#88 Against the Golems

I accelerate, my heart beating as loud as the earthquakes all around us. The sky above us is getting darker and darker, and I can't even tell if those are clouds or the curse. It's just horribly loud, above and below. Liam and I keep running, trying to make our way through the hills of mud and the monsters emerging out of them. Each time a golem comes out, I use my fire to burn it, and Liam tears it apart as soon as it's dry enough for him to bite into.

Although we found an efficient way to get rid of these, I feel like we're not making enough progress at all. At least, not fast enough. The ground keeps moving around us, and twice already, we had to go back to find another way before we reached a dangerous edge. I'm even more panicked that I feel the fights happening everywhere behind us. I try to shoot a fireball each time I can, but it's not enough. I'm too far from most of the wolves, and I can't help out everyone while also running away from them... If only I had even more fire power! I have to control it so I won't also injure a wolf, but those things are emerging non-stop now, and there is nowhere safe.

*Mara!*

I stop, and look behind.

The situation isn't looking great. I hadn't realized as Liam and I kept tearing those things apart before they could get big, but... The golems are really getting bigger and bigger. They are bigger than the wolves now, no longer at a human size... this is really not good. Aside from the Alphas making their way through, most wolves are overwhelmed, or stopped right where they are and pushing their fight. Ben and another wolf are two against one golem, and despite their big size, they are in trouble too. I arm my fist with a gigantic fireball, and shoot it their way, bursting that things back. That's enough for them to jump and attack what’s left, but... This is just one out of so many.

*Mara! You have to keep going alone!* Roars Selena.

I turn around, but... There's still a long way until I get there. While I run to Ravena, what will become of the others? I already had to watch three of them fall!

*Mara...?* Calls out Liam, waiting for me a couple of steps away.

I glance at my mate, but I can't decide. I know I should keep going and not stop every time to worry about them, but... I can't. My inner wolf hates leaving her pack behind, and I agree with her. This isn't who we are. This isn't what I do. I am not just a witch, I'm also a wolf.

...And a wolf stands with her pack.

"Stay close to me," I tell Liam, before rushing back.

*Mara, what are you doing!*

"You're not going to make it alone, and neither am I!" I shout back.

I speed up, going back, and powering my fists as much as I can. I have to keep them down to control that fire, and at each new step, I'm almost jumping in the air from that power bursting out of my fists. I feel as if I could almost take off and fly! I smile, but there are many fights that need me. I start attacking the first golems, one after the other. The wolves quickly understand and jump away from my fireballs, but I'm not stopping. I send one after the other, like a catapult attacking all over the ground. Liam joins me, and runs to help the closest group of wolves defeat their opponent.

*Mara, you're just wasting time!*

No, I'm not. I'm trying to think, how can I help them without being everywhere on the ground. I see Ayesha, and she is busy keeping a barrier at the rear... A barrier against whom? Suddenly, I see them. The human chicks are gathered on the other side, and fighting with another pack again. Did the fight from the seashore get all the way here? Already? The fire witch is busy containing them, but she can't help me in this situation... I'm on my own...

I keep powering my inner fire, so strong, it feels as if it's enveloping my whole body. The flames are, at least. I'm like a human torch, spreading my power all over the area, unable to contain it. Even Liam has to stay away from me and my fire... But it's not enough. The more I keep fueling that fire, the stronger it gets, even... thicker. I feel as if it's a body about to come out of mine, and... suddenly, I realize. I smile, and step back. Forgetting all of the golems for a handful of seconds, I just focus on my inner fire, and keep it growing. I shoot right at my feet this time. I don't just burn the area, I maintain it, more and more, focusing all of my strength on it, growing that gigantic thing like a bonfire right in front of me.

"...Spark!" I shout.

A deafening roar shakes the area.

From the fire, a gigantic cat jumps out. No, the cat is the fire; I laugh, unable to contain my excitement. It's really Spark! The enormous feline I had seen from the witch circle is standing there, twice bigger, and he has those magical golden eyes of my cat. He roars again, gathering everyone's attention, and turns his enormous head to me. It's as if all of the fire I had created before is now assembled to make up his body, the soot and flames battling all over like black and golden fur... I smile and caress his face, although my hand meets nothing but the warmth of that fire. He purrs, and the ground shakes under us.

"Go and get there," I whisper.

A golden spark appears in it's eyes, and he roars again before jumping across the field. The force of that jump has me step back and Liam crouch down. In just one jump, he's on the other side of the area, and ferociously attacks a bundle of golems that was over a dark grey wolf. It's a strange sensation, as if my inner fire had been taken out of me, and was now moving independently with it's own will... Spark the giant fire cat jumps again, smashing two golems with his paws like a cat would hunt a mouse. Selena, who was the closest, lifts her golden eyes on the cat, the two of them staring at each other before Spark jumps again.

*Nice move, Mara...* She gasps in my mind. *I'll give you that one.*

With my fire cat helping the werewolves all across the area, I can move again, my heart a bit lighter. A part of me is fighting at the back, and I can run again with Liam.

*Are you alright?* Asks Liam.

I nod without thinking. In truth, I can feel Spark as if he was pulling on my inner fire, and it's tiring, but... I'm alright for now. We resume running, and thanks to that new ally, more wolves are able to catch up to us. Selena and Damian Black are back behind us, each of them finding their own path towards the earth witch. We're finally getting closer!

A loud ruckus suddenly shakes the ground beneath us. Liam and I both jump to the side out of reflex, but it's not enough. That hill is growing, growing much bigger than any golem we've encountered already... The ground beneath us starts rising, too fast. Before we get to jump away again, we both lose balance and roll down that new hill. I feel my body rolling down and hitting the ground, again and again, as if I was falling all the way down a bloody mountain. It just doesn't stop. I try to catch the ground, something, but I'm swallowed by a wave of soil and dirt, and my vision darkens. I can't...

*I got you.*

A strong grip suddenly pulls me out of there. I feel my body flying above ground, and I suddenly hit a more stable one under me. I'm exhausted, but I struggle right away to get back on my knees, and find out what's going on. I grab the black fur in front of me without thinking. I realize just then the wolf standing in front of me in a protective stance isn't Liam... it's Damian. He doesn't care though. He growls at the gigantic thing finally emerging from that mountain in front of us. Oh, Moon Goddess... not only we have a giant hill now separating us from Ravena, but there's something just as big coming out of it. Two clawed paws emerge first, digging through the dirt, and Damian Black growls even more. Oh, bloody hell, that thing is... A bear?

*Mara! You okay?*

Liam arrives at my side, followed by Selena. He looks like he's been through hell, his fur is as dirty as can be... I nod, but I'm much more preoccupied by that thing before us... Selena growls too.

*I take it this one's not a Golem...*

"It must be her magic pet," I gasp.

That bear isn't made of clay, but of soil. Just like I just materialized a gigantic fire cat... Oh bloody hell, how are we going to beat that thing and get past the hill to get to Ravena? I get back up, and the two black wolves move simultaneously to get between that thing and Selena and I.

"Liam?"

*You go,* he says. *Damian and I will take care of that thing...*

*Selena, you should go with her.*

I see the cream-white wolf hesitate too. She glances my way, but before I can say a word, another wolf suddenly jumps in. A third black one.

*Nate!*

*I can't let my brothers have all the fun, can I...*

Indeed, he comes to stand between his brothers, growling just as furiously.

That gigantic bear doesn't flinch in front of the trio. It's growling too, and frankly, it’s at least three times bigger than them, too! I can feel it's hot breath from where I stand... Can they really handle that thing? I stare at Selena, and she's unsure as well.

*Selena,* says Nathaniel. *This was your idea. You follow the plan. Go with her.*

*Nate, no,* she growls. *You're...*

*I still got three limbs and my fangs; I'm still a fighter, Elena.*

She freezes. I feel something happens between them, but... unfortunately, there isn't much time for this. After a couple of seconds, without a word, Selena gently rubs her face against his flank, then she turns to me.

*Let's go.*

She jumps first to take a detour past that giant bear. Probably not liking to see the white wolf ignore him and take the long way around, that giant thing growls loudly. Just then, the biggest of the black wolves attacks, followed by the three-legged one. Liam glances back at me.

*Stay safe, Tiger.*

*You too, hot stuff.*

With a heavy heart, I turn away, and resume running, following the white wolf that's running past. As soon as I've turned away, I hear the raging growls of the battle behind us. The three black wolves are furiously and relentlessly attacking the magic bear, making sure it won't follow us. Selena and I keep running, as fast as we can.

"Are they going to be okay?" I can't help but ask.

*They are fighters. They'll be fine.*

I can hear the anger in her voice, but I know this isn't directed at me. It's probably more the whole situation. Maybe she's mad at herself too, I don't know why I feel like this could be. I just keep running; I don't have the energy to be mad right now, I'm just worried about Liam, about his brothers, about everyone.

*Nora!* I call out. *How's the situation on your side?*

*Your giant cat is helping us a lot... And some humans came to help us on the other side too! They are trying to stop the girls from attacking or injuring themselves.*

*...what about Lysandra, Boyan, and... Tonya?*

*...I'm not sure; They haven't reappeared…*

I can hear the sadness in her voice, and I’m choking up a little too..

*...There are wolves trying to dig the ground where they disappeared,* she continues. *But... I don't know, Mara. The golems and the ground are trying to bury us alive. I have to help those who made it, but... It's not stopping, and the rest of the wolves are trapped on the other side of the fire barrier. I don't think it would be any better if they were here, though. The number doesn't seem to matter much...*

*Nora, perhaps you should come over here then,* Says Selena. *I have a feeling we're going to need a lot of your white magic here...*

I agree.

I don't like the area we just arrived in. The sky is so dark, it's as if night's already fallen. We just got past that giant hill that emerged, and we can see Ravena again, but... I have a feeling the Earth Witch is in a much more dangerous situation than we are. Actually, she's on her knees, her body strangely bent backwards, her face turned towards the sky with a horrifying expression. The dark lines are all over the visible parts of her body, even on her face... I realize she's not the one that's been attacking us all over the battlefield. It's the Curse, using her powers. Or maybe they're using each other, but either way, it's clear Ravena is losing control. The whole area is shrouded by the darkness, and Selena and I slow down, cautious. We can both tell there's nothing good going on here...

*Stay close.*

I nod, and walk as close to the wolf as I can. I don't even dare light up my fist with my fire. I can feel Spark using a lot of energy back there, and I might have to leave him that source for a while...

Something suddenly shines in front of us, and I jump in front of Selena, putting up a magic circle to defend ourselves. The rock breaks violently against my last-minute shield.

*Nice one, Mara.*

"Stay behind me," I nod.

As soon as I've ended that sentence, more rocks are lifted from the ground, and fly my way. I have to move quickly to block them, and widen my magic circle in front of us. Oh, bloody hell... each of them bursts violently against my shield, the strength making me step back with a groan. Damn it... She's not happy we're here.

"Ravena!" I shout.

A few steps ahead of us, her body twitches bizarrely, and her head spins, like a doll, to turn towards us. A strange grin appears on her face, one that has nothing human about it. Oh, hell... I'm not sure there's a Ravena left in there. Selena growls louder.

More rocks are lifted from the ground... this time, they are shrouded by some of that weird darkness fog... I get ready nevertheless. When they hit though, it's much more powerful than before. I feel my magic circle violently hit, once, twice, and a crack appears. How can there even be a crack in a...! The next one breaks it apart, and I'm violently hit right in my chest. I gasp, out of air and fall back.

*Mara!*

I feel Selena jump in above me, but she's not going to be more resistant than me, it can't be! I try to stand back up, but I'm still in a shit load of pain. Moreover, to my surprise, the dark rocks don't seem to... hit her? What's going on? I crawl back, and Selena stays right in front of me, stopping those things from coming near us. It's like there's some sort of... shield.

*Are you alright, Mara?*

I turn my head, and to my surprise, Nora is there. Her blue eyes look filled with worry, she puts herself under my arm and helps me up. Her white fur is covered in mud, but still strangely shining underneath... She and Selena both stand by my side as I painfully get back up. Oh, I can still feel that hit right in the middle of my chest... damn it.

*You were fast,* says Selena.

*I was worried... and some of our wolves managed to come in and help. I figured I'd be more useful to you two, with all that... that dark magic...*

She might be right. The darkness surrounding Ravena's body is somewhat getting thicker, as her expression transforms into a grimace.

"You..." her voice comes out like a strange rattle out of her body. "Cursed..."

*Apparently, attacks meant for Cursed Ones are useless against Royals like us,* says Selena. *It might be our turn to protect you this time, Mara...*

"Perhaps, but I can't stay hidden behind you two. I need to get to her."

*Do you know how to break the curse yet?* Asks Nora, sounding worried.

"...I think I got a clue. No, several, actually. I think I know why everyone else failed..."

*Does that mean you can succeed?*

I chuckle, massaging my chest.

"Actually," I sigh. "I think I might be the only one who can put an end to this..."