The Wrath Of the Forgotten by Michael Ignacio Page B

rend Tov with its claws. Every time one of its razor fingers came toward Tov, he dodged the blow. As the Mogwi tried to attack again, Tov counterattacked and focused on the welts. Any amounts of glee the Mogwi once had faded behind a mask of concern.
    Tov brought the edge of his sword against one particular welt over and over again. With each graze, the skin got redder and more agitated. As the wound got more agitated, the Mogwi attacked with even more furious ferocity. Tov slid his blade against the same welt again. The Mogwi’s side split open, and blood seeped out like a waterfall. As it tried to close up that wound, Tov focused on another welt.
    His lungs heaved at the effort, but Tov kept pushing himself all the harder. Even in its wounded state, the Mogwi could kill him if it landed one good blow. More blood fountains opened up on the Mogwi, and its fur turned crimson .
    The Mogwi fell to its knees and held its hands up. “Okay! I concede. Mercy!”
    Tov stepped in front of the monster and thrust his sword into its right eye. The blade sizzled as eye juice covered its brilliant edge. For a moment, the Mogwi just crouched there, open mouthed. Within seconds, it collapsed on its back.
    The area around Tov grew quiet. The peculiar animal scent still lingered in the air.
    “I know you’re there! Come out and attend me!” Tov said. “I have summoned you for a purpose.”
    He whirled around and stared into the long bushes of grass. Smaller shapes rose from concealment. Thirty smaller Mogwi had gathered in the area. They all watched Tov with grave concern. One of the larger Mogwi crept up to him, but it placed its belly on the ground.
    “W-who are you?” The Mogwi asked. “Why have you summoned us? H-how did you summon us?”
    Tov extended his energy wings and flapped them several times. A collective gasp spread throughout the meadow. He raised his energy sword high.
    “Heed my words, Mogwi. My name isn’t important. I’m simply a herald for the Celestial Ones. They command you to serve them.”
    The Mogwi crouched down and visually cowered.
    “What would your masters have us do?” The larger Mogwi asked.
    “Our Masters,” Tov said. “Our Masters command you to grow as many babies as you can. An army is needed.”
    The Mogwi’s eyes opened wider. “An army?” It looked around at the other Mogwi. “We would have to harvest thousands of humans to do this. We would be noticed. Our kind would be hunted to extinction.”
    Tov pointed his energy blade at the Mogwi’s face. “The Celestial Ones are about to return. By the time you’re finished with this task, the humans will be marching to the brink of extinction. Do this and your kind will be greatly rewarded. Use the closest city as your feeding grounds!”
    The Mogwi gave Tov a weak smirk. “So when should we start?”
    The strange emptiness that Tov experienced before throbbed in his throat again. “Now. You will start today.”
     

     
    “SO LET ME GET this straight,” Apisa asked. “Your mother is the head of the city militia in Onista and your father is an Oni historian?”
    Nori said, “Yep. During the day, my mother would make sure that I received combat training and physical exercise. She didn’t make it a secret that she wanted my brother and me to join the city militia when we became adults. At night, my father would put us to bed with wild and fantastic stories about ancient Onistan heroes and heroines.”
    Apisa’s amusement fell away and she let out a small sigh. “It must have been nice to have grown up with both of your parents in your life. My siblings and I didn’t have that luxury.”
    Nori’s innards tightened as he glanced at her. “I’m really sorry to hear that.”
    Apisa waved him off. “Oh, it’s okay. We got through it just fine. Don’t get me wrong, it was still pretty sad. It does help to remind myself that my parents were good people though.”
    “What were they like?” Nori asked.
    She slumped in her saddle a