When Nova arrived near the gate a group of adventurers was being torn apart by the dire wolf accompanied by goblins and slimes. A golden light from Beornia enveloped her own Nova's, and the adventurers weapons.

  The slimes melted as Nova stabbed them. A dire wolf attempted to pounce on Nova’s back, but her slime self sensed the incursion. She wrapped her cloak around the wolf, turning the ambusher to the ambushee. Nova stabbed another slime unperturbed. The wolf soon dissolved into a red cloud as it was suffocated.

  Hopefully it just looks like an enchanted cloak. Nova thought as she jumped backward out of the way of a goblins sharp cws. She stabbed her spear forward in an effective counter.

  Out of the fog Sapphire appeared; she wore an iron skullcap and a gambeson; she had a bastard sword hanging from her belt.“I can’t hear anything with this stupid helmet on,” Sapphire whined, as she brought down the glowing bde of the bill she was holding down onto a wolf from behind. The wolf exploded into a red mist.

  “You look adorable when you are upset kid,” Juniper responded with a smile, as they appeared out of the fog wielding their conjured holy spear. He stabbed at a dire wolf, But the wolf must have heard him, as it jumped forward avoiding his blow.The Dire wolf bared its teeth at Juniper before running away again. The other monsters followed it away from the fight.“There is a commander css monster within the city. Could this day get any worse,” Juniper griped. “What is that?” Nova asked curiously.

  Suddenly a troll charged through the gate breaking it off of its hinges. The troll couldn’t stop itself. It hit the shield wall, and was skewered on the glowing spears. One of the town militia blew a horn. Giant hobgoblins wearing helmets, armed with round shields, and axes charged into the shieldwall. The hobgoblins were head and shoulders taller than the men. The attackers and defenders pushed their shields against each other contesting every inch.“We need to leave now!” Beornia said, taking the lead into the fog.“Wait, I have armor for Nova,” Sapphire decred, as she took off her helmet with a look of relief, as her ears sprung out.The wolf-kin put the helmet and arming cap on Nova’s head. She took off the gambeson, helping Nova into it. “Don’t you need armor?” Nova asked.“It would just get in the way,” Sapphire responded.Isn’t the protection worth the hassle Nova thought confused.

  The defenders were leaving the wall. They fled toward the temple. “Ready now?” Beornia said impatiently. Nova nodded and followed her. The cursed fog had only gotten thicker. They were completely surrounded by the fog. The buildings lining the road were obscured. Sapphire took the lead, as she was the most familiar with the town yout.“There is a group of goblins ahead to the right,” Sapphire warned.“Let’s sneak past them,” Beornia suggested.Nova nodded in agreement. They hugged the left side of the road to avoid the goblins. Buildings appeared out of the fog to the left.

  After they passed the town hall the dire wolf started howling again. Nova had enough of the wolf; she unched five holy javelins in different directions. The javelins exploded clearing the fog. There were dead monsters everywhere, mostly goblins and slimes. “The wolf is dead!” Sapphire said, as she pointed out the wolf’s body.“Good riddance,” Juniper grumbled.Nova felt her strength leave her, as her body regenerated from the damage.“There are like thirty bodies. That spell was amazing!” Sapphire praised Nova.

  “It’s not a good idea to shoot off spells blindly. You could have used this spell to clear the fog first,” Beornia reprimanded Nova. Then she chanted something quietly. A small orb of holy magic came out of her spear and exploded. “Make sure to use as little power as possible for it.”“Why don’t we clear all the fog in our path?” Nova asked.“We could risk it, but we should move quickly!” Beornia said as she started running.They all ran for a few minutes. Until Nova stopped breathless.

  Beornia grimaced annoyed at how out of shape Nova was.“We should be far enough away,” Sapphire stated.“I can’t go much further either. we might need to run more ter anyway,” Juniper said, breathing heavily.

  Nova started to move away from the group, looking for privacy.“We will take a quick break. Eat something, and drink water. Nova don’t wander off,” Beornia said as she gave Nova a distrustful look at the end.“I need to relieve myself,” Nova responded.“I will guard you then,” Beornia walked in front of Nova and turned her back. “Don’t spsh anything on me,” Beornia warned.“I think I can wait,” Nova said as her cheeks started to burn with embarrassment. “We won’t be stopping ter just so you can pee,” Beornia responded.“If you won’t go first I will,” Sapphire said, lifting up her robe.Nova turned her head away from Sapphire in disgust.

  She finally gave in after everyone relieved themselves. I can’t believe I'm peeing in front of so many people. Nova thought. Everyone was looking out for threats not paying attention to what Nova was doing.

  The trip to one of the postern’s was very uneventful. A man from the town militia was standing guard at the door. “The gate has been broken down. You should go to the temple,” Juniper told the guard.The man blew his horn signaling a retreat. The sentries on the wall ran down the wall and toward the temple.“Thank you for telling us avatar,” The guard said as he left his post. “Aren’t you coming with us?” He asked after he turned around to face them again. “No, we will inform the relief force about developments,” Juniper responded waving the man away.

  Nova climbed the short staircase and slipped out of the postern. There were tall bushes on the outside. The path around the bushes was narrow. The bushes didn’t go on for long. Sunlight soon illuminated the fog. Nova couldn’t see any further than before sunrise. Her foot nded on the air when she stepped. She stumbled over a hole in the ground bumping into Sapphire. They both grunted in pain.

  “SHH!” Beornia communicated quietly.Sapphire righted herself then squinted her eyes and twitched her ears. “Monsters approaching from behind us.”Beornia quickly moved to face the incoming monsters Nova stood behind her to the left while Juniper stood behind her to her right. Sapphire held the rear. The wolf-kin drew her sword out of its leather scabbard.

  The rotten stench of the goblins soon disturbed Nova. Beornia did her little spell to clear the fog. Revealing a rge group of goblins.“We will fall back while we fight them,” Beornia said as she started walking backwards. Sapphire lifted the ground in front of the goblins creating a chokepoint for them to go through. Beornia changed her mind as she charged into the chokepoint stabbing the goblins as they tried to get through.

  Nova and Juniper watched their fnks ready to kill any goblins that went around the wall. The goblins charged forward regardless of losses. A group of goblins came around on Nova’s side. She swung her bill down on them with ferocity. Any that got past her polearm were pushed back by the slime in her cloak.

  “Nova watch out!” Sapphire yelled as loud as she dared.The rank smell of burning goblin meat filled the air. Nova just barely got out of the way of a falling goblin that was on fire. She looked up, keeping the st few goblins back with her cloak. Goblins were jumping off the earth wall.

  “Run, I will guard our backs!” Beornia said.She used a holy shield spell to knock over goblins that got too close to her as she ran. Juniper took the lead with another holy shield spell knocking over the goblins in front of them. Sapphire and Nova dealt with any goblins that tried to fnk them.

  Having enough of the fog Nova used as little holy magic as she could to summon an orb. When it exploded the fog was lifted. Soon after Nova expelled the cursed fog. The goblins pursuing them got caught in vines. Flowers from the vines bloomed. The goblins that weren’t ensnared colpsed and convulsed.

  “You’re back!” Sapphire said excitedly. Her tail wagged as she jumped onto Glyndwr.Glyndwr looked tired as if he had stayed up all night.“You are a sight for sore eyes,” Juniper said as they saw Glyndwr.“I hope we made it in time. If you all just left the town I won’t have to slip past the siege,” Glyndwr said as he petted the wolf-kin as she nuzzled him.

  “Let's not talk here. Where is the relief force’s camp?” Beornia asked with a look of relief on her face.“It’s behind a hill in that direction,” Glyndwr said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. The wood elf held Sapphire’s hand while he led the beleaguered party to the camp.