You forgot to close the circle at the tertiary naming position.

Elswyth stared at Cyprus, uncomprehending. "I don't know what you just said, but your face is judging me and I'm nervous now. Why are you doing this?"

Cyprus paused for a moment, then gave up, folding his arms and hiding his hands. Elswyth frowned, but turned around to reexamine the circle. The carefully traced patterns in the soil were rapidly becoming invisible in the lengthening shadows, and a gentle evening breeze rustled through the jungle, rank with the smell of sulfur, ash, and sickly-sweet flowers.

"Could you give me a little light? I can't see the patterns very well in the dark." He signed a quick spell, and his crystal focus began to shine with an orange-red light. "Thanks. Ooh, looks I missed a spot on the circle. That could have been nasty."

Cyprus exhaled through his nose. Elswyth glanced back at him. "Don't give me that face, Rocky. No one made you come here with me while I do the spell. Keep the light going and don't make strange noises. It's distracting."

Actually, Miyu told me to come and make sure you didn't get distracted by a random animal. Again. Do we remember the shark incident?

"You're waving your hands at me again. I'm going to assume you've apologized, and I'd like you to know that I forgive you."

Why must you be this way?

"Aw, that's so sweet! Your hair is pretty, too." Cyprus rolled his eyes, stepping away from the circle. Elswyth stood in the center, examining the lines with satisfaction. "Everything's ready to go. Rocky, you need to either get inside the circle with me, or get some distance. My babies are going to be a little  hungry by the time they arrive, and you don't want to be outside the protection."

He frowned, glancing around the clearing. Then, with a swish of linen, he turned, walking into the shadowed trees. In seconds, he was out of sight. Elswyth watched him go, a little smile tugging at her lips.

"Figures. Little Mister Nobleman doesn't have the stomach for messy, bloodthirsty forces. Even that Pyromancer from Lirima and the Photomancer from Craorag- nice, tidy deaths in the lava. Everything has to be so controlled, so..." She paused, collecting herself. "Stop it, Elswyth. It's bad for your aura when you let him annoy you from far away. Anyways, it's sunset- time to play with the babies."

The sun touched the horizon. Elswyth inhaled deeply- then threw her head back, singing a wild, random string of syllables into the dusky air. Her left heel stomped against the dry dirt, raising a tiny cloud of dust. Still singing the same strange, tuneless melody, she turned, stomping again. Her tattoos  shifted, the symbols swirling in response to the energy slowly growing within the circle.

The stomping and singing quickened, a strange cadence forming with the rhythmic stomping and repeated syllables. Contained power built in the air- she was casting out a subtle but insistent call, the words of a potent Summons. The stomp-punctuated syllables, seemingly random, were an immense incantation targeting three very specific sets of ears. She was spinning now, hands flickering out in arcane signs to supplement the chaotic charm.

The invocation cut off, power still trembling in the air. Three sets of glowing eyes materialized in the shadows. Elswyth raised her head, looking at each in turn.

"Find them, whether they hide in land, sea, or sky," she intoned, her voice filled with the confidence of one who knew she would be obeyed. "Until the sun rises, they are your prey. Let the Trial of the Body begin."

The eyes disappeared, the power discharging with a sensation of terrible, exhausting relief. 

In the darkness, a high whinny sounded. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Requirements

-For the Trial of the Body, Elswyth has summoned and bound three magical creatures to her will- a unicorn, a kelpie, and a pegasus. 

-Until sunrise, these creatures will do their best to kill and eat you. It is worth noting that they all have a fairly significant degree of magical resistance- it will take a great deal of energy to affect them with any spell.

-You must be attacked by at least one of these creatures.

Kills: Two in-entry kills, and one ballot kill. Six tributes will go up for votes this round. Four will be eliminated.

Due Date: Sunday, December 20 at 10 PM EST (I have final exams and can't score entries this week. Enjoy!)