“Wow,” Snooze said. “That’s probably bad.”

Snooze, Hal, Viz, and Rekvahn stared out from the edge of the cliff face overlooking the crater. Far below, just on the cusp of the dawn’s horizon was a silly little Mors ex machina.

It hadn’t been thunder that they’d heard. No, it was the delightfully terrifying approach of a horde of figures, racing fast along the rock. Most were riding Zuzu’s, and their speed and fervor made it obvious that they were on a mission.

The group on the cliff face exchanged worried looks, but of all of them, Hal seemed to be having the worst go of it. There was a noticeably guilty look about her features, and she gripped the pommel of the sword in her belt tightly.

“Ah, explorers,” Rekvahn said casually, smiling. “Come to vanquish the Great Rekvahn, most like. Well, I suppose…”

The necromancer lifted his hand, preparing to do something, but Snooze held her own hand up.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily it,” she said, squinting out at the mass of charging forms. They were still a ways out, and likely would not arrive to where they were for perhaps twenty minutes. It was hard to see exactly who was there, but she had a feeling she knew. Hoping she still had a little juice left in the tank, Snooze focused on one of the abilities she hadn’t used in a long time: Omintuens.

In a flash, she felt the world zoom passed her, darting through the aether toward the approaching figures. Of course, her feet remained firmly planted on the rocks above the valley, as did the rest of her body, but her godly vision had propelled itself several miles to the center of the horde.

Suddenly, she could see the detail of the contingency of armed ne'er do wells making haste along the rocky surface of the flat. They were dressed similarly, armor, swords or axes or spears, some with bows slung across their torsos. They were predominantly Brug, but mixed among their lot were some of the Qulz and the Doa, three large Tet Tet with their odd gigantic heads and muscular bodies, and even one lone Chalam riding near the back. There were… perhaps thirty of them, and all seemed as though they were hardened warriors.

“That’s a lot of bad guys,” Snooze said aloud to her companions, she kept scanning until she saw something that sent ice through her Stonie veins.

Though her vision was shaky--as she was still wounded and quite weak, she found a familiar face among the bunch. An angular face with a pleased-yet-severe look on his features. Human.

“Twick,” she said, and heard two groans behind her. Hal and Viz.

Snooze continued to view the scene before her. The human existing here was still an element that perplexed her, and made her wholly uncomfortable.

How did you tag along to my world, dude?

Twick chuckled, it appeared, and turn to speak to someone on his left. Riding next to the soldier was a Brug woman, placidly scanning the landscape and muttering in response to the human’s prompting. Whatever she said must have been very funny, because she could see Twick laugh again, though the humor did not reach his eyes. Those cold, calculating eyes.

The Brug woman was dressed for battle, though her raiments were… a bit more on the flamboyant side, if Snooze was being honest. She could see a long sword pinned to the belt at her waist, but her mode of dress was quite regal, and ill-fitting to the environment of travel. She was in a long, flowy, white garment with iridescent blue stitching along the trim. Her skin was a pale blue, and her powder blue hair was quite voluminous and was pulled up and back, while still spilling down behind her. She gestured vaguely toward the crater, and Snooze could see several silver bangles jangling on her wrist, each laden with a variety of shimmering stones. She wasn’t old, necessarily, though she wasn’t young either. Snooze couldn’t place her age exactly, but she had a certain bearing of power. She seemed at ease, despite the situation, almost as though there was nothing more comfortable in the world for her than to be riding at the head of a large force of fighting men.

I sure do wish I could hear what they are saying… Snooze thought, and as she did, something happened.

There was the same sort of feeling she’d get when she learned a new ability, and suddenly, as if emerging from deep water, sound found her.

“...a veritable fortune, to be sure,” Twick was saying. The woman on the horse grunted her acknowledgement.

“It is quite exciting,” Twick continued, as if he did not need a response to hold a full-fledged and engaging conversation. “To be riding along with the Second. I’ll be sure to tell my grandchildren about this moment.”

The Second? Snooze wondered. The Second what?

“So you have said,” the Brug woman said softly, but firmly. Despite the volume, her voice was strong, and it was clear she was used to giving orders, and not entertaining unpleasant conversation from people like Twick. Snooze almost had to admire that.

“Ah, yes,” Twick said absently. “I am sure I have already extolled unendingly my appreciation for your part in this… and at such short notice. I only hope we can share in the splendor of the loot.”

“As has been stated,” the Second explained, her tone dripping with annoyance. “This aligns with our goals, also. Whatever spoils are turned over in this endeavor are of little importance to the Fountain or myself. Do not worry overmuch on that particular. I am aware it is… your aim to enrich yourself in this campaign.”

Twick chuckled.

“Hey, I’m just trying to get by the best I can,” he said. “The wealth would go a long way with the Dagala.”

The Second nodded, but still kept her eyes scanning the field around them, as if expecting an ambush.

“Yes,” she responded. “I suppose the Bosk Dagala Shood could do with more wealth. Wouldn’t want an event like the Hill Massacre to transpire once more. Your own acquisition of funds being largely irrelevant, I imagine?”

Twick shrugged.

“That was a bit before my time, but sure, if it makes you happy, let’s avoid any future setbacks because of a cash flow deficit,” he said. “My own funds will be paid forward in rank and title. I’m not fit to wallow in this station for much longer. I didn’t come all this way to bandy about in the sticks.”

The Second shook her head.

“I would inquire as to why it is you are so foreign-seeming to our world, but, I will admit to a lack of curiosity or care,” she said. “What you design to do beyond this effort is no concern of mine.”

“Se Nu Sa?”

Snooze released her Omnituens and… whatever it was that allowed her to hear as well, and looked back to the group. They seemed to be waiting with bated breath as to her findings, and Snooze realized she’d been delving an eavesdrop for a long time.

“It’s the Fine Ranger Force,” Snooze said, and Hal’s scowl grew into a deep fissure and her white-knuckled grip on her blade seemed to increase.

“What is their want?” Viz asked, peering out over the cusp of the cliff at the group steadily making their way toward them.

“I think they are here for me,” Snooze said, shrugging. “Sounds like they want the stones in my pouch. Twick keeps talking about wealth.”

Hal sighed, releasing her grasp and put her hands on her hips and closing her eyes.

“So you can not only see their forms, but listen in on their conversation?”

“Yeah, not sure how it works, but, then again, I’m not really sure how any of my abilities are possible. I just do and it works out.”

“You would make a fine agent of the clandestine,” Hal said. “Truly, our--er--their ranks would only need the services of your employment, as no one else among the Dagala would compare.”

“Aw, shucks,” Snooze said. “You know just how to butter a gal up, Hal.”

“Was there anything else?” Rekvahn asked, stretching as if he hadn’t a care in the world--and perhaps he didn’t. “If they are here for you, then it seems I needn’t waste any energy in rebuffing their advance. Though it does seem odd to send such a large force to apprehend a single individual.”

Snooze smiled.

“Yeah, I guess there’s someone there outside the usual group. Twick called her ‘the Second,’ or something?”

Both companion’s eyes grew wide, and Snooze paused. Rekvahn still seemed unaffected.

“The Second?” Viz demanded, grasping Snooze’s dress by the collar. “You’re sure?”

“May have been the Third? Or maybe the fourth, sometimes I get confused by the number language here because it’s--”

“Did they speak anything as to the Wulket?” Hal interrupted. “Or where this ‘Second’ had hailed from?”

“Uh, no… I don’t think so…” Snooze said, then remembered a slight detail. “Oh, she mentioned the Fountain?”

No one spoke. Snooze thought very seriously about waving her hand in front of their faces to see if they were frozen in place.

“Anyone going to tell me why you guys are all playing freeze tag right now?”

“This is so very bad,” Viz said, shaking her head and looking back at the tower to where--Snooze assumed, she was imagining the Book of Leaf to be as they’d left it there.

“What’s the issue?” Snooze asked.

“If you truly do not know the nature of this predicament, then I would doubt all that you have said up until this point,” Viz explained. “The Second, and the Fountain… what have you done?”

Snooze sighed and removed Viz’s hands from their aggressive position on her clothing.

“Easy there, femme fatale,” she said. “I’m still healing from your earlier sneak attack. Let’s entertain the idea that I am who I say I am, but also ignorant to this information. I’m assuming the Fountain isn’t the best water park in all the land? Humor me and explain. Quickly, if possible, as it doesn’t seem like they are going to stop for tea time.”

Viz made a frustrated sound and glared at Snooze.

So sassy. Snooze thought to herself. Hal stepped forward, offering a bit of context.

“The Fountain, rather the Fountain of Mert is one of the oldest institutions in the Wulket, Se Nu Sa” she said. “And it houses the finest warriors as well. They are granted powers from the gods--”

“There’s only one god,” Viz interrupted.

“...as I said,” Hal continued bruskly. “They are granted powers from the gods, and are unparalleled and unmatched among the peoples of Mert, or any nation perhaps.”

“Those heathen scrum,” Viz said, and dodged a swipe from Hal. “Regardless of their affiliation, nor of their faith… they are peerless. Even the proud denizens of Hadaly know of their mighty Eight.”

“That explains the Second, thing,” Snooze said. “So they go by numbers?”

“They keep no true names any more,” Hal said. “Even ‘Sariki’ is just a name pinned to her by the common folk for its meaning. Whoever they were before they dyed their cloth no longer matters. They are wards of the Wulket, known for their position in the Fountain’s hierarchy alone, and their only family and master is the Wulk herself. They are tasked with rooting out heretics, and powerful users of the Arts. It is truly an unfortunate circumstance Sariki the Second Blessed is knocking at our door.”

“Blessed?” Snooze asked.

That damn well figures.

“Yes,” Hal said seriously. “Those that have been gifted the favor of one of each of the gods.”

It is important to note that Snooze had been largely unaware of her influence on the world since that fateful day on the shore, but she was becoming more wise to it by the moment. She’d obviously been a part of the trajectory of every facet of the world and its inhabitants since its inception, being their true creator. However, entering the realm and interacting the way she had forced it to be left to untold consequences. Well, now, one less untold consequence. A single told consequence if you will.

“Well, if they are godly folk, they’ll likely take mercy on us, right?” Snooze asked innocently.

She was met with blank stares, even by Rekvahn. No one spoke for a moment.

“...right?”

“Se Nu Sa,” Hal said sadly. “Perhaps any other Blessed from the Fountain would be less vigilant in pursuit… but, the Second Blessed… Sariki is quite unlike the others. She is famous for her zeal and her… persecution. If ever she allows one to live--and it is to her choice to decide-- the stories say she is most harsh with them. Men and women with eyes plucked from their skulls, or all of their limbs removed. She is a monstrous creature, and lives to torment and takes jubilant glee in the destruction of her quarry’s livelihood. If she kills us all, it will be the greatest kindness.”

Snooze was shocked. Someone cavorting around the world, touched by the powers of something--surely not her, and hurting the people. That was supremely… uncool.

She looked to the three of them and nodded.

“Right,” she stated. “Rekvahn, how strong is that tower of yours?”

“Se Nu Sa?” he asked.

“Can it withstand a lot of damage?”

“I suppose it may do just that. I have reinforced it with a delightful cocktail of--”

“Perfect,” Snooze said quickly. “Take Hal and Viz inside, and bar the door. They’re here for me, so I don’t see any reason to let them even know any of you have the slightest inclination that I’m farting about the Oopsie-daisy.”

“Se Nu Sa…” Hal began, but Snooze held up her hand.

“Please, Hal,” she said. “I got you into this mess, and dragged you out here. All of you. The least I can do is fall on my sword so that the rest of you remain safe.”

“We will be most safe within my lair,” Rekvahn said to the two women. “I assure you of that. Not to mention there’s a surprise in store.”

When he received only blank stares, he smiled.

“Qulberry Lava Bread!”

Snooze chuckled, despite the severity of the situation.

“Go, please,” she said first to Hal and then turned to Viz. “You too.”

Viz rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

“Se Nu Sa,” Hal said, reaching into her pouch. “Here.”

The warrior girl withdrew an object and handed it to the god. Snooze started.

“The Stonie dagger?!”

Snooze looked down at the knife she’d lost at the tavern. She was reminded quite suddenly of her friend Riff, all those years ago now, but only a few days past in her perspective, handing her the chocolate bars. The edge of the dagger had a chip, she assumed either from Twick’s sword or from when it landed. In either case, she was happy to have it back. She almost hugged Hal, but thought that might bring the wrath of the girl, so she kept her arms to herself.

“Thank you…” Snooze said.

“You may need to defend yourself. I almost did not retrieve it, however, as the old verses state, ‘a warrior keeps only the might of their best weapon,’ and, well… it may not be the best weapon, however it may be your only weapon.”

Snooze beamed back at her, nodded, and then turned to the cliff face again, and the now-much-closer horde of assailants storming their way.

“Rekvahn, please make sure they are safe,” she said.

“As you please, Se Nu Sa,” was his response.

Snooze didn’t watch them head back to the tower, but she heard them, slowly making their way up the rocky path to the great spire.

She looked out at her enemies, thundering along in the valley below. They would reach the base of the cliffs in a few minutes now, and she had to be ready for whatever happened. Hoping she still had enough of her powers left to do another Omnituens. She focused, and let her vision zoom forward, towards the mass of invaders.

Twick and the Second were still leading the group, but it appeared they weren’t speaking. Twick was examining his sword--perhaps for imperfections, however, the Second was still pursuing the landscape, her hand now on her sword.

What sort of creature are you? Snooze thought, trying to investigate through the lens of her aided vision. However, at that moment, the Brug woman’s eyes snapped forward, and to Snooze it was like she was staring right at her. It sent a dagger of fear into her heart. She’ always hated jump scares in movies, and this was like a bonafide, real-life version of one.

The icy blue triangular eyes of the Second did not break away from her, and Snooze became convinced she had spotted her. Slowly, Snooze watched as a smile crept across the woman’s face. It was sinister-seeming, and Snooze did not like it at all, thank you very much. However, the smile morphed as the woman’s eyes narrowed and her lips moved.

Snooze didn’t need to hear what she said to understand, because it was two simple words.

“Hello, Snooze.”