Dance with the Devil

((part Great Dictator, part Martin Luther King))

"The dryads had some," gramps explained. "We don't know how to got them."

"and we don't care." Lotus munched on the marshmallow.

Azzar wanted to say something, but felt that Belial said everything that was needed to be said. Legion's mirror images gave the mages present pens and papers again.

"So, one of my friends accidentally took them to be washed, thinking I had a spare one," Legion explained, preparing the pan and the pancake misture. "They didn't get destroyed, but I had to tell my friend of why I only have one robes."

"oh well may I have one?" Lillith flew around the room and landed on top of azzar"heh well at least now they know"

"Sure." Gramps handed Willow a stick with a marshmallow on it. "I have a good feeling about tomorrow."

Azzar smiled; he knew it was her, but didn't say anything, worried he might blow her cover.

"Yeah," Legion told her as he was making pancakes. "Do you have any funny stories?"

"what makes you say that ?" Willow eat the marshmallow. Lillith moved more. "No"

"Nothing, really. It just helps to have spirit these days, y'know?" Gramps then gave her a heartfelt smile.

"Do you want to be found out?" Azzar asked her.

"I... I understand." What was he thinking? Obviously wendigoes don't do fun things.

"well it's good to know you keep your spirit high" "no...I just like being a lil butterfly". "it's okay. I'm sure the only fun thing that happens to me is when recin visits.hes so weird."

"Nia, the elder dryad, wanted to speak with you,"
 he told her. "Hasn't told me what about, though."

The voting was over and was now being counted. Seconds of impatience turned into minutes of tension.

On the question of whether or not Hell should be shielded by a magical barrier, the majority voted no.

"Does he really mean all the 'hunt rare creatures' thing? I mean, they're called rare for a reason."

"oh? Guess I shouldn't kept them waiting?" Lillith was certainly excited. She tried to stay quiet. "Yeah he actually does hunt them but he's weird. Instead of killing them...He just studies them and then just leaves them be. He even made his own little Wendigo noise so the others don't attack him.

The elder dryad was waiting near her tree. "Willow."

"Now that that's that, we have several suggestions for tournaments to be held," the lightning mage proclaimed. "Each would represent a school and the winner would have the honor of representing."

"I see no problem with that," Belial replied. "But will it 'till first blood or a fight to the death?"

"Participants would agree on one thing or another," the lightning mage explained. "But there are risks, of course."

"Well, knowledge is power, although I'm not sure what exactly would he get by studying them," Legion thought aloud, flipping the pancake. "Does he publish his findings in books?"

"yes that is me!" Lillith decided to fly to the devil and go to his shoulder. "No.. He keeps them for himself. He says if hunters were to get this information, they could easily hunt these creatures down."

Nia offered Willow her hand. "This will speak louder than words."

The devil tried to swipe the butterfly away.

"Weird. I've heard of a couple of people that also study creatures, but they never capture them," Legion said. "Something to do with unnatural habitats making them act unnaturally." He finished the first batch of pancakes, filling them with strawberry jam as well as putting cocoa and whipped cream on top.

He handed her the plate. "All yours."

"huh?" Willow took her hand. Lillith started laughing. "Ha! " Lillith landed on his nose. Wendigo began to eat the pancakes with her mouth and hands. She never did need to use silverware.

Everything became transparent and blue and when Nia walked, Willow's legs were forced to follow.

Brought to some sort of ruins, Willow could see them how they once were all those years ago.

Apparently, it was a village.

She then saw the hunters – humans wielding magic walk into the village and demand that everyone struggle as least as possible, for they do not take prisoners.

The kitsune didn't take this seriously and dared them to try.

Next was slaughter, shown in crisp detail. Every sound of broken bone, every scream, each droplet of crimson. The humans simply shrugged off all magic and when kitsunes tried defending themselves with their claws and teeth, they were beaten.

The devil tried smacking his nose.

"Well, do you like it?" Legion asked. "Own recipe."

Willow couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't want to see this and tried to look away but couldn't. "No...N-no..." Lillith moved out of the way. "Everything in this place tastes sooo good!!!"

Lastly, she saw some kitsune with the same amount of tails as her open up a portal and escape. The bodies of those that weren't so lucky were just left there as a grim reminder.

The hunters did not pursue them and one of them crossed out the village's name from a long, long list.

Nia then brought her back to the camp and let go of her hand. "Such is the past."

The devil smacked himself and growled. "Freakin' bugs!"

"I'm glad you like it," Legion smiled at her.

Willow had no words....She couldn't think of anything that would make her feel better. "Wow big boss I thought you liked me?" Lillith whisped" I like anything you have"

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