Toronto Maple Leaf Kasperi Kapanen awakes with a start and jumps to his feet. He is in a strange place, in the chill clammy glow of a Wiftchalouge Tree. Unable to use his powers in the grim shine, Kappy can only raise his fist as the Tree’s master approaches.

The witch is carrying a long rusty dagger. A raven is perched on her shoulder and two great toads waddle beside her. Her black eyes shimmer with a bloody light and her rasping giggles get louder with each shaky step.

A weight forces Kappy to his knees. He tries to fight but the weight grows greater. The witch bends down to whisper in the Leafs ear.

“So young, so strong, so tasty.” Her putrid breath makes Kappy ill. “So sad that it’s not for eating. No, cursed it is, and cursed blood draws strong magic.” The raven squawks and flaps it wings. “Yes, yes, my love you may eat him after, whatever’s left. But we must drain him. That’s why he’s here.”

One of the toads sits staring into Kappy’s face. The other one is out of sight, but not out of mind as he feels it crawl up his back to sit between his shoulders. This is the final straw. Kappy grinds his teeth and presses back hard against the magic holding him. He calls upon the strength of his ancestors and shakes the toad off his back.

“Fuck your curse!” Kappy shouts. He isn’t standing, but he isn’t bowing either.

“So strong,” says the witch. “So very surprising.”

Out of no where Mark Hunter, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager, steps into the clearing. The witch hisses.

“Fie! Due! Rathillal!” Flames spew out of the witches mouth in a powerful jet. The flames reach out to engulf Mark, who doesn’t break stride. The second button of his sport coat glows an icy blue and the flames are sucked into it.

“Slassid! Chrayna!” The witch points at Mark and a chill wind coats him in ice. The ice shatters and gets melted into the button which glows fiery orange.

Mark reaches the witch and grabs her by the throat. She stabs at him with her dagger. It explodes when it hits the button which shines brightly. Mark squeezes hard, Kappy can’t help but wince at the sound but he stands up freely as the witch falls to the earth.

The eerie glow of the Wiftchalouge Tree is reluctant to fade but it does, leaving Kasperi and Mark in total darkness. Mark flips his zippo and takes hold of Kappy’s shoulder.

“Can you use your powers?”

Kasperi is a teleporter, and he and Mark are soon home safe, though perhaps not free…