<div class="floatright">(https://mfiles.alphacoders.com/402/402340.jpg)</div><br/>“<em>NO!!!</em>”<br/><br/>The cry spilled from Lesniya’s lips as she physically reached for Sophia imploringly when the beast descended upon her play-sister. It was like watching something horrid in slow motion and not having any powers to change the facts. Her body stepped forward as well and that was all it took – Lesniya hadn’t looked where she was going and slipped immediately on the mixture of mud and ice. Her backside and shoulder took the brunt of the fall, and it knocked the all-but-useless sword from her grip.<br/><br/>On the ground, the red-haired beauty gasped hard to draw her breath back into her lungs. It was all the reprieve she got. Another rat was charging in on her. Survival instincts kicked in though as she swung her booted foot around and connected with the beast’s head about as well as she had connected with their would-be teacher’s shoulder in the tavern.<br/><br/>Rolling to her hands and knees, Lesniya tried to scramble through the mud and filth, her hand gripping the pommel of her short sword again as she gained her knees. Once again, she whipped her body around, pressing her hand out and just as Soph was smiting her own enemy, Lesniya froze her own. Her anger fueled the power – making it deeper. Quicker. The beast was encased in ice in mid leap within seconds.<br/><br/>The next turn was towards Cerias. On that hill. Still clean. Looking cross.<br/><br/>“Are you just going to stand there??” She screamed up at the warrior. “<em>Help her!!</em>”<br/>