sister back onto the plateau just as the entire icy ridge broke free. With a loud crack, the ice plummeted to the Otso River far below.
Turning around with her sister still held in her arms, Starfire screamed as Startüm went down under a screeching gray wave of Scourge. With every swing of his glowing blue blades, Starfire saw him slaughter the terrible creatures by the dozen as bloody pieces of Scourge flew through the air in every direction, but it wasn’t enough.
From the bond that they now shared, Starfire knew Startüm was at the end of his energy reserves. Being a Paladin of Ukko meant that he could heal his injuries almost instantly, but that was only as long as he had the power to do so. Through their link, she could feel the terrible agony Startüm suffered fighting for their lives as if it were her very own. It felt as if she was repeatedly being torn apart. As more and more of the foul beasts charged onto the plateau, she knew it was only a matter of time before they killed him. There were just too many.
Crying out in fury, Starfire felt the magic of her birthright responded to her need as something exploded deep within her breast. As raw power poured into her veins, she felt the hair on her head begin to burn like fire as flames rose from her clenched fists. Letting her sister slide to the snow at her feet, Starfire screamed at the top of her lungs.
“LEAVE HIM ALONE!”
Throwing her head back, Starfire howled as fire poured out of her eyes and mouth as she released all of her magic in one massive burst. The fiery blast swept out from her in a devastating wave of searing fire. Crossing the plateau, it incinerated everything in its path, before slamming to a stop against the side of the mountain with an earthshaking impact as Starfire collapsed to the ground.
Chapter Eight
Location Irlendria / Nessa Manitou:
With a start, Nessa jerked wide awake on the grass mats of her wigwam. Her head still ached from last night’s souljourn, but for the first time since her brother’s death, she felt the terrible anguish of his passing bearable. Rolling to her hooves, she almost collapsed from the sudden movement. Splaying out her four legs, Nessa brace herself as she doubled over weakly.
Breathing heavy Nessa held her reeling head. It seemed to take forever, but slowly the ground stopped spinning. Looking down at herself, she was shocked to see how gaunt she’d become. The outline of her ribs stood out starkly under her skin, while her greater torso was emaciated from lack of food. No wonder she felt so light headed.
Slowly the memories of that fateful day came back to her. Nessa had collapsed in front of her father when the Wakinyan had first delivered the ‘Death Message’ of her brother’s passing. The horrendous torment of her brother’s final moments had made her delirious with grief, but the nightly visits of the Wakinyan had nearly destroyed her mind.
Several days later when her brother’s severely mutilated body had been brought back by the Raven’s Tribe still alive, Nessa’s father and Uzila, the Tribe’s Shaman, tried to console her with the good news, but their words had only driven her into a distraught frenzy. Weeks later when her brother came to visit almost fully healed, she’d attacked him without hesitation to the shock of her father and his guards. They had to forcibly restrain her to stop her from killing him.
Nessa’s stomach suddenly growled painfully as the smell of food came to her over the stench of her unwashed body. Near the entrance, she saw the grains and dried meats that had been left for her to regain her strength. Staggering with each step, she managed to cross the wigwam before collapsing in front of the open clay jars.
Feverishly, Nessa began stuffing food into her mouth with both hands. At first, the hunger cramps were unbearable, and Nessa thought she would puke, but slowly her stomachs settled down as she ate. Before she knew it, she had finished both jars as she
Turning around with her sister still held in her arms, Starfire screamed as Startüm went down under a screeching gray wave of Scourge. With every swing of his glowing blue blades, Starfire saw him slaughter the terrible creatures by the dozen as bloody pieces of Scourge flew through the air in every direction, but it wasn’t enough.
From the bond that they now shared, Starfire knew Startüm was at the end of his energy reserves. Being a Paladin of Ukko meant that he could heal his injuries almost instantly, but that was only as long as he had the power to do so. Through their link, she could feel the terrible agony Startüm suffered fighting for their lives as if it were her very own. It felt as if she was repeatedly being torn apart. As more and more of the foul beasts charged onto the plateau, she knew it was only a matter of time before they killed him. There were just too many.
Crying out in fury, Starfire felt the magic of her birthright responded to her need as something exploded deep within her breast. As raw power poured into her veins, she felt the hair on her head begin to burn like fire as flames rose from her clenched fists. Letting her sister slide to the snow at her feet, Starfire screamed at the top of her lungs.
“LEAVE HIM ALONE!”
Throwing her head back, Starfire howled as fire poured out of her eyes and mouth as she released all of her magic in one massive burst. The fiery blast swept out from her in a devastating wave of searing fire. Crossing the plateau, it incinerated everything in its path, before slamming to a stop against the side of the mountain with an earthshaking impact as Starfire collapsed to the ground.
Chapter Eight
Location Irlendria / Nessa Manitou:
With a start, Nessa jerked wide awake on the grass mats of her wigwam. Her head still ached from last night’s souljourn, but for the first time since her brother’s death, she felt the terrible anguish of his passing bearable. Rolling to her hooves, she almost collapsed from the sudden movement. Splaying out her four legs, Nessa brace herself as she doubled over weakly.
Breathing heavy Nessa held her reeling head. It seemed to take forever, but slowly the ground stopped spinning. Looking down at herself, she was shocked to see how gaunt she’d become. The outline of her ribs stood out starkly under her skin, while her greater torso was emaciated from lack of food. No wonder she felt so light headed.
Slowly the memories of that fateful day came back to her. Nessa had collapsed in front of her father when the Wakinyan had first delivered the ‘Death Message’ of her brother’s passing. The horrendous torment of her brother’s final moments had made her delirious with grief, but the nightly visits of the Wakinyan had nearly destroyed her mind.
Several days later when her brother’s severely mutilated body had been brought back by the Raven’s Tribe still alive, Nessa’s father and Uzila, the Tribe’s Shaman, tried to console her with the good news, but their words had only driven her into a distraught frenzy. Weeks later when her brother came to visit almost fully healed, she’d attacked him without hesitation to the shock of her father and his guards. They had to forcibly restrain her to stop her from killing him.
Nessa’s stomach suddenly growled painfully as the smell of food came to her over the stench of her unwashed body. Near the entrance, she saw the grains and dried meats that had been left for her to regain her strength. Staggering with each step, she managed to cross the wigwam before collapsing in front of the open clay jars.
Feverishly, Nessa began stuffing food into her mouth with both hands. At first, the hunger cramps were unbearable, and Nessa thought she would puke, but slowly her stomachs settled down as she ate. Before she knew it, she had finished both jars as she
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