The party makes their way through the city towards the southern sewers. People stop and stare at the odd looking group, and murmured whispers can just be heard.

  “That tall one-”

  “-so short, and is that a beak?”

  “-looks so young, I can’t believe she was arrested.”

  “His eyes, they’re such a pretty purple.”

  Cinder’s ear twitches at that last comment, and he pulls up the handmade hood. Rook walks over and pats him on the back.

  “You ok?”

  “...yeah, I’m just a bit sensitive about my eye color. I don’t like how much it stands out.” Cinder murmurs. He’s unusually quiet.

  “It’s ok,” Rook says. “If it makes you feel better, I also tend to draw stares wherever I go.”

  Cinder snorts and looks up at Rook. “Thanks, I appreciate it. And…I’m sorry about stealing your gold.”

  Rook smiles back at him. “Think nothing of it. I can tell you and Click haven’t had it easy. I hold no resentment towards either of you.”

  “Wow, remind me to steal from you again some time.”

  Rook’s smile drops instantly. Cinder holds up his hands.

  “Kidding, kidding.”

  The party soon arrives at the entrance to the sewers. The manhole cover is a slightly rusted iron, and a strong rotten stench wafts out as it is pulled away. Everyone recoils, but Val stumbles away. The smell is clearly affecting her worse than everyone else.

  “Everything alright?” Eila asks, walking over to Val.

  “Yeah, yeah I’m good,” Val mutters. She takes a deep breath before calming herself. “My sense of smell can be a bit…sensitive sometimes.” She stands up straight and rolls her shoulders back. “I’m ok, let’s go take care of this leviathan.”

  The party descends down into the sewers slowly. The sewer channels are wide, easily 50 feet across. There are walkways on both sides made of grey stone, and the ceiling overhead curves to form a half cylinder. Water drips occasionally, echoing off the walls.

  “Alright, let’s split up,” Val says once everyone has made their way down the ladder. “Cinder Rook and Click, and then Sariel Minbin Eila and myself. Any questions?”

  After a beat, Val nods. “Great.” She turns to the guards. “One of you can accompany each group, make sure we don’t commit any more crimes while we’re down here.”

  Cinder snickers, but is shut up after a swift elbow to the ribs from Eila.

  The party splits, going in opposite directions. The guards each light torches to help guide the way, flickering flames illuminating the darkness.

  As they walk, Sariel taps Minbin on the shoulder. “Excuse me, Minbin? I have a question about you and the other Hands.”

  Minbin looks at Sariel apprehensively. “What is it?”

  “Well, you said you’re each one of Naftir’s weapons, correct?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “When we fought the trolls yesterday, Dayven summoned some sort of scythe out of thin air. Is that him? Like…” Sariel pauses, fidgeting with his hands as he tries to find the right words. “Is that weapon he summoned the version of himself that exists in Naftir’s hand? Is that his true form?”

  Val looks back, quietly interested in the answer to his question.

  “That’s correct,” Minbin says in a matter of fact tone. “Each of us Hands is able to use our internal magical energy to channel our true selves into physical form. I’m not entirely sure how it happens, all I know is that we use the Weave as a conduit in order to do so.”

  Sariel’s eyes light up. “So then, are you all able to Weave magic? Cast spells?”

  “Unfortunately not. Our magic is focused solely on creating a tangible version of our internal self.”

  “Oh,” Sariel looks a bit disappointed. He was hoping he had found a fellow Weaver to talk with about how to better Weave magic.

  Minbin sees Sariel’s face fall a bit. “B-but I do understand the fundamentals of it! I may not be able to use magic but since I’m channeling my energy through the Weave I have a decent grasp on how it behaves.”

  Sariel smiles as he and Minbin start to chat about magic. Val watches them before turning back around and continuing to look for signs of the leviathan. I’m glad he has someone to talk about the Weave with, she thinks.

  After several hours of searching, neither group finds any hint of the creature. Cinder, Click, and Rook are starting to head back to the ladder. The guard accompanying them is about 10 feet ahead of them.

  “Are we going to have to come back down here tomorrow?” Cinder asks in an annoyed tone.

  “Yes, we’ll keep coming down here until we find the leviathan,” the guard grunts.

  Cinder rolls his eyes and turns to the others. “Great, we’re going to have to come back down into the stinky wet tunnels.”

  The guard snorts as he rounds a corner. “Hey it could be worse. We could send you back out-”

  There’s a violent splash of water, a loud SNAP, and blood lands on the floor. Rook runs around the corner to find a dismembered arm still holding the torch lying on the ground. The guard is gone, and the sewer water ripples.

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  “Heads up! We’re not alone down here,” Rook calls back. He carefully picks up the bloody torch and holds it out. Cinder and Click round the corner, and Cinder gags. Click lets out a sharp chirp, shocked by the gruesome sight.

  “Oh man…is that-”

  “Cinder, focus.” Rook’s tone is flat, serious. Much more so than Click has heard before. “Whatever is down here, it’s not a leviathan. And it’s hungry.”

  Val’s group is running back to the entrance, having heard a loud splashing of some kind. They round a corner and come face to face with Rook Cinder and Click. Everyone screams in unison.

  “What happened?” Val asks.

  “We don’t know,” Rook responds. “The guard was walking ahead of us, rounded a corner, and then we heard something attack. All that’s left…” Rook looks paler than usual. “All that’s left is an arm.”

  “An arm?” Eila is horrified, covering her mouth with a hand.

  “Spread out. Whatever is in the water, clearly it can move fast. We need to-”

  Val doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence. The water explodes behind her as a massive white crocodilian creature erupts from the sewer onto the walkway. In an instant it bites into Click’s side. He shrieks as teeth sink into flesh and the beast begins trying to drag him into the water.

  Val’s heart stops. Pale scales. Nearly 15 feet long. A dracodile. If that thing drags Click into the water, he’s dead.

  “NO!” Before anyone else can react Cinder dashes forward, punching and kicking at the dracodile’s jaws. The creature loosens its grip on Click, blood dripping from its mouth onto the stone floor.

  “Cinder, look out!” Sariel yells.

  It’s too late. A second dracodile launches itself up out of the water, slamming Cinder into the wall. It cracks from the impact. Click falls to the ground, wheezing as blood leaks from the massive puncture wounds in his side.

  Rook, Eila, and Val all charge. Rook makes a beeline for Click, his shield’s stone already glowing. Eila pulls her sword from its sheath at her hip, a magical white light beginning to emit from the blade. One of the creatures recoils from the light, diving into the water before reemerging near Sariel and Minbin. Val’s long sword is already in motion, and she manages to graze the other dracodile. It roars and backs off, but now the party has a problem.

  There is a beast on either side of the party, both swishing their tails. Rook is at Click’s side, his hands on the wounds. He’s muttering prayers under his breath, and the stone glows brighter than Rook has ever seen before. Despite the amount of magic he’s pouring into the puncture holes, Rook isn’t sure he’ll heal Click in time.

  Cinder staggers to his feet, dazed from the attack. He looks over and sees Click’s body. A mix of fear and rage fills him, and Sariel could swear he sees the shadows cast by the torches to twist and shake slightly.

  Cinder roars and charges at the dracodile in front of him. The creature lunges, but Cinder runs up the side of the wall and lands behind the creature. Without hesitation he leaps into the air, bringing his hands down haymaker style. The blow slams into the dracodile’s skull, and its opaque eyes are filled with shadows as its vision is obscured. Cinder has Weaved the shadows to blind the creature.

  Meanwhile, the other dracodile is advancing towards Minbin. It lunges and snaps its jaws, but as it does sparks crackle in the air. Minbin’s club appears in his hand, spinning at high speed. Leaping back, he barely avoids the monster’s attack. Sariel steps forward and releases a concussive blast, shaking the tunnel and pushing it down the walkway away from the others.

  “Minbin, Sariel, Eila, take care of that one,” Val yells out. “Cinder…” She looks back over to see the dracodile’s tail lash out, knocking Cinder into the water. “Shit,” she mutters.

  The remaining guard looks terrified, his knees shaking. Val’s mind begins to race, gears turning in her head. “Rook, how’s Click?”

  “He-he’s still breathing, but I’m not sure he’ll make it.”

  “Ok, stay with him until you’re sure. I'm going to help Cinder. Once Click’s stable, have the guard get him out of here and come assist.”

  Val runs forward, facing off against the dracodile. She grips the hilt of her sword, trying to keep her hands from shaking. The creature snarls, and Val takes a deep breath. It’s ok. You’ve faced threats like this before. Just focus. Just-

  They’re going to die and it’s your fault.

  Before Val has time to process the thought, the monster lunges. She ducks and slashes, her longsword cutting into soft underbelly. Blood sprays and with a screech the dracodile turns, blindly launching itself at Val much faster than she expects. It’s going to-

  Cinder explodes out of the water, slamming the creature and raining punches down on it. “Click better be alive,” he screams, tears in his eyes and rage in his voice. “He’s my best friend, and if you assholes killed him I swear on every god above that I’ll-”

  The dracodile’s claws come up, swiping across Cinder’s chest. Red splatters the wall and floor as he’s sent crashing to the ground.

  “CINDER!” Val yells. The dracodile turns to her, its pale scales tinged crimson. Panic rises in Val, blood roaring in her ears. Her breathing is uneven, and one thought plays on loop:

  They’re going to die and it’s your fault.

  Minbin’s club hums, and a small bolt of lightning slams into the beast’s head. A scorch mark is left behind, and it screeches in pain. Eila rushes past Minbin, her glowing blade arcing down. With three quick slashes, a gash opens up on the dracodile’s side. Blood begins to leak out of the wound as Eila is knocked into the wall by a swing of the creature’s tail. She feels the wind being knocked out of her.

  “Sariel, fire another blast,” Minbin calls out. “We can beat this thing!”

  A deep breath, a rumble in his chest. Be the heart of the storm. Lightning crackles as Sariel stretches out his hands, and a thunderous KABOOM echoes through the tunnel. The ground in front of the dracodile cracks and craters, and the beast spits blood as it is flung a good 15 feet down the hall.

  This gives Eila the time she needs to recover and regroup with the others.

  “So, what now?” Sariel asks. He’s breathing heavily, that last attack took a lot out of him.

  “These creatures seem to prefer the dark, that explains why they’re down here in the murky waters,” Minbin responds. “I saw their eyes, they aren’t built for harsh light. If we can use Eila’s glowing sword to distract and blind this thing, I can get in close and fry it with my lightning.”

  Eila nods, and looks to Sariel. “Sariel, I can see you’re tired. Are you ok?”

  “Yeah,” Sariel huffs, catching his breath. “I still have a bit more left in me.” He raises his hands, sparks dancing across his palms. “I’ll cover you. Let’s do this.”

  Rook is pumping all of the magic he has into Click’s wounds. The crow looks so small, all crumpled up and bleeding. He looks up at Rook, a mixture of panic and fear in his eyes. With a weak whistle, a bloody hand comes up to touch Rook’s arm.

  No no no no no not again not like this I can’t let him die I won’t let him die please Nara answer my prayers please-

  Val’s blade collides with the dracodile’s claws, her knees buckling under the weight of the creature. She grits her teeth as she fights back, finally able to push the creature off of her. Sweat drips off her forehead, her breathing ragged. I don’t know how much longer I can do this.

  Fear and anxiety flash through her mind, but she pushes them down. No, stay calm. Think about what everyone taught you. The minute you lose control, you lose the fight.

  The dracodile lunges again, and Val rushes to meet it. As they collide, the force of the attack becomes too much for Val to bear and-

  CRUNCH.

  The dracodile bites into Val’s left shoulder. White hot pain rips through her and she screams. Her vision goes fuzzy, the world swimming around her. She tries to force the creature off, punching at its jaw. But the dracodile is locked like a vice. It refuses to give up its prey. Val’s arm is wet, her cloak soaked through with blood. Is this it? Is this how a disgraced Lorentus dies?

  And then she feels it. Like a hurricane, tearing through her chest. No, please no. I’ve been in control for so long. Stay in control. Please. Don’t let them see this. However, despite her best efforts, Val fails. Everything goes red. And then…

  Eila takes point, distracting the dracodile by swinging her bright sword at it. The creature slowly retreats, snapping and snarling. Minbin swings his club, electricity flying off of every blow. Sariel takes a deep breath. He feels the magic swirling through his body, collecting itself in his hands. The sparks he holds now, they feel different than before. Brighter. Hotter. He remembers the conversation he had with Val yesterday.

  Try not to set anyone on fire.

  Don’t worry, I can’t really use fire yet.

  The sparks flash from blue to red and Sariel’s palms turn orange. He smells smoke, and a bolt of fire hurtles towards the dracodile. It slams into one of its eyes, and the beast roars in pain. It opens its mouth wide, and that’s the opening Minbin needs.

  His club crackling, he dashes in and swings up. The weapon connects with the top of the monster’s mouth, soft and wet. No protective scales here.

  Sariel hears Minbin’s club hum and vibrate louder than ever as lightning arcs up and down the crocodile's body. It spasms, roaring. The smell of burnt flesh fills the sewers after a few seconds and soon enough the monster falls over, dead.

  Then Eila hears it. Val’s scream. She whips around to see the dracodile latching onto Val’s shoulder, trying to bring her down to the water. Eila reaches for her bow, but stops. Because she sees it happen.

  Val’s back arches as she begins to shake violently. Her muscles bulge, and the dracodile struggles to keep its grip on her as she begins to transform. Her auburn hair turns white, and fur begins to sprout all over her body. Bones crack and snap as they shift and reform, and her armor rips down her back.

  By the time the transformation has finished, Val isn’t even recognizable. A six foot tall white lupine figure stands in her place, breathing heavily and snarling. With a roar, the creature lunges at the dracodile. Teeth and claws meet scales.

  The fight is quick and bloody. The two beasts tear into each other, no regard for their own safety. Blood coats the floor, turning it slick. The rest of the party can only watch in shock and horror at the violence before them.

  Before long, the dracodile lets out a pitiful moan before collapsing. The monster that once was Val stands over the beast breathing heavily. Several deep wounds cover its body, and it is bleeding profusely. The creature lets out a howl of victory before falling backwards and slowly shifting back into human form.

  Silence descends on the sewer tunnel as the brutal battle finally concludes. Minbin is the one to break the silence.

  “What. The fuck?”

  The Brothers' Umbra is starting volume 2 today! He's an incredible talent and a current Rising Star on the platform, check his story out!