Dodge. Block. Parry. Spin. Run. Again. Again. Again. I need to keep moving. Nowhere is safe until I reach a place I can safely slip into the void. A shadow lunges from behind a tree, trying to trip me up. I jump over it and keep going. Beside me, I can hear Cosmic’s sharp breaths. They turn to fire an arrow, covered in lime juice. A smaller shadow falls, but a second arrow is blocked by a member of the hunt. Their pursuit picks up. There’s no way to take the time to summon a mythical companion. Neither of us have breath to spare in order to call for help. All I know is I will never let myself be taken by them. I’ll go down swinging. Another shadow slips out in front of us. We shove right. The city stretches out around us, a million alleyways, a million shadows. Some safe, others hives of danger. No way to tell which is which.
If we can make it to the river, some body of water, any body of water, I could do something, but right now there’s not even a puddle to be found. The city’s been going through a dry spell lately. My panic is making my powers short circuit, and if the way Cosmic is breathing is any indication, she’s facing the same problems. Another shadow leaps into our path, and at another turn it hits me. They’re herding us, forcing us deeper into the city, away from nature. There is no way around them. A glance at Cosmic and I know they’ve come to the same realisation. All we can do is keep running.
We pass a building painted with nature scenes. Wildflowers wave in a non-existent breeze, while children skip around happily. Another shadow in front, and we’re surrounded. I never thought I’d go like this. In front of a weak assimilation of nature, a lifeless depiction. Cosmic fires another arrow, but the shadows avoid it with the help of hunters. Their blank masks leer out at as. They don’t even have the dignity to show their faces. I reach down and take Cosmic’s hand. The warm weight of it may be my last comfort. They close in, prowling close, snarling. One lunges, just as a hand grips my shoulder and yanks me back, Cosmic alongside me.
I open my eyes to the comforting darkness of the void. My ears twitch as the hunt’s scream of defeat rings in the distance. I squeeze Cosmic’s hand, reassuring that they’re still with me. The hand holding both of us opens, revealing Zephyr. Aer giant form glows in the void, twinkling with stars. The smile that might horrify anyone else is a comfort, as are the three bright eyes, glimmering out on aer’s head. I burst into laughter and tears. Cosmic looks about the same as Cortes and Izzy rub up against her, reunited in the void. Their form has changed, but the warmth of our friendship is still ever present. Zephyr smiles as ae flies us away. I know speaking is tricky in this form. We can talk once we’re safe in the center.
The void is as beautiful as always. I settle into Zephyr’s hand, and watch the sky pass us by. Planets and stars zoom by as we do. Volcanic planets shoot lava up into the sky, while water planets gurgle, their bright blues, greens, and in some cases purples, hiding the creatures that rest beneath the waves. One that looks like a rainbow pineapple. One that looks like a giant pizza with rainbow pineapples on top. Wonder if there’s any correlation there.
Finally we land in the center. Zephyr returns to aer ordinary form, a gryphon curled around aer shoulders. Cosmic does the same, Cortes in her arms, and Izzy winding around their legs. Zephyr speaks first. “Are you two alright?”
I glance over at Cosmic before answering. “A little winded, and I have a couple scrapes, but nothing serious.” Cosmic nods in agreement. “They swiped my hand when they first surprised us, but the cut is shallow, and I got it covered right away.”
Zephyr seems satisfied, but as ae opens aer mouth to respond, an angry quack rings through the center’s common room. Cosmic and I look up, to see Mari on the ceiling, struggling to hold onto an angry duck with a sun symbol on their chest. Mari loses the battle, and the duck hits the floor, promptly rising as an angry Agent 70. “Hospital. Now.”
I blink. “Which one of us are you talking too?” They shake their head, in a move that is oddly duck-like. “Both of you need to be checked on, and don’t think you’re getting out of this one Zephyr.” They whip around, catching Zephyr by surprise. Ae had been trying to sneak away. “You may be a rogue, but we still need to make sure you’re safe.” Zephyr mutters something that has 70 planting hands on their hips. “What was that?” Zephyr is quick to make amends. “Nothing!” Probably a combination of fear and, well actually probably mostly fear. Cosmic glances up at Mari, looking for help, but a shake of the head is their only response.
70 herds us toward the hospital. Mari follows on the ceiling, probably to make sure no one takes off. I lean over towards Zephyr. “How’d you find us? I don’t think I ever thanked you by the way, so um thank you for getting us out of there.” Next to me, Cosmic nods in agreement. Zephyr’s laugh booms through the hall. “Of course. I’m always happy to help out. I could hear your distress from the void. I just needed a fixed point to pull you guys in. Not to mention, you stopped in front of a wall of wildflowers. It may just have been a painting, but even that’s enough for my nature magic to give us a boost.” Ae frowns then. “Although I’ve never seen that kind of strike force out for only two aces. No offense to you guys of course, but normally for two of you they’d only have two of them. Maybe three.” Ae frowns.
Mari spoke up from above. “It needs some investigating. I’ll talk to the shadow research team.” They flip up through the ceiling, and a yelp sounds from above. It quiets quickly after a moment, probably just Mari explaining their sudden presence to the unsuspecting researchers. 70 catches the glances Cosmic and I exchange. “No.” Is their answer to it. “You cannot go and talk to the team until you have been checked out. If they want answers so badly they can come down to the hospital. I’ll let Mari know to tell them where you are.” Their eyes go blank for a moment, missing the smirk from 567, who poked her head out of a room as we passed by. 70 returns as 567 ducks back into her room. “They’re on their way down. You can talk after I check you out.” We enter the hospital. Cosmic loses nose goes and is the first to be examined. After 70 binds up the cut, they step aside to allow me through. I stay standing for mine. 70 grumbles a bit, but goes with it anyway. Of course I have nothing on Zephyr. Cosmic and I watch the silent battle of wills, amused. I wish there was popcorn.
Mari flips through the ceiling, and barely avoids careening straight into 70. They catch each other and exchange soft smiles. 567 throws the door open. A grin splits her face as she tosses rainbow confetti through the hospital with a whoop. A crowd of researchers peer around her. 50 mostly looks amused, 14 looks out from behind her, their wizard hat slipping over their eyes. 3524 looks amazed, 122 is giggling into her hand, and 13 looks slightly nervous, glancing between 567 and an annoyed 70. They clutch Flurri to their chest. The tiny dragon rubs against their chin, reassuring them. Eventually 50 taps 567 on the head to calm her down.
“Let’s get back to what we came here for.” The head of research on the shadow realm speaks up and the others take notice. 567 even stops throwing confetti. For now. They pull out chairs, settling in around us. Most have some kind of notebook or pad in hand. 567 has a recorder, already flashing, picking up the world around us. Mari and 70 settle on a couch together, snuggling up. 70’s gone back into duck form on Mari’s lap. 567 gets a gleam in her eyes, but doesn’t make a move with 50 keeping an eye on her. I take my own seat next to Cosmic and Zephyr on the hospital table. Izzy instantly makes herself comfortable in my lap. Cortes has already gotten a monopoly on Cosmic’s lap.
50 is the first to speak up. “Start from the beginning you two. Tell us what happened.” She puts her pencil to paper and watches us carefully. I sigh and place a hand on Izzy’s warm fur. “This morning we decided to stake out a coffee shop in the city. A couple days ago I spotted someone in there wearing a black ring, but it wasn’t someone I knew from the center. I told Cosmic about it and we decided to see if we could try and recruit them.” 50 nods, urging me to continue. Pencils and pens scratch against notepads. 567’s recorder ticks along. I let Cosmic pick up the story from there. “We went to the shop. It was a nice place, but I guess the two of us set off some kind of alarm, because after we got our drinks someone approached our table. He asked us to leave. We asked what we had done, then he pulled a knife.” They falter for a moment, and I pick up the tale. “He took a swipe at Cosmic, and we knew he was part of the hunt. We took off, but I guess he brought allies. They chased us through the city, and that’s when Zephyr found us.” I nod to the rogue, who takes it as aer cue to keep it going. “I was in the void and heard their minds. They were projecting a pretty loud cry for help. Luckily they stopped near wildflowers, well actually a depiction of them, and I was able to pull them in.”
13 glances up, eyes bright with curiosity. “Wildflower magic works with depictions?” Zephyr nods in response. “It takes a lot of training, but yes. It can.” Ae continues. “It was strange though. I saw the group hunting them. It was members of the hunt with shadows, but there were too many of them. It was at least twenty, possibly more hunters. Normally they don’t come out in such force.” A voice rings out from the doorway. “Sounds like they’re getting desperate.”
Everyone snaps to attention as the High Commander enters the room. 70 reverts to human form. Even Zephyr looks wary as she settles at the head of the room. She nods to us, allowing the agents to relax. “I’ve seen this before. During the Decimation and a bit during the Post-Decimation period, the hunt became desperate. They came close to wiping us out and they wanted to finish the job.” Most agents look down, nodding. 122 looks close to tears. Mari’s eyes start to glow slightly, a signal that Parel is moving close to the surface. Only 70’s hand on theirs stops the transformation.
567 is the one to break the silence. “Is there anything we can do?” Her normal high spirits seem diminished, but determination shines through her words. “We were less prepared last time. There has to be something we can do.” Focus swings back to the High Commander who takes a moment to think about it. “We do have the records of battles with the hunt and shadows post-decimation. In the library.” She turned to the group of researchers. “Agent 13, Agent 3524, you two go to the library and find everything you can on battling shadows and the hunt. I am trusting you two with this task. Have your dragons help and meet us in the research room.” The two agents exchanged glances, before taking off for the library, dragons fluttering alongside them.
The Commander continued. “Agent 50, Agent 122, Agent 567 we’re going to need everything you three have on witchcraft and weaponry to both fight the hunt and give aces protection. Gather your things and meet in the research room.” The respective agents take off, leaving seven of us left in the room. Next were 70 and 14. The Commander’s orders were similar to her last set. “Agent 70, Agent 14 I need everything you have on stealth and travel in the void. Same meeting place.” They took off, 14 with a salute, and 70 with an apprehensive glance back at Mari. It didn’t escape the Commanders notice. “Mari, please go with them. We may need Parel, and any insight you can provide from your own travel in the void will be valuable.” Mari nodded, and without another word floated over to take 70’s hand.
The Commander’s attention went to Zephyr. “I have a special task for you, if you’re willing to take it.” She told the rogue. At aer nod she continued. “Gather the rogues. Last time they scattered once the Decimation began. We need them fighting with us this time around.” Aer eyes widened. “You think this could be another…” She shook her head. “That’s a worst case scenario situation. For now we just need to be prepared. Will you bring them here? The ones that will listen.” Zephyr thought for a moment. “It won’t be easy” ae warned. The only response was a soft “I know.” Zephyr smiled. A slow smile, full of confidence. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then ae vanished into the void.
Then there were two. The Commander surveyed us carefully. “I have a special assignment for the two of you, if you’re up to it.” I glanced at Cosmic. They nodded. I gave my own, responding to our leader’s unasked question. She smiled in return. “Go to the safe houses. Speak to their district leaders. Bring them here. We need everyone we’ve got. Specifically make sure to pay attention for Agents 900 and 22. 900 is hard to find, even for us, and 22 has centuries of past lives to pull on. She’s also a good person to have on your side in a fight.”
I asked the question rolling in my mind since the Commander sent the first agents away. :And what happens once we’ve all gathered? Once we’re here and we have all the research we need?”
The Commander’s face was grim. “Then we go to war.”
