"You can go find another city!" I yell, sending another fireball.
However, this time, she decides to use the same magic circle, and my fire rebounds on it, coming back to me. I didn't even realize we had gotten so close, with me pushing constantly for more ground and her unwilling to back off. I see my own fire coming back, and cover my eyes, but the blow throws me back a few steps, and I fall on all fours. Damn it, I think I sprained my wrist...
"You stubborn little one..." she sighs.
This stubborn little one isn't done, far from it. Even down on my knees, I prepare another fireball and send it her way, preventing her from approaching me. From the smell, I suddenly realize a nearby tree may have caught fire. Shit. I get back up, trying not to show that my wrist is injured.
"You should stay down," she warns me.
There's no smile in her eyes anymore, we're done playing. I chuckle.
"You can dream on."
I prepare another magic circle. I'm... tired. I didn't realize before how fast and recklessly I was depleting my magic. I should have shape-shifted earlier. Now it's too late, and my wolf is furious. I wanted to fight as a wolf, but she left me no time to shape-shift, and I'm not even familiar with that yet. I was just so focused on Liam and protecting Silver City... She throws one fireball after another, and I feel my shield painfully taking the hits. It's like a violent shock each time one hits, and she's set on not leaving me any type of rest. She manages her power better than me, and when I try to prepare another fireball, I just end up with one that's no bigger than an egg.
"That's it?" She laughs. "Someone's out of magic?"
I glare at her. She may be laughing, but she can't have that much left either. We've been at it for a very long time, and neither of us are in our best element, either, surrounded by trees and humidity. If it was dry and hot, things may have been different, but for now...
I take a deep breath. I do have one crazy idea, but... I step closer to her, and she tilts her head.
"What? You're going to throw one last?" she chuckles.
I smile. Oh, no, I'm somewhat crazier than that... I suddenly charge, running like crazy her way, and I hit her hard with my magic circle; I see the shock in her eyes as we both fall on the ground. The fall is rough as we roll on the mud and grass down a little hill. Ayesha didn't expect a physical attack, and that was my best shot... I try to get back up as fast as I can, but I'm... not well. I don't know if I hit my head, but I just... I get on all fours, but I don't feel like my body will get up. I hear her chuckle.
"What is it? The little witch has given all she can? You're too young. You should have–"
She suddenly stops, and I hear it too.
The sound of a deep, furious, and threatening growl. Just as Ayesha turns her head, her eyes wide open in panic, something black jumps on her. I hear her scream and for a few seconds, it's a violent scene of fighting in front of me. Furious growls, the sound of bones breaking, and the witch trying to fight the wolves off in despair.
"Mara!"
I turn my head, confused, and Nora runs to me, hugging me out of the blue.
"W-what…?"
"It's alright, it's alright. Are you hurt? Oh, you are... Okay, breathe. Let me do this..."
I don't know what's happening. Nora helps me lie back down on the grass, and all I can hear is the furious fight right next to us. Ayesha screams again, but those have to be the most terrifying growls ever, even for me. However, surprisingly, the wolves suddenly retreat, and as Nora helps me sit up gently, Selena walks onto the scene.
"P-please..." whimpers Ayesha, terrified of her.
Yet, Selena is in her human form, in a denim outfit, and she crouches down to the witch's height. She grabs her coat and her wrist.
"She may be young," she says, "however, she's certainly not alone."
Then, I hear the sound of a bone breaking, but a hand gets in front of my eyes. Ayesha screams again.
"Stop! Stop!"
"This way, you won't try to pull another one of your fucking spells on us. If you heal those wrists back I'll break them again. Are we clear?"
"W-w-who are you…?"
Selena smiles.
"Let's just say you're not our first witch. I understand you need to move your arms and hands or whatever to do any kind of spells, so unless you want us to damage yours some more, you'd better stay down and answer our questions."
