Feral Magic

around Vixin’s ankle and yanked her foot out from beneath her. Her elbows stung as she collided with the ground, but whatever had a hold of her began pulling. Vixin spun around, ready to cut herself loose, but the sight made her pause.
She blinked even as her body scooted across the ground. Was it a trick of the light? Were those plants crawling up her leg?
More greenery erupted from the earth like monsters that had a mind of their own. They wrapped around her wrists, pinning her tightly to the ground.
Panic flooded her core as a man wearing leather armor stalked forward, more vines connected to his arm. This was a dream. A nightmare. It had to be. She struggled harder, pulling at her restraints even as thorns bit through her flesh.
He raised his weapon and Vixin yanked harder still. Something deep in her gut responded. She didn’t understand it, but somehow, at her desperate command, things wriggled beneath the earth and shot out with her desperate cry. They impaled her attacker, and Vixin scrambled to her feet when her bonds slackened.
She stared at his helpless form, blood leaking from the eight holes plants had made in his body. Plants. They’d shot straight through his middle, anchoring him to the ground. He let out a strangled cough and then fell still.
Vixin’s eyes widened, but the raging chaos surrounding her broke her from the shock. She took a step back, grabbed her weapons from the ground, and sprinted for the trees as fast as her legs could carry her.
Vixin ran past two people fighting, then took note of someone running beside her. She cast him a quick glance and they disappeared into the trees together. He eyed her more than once, his arms full of various items while hers only held the daggers. He offered a triumphant smile and Vixin snarled in return.
She refused to stop, her legs pounding in time to her racing heart, but the young man running beside her managed to keep up. Then more people joined. She took a count and slowed her pace, noting that most carried items just as he did. A band of thieves? Maybe this was the group those lanky men hailed from.
With their pursuers so close, she didn’t dare stop. With any luck, this group of people would simply think her a new member. Once they were distracted, she’d slip away unnoticed and find the two she’d left behind. With how Anton marched through the forest, anyone would be able to track them down. If they hadn’t already been caught.
The one still glancing at her finally slowed to a walk, and she followed suit when others did the same. Two fires illuminated the trees ahead. Vixin glanced to her right, her left, and then behind. A few dozen at least, though it was hard to judge in the dark. Too many eyes to disappear from without notice.
It couldn’t quite be called a clearing, but they entered a break in the trees and those carrying items dropped them in a pile at the center. The one who’d run beside her did the same and gave a passing glance to those surrounding the fire. His eyes locked with hers for a brief moment, then passed by. She let out a soft breath.
The young man placed one foot on their small pile of riches and a broad smile crossed his face, but before he could give what she was sure to be a lengthy and embarrassing speech, Anton and Blitz were thrown at his feet. Vixin cursed under her breath.
“We found them lurking on the outskirts of the village.”
The one still standing atop their treasures turned to her. “They aren’t the only new faces.” She bristled, and those surrounding her took several steps back. “Did you follow us to avenge them?”
Vixin glanced around. Fear. Most eyed the weapons still in her grasp. At least they wouldn’t put up much of a fight if it came down to it. Her gaze drifted to Anton and the pleading look in his eyes. How did someone manage to become a captive twice in one week? It would be so easy for her to leave them. Get on with her life. Her father’s scowl returned.
Vixin sighed and put her blades away. “I have no affiliation with them.”
He left his pile, swaggering toward her. “Then what were you doing there?”
Vixin nodded toward the pile of goods. “The same as you it seems.”
He looked her up and down, those soft brown eyes betraying the outward confidence he tried to radiate. “Then I guess those belong to us now don’t they?” He eyed her daggers and the bag at her side.
Vixin smirked. “Then come get them.”
Tension floated between them for a long moment, then he burst out laughing. Caught off guard, her gaze shifted to others in the group who were also snickering, though some did let out a sigh of relief.
He held out his hand. “I’m Zak and this,” he gestured to those surrounding them, “is my family.”
Vixin eyed his hand but didn’t take it. “And?”
He cracked a teasing smile. “I'm trying to welcome you into the fold.”
It was her turn to laugh. “I’m not here to join your little fan club.”
He furrowed his brow. “Then why did you follow us?”
She shrugged. “Seemed the best thing to do at the time, but I’ll be going now.”
“You’re new to this world, aren’t you?” Vixin ignored him and didn’t slow her steps. “Don’t you want answers about the magic?”
At that, she paused and glanced over her shoulder. “There’s no such thing as magic.”
“There is here.” Zak held out one hand and particles crystalized from thin air, forming a crystalline sphere in his hand. After a moment, the particles broke apart and fell to the earth like rain.
Vixin’s lips parted and her gaze