“More humans!” another shouted, only to get blasted backward by a bolt of lightning square in the chest. Somehow, the first bolt didn’t seem to do much damage, but a second and third hit knocked the creature out.

“No,” Fort whispered as another creature collapsed to the ground, vomiting everywhere like it’d just contracted some horrible disease. The rest tried to run, but the rocks on either side of the nearest tunnel pushed together, trapping them within.

“What are these things?” one of the red-eyed creatures shouted, only to get knocked backward, its eyes soaring much farther than a body should have. As another fireball lit the room, Fort saw the reason: The red eyes weren’t eyes at all, but goggles of some kind, illuminated from within by the red light.

At this point, only one creature remained standing, the one with the spiked hammers. “Come on!” it shouted, whirling its hammers around, judging by the high-pitched whine they were making. “I’ll take the lot of you on all by myself!”

Twin missiles of magical energy struck the hammers, disintegrating them.

The red eye… no, the goggle-wearing creature paused. “Um, okay, maybe not?” it said. “How do you feel about surrender?”

“Not real good,” said the same familiar voice, and a shield shined in the remaining light as it slammed into the creature’s face, knocking it out. The shield-bearer turned, lighting up his face for the first time.

“Hey, kid,” Gabriel said, giving him a smile. “Nice to see you’re making friends.”

- TWENTY-EIGHT -

OH, PLEASE NO, FORT THOUGHT as a fireball lit up the center of the room, floating in another newcomer’s hand. He looked up to see Rachel glaring around angrily—fireball in hand—and Jia, leaning on a silver staff exactly like Fort’s, looking ready to keep fighting. Gabriel leaned down and offered Fort his nonshield hand.

“Hey, you okay, Fort?” Gabriel asked, his smile fading into concern. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?” He helped Fort to his feet and brushed some dirt off of his back.

“What were you thinking?” Rachel shouted. “You came here by yourself, after everything Cyrus told you?”

“He was just trying to keep you two safe,” Gabriel said. “We can’t fault him for that.”

“Oh, I can!” Rachel said. “I can fault him for days.”

“Do you think there are more of them?” Jia asked, glancing around the room. “Maybe I should go check that tunnel, in case some are hiding.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “You’re not supposed to enjoy this sort of thing.”

“Says the girl who takes guys down in practice and screams, ‘That’s what I’m talkin’ about!’ over them,” Jia pointed out.

“How… how are you here?” Fort asked, finally getting the words out.