Together

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
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They had just barely managed to survive the battle.
 
The scent of singed hair and scorched armor was everywhere. Lindoro lay charred and bleeding. Cardinal’s hair and Flame’s fur were smoldering. Things did not look good.
 
There were still five enemies. One had a flamethrower - the same flamethrower that had dropped Lindoro and seemed about to finish off the rest of them. Nita herself was on her last bit of breath and had to heal herself so she could survive to help the others. Fortunately for all of them, Lukas arrived and managed to revive Lindoro.
 
Then Flame collapsed on the ground.
 
Nita mustered what remained of her breath and healed the worst of Flame’s wounds, then threw the rest of her energy into the staff, caving in the armor over the ribs of the enemy with the flamethrower and knocking him to the ground.
 
Seeing the armored foe drop seemed to give them renewed hope. Cardinal laid into her foe with her ire and felled him with her rapier. Lindoro’s fists and Flame’s rapier dropped a second, while Lukas calmly shot the third in the back. The fourth succumbed to the deadly aura surrounding Nita.
 
The battle should have been over, but the armored foe with the flamethrower had one last surprise for them. He ruptured his fuel line, causing a fireball to engulf the room.
 
Nita dived for the floor to get under the worst of it, but was burned. Lukas, Lin, and Flame managed to dodge the worst of it, but Cardinal fell as the flames engulfed her.
 
Immediately afterward, Lindoro healed the worst of Cardinal’s wounds, and Nita passed out healing berries to the others. They thought they were done.
 
They thought they were safe.
 
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Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
 
The sound coming from the large chest had been masked by the sounds of the battle.
 
Breathing hard, Nita began to make a run for it. Then Cardinal’s voice rang out… "If we don't stop it, it'll get all the others! We have to stop it!"
 
Lukas, Lin, and Flame began to investigate the box, with Cardinal’s flute inspiring them to perform at their best. Flame manages to unlock and open the box to reveal a horrible contraption; an explosive device that would certainly take out most of the building.
 
Nita places herself between the bomb and Cardinal, knowing that her small form would do little to protect her friend but at least she could try. Cardinal instead moved to stand beside her, taking her hand. “Together”, said Cardinal. “You’re my friend.”
 
Squeezing Cardinal’s hand, Nita whispers, “Together.”
 
Time seemed to slow down as Lukas worked on the ticking box.
 
“Tick…”
Lindoro pointed out a hidden wire…
 
“Tick…”
Cardinal’s flute soothed and inspired them, helping them focus…
 
“Tick…”
Flame stabilized another part that would have made the bomb explode immediately had it moved…
 
“Tick…”
Nita prayed to the Green One and the Lady of the Hearth, asking their guidance to all….
 
“….Tick.”
With a final snip of the tool in Lukas’ hand, the ticking ceased. They were safe. They had done it.
 
Together.