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“All of you, there is no time to waste!� Sofia called out. “Our runners have gone; our job is done! It’s time to go. There is an attack force headed here now. We need to put distance between them and us.�

Panicked whispers began to spread among them.

Some shouted for clarification; others shouted that there was no way they would survive. Some simply shouted.

But all of them got on Sofia’s nerves.

“Oi!� Sofia shouted. “There ain\'t time for any of that! Soren did not die so we could stand around and get ourselves killed because we were too frightened to move! So, get your asses in gear and move south now!�

There was a stunned silence and a stillness in the air.

“Yes, Alpha!� The first of the smiths to recover shouted. Soon the others joined, and within moments they began to run south.

“Nice work,� Penelope smiled. “My turn.�

“Seriously,� Sofia said gently. “Come with us. I know the chances if you stay to give us time....�

Penelope smiled.

“Thank you,� she said. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but... I can’t leave him.�

Sofia felt a tightness in her chest. She nodded and smiled at Penelope.

“I understand,� she said. “I wish you both luck.�

“Thanks,� Penelope replied. “Oh, and don’t forget to tell Alpha Caleb when you see him... Summer is definitely in danger.�

“I will,� Sofia nodded and gave a final wave before she pulled her pack onto her shoulder and turned to run after the last of her people.

***

Mateas had shifted and taken a shortcut down the cliffside to get to the village quickly. He had managed to avoid detection by the fae, but the last he had seen, they were already making progress in tearing a hole through the rubble of the explosion.

He hoped that they would all be gone by the time he reached the village, that Penelope would have had time to get them moving.

He was shocked when he arrived.

Lights were on, and music played in different houses and buildings. There were fires lit at the forges and the smell of bread or something in the air.

He had so many questions.

Had they not run? How many people were still here? Why weren’t they leaving? And where was Penelope?

Mateas dropped his pack from his mouth and quickly shifted back to his human form. He fished out the radio and stood up.

“Penny?� he called.

She did not respond. He looked around as he waited for her to answer.

“Penny? Where are you? What is going on?�

“Sorry, I set the radio down while I was putting something in the oven,� she replied after a moment.

Mateas stopped dead in his tracks. He furrowed his brows and stared at the radio.

“I’m sorry... what did you just say?� he questioned.

He heard a chuckle.

“Meet me at the forge, and I’ll explain,� she laughed.

Mateas hurried over to the forge he had seen, and a few moments later, Penelope appeared. He stood up and hugged her.

“Ok, now, explain,� he said. “And quickly because we don’t have much time.�

“All right,� Penelope said, taking a deep breath. “Alpha Caleb and almost the whole pack left more than fifteen hours ago. When I arrived, Alpha Sofia and a group of twenty craftsmen were all that was left.�

Mateas’ eyes widened.

“No warriors?� he asked.

“Not a one,� she replied.

“Shit...� he whispered.

“Right,� she continued. “That is why we need to give them as much time as possible, at least an hour.�

Mateas sighed. It was a tough ask. The fae were difficult, and their numbers were far greater than he and Penelope could take on.

“How exactly do you expect us to do that?� he asked.

“Well, for starters,� she smiled. “I turned on all the lights and sounds and baked some bread to draw focus from the fae. Next, I’m hoping for a house-by-house search. That alone will take a little time, but add a few surprises.�

“What surprises?� Mateas asked

“I found these,� she said.

She pulled out a box filled with shiny black things. Mateas took the box and soon realized it was filled with obsidian arrowheads and small blades.

“I think these are the rejects of the weapons they were making.�

He pulled out one of the arrowheads. It was beautiful.

“These are the rejects? Damn,� he said, then looked at her. “Penelope, we don’t have time to make arrows.�

“I know, there were a few already made, I went ahead and took those, but these ones, I figured you could use creatively in each of the houses.�

He sighed; he knew many different traps, but each took time.

“Just stay away from the buildings furthest south,� she said.

“Why?� he asked.

Penelope swallowed.

“Because I already set the last hoorah back there,� she replied. “I used the explosives I had in my pack. They are wired to set all four buildings off if one is triggered. I also set a charge at each of the forges. That one is a remote detonation. If I set it off, this village will be set ablaze.�

“Goddess...� Mateas sighed.

“Yea...�

They both knew what they weren’t saying. If they stayed and saw this through, they would likely save Alpha Sofia and the craftsmen fleeing from the village. But, in doing so, they would lose their lives.

Mateas swallowed.

“Is there even the slightest chance that they can get away without our help?� he asked quietly, not looking at her.

Penelope licked her lips and swallowed.

“When I set up the buildings in the back, I looked south. I thought that if I couldn’t see them anymore, we could run.�

Mateas closed his eyes, hearing the shakiness in her voice.

“They’re not soldiers, Mateas,� she said softly. “Neither is she. I could see them so clearly... that I’m a little scared that they won\'t make it even with everything we do.�

Mateas stood up. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

“I love you, Penelope.�

“I love you too, Mateas. I’m sorry I wasted so much time we could have had together.�

Mateas smiled and kissed the top of her head.

“What matters is that we had time,� he whispered, a tear falling from his eye.

He held her for no more than thirty seconds before they pulled away regretfully and went about setting as many traps as they could. Along the way, Mateas found a forgotten sword of obsidian and prepared himself in one of the houses.

Penelope found her perch and set herself up to take out as many as possible before they reached the village.

She pulled out her phone and tried once more to get a connection. She didn’t bother with Alpha Caleb. He was even further south than she was. So he had no way of receiving her call.

The line rang and rang again. She already heard the crackling pause that told her that the signal would cut out soon.

She closed her eyes, ready to give up.

“Hello?�

Her eyes shot open at the sound of his voice.

“Alpha Axel!� she shouted. “Thank the Goddess!�

“Hello?� he called again.

“No... no.. please, you have to hear me! Listen! The war party, the fae, it is a huge force! We were wrong. They are not gathering to attack Burning Ember. They are attacking everywhere! There is a large group headed north, likely to Winter, and one headed straight for Summer! Please tell me you can hear me!�

“Pen...pe? I can ha..ly hear you. Are...all right? Has som...ing hap...ned?� Axel called to her.

“Damn it!� she shouted angrily.

She saw movement in the rubble that blocked the pass. Her heart beat loudly in her ears, and her chest felt heavy as the tears escaped her eyes.

“Burning Ember has fallen!� she shouted into the phone through tears. “Protect Summer and Winter!�

The line went dead.

She took a shaky breath and dropped the phone, pulling out her radio.

“It’s time,� she whispered sadly.