"What?" I choked, and then deliberately searched for the weapon. It was a mace that symbolized Pizaca's clan.

"They...they are interfering in our business. Hayden," she said, her voice close to crying, "the fire you started spread horribly. And thanks to Celina's strength combined with yours, the whole territory is melting. And it's also raining. Pruthvi suspects if the water from the Strait is rising up as well. All these clans are fighting among themselves. It's a total disaster."

"Where's Pruthvi? And Celina?" I asked, my skin was soaked but my insides were on fire. The job wasn't supposed to end this way. Panchayat might get a chance to vote against me.

"Pruthvi is doing his best to stop water from flooding and trying to separate the clans from one another," she replied. "Celina...I don't know. I didn't see since these clans got involved. We got separated when the territory flooded."

"We should go," Tyrell suggested, his voice thick and unsteady reminding me of Rahu. "Let's go!"

Hardik was the only one to be absolutely safe. It flew obediently, along with our speed as we rushed out. The rain was sheeting down out of the heavily clouded sky. Soon the sound of thunder rolled in. There were large chunks of snow in the form of burgs floating over the water. Those were our only scope to keep running. We began hopping from one over the other while Leena dealt with the crashing waves.

Something burst up from the surface of the water, creating giant ripples. It leaped up in the air and immediately took a deep dive down. I stopped abruptly and took a moment to look at the absolute madness we had started. The Pizacas were swishing their heavy maces and crushing the beasts with a single blow. They were yelling and howling. The thousand-year-old anguish was being released by the oppressed clan. I looked around jogging along with Tyrell who kept turning his head around. He was probably searching for Celina. Trying mind connection in this mess of war was out of the question. Leena had suddenly disappeared in a multitude of beings crammed up in the territory.

Crack!

We entered the area where the throng of bodies had been burnt, fire lit off and smoke venting up. The snow beneath my feet gave a threatening crack. I looked down and my heart pounded into my throat. The merpeople were swimming swiftly underwater and riding over the waves. They suddenly bolted up with rage, holding a couple of beasts tight in their grip and dived down creating a tremendous splash ripping the beasts apart into pieces.

"There she is," Tyrell said, looking pointedly ahead "Celina, over here!"

A gust of wind blew past us as we got nearer. She was completely drenched as well and seemed confused. Watching us approach, her features relaxed. The wind stopped blowing as she jumped and wrapped Tyrell in a tight hug.

"It's getting out of control!" she screamed, her voice lost in the loudness of the commotion, and then looked at me. "What do we do?"

"Where is Pruthvi?" I shouted.

"I...I don't know. He is lost."

Without hesitation, I stepped back up and lifted my arms straight up. It was raining and freezing cold, yet only a faint concentration was required for it to work. Singh roared high up in the air, fire pouring skyward. I held my arms up and waited to check on Nazira if she had got anything to say, but she remained calm. It took several minutes, my arm began to shake. Tyrell and Celina glanced at each other and I hoped for the other two to receive the signal at once.

"Here!"

Pruthvi thrust a rock at the attacking beast. He and Leena, holding each other's hand, came running through the narrow way amidst the fighting clans. Letting my fire go, I panted bending down holding my knee.

"Twist in the tale!" Pruthvi shouted, his amber eyes glowing.

"Hayden, we got to stop them," Leena cried. Her eyes were droopy. She seemed tired than all of us combined. Dealing continuously with the flood must be wearing her down.

"We can't stop them now," I said, breathing heavily. "They are acting on their personal vendetta. It's after all a thousand-year-old rivalry. They did tell me that they wanted to do this. I just didn't realize they were this serious."

"What do you mean?" Pruthvi asked, "are we going to let this happen? They are ruining a part of the country. Panchayat would be so furious."

Tyrell glowered at him. "Is it time to think about Panchayat? Aren't they a bunch of fools who like to assert a fake authority over us?"

"Fake or not, they still have authority," Pruthvi said. "Our John Hancock's in that document. On top of it, Hayden gave away the word that it shall only be the five of us against the Clan of Almourah and nothing will be affected due to this war."

Tyrell shrugged watching a Matsysvi flying across and down in a half-circle. "Well evidently, the plan was bound to change."

"Maybe we should let these clans settle this war among themselves?" Celina said.

I stood straight, swallowing heavily. "For now we need to figure out a way to end this by completely demolishing the Clan of Almourah only. We cannot go back until and unless we're certain that today the clan's lives' been taken."

"What can we even do?" Tyrell asked.

"Tyrell," I said, bluntly, "Stay away. No offense but in this situation, you'll be the one putting all of us to death."

He shrunk his eyes "Meany!"

"Pruthvi," I said, "Create a most powerful earthquake this world might have ever heard of. Shake the whole Uttarameer if possible. But make sure nothing happens to Clan of Matsyasvi and Pizaca."

Without a word of argument or wasting time asking me why he stepped away from us. There were nicks and cuts around his neck, and the veins over his temples throbbed when he creased his forehead too close, which revealed the depth of his concentration. He jumped inside the water and swam away. Within moments, there was a loud bang. 

Ground shook. Ripples expanded as far as the lighthouse was. The giants in front of us jerked, abruptly stopped smashing the beasts. Water gusted up in a massive wave. Matsyasvi, in bulk, shot up in the air with the sudden quake in the earth. The clans that had meddled far too much in our affair were now alerted.

Pruthvi instantly showed up, drenched and shivering. Tyrell pulled him up. The icy ground beneath us cracked in a smaller cube. Five of us instantly got closer.

"Leena, Celina," I said, "Help me!"

The girls stood in front of me when I sat on my knees and visualized the spots wanting my fire to have an impact on. I took a long breath before Celina and I commanded our stones at once. Fire, as hot as lava, gusted out, and with Celina's help, it doubled the amount of its intensity and traveled with great speed.

My energy was draining away. It was the ultimate test of my endurance. The remaining of the beasts caught up in my fire, and I tried with all my might to keep it under control. It should not hurt the other clans. My fire was melting the snow cubes. The effect caused by Pruthvi's formation was still in existence. The pressure of the water built up to dangerous levels. The battleground was turning demonic, bigger waves started to generate and smashed the lighthouse completely into pieces. The clans were conscious of the tsunami-like wave appearing, threatening them to leave the battlefield. Shrieks and cries erupted in a deafening chorus.

"Oh, man!" Tyrell said, his strained voice made me blink, "Leena, your turn. Do something."

"I am trying!" she cried, having her hand up and concentrating.

"Can you try a little bit faster?"

Leena was somehow struggling and it bothered me. My knees buckled and arms muscles ached. If she failed to direct the massive wave away, then our game was over. We were all going to get swept away with the crashing.

"Do it! Do it!" Pruthvi shouted, his eyes enlarged watching the rising wave coming towards us.

Leena grunted, her face contorted with summoning and channeling the energy from the ground.

"Leena," Tyrell said, now standing carefree staring as though he had never seen her before. There was a sense of realization on his face. "Did you put on weight?"

Leena's mouth dropped. Being aware of her disposition in the matter of her looks, that was something none of us had ever dared to acknowledge. Since Pruthvi broke her heart last year, there was indeed a remarkable change in her personality.

"Dude, you had to say that," Pruthvi reprimanded.

"What...I just...she does look..."

"No!' he yelled, stopping him from commenting further.

The gleam in her eyes told her that she was angry. She suddenly looked huge and dangerous with her skin reddening and glistening. Enraged, she twisted her hands, her hair streaming with the wind. "I am still pretty!" She shouted, and ripples ran rapidly across the water circulating the cube we were settled on. We together jerked aside. Her Formation challenged Pruthvi's. It had the power to change the direction of the wave, now devouring everything on the other side of the territory.

Thousands of Matsyasvi dove towards us in throngs and taking the beasts deep into the water. Pizaca were swimming away with them. Their heaviness shaking the intensity of the water. We shuddered once again.

"Let's get out of here!" Celina shouted, "Before these merpeople take us down with them."

"No!" I said, "We have to make sure that clan's been done."

"Hayden, look at all of us," she appealed. "Look at yourself. We've reached our limit."

"But..."

"Let's get on Hardik and leave," Pruthvi said. He looked above and found it flying mindlessly in the rain and not in a position to listen to his command. "Dammit! Lady Luck must have deserted us."

The iceberg suddenly jerked, storm surging with smaller waves. Leena fell on her knees, holding her stomach and gasping for breath. I looked around. The Matsysavi and the Pizaca were slowly disappearing. But too bad, there was still a large horde of beasts alive that needed to take care of. 

The chilly wind moaned. I blinked heavily, shivering like a leaf. Underneath the glow of sudden brilliance of lightning, I noticed the froth of the jet black smoke spiraling up towards the sky.

"What in the world!" Pruthvi whispered. The blanket of darkness suddenly broke by the spirit of light in the form of five Constellia of different shapes and sizes emerging out of the smoke.

"Master, the bridge," Makara said before we could even believe that they were here. "It's collapsing. You should leave this instant."

My insides rejuvenated with hope. I slowly stood up gaping and grinning at Singh, who took a dangerous step forward taking a good look at me.

"But," Celina asked Vrishabha, "How did you know?"

"Naag," Vrishabha replied. "Per Ashwant Veer's orders, Naag sent us her as your backup. Master, you need to leave this place."

There was frank regard in Celina's eyes. "Vrishabha, we need to talk."

"I know, Master. But for now, you need to leave."

"Ahoy Kanya!" Tyrell exclaimed, "Long time no see."

Bright sparks flew off Kanya's red rose as she placed it against her lips. Her eyes twinkled as Tyrell took a step towards her. "Oh, Master. Hehehe! It's good to see you. Hehehe!"

"Singh," I said, my heart warmed up. "So you didn't follow my orders. I told you to never leave her alone."

"You and I both know that Mylady doesn't need anyone's help," he said, his voice deep and grating, "It was just a matter of time. You should leave immediately. She's waiting."

"So am I," I said. Thankfully none of my friends were paying attention to us. They were busy talking with their own Constellia. Kumbh kneeled down beside Leena and helped her with fresh water of the pot, "And you have a lot to answer for, Singh. But for the moment..."

"You did well, kid," he said, his voice softening, "I thought you were going over the top when you took the decision but you exceeded my expectations. Go home. And leave the rest to me. I'll see this through the end."

"I still have faith in you. I just wanted you to know that."

Singh didn't reply to that and turned around wagging his tail when Makara created a way for them to access. He roared and it was just the beginning of his aggression. The fire attacks amalgamated with the lightning, wind, earth, and water made the whole territory sparkle to life.

I gathered up my friends together. "Tyrell, try opening the Gates. It might not work from this place, but still, try."

He patted the pockets of his jacket and his eyes instantly widened. "Kill me now. I lost my vial."

My heart skipped a beat. His revelation suddenly reminded me of the Pride. I patted the pocket of my jacket and thank heavens, it was still safe with me.

"No!" Leena expressed her disappointment. Celina glared at him, stunned.

"With pleasure," Pruthvi yelled through his gritted teeth and took a step forward to punch him but Leena hedged him.

I checked for Hardik, and it was yet flying beyond our scope of understanding our perplexity.

"Hayden, you do have a plan, don't you?" Tyrell said before the three of them butchered him to death with their stares. "Please tell me you do."

"You bet I do," I said, calmly and full of confidence. It rejoiced them for a couple of seconds before I scared the hell out of them. "Run! Leena, lead us towards the bridge!"

"Thanks for the idea, Captain obvious!" Tyrell grumbled.

Leena took the charge. Having her hand up, she ran and hopped over from one broken cube to another. Water being pushed away to either of our sides and revolved at the same spot, giving us a direction to keep running from the midway. Pruthvi followed her. With every step he took the planes automatically erupted up, making it easier for us to run. No matter how many beasts the Clan of Matsyasvi and Pizaca had jointly killed, there was still an uncountable number of them alive. The only person who had the capacity to kill them in a lot was Tyrell. He ran behind Pruthvi, electricity pouring out his hands and traveling in surges through the water. The bodies kept falling beside us like a hailstorm.

Celina and I were behind him. Matsyasvi were diving in the water that kept rolling eerily. The Pizaca were now less in number, although tons of maces were swimming in the water.

We crossed the forest with the trees of Vrindahina, and then the stream with a lot of difficulties. Damn Hardik, it was flying with us but way above our heads. It took us a while to get through. We were heaving, my stomach growled like never before. But never once we stopped. Our minds were attuned and the idea was to escape from the devastated territory.

Sprinkles of water fell on me. It gave electric shocks, prickling my skin.

"You gotta be careful," Celina said to Tyrell who was running in front of her. "You are generating a million volts of electricity. Just cool it down a little."

"Say what?" He said, "English Celina, English."

"You are an idiot!" she yelled.

Tyrell laughed and reduced the intensity of his Formation.

"There it is!" Pruthvi at once shouted. I peeked from above Celina's head. His hand was pointed out at the bridge that seemed to be fluttering with the quakes as if a hammock in great breeze. We ran as fast as we could, grunting and struggling as we labored to pick up the speed.

The water from the strait was above its normal level. The bridge leading to Almourah's territory had always been broken, disallowing the beasts to get easy access. We needed to get to the other side of the bridge to be absolutely safe. Although this side of it seemed to be on the verge of collapsing as Constellia had mentioned earlier. But that didn't hinder our speed. We ran and ran, one behind the other.

The chilly wind was breaking our skins. Leena's hand must be still up. The waves of the strait diverted from its path causing tremendous ripples. Pruthvi formed a heavy plan that made the way to get to the other side of the bridge.

Tyrell let his lightning go. He quickly took a leap and fell completely down on the ground beside Leena panting heavily. The bridge gave a nasty shake. Celina and I were still to make it. She didn't show a pinch of fright and ran steadily. The bridge inclined, its hinges broke from one side. My heart skipped a beat. We were almost there but the collapse of a portion of the bridge gave me a feel of the challenge with Tula in Parallel Universe. It was terrifying. Almost reaching the edge Celina and I together leaped up high in the air. Pruthvi caught Celina by her hand, giving her the support to cease her momentum. Whereas I landed harshly on my knee beside Tyrell and felt a sickly scratch against my skin.

Breathing heavily I spun around and swallowed bile watching the thousand-year-old bridge breaking and collapsing like a pack of cards. Hardik now flew down towards us, thank you very much.

"I mean," Pruthvi said, with a pang of guilt in his voice, "It's not our fault. This horrendous bridge was already broken and can be rebuilt if necessary, right?"

Leena sniggered shaking her head.

"I pity the Japanese!" Tyrell said, chuckling, pulling Celina closer when she rested her head on his shoulder and taking deep breaths.

"Oh I just realized something," I said, trying to sit up straight, "Japan ain't actually the country prone to disasters. It's actually us."

-x-