Good Ogre by Platte F. Clark

talking about the Maelshadow?” Sarah asked, ignoring Dirk. “Is the Maelshadow a girl?”
    â€œThat would be kind of ironic, you know, because it’s called the male shadow,” Glenn added.
    â€œI don’t think knowing if the Maelshadow is a boy or a girl is important right now,” Puff replied.
    â€œIt is if it wants to hold your hand,” Dirk replied. “Just saying—it could happen.”
    â€œThe Lord of Shadowssss does not want to hold your hand!” the howler screamed, losing patience. Then it suddenly lifted its nose and sniffed at the air. “Ssshe draws near! One for me and one for her! Better half than none at all!” The howler shoved Megan forward, causing her to stumble over her long white robe and fall to the ground. Then it whirled, throwing Sydney under its arm as it ran toward a small outcropping of rocks across the field. It used its free hand like a third leg as it flew toward its objective, and Max’s heart sank—it was running far too fast for any of them to catch.
    â€œSydney!” Megan cried out. She turned to the others: “Help her!”
    â€œWait!” Wayne exclaimed. His voice thundered from his massive chest as he raised his hand and pointed at a black beast in the distance. It had crested a nearby hill and was looking down at them. Shaped like a horse, it was bigger and more terrifying than any horse imaginable. Flames rose from its hooves, the same crimson color as its eyes, and as it stepped forward they could make out a single, misshapen horn erupting from its head.
    â€œImpossible,” Dwight said as he stared at the beast.
    â€œWhat is that?” Sarah asked. “Some kind of unicorn?”
    â€œPrincess . . . ?” Dirk began, holding his hand over his eyes. “Is that you, baby?” He had remained convinced that Princess was his girlfriend, even if she wouldn’t admit it.
    â€œIf she was caught in the storm . . . ,” Max began.
    Wayne continued, his words measured. “That creature is a nightmare. It is born of the Shadrus and endowed with terrible power.”
    â€œIt’s more than that,” Puff added. “It’s also a unicorn. And that means it’s much, much worse.”
    And then Dirk saw it: a single patch of pink within the layers of the coal-black mane. “It’s her! It’s Princess! What’s happened?”
    â€œShe’s changed, like everything else caught in the Cataclysm,” Dwight said coolly.
    â€œWhat about Sydney?” Melvin exclaimed, retrieving his bow. “We can’t worry about some unicorn thing now; we have to go after her!”
    Then the nightmare reared, fire dripping from its hooves and setting the surrounding grass aflame. “Time to keep an old promise,” the creature bellowed. She sounded just like Princess as the wind rose and carried her voice across the open field. “Time to eat.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    AN OLD FRIEND
    T HE BALL OF FIRE WAS perfectly cast.
    It shot across the field and intersected with the running howler, hitting the creature square on its helmeted head and sending it toppling forward. Sydney flew from the creature’s arm, managing to right herself in midair with a furious fluttering of wings. She quickly gained control and brought herself to a stop, hovering just above the ground.
    The howler screamed in fury, picking itself up and charging the airborne pixie. But now that the thought of flight had occurred to her, Sydney beat her wings even harder, zipping higher into the air. The howler leapt for her, but she was too fast. She giggled, despite herself, watching from above as the frustrated monster jumped over and overagain in an attempt to reach her. Then another perfectly aimed fireball struck the creature on the helmet again, sending the beast flying backward. It ripped the smoldering plastic from its head, looking for its unknown assailant. In the end, the howler decided the odds