The redcaps crowded through the doorway, teeth flashing in the dim light. They wore biker jackets and leather pants, and sported crimson bandannas instead of their trademark caps. Snarling and gnashing their teeth, they spotted Grumly at the same time the ogre noticed them, and leaped back as a huge fist pounded the pavement.

Snarls and curses rose in the air. The redcaps danced madly out of the ogres reach, brandishing bronze knives and wooden baseball bats. "What is this?" One of them screeched. "Goat-man promised us young flesh if we followed the stairs. Wheres our meat?"

"There!" snarled another, pointing at the girls with what looked like a tarnished shiv. "In the corner. Dont let the monster get our meat!"

They slid toward the girls, hugging the wall, keeping out of the ogre's grasp. Grumly roared and slashed the ground, raking deep trenches into the cement floor, but the redcaps were small and quick, and he couldn't reach them.

Isiea, without hesitation, kicks the nearest one.

She looked around for something to hit them woth. " Im not your meat! "

One of the redcaps leaped at her at the same time, jaws gaping, springing right for her face. Another one went for Lise's leg.

Isiea slashes it with her knife.

She kicks it in the face.

The redcaps hit the ground and leaped to their feet snarling, one of them bloddied, just as Grumlys fist smashed them both into bloody paste.

Time seemed to slow down. I guess that happens when youre about to die. The redcaps surged forward, shark teeth grinning and clacking, Grumly bellowed at the end of his chain, and Shard leaned against the door frame and laughed.

A huge black bird flapped through the open door.


The redcaps leaped. The bird dove, sinking its talons into a redcaps face, shrieking and flapping its wings. Startled and confused, the redcaps hesitated as the bird thrashed about, beating its wings and stabbing at the faery's eyes with its beak. The pack hooted and slugged at it with their bats, but the bird darted up at the last second, and the redcap howled as the weapons slammed into him instead.

In the confusion, the bird exploded, changing shape in midair. A body dropped between the girls and the redcaps, shedding black feathers and giving them a familiar grin. "Hi, princesses. Sorry Im late. Traffic was a ******."

" you're a bird. Traffic should not be a problem. "

Isiea rolls her eyes, and stabs another redcap. "I think I preferred you as a non-talking bird."

"Hmm...not hearing any 'thank you's." Then shot a glance at the Winter sidhe, standing in the doorway. "Hey, Shard." He waved. "Nice place youve got here. Ill have to remember it, so I can give it the special 'Puck touch.'"

"It's an honor to have you, Robin Goodfellow," Shard answered, grinning evilly. "If the redcaps leave your head intact, I'll mount it over the bar so everyone can see it when they come in. Kill him!"

Snarling, the redcaps leaped, teeth flashing like piranhas swarming a drowning bird. Puck pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it. It exploded into a thick log, and the redcaps clamped their jaws around the wood, teeth sinking into the bark. With muffled yelps, they clattered to the floor.

"Fetch," Puck called.

Shrieking with rage, the redcaps splintered the log, shredding it like buzz saws. Teeth chattering, they spit wood chips and glared at us murderously. Puck turned to them with an apologetic look. "Excuse me a moment. I have to go play with the puppies."