Just want to thank everyone for taking the time to check this story out. And to those who have posted reviews, thank you so much for your feedback and encouragement. It's really motivated me to make progress on it. Unfortunately, my Christmas vacation is coming to an end and I must get back to the real world soon. I really hope you enjoy this chapter it was a lot of fun to write. Enjoy!

The vines wrapped their way up Nicks legs and torso. Grabbing his arms and head they wrapped their deadly grip around his muzzle. Before the vines began to squeeze the air from his lungs he took one deep breath and held it. The ram who cast the spell on the vines that covered the rainforest district had a toothy smile. Believing that if the fox couldn't speak, it couldn't use its magic against him.

As the vines began to squeeze his chest, Nick allowed the air in his lungs to exit through his nostrils. All four of the sheep's eyes were bulging wide at the sight before them. Black smoke was trickling from the nose of the fox. In his eyes, they could see a flickering light. It wasn't from the flames of their torches but rather something behind his pupils. As if the source of the light were his eyes themselves.

His tail stood straight out and the fluffy fur began to crackle and spark. Soon it was consumed in flames that worked their way to the base. In a matter of seconds, the entire fox and the vines wrapped around him were a twisting inferno of flames. The flames quickly died down leaving nothing but the burned remains of the vines and an unharmed fox.

Staring back with eyes that flickered with flames, Nick stood straight arms at his sides bent at the elbows with palms up. Each holding a fireball the size of a grapefruit. But these were not what drew the rams gaze but rather the toothy smile on his face. Bearing all his predatory fangs with smoke trickling out from between them.

"That's impossible!"

"You like that?" he asked, his emblazoned tail swishing behind him, casting embers as it traveled. "I call it Fire Fox. Rather fitting, don't you think? But let me show you my favorite. I call this one, Dragon's Breath." The fireballs in his paws disappeared and Nick took another deep breath. The flame on his tail retreating into his body. He brought his fist up to the sides of his muzzle and widened his stance.

Throwing his arms down to his sides and leaning slightly forward, Nick opened his mouth and let out a monstrous scream that was quickly followed by a stream of fire directed at the enemy in front of him.

Seeing the danger approaching the two mage rams dodged the attack and split up. One of the knights barely escaped and the other was too frightened to move and was consumed by the flames. Leaving nothing behind but the charred remains of his armor.

Maybe I should sit this one out? Judy thought to herself as she watched Nick seem to make quick work of the sheep that had attacked him. That was until she saw what happened next.

The two mages were now on either side of Nick and the knight was in front of him and slightly to his right. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged at Nick. Drawing his dagger, Nick readied for the attack. Once in his hands the blade and hilt of the sword grew until it was large enough for him to wield with two hands. The ram brought his blade above his own head and then down onto Nick.

With his own sword, he stopped the attack but was now stuck. The ram was much stronger than he was. He would only be able to match the brute in strength while savage. But that required concentration on his part. Something he wasn't allowed at the moment. The same for his magic. He had to concentrate on what he wanted to do to do it.

"Quick the serum!" the mage on Nick's left called. Nick snuck a glance at the mage to his right. The closest one within his peripheral vision. He had taken a small flask out from under his cloak and was quickly drinking its contents. He then threw it to the ground, clinched his jaw and fell to the all fours. But his attention was interrupted by the breaking of glass.

Seeing Nick quickly engaged by the ram knight, Judy decided to enter the battle at his side. She ran to the back of the room and ran towards the couch. She jumped onto its cushioned seat and used it to accelerate her leap through the window. Using her shield to protect herself from the glass, when she hit the ground she did a single roll to land on her feet with her shield in front of her.

She looked up to get a bearing on Nick and the knight, instead she saw the face of a savage ram. The same red glowing eyes that Judy saw when Nick's savage side took over and forced itself to the front of his mind.

Thanks to her distraction, Nick was able to get the upper paw on the ram trying to crush him under his blade. He shifted his stance and shoved the ram to the right. Allowing Nick enough time to concentrate on setting his blade ablaze with fire. By then the knight had recovered and was swinging his blade at Nick's head. He brought his own blade up to meet the aggressor and as the two met, the ram's sword melted around Nick's.

As he watched his blade disintegrate around the fox's fiery sword, the knight was dumbfounded and couldn't take his eyes off the now, melted metal. This allowed Nick an opening. He stepped in quickly and bashed the knights unprotected head with pommel of the hilt. The ram's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell limp on the ground.

Nick turned his attention to where Judy was fighting off the mage in front of her. A gasp escaped him as for the first time he looked at the glowing savage eyes of another mage. How the… His thoughts were cut off by a painful yelp. Something had embedded itself in his back. He looked over his shoulder to see the end of a black arrow sticking out of his back. Looking up he could see the archer, the other mage, with the same red glowing eyes.

In his hands was a rough looking bow. It was a stick that he had picked up. The string was black with purple flames dancing up and down it. His arrows were other sticks that were picked up as he went, using his magic to bend the material to his desire. Nick glanced at the one sticking out of his back again only to see it turn to ash and melt away. Crap, I'll have to deal with that later. Glancing at Judy to make sure she was holding her own and he turned towards the savage archer.

When the savage mage caught sight of Judy he was still on all fours. Instincts took over and he charged Judy. Ready for such an attack, this time, she leapt into the air at the last second. Flipping upside down and twisting, bringing her sword down to slice off one of his horns. She landed on her feet in time to see the ram rolling on the ground.

The ram stood and grabbed a small tree near him. It snapped from the ground and turned into a spear. That's new. She thought moving in quickly to close the distance. She had to get within the spears reach to take the advantage. But he wouldn't have any of that. He thrust his spear at her several times, keeping her at bay.

Judy easily dodge and blocked his attacks, but his enhanced speed from his savage state was nearly on par with her own. Making it difficult to get past the pointy end of the spear. She feinted left and he finally over committed. Judy swept her shield and knocked his attack wide and swooped in. Thrusting her sword into the ram's chest, piercing his heart. The magic placed on her sword by Nick over powering the magic used on his leather armor.

A gargle came from his mouth as he tried to reach for the bunny. But Judy twisted her blade and yanked it out, causing him to jerk back before falling to the ground. Judy watched as the glowing red left his eyes and they returned to normal. Only to have an empty glassy look as the pupil dilated.

It was the first time she had ever killed someone. The sight of watching her victim die right before her was over whelming and shook her to her core. What have I done? She wondered. But a painful yelp caught her attention. She looked to the source and saw Nick with a sickly black arrow in his back.

She saw the arrow disappear from his back, not understanding what happened. Nick turned back towards the other mage and his tail once again lit up in flames. He dogged another arrow and turned his back to the mage raising his tail high in the air and slamming it to the ground. Causing a wave of flames to go toward the ram.

She watched as the ram brought his bow down and sliced the wave in half only to look up in time to see Nick's blade slice into his throat. The Vulpine had twisted as soon as his tail hit the ground and threw the weapon towards his enemy. The ram fell to its knees as the glow in its eyes left. Nick walked up and yanked the blade from his quarry with a sickening wet suction sound. Using the ram's cloak to clean the blood off, the blade returned to the size of a dagger and he turned to Judy.

Seeing the state, she was in, he walked quickly to her. Looking her over he found no wounds, but she stared blankly forward not flinching. "Judy are you ok?" trying to get a response. All he got was mumbled incoherent words. Recognizing the signs of shock, he gently took her sword and shield and guided her into the house.

After carefully removing her armor, he walked her into his room and laid her on the bed. "Sorry Carrots, but this is for your own good." He placed a finger on her forehead and softly whispered, "somnus pax", placing her into a dreamless sleep to avoid the unwanted nightmares that will haunt her later. An ache in his right shoulder reminding him he had something else important to take care of.

He started walking out of the bedroom when he suddenly felt extremely exhausted. His vision began to blur and the room was spinning. The poison from the black magic that entered his body when he was shot with the arrow, was working its way through him. He tried to get to his bag to find an antidote but collapsed on the floor. Carrots is gonna kill me if this stuff COUGH COUGH! Blood coming from his mouth as he coughed. Pooling around his muzzle as he lay on the ground. The poison taking hold as his world goes dark.