When humanity is threatened only the super powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. As the days start to get longer the Maple Leafs start to focus on their true goal. The only thing that can get in their way is themselves.

Andreas Johnsson and Zach Hyman walk together, taking the lead. Shea Weber covers behind. Freddy Andersen and Carey Price walk in between reading a large leather bound tome.

“It must be European.” Freddy says. “Look at that weave.”

“Okay, but what’s that smell?” Carey asks. “I swear it smells like the Amazon.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs and L’es Habitente Canadiens du Montreal are following a magical trail. So far it has been a trial. The magic loops around, back tracks and dead ends. It’s almost as if the trail was left just to distract the heroes. Now they are going around in circles in the dark but no one is getting frustrated. The wizards are doing their best to figure it out while Shea, Zach, and Andreas wait, knowing at any moment things could get interesting.

A light flares ahead and both wizards look up. Freddy closes the book and it vanishes.

“Quickly.” Carey says. “Before it leaps again.”

The heroes sprint toward the light.

“Cage?” The Montreal wizard asks.

“Web.” Freddy answers.

As they run the two wizards begin to cast. Thin tendrils of silvery magic reach out and coalesce around the light. The moment the magic appears the light goes out. The silver web flashes as the shape within struggles to get free. The heroes approach and Zach pulls out a flashlight. As he shines it on their quarry a high pitch wail splits the night air.

“Turn it off.” Shea says. “I think the light hurts it.”

Zach turns of the light but the wailing continues.

“What is it?” Andreas asks what everyone else is thinking.

The creature is large, scaled like a lizard with the shape of a toad, except that the head has the long snout of a hound.

“It’s a sort of a devil, a minor one.” Carey says, familiar with evil powers.

The devil writhes under the wizards magic, the wail turns into a gurgling whimper. It’s muscular legs strain to break free. Zach almost feels sympathy for the fiend, except it’s from hell so he holds his axe ready.

“We need to banish it.” Freddy says. “I know a ritual that can do it. But it takes time.”

The Leafs chief mage spends the next hour drawing arcane symbols on the ground around the demon. The creature seems resigned to its fate now, it watches silently as Freddy completes his ring of icons. Freddy begins to chant the ritual of banishment and the devil starts to struggle furiously, however as the ritual is completed it stops.

“You think you have won.” The voice that leaves the devils hideous snout is horribly human. “You created me. You Leafs. You Habs. I am your fate. I am eternal!” It has to shout these last words as it vanishes out of existence.

“Well that was fun.” Freddy says. “Glad we could help. Can’t wait till next time. And I was right by the way, that thing was totally European.”

The Leafs walk away knowing that there are more questions then answers behind them. There is still a lot to prove, but less and less time to do so with each passing day. One truth alone stands proven beyond refute, the excitement will only grow.

Grow Leafs! Grow!