Junia?s long legs smacked against a rooftop and she?d hit the surface running. ?Left!? Orchid?s voice came out of the giant sword the redhead was wielding. Without missing a beat, the girl darted left just as a giant rock slammed into the rooftop. A horrifying howl came out of the oversized creature?s mouth as it turned and bolted toward them. ?Junia,? Orchid called out from her metallic form. ?He?s going to destroy the village. We need to end this. Now!? the weapon demanded.

?My thoughts exactly,? the redhead agreed. Though there was concern on her face. Something was wrong with their bond, and she could feel it with ease. Orchid had been stretching herself thin enough as it was. Now wasn?t the time to worry about that. Junia changed directions and ran right toward the edge of the roof. ?Orchid?get ready. ?!? She kicked off the ledge and her body hit the air, winding up and ready to meet the beast halfway. A growling grunt left her as she lifted the six-foot sword over her head and brought it down. She cut right through the upper arm of the creature and it howled with pain, swatting at Junia with the opposite arm.

Smacked out of the air, Junia sailed toward the ground fighting to keep her grip on Orchid. She landed in a roll, spearing the ground with her friend to keep herself from going back too far. Ripping the giant sword from the earth, she faced the creature and glanced to her sword. ?You good??

?Yeah?finish this assbasket?? Orchid said, her reflection showing in the blade as she nodded firmly, determination fierce on her face. June only nodded and narrowed those fiery eyes as the creature hauled ass after her. A single, overly long clawed arm was reared back and ready for an attack. The handler swung wide and sent a blast of energy hurling from the sword toward the beast, and then another. Another shriek left the jagged, sharp toothed mouth of the slick black giant. Those red eyes squeezed shut as it stumbled back, stunned. June wasted no time in swinging that sword, taking it out at the legs and forcing it to the ground. It screamed, swung and squirmed?but ultimately stilled when the blade pierced its heart.

Junia ripped it free as the black blood oozed toward the ground. Huffing and puffing, she put her hands on her knees and let the sword drop to the ground. A flash of light later, and Orchid was standing there. She looked pale and worn out. ?Teach that muthalicka to mess with the village? come on, I?m starving!? she said, starting off.

?You?re always hungry...?

?It?s part of my charm,? Orchid responded with a light shrug.

?I wouldn?t call watching you shove an entire taco into your mouth charming??

Orchid looked over at her, ?Yeah, okay?but you gotta admit, it?s impressive, right??

?Seeing you eat twice your weight in food? It never ceases to amaze me.? June said with a roll of her eyes as she walked side by side with her weapon. She was tall, unlike the tiny thing next to her. She had a million questions for Orchid in that time, but decided to start out small. ?How?re things with what?s-his-name?? she looked over toward the girl who was no longer at her side. Her steps paused in that moment just in time to hear the thud behind her. She turned to see the frail-looking girl face down on the ground.

Junia?s eyes moved to make sure there were no assailants that had taken her down before dropping to a knee and moving over to her. She rolled the tiny thing onto her back, ?Orchid?? she asked, looking down at the girl who was now clutching her chest and fighting for breath. Her mouth was open as wheezy little noises left her?but that wasn?t what was most disturbing.

It was her eyes. Those once pale blue eyes were now black as coal, webby veins pouring out in a cascading fashion down below them. ?Orchid?? ORCHID!? Junia screamed out, lifting her up. ?I need help over here!? she cried out to the village, those desperate eyes staring up in a pleading fashion.

Somewhere in the pleading and looking around, the tiny thing lost consciousness.