Luckily, the carvation was mostly unharmed except for a bruise around her ankles. We heal fast and well though, so there’s no chance of any permanent damage. She said she was just running in a stretch alone when she felt her feet get yanked out from under her. When she hit the ground, her head hit a rock and she was knocked out.

Iris insisted that everything was probably alright. But saying something is “probably alright” isn’t what you do to reassure that nothing’s wrong. I thought something fishy was happening, but I couldn’t really prove it. All I could do was keep an eye out.

The ball and chain throw went well and with a record low in the number of concussions. Only four total. These people just had horrible spacial awareness of anything in their general vicinity, I swear. How were we apex predators at one time?

The creative magic showcase was nice to see at least. There was this one carvatian who looked like a hummingbird variant who did an impressive magic of swirling pink flower petals through the air. She turned out to be the top scorer in that event.

The raw strength showcase was impressive, but it was just people lifting weights until they couldn’t anymore. The magic power showcase was only slightly more entertaining just because it was seeing who could make the biggest bang. 

The last five competitors had to go back down to earth to do an obstacle course of sorts. The catch is supposed to be without any real magic help. So no spells or magic to help obviously, but also things like fins, wings, and tails are supposed to just be gone and retracted away. That way it’s harder for them, and limits their advantages. Or at least, it limits them as much as we can manage. 

The final five were a hummingbird carvatian, a wasp one, a cow one, a dragonfly, and a porcupine one. A real cast here, I know, but I paid attention, and they really were the best of the best. Somehow, anyway. The competitors were getting ready to start the race, there were carvatians gathered on the sidelines, and I was talking with Moon and Iris about the security of the whole event.

“There’s no perimeter,” I grumbled. “No security at all, nothing to keep anyone from waltzing in and hurting someone.”

“What is this? A rock concert?” Moon asked. “Nobody’s going to run in and sabotage the race. Everyone just wants to watch.”

“Yeah, I’m not talking about the watchers,” I said. “I’m talking about humans.”

“Stop worrying about humans,” Moon said, shaking my shoulders and dizzying me. “You’re driving us crazy with how paranoid you are about them.”

“You don’t know what they’ve done.”

“Gryft, I watch over Heaven and look into the Living all the time,” Iris said. “I know some humans are terrible, horrible even. My sister takes care of those. I don’t think very many humans can survive out here though, so I think we’re safe.”

“We’re all safe until someone proves we’re not,” I warned.

“Fine,” she said, crossing her arms. “What do you propose?”

“We wipe out all humans.” There was an unsettling pause. “How come when I make a joke, nobody laughs?”

“Because you would follow through with that.”

“And they say jokes are supposed to make you friends.”

“Did your therapist tell you that?”

“Yes actually, and I do have a real plan.”

*   *   *   *   *

Iris flapped her wings above the competitors, keeping an eye on both Moon and I. The crowd was already cheering and going wild, taking bets, and munching on event food. All she had to do was set off the spell to act like a starting pistol. Moon was close by, behind the competitors to get them immediate medical attention if they got seriously hurt. I wonder why she didn’t compete this year. From what I knew, she was a legend in the games, but I guess something held her back this time. Maybe she just really wanted to be medic.

I was actually in the crowd, milling about them while looking for anyone suspicious, and retracting my scorpion tail. That shit hurt to get stepped on. I was blending in and keeping my eye out just in case someone decided that today was an amazing day to ruin my job. I had to keep peace long enough for five carvatians to cross a finish line, which sounds easy on paper, but no, it’s really a chore. 

I saw a ball of fire shoot into the sky, then explode into tiny showering embers. That was the starting signal, and the five carvatians took off as fast as they could. Everyone screamed even louder and cheered for their favorite athlete as they trailed them. There were a few hundred carvatians racing… to watch people race. Yeah, it’s weird, and yeah, if we weren’t in the middle of an icy wasteland, this wouldn’t have worked. Most of The Village must’ve been there though, so maybe I’m the one who’s weird. 

We were about halfway done with the race when I noticed an odd sight. Everyone was focused on the race, but I saw a carvatian flying away from the group of spectators. He had some rich blue wings, little pointed horns, and a messenger bag at his side. Another bird type, it looked like, so nothing very stand-out for carvatians. I was curious about where he could’ve possibly been going, so I decided to tail him for the hell of it. But my patience for tailing him didn’t last long.

“Hey buddy, bathroom isn't this way.” I said, ramming my body into his and sending him tumbling into the ice and snow.

“What’s your deal?!” he coughed, getting up. 

“Actually, what’s your deal?” I asked, landing and poking his shoulder. “Where are you going all the way out here?”

“Um… ah…”

I could tell his palms were sweaty enough to water some plants. He just mumbled around. That’s when I felt something funny on my arm brand and heard a voice in my head.

“Gryft, you have strayed from your duties.” The Temple said.

“And you’re strayed from your marble slab!” I shouted back, flipping off the sky. “Piss off, I’m on the job!”

“Your job is back with the games.”

“You want to talk about-”

“Just stay away from me!” the carvatian on the ground begged. I forgot that The Temple was only in my head. He probably thought I was the first schizophrenic carvatian he’d ever seen. And you can’t blame him really. No schizophrenia though; I’m just insane anyway. 

The Temple wanted me to get back to the race, so I had to accelerate this. I figured my usual intimidation tactic would do the trick. I channeled magic through my hand and made it into its talon form, and pointed at him.

“Yes or no?” I asked. “You going to spill why you’re here?”

“I was paid to!” he squealed, opening his messenger bag to show a couple dozen assorted fruits rolling around in there. Ok, now I’m pissed I wasted my time. I grabbed him by the shirt collar. Realistically it shouldn’t have been a threat since he had wings, but I guess he forgot that because he looked absolutely terrified.

“Alright then, who paid you?!” I snarled, putting on my meanest act to make him talk. I didn’t have to do much for that effect though. He already thought I was insane, which isn’t that much of a logical leap. “And why?!”

“J-just some carvatian!” he sobbed. I guess I scared him too much; that or he was just a big softie. Either way, he just started crying. I had to push on anyway. “Wanted me to fly away and make sure I had the Olympics host following me! I don’t know why!”

“Description!” I demanded, shaking him.

“Female! Bird variant! Green eyes! Black hair!”

“Thanks, you just described about 5% of the population. Got anything else?”

“I don’t know!”

That really was the only thing he was giving me, so I flew back to the event and dropped the guy face first into the snow. Nobody noticed still though, because the race was still going on. It had another solid half an hour before the event would be finished, so I had time to look for my carvation. At least, I would’ve.

“Gryft, you are needed.”

“I’m working right now.” I thought, hoping The Temple would be able to hear me. “Look, I’m watching the race right now.”

“You are needed in The Village. Humans have appeared.”

I froze in my tracks, and my blood turned to ice. That should’ve been impossible. To get to The Village, you would have to exit the Living, and to do that you would’ve needed magic. And humans aren’t born with magic, so how would they have gotten there? I definitely knew how, but there was a greater problem right now. I ran away from the crowd and looked to the sky.

“I’m ready to go!” I called with a subtle grin.

*   *   *   *   *

In a moment, I was flashed into The Village, where I heard panicked shouts and running. Don't get it wrong though. The shouts weren’t from carvatians. They were from humans running from carvations. They weren’t even attacking, but the humans were running from how some of the residents looked I think. They were pointing guns and raising knives.

“Surrender yourselves,” commanded a voice. 

It was Sona, the cicada variant captain of the carvation military, which was made of exactly seven people. Yeah, we had like, one war centuries back, and decided that we could do without another one. That’s how you know our people are real soft. We thought a war with two casualties was too much carnage. Sona and her squad were hardened though, and knew how to apply a little pressure. It’s been the same seven people for a few hundred years. It used to be eight.

I flew into a group of three humans from behind, painfully knocking them unconscious to the ground. I landed next to Sona, and her antennae irritatingly twitched.

“You’re late.” she growled in her armor, letting her spear fall.

“Why do I never get a thanks?” I asked. She ignored me and walked on, slinging all three humans over her shoulder.

“Tell me Gryft, do you know how a group of humans enters The Village?” she asked. We both knew the answer.

“Let’s just get them out,” I said.

She flew away, probably to throw the humans back down to the Living. I had to fly out with the other six carvatians roaming around The Village trying to fight the humans who could barely fight back. I think it was harder for them to not permanently hurt the humans. Just when we were throwing out the last human, I heard The Temple in my head.

“Gryft, to me!” it boomed. “A carvation is in danger.”

I flew off and bolted for The Temple without a second thought, and just outside of it I saw a man trying to force a carvation with him. I recognized her as that one carvation I rescued first that night at the circus. The dead variant. She was struggling against him, and trying to rip away. The man himself was older, with some gray hair on his head and face. He was holding a gun, threatening her with it too.

“Step back!” I shouted, and the woman jerked herself out of the way as I gave the man a diving kick to the chest, sending him sprawling to the steps.

“Another one…” he groaned, getting up and drawing a knife with his gun. “I’m not afraid of demons… I’ve been on the verge of Hell.”

“Funny,” I leered, giving magic to my hands and summoning talons. “Because I’ve been there and back.”

He was fast, but I was faster, as he let out a shot that missed me I slashed him across the chest and sent him into The Temple itself. I made sure it wouldn’t have been enough to do anything actually permanent. He slowly got back up though. And he lost his cool. Majorly.

“Stay back!” the human threatened, pointing his gun up at me while he walked backwards in concealed fear. He stepped right back into The Temple, and I slowly approached him, making him step deeper into the building. “I’ll fire, I swear, demon!”

“Swear it on your life?” I grinned. 

He fired a shot right at my shoulder and I groaned. I’d live without a doubt, but it was enough for me. Drops of my blood showered onto The Temple’s floor, and I could feel anger and animosity building up.

“One more step and you’re dead!” he shouted.

“YOU SPILL DIRTIED BLOOD ON MY FLOORS?!” boomed a familiar voice. I smiled, knowing that The Temple loved an excuse to give someone no quarter.

“Who’s there?!” the human panicked, pointing his gun around before pointing it back to me. “What’s that voice?! Is this another one of your demon friend’s tricks?!”

“Nope,” I laughed. “All I hear is the sound of someone who’s in deep shit.”

“YOUR IGNORANCE AND HUBRIS HAS CARRIED YOU FAR HUMAN, BUT IT SHALL CARRY YOU NO FARTHER!”

“I’m not afraid of you!” he bellowed, shaking and jerking his head around. “I’m not afraid of some loud voices!”

“Then perhaps gazing upon the true form of magic might strike some humility into your blackened heart!”

That was my cue to rush out of The Temple and cover my eyes, which I did. The last thing I could hear was an awed gasp by the human, followed by an agonizing and tortured scream. When I stepped back in, there was no man. Just a gun on the ground and the crumbled remains of a statue that might’ve been vaguely humanoid.

“Damn, you go to work.” I panted.

“Do not test your luck, Gryft. It was your blood which has stained our halls.”

“Gotta me shitting me,” I grumbled. “Can’t catch a break with you.” The brand on my arm glowed, and the wound on my shoulder magically healed in an instant.

“Go now, you still have more work to do.”

“Don’t I always?” I sighed, taking flight once again.