A smack, a “Now!”, and suddenly something was burning. The sensation of heat, although slight, instantly banished all wooziness from Bitterroot’s mind. She jumped to her hooves and flared her wings, ready to be off at a moment’s notice. A big, flaming shape was thrashing around ahead of her, banging against the walls of a unicorn’s shield. The smoke coming from it writhed unnaturally through the air. Bitterroot took a few tentative steps forward.