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Lilith and the others couldn’t see any distinct features.

The creature had long limbs, with long black claws extending from its fingers.

It was thin and had no fur or hair that they could make out.

Only empty sockets where its eyes should be and pointed brown teeth that it bared to the village people.

Its back was arched in a peculiar way and was covered in a veiny texture.

It braced on all fours and stalked forwards.

Immediately the twenty-seven souls dispersed, giving the creature ample room.

Whatever it was, it had authority over them.

The tall dark creature moved up and down the row of buildings.

It stopped just shy of the centre of the intersection and tilted its head up as if it were sniffing the air.

Locke motioned for them to leave. They needed to get out of the area before they were found.

They dipped behind a large bush, just as the creature moved its head to scan the area.

Lilith held her breath. This was too close for comfort.

The creature stopped making the crackling sound, which the group took as a sign that their scent had been found.

They hunched down and quickly ran back down the hill.

They could hear the breaking of branches and rapid footsteps around them.

At a breakneck pace, the four sprinted through the trees.

Their muscles protested as they filled them with mana and continued the race to safety.

Felicia called out to her clairvoyance ring and weaved through the trees.

The other three followed hot on her trail.

The creature jumped over a fallen log, causing the ground to shake as it landed.

Lilith refused to look back. The thing chasing them was getting closer.

Silver ran ahead of Lilith and risked looking backwards.

“It’s forty yards behind us and gaining!” he yelled to the group. He tried to refocus, but tripped on a root. He flew forward and crashed on all fours.

“Silver!” Lilith cried. She skidded to a stop and looked back.

Filling with instant regret she saw what was chasing them.

Not only was the creature charging for them, but behind it, all the townspeople were gracelessly hurtling themselves.

Lilith sprinted to pick up Silver, who was dazed from the crash.

“Move, now!” she yelled, as she hauled him up and grabbed his wrist. She pulled him along as she increased her pace.

He was stumbling, but managed to gain his footing.

She refused to let go as they sailed through the forest. Lilith could see Felicia and Locke several yards ahead, which meant the creature was right behind her.

She could hear the crunching of its feet pounding closer and closer.

“We need to go faster,” she yelled to Silver, who was at her heels.

She pushed them forward, exerting her legs and pushing more mana through her muscles.

Silver struggled behind her, but she would not let go of his hand.

The creature pounced forward and sliced its claws through the air behind them.

Silver screamed out and tumbled down, ripping his hand from hers.

Lilith filled with dread. She pulsed magic through her body and expelled an explosive torrent of air.

The creature flew backwards, giving her enough time to pull Silver up.

“My leg. Just leave me! You’re supposed to leave me,” he cried to her.

“No. I refuse to let you go!” she yelled at him.

“It’s going to hurt, but you need to get up.

” She braced him against her and they moved slowly through the forest. She could barely make the two others out in the distance.

“Use your mana to close the wound as much as possible. When you’re done, grab my wrist and pull me away.

” She leaned him against a tree and rounded to face the oncoming barrage.

The creature flailed its limbs until it came back to all fours.

It was moving much faster than the village people, who were still a distance away, but stayed in their pursuit.

Lilith closed her eyes and breathed deeply: She held her hand forward and pulled as much mana through her body as she could, filling herself with magical energy. When she exhaled, she opened her eyes.

An enormous flaming ball burst from her hand and streaked through the forest towards the creature.

It hit its target, consuming the creature in a fiery blaze.

She didn’t wait for the fire to dispel before sending another ball hurtling towards the villagers.

They did nothing to dodge, and as it impacted the people, she saw limbs go flying from the collision.

Continuing her assault she launched icicles that whizzed through the air towards where the creature was.

She forced everything she had at them. She called to the earth, which rumbled in response.

Long roots swatted at those remaining upright.

She slammed branches and whipped roots until nothing was standing.

She used the roots to tie the creature down.

Bolts of lightning shot from her and crashed into the creature.

She held her breath, waiting to see past the smoke.

There were no more villagers moving her way and the creature laid motionless on its back.

Its long limbs curled inwards and it was twitching.

Lilith moved closer to it. She saw black liquid oozing from the creature's mouth.

She drew her sword and raised it above her head, remembering the name of her sword, 'Demon's Tongue,' an apt name.

With a violent thud, she cleaved its head from the body, which still shook and twitched.

She took out her simple blade and etched a figure on its forehead and did the same to its body.

“Silver?” she called over to him. She heard him rustle beside her. She quickly looked over her shoulders. A large slash tore through his lower leg, exposing his shredded calf muscle. It was pulsing, trying to form threads to stitch itself together, with no luck. Lilith cursed and ran to his side.

“Climb on my back,” she begged him. She took one last look at the smoke and fire; there were no signs of movement.

Hopefully that thing could not reattach itself.

“Hurry.” She pulled Silver’s arm around her neck and lifted his thighs.

He weighed a ton, but she could use whatever magical energy she had left to run with him on her back.

It was slower and more arduous, but she ran through the woods.

She cried out in frustration and she carried Silver to safety.

Locke and Felicia stood off in the distance, watching Lilith approach.

She dropped Silver to the ground and braced her hands on her knees, struggling to breathe.

Locke stomped towards her and pushed her down .

“You fool,” he yelled at her. She sat on her seat and looked angrily at him. “You risked your life to go back for him.” He waved his hand at Silver who was now unconscious and bleeding. “Did you not listen to me when I told you to leave those that fell behind?”

“It was my choice. I will do what I can to save my friends.” She wiped her sweaty forehead with her shirt and stood.

She looked at his eyes and said, “You may find it easy to leave those who care for you behind, but I cannot. I will fight for those that fight for me.” Felicia could not look at her.

Lilith continued. “We need to bring him to a healer.” She looked behind her, spotting the smoke in the distance.

“I think I killed the villagers and may have killed the creature too, but we shouldn’t hang around.

” She went to Silver to haul him back on her back, but the prince grabbed her wrist. He gave her a disapproving look and then bent down to pick up Silver himself.

They took off northwards in the direction of Lilith’s home.