Wren followed the sound until he found its source. Ungi was standing in a corner of the corridor with a quartet of similar sized beings forming a semi-circle around him. They looked to be of the same type of creature as Ungi, only they were larger than him and of a darker, swarthier green.

Scattered at Ungi’s feet was what appeared to be Wren’s breakfast. Food was crushed beneath Ungi and the other creatures’ feet. Other bits of the breakfast were decorating Ungi, as it seemed the other four beings had thought it great fun to toss the food at the cowering imp. Broken shards of plates and teacup were scattered on the black and white tiles. Wren saw blotches of red beneath Ungi’s bare feet and his eyes widened in alarm.

He stepped forward. “What is this?”

Five heads swiveled to look straight at Wren. He almost… almost… took a step back. The other four were far more hideous in appearance than Ungi. Their black eyes followed his every movement. Their mouths were open, revealing a hideous parody of a grin with pointed, shark-like teeth.

Wren swallowed and then squared his shoulders. He tried to look as imposing as possible as he stepped toward the creatures and their cornered prey.

“Leave him alone.” He ordered.

The creatures’ eyes widened and they looked between each other almost as if in disbelief. As they did this, they chattered to each other in a language that sounded little more than gibberish to Wren’s ears. Ungi looked particularly terrified where he stood, back against the wall and shivering as if in terror.

“Now, step away from him this instant.” Wren said. He hoped his voice gave off an edge of authority and he felt his hope rise when the four creatures turned to face him with their pointed ears drooping as if feeling chastised.

The chittering suddenly stopped and four sets of eyes narrowed. That was all the warning Wren got before he was besieged by the little monsters.

The four of them launched themselves at him like a pack of hyenas attempting to take down an antelope. They were barely three feet tall, but they were solidly built and Wren found himself falling backwards, his balance upset by the combined weight of his little attackers. He landed on the tiled floor with an “omph!”

Wren managed to take hold of one before it slammed into his face. Sharp, razor-like teeth gnashed only mere inches from his nose and Wren fought to keep the creature from taking a bite out of him. He wasn’t so fortunate with two of the others. One of them sunk its sharp teeth into his thigh while the other bit into his forearm.

Wren cried out in pain. He kicked out frantically, trying to dislodge the creature on his leg, but the imp held onto him with a single-minded ferocity. Wren’s frantic flailing did succeed in landing a lucky but well-placed kick square in the forth‘ s chest, sending it flying into a wall before it could inflict any damage.

Suddenly, the imp Wren was struggling to stop it from biting into his face was viciously ripped from his hands and sent flying to join its companion. It hit the wall and landed on the floor with a dull thud. There followed a loud clapping sound and all four of the monsters suddenly dispersed, chattering fearfully as they released Wren or picked themselves up off the floor.

Ignoring the pain in his leg and arm, Wren scrambled to sit in an upright position. Looking over his shoulder, he almost suspected to find Ash behind him and was surprised, instead, to be looking up into a pair of yellow eyes.

“What have we here?” Landon said as he cocked his head to the side. He raised one hand and snapped his fingers, causing the little monsters to disperse. They scrambled away nervously, looking very much cowed by the blond man. Only Ungi remained and the little imp hobbled over to Wren. The creature’s bloodied feet left a trail of blood as it made its way over to him. Ungi patted Wren’s shoulder as if in worry over his injuries and Wren took the creature’s hand in his.

Landon curled his upper lip unpleasantly as he stepped over the blood splatters. The blond crouched down next to Wren and Ungi.

“Fighting with knockers…” Landon made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Not the smartest thing you could be doing, little human. They’ve nasty tempers.”

“They’re also nasty bullies.” Wren countered. “They had Ungi cornered when I walked up on them.”

Landon chuckled. “And you thought you’d just step in? Now, that’s a good way to become knocker chow.”

“What the hell!”

Three heads swiveled to see Ash standing at the end of the corridor. Naia stood beside the redhead with an empty laundry basket propped on her hip and a horrified expression on her face.

Ash, well… he just looked pissed.

Amber eyes surveyed the blood on the tiled floor and Wren’s injuries, then those amber eyes landed on Landon. The blond must have read what Ash was thinking because he stood upright and held both hands up placatingly.

“This wasn’t my doing, Ash.”

The redhead didn’t look convinced, so Wren intervened before anymore bloodletting could take place.

“He’s telling the truth. I walked up on four knockers bullying Ungi and decided to stop it.” Wren laughed, but it was a self-deprecating sort of laugh. “It didn’t turn out so well, as you can see. Landon… he actually saved us.”

Ash looked to Landon and then back to Wren. He stepped forward, heading straight toward Wren.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stay in your room.” The redhead chided. “I swear I’m going to start locking you in.”

He kneeled down and begin to lift Wren into his arms. Wren pulled the injured Ungi into his lap and held the still whimpering imp against his chest as Ash lifted the both of them. Holding Wren bridal-style, Ash turned to the maid.

“Would you go get some bandages and medication, Naia?”

The maid nodded, her large eyes seeming even larger with worry. “Yes, Master Ash!”

The little maid scurried off hastily.

Before Ash turned to leave, he looked back at Landon.

“I’m indebted to you.” With that, the redhead turned and walked away.

Wren glanced over Ash’s shoulder to see Landon watching them. The blond looked troubled, but when he noticed Wren’s gaze, he smiled wryly and lifted his hand in a cavalier sort of wave.