Inside the building, chaos reigned. Sacks of grain had been torn open, their contents spilling across the stone floor. Kindle entered first, flames casting golden light into shadowed corners where small, dark shapes scurried for cover.

  "Hello, little troublemakers," she called, her voice cheerful despite the destruction around her. "Who wants to learn about consequences?"

  A Tinderling dropped from the rafters directly onto her shoulders, tiny hands clutching at her hair and the flames dancing there. The fire sputtered where it touched, but Kindle didn't bother trying to shake it off. Instead, she reached up and behind her head, gripped the creature by one spindly arm, and flipped it over her shoulder in a smooth arc that ended with the Tinderling flat on its back, wheezing as the air left its lungs.

  "That was rude," she informed it, placing a foot firmly on its chest. "We hadn't even been properly introduced."

  Two more creatures charged from behind a fallen grain sack, amber fissures flaring with aggression. Kindle met the first with a lightning-fast side kick that sent it sprawling. The second actually managed to duck under her guard and latch onto her leg, its touch immediately dampening the flames flickering around her ankle.

  "Oh no you don't!" She dropped into a crouch and delivered a precise strike to the sensitive point where the creature's ember-bright fissures converged at the base of its skull. The Tinderling went limp immediately, its eyes dimming to the color of banked coals.

  Ash, meanwhile, had drifted into the darkest corner of the storehouse, her form half-obscured by the smoky tendrils that constantly surrounded her. Unlike the others, she made no aggressive moves. She simply waited, watching the shadows with calm, knowing eyes.

  "You think darkness hides you," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "But I am darkness distilled, the absence between flames, the void given form."

  Four Tinderlings huddled in the corner, clearly hoping to wait out the intruders. They froze as Ash's words reached them, their ember eyes widening with something approaching comprehension.

  "The heat you seek will never fill the emptiness within," she continued, extending one smoke-wreathed hand. "Come. Accept the inevitable."

  Remarkably, one of the Tinderlings took a hesitant step toward her. Then another. The others followed, drawn by some inexplicable pull. Their usual frenetic movements slowed to a sleepwalker's pace as they approached Ash's outstretched hand.

  "Existential dread as a fighting technique," Kindle observed with reluctant admiration. "That's new."

  When the creatures were within arm's reach, Ash's demeanor changed with jarring suddenness. Her smoky form solidified as she lashed out with blazing speed, catching the lead Tinderling with a quick jab to the chin that set it staggering.

  The second received an open-palmed blow to its sternum that lifted it off its feet. The third and fourth she dispatched with a sweeping kick that tangled their legs and sent them tumbling like bowling pins.

  "Physical existence is pain," Ash informed them as they lay dazed on the floor. "Consciousness even more so."

  Outside, Ember coordinated the growing collection of subdued Tinderlings. Unlike the others, her fighting style emphasized control over power.

  When three creatures tried to flee past her, she intercepted them with a fluid series of strikes that seemed almost choreographed—a palm strike that stunned the first, flowing into a low sweep that toppled the second, transitioning seamlessly to a shoulder throw that left the third blinking in confusion at suddenly finding itself airborne.

  "Twelve captured," she called to the others, securing the dazed creatures in an empty rain barrel provided by a wide-eyed villager. "That's still not all of them."

  "Movement on the rooftops," Cinder reported, her sharp eyes tracking shadows against thatch. "At least four more trying to escape over the buildings."

  Pyra grinned, flames brightening around her hands. "Rooftop chase! This just keeps getting better!"

  She didn't bother with stairs or ladders. One moment she stood in the village square; the next she'd simply leapt, her superhuman strength carrying her fifteen feet straight up to land lightly on the nearest roof. Thatch crackled beneath her feet as she balanced effortlessly on the peak.

  "I see them!" she called down. "They're trying to reach the trees at the edge of the village!"

  Four Tinderlings scurried across the rooftops with surprising agility, leaping gaps between buildings that seemed impossible for their size. Pyra gave chase, her body moving with fluid speed as she bounded from roof to roof. When one thatch section proved too weak, beginning to collapse under her weight, she simply pushed off harder, soaring through the air to land three buildings away.

  The lead Tinderling glanced back, its ember eyes widening in alarm at her impossible pursuit. It chittered something to its companions, and they changed tactics, splitting up to flee in different directions.

  "Oh no you don't!" Pyra accelerated, her form blurring as she closed the distance to the nearest creature.

  It sensed her approach and spun to face her, claws extended. She didn't slow—instead, she dropped into a slide that carried her under the creature's guard, one leg extended to catch it squarely in the chest. The Tinderling flew backwards with a surprised squeak, tumbling off the roof to land in a water trough below.

  "Pyra, incoming!" Ember called from below. She'd positioned herself to catch any falling creatures, creating a fiery barricade to funnel them toward the growing collection of captives.

  On the rooftops, Pyra had already changed direction, racing after the second fleeing Tinderling. This one proved more elusive, dodging behind chimneys and leaping to lower buildings where the thatch provided less secure footing. Pyra followed relentlessly, her enhanced reflexes allowing her to navigate the treacherous terrain without slowing.

  When she finally cornered it at the edge of a baker's roof, the creature surprised her by actually fighting back. It launched itself directly at her face, claws aimed at her eyes with vicious precision.

  Pyra's head snapped back, barely avoiding the strike, but this left her momentarily off-balance on the slippery thatch.

  The Tinderling pressed its advantage, raking its claws across her forearm where bright flames danced. The fire dimmed instantly where it touched, and a fleeting expression of triumph crossed the creature's coal-black face.

  "That trick's getting old," Pyra informed it, regaining her balance. She countered with a spinning kick that caught the Tinderling mid-section, driving the air from its lungs. Before it could recover, she followed with a swift uppercut that connected with its pointed chin, sending it flying in a graceful arc to land directly in the barrel where Ember had collected the others.

  "Two points!" Pyra called triumphantly. "Did you see that shot?"

  "Less celebration, more pursuit," Cinder responded, already tracking the remaining two Tinderlings as they scrambled toward the village edge.

  Kindle had emerged from the storehouse dragging two subdued creatures by their scruffs. She deposited them with the others, then paused to observe Cinder and Pyra's rooftop pursuits with evident enjoyment.

  "This is exactly like that time we chased those bank robbers across the Manhattan skyline," she called up. "Except with fewer helicopters and more thatched roofs!"

  "And considerably less effective opposition," Cinder added dryly, delivering a precise strike to another Tinderling that had foolishly tried to stand its ground. The creature dropped like a stone, its ember eyes rolling back as it slumped into unconsciousness.

  Ash emerged from the storehouse last, trailing smoky tendrils and herding four dazed Tinderlings before her like a shepherd with particularly confused sheep. The creatures moved with the stumbling gait of those who had glimpsed something their minds couldn't properly process.

  "They sought warmth but found only the cold void between stars," she explained to a bewildered villager who stared as she passed. "Now they contemplate the fundamental emptiness underlying all existence."

  "Right," the man replied weakly, taking several steps back.

  The last Tinderling proved more challenging than its fellows. It had escaped the rooftops and made it to the edge of the forest, where it paused to hiss defiance at its pursuers.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  When Cinder closed in, it surprised her by flinging a handful of dirt directly at her eyes. She was forced to turn away momentarily, and the creature seized the opportunity to dash into the underbrush.

  "It's getting away!" Kindle called, already in pursuit.

  "Not for long," Ember replied, her voice calm. She raised one hand, flames shifting from their usual warm orange to a concentrated crimson point. With pinpoint precision, she released a thin stream of fire that arced over the fleeing Tinderling's head and struck the ground directly in its path.

  The creature skidded to a halt as a perfect circle of flames sprang up around it, cutting off escape in all directions. It spun in frantic circles, searching for an opening, then slumped in defeat as Cinder stalked toward it through the burning ring.

  "Fire dampening is an interesting defense," she told it conversationally, "but ultimately limited against opponents who don't rely solely on flames."

  One swift strike later, the final Tinderling joined its companions in captivity.

  "Sixteen captured," Ember announced, surveying their collection of dazed, subdued creatures. "That should be all of them, based on the tracks and reports."

  The villagers stared in silent amazement. What had seemed an infestation requiring days to address had been resolved in a matter of minutes, and without the extensive property damage that usually accompanied Tinderling problems.

  "Well," Briella said finally, addressing the five women who stood in various states of dishevelment before her, "that was... impressively efficient, if somewhat alarming to witness."

  "We got them all!" Pyra said, bouncing on her toes despite a smudge of ash across her cheek and several scratches on her forearms. "Total superhero victory!"

  "And minimal property damage this time," Cinder noted with something almost approaching satisfaction.

  Kindle poked a finger through the wooden slats of the makeshift holding pen, watching as the Tinderlings huddled together, their amber fissures pulsing with diminished light. "They're kind of cute when they're not trying to claw your eyes out."

  "Cute but problematic," Ember added. She turned to Briella. "What happens now? They'll need to be relocated somewhere, I assume."

  The headwoman nodded, her expression troubled. "Back to the volcanic flats where they naturally dwell, ideally. But that's nearly thirty miles east—beyond our capacity to transport them safely."

  "Thirty miles?" Pyra scoffed. "That's nothing! We could run them there now!"

  "Now?" Briella blinked in confusion. "The volcanic flats are at least a day's journey. And these creatures require special handling—they can escape most conventional—"

  Her words died as Cinder's form blurred into motion, vanishing from sight and reappearing a heartbeat later at the edge of the village. The casual demonstration of speed left several villagers crossing protective symbols over their chests.

  She ran back just as quickly, her breath not even labored. "So fast we break physics, actually."

  "But we'd need something to transport them in," Ember noted, eyeing the makeshift containment solutions. "And we don't know the exact location of these volcanic flats."

  Thaddeus emerged from between two buildings, leaning heavily on his staff and looking considerably put-upon. "The volcanic flats lie southeast along the old trade road. You can't miss them—the ground turns to black glass and steam vents punctuate the landscape."

  He gestured toward a sturdy wagon near the smithy. "That should hold them for transport, assuming you can move as swiftly as you claim while pulling it."

  "Oh, we can do better than that," Pyra grinned, flames dancing in her eyes.

  Within minutes, they had transferred the subdued Tinderlings to the wagon. Ember fashioned a series of flame-resistant restraints from materials Thaddeus provided—special fibers that wouldn't burn or melt under the creatures' ambient heat.

  As an added precaution, Ash surrounded the entire cargo with a thin layer of her smoky essence, which seemed to keep the Tinderlings in a state of philosophical paralysis.

  "They're contemplating the meaninglessness of escape," she explained to a curious child who'd crept close to watch. "Why flee when all paths lead ultimately to the same void?"

  The child backed away slowly.

  "Ready for relocation!" Kindle announced cheerfully, gripping one of the wagon handles. Pyra took position beside her, while Cinder and Ember flanked the sides to prevent any attempted escapes. Ash perched atop the cargo, her smoky tendrils curling protectively around the container.

  "You're really going to drag that all the way to the volcanic flats?" Briella asked skeptically.

  "We'll be back before dinner," Pyra promised with a wink. "Any special requests while we're out that way? Volcanic souvenirs? Exotic rocks? Philosophical insights from the edge of a lava pool?"

  Before Briella could respond, they were gone—not with a dramatic burst of speed, but with a smooth acceleration that sent the wagon rumbling rapidly out of the village and down the road.

  Thaddeus shook his head in wonder, turning away to avoid the dust cloud they left in their wake.

  "Madness," he muttered. "Those girls are pure, unfiltered madness."

  True to Pyra's word, they returned an hour later with an empty wagon, slightly winded but none the worse for wear. The villagers had begun repairs on the storehouse and general cleanup, under Briella's capable direction.

  "Mission accomplished!" Pyra announced their arrival, the wagon rolling to a gentle stop near the edge of town. "Tinderlings successfully delivered to their hot, smoky, suspiciously bubbling homeland!"

  "They seemed quite content once we reached the flats," Ember added more diplomatically. "I expect they'll keep to their territory now that they've returned home."

  "One tried to drag Kindle into a steam vent," Cinder noted dryly. "Consider that information for future reference."

  "It just wanted to show me its home," Kindle protested, though the singed edges of her clothing suggested the encounter had been less friendly than she claimed.

  Ash drifted to the edge of the gathering, trailing wisps of smoke that had taken on a faintly sulfurous quality during their journey. "The volcanic flats exist in a liminal state between solidity and flux, much like our own fragmentary consciousness. The Tinderlings navigate this duality with instinctive grace that we might envy."

  "What she means," Cinder translated, "is that they're well-suited to living in a place that would kill most other creatures. Plenty of heat sources to gather around, minimal predators."

  Briella approached cautiously, still eyeing them with a mixture of awe and unease. "You've done us a great service. The village council will want to offer compensation for—"

  "No need," Ember interjected smoothly. "Consider it a gesture of goodwill while we're visiting this realm."

  "Still, we insist on showing our gratitude." Briella's tone brooked no argument. "At least take a meal with us before you return to Thaddeus. You've earned that much, I think."

  Pyra brightened considerably. "If you insist, we'd be happy to!"

  Ember sighed. "What my sister means to say is that we appreciate the offer."

  "Yes!" Kindle echoed enthusiastically. "Definitely happy to accept!"

  "Free food," Cinder murmured, as if that summed up all possible arguments in favor.

  As they joined the villagers for an impromptu celebration feast, seated at trestle tables in the village square, the initial wariness gradually softened into cautious curiosity.

  Children gathered at a safe distance, watching wide-eyed as Pyra entertained them with tiny flame figures dancing across her fingertips.

  Several of the village militia asked Cinder pointed questions about her fighting techniques.

  A group of young women surrounded Kindle, fascinated by her tales of "extraplanar fashion trends" that were mostly fabricated on the spot.

  Ember found herself deep in conversation with Briella about local governance and magical regulations, mentally filing away information that might prove useful in their journey.

  And Ash, somewhat to her surprise, attracted a small circle of the village elders, who found her philosophical musings strangely comforting when accompanied by good food and better ale.

  As night settled fully over Fendale, stars appearing in the gaps between the three moons, the five prepared to return to Thaddeus's cottage. The day's excitement had waned, and villagers trickled back to their homes in twos and threes.

  "You'll come back, won't you?" asked a small boy who had spent the evening following Pyra around like an adoring shadow. "If the Tinderlings return?"

  "If they're smart, they'll stay put," Cinder answered before Pyra could make promises they might not keep. "But if trouble comes, we might be around."

  "Or we might be somewhere else entirely," Ash added softly. "The future is smoke on the wind, patterns glimpsed but never grasped."

  Briella saw them off at the edge of town. "You're welcome here any time," she said firmly. "You've earned that much, at least."

  With final farewells exchanged, they set off down the moonlit road.

  "So," Kindle said, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them, "on a scale from 'complete disaster' to 'flawless victory,' how would you rate our first adventure in fantasy land?"

  "Seven out of ten," Cinder assessed critically. "Efficient monster removal, minimal property damage, but lacking in any real challenge."

  "Six point five," Ember judged. "Effective teamwork, clear victory conditions, but low overall complexity."

  "It was fun!" Pyra added, performing a perfect cartwheel just because she could. "Fighting magical creatures in a village that looks like it fell out of a storybook? This is the coolest thing that's happened since we got superpowers!"

  "Life remains," Ash concluded sagely. "Thus, an unqualified success."

  Thaddeus was waiting at the front gate when they returned. Despite the late hour, he greeted them with characteristic gruffness. "You made it back without causing calamity, I see. Congratulations."

  "Aww, you were worried!" Pyra teased, squinting suspiciously at Thaddeus. "Did you miss your favorite alternate universe girls?"

  "Don't be absurd," Thaddeus huffed, turning away. "Merely concerned about potential disasters. Fendale is under my protection, after all."

  "How romantic," Ash noted. "A solitary mage defending his humble realm."

  "Not to mention providing room and board for wayward adventurers," Kindle chimed in. "The kindness of your heart is matched only by the vastness of your wisdom!"

  "Hmmph." Thaddeus shook his head sharply, as if to dislodge their praise from his ears. "Spare me your flattery. I'm simply fulfilling the basic duties of a host."

  "Your graciousness humbles us," Ember said with a perfectly straight face. "We are undeserving guests."

  "You...!" Thaddeus struggled to retort, but the carefully constructed dam of his irritation showed signs of imminent collapse. Finally, he waved one arm in a curt, dismissive gesture. "Bed. Immediately. The lot of you."