The reason this is so short is cuz ff.net won't let me put asterisks b/w my author notes and the story... grr...

-final dark power...

She gasped and sat up, wide awake. Precursor magic stung her nose. Blue light flashed from below. She clutched her chest- the Oracle's usual presence was gone. Gripping the beam, she turned carefully and looked down. The monster! He was huge! She screamed. He raised his arms, the massive claws nearing as he roared, unseeing eyes black and terrible-

He turned and ran, braids of smoke flowing after him. The hut rumbled and she almost fell. The Oracle sighed and its presence returned, weak from filling the monster with energy.

Carefully, she slid down the Oracle's snout and crept to the door, holding her breath. In the distance the monster was ripping through throngs of screaming people, knocking them into the dirty water. A few of the city guards were shooting it, but the monster kept going.

I hope it goes far away and never comes back.

The Oracle almost laughed. She could feel its amusement curling between her ribs. What's so funny?

Its smirk flitted around her head and then it restrained itself.

She looked around the hut. At least all the candles are still lit. She tapped one foot on the floor.

The Oracle shimmered.

I don't want to go in the water!

The hut creaked a little.

I wasn't the one who used cheap wood to make the stilts!

A tiny circle of pink light cut through the floor. She eyed it. A cake.

Oh, fine.