striking distance and put some much needed space between myself the bowling ball-fisted monster and me. Rising on to my shaky legs I had a moment of panic that they wouldn’t support me. They did, but I was going to need some ice packs later. Lots of ‘em.
I retreated to the edge of the clearing, where I figured out what caused the creature’s pained cries. The wind stirred up by Kendall’s wings dissipated his foggy form. He stumbled frantically to get away from her. Backpedaling, he tripped over something—the slack body of a lion. He lost his footing and fell, right over the box he emerged from earlier. His form evaporated into a heavy cloud, which was sucked back in from where it emerged. I attempted a cocky sneer at this display of their weakness, however as soon as I moved my battered face it quickly turned into a wince of pain.
Seeing their friend disappear back into the box angered the remaining monsters. They bellowed deep, gravelly roars then turned to Kendall and me for retribution.
“We need gale force winds, Keni! Now!”
She gave a sharp nod of understanding and lifted higher into the air, “I’m on it!” She circled the perimeter of the clearing flying as fast as her inner eagle would allow. In a moment’s time she worked up a robust, continual wind.
The remaining monsters staggered, desperately seeking some sort of cover. They lost their footing repeatedly as their foggy legs blew out from under them. In an act of frustration one of the smog ogres gave up and solidified his entire form. He stamped after Kendall.
He didn’t notice the head of the mighty lion rise up of the ground, and I’m sure he didn’t see Gabe wink at me. Gabe sprang to his feet and charged the enormous, corporeal monster. A piercing howl escaped its slash of a mouth when our lion clamped down on its thick, grey leg. It thrashed around wildly, striking out at our Gabe-lion. His face took a beating, but his vise grip jaws never faltered. He dragged the flailing creature to the box. It disappeared inside, just like the first.
After seeing how we disbanded his comrades, the third fog thing tried to make an escape. Keni intercepted his departure by flying in low and beating her wings directly at him. He pivoted on his heel, back towards my Gabe and me. With Keni low to the ground, he could stay in mist form as soon as he got some distance from her. An evil grin reminiscent of a jack o’lantern spread across his face. He could fight again, at least for a moment. He charged for Gabe, seeking some retribution. Unless he went solid, we couldn’t get him.
I bolted toward Gabe on the other side of the clearing. “Let him hit you, Gabe!”
The brawny lion scowled at me and shook his head. “NOOO!”
“Take one for the team and let him hit you, you overgrown tabby!”
Gabe planted his feet and grit his teeth. The monster stomped up to him and arced back that sledge hammer of a fist. I saw the texture change from dense cloudy air to solid, bumpy skin. I jumped, kicking both feet straight out in front of me. My fast-flying feet hit the beast right square in the middle of his back knocking him forward. The open box happened to be laying right there. I’d like to say I planned it that way, but it was sheer luck. In a swirl of smoke, the last of the monsters vanished. Its contents restored, the box snapped shut and locked.
Kendall landed and the three of us tentatively approached the burgundy container, cautious that it might not be over. The sound of applause behind us confirmed it was.
“Very well done for your first time.” Alaina encouraged.
“It sure didn’t feel good.” Something popped and sent a shooting pain through my face. My hands flew up. “OOOOWWWW! What the heck was that?!”
Kendall recoiled at whatever freaky thing happened to me. “It was a good pop, Cee. Your nose was broken and pointing in the wrong direction. It just fixed itself. Yeay!” Her “yeay” lacked any enthusiasm.
“Yeah.” I said flatly. “That hurt like a…”
“I am very proud of you all,” Alaina said. “Even when you were not faring well, you kept looking for ways to turn things around. That was impressive.”
“And we learned how to take a punch. So yee-haw to that,” I said, gingerly rubbing my aching sniffer. I glanced at Gabe and Kendall. Kendall