Page 1 of Wishing Upon a Monster
1
Aurora
Fuckityfuckfuckfuuuuuck!I thought as I dashed through the densely wooded section of B3. We’d been told to expect alightinfestation of red caps, tiny, snarling trespassers from Europe, which were, in my opinion, the worst of the invasive species found on our preserve, but—considering I was running for my life with three other Preserve Enforcers—I might’ve been biased.
“WE NEED BACKUP!” Kenny yelled into his walkie, his sword gripped in his other hand as he leapt over a downed tree. “There are like fifty red caps, we need Rocio!”
Had they not been trying to eat us, the red caps could have been cute. They looked like three-foot-tall red cap mushrooms, with little chubby arms and legs. But unlike with actual mushrooms, the brim of the cap opened up, revealing an unnecessarily large mouth, filled with rows of sharp teeth. Don’t even get me started on the venom. They enjoyed flesh and weren't picky about what kind they got.
“You need to get to the river,” Yari’s panicked voice echoedfrom our walkies as we ran, “They can’t cross the deep section in B6! I’m radioing Isla so she can intercept!”
“DAMNIT, Yari! We won’t make it to B6, We need––”
“She’s too big, Kenny!” I yelled, my legs pumping while my hands gripped two small stiletto daggers that might as well have been pea shooters for all the good they would do me with this mob. “She can’t get through the trees. We need water, or at least some place to defend!”
Selene let out a terrifying yowl, her black panther fur dappled by errant sunbeams as she charged ahead, taking a sharp right with Cece holding on for dear life on her back.
I had faith that Selene could smell one of the many bodies of water that dotted the one hundred and fifty-six-acre monster preserve that surrounded the Eastwood River. Or, if not, that she knew of a place we could mount a defense until help arrived. We were all equipped with trackers, so it wasn’t a matter of being found; it was a matter of being found in time.
As we ran, I cursed my inability to live a normal life. I’d signed up for it, sure, but times like this, I wondered if I’d made the right choice. As a magicless child of two Magic Users, I always had something to prove.TheTalentless, they call us. So, being the amazing beam of sunshine my name suggests, I burst my way into spaces I had no business being in. Aurora, the new dawnof absolute stupidity.
I could have quietly left the magical world, married a nonmagical being, and had a few kids by now. But no. I had to show everyone—who, in hindsight, didn’t matter—my worth, and thirteen years later, here I was running for my life. All because I woke up one day when I was twenty-seven and said, “I’d like to fight monsters, that seems safe.”
I’ve gotten out of worse scrapes than this before; surely, some more of that fool’s luck will pop up.
I grimaced as I ducked under large branches, uncaringwhen the little ones tugged on my forest camo printed uniform or grabbed some of my golden hair from my bun.
Who am I kidding? Most days, I fucking love my job.
I let loose a tongue trill.
“There’s something WRONG with you, Rorie!” Kenny hollered, his blond head dipping under a branch.
“My therapist can confirm!” I volleyed back as we burst into a clearing filled with shaggy grass, overgrown bushes, and a pond.Goddess, please let that pond be deep and free of flesh-eating monsters!
Cece leapt off Selene’s back, her snakes rioting around her head, blue and gold scaled beauties, biting and hissing at the approaching threat. Cece was one of the many daughters of Medusa, having chosen to take up the mantel to punish not just men but any being that threatened the peace of her home and people.
I skidded to a stop next to them just as Cece threw off her sunglasses, her silver eyes flashing. It was a common misconception that Medusas couldn’t control who they turned into stone. With practice, they could control their powers. Cece was certainly old enough, but old habits die hard. And I had to admit, the gold-tone aviators were badass.
“Are we going to do this?” I asked the others while Kenny shoved the walkie close to his ear.
“––Weller’s Pond,” Yari’s voice crackled over the speaker, “It’s deep enough to drown them in should you need to retreat. I’m sending Rocio and, hopefully, Isla to your location.”
Which is all well and good, but we were sent to clean out the infestation. We are going to have to face them at some point, backup or not. Might as well get this done!
Selene roared as the first of the red caps barreled through the foliage.
Kenny started muttering, focusing on the black obsidianstones embedded in the hilt of his sword. Magic arched of the blade, cutting into three red caps. They exploded in a cloud of flaming spores that landed harmlessly on nearby plant life.
I flipped my daggers into attack position and went to work slashing and stabbing the beasties with glee. I wouldn't say I was a berserker like the ones in the old ballads, but I did slip into a headspace where the fighting just flowed and the pain wasn’t as urgent. I almost felt like this was what I was made for; this was my purpose.
And then something knocked me off my high horse.
“INCOMING!” Cece yelled, turning another red cap to stone.
The sky darkened, and the red caps, being creatures of very little brain, stopped moving, which allowed us to get in a few more hits as Rocio, in her Cuélebre form, descended from the sky. Her wingspan was magnificent. She was technically a dragon, but she looked more like a serpent with massive wings, violet scales shining as she shot fire from her maw.
Strangely, the red caps did not falter or retreat; they met her as she landed, stupidly abandoning us for the possibility of a bigger meal. She roasted the red caps in front with her fire while the rest of us gathered at the rear, cutting them down from behind.
