The three ran through the streets, with Cheri and Takir lagging only slightly behind the crimson beauty as shouting filled the air. The streets had emptied and doors were locked as eyes peered at them from behind curtains and windows. The warm summer air felt cold in Cheri’s throat as she and her brother hurried their pace, and the barking of hounds soon joined the shouting that was growing ever closer.

“Sister... where are we going?!" Takir panted as they rounded a corner.

“Wherever the fuck she’s going!" Cheri exclaimed, and the woman led them down a narrow alleyway.

“Should we not split up?” Takir pressed.

“No. I think we should stay with the bitch that saved our asses!” Cheri huffed, and the woman slowed her pace. “Hey! Why are we slowing down?!”

“Shush," the woman waved her off, coming to a stop as she pulled out a wand, “They’ll be on our asses soon.”

“Yeah! I know!” Cheri cried out as the woman pointed her wand at the sky, “So we should keep running before they- what are you doing?”

“Sending a message.” the woman hummed, closing her eyes.

“Well make it quick!” Cheri huffed, “I don’t want these assholes to find us before we can-”

*FWOOSH!!!*

Cheri chirped and fell back as a burst of fire erupted from the woman’s wand, blasting off into the sky before exploding overhead in a dazzling display. The entire town was lit up by the blast, and the shouting grew louder and nearer.

“What the fuck was that?!” Cheri pressed, and the woman’s hand fell to her head.

“Get up. We’re leaving,” she smirked, pulling her to her feet before beckoning her to follow.

“Are you fucking crazy?!” Cheri snapped, but she followed nonetheless as the three took off again.

“What part of cocky bitch do you not understand, princess?” the woman laughed, “Just calm your shit and follow my lead. I’ll get you out of here, you just have to trust me!”

“I don’t believe we have a choice!” Takir couldn’t help but laugh along, and Cheri shook her head as they hurried down the alley.

They were nearly at the end with the open street before them when a group of guards appeared in the alley’s entrance, accompanied by a pair of knights. The knights were clad in bright steel armor that shone in the night, and they drew their claymores as the three readied their swords.

“We have you now! Give up!" the head-knight shouted, and the woman let out a blast of fire from her wand, forcing the men to take cover, “Damn it! We’ve got a witch!”

“I’m on it!" the other knight shouted, and he tossed a golden crystal into the alley.

“Shit!" the woman chirped, blocking her eyes as the crystal let out a bright flash, “God damn it!”

“Not so tough without your power, are ya?" the knight grinned as he stomped towards them, but the woman pushed forward, clashing with gritted teeth.

“If I had a gold coin for every time I heard one of you assholes say that, I could retire!” the woman taunted, and the two clashed again as the guards poured into the alley.

“There’s too many of them!" Cheri shouted as she clashed with a guard, the other knight focusing on the stranger as she fought them both at once.

“Quit yer bitchin’ and fight, damnit!" the woman snapped, and a loud crash filled the air from behind the knights.

“What the hell was that?!" one of the guards shouted, and a pained cry filled the air with a sickening crack.

“CAPTAIN!" a loud voice burst through the air as clashing swords resounded alongside it, “WE HAVE COME TO YOUR RESCUE!”

“See?!” the woman laughed as she dodged a knight’s sword, clashing with the other’s, “This is why you don’t doubt me!” she exclaimed, and another scream filled the air along with another crack.

“Holy shit...” a guard breathed, and Cheri’s eyes widened as a large figure stepped into the alley.

She was taller than any woman Cheri had ever seen, dwarfing the guards before her with a heavy axe in her hand. She had a form of pure muscle, the kind of build Cheri had only heard about in legends, and a guard whimpered before her as she effortlessly lifted him up, slamming him into the nearby wall with a loud crack.

“It’s The Mountain!" another cried, and one of the knights broke from the woman to face his new foe.

“You have brought friends...” The Mountain spoke as she stomped towards the knight, and the guards stepped back, “You will introduce them to me, won’t you captain?”

“Yeah! After the fight!” the captain grinned as the guards focused on The Mountain, and the siblings took the chance to catch their breath.

“Good,” a wide grin found The Mountain’s lips, and the knight rushed towards her. He swung his heavy claymore downward, and she rose her axe to meet it, grabbing the knight by his chest plate before throwing him back.

“Damnit!” the knight cried out, and two of the guards rushed her.

“Oh no you don’t!” Cheri cried, and she charged towards one of the guards, driving her sword through his back as The Mountain slammed her fist down on the other’s helmet, knocking him to the ground.

“Get the shalgras you idiots!” the knight on the ground shouted, and the guards split their attention as barking drew nearer, “Just hold them off!”

“There they are!” voices cried out from behind them, and Cheri spun to see another large group running towards them.

“Shit, they have us surrounded!" Cheri barked.

“Those poor bastards!” the captain laughed, “We’ll have the whole damn city on us at this rate!”

“Ohhhhh captaaaaaaaain!" a gruff voice cried out, and Cheri’s eyes flew to the rooftops to see a short man with green skin and a wicked grin, “Need a hand?!”

“I’m busyyyyyyy!" the captain called out in the same sing-song voice, “Take care of the newcomers!”

“Aye-aye!" the goblin laughed, and he lit a spark before throwing a large ball down into the alley, “Say booooooom!”

*BOOM!!!*

Bricks and rubble crashed to the ground as smoke filled the air, and dogs whimpered as tiny feet scampered away. Smoke filled the alleyway, but the fighting continued as the captain and The Mountain clashed with the knights. Cheri coughed, cinching her eyes shut before a soft hand fell to her back, patting it roughly before swords clashed in front of her.

“Stay focused, sister,” Takir hummed, and Cheri’s eyes flew to the sword that was meant for her.

“Damn you!" the guard growled, slicing down at Takir, but his sword never made contact as the air was taken from his lungs, and he looked down to see Cheri’s sword embedded in his stomach.

“Not my brother, you fucking pig!” Cheri spat, kicking the guard away.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s real fuckin’ sweet,” the captain huffed, and she dodged her foe’s claymore as her opportunity arrived, “Now come on! Before the rest show up!” she barked as she ran the knight through.

“Right!” Cheri nodded as she broke off from the guard, and she avoided the sight of The Mountain as she swung her axe down at the knight that attacked her.

She didn’t see the kill, but she heard the sickening shlunk as The Mountain’s axe came down. She pushed past, and heavy footsteps followed behind her as the four hurried down the street, heading towards the city docks. The shouting guards and knights were quick to follow, with more joining at every corner. On the rooftops above, small feet scampered alongside them, but they leapt off, and The Mountain caught the goblin in her arms. He climbed onto her back, grinning with delight as he turned to face the incoming soldiers.

“You’re gonna have to be faster than that you metal bastards! Ha-ha!" he taunted, raising his central digit to the air like he was waving a flag, and the cobblestone streets gave way to the wooden docks.

“Where’s your ship?!" Cheri pressed, her eyes fixed on the captain as she pointed ahead.

“Right there! Pulling along the docks!" she exclaimed, and Cheri’s eyes widened at the sight.

Time seemed to slow as the large ship floated towards the docks. Its sapphire sails and crimson siding shone in the moonlight, illuminated by cannon fire as volleys unloaded on the attacking soldiers. It was a ship spoken of only in legends, and Cheri’s heart beat fast in her chest as her breathing hitched in her throat.

“Tell ‘em they’ve got one night." the woman warned, “The Tempest likes a chase.”

“Holy shit..." Cheri stumbled, but The Mountain caught her wrist.

“Look in awe later! For now we run!" she scolded, and she threw Cheri forward.

Cheri staggered as she caught herself, but she jumped from the docks, gripping the ropes that lined the sides of the ship as the others did the same. It veered off from the docks, the shouting of the knights growing further as it burst forward, the sound of rushing wind filling the air.

“Get up on the deck, now!" the captain shouted, and Cheri wasted no time in climbing up, nearly collapsing on the wooden deck as she panted for breath. Takir bent over, holding his knees as his breathing grew harsh, but a heavy hand fell to his back as small feet hit the floor.