A wave of water glides through the dry atmosphere deflecting the spit of acid. Shirin had tightly held her sword with Riven standing beside her. His forehead now marked red, swollen and drenched with sweat held his own sword.

  Two of the larger harpies glide down at them. One of them changed its trajectory while the other went for a straight headbutt on Riven. He successfully blocked it with his sword. Though he stumbled back a bit.

  Shirin raised her sword and was about to swing when one other harpy crashed on to her. Knocking her over the ground.

  It stood over her and opened its maw. Those fangs glinted with corrosion and stinking saliva dripped over Shirin cheek.

  She screamed.

  She struggled to move but was able to shift her weight and stab the harpy. The sword didn't go through much.

  The harpy jumped off of her and ran away.

  Taking the sword few feet away from the owner.

  In the distance Riven was fighting his own battle against two harpies. One tried to bite his arm, but thankfully couldn't.

  Riven jumped back and dodged a tackle.

  Seeing Shirin on the ground, and the harpy between them he shouted out, “Shirin!”

  No response.

  There were other 4 harpies flying above circling them like vultures looking forward to a feast.

  Shirin got up on one knee. Breathing heavily. She could hear her own heart thumping relentlessly. With one hand against her chest over the heart she stood up and started to walk towards her sword.

  The harpy accelerated towards her, its legs exerting great force on the ground, its throat making a rattling sound, and ready to chew on the flesh before it.

  By the corner of her eye she noticed the accelerating harpy. In a quick motion she rotated her hip and with the right angle was able to land an elbow on its jaw.

  Both she and the harpy stumbled back. Shirin clutched her elbow, clenching her jaw. While the harpy falls onto the ground. The corner of its lip let out a thin flow of blood. Legs up in the air with talons retreating on their own.

  Shirin picked up her sword and dashed towards the harpy, while the ones above, circled looking down at their fallen comrade.

  Those were now joined with two other harpies, though they were a bit smaller.

  Shirin sliced its throat. And only the harpies above started to descend.

  While Riven was busy with two harpies. He was standing his ground, only one of his remains open while the other was blacked.

  The harpies ran around him in circles, closing in quick. He didn't move an inch. His eyes glowed in the faint blue, with grip tightening on his hilt.

  The moment the harpies came into a range he swung his sword. The harpies stepped out before the sword hit them. They survived the sword but not the slashing water that came after it.

  One was cut clean, the other one, alive but badly injured and fell to the ground with its eyes open, staring at the man glowing in blue.

  “Fuckin—”

  His arm moved before his words. Finishing off the harpy.

  Riven huffed out air, his chest compressed before he took a deep breath. He turned to the direction where he last saw Shirin. And his eyes widened by the scene playing before him.

  All the six harpies had surrounded Shirin, trapping her inside the vortex of feathers.

  “Shirin!”

  He stepped forward with his sword, his hair flowing with each gust of wind. Each step got him closer to his friend trapped in the spiral of faces of women with bad breath.

  Inside Shirin was on the ground, back facing the sky and arms covering the neck and face. With each passing second a new scratch appeared on her body. Her fingers bled and the fabric tore off. Scratches had formed on the thin metallic armor.

  And her sword lay outside the vortex.

  He dashed forward, kicking off dirt in his way. Him and his sword glow in blue. He struck blindingly and missed the target. Even though there was no specific target.

  One harpy in particular detached itself from the group and charged towards him. Another strike.

  This time it hit.

  Sliced through the belly.

  The intestine spilled out. Both over the ground and his fabric.

  Yet he didn't stop. And a simple rubbed off the guts off his face by hand and it was enough.

  Moved forward and prepared another strike.

  Two more came towards him. Similarly, as previous harpies one changed trajectory while one prepared to headbutt, just like the previous ones.

  But unlike before he, instead of taking the hit, he too changed the angle of his sword, and the harpy pierced its own skull through his sword. And it got stuck.

  While the other harpy dived down and crashed on his back. Riven fell to the ground with his sword out of his hand.

  The talons dug into his shoulder and the harpy sat on his back. It brought its maw to the back of his neck and started to sniff it. Before digging its teeth into his flesh.

  In response he let out an agonizing sound.

  For a moment it let go of the flesh. The human-like teeth left marks, coated with the saliva. Red blood spots had started to form over those tiny marks. Those teeth weren't long but tiny, yet sharp.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The harpy came in for another bite, opening its dripping mouth and closing onto the flesh, Riven grabbed it before it could bite. It still bites through anyway.

  Now both his neck and fingers were being bitten down by the corrosive teeths. He pushed back the harpy’s head with all the remaining strength. Its teeth at first pulled back the flesh along with it. Then it let go with much struggle.

  It lightly bounced off of him and with the help of its strong legs it tried to fly off but Riven got up on one knee and caught its legs with his bare hands. Grabbing a stone near him, he struck the head with it.

  The harpy fell to the ground crying with those baby noises bleeding through its forehead. Flapping its wing on the ground lifting off dust. He threw the stone aside, which now had tiny spots of skin fragments.

  He picked up an even larger rock and smashed the whole skull with all of the remaining strength.

  Riven huffed out air, strong winds continued to blow his hair strains, grabbing his attention to the trapped Shirin. In a quick motion grabbed his sword and back towards the vortex.

  The vortex of feathers came to a hold and they all dispersed, flying up towards the sky.

  He hurriedly ran towards Shirin kneeling on the ground placing the sword beside him. “Shirin.” He called out. His fingers got a hold of the hardened gel on her ear. About to peel it off but froze and let it be.

  He shook her body. No response. Her body was breathing heavily. It was loud enough to be heard.

  He scanned his surroundings and saw that all the harpies went back up to the sky. Circling over those below.

  He just looked up at them. His face didn't change a bit and held the confusion in its wake. Only seconds later did it change and his eyes widened.

  He held her body. Her eyes were open, but heavy. Body breathing but cold. She saw him but didn't focus.

  After a moment of no movement he pressed his ear against her upper chest. Her heart beats were clear but they were uneven. His body jerked up and cupped her cheeks.

  “Shirin, are you awake?”

  His body started to shake the moment he heard the noise of wings descending behind him.

  Crash

  —{The Damp Wick}—

  Calira was seated, one hand on lap, legs crossed on top of the counter in grey trousers and black T-shirt. The window next to her allowed the cigarette to pass through.

  Her eyes were on the wall clock that displayed the time 03:32 PM"

  The bar was empty for now.

  She took a deep drag in and blew it out. “I wonder how they're performing.” She whispered to herself. While twirling the cigarette between her fingers she said, “I feel like my advice wasn't enough. I did not take the geographical area, numbers of fohs into consideration and… maybe few other points… What was the place again?”

  After a pause of silence her lips reunite with the smoker.

  “Calira”

  A feminine voice had called out.

  “Yea”

  “Can you come over here?”

  “Why? I'm busy?”

  Calira took another drag with eyes towards the door between the bar and the house.

  “What was it?"

  She asked while smoke exited her body.

  “Mom.”

  Her voice seemed to be unheard.

  “Mom.”

  “Come here!”

  “Tsk.”

  Hearing the sudden rise in loudness Calira threw the cigarette in the dustbin, got off the counter and rushed towards the source of the voice.

  —{Jude's Alchemy Shop}—

  The back door opened and Sylvia walked in. In her eyes she saw Jude's back slouched with his cheeks resting on his fist. He had those unfocused eyes that hover over a piece of paper.

  Sylvia approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Judy.”

  “Hm.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing, just a request for a potion.” He answered without looking up at her.

  “Is it?” Now standing behind him she leaned over and took a look over the piece of paper with her arms wrapped around his neck and face side to side.

  Her eyes scanned the paper and muttered, “Those are for small injuries like… Bruises. Right?"

  Jude didn't answer but nodded to her question.

  She pressed her cheek against him, “Hey, something bothering you?”

  “Kinda.”

  “What?”

  He sighed and his eyes finally met her, “Riven and Shirin.”

  “Shirin.” Riven called out to his unconscious friend in the midst of battle against the harpies. Her eyes went black.

  When Shirin started to regain her consciousness she clenched his hand tight against her. She first saw the sky before him while her head rested on his lap.

  Now a new cut could be seen at the back of his neck. Right now from where they stood the bridge wasn't visible. And now there were no gel-like substances in their ears.

  “H-hey, you alright?”

  “I… think so…” She nodded and answered in a weak voice, with hands on her chest. At first her breathing was uneven but as seconds passed they started to catch a rhythm. Only after answering did she see him. “Riven…?”

  “Yea.”

  Shirin just stared at him without another word. She tried to sit up but ultimately fell back on his lap. After a few seconds she asked, “What happened to the harpies?”

  “They are there. Right where they were?”

  “Huh. And where are we?”

  “I… I'm not sure but somewhere far from there.” Riven turned his head to a direction and saw the bridge as a small dot. Right now they were at an elevated area by the dirt road side.

  She took a deep breath before her next words, “So, where not getting paid?”

  “I guess so…” Saying those words Riven clenched his jaw.

  “A-and, how did I get here?”

  His face softened at the question and he answered, “I carried you.”

  Hearing his words, her own face softened. At the same moment her vision starts to blur and shake. “Really?” She asked. But before she could get an answer she closed her eyes.

  The next time Shirin opened his eyes was in a bed under a comfy white blanket. The room was lit with warm light. The walls were painted in green.

  And the first person she saw wasn't Riven. Just, “Hey, you're awake.”

  Sylvia.

  Sylvia was seated by the edge of the bed. Shirin tried and failed to turn her head to face Sylvia.

  Sylvia: “Hey careful there. You're still healing.” She rests her hand over the blanket, over Shirin's chest.

  Shirin: “H-how did I get here?” Her attention darted away from Sylvia and to her hand over her chest.

  Sylvia: “Riven.”

  Shirin: Her expression didn't seem to change a bit, “Figures.”

  Sylvia: Hearing that Sylvia's smile widened, “Figures? And no other reaction? Hey, he carried you till here for miles and that's the only reaction you gave?”

  Shirin: “Carry? Like literally?”

  Sylvia: Nodded, “Yea. What's on your mind, had you thought that he got some cart in the way? No, all carried on foot. You were unconscious.”

  The moment Sylvia revealed what had happened after Shirin blacked out her eyes widened and mouth hung out. Her hand came to gently press against her shoulder, but Sylvia took the hand in hers.

  Shirin: Breath caught when she felt Sylvia’s palm “W-where's Riven!?” Asked hurriedly.

  Sylvia: “Oh, I see you're worried now. He's fine. Back to the inn with medicines. Minor injuries. At least, if compared to yours.”

  Shirin: “Minor? No no, he was the one bitten, not me. He should've been more injured.”

  Sylvia: Tapped her chin, and shook her head, “No. Not even Jude checked up on him. Don't you even remember how you got hit?”

  Shirin: Paused, she tried to speak back, “I…” But Sylvia interfered by raising her finger.

  Sylvia: “Do not argue right now and rest.”

  Shirin doesn't say a word after that and silently lays in bed. Staring up at the ceiling, though her eyes still wandered and they fell on the clock. 11:44PM

  Shirin: Her eyes turned to the window blocked by curtains then back at Sylvia, “It's Midnight right now?”

  Sylvia: Nodded, “Yea, you were asleep for a long time.”

  Shirin: “Ah, what time was it that Riven brought me here?”

  Sylvia: Looked up at the ceiling scratching her chin, “I can't recall what time it was but, right before sunset.” She shook her head, “No, during sunset.”

  Shirin: Her eyes now focused on the bed she was lying on, “And this must be your bed?”

  Sylvia nodded.

  Shirin: “The one you share with Jude?”

  Sylvia again nodded but her cheek started to warm up.

  Shirin: “And where is he?”

  Sylvia: “He was having dinner just moments ago. Ah, maybe on the couch I think.”

  Shirin: “And um… Where will you guys sleep, now?"

  Sylvia: Giggled, “Oh I'll be sleeping here. Looking after you.”

  Shirin: “And he?”

  Sylvia: Chuckled, and got in bed. Snuggled close to Shirin, “Oh don't worry about that. I've done some management.” She turned off the lights and said, “Hope you don't mind the darkness.”

  In another room. Jude sat alone in the dimly lit room staring out at the moon through the opened window. With a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.

  Seated on his chair with his legs crossed and a few notes and an opened book on his table. One paper in particular had the heading, “Potion Characteristics” Yet empty of information.

  “Goodnight, to me.”