An Amateur Witch-Hunter

The phrase 'hot on her heels' is a bit more literal in this case-her chaser having a small fireball in the palm of each of her hands. As Lalrach prostrates herself at my base, I observe something I hadn't notice before-this figure had already gotten a hit in. The back of the upper part of her dress had been burnt away, and her back had a few red burn marks on it from the damage.

"Eh, what's the matter? The demon you consorted with ran out on you in your time of need? Should have known when you signed that pact!"

"I'm telling you-there was no pact! It claimed to be a new god of fertility!" Lalrach tried to rebuke them, but they were having none of it, continuing to menace her.

"And you believed it? Demons will say many things to lead fools astray into witchery! And now that it's gone, it's just some driftwood! Keep hugging your tree, then, saves me having to find firewood!" She begins to rear up her hands, the motes of flame merging as she brings them together, before flinging them towards Lalrach-

Who is unharmed, as I use my body to absorb the spell in her place. If nothing else-this woman had been kind enough to accept my offer. And she carried my spawn. I undo my disguise, moving tendrils to shield her. I let out a small roar of pain-my magic resistance and fire vulnerability may cancel each other out, but this definitely stings unpleasantly. Fortunately, the tricks up my proverbial sleeves were plentiful-as I patched up both myself and Lalrach with my healing spells, while I took care of this interloper. With her having harmed me, I was now free to do as I wanted to her-and I certainly would. Her arms moving for her next spell are interrupted as I entwine around them, holding tight till they can't move, before hoisting her up to dangle her by her arms.