“Go get ‘im, Squiggs!”

“Gobo!”

While her goblin attacked the wolf-skunk, Wyvern distracted it with well-timed pokes from her shitty sword. Every time it went to attack Squiggly, she’d stab it somewhere.

And every time it turned to face her, Squiggs would bring its attention back onto himself.

Eventually, they did enough damage to it for it to turn into loot. A black and white pelt fell to the ground along with round squishy things that were inside of what looked like a tupperware container.

Weber took a second to question her sanity. How did tupperware in the System Armageddon make any sense?

Congratulations! You and your tamed monster killed a level 3 Wolsker!

Fortunately, the other parents who had fought off the Wolskers had finished their fights. There were also some parents who remained behind. They were helping take care of the wounded.

Wyvern wiped her blade off on the grass, then once again with the small towel she kept in her bag before sheathing it. She used the same towel to wipe the blood off Squiggly’s hands.

He poked at the Tupperware. The round things juggled oddly. Part of her was worried that they were the Wolsker’s unmentionables.

Well, it was loot.

Then she quickly threw everything into her bag.

A few people walked up to her to talk. “Hey! How did you get that goblin to follow you?”

“Can I borrow your sword? I see you have two.”

She did not have any energy to deal with these people. Actually, she barely had any stamina left. If the fight had gone on for much longer, she probably would have had to rest for another 15 minutes.

“I’m sorry. I can’t talk. My son’s in there and I have to get him out.”

One kid shouted, “Hey! Do you know what’s happening?!”

She yelled back. “Yeah! It’s the System Armageddon! We’re all fucked!”

Then, holding her goblin’s hand, she walked towards her son’s classroom.

She refused to believe that he wasn’t alive. She refused to believe that he was injured. Sure, it was denial, but if it helped her cope, she’d take it.

She breathed in. Then she turned the corner. In between two school buildings that looked like they hadn’t been renovated since the 80’s stood a group of parents. They’d gathered in front of a giant white fluffy cat-looking monster.

And that monster was right in front of her son’s classroom.

The first thing she looked for was any signs that someone had died. None. But the cat did look hungry.

Wyvern recognized Mandy from a birthday party Little Cutie went to.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, you’re late, aren’t you?” Mandy said. She gave Wyvern a look that couldn’t be any more judgy.

“Just shut up and tell me what’s happened with our kids and the cat?”

Mandy scoffed.

Brad spoke up beside her, “The kids are fine. They’re just stuck inside the classroom.”

He pointed to the window where several small hands waved then dunked down when the teacher asked them to huddle beneath their desks.

“We were just trying to decide on how to deal with it,” Mandy said.

“Gabriel over there,” Brad threw his thumb at a dark haired man in a dress shirt, “already tried to walk up to it but it hissed and took a swipe at him.”

“That thing almost killed me!”

“We’re trying not to provoke it into attacking,” Brad said, “but it refuses to step away from the door.”

“Basically,” Mandy crossed her arms and glared at the cat, “our kids are trapped in there until it leaves.”

“Have any of you tried to approach it or have someone try to get its attention and run away?”

Mandy snorted. “I mean, you’re welcome to try.”

Wyvern took one more look at the massive white ball of floof. With its long majestic coat, the tan patches on its ears and wide scared eyes, it reminded her of her ex-roommate’s old cat when he first came to live with them.

It had suffered through a lot of trauma from being chased around by a tail-pulling toddler that he never fully recovered from. She’d adored that old kitty.

This one had a black nose that was calling for a booping. And a chin that needed scratching.

She let go of Squiggs’ hand and brought out her phone. The goblin grabbed onto her stretchy pant leg.

Then she took a picture and sent it to the group.

Wyvern Cuddles: Y’all! If you don’t hear from me, I went out trying to pet something I shouldn’t!