Sky crouched as close to the tall jagged boulder as she could dare. The surface of the rock here looked as sharp as the dagger strapped to her thigh. Mom had warned her about how sharp some of the boulders in back of Dirlop Mountain were.

Warned her not to go off the road.

But no. Sky risked it. Better some sharp rocks than some bandits ready for a fight.

Or so she thought.

A boom rumbled nearby. Enough to shake the very mountain itself. Like thunder, but the sky was as clear and blue as her hair.

And the wind carried the smell of chalk? Like the classroom back when she was far younger. A classroom she did her best not to fall asleep in too often, but failed at that a bit too much, until Teacher learned she was allergic to clouds of chalk and used them to make her sneeze awake.

Her nose was already itching to sneeze.

But the smell of fox below? Another sinister giggle.

And her hackles tingled harshly. Just like whenever she entered the local hedgewitch’s shop back at home.

A witch bandit?

Sky already had her two scimitars in hand. All her training was meant for a moment like this. Not to run. But to find a way to escape. Survive. Fight the bandits only if necessary.

Especially if one of them was a witch.

Maybe even a vixen witch.

Best retreat for now. The witch clearly sensed Sky was nearby. She’d be ready for any ambush. Just like how the hedgewitch back at home could always sense Sky’s presence—or absence.

She turned. And—ack!

Behind the boulder beside her. A shadow of a man. With a long foxy snout and foxy ears.

A fox beast man.

An enemy.

With a pair of short swords.

Sky drew an arrow. A regular arrow. Less noisy than her magical ones.

He slipped beyond the boulder. And spotted her.

Just as she fired. Her arrow plunged deep into his eye.

He gasped. Trembled.

Her next arrow plunged into his bare chest. Felling him.

That’s when countless squeals of bloodthirsty orcs roared from down the mountain. From among the boulders.

Sky turned toward the orcs and—ack!

A shadow over her. Another fox man! Lunging for her. From behind.

She spun around.

Clang!

Her scimitar bow deflected—black iron claw extenders? Just a single scratch would be agony! Maybe even poison her—if it was cold iron, not just black iron.

His wiry weight pressed her down. His strength well beyond her own.

That he only wore filthy slacks …

Bad enough that his rancid breath even weakened her gut, but her combat instructor was just as gross at times too.

And taught her what to do.

(Or close enough … hopefully.)

She leapt backwards. Falling. Only instants to react.

The fox man growled down at her. But also shocked.

Unbalanced.

While Sky already had another arrow strung.

When the top of the boulder exploded! From pink lightning?!

Vaporizing everything. Including the fox man.

An instant later, a white fox girl in snake-bone armor appeared on top of the rock. Her long hair was as strangely pink as her lightning. Just as pink as her claw extenders.

The fox girl smirked. “One less elf girl.”

“One less vixen,” Sky said, and loosed the arrow.

The fox girl looked down. Shocked.

Just as Sky smashed into the ground. Stars spinning throughout her sight.

And the fox girl deflected the arrow with her claw extenders.

But not the magical bolt that followed it.

An amber sunfire energy. It bolt exploded the moment it touched those claw extenders.

BOOM!

The rumble … not her magical bolt but … her head. Her mom warned her not to use the magical bolts yet. Her spores were needed. Or else … else … ugh. The squeals of blood thirsty orcs were getting closer and closer and—

Huh?

The fox girl was back. On top of the rock. But without any armor. Or claw extenders.

Bare in the fur, the fox girl even pouted sour down at Sky. Looming over her. Even licked her chops. Like Sky was a tasty treat to be.

“Such powerful magic, no?” the fox girl said, “Too bad. Your turn to—”

Sky ripped her dagger out. Flung it up so quick.

The fox girl flung her hands out. Pink lightning coming.

Caught the dagger. Exploding it. The shard ripping into the fox girl. Making her yowl.

Giving Sky another chance.

A chance she didn’t waste.

The next arrow plunged right into the fox girl’s chest. Through her evil heart.

“No …” the fox girl said, “I … the orcs … not. yet.”

Sky fired another arrow. Right through the vixen’s eye. Into her brain.

Sky rolled to the side. Just as the vixen crashed into the ground.

And the squeals of orcs vanished?

Except for a bunch of distance squeals. From the other side of the mountain.

Sky trembled. Braced herself.

She trained to fight. Defended herself. And even Dirlop Mountain.

Time to prove herself again.