Cross Conviction

Coalescence (13-1)

"Alright, guys," Gustavo quietly spoke to the frogs in his palm, "remember not to panic. Freeze up if they get too close and, if you have to jump, jump as far as you can."

The three smooth, bright orange amphibians began to bob their heads in understanding rapidly as the wet black pearls of their eyes remained unblinking. Though uneasy at the notion of risking his minute companions' safety, Gustavo nevertheless placed his confidence in the tiny animals. With a final nod, he held his open hand above the ground and allowed the frogs to hop off. Immediately, the diminutive vibrations caught the attention of the mud men, whose heads all snapped toward the group.

"T-they're looking directly at us..." Magnolia stuttered nervously.

His brow furrowed with resolve, Gustavo replied, "Let them scramble."

With surprising speed, the frogs broke away from each other and rushed across the room and into the open. Agitated by the patter of twelve tiny feet across the hard tile floor, the bud creatures immediately flew into a frantic rage. They lunged in all directions, howling as they swiped at the air. Occasionally, a few would stop to stamp on the ground near a frog. When that happened, the frog would leap as far as it could, throwing the mud creatures into a rampage once more.

As his plan came to fruition before his eyes, Gustavo closed his eyes in satisfaction. "Idiotic things..." he said under his breath as he ran his right middle and index fingers along the visor of his cap.

"Ha!" Max exclaimed as he replaced his previously jettisoned claw, "It's actually working!"

"Okay, everyone!" Gustavo hollered, "Take them down!"

Altogether, Max, Emmy, Eduard, and Gustavo dove into action. Easily the fastest of the group, Max stomped by one of the small frogs and made first contact. Vaulting into the air, he spun around and cleaved the head clean off one of the mud creatures, just as before. Another to his right panicked and lashed out, but Max handily avoided the retaliation and cross-raked his claws through its chest in an "X" before quickly following up with a powerful kick. With its internal supports compromised by the serrated teeth of Max's claws, the powerful blow was enough to break the creature in half.

Though a third mud man initially moved toward the boy with intent, it became distracted when the frog near its foot moved once more. Mud dripping from its gaping mouth, the creature loomed over the tiny animal. However, before it could take action, Max's foot collided with its upper back from above, crushing its full form against the ground and shattering its wooden spine.

Standing in a pile of bubbling mud, Max raised a claw to the air in triumph. "Ha ha! How's that, ya scumbags?"

Across the room, Emmy was occupied with battling two creatures at once. She narrowly ducked under one attempted strike and dashed past the beast responsible. Then, sliding around behind the second mud man, she gripped its spongey arm with both hands. As soon as her fingers made contact with the lanky appendage, its silty skin began to harden. Within seconds the arm was entirely petrified and glazed in frost. Mustering every ounce of strength in her small body, Emmy snapped the frozen limb away from its shoulder. Continuing one fluid motion, she spun around and slammed the hard makeshift club into the first monster's neck, sending its head splattering halfway up the foyer staircase.

As the decapitated body dropped to its knees, Emmy turned her focus back to the other, now one-armed, creature. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and plunged both hands into its mire-like chest. The monster howled in response, wrapped its lanky arm tightly around her, and began to squeeze. However, before it could do any harm, the beast swiftly froze over. Its cries were reduced to a quiet hiss as the sludge comprising its body was racked by ice crystals. Finally, all at once, the creature shattered around Emmy and fell at her feet as a mound of icy shards.