Not bothering to waste another second, I advanced on the source of my near uncontrollable rage. Lagdon was holding his own against her and the blue woman who had been holding Luxana without any real trouble. Much to the frustration of both woman, I noted. Varda's face was contorted with a panicked rage, while the blue ogress looked shocked and a little afraid. Clearly she had not bargained on my people being strong in the slightest.

  I would say that was to their detriment, but it was to my own as well. If these people had known to fear me and my people from the very start then all this could have been avoided. At the very least, Varda would have enacted her crazy schemes in a less direct way, meaning that Draxly and the other might still be alive.

  Biting back the pain howling within me, I decided to act upon the anger. That was easier to come to terms with than the sorrow, after all.

  "I don't think so!" Snarled a blue skinned male ogre, breaking free from Kishi to advance on me, a war axe held high and his eyes burning with battle madness.

  I didn't even bother to address him in the slightest. A flick of my wrist, and dark, root like vines burst from the cobbles, ensnaring the ogre as if it were the easiest of things. Temporarily distracted by this new power, I watched as they encircled the ogre farther, squeezing him tighter at but the simplest of thoughts from me. I wasn't sure where I had inherited these powers (The dark perhaps?) but they came to me easier than fox fire, and definitely far easier than the spoken magics that the Goblane were learning.

  Walking past the well and truly captured ogre, I didn't even hesitate to command the roots to tighten completely. A strangled shout and the splash of blood on stone announcing the fact that I had just crushed a man to death. I felt nothing. No sadness, no disgust. Though, i also felt no pleasure or satisfaction. even the extinction of the yellow and blue ogre tribes would not satisfy me right then.

  Varda managed to parry a blow from Lagdon, jumping back from him. Her wide eyes fell upon my disinterested self, and the bloody roots that had once been one of her accomplices. Apparently when a being with yellow skin went pale it made for a rather unpleasant watered down mustard color.

  Lagdon lowered his weapon and stepped aside, bowing his head respectfully. Kishi snarled and pinned a Drallda ogress to the ground, her face smashed and bleeding, eyes wide and fearful as she was forced to gaze upon me. As for the mysterious blue skinned ogress, she fell to her knees, her own weapon clattering beside her.

  As I walked past this woman, she gazed up at me, eyes impossibly wide and fear full. Awed even. I would deal with her in a moment.

  "St-stay back!" Stammered Varda, pointing a rather unimpressive sword at me. Lagdon and Kishi did not respond. I guess they both knew better than to think that such a threat would do any good against me right now.

  Another flick of my wrist had Varda suspended in a tangle of roots. She screamed and struggled to no avail. There would be no escaping her punishment now. No matter how mad she was; not even if she begged and pleaded. I had no mercy for this woman, nor even for her tribe of traitorous brutes.

  "I don't think you have any right to speak here." I stated, my voice almost foreign to my own ears with how cold and disinterested it sounded. I must have appeared calm to all here, but I was a burning pool or rage and pain at that moment. A stray thought from me had the vines wrap around Varda's mouth, cutting off any further whimpering on her part. I had no interest in anything she had to say anyway. It was all irrelevant.

  "Lady En-!" Someone called, there own words cut off before they even got my full name out.

  I turned to see none other than Astrid, her daughter, and several other Morell ogres barreling around a corner. They stopped dead in their tracks upon witnessing the scene before them. That, or seeing the totality of my 'true' form simply stunned them.

  Not far on their heels were a great many other monsters. I supposed that Luxana had managed to get word about the attack to others. It looked as if the entire populace of Sky Keeper had arrived.

  Good. The more here to witness, the better. I wanted this to be the very last time a monster dared to think they could kill what belonged to me, or go against my orders. I would do this the monster way.

  "Astrid." I said, and saw the woman flinch. Did I really look that menacing? Despite the swirling emotions within me, I thought I was projecting a rather calm exterior. "It would seem that the ogres have staged a rebellion against me. In my own lands, no less."

  Instantly Astrid fell into a bow, her knees colliding with the stones in what must have been a very painful way. Her eyes stayed on the dirt as she addressed me. "No, La-" She hesitated, then started again. "No, Great Land God. The Drallda have acted on their own! I swear that-"

  "Then who is that?" I asked, pointing to the terrified blue skinned ogress shivering near my feet.

  Astrid looked up, avoiding looking at me directly, and set her eyes on the ogress in question. I saw her grow pale while the gathered monsters of all races fidgeted behind her, most also looking at the ground. "Th- that is Kefta. She is the leader of the Ghena tribe..."

  "I see. So are you claiming that only you and the Morell follow my words then?" I asked, a burning hatred threatening to spill over and take my sanity and practical mind.

  "I- I don't know. Please- please, Lady Enna... allow me to contact the other leaders. I will rout out the-"

  "No." I said, firmly cutting off the fearful ogress. I took no pleasure in scaring her. But I could also no longer place the little faith I had had for her, in her now. It was evident that the antagonistic factions of the ogres were far wider spread than Astrid had thought. "I will handle this my self. After all..." I set my eyes upon what little was visible of the wide eyed Varda. "It seems as if the ogres have been put into a position to believe that I am a joke. It's a mistake that I should correct swiftly, I think. I'd hate for anyone else under my care to be so very mistaken in the future, after all."

  Muffled noises came from the tangled roots, but I didn't really care. As for the other monsters, they all fell into a silence so complete that Varda's struggles almost sounded deafening. Within the crowd I could see many a familiar face, including a wide eyed Margund, and a teary eyed, rage filled Brixie. Both were right behind Astrid and her small group of Morell ogres, and both seemed to be having a hard time looking at me directly.

  I saw Yevette as well. She and a flock of harpies were either perched on surrounding roofs or hovering above. She looked calm, but a little fearful as well. Perhaps it was best if that was how people looked at me from now on.

  I couldn't see any of the equestrians at the moment, no doubt they were blocked out to the back of the crowd. The large horse race would have a hard time getting around hobgoblins in narrow city streets after all. I could hear them, however: a background of feint snorts and the sound of hooves on stones.

  "Where are the rest of you?" I glared down at the trembling Kefta.

  I could see that she didn't want to answer, her eyes briefly jumping to the restrained Varda, before staying some place around my collar bone. "I'm sorry." She wheezed. "Please have mercy on my tribe! Varda-"

  "That was not the answer to my question." I said, narrowing my own eyes at the woman. I took no pleasure in her cowering or begging. I just wanted to get this done and over with, so that something like this never happened again. "Where. Are. The others?"

  Huge tears leaked from her eyes and slid down pale blue cheeks. "In the mountains to the south of Sky Keeper." She breathed, looking defeated. Varda struggled harder against her bonds, her muffles probably curses thrown at the leader of the Ghena tribe. "There is a gathering of the Drallda, Ghena and Frast tribes. Most of our battle ready men and women were gathered there, Goddess."

  "Why?" I asked coldly, certain that I already knew the answer.

  "We w-were going to invade Sky Keeper af- after..."

  I almost felt amused despite my current emotional state. Had they really thought me that big of a nobody? Had they really been that sure that they could accomplish this foolish coupe? "After killing me and my people?"

  A strangled sob escaped her mouth. "Yes! Please- please spare us! The Drallda said-!"

  "You would take what the Drallda said, over my own words?" I asked, annoyed. Did this woman really think this was a solid defense?

  "Please! I swear-"

  There was a collective gasp as Kefta's words were cut off. After all, one could not speak without a head. In my hand was the dagger that Lagdon had gifted me, even though it had not even been anywhere close to me a second before. I didn't know if it had some magic to it, or if I could just summon items to myself now. Honestly, at the moment I didn't care. I looked at the blood dripping off the blade with disinterest as the head of Kefta rolled to the suspended feet of Varda.

  "Your promises mean nothing to me now. Clearly the ogres speak only lies..."

  Astrid bit her lip while her daughter fell to her knees by her side, eyes wide and body shaking. The young woman had been the most pleasant ogre I had seen so far, but I was still of the firm belief that this was all necessary, no matter if it meant that they all hated and feared me after today. Hated and feared was better than them all thinking they could walk all over me, punishing my people for my own weaknesses.

  I looked to the north, using my senses to feel for any large clumps of life out there... Ah, there they were. Getting a feel for numbers was hard, but it was a bright enough spot that there had to, at least, be a couple dozen out there. Hmm, could I take on that many by myself? Not on foot. I was too inexperienced in a fight, despite the training I had been exposing myself too. I was strong, but even I could be out numbered.

  I needed an advantage...

  My eyes drifted to the concerned face of Yevette. I could feel many, if not all the harpies now sitting comfortably under my influence. Like the goblins, foxes, and kobolds, the Harpies had become 'my people'. And if that was the case, did that not mean that I could take advantage of their species traits?

  Taking a breath, I circulated the magical energy within my body, focusing and imagining what I wanted. Condensing the power on my back, I pictured a set of wings. Having them would open a whole world of mobility for me, keeping me out of reach of the hoard of ogres as well as giving me a speedy way to reach them right this minute.

  Other than the tickle of magic that I had become familiar with, I felt nothing. Then again, the awed gasps told me that I had accomplished something. I opened my eyes, glancing over my shoulder to see my handy work. Alright, they were beautiful, but did not look air worthy at all. A pair of wings had sprouted out of my back. Literally sprouted, given they appeared to be made of wooden branches or twigs; and from them grew a pretty mix of leaf like feathers, colored in browns, greys and gentle lavender. Amongst the twigs and leaf feathers bloomed various purple flowers, much like the ones that sprouted on my antlers.

  On some sort of manufactured instinct, I twitched the wings and saw them move. Then I imagined them spreading, and they did just that. A pair of wings, made just for me. Who would have ever thought it?

  I trusted that they would be air worthy by the sheer fact that they were magical so surly they would work like I wanted. Rather than sweat the small stuff, I turned to my trusted hobgoblin. "None of them are to leave till I return." I stated.

  Placing a clenched fist over his heart, Lagdon bowed. "Yes."

  "Should I come with you?" Kishi asked. She was fast and probably could keep up with me in flight, given the path was fairly straight.

  "No." I said, shaking my head. "I will be back quite quickly, I think." I reached out a hand, still stained with blood, and stroked my friend affectionately between the ears. "Make sure no one touches our fallen friends." I told her, pointing to the bodies of Draxly and the goblins, my stomach doing an uncomfortable flip before I buried the hurt again. Not now. I couldn't feel right now. I had to hold onto my rage a little longer.

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  "Yes Mistress." Said the fox, leaning into my hand briefly before stepping over to the bodies of our friends, protecting them from what danger may come.

  Not even bothering to look at the crowd, nor acknowledge the still struggling Varda, I crouched, ready to take flight. Lagdon stood rather close to her, kicking aside the body of Kefta and glaring into the crowd, daring anyone to even think about moving.

  Pushing off the broken, blood soaked, street and pumping my thread bare wings a couple times, I found myself airborne for the very first time. It should have been a moment of exhilaration and joy, but my emotions were still hardened in preparation for what I felt needed to be done. In the next twenty minutes there would be at least three less ogre tribes for me to worry about. Or, at least so few of those tribes left that they shouldn't be worth even considering.

  Shooting through the air at a speed that should not have been possible, even if my wings looked structurally sound, I made a b-line for the cluster of life I could feel to the north. It wasn't hard to find the ogres at all, but then again, given their size I assume that they were not really expecting to be stealthy anyways.

  The combined tribes had set up a make shift camp at the base of the mountains within the jungle. As I thought, they were being loud and restless. I suppose they were expecting to get some sort of signal any moment, alerting them to my supposed death so that they could all march into the city and take control.

  Hovering above, I saw about twenty of each tribe, with an even enough mix of men and women. thankfully their were none that looked like children. I didn't think my resolve would hold out if I had to cut down innocent children. As it was, I felt noting in particular toward these ogres. Not even the burning rage that Varda had inspired within me. There was anger, and determination, but mostly I just did not care about these people at all.

  They were not my people. No, worse than that: they were against my people. Enemies. A sickness in my small section of this world. I had to root it out.

  As I noted the positions of as many of the milling ogres as I could, I vaguely noted that the tribe Kefta had called the Frast seemed to have an aquamarine toned skin color, many of them having dark brown hair cut short, while the Ghena tribe seemed to favor the same braids their leader had been wearing.

  All of them were milling around flickering camp fires, most examining weapons or laughing amongst one another. They really thought this was a picknick didn't they. Just a jaunt into a city in the dead of night, and some fantastic fun slaughtering all they could find.

  A cold drizzle started to fall as I descended closer to the ogres, the once clear sky now heavy with dark clouds. Normally that may have helped to hide a person flying in, but I had bright silver hair and glowing lavender eyes. Even in the dark I was conspicuous.

  "What is that?" I heard a man ask, and saw that the ogres had begun to look up, not really concerned about the rain at all it seemed. I wasn't concerned either, after all, it matched my mood nicely. Perhaps that was why it was raining, now that I thought about it. After all, I was the land god, and my whims could affect just about everything the closer I came to unlocking my full potential.

  Soon there was a lot of shouting, pointing, and the brandishing of weapons. How pointless. Narrowing my eyes, I decided that if it worked on Varda, then it should work for these nobodies as well. Raising a hand, the blood upon it now watered down and pink from the rain, I watched as panic ensued as the ground erupted with tangling roots.

  Screams, shouts and cursing echoed through the jungle as the ground and trees shook. I flew closer to the ground, eyeing my captives as the roots slowly wrapped them from the feet up. Many had been contorted into odd positions, making the lot look like some kind of strange, wooden, statue-art piece.

  Once I was sure the masses were well and truly stuck fast, I landed on the freshly turned earth, apathetically examining my handy work. Since I could fly, giving me the valuable moments I needed to collect the energy for this magic, I knew that I wouldn't have any trouble taking out a few dozen people. But, I hadn't thought It would be this easy...

  "Who are you?!" A male snapped to my left. Apparently I hadn't wrapped them as efficiently as I had Varda. I guess I needed more practice. "How dare you assault the-"

  With a flash of steel the man's head went flying. I felt slightly squeamish on how efficient I was getting at that. Never mind being called the 'fox princess', if I kept this up, the monsters would be referring to me as 'the decapitator'. Not nearly as pleasant a name, even if it did sound a great deal more intimidating.

  I eyed the rest of the colorful ogres with disinterest. "Decapitating you all will take to long." I told them out of spite. I wanted to destroy them with vigor, even if it meant that I looked back on it with regret later. My rage may not be burning right then, but it was simmering, ready to flare at a moments notice. "I am a busy woman, and so I need to deal with you all in a timely manner."

  "Why- who are you?" Panted another ogre, this one a blue Ghena. She was tied up next to the now headless man, eyes wide, and shivering in fear.

  I tilted my head to the side. I didn't need to answer her; she was about to be dead, after all. But, why not? "I am Enna, your god. I hear that you are here to kill me and my people."

  Her skin was already a pale hue, but she immediately turned ghost white, her braids damp with the rain that was starting to pick up. I heard many of the other ogres let out muffled shouts, and few unmuffled ones too. At least I properly contained most of them.

  "Silence." I hissed in a deadly tone, voice barely audible over the rain, but some how carrying round the camp all the same. "I see no reason for your protests. You thought to assassinate a god; what did you expect? Hmmm, why am I even explaining anything to you, actually?"

  Killing them all, one at a time, would be tedious, and I had told Lagdon and Kishi that I'd be back swiftly. I remembered Mittens- or, rather the Specter- and his preferred method to dispatch people. He had been an jerk, but I couldn't deny his efficiency.

  Extending my free hand, I focused on the life force of the monster's around me. It was clear that the ogres were a powerful race, their souls lighting up in my senses like torches. All that power, wasted on these cruel beasts. I could use this power on better things...

  Tapping into my connection with my cantankerous cat, I used the very power I had once condemned him for. It was hypocritical, even if I reasoned that I was using it on people who were planning on killing me and the ones I loved first. But, I had already resolved to do this, the manner I did it hardly mattered in the end.

  From around my body, a mist began to form, not caring one bit about the rain that was now falling quite heavily. The specter had used a fog to confuse and weaken, but this would be used to extract the energies from the ogres. I saw the eyes of the near by ogres bug out, several of them shouting even louder, panic evident.

  Whatever. I turned on my heel, parting the fog in my wake, and left the ogres growling and roaring behind me. As I crouched, spreading my new wings, I felt the first of the ogres die, the energy in their bodies zooming back to me, their lives snuffed out without being able to even complain. They didn't deserve any better.

  Launching into the cloudy night sky, rain pouring down around me, and the cries of confused and dying ogres below, I had to struggle with my emotions once again. Disgust, heart ache, and anger fought for supremacy within me. Biting my lip hard enough to draw blood, I pushed it all down forcefully. I wasn't done yet, and needed to keep my calm composure.

  The trip back to Sky Keeper was as fast as the trip out of it had been, even with the added rain to the mix. All the while I felt burst after burst of added energy as each of the ogres vanished into the void, even their souls vanishing without a trace. It may not have been the scariest and most painful of deaths, but I could think of no greater punishment then to erase even their souls off the map. My lands didn't need their corrupted hearts back into the reincarnation mix.

  Everything was just as I had left it. I mean exactly, as I had left it. Clearly my threat had stood, and not a single person had moved from their spots. Even Astrid and Gwen were still on the ground, heads lowered with Lagdon near by, glaring at the hyperventilating Varda.

  "Welcome back Mistress." Stated Kishi, still guarding the fallen.

  "I take it your flight went well?" Asked Lagdon, eyes roaming over my body, looking for wounds and , perhaps, noting that there was no additional blood on me. Though, even if there had been, the rain would have washed it all off. It was falling quite heavily now.

  "Lets just say that the local ogre populace as fallen drastically." I said, my voice deep and angry. Just being near Varda again had my low simmering rage start to flare up once again. "At least the Drallda, Frast and Ghena tribes are probably without every able bodied man and woman amongst them."

  I heard several people start to whisper hurriedly amongst one another, perhaps thinking, now that I had returned, they could at least move a little. That was fine, the others hadn't done anything to me or mine. Let them whisper away. Honestly, I was tired and it was getting harder and harder to pretend that rage was the only emotion living within me at the moment.

  "Astrid?" I said, allowing Varda to shake and growl in fear for a little longer.

  "Yes, Lady Enna?" Breathed the red ogress as I approached her, standing directly over her kneeling form.

  "What would be left of the three tribes, now that I have erased about two dozen of each of them?"

  "The Drallda were a large tribe, and might have at least as many able bodied people remaining... But the Frast and Ghena are small." She said, her voice steady but strained. "If that many were eliminated, then it is likely that all that is left of them are the very young and the very old..."

  "I see."

  I could tell that she was holding her breath, Gwen risking looking up at me briefly with wide eyes before immediately looking back at the earth. They feared that my next move would be to ask where their tribes were located; feared that I was planning on wiping their entire clans off the map. A small part of me wanted that. Wanted to remove the threat completely, so that this may never happen again. Make it so that no monster would dare defy me so open and brazenly again... But I knew that it would be something I would regret for a long time.

  Was it a risk, leaving even the slightest trace of them alive? Yes, it was. Monsters were all about revenge, after all. But I didn't think I could stomach slaughtering children, no matter how I tried to justify it. Even if they grew up to avenge the families I had just ended, I couldn't do it.

  I looked down on this proud Ogress. I had to admit that it didn't make me feel good, making such a strong woman crumble beneath me. It was not the person I wanted to be, but it was the one they all seemed determined to make me.

  I sighed, breath billowing in the cold rainy night. "We don't see eye to eye on many things, do we Astrid?" I asked, a wariness coming over me.

  "No, my Lady..." She said softly, but honestly.

  "Mother!" Gwen hissed, quietly, before looking up at me in a panic and then directing her gaze back down once again.

  I smiled sadly. "I think that's alright..." I sighed, the chill seeping in to my pale skin.

  Clearly surprised, Astrid finally looked up, red hair plastered to her skin, water cascading down her face.

  I nodded. "Having different opinions are fine... you know? Just because you don't like my way, that doesn't mean that I should end your life for it. So long as the peace is kept, and the things I care about are safe, I really do not mind differing opinions."

  "I- I think I understand, Lady Enna..."

  "Good. I have decided to put my trust in you, Astrid of the Morell. As thin and frayed as that string may be right now, I have decided to at least give it one last attempt. As of right now, you are the defacto leader of the disgraced tribes. See that appropriate leaders are put in place within them. And if one can not be found, I want you to bring the entire tribe to my estate. I will find some use for them to justify their continued consumption of my powers and efforts."

  "I will do as you ask." She said, without complaint, even though I knew that it was an order that went against her beliefs toward how the tribe's inner workings should be. Given I had, essentially, vanished three whole tribes in less than an hour, she really didn't have much of a choice.

  "Good." I moved my eyes from the ogres and looked into the crowd beyond. "I don't suppose anyone else has any opinions they would like to share at this time?"

  Probably to no one's surprise, not a single monster stepped forward with an issue. Fantastic. That done, I turned to the last problem: Varda.

  "Now for you." I said, hearing the venom in my own voice. To her credit, Varda glared back. Apparently, even at the end, she would continue to be a venomous troll. At least she was consistent, I supposed.

  I wasn't sure what to do about Varda, to be honest. A simple death seemed too little, while destroying her the same as the ogre army also seemed not nearly unpleasant enough. It would get rid of her foul soul for good, but she wouldn't have paid for her actions at all... I could turn her into an animal as I had Mittens, but the very thought of having her hanging around me every day, while I could never see Draxly again, turned my stomach.

  I glared at the restrained woman and thought hard. Making up my mind, I extended a hand toward the woman. Instantly her rage turned to panic, proving it had all been bravado on her part. She struggled against her wooden binds, muffled curses heard beyond her muzzle. Not that I cared overly much.

  I set my hand on her bald head and applied my magic and will. When I lifted my hand her body went limp and a small ball of light was pulled out of her. I brought what was the ogress' soul closer to my face and glared. "Death is too good for you, and destruction too swift. I think I will keep you in suspense for now. I'm sure I will find an appropriate use for your disgusting soul at some point, even if keeping you near myself sickens me."

  After that, the soul seemed to vanish, evaporating into the rain and silence. I had sent her to my mind-scape, where she would be imprisoned till I found some use for her corrupt soul. I didn't like having her there, but at least she couldn't talk to me the same as if I had repurposed her soul into a cat as I had Mittens.

  I stared blankly at the limp body of Varda, feeling empty. What now?

  Perhaps sensing it was safe again, or just because she didn't care if it was safe or not, Brixie broke free of the surrounding, frozen, crowd and hurried toward me. I suddenly found myself covered in a warm shawl, noting that in my lack of emotion my wings had almost wilted, now looking like some kind of forest fairy cape rather than a questionable set of wings.

  "What is everyone waiting for?!" She snapped, using her 'mom' voice. "Astrid, I assume there is some sort of mess needing your attention. Yevette, please have everyone disperse. And Margund-"

  "I will go check on the Lady's other people." The goblin king interrupted, offering me a deep bow before vanishing himself.

  "Lagdon, Kishi... Take Enna to my room. We need to be sure the ogres haven't done anything to hers. I will take care of Dr- Draxly and the others." Her voice broke slightly, reminding me that she had likely know the foxie since he was a child, being a few years older than him.

  Finally, the pain broke through and I could feel myself starting to break. I bit my lip again, desperate to hold it in, just a bit longer.

  "Come Mistress." Kishi spoke gently, while Lagdon assisted me onto her back. I didn't resist overly much, and let the pair lead me away. Even though I had the largest urge to sleep- despite no longer requiring it- I, instead extended my senses, desperate to check on my people. I was sure that Margund was more than capable, but this was faster for my peace of mind.

  Doing this, I discovered that the ogres managed to kill ten of my, and the other leaders, combined peoples. Luckily Brazix and Brillum seemed healthy, meaning Luxana had gotten to them in time. She was still with them, according to my odd awareness of my people, while the rest were now scattering over Sky Keeper.

  With a heavy heart, I leaned forward and buried myself in Kishi's wet, but warm, fur. I simply let them take me away, not caring that it probably diminished the tough persona I had been trying to portray earlier. I just did not have it in me to care right then.