks and punches that came like rapid fire. Every exposed part of my body was sore from the beating I took.

I peeked through the cover of my arms to see Kendall. She knelt on the ground, her wings encapsulating her. One of the monsters pounded away at her as well. I envied her impenetrable wings because they made the beating painless for her. As long as she kept her shield up, she would fare a lot better than Gabe and I. I couldn’t see Gabe, but the occasional snarl and yelp told me he wasn’t doing so hot either.

Stealing a look between her feathers, Kendall met my eye. “You okay?”

“Ooof! Getting my butt…hunh!…handed to me.” I wheezed. “How’s…ooww!…Gabe?”

“Somehow he’s still standing. He’s battered, but standing.” A loud howl of pain echoed through the clearing. “Uh…not anymore.”

A scream tore from my chest as the creature delivered a sharp kick that must have cracked a rib. Searing pain stabbed into my side. That was one kick too many. Fury built in me, motivating me to get off the ground and put an end to all of this—just as soon as I figured out a way to move.

“Keni?” I called, my teeth grinding in pain. “Can you—get to—Gabe?”

She hesitated before answering. I assumed it was to assess the situation. I didn’t risk another look towards her. Instead I tried to find a way out from under the barrage of attacks from this nasty smog being. “I’ll try.” She answered, but her voice lacked conviction.

Her wings beat against the air followed by a shrill, nonhuman wail. The howl caught the attention of my attacker, who paused and turned to look toward his troubled buddy. I rolled out of