He sat hear a fire on the banks of a lake, small enough to see the other side, but still far enough that he could see no discernible features. Next to him sat Nichole, her head on his shoulder, but still wide awake. Across the fire from the pair sat Bob and Julie; they had arrived only the day before, their assignment a partial success. The same outcome as that of Karl and Nichole.

Many of the towers were still inactive, and try as they might, Karl and his friends could not discern why. If they could, they might have been able to turn them on and change the fates of so many.

Sam and Emily had not yet met up with the other four gathered, and Karl was starting to worry. He should not, he knew, for they were not due in until the morning, but they had always completed tasks early, so being on time felt unusual.

Bob was on his feet, mouth gaping wide, eyes bulging out. He pointed to the edge of the water. Julie let out a very audible gasp. Nichole raised her head, and she and Karl spun around; Karl jumped to his feet, heart thumping in his chest, anticipating an attack.

Out of the water rose two very large heads, atop gargantuan necks. One, the larger of the two, had a smooth-looking head, with no distinguishing features aside from the basic eyes, nostrils and mouth. The other had two frills protruding from the sides of its head in place of ears, and was lined from the tip of its snout to the water with glimmering scales. Karl was looking at a sea serpent and something that oddly resembled a plesiosaur, a creature that lived during the Mesozoic era and many rumored to live in the lakes across the Earth, like the lake at Loch Ness in Scotland.

But what was even more strange than two water leviathans,naturally competition for one another, were the six humans swimming the last distance to the shore. As they stood facing Karl and his friends, Karl noticed the native insignia of the Ice Tribe of Borvlart. As he stared, he felt some connection with these kids, some familiarity.

Behind him, Bob said in shock and rather loudly, "Amy?"

One of the girls from the bunch leaving the water, looked up. She opened her mouth...

*** ***

A scream shot Karl back into reality and out of his dream. Still groggy, he looked around the room. His friends were sprawled out across the floor, save the pair on guard at the window. Jyaq and Wren stood on either side, weapons drawn. Those on the floor, like Karl, had woken at the sound of the scream.

It had not come from inside.

Another scream sounded and everyone leapt to their feet, weapons in hands. They rushed toward the windows and door, keeping to the shadows. All sense of sleep had dissipated. Karl could hear a commotion somewhere outside, not close, but close enough. A mix of screams and shouts grew louder, and Karl could hear the distinct sound of metal on metal. That could mean only one thing: they were under attack.

Oh no!

Karl looked around the room. Instinct told him the might be safe here if they stayed, that they could remain hidden. It told him that if they were found out, staying inside could force any attackers into a bottleneck, making it easier to fight. Instinct told him that he was here with his friends, that this was where he wanted to be. They were all here, and Cameron had Sam.

Instinct be damned.

And everyone else's too, apparently. Karl had started for the door, but was not the first nor last to exit. They had all likely thought the same as he, and everyone had the same thought to go help. They all had friends in this room, but they had friends out there too, friends that were fighting, maybe dying.

Dell took point, a pair of forearm sized daggers in his hands. Thom went next, his bow nocked and ready. At every corner, Dell would peer around at the same time Thom would jump out and aim his arrow. Emily was next, keeping her own bow at the ready, always looking down whatever lane they were on, especially as Thom looked toward the alleys. Nichole and Karl were in the middle, a pair of swords, his long and hers normal, always pointed tips up. Julie was behind Karl, her bow taught, but not yet drawn; Bob was next, the blades of his axe held pointed down, but gripped near his hand for quick maneuverability. Aryna and Jyaq followed, a sword in her hands and throwing knives in his. Wren ran at the read, two thin swords at the ready. She ran almost facing backward, watching the tail of the line, making sure nothing and no one would catch them by surprise.

On they ran, drawing nearer and nearer to the sounds of battle. Karl's heart was pounding, fearful of what they might arrive to. Three blocks from the room in which they had slept, they turned left, Thom and Dell vigilantly crossing corners, weapons at the ready. Two more blocks and they turned right. One block more, Thom and Dell jumped out ahead of the group, and Thom let his first arrow fly. A groan told Karl the arrow hit its mark.

Dell sped down the alley, even as Thom replaced the arrow, and the rest followed. On the ground lay the body of a demon, an arrow protruding from its neck. As they passed, Nichole snatched the arrow from the body. They were going to need it.

The next intersection, Dell spun around the corner as he had been, Thom jumping out immediately after. Dell's blades went into motion; up, down, up, down. Then he thrust one forward. In the same instant, Thom loosed another arrow. A shout sounded out from down the road.

As Karl turned the corner, he saw more than a dozen bodies lining the street. His heart skipped a beat, but as far as he could tell none were human; a good sign. Ahead just over a block away was running a form. In the dark and from this distance Karl was unable to tell if it was a goblin or a demon, but from the harsh sounding language he knew it was not human.

Karl looked up. Thom was still fitting another arrow, and for a moment Karl was worried. But he need not, for even as he watched, Emily aimed and fired. The form ahead dropped the arrow had found its mark.

The line moved on. This time they ran down the middle of the street, he element of surprise gone. Thom now aimed his bow down every road they passed, firing every so often. Emily did the same ahead of Karl, as did Julie behind.

They they were there.