The sky hung heavy and gray, dark clouds massing ominously along the distant horizon. A biting wind whispered through the trees as Jim stood atop the lookout tower at Fort Bogart, with Maddock, Chiron, and Slater beside him. The tower was one of several elevated observation posts strategically positioned around the perimeter of the base.

  "Sir, you need to see this," Slater said, tension threading through his voice. He extended the binoculars to Maddock.

  Maddock brought them to his eyes. "What am I looking at?"

  "Over there, up high," Slater said, gesturing toward the far edge of the horizon.

  Maddock’s brow furrowed. "Looks like a volcanic eruption—or something damn close to it."

  "That's what I thought too, sir," Slater confirmed, jaw tight. "But there's more. Look closer, near the base."

  Maddock lowered the angle of the binoculars, scanning the terrain below the distant plume.

  "I'm seeing movement down there, but I can't make out any details. Can we get the spotting scope up here?" Maddock ordered.

  "On it, sir," Slater replied, pivoting toward Jim, who stood alert a few paces away. He leaned in, urgently delivering a set of hushed instructions.

  "Got it, Cap," Jim said, then took off down the steps at a run.

  He returned swiftly, lugging a heavy spotting scope, which he’d already mounted on a sturdy tripod. Moving briskly, he angled it toward the distant volcano, and Maddock stepped into position beside him to peer through the eyepiece.

  “There's movement down there,” Maddock said, squinting. “People scrambling—panicking. The village is trapped between the ocean and the volcano.” He grabbed the scope’s knobs with both hands and twisted them. “Wait—there's a path through a ravine leading toward another mountain. I can see some of them heading that way.”

  "Should we investigate this?" Chiron asked carefully.

  Maddock pulled back from the scope to face the centaur, expression measured. "Diverting resources to save a Pompeii from Vesuvius? I understand the impulse, but that's not part of our mission."

  Chiron hesitated, clearly weighing his next words. "You're right, Colonel. But those are innocent people out there—could be hundreds about to get buried alive. And who knows? We might find a Mythos or stumble across something useful."

  Maddock exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting back toward the darkening horizon.

  "We could at least ask around," Slater pressed. "See if anyone's willing to volunteer."

  The Colonel held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed. "All right, you two. You've convinced me. But I'm only authorizing four Black Hawks and volunteers only. No one gets ordered into this. We've come too far to risk losing people to a damn volcano." He turned to Chiron. "I'd like you to lead this operation. If we're going to work together, it may as well start now."

  Chiron bowed his head. "Yes, Colonel. It will be my honor."

  Maddock turned to Captain Slater. "As for you, see if you can get us some volunteers."

  Slater saluted. "Yes, sir." He turned to Jim. "You got all that? Can you relay it to everyone in the hangar? I'll go check with the other companies."

  "Sure thing, Captain. You can count on me," Jim replied, already heading for the steps.

  Inside the main hangar, Jim’s group was busy doing various activities when he ran in. Euryale was lounging in Maddie’s coils, the two of them chatting away. Veronica and Phineus were methodically loading their magazines and checking their weapons at a nearby bench, the sharp click of metal against metal echoing through the hangar.

  Jim waved his arm for attention as he jogged. "Hey everyone—something big just came up."

  "What’s up?" Veronica asked as she slammed a magazine into her rifle.

  "There's a village about to be destroyed by a volcano, and they're looking for volunteers to help check it out. You guys want to help?" Jim asked, scanning their faces. Hopefully, enough people volunteer to make a sizable force.

  "Where is it?" Veronica pressed, leaning forward.

  "Across the sea, about fifty miles out," Jim replied.

  Maddie spun her upper body around. "What’s the size of the village?" Her voice remained calm, but her face betrayed concern.

  Jim scratched his head. “It’s a small village—maybe a few hundred people, tops. But with the volcano coming down on them, they don’t have much of a chance.”

  “I’m going. I want to help,” Maddie said as she straightened up.

  “If sister goes, I will go as well,” Euryale added, following her sibling. Her foot caught on Maddie’s tail and she stumbled forward.

  Veronica jumped in and caught her before she hit the ground. "Someone's got to watch your back," she said with a grin. “Count me in, too. I’m not letting you two have all the fun.”

  Phineus pointed at Euryale, a grin curling at his lips. “You sure she’s up for this?”

  “She can fly, and that certainly counts for something,” Maddie added matter-of-factly.

  “Better than she can stand?” Phineus asked, amusement evident on his face.

  Maddie and Euryale scowled at the remark.

  “Yes, and she can fly with us,” Everyone turned to see Terry mounted atop a fully armored griffin, Vik, who strode in with his distinct sound of claws clicking against the hangar floor.

  "I have been informed of a rescue operation to aid villagers," Vik announced, his keen eye sweeping over the assembled group. "Terry and I offer our help, should you deem us worthy of joining your ranks."

  Jim nodded. This is starting to look like a decent force.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Phineus announced, “Then I’m coming too.”

  Veronica raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a knowing smile. “You? Volunteering for disaster relief?”

  He scoffed, “Does it surprise you I like to help people?”

  “Just didn’t expect it, is all,” Veronica replied, her gaze lingering on the towering man for a moment longer than necessary.

  Jim took a deep breath and surveyed the assembled group. "Sounds great! All right, everyone—grab your gear and meet me at the staging area on the far side of the hangar."

  The team wasted no time in making preparations. Within minutes, they assembled in an open section of a hangar where soldiers from several other platoons were already congregating. The air hummed with anticipation, alive with the shuffle of boots and the metallic clink of ?military gear.

  At the front of the makeshift group stood Chiron, his imposing centaur frame commanding instant attention as his gaze swept across the crowd.

  "Hello, everyone. Thank you all for volunteering," he said, his voice carrying an unmistakable authority. "We've just received word that a nearby volcano has erupted. While it poses no direct threat to our base, it sits dangerously close to a small coastal village. Major Chang estimates that at the eruption's current rate, lava and pyroclastic flows will reach the village within hours. That doesn't leave us much time."

  Phineus raised his hand. "Where are we taking the villagers—back here?"

  Chiron shook his head. "No. Our orders are to evacuate them to Argos, where we hope they will be granted refuge and temporary shelter."

  "How many people are we talking about?" Terry called out.

  "For a village of this size, we're estimating around a hundred souls."

  Nervous murmurs spread through the group.

  Veronica asked, “How many helicopters are we sending?”

  “Just four. Colonel Maddock isn’t allocating more for this mission.”

  The murmuring intensified, worry about the danger clearly visible throughout the group. People shifted uncomfortably, exchanging uncertain glances.

  “A hundred people? Black Hawks can only hold about twenty,” one soldier muttered.

  “More like thirty—if they’re friendly,” Jim replied.

  “And I thought airline seating sucked,” Veronica joked. A few chuckles rippled through the crowd, easing the tension.

  A voice from the back cut through the noise. “Chiron, you coming with us?”

  “No,” Chiron replied. “I’m needed here. But I’ll be with you on the radio in case anything goes wrong.”

  If Chiron’s not going, that probably means I’m taking point. Vik shifted uneasily, arching his head. “Wait—are we expecting trouble?”

  “Not exactly. But I want you to be prepared.” Chiron said, turning to the griffin. “The area near the ravine is probably inhabited by harpies.”

  “Harpies?” Veronica scoffed with disbelief.

  Chiron’s expression darkened as he pondered the upcoming threat. “Indeed. Harpies are vicious creatures—half-woman, half-bird, with fangs like daggers and talons sharp enough to rend flesh from bone. Most are human-sized, though some grow considerably larger. They carry off the unwary, and once taken, none return.”

  He turned toward Jim with a knowing look. “And don’t even think about trying to recruit one. They’re not of sound mind.”

  Jim smirked, but said nothing. Damn, Chiron read his mind…

  “Oh, fantastic,” Veronica muttered, shaking her head. “How’d I know there’d be more nightmare creatures lurking out there?”

  Dismal whispers rippled through the crowd again. Soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, the tension mounting. With an additional layer of danger added on top of the threat of volcanic eruption, the daunting mission seemed to shake ?their morale. Chiron raised a hand, silencing the turbulent conversation. “Harpies rarely attack villages. We don’t expect trouble—but stay alert and be prepared for anything.”

  The soldiers’ silence lingered, all processing the information, their expressions churning through a mix of resolve and concern as they digested what was to come.

  Chiron’s dauntless command cut through the stillness. “Everyone ready to move out?”

  “Yes, Chiron!” a soldier affirmed.

  “All right then—mount up!” Chiron ordered, steadfastness unshaken. “And may the gods’ blessings go with you.”

  “Hoo-ah!” the soldiers shouted back in unison, their voices charged with courage.

  Without hesitation, they sprang into motion, flooding into the waiting helicopters. The dim morning light cast long shadows across the hangar floor as the rotors began to spin, their deep hum swelling in the air. It was time to move.

  The four helicopters surged forward, rotors slicing through the ashen sky. Vik soared alongside them, his powerful wings beating in sync with the vehicle’s rhythmic thrum. On his back, Terry gripped her Benelli shotgun as she scanned the horizon.

  Maddie, seated near the open door of one of the Black Hawks, couldn’t help but watch in awe. Despite the helicopter’s speed, Vik kept pace effortlessly, his stamina far exceeding her expectations.

  Below, the coastline came into view, revealing a small village nestled along a rocky shore. No more than twenty sun-bleached brick homes stood in scattered clusters.? Their simple forms were dwarfed by the looming volcano smoldering ominously in the distance. A thick forest bordered the settlement, its trees already coated in a dark layer of ash. Beyond the treeline, a pathway snaked through a deep ravine, tracing the river’s winding course before vanishing into the mountains.

  The air was heavy with smoke—thick and acrid. The sharp odor? of sulfur stung her nostrils. Ash drifted in a steady drizzle, blanketing the rooftops in a fine, ghostly dust. Overhead, a dense column of black smoke spiraled skyward—a grim sign that the eruption was nearing its peak.

  The helicopters descended, circling the village. The sight below sent a ripple of unease through Maddie. Dozens of people huddled together, faces etched with fear and confusion. Some clutched small bundles of belongings. Others simply stared up at the aircraft, frozen in uncertainty.

  Maddie’s gaze shifted to the ravine—the only viable escape route—but no one was moving toward it.

  She frowned. Must be the harpies.

  The helicopters touched down, their rotors whipping up clouds of ash and dust as the soldiers poured out. Jim wasted no time hopping out of the side, immediately coordinating with the other platoon leader. The mission was clear: gather as many villagers as possible and load them into the helicopters. All but one, he clarified—that last chopper was reserved for the soldiers.

  The soldiers quickly spread out, ushering villagers toward the waiting aircraft. They moved in a desperate race, squeezing people into the helicopters as tightly as possible. The first Black Hawk went beyond capacity at twenty-nine passengers before lifting off, engines roaring as it banked toward Argos.

  As they worked, a few villagers approached Jim’s team, speaking in hurried voices. Through their broken words, Jim gathered that more people were still lost in the forest. Maddie insisted Jim help find the villagers. Immediately upon hearing this, he signaled his squad to follow and help find them.

  Terry, perched on Vik’s back, spotted something in the forest. A small group—five figures, possibly a family—emerged from the tree line, cautiously making their way toward the village. They were armed with crude weapons—spears, clubs, it looked like they had gathered up whatever they could find. They must have faced danger along the way.

  She called out to them, waving an arm. The family exchanged nervous glances, then waved back and quickened their pace toward the waiting soldiers.

  Before they could reach safety, a sudden shadow streaked across the sky.

  Out of nowhere, a monstrous bird-like creature swooped down, massive wings slicing through the smoky air. Dark, matted feathers cloaked its body, but its face… Its face was that of a woman, framed by long, tangled black hair. Wicked talons jutted from the crooks of its wings, and its scaled legs extended forward in a deadly dive. On the ground, villagers froze mid-stride, mouths agape. Some stumbled backward. A few pointed with trembling hands, too terrified to scream.

  There was barely time to react.

  With a chilling shriek, the harpy lashed out, seizing a small boy in its gnarled claws. The child let out a terrified yelp as the creature yanked him into the air, its wings beating furiously as it ascended.

  Panic erupted below. Villagers screamed. Soldiers scrambled for their weapons. Veronica shouldered her rifle and took aim. Jim ripped his pistol out of the holster and pointed.

  Maddie rushed in at the pair, grabbing their arms and pushing their weapons down. “No, don’t! You might hit the boy.”

  Jim and Veronica lowered their weapons.

  Veronica breathed a sigh of frustration. “What do we do, sir? Can’t let that thing haul the kid away.”