The sound of the birds flushing brought Merik out of an apparent trance brought on by Kala's proximity...and undoubtedly her beauty as well. The moment had been perfect, almost like it was happening in a dream, but reality was much more harsh and unwelcoming. After the light faded away, Merik continued to hold Kala for another long moment, waiting and listening in the gathering darkness.
As his eyes adjusted to the blackness around him, he realized it wasn't that dark after all. He could see into the forest, but not very far. This oddity was not lost on him. He remembered his uncanny night vision while in the woods after their coordinated fall and his subsequent injury. He knew from the look on Kala's face that it was dark; she did not register any movements he made...and yet somehow he could still see.
Squinting, he searched the woods for any signs of the enemy. Leaning in to Kala once more, he whispered again, "How's your spidey sense?"
"Buzzing away," she replied, a slight quiver to her tone.
"Time to go," he replied instantly, leading her to the bank.
"I can't see, Merik," she said as she allowed him to guide her.
"I know, just hold onto me. We have to get back to camp now."
Leading Kala to the stream bank as quietly as he could manage, Merik stopped short. Scanning the forest above the small stream, he thought he saw movement...and a small flicker of light in the darkness. A person without his training might have taken the light for that of a firefly, but Merik wasn't fooled. He continued to direct Kala, but kept his eyes on the steep slope above the cave entrance. He knew he had seen something, but it was gone now.
Moments later, as they stepped out of the water and quickly began dressing, Merik directed his attention downstream in the opposite direction. Following the sharp incline of the slope, he found what he was looking for. He had come to believe the movement moments ago was associated with an animal, but this wasn't an animal. It was a human. The lithe form was carrying a faint lantern and bounded up the slope with the speed and grace of an Air Servant. No one else could use the air currents to lift and propel themselves to that degree. It had to be Tannish's rear guard. As expected, they were attacking from behind. Their plan was likely to drop down into the quarry from the bluff above.
Merik considered himself extremely lucky at this point. The fact they hadn't been seen yet was a minor miracle, especially given Kala's light, but they needed to get back through the cave sooner rather than later. He and Logan had surmised Tannish would attack before sunrise, when the residents were sleeping soundly. It was the only bit of surprise they had any chance of producing given the setting. The camp guards would see them coming either way.
Attacking just after sunset was not considered, but that didn't really matter now. All he could hope for was that everybody else had been more prepared than he and Kala. After pulling his boots on, he gently grasped Kala by the arm again and moved as quickly through the woods as he thought she could manage. She didn't speak one word during their trek back to the cave entrance, relying solely on his guidance. It said something for her to put that level of trust in him. He only hoped they would both live to explore their relationship further.
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Kala allowed Merik to pull her toward the cave entrance. She could sense the opening as they neared it. Moisture clung to the walls of the tunnel, producing a damp earthy smell that made her fingers tingle. She had anticipated this moment for the past few days, and now that it was here, she was ready. Her conversation with Merik was by no means complete, but at least she knew his true feelings...and that was half the battle. The other issue would have to be addressed again later. Kala was concerned but not so much so that she let it affect her feelings for him in any way. Regardless of what was happening to him physically...or mentally...she still cared for him deeply.
Merik pulled her hand forward gently until her fingers touched a cold, slimy surface. They had entered the cave. Releasing her, he moved on ahead, allowing her to set her own pace in the dark. She ran her right hand along the tunnel wall as a reference point, making sure to pick up her feet. The passage was fairly level, but that didn't mean something couldn't be blocking their path. The last thing she wanted was an injury before she even faced battle.
Less than a minute later, Kala noticed a light up ahead. It was a lantern carried by the first of the escaping residents. Merik stopped them momentarily, quizzing the leader to find out the status of the camp beyond. Apparently, Tannish's army had chosen to march right down the middle of the dirt road to the quarry gates. The guards had known they were coming for the past 10 minutes, but this was surprisingly only the first group of residents to leave. Last minute preparations had still been underway, and this attack at sundown had taken them all by surprise, despite the advanced warning.
Merik told the leader of the group about Tannish's rear guard and warned them to exit the cave only when they were sure no one was waiting for them in the woods beyond. Assuming the invading Servants had no knowledge of their escape route, Merik figured the residents would be able to make it clear without incident once the Air Servants reached the rim of the quarry to take up their flanking positions from above. After ensuring they knew where to go once they made it to the other end of the tunnel, he urged the group on.
It didn't take long for Kala to hear commotion ahead. Whether from a second group of residents moving through or the battle itself, she was uncertain. Within a couple of minutes, she could see the characteristic orange, yellow and red flashes up ahead that indicated fire had broken out in the camp. This, too, was expected.
Harry had insisted he didn't care one way or the other if Tannish burned the place to the ground. As long as the residents could escape, they would rebuild. In fact, from the way he reacted when Logan told him this would likely be Tannish's first move, one would think he was actually looking forward to it.
Kala stepped to Merik's side as they neared the exit. He held his arm across her midsection in a protective manner to indicate she should wait. She could tell he was deep in thought as he scanned the perimeter. With his free hand, he slowly pulled his shotgun off his shoulder and chambered a shell.
"Do you see Sam?" Kala spoke quietly.
"There...by the old warehouse," Merik answered, pointing to the fiery redhead as she stepped out of the shadows. Flames ignited in one hand as she reared back and hurled the resulting fireball, baseball pitcher style, across the quarry with surprising accuracy. It smashed menacingly against the side of one of the wooden structures, instantly setting the small building ablaze...as well as knocking two unknown assailants to the ground. The backs of their shirts still smoldered from the heat as they lay sprawled in the dirt and rock. Kala watched closely, but neither rose to challenge Sam.
All around them, fire rained down from the sky above, obliterating everything...and nothing...at the same time. Objects were flung left and right across the quarry, dancing along on one invisible breeze after another through a storm of fire and smoke. As Kala and Merik watched from the sidelines, the world erupted in a flash of blue ice and red flame as two Water Servants took on a formidable threesome of enemy Fire Servants in the center of the quarry.
It was mass chaos outside the cave. Shaking his head resolutely, Merik lowered his arm in preparation to step out into the middle of it, but stopped short as a figure dropped down from above, landing gently on the ground directly in front of them. Kala took an involuntary step backward but managed not to make a sound. The Air Servant obviously had no idea where he had landed, and Merik took advantage of his mistake. Raising his shotgun without hesitation, he fired, hitting the man point blank in the center of his back. The Servant stumbled forward a few steps and then dropped to his knees, blood dripping instantly from his gaping lips.
Rushing out to finish the job, Merik clubbed the man in the back of the neck with the butt of his shotgun as he struggled to get back up. The Servant slumped to the ground, presumably out cold. "One down..." Merik called out over his shoulder in Kala's direction. "Do your thing." He turned to head out into the middle of the mayhem, but stopped again suddenly in a move reminiscent of someone who had just forgotten his car keys. Spinning back around to Kala, he walked swiftly to her side and kissed her full on the lips. The gesture was a surprise given the circumstances, but not an unwelcome one.
Kala found herself at a loss for words as he pulled away. He smiled and said, "Just try to be careful, OK." She simply nodded, still unable to find her voice. Without another word, Merik disappeared into the smoke.
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Logan watched as Merik and Kala dispatched one of Tannish's rear guards not far from the cave entrance. Kala crafted a wash of water that not only lifted the prone form like he weighed nothing but also carried him along as if he were floating lazily in a stream. She moved swiftly toward the opposite wall and the cave they had dubbed "the prison." As the body neared the prison entrance, Kala released her control on the water and the man splashed through the entrance with an unceremonious splat.
Mason, an Earth Servant who had recently joined the camp, stepped from the entrance and grabbed the unconscious man by the collar. He then proceeded to drag the man further inside where he would become the encampment's second prisoner that day.
'Good,' Logan thought. 'All clear. Time to send the next batch out.'
Turning back to the leader of the second group of residents waiting to exit the camp, Logan pointed to Merik and said, "See that guy over there. Head straight for him. He'll get you out." He gave the short, bald man a good shove and turned to assess the situation as the rest of the group fell in step behind their leader.
Fire burned everywhere, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It gave them plenty of light to see by which had certainly proven useful to Logan. He had already taken advantage of his stash of heavy quarry stones in the old warehouse just moments ago. Two of Tannish's Servants had cornered the second group of residents before he could get to them, so he pulled an oldie-but-goodie out of his bag of tricks...bowling for bad guys. Luckily, he had managed to position himself at just the right angle to take out the two Servants without hitting any of the normals. It was a move worthy of applause; unfortunately, he didn't think any of his friends had seen it. Too bad...
Spinning around to scan the area quickly, he spied Jade running toward him. Waving at her, he jogged to meet her halfway. "I've got two down over there," he said as they came together, pointing back behind him. "Can you get them to the prison?"
"Yea, I can handle that," Jade replied, slightly out of breath. "Listen, Logan...I don't know what Tannish looks like, so maybe he's hiding amongst his troops, but I have a bad feeling he's not here. Have you seen him?"
"Dammit," Logan cursed, considering his surroundings. "No, now that you mention it. But he has to be here, Jade..."
"I'm sure he is," Jade said, cutting in and attempting to calm him. "I was just noticing that no one appears to stand out as their leader. This attack is very random...at least for the moment."
"Come on out, ya bastard?" Logan whispered under his breath as he continued to search the quarry. There was so much going on that it would be hard to find Tannish if he was intent on remaining unseen. The canyon had plenty of places to hide for someone determined to do so.
Focused on his own reconnaissance, Logan barely registered Jade's light touch on his shoulder. "I'll take care of your two bowling buddies. Nice job, by the way. I'd call that a strike." She winked at him before turning away.
Logan was unwavering in his resolve to find Tannish. Seeking a better vantage point, he moved towards the entrance gate. Perhaps Tannish was hiding there until the right moment presented itself. Jade had been correct; the attack was random and uncoordinated. At first, Logan chalked that up to inexperience on Tannish's part. The man had no military background, after all. It was very likely he had no idea what he was doing. But now, with Tannish missing in action, he wasn't so sure that was what was going on at all.
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Merik waved the second group of residents towards the cave entrance, encouraging them to move quickly. He'd seen Logan take out two enemy Servants who attempted to corner this group, and he didn't want anything else to slow them down. As the short and overly round leader joined him near the entrance, Merik asked, "There's a third group, right? That was the plan. Where are they?"
The man was panting heavily from the exertion of sprinting (or at least trying to) across the quarry. He pointed back toward the burning camp and breathed, "They're back there. Logan's got them covered."
"OK," Merik said. "Let's go. Single file, everybody. Grab your belongings as you pass them in the tunnel but try to keep moving. If something's missing or not where you put it, don't stop. Assume somebody else has it and keep going. Is everybody good on light?" He followed the line back to the last person, locking eyes with each one in turn. They nodded in agreement.
As the group entered the cave, Merik looked back towards the commotion surrounding the blazing camp. He couldn't see Kala, but more importantly at this particular moment, he couldn't tell who was in charge of Tannish's group. He had hoped he would get a clearer picture of Tannish when the attack began, but so far that had not been the case. The self-proclaimed King could be any one of the unknown Servants attacking his friends. Perhaps he didn't want to stand out, which would have been a strategically sound idea, but it seemed to go against what Merik knew of the man and his ego.
On the other hand, this attack was intended to silence Kala, whether Tannish had told his people that or not. Perhaps he was hiding amongst the shadows in search of her. That made sense considering what Merik was seeing in front of him now. Even though he knew Tannish was not a military man, he couldn't believe the King would be so disorganized...unless there was a reason. It looked like Tannish's Servants had one directive on this mission...create chaos so their leader could move in and finish the job. Now that sounded more like the man Merik had heard so much about.
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Jade was in trouble. Kala watched as a large boulder the size of an old VW bug crashed toward the young woman, rumbling along the ground with impressive speed. She yelled out but her words were lost in the chaos. Feeling helpless, Kala did the only thing she could...she raced in Jade's direction. She knew she wouldn't make it in time, but she had to try.
As she ran, she summoned a wave of water that she could only hope would redirect the boulder away from Jade. The water rushed ahead of her, but as she neared the other woman, she realized she was too late. The boulder collided with Jade, who turned toward it at the last moment. Kala released the water and it crashed to the ground, washing harmlessly against the rock.
As she rounded the stone, she found Jade on the other side, half of her body buried under it. She was in obvious pain, but still alive. Kala reached for her new friend, taking her outstretched hand. Out of nowhere, a blast of cold air hit Kala from the side, knocking her back. She landed in a heap against a burning outbuilding. Rolling away from the fire, she struggled to her feet and looked back towards Jade's position.
Standing just beyond the boulder was an Air Servant she could only assume was one of Tannish's rear guard. He looked particularly vengeful, but Kala was beyond vengeance at this point. All she wanted was to end this nightmare. The thought that people in this camp...people she had come to know over the past few days...could die as a result of her desire for revenge was weighing heavily on her now. It was time to find Tannish and finish this...but not before she helped her friend.
Realizing the man who stood between her and Jade likely would not walk away even if she offered him the chance, Kala began marching purposefully toward Jade again. She made no obvious movement with her arms, but the water appeared around her anyway, ringing her body in brilliant blue swirls. Circling slowly at first, the water built speed as she neared her target.
The man appeared somewhat confused by the vision before him, especially since she doubted he could see her at all once she reached the boulder. The water completely encircled her now, rotating so quickly that is looked as if the entire mass might lift into the air and fly away. Kala could see through the water perfectly, and she took careful aim as she progressed forward past the stone.
Understanding dawned on the man's face as he realized she was not stopping, and he raised his hands in defense. A blast of air pummeled Kala but the whirling water shield did not falter. 'Time for you to take a little ride,' she thought as she released the water all at once.
The water jumped from her body and quickly surrounded the surprised Air Servant, locking him in an aquatic embrace. Kala willed the mass of swirling water to rise off the ground taking the enemy Servant with it. Spinning in all directions around the man now, the water fully encapsulated him as it carried him toward the prison.
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Sam looked up briefly as the cocoon of water flew over her head. Smiling, she returned her attention to the two Fire Servants squaring off in what used to be the central courtyard of the encampment. She was standing in the center of a still-burning section of the maze as the scene played out in front of her. Waiting for the camp Servant she knew simply as Flash to make his move, she eyed the enemy Servant. The woman was grinning widely as if she were truly enjoying the moment. 'That won't last long,' Sam thought to herself.
Flash cocked his head to one side and a small orb of blue and green flames appeared in front of his chest, hovering in midair. "Lady, that idiot can call you whatever he wants...Captain...Sergeant...Minnie Mouse. Doesn't impress me one bit," he said, sarcasm dripping.
The woman growled, tossing her own fireball up into the air. As it settled back down to eye level, she raised her chin defiantly. "Before long, you'll be bowing to the King, fool, just like the rest of these weaklings. That's assuming I don't kill you first." With that, she launched her fireball directly at Flash's head. He followed suit.
The two flaming spheres passed each other, Flash's flying slightly lower than Minnie Mouse's. Sam reached out and took hold of Minnie's, spinning it around in a tight arc and redirecting it back toward the surprised Fire Servant.
The woman was so captivated by the odd reversal of her own fireball that she didn't even notice Flash's. It hit her square in the chest, knocking her back a couple steps. She looked up just in time as the second fireball connected. This one hit her dead center in the face. She cried out, covering her eyes with her hands and took another few steps backward.
Knowing full well the Fire Servant wasn't injured in the slightest, Sam took advantage of her theatrical mistake and released a barrage of fireballs. Flash, having seen Sam as she stepped out of the fire to his right, did the same. Still playing possum, the enemy Fire Servant was knocked further back, stumbling multiple times but maintaining her balance as the fireballs grew in size and number.
Sam looked to her left, nodding at another figure who stepped out from behind a second smoldering shack. Several moderate sized rocks crashed upward through what remained of the roof on the tiny structure, settling to Logan's side as he took aim.
The newly crowned Fire Captain struggled to hold her footing and her composure as the onslaught continued. Swatting at the fireballs like they were flies, she screamed at Sam and Flash. Logan aimed carefully and launched two of the rocks at the woman's head.
The impact knocked the target back with such force that it surprised Sam. Looking at the massive Earth Servant, she thought she saw the slightest hint of surprise in his eyes as well. Had he really intended to hit the woman that hard? The enemy Fire Servant lay motionless on the ground. Flash marched over to her, grabbed her collar and began dragging her through the smoldering fire towards the prison.
"Nice one, stud," Sam remarked, ignoring her earlier concern. "Now where the hell is Kala? I have this itching desire to blow something up, and she was gonna help me."
She looked around, searching for her missing friend. "Got her," Logan said from behind Sam. She spun and gazed off in the direction he was pointing. Kala was standing beside a large boulder with her hands laid out palms down on top of it.
"What is she doing?" Sam asked, her interest peaked.
"I don't know, but I think we should go find out," Logan suggested, looking back over his shoulder at Merik who was standing just inside the cave entrance. "And after that, I've got a third group of normals to take care of. Let's go."
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As they neared Kala's position, Logan could sense something was wrong. He could see tears streaking down the side of Kala's right cheek as he approached.
"Kala!" he yelled over the commotion around them. "Watch our backs, Sam."
Kala looked up. "Stay back," she said, a look of concern in her eyes.
Logan and Sam stopped short, trusting Kala's instructions. As he watched, Logan could see rivulets of water running down the sides of the boulder. Within seconds, the boulder began to shake slightly, the rivulets freezing rapidly now. Suddenly realizing Kala's intent, Logan took another step backward. If he was correct, water infused inside the rock was also rapidly freezing now as well. Kala lifted her hands and stepped away slowly. "Back farther," she said as she joined them. As a unit, they continued to back up, Kala keeping her eye on something at the base of the rock that Logan could not see.
With one final push from Kala, the rock exploded from the inside outward, just as Logan had expected. Dust and ice particles floated in the air for a brief few moments before Kala rushed back to the crater left behind by the boulder. As the debris settled, Logan could see why she was so concerned.
Lying in a protective sheath of water was Jade. "Oh, no," Sam whispered from behind him. He moved to join Kala as she released the water gently and took Jade's hand in hers. Kneeling beside the two women, Logan lifted Jade's head and placed it in his lap.
"Jade?" he said softly. "Can you hear me?" His friend stirred slightly but did not open her eyes.
"I couldn't get to her in time," Kala said, new tears forming in her eyes.
"It's not your fault, Kala," Sam said from behind them.
"She's right," Logan agreed, looking up at Kala. Their eyes locked for a moment before Sam interjected.
"Uh, guys...we have a problem. I think you've been ID-ed, girlfriend."
Kala and Logan turned to find three enemy Servants fanning out and moving slowly toward them. With the western quarry wall not far behind their position, they had nowhere to hide.
"Go, Kala," Logan said, grabbing her arm and pushing her away gently. "You and Sam take care of that," he nodded in the direction of the advancing Servants. "And I'll take care of Jade. I need you to clear me a path so I can get her to the tunnel and out of here."
"But..." Kala began, as Logan hefted Jade in his arms. "I should go...I can help heal her..."
"Maybe, but I can't do what the two of you can," Logan replied, tilting his head slightly as he raised both eyebrows and stared purposefully at her. Kala's own brow furrowed in confusion, but then understanding dawned in her deep brown eyes as she realized his intent.
Kala rose to her feet, reaching out to touch Jade's hand again. Obviously conflicted, she glanced back at the approaching enemy once more before turning to face Logan. She said nothing, but he knew her thoughts.
"I know it's a risk, Kala. Look, I'll find Merik. He can take her to the healing pool. She'll be fine. She has to be...now go!"
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Kala turned slowly away from Logan to find Sam standing with her legs slightly apart and her hands on her hips, facing the enemy. She joined her, not bothering to look at her friend as she said, "Let's make these gals go boom, Sam."
"It's about damn time," her friend replied, anger flashing in her eyes as they began to glow a dark, fiery red.
The three enemy Servants looked equally determined, but Kala didn't give them time to mount an attack. With one deep breath and a dip of her chin, Kala conjured a wall of water that quickly separated her and Sam from their challengers. The water began molding itself into a mass of constantly moving, rapidly swirling tendrils...producing an effect that was mesmerizing. It was a stall tactic as well as a screen, allowing Logan to move quickly away with Jade in his arms.
"You really think we're intimidated by you, spy!" one of the enemy Servants yelled from the other side of the shimmering wall.
"You should be," Kala whispered, barely loud enough for even Sam to hear. With a forceful shove, Kala pushed the water outward, morphing it into a huge wave that threatened to swallow the enemy. Even though she knew Sam could not see through the wave, Kala could tell her friend was already focusing on two of the multiple log bombs that had been strategically placed around the camp earlier that day. She had seen them clearly when she stepped to Sam's side. Logan had known they were there too, sitting nonchalantly in the perfect position to take out Tannish's three advancing Servants.
As the wave neared its target, Kala's focus narrowed. She had to time this move just right in order for it to work. The wave crashed down on the ill-prepared Servants, freezing instantly as it hit the ground at their feet. The resulting sculpture of water and human flesh was highly abstract...and very effective.
Two of the three Servants had neglected to dive out of the way, choosing instead to simply back up. After several quick steps, they were standing directly in front of the two bombs. Kala surmised they were hoping the wave would just splash over them, and they would retaliate from there. Instead, the water had frozen as it landed, rooting them in place. One of the Servants stood inside a block of ice, with only her left arm, chest and head exposed to the air. The other Servant was totally engulfed in the ice with the exception of one hand and one leg, both of which were sticking out of the sculpture at extremely odd angles. The third Servant, who had managed to dive clear, took one look at the resulting mess and immediately ran away, apparently unwilling to sacrifice anything to aid her friends.
"Oh, that's gotta hurt," Sam winced. "Time to light the fuse..." She grinned mischievously at Kala, who lifted her right hand and gently waved it to the side. The ice covering the second Servant's head sublimated and disappeared, revealing a very angry woman with a look of pure venom on her pale face.
"Make it quick; this won't last," Kala replied quietly. She sensed the first woman was a Water Servant and it would only be a matter of time before she freed both of them. But that freedom would be short lived. Kala had produced the ice wave simply to allow Sam enough time to heat the moisture she was currently embedding within the log bombs. Once they reached the optimal temperature, the bombs would ignite. The resulting blast would hopefully render both Servants unconscious, as was its intention.
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When Merik saw Logan struggling to carry Jade across the quarry floor, he moved to aid him. The big man was walking backwards with Jade hanging limply over his left shoulder. Large rocks lifted into the air around Logan as he targeted multiple enemy Servants. Fireballs crashed around him on all sides, cutting him off repeatedly as he fought to get Jade to safety. He was out in the open now and had become a primary target for Tannish's remaining troops.
Merik had recovered his bow, quiver and extra shells from his own stash just inside the cave entrance. Pulling an arrow as he walked purposefully toward Logan, he nocked it and fired at one of the enemy Servants. The man went down, an arrow seated squarely in his neck. Merik hoped the man's sacrifice would be warning enough to the others to back off, but it seemed to only fuel their anger more. "Don't make me do this, people," he breathed, pulling a second arrow.
Two successive explosions rocked the quarry. Merik paused long enough to contemplate the source...two of their log bombs, undoubtedly. Logan had turned and was loping in his direction now, taking advantage of Merik's cover fire and the distraction the explosions produced. A second arrow loosed, hitting another Servant in the chest. As Logan approached, Merik reversed his forward momentum and began walking backwards, his third arrow nocked and ready.
The enemy Servants still standing had taken notice of Merik's excellent aim and were backing away themselves now. Unfortunately, that wouldn't stop them from attacking. Their range was much better than his, and he knew it. However, it would give Logan time to reach the cave entrance with Jade.
But Logan didn't simply pass Merik as expected. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Merik's arm, dragging him along with him as he went. "I need you to take Jade to the pool you and Kala visited today. She needs healing waters or she'll die, Merik," Logan panted. They stepped just inside the cave entrance as a barrage of fireballs slammed into the quarry wall around them. "I don't know where it is, man, or I'd go myself," Logan finished, lowering Jade slowly from his shoulder into Merik's arms.
"No, I'll take care of her. They need you here more than me. Just watch out for Kala, Logan. Tannish is gunning for her, I guarantee it." Merik caught Logan's eye to ensure the message was received. "And the third group of residents...somebody needs to help Aaron get them out." He nodded in the direction of a group of men and women huddling together near the old warehouse.
"Shit," Logan cursed. "Yea, I'll take care of it. Just get her out of here."
"Logan," Merik continued unabated as a volley of ice daggers shot past him into the inner recesses of the cave, narrowly missing his head. "Something's not right about this attack. It's way too random and uncoordinated. I think they're setting us up," he concluded, shifting Jade to a more comfortable position.
"Yea, I've thinkin' the same thing," Logan agreed. "Get her to the pool. One of the residents can take it from there. Then get your ass back here, got it?" Logan shouted as he stepped out into the line of fire. The earth shook slightly under Merik's feet as Logan moved away from the entrance, drawing fire. Merik could just make out a floating mass of earth and stone that now served as a makeshift shield for the big man as he moved swiftly back toward the action. Fireballs bounced off the mass with little effect, sizzling as they died in the dust.
Merik turned and raced down the tunnel as quickly as he could manage given his burden. He could barely hear Jade's labored breathing; beads of deep crimson blood were dripping steadily from her mouth and nose. He knew she had internal injuries, and he wasn't sure he could save her even if he did get to the pool in time. "You're tough," he whispered in her ear. "You can make it. Just a little further, Jade."
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Sam watched as Harry raced up behind the unsuspecting enemy Servant she had been teasing for the past few minutes and clubbed him over the head with an old baseball bat. The effort paid off as the Servant dropped to the ground with such force that a cloud of dust rose up around him. Harry looked around to make sure he wasn't being targeted, tipped his imaginary hat in her direction, and then grabbed the prone form by one foot before unceremoniously dragging him off towards the prison.
Sam shook her head. 'Tough old man,' she thought, watching him as he went. Turning to look for Kala, she felt a sudden stabbing pain in her side. Looking down, she realized she had been hit by what appeared to be three carefully crafted ice blades. She grimaced as she searched the area for the Water Servant responsible. Realizing she would only be a target again if she didn't move, she stumbled toward what remained of one of the sleeping huts that encircled the camp. Sliding in behind the building, she concentrated on the ice daggers digging into her flesh.
Moments later, the ice was gone but the wounds were still fresh. Blood poured from one of the jagged gashes with vigor. Angry at herself for being so careless, she sighed and began the process of cauterizing her injuries. Even though Fire Servants could literally walk through fire without feeling a thing, oddly enough this process was still mildly painful. She had never really understood that.
Sam had nearly completed her task when a well-controlled wave of crystalline blue water crashed through the outbuilding she was hiding behind, knocking her to the ground. Coughing and sputtering, she rose slowly, her left hand instinctively finding her lacerated side.
Out of the resulting mist walked a woman she had not seen before now. Large droplets formed slowly on each of her outstretched fingertips as she approached, undaunted and confident. She had long brown hair and deep blue eyes that glittered in the firelight. The look on her face told Sam everything she needed to know. The woman was most definitely pissed off, and Sam knew she wouldn't go down without a considerable fight.
"This should be fun," Sam whispered under her breath, taking a cautious step toward this new enemy.
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