Feral Magic

needed supplies. It was a onetime thing.”
“We need supplies too.”
“Well, you weren’t just attacked by a group of boys trying to cut your head off.”
Zak stumbled. “What?”
“Forget about it. I handled them.”
He gaped at her and cleared his throat before resuming their walk. “The reality is that no one is caring for those left in the first realm. Most who have progressed raided the supplies. Since they’re able to care for themselves now, I think it’s only fair to return the starting materials, if you will, back to their rightful place.”
“Sounds like you don’t care for the larger groups.”
He shook his head. “It’s not that. They’re just—They have a goal in mind. So they tend to forget the people left behind.”
“You don’t plan on joining them?”
“Hell no. I’m not risking my life for anyone that’s not family.”
“You’ve called them that twice now.”
“Because that’s what they are. We take care of each other, watch one another’s backs. What else would you call them?”
“Is that what you’re trying to make me? A member of your family?”
“If you’ll let me.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Do I need a reason? Maybe there’s just something about you I like.”
Vixin flushed and turned away. She kept quiet after that, following Zak through the growing dark until light drew her attention ahead. Both slowed and quieted their footsteps as they inched toward the town. At least Zak was quieter than Anton.
The light came from two braziers sitting on either side of the front gate. She eyed the guards.
Zak inched closer, knelt at her side, and whispered, “Looks like two guards by the gate and another in the tower.”
Her eyes roamed over the rickety tree house he was calling a tower. It looked like it’d been built by a three-year-old. Vixin pointed. “Three towers.”
Zak squinted in the dark. “They’ll have long-range weapons, so we’ll need to take them out first.”
A twinge of panic shot through her body. “Guns?”
Zak chuckled. “No. Bows. But they aren’t any less dangerous.”
“Damn. We really have been thrown back in time.”
“Something like that.” Zak jerked his thumb back toward the trees. “Let’s get the others and make a plan.”
~~~
Vixin knelt outside the wall’s edge, glancing through a crack between the planks. She eyed the guards, counting the seconds between their back-and-forth movement. One. Two. Three. Vixin wrapped her vines around herself, Zak, Sam, and a handful of others. They rose over the wall and scattered upon hitting the ground on the other side. Each had their orders.
She took a breath and pressed her body against a nearby wall as another guard made his rounds. Three towers and she was to take out one. She wasn’t worried about her role of course, it’d be easy, but if the others messed this up—Vixin shook her head. She couldn’t think about them. If she let herself get distracted, then she’d be the one to mess up their plan.
Vixin headed for the ladder, pausing to check its stability. A rough storm would blow it down for sure, but it seemed sturdy enough for now. She hoped. She eyed the guards. Bord. Tired. A smile crawled to her lips. A perfect target.
Vixin eased herself onto the steps, tugging at the greenery to follow. It twisted along the rails like a shadow, an extension of herself.
Zak had seemed uneasy about her untested abilities, but she’d waved off his concerns. It wasn’t like she had to rely upon the magic to fulfill her part of their plan. It was simply a convenience. And a perfect opportunity to test her limits.
Vixin peeked her head over the uppermost floor to find a guard with his back turned. A smile crawled to her lips and in one swift movement she hoisted herself up on silent feet and slammed the hilt of her dagger in the back of his head. Vixin secured him with the plants and ran back down the stairs.
One down. Hopefully she wouldn't have to assist with the others. Even though their planning was sound, Vixin couldn’t be sure how many successful heists they’d actually pulled off.
She crouched at the rendezvous point, the first to arrive. Minutes ticked by and Vixin kept her breathing calm. If the others were caught, an alarm would sound, and she’d be long gone before anyone could even think about catching her. She knew how to get in and out safely. If they didn’t, that was on them.
Footsteps skidded through the dirt and Sam appeared with a very winded Zak following.
Zak grabbed his knees. “You purposely gave me the big one,” he accused Sam.
Sam winked, then gestured the two toward the storehouse. No one guarded it. She waited. Watched. But no guards were patrolling the area.
“Do we just walk in?” Sam asked.
Zak glanced around and spoke before she could. “They’ve been warned.” She followed his gaze as it traveled from house front to house front. No one stood in the street. “There,” he pointed. “See the tracks? They moved something heavy. Today from the looks of them.”
Vixin smiled. Well, at least he was good for something. She furrowed her brow as a thought came to mind. “How many times have you hit these people?”
“None, but we aren’t the only ones out there and unfortunately there are others who take a more violent approach.”
Sam shifted on his feet. “Should we abort?”
Zak shook his head. “We still have the distraction.”
“That’s meant for emergencies.”
“It’ll be fine.” Zak turned to her. “You might want to cover your ears.”
He nodded to Sam who gave a reluctant sigh before scampering off. Zak placed both hands over his ears and hunkered down. Vixin simply stared at the empty street, wondering what kind of traps they might have laid. Physical? Magical? Her gaze drifted to the rooftops, but there weren’t any shifting shadows