Clara was desperate. The orc had hold of her foot and could crush it to nothing with very little thought. The ninja turned, sticking a sword deep in the orc’s wrist, slicing tendons to his hand, his grip immediately loosening.

He roared, bringing his other fist crashing down toward her. Clara scrambled to her feet, running from him, his fist slamming into the frozen ground where she had been a moment earlier. But she had left one sword still sticking out of the creature’s wrist. The orc stood up, roaring out of frustration.

Clara couldn’t let his noise alert others.