"Move!"
Jennifer grabbed Cassie's collar and pulled her aside as a beast's claws struck the rock where she had been standing. A pale, shimmering construct appeared before her palm, and a spear of brilliant golden light shot into its open mouth with blinding speed, sending it tumbling down the slope.
"Stay behind Lois," she told her, pushing him towards the others. Before she could check whether he was hurt, another beast climbed over the rocks above them.
They were on the steep side of an inactive volcano, where dark clouds obscured the summit and cast the region below into shadow. Loose stones covered the narrow paths, and deep cracks split the mountainside, making it difficult to move without watching every step.
Unfortunately, the beasts had no such problem.
