Chapter 50: Chapter 43: As Ash Blows In

The ashes of our cabin blew through the wind that evening--all the way up the hill to Tater Town. Even so far away from the devastation, when we were conducting an emergency meeting in Etherea’s cottage, bits of black dust and soot flew through the windows, making us cough. It was a dark reminder that even as far away from the danger as we always felt before, it could find a way into our home nonetheless.

Autumn and Etherea dominated the discussion and the planning. Several times they asked for my input, but for the first half of the meeting I offered little if anything to the dialogue. I was as shaken as a snow globe, my mind just as clouded.

So much had happened recently. The dragon attack and my injuries, obviously, but also the girls awakening to powers gained through their level-ups. And now, the desolation of the sanctuary’s cabin made everything even more fucked up. It was too much to process--even the good parts, though precious few there were. My mind was a storm-tossed haze as I tried and failed to focus on the proceedings. Adrenaline surged through my veins even still, long after everyone else had calmed down.

The thick carbon essence of the ashes would at least nourish the soil, I mused. It was a pointless, empty thought--vapid self-soothing that achieved nothing and, when I reflected on its absurdity, just made me feel even worse. The inane mental babble was a sure symptom my trauma and a sign that I was losing my grip on things.

I watched many of the most important women in my life devotedly--and gloomily--planning the activities of the days to come with unnerving urgency. The tension in the room was such that it felt as though it could be sliced with a butter knife if you tried. After each person finished speaking, there would invariably be a pause for at least three seconds before anyone else deigned to answer them. The tone was so sharp and severe that I felt my anxiety grow just from being in the presence of it.

And I realized that it was the pressure that it put on me--and my girls--that was making me feel this way. They were so brave. Braver than I was, really. They were all on board with the idea of raiding Keenfury’s Keep, with few doubts and questions toward its necessity, but the more of them I brought, the more it would become a raid or siege rather than an assassination. I was about to say as much when Aldon expressed the same sentiment--probably much more eloquently than I could at the moment.

“Girls, I know I hardly know all of you,” he started, “and I’ve heard about what abilities you have and I don’t doubt your capabilities.” He looked at me for approval to continue. I nodded eagerly, sensing what he would say--what I could not. “If we bring the whole town, or even more than a few people, sneaking into the keep becomes less of an option. I’m not entirely convinced it’s a great idea to bring more than a couple of you along--at most.”

Again, there was that pregnant pause. “He’s right, you know,” Winter said, eyeing Autumn.

Autumn nodded and breathed a weary sigh as her cat ears flicked anxiously. “Yes, he is. This is Bucky and Aldon’s job at the end of the day. They should select two or three people to go along as support and sentries, but the more we bring, the more likely it is that we’ll suffer casualties or kidnappings that would put our boys in an impossible situation.”

"Not to mention half the town is pregnant," I pointed out, unable to lift my eyes from the floorboards.

The silence was far more prolonged after that, lasting maybe two whole minutes as several times the women tried to speak up, opening their mouths but ultimately realizing they had nothing else to offer.

“May Belle,” I said, finally mustering some initiative and accepting the situation for what it was, “I’m going to need you to teach me that ability that gives you super strength.”

She nodded. “Mmm! Of course, Bucky-Baby. I thought you might want it. It’s actually two abilities that synergize quite well: Titan Strength and Megaton Punch.”

I smirked at that. “Of all the girls to get such a combo,” I chuckled. I turned my head to Ivy. “You’re coming with. You’re stealthy, and your suite of powers could be very useful.”

She nodded, smiling, but offering no spoken reply.

“Can they see the unicorn?” Aldon asked.

I grunted a confirmation. “Yeah,” I said. “Unfortunately, some orcs and other greenskins seem to be able to see her. I met her when she was being hunted by them. I'm pretty sure all of the orcs that attacked today could see her.”

“That would be so nice if they couldn't,” she whined. “My Bucky, even still, I want to go with you.”

I shook my head. “No,” I said. “It’ll be chaotic if Aldon can’t see you or communicate with you easily. And, no offense, sweetheart, but you have a tendency to moan and cackle like crazy when you fight--sneaking would be out of the question.”

“Okay, my Bucky,” she nodded, offering no other complaint, but her sad smile of acceptance practically gutted me.

“We can budget two more,” Autumn said. The fire flared in the firepit, drawing my eyes to its light. Fire had dominated so much of my life these last few days. I wondered when I’d feel comfortable around it again, if ever.

More ash founds its way into the room. I tried not to look at it, to breathe it in.

“Any other ideas?”

“Bonny would be logical,” I offered, “but it's far from ideal.”

“Your most practiced fighters and magic users, including Bonny, are pregnant,” Aldon said darkly, sensing my gaze on Etherea's belly.

“Exactly.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Etherea said calmly--too calm for the mood. “Monster girl and elf pregnancies are very stable, so long as they don’t suffer any injuries to the abdomen.”

“Even so,” I said with a heavy heart, “It doesn’t sit right with me. And their bellies aren’t all that well protected in their standard attire.” I looked over at my holstaurs, who were essentially wearing cowprint loincloth bikinis. “Due to the time frame, armor is out of the question, too, so I'm afraid I have to insist.”

“Ivy can borrow mine!” Sprinkle suggested sweetly.

“Your boobs are too big,” Ivy answered so quickly that it seemed to suggest the thought had already crossed her mind. “And your hips too wide, too. It wouldn’t fit.”

“Another matter is the town,” Winter said, staring into her sister’s eyes. “We need capable fighters to watch over it. It’s too dangerous to leave it unguarded with the Apex Heroes both gone. Most of the girls are needed here anyway.”

“We have more capable fighters now than before,” Autumn said, nodding and smiling meekly at me. “Thanks to Bucky. We’ll be fine.”

Before anyone could say another word, though, a crashing blow threw the door off its hinges, drawing all of us to our feet in alarm. I summoned my lance reflexively, without a single thought, and Aldon’s wand was instantly at the ready, too.

But when the dust had settled, I realized that the figure silhouetted against the doorframe was Darkmaw. My jaw clenched--was she the enemy after all? Here to finish the job?

“Apex Hero!” she shouted, fury and desperation in her voice. “Come, let me smell you!” Her hand beckoned to me, her bestial eyes needy with something--some raw emotion or another.

I cast a sideways glance at my harem and the other Apex Hero, watching for their reactions--did anyone sense danger in her?

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“Smell me?” I asked.

“I must be assured. Please,” she said--begging.

I took a few cautious steps toward her, and when I was in arm’s reach she clutched my forearm and pulled me to her and took the deepest, longest inhalation I’d ever heard from a woman. Her eyes were closed until the exact second of its completion. Then, they flashed open in unmistakable rage.

“Dragon burns? A dragon did this to your home?”

I shook my head. “No--the dragon was a separate bit of shenanigans.”

She nodded. “These burns have had some time to heal. That makes sense. Tell me what happened. Who must die?”

“Welcome, Darkmaw,” Etherea said, smiling softly. “Please don’t worry about the door. Come inside. I have a feeling we’ll want you here for this.”

With that invitation, she stepped further into the room, regarding all the other girls curiously but looking more than a little like a fish out of water. We told her everything, and she responded in kind. She displayed no remorse over the door, for the record.

“The troll you describe was a lieutenant of Keenfury’s, no doubt. I recognize the description. He died a month ago.” She paused, waiting for a reaction, but when she only received gasps, she continued. “I was at Keenfury’s Keep,” she said. “He confided his plan to me--indeed, he has allied with the other queens. In three days, the Goblin Queen herself will come to his Keep for an inspection of the troops--a tradition that always happens every few moons. All the generals will be there. They are going to make their move then,” she said. Her voice was filled with quiet, tortuous rage. “He claims I’m the last to ‘fall in line.’”

“Then that’s our window of opportunity,” I replied frankly and immediately. The way forward was clear at last. I felt emboldened by the news, rather than disheartened, and I could tell everyone was surprised by my interpretation of the situation. “We take down all the evil generals, save the Goblin Queen, and bring her back to the Sanctuary with us, keeping her under our protection,” I explained my slapdashed plan.

“Under our protection?!” May Belle said in surprise. “The Goblin Queen?”

“Trust me,” I said. “I’ll explain everything. But this is it. This is the way. Darkmaw, you will attend the inspection as a general. Pretend you’re in on the scheme.”

“I already called him a coward and a traitor to his face.”

“Tell him you’ve come around,” I insisted. “Please. Make him believe you. This is our chance. You’ll be on the inside. You can let us in if needed, or at least back us up. Together we’ll make the attack when they’re all drunk and sleeping after their inspection. Or maybe we'll get lucky. Maybe we'll find an even easier way with the generals so focused on their play-acting.”

“She may already be captured by then,” Darkmaw grimaced, her mind clearly turning over the unhappy possibility.

I frowned at that, sensing genuine care behind her tone. “She may have to be captured for a few hours. It’s the best we can do. We'll try to arrive on time, but we simply don't know how it'll go down.”

“I’m with Bucky,” Aldon said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “This is finally sounding like a plan. We’ll need to know everything about the keep. The layout, the number of troops to expect, the defenses. Anything you can tell us, we need to hear it.”

Darkmaw nodded. “I can tell you everything. Worry not of this.”

I looked back at the others behind me, seeing something resembling a flicker of hope on their faces. The sight imbued me with a newfound strength of spirit.

“Why did you kick the door down, though?” Sprinkle asked. “I’m new to houses, too, but even I knew that doors weren’t meant to be used like that.”

“You’re very savvy,” I said beaming back at her.

She melted at my loving gaze, but when I looked back at Darkmaw I saw the general blushing. “I… you wouldn’t understand.”

“You thought maybe he was dying in here,” Daisy said, making her rather bold observation to the general's face. The holstaur apparently knew love when she saw it. “You were afraid for him.”

She grunted softly and remained quiet for a moment before speaking. “Well, I followed his scent here--I knew he wasn’t dead, at least, but I’d worried over the degree of his injury. I could smell his wounds.”

“You really do care for him,” Winter said unbelievingly, crossing her arms and leaning against Aldon. “Incredible.”

She snorted and glared at the white-haired catgirl. “We are destined to be together. Do not doubt our love.”

I resisted the urge to facepalm. “It’s not--we aren’t--You know what? Forget it,” I said, shrugging. I wasn’t in the mood to explain a damn thing. “Fuck. Lost my home. Cursed with dragon fire wounds. About to embark on a possible suicide mission… I really need a win.”

Etherea suddenly looked at me with a rather lascivious expression, as though that combination of words had triggered something in her erotic elven mind. “Ivy, stay here with me tonight. Everyone else, go find partners to bunk with in town until we rebuild the cabin. Darkmaw, you’re welcome to stay with Vale if you’d like to keep close watch on Bucky and Tater Town.”

“I must head back to the Keep tomorrow at the latest,” the general said as her tanned, naked body glowed by the light of the hearth. “What of Bucky? Where shall he slumber? I will need to speak with you all about Keenfury’s Keep soon--once I gather my thoughts and memories.”

Etherea smiled as smugly as the catgirl that ate canary. “Tonight, Bucky will need to stay here.”

“Why do you get to hog Bucky?” May Belle asked, crossing her arms. “You spent a whole day with him while he was recovering!”

The moon elf grinned. “Trust me, little holstaur. He needs this chance to speak with Ivy uninterrupted--and I have a gift for him as well.”

Ivy nodded knowingly, and then she grinned widely at me. “Oh, right, isn’t it time for you to renew the Elfmaid’s Blessing?”

I blinked, doing the math in my head. I found myself growing excited as I stared at the elves with fresh hunger. “So it is,” I said. I wasn’t sure what they had planned, but from their yearning expressions I thought it might just be the win I was looking for.

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