Squish, like grape.

Silence reigns in the courtyard, the sounds of the town somehow muted. My new allies and I stand shoulder to shoulder as we stare at the behemoth that blocks our exit. The monstrous man looms in the courtyard entrance, burning red eyes traveling over each of us. Seconds pass with no one making a move. I take a small step forward and his glowing eyes focus on me.

Maybe he’s just going to guard the entrance? A small, overly optimistic part of me thinks. As if he heard my thought, the man’s eyes narrow, his gaze firmly locking on to me. Well, shit. With an almighty bellow, the man charges directly at me. His speed is truly incredible for such a large man, and the shock of it almost ends the fight for me then and there. At the very last second, I fling myself off to the side, narrowly dodging the man’s meaty fist as it swishes audibly through the space my head occupied moments before. Gracelessly landing on my belly with an “oof”, I have mere moments to gather myself before alarm bells blare in my head. I roll off to my left, feeling the vibrations of the impact of the trunk like leg as I dodge the man’s stomp. “Little help here guys?!?”

From the moment the monstrosity charged, Anna had been firing bolt after bolt of arcane energy as quickly as she was able to cast. The bolts looked impressive, but she was anything but a combat caster. Her weak spells splashed uselessly against the man’s Aura shield, dissipating into motes of magic before the basic attack spells caused any damage. The attacks were draining the shield slowly, but not nearly quick enough. Our impromptu party would have been totally screwed were it not for a certain talent that every new rogue gains, Backstab.

With a defiant cry, little Mia emerged for stealth above the man, her dagger poised to strike in a two-handed grip above her head. The knife fell, bypassing the man’s Aura shield entirely because of her Ability. The blade sinks deep into the man’s upper back, eliciting a pained roar. Planting her feet on the man’s back and using it as a springboard, Mia withdraws the blade and attempts to leap clear. She is quick, but despite her speed, she was still clipped by the man’s retaliatory swipe, the **** of which sent her tumbling.

Mia’s distraction gave me the time I needed to scramble to my feet. I cringe backwards, keen to avoid further attacks, but I needn’t have bothered being so cautious. The behemoths focus is now solely on the Mouse-kin Rogue. The kitsune and I have been written off as threats, mere annoyances only able to chip away uselessly at the man’s defences. Mia is just returning to her feet, but she looks unstable, clearly still dazed. The man braces, about to charge. I remember the whoosh of the fist as it passed by me, the pure **** behind the blow. If that attack lands, Mia is dead.

Before my mind catches up with my body, I am already running. A yell filled with defiance and irritation fills the courtyard, but I am far too focused to realise that it is coming from me. anger thrums through me in waves as the distance closes. I WILL NOT LET THIS FUCK HURT MY NEW FRIENDS. The thought repeats over and over like a mantra, channelling and guiding my rage until it pools and collects at the tip of my right boot.

The man lets out a roar as his muscles bunch, mere moments away from charging. I am already behind the man, my right foot already hurtling towards its target. My attack meets the barrier that surrounds the man, which tries to dissipate the energy, but my foot would not be stopped. All my outrage and irritation batters against the invisible ****. I feel my attack falter, almost diverted, but and with an audible crack, the barrier buckles, and is overcome. My foot continues ever onwards, hurtling towards its target with a sense of inevitability. Impact. The man lets out another roar, considerably squeakier that the first, before pitching forwards with a whimper. My view is blocked by a prompt.

You have discovered a new Active Ability: Nutcracker.

Nutcracker:

Ability type: Combat.

Aura cost: Low/Mid.

Damage: V. High (Non-Lethal).

Description: This ability allows you to channel your aura into a devastating kick to a target’s genitals. If the attack hits and is not blocked by a shield or barrier, the attack deals **** amounts of non-lethal damage. If this attack reduces a target's HP to 0, then this attack will incapacitate its target.

Champion of greed bonus: If the target is unaware of your presence, the attack has a chance to bypass Aura based defences. This chance is based on the strength of your Aura (Current Aura rank: F. Current chance = 20%).

Handy ability that, I think, nodding in approval. With a thought, I minimise the prompt and look around the courtyard. Our attacker has reverted to his original size, and is currently curled in a ball, lightly whimpering. I nod in satisfaction, serves the fucker right. It's only then I notice that both my new friends are gawping at me, again. I blush, suddenly self-conscious will all the attention as I ask, “Whaaaat? What did I do?”

The silence stretches on uncomfortably long. I open my mouth, meaning to justify myself, but a small wheeze for Mia stops me. I turn to the Rogue, eyebrow raised. My expression of disgruntled confusion is the straw that breaks the camel’s back for the Mouse-kin. The silence is shattered by the girl’s snorting laughter. Every time she almost regains herself, the look of incomprehension on my face sets her off again. “What the hell is so funny?” I turn to Anna, hoping she has answers for me, but the look on her face tells me she too is trying her absolute best not to laugh.

Schooling her features, Anna says, “You gain a superpowered kick mid fight, and the first thing you think to do with it is kick someone in the dick?” I sigh, then reply hesitantly, “I’m actually pretty sure the only way I can use that attack is if I aim at the dick.” My statement is met by a few moments silence, before both girls burst out laughing. I let them have their moment, tap my foot, and do my best to hide my smile. A whimper reminds me we have a tough decision to make.

The girls must notice the look on my face as I look down on our fallen foe, their laugher peters out, the brevity draining for the situation as we contemplate what to do with the man. The man is scum, plain and simple, a potential **** who tried to kill us. That being said, I can tell none of us has the stomach to end his life, not when he is helpless at least. Hesitantly, I ask, “If we report him, will he get arrested?”

Both Anna and Mia shake their heads, but it’s the Mouse-kin who replies. “The guard have little to no sway in these back streets, I doubt they would be willing to risk crossing the gangs. Plus, by the time we get back, he’ll be long gone. We are still on Nightfang turf, and we are being watched.” I glance round in alarm but can’t see anyone about. “Trust me on this. Don’t worry, we took down one of their main bruisers, so they’ll treat us with caution for now. We should probably get moving though, antagonising them more than we have already would be a bad idea.”

I nod, seeing the wisdom in the statement. ”Where to now? If you want to stay together, that is? I mean, you don’t have to if you down want to, but I’d like to get to know you both. If that’s cool with you guys? I’m gunna shut up now.” I realise I am rambling halfway through, but my brain has missed the bus and my mouth is in the next town over. Anna chuckles at my verbal flailing, but has the grace to throw me a lifeline. “I’ve got a spot I’ve been staying in for the last few days, there’s room for a couple more if you guys want a place to lie low.”

I look at Mia, who smiles and shrugs. “we’re bound together somehow. I go where you go. That is if you’ll have me?” Seeing some of my nerves mirrored back at me, I smile, then reply, “Sounds good to me, Anna, lead the way.”