THE MOMENT
"They're coming!" Rachel got to her feet as the sound of rustling leaves came from the forest. She'd been enjoying a picnic near the trees when a friendly young knight in chain armor stopped by to chat. She introduced herself as Justice; but, it wasn't long before Rachel felt an uneasy tingle on the back of her neck. Something inside urged her to her feet.
Rachel took a few steps toward the road and risked looking back. A dozen beady eyes all focused on her. A group of sickly green, short goblins emerged from the trees snarling and grumbling orders at each other. There were too many; she knew both of them wouldn't escape that many. She made an instant decision as she pushed the young, pink-haired stranger ahead of her. "Run dear, run fast. Don't be scared, I'll be right behind you."
Justice did not run. She wasn't scared. She sighed with distinct disappointment and made an upward flick with her wrist. Rachel ran two steps to catch up to the teen she pushed and stopped.
"WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING!?" she asked. Justice shrugged as she wiggled her fingers in the air as if she was touching some invisible surface.
"Not what I'm looking for," she said.
"WHAT!?" Rachel shook her head with confusion. She reached forward to grab Justice's hand. But her own hand, along with the rest of her, disintegrated into white powder before she completed the motion.
Justice waited a moment, then she walked closer to the edge of the forest. A middle-aged woman sat on a blanket with a book and a small basket of food next to her.
"Hi, my names Justice," she smiled at the woman.
"Hello, Justice. I'm Rachel, it's such a lovely day outside. Would you like to join me? I have plenty of food to share," she gestured at the basket.
"This close to the forest?" Justice asked. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"Well, I'm sure..," Rachel rose to her feet even as she answered the question. She realized she'd been somewhat reckless when she heard a faint rustling in the trees behind her. Fear drove her forward; but, she looked back. A pair of towering, fat, pinkish ogres shambled out of the forest with their gaze locked on her. "They're coming!"
"Run dear, run fast," she pushed Justice. "Don't be scared, I'll be right behind you."
"NOoooo!" Justice whined. She seemed more annoyed than terrified; and, she didn't flee. She made a flicking motion with her wrist, then began wiggling her fingers in the air in front of her.
"RUN!" Rachel yelled. "WHY AREN'T -," her question was interrupted as her body disintegrated. Justice sighed and waited a moment while the ogress disappeared too. Then, she strode forward when Rachel reappeared on the blanket.
"Hi, my names Justice," she smiled at the woman.
"Hello, Justice. I'm Rachel, it's such a lovely day outside. Would you like to join me? I have plenty of food to share."
"Is it safe this close to the forest?" Justice asked.
"Well, I'm sure..," Rachel rose to her feet even as she answered the question. Justice focused on the forest and she heard rustling leaves and branches. Rachel turned and stared with wide eyes as a dozen red, dog-sized spiders crawled out of the forest.
"They're coming!" Rachel pushed Justice. "Run dear, run fast. Don't be scared, I'll be right behind you."
"Now we're talking!" Justice grinned. Rachel had no idea where it came from; but, Justice was now holding an elegant purple and gold banner. She planted it in the ground and raised her hand up in the air. Another magical banner materialized in her hand; this one was white with a red #16 embroidered on it. She planted that one in the ground and drew her sword as she began to glow with a brilliant aura.
"Why aren't you running!??" Rachel asked the question even as she positioned Justice between her and the spiders. If the girl was going to fight, she could be the one to run away.
"Are you kidding?" Justice smiled at Rachel, then turned to face the spiders. "It took nine tries just to get the right monsters to spawn."