43 Time

But Kyrie didn't split his focus instead he used the speed of the water to his advantage. He'd let it shred at his aura and help push him faster and closer to the Ceffyl Dŵr.

The Ceffyl Dŵr's body was quickly thawing. Would he – could he make it in time? Or would he have to risk taking friendly fire as well?

♢ ♢ ♢

Her barrier was gone. Amity's barrier was gone. It was slow. The vision was happening at a slower pace.

DJ was near them now. He could see her. He could see the love of his life's all too still form. It had happened again. She was hurt. She was – no, he couldn't finish that thought. And Caleb, a very pale and unsteady Caleb, was still defending her. He wouldn't be doing that if she was dead, right?

A Trie's leaves rounded the area of DJ's control and slipped towards Liza. Her back was to them as she cut down another Trie targeting Jasper. Then they slipped past her as she turned to take a spot at DJ and Ren's side.

Then the leaves found a home. They found a home in the one the Tries' viewed as the largest threat with the best opening.

They slipped into and finished off Amity's weakened aura. She cried out as they sliced through her armor, tore a chunk from her leg and the muscles in her side. She fell. Her hands grasping at her bloodied side in shock.

Where were their bloody babysitters! What the hell were they doing as everything went to shit!? Rick's gaze drifted to the tauntingly blue sky. How could the weather be so nice on such a horrible day? How many would die before this hell was over? At least the barrier was still up.

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie inched closer to the Ceffyl Dŵr. His aura had faded so much. He changed his angle. He needed the height.

The Ceffyl Dŵr opened its head to bite. Its front hooves kicked in the air as it prepared for an attack.

Then it happened. Just like at Avalon. To everyone but Kyrie, it was just like at Avalon. The Ceffyl Dŵr's head was severed, then its body was gone in a puff of steam that scattered in the summer air. It was gone, dead and no one knew exactly what Kyrie had done. Nor how he'd achieved this feet. No one knew how close Kyrie'd come to killing them all.

♢ ♢ ♢

He'd won. He'd killed it. But could Kyrie make it back to his teammates, to his friends? Could he make it back before he lost them for good? No. He couldn't. He couldn't make it back.

Rick watched as Kyrie fell. As he crashed into the earth above a mess of Tries. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and spun nearly slicing his knife into the man's aura.

"Head on back. Your friends are already at the med-center." It was their babysitter. Their dammed babysitter had grabbed him. "You did good. Don't worry your friends are fine. You won't have to fight more today."

Rick nodded his head numbly. "Why? Why didn't you switch with us earlier?"

Their babysitter nodded, he got that question a lot from newbies. "Because you needed to know what you've gotten in to. And the best time to switch with newbies is half."

"Half?"

"Halfway to the first call for a full switch."

Rick glanced past the man at his team that was quickly pulling ahead. "You mean this gets… longer?"

The man nodded. "It can get a lot longer. Head on back. You've earned it."

As the man turned to leave Rick saw a grin on his face. A grin born from a man thrilled by the adrenaline of battle. He and his team babysat because it meant they'd fight more. And in turn, it meant they'd earn more. This wasn't a team of guards as Rick and the others had assumed. It was a team of LegendSlayers.

The fight was done for the students. But was far from finished for the heroes.