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.

Morgan Rielly ducks for cover as a cloud of arrows rains down. Travis Dermott grows big and hurls a boulder at the swarming desert imps. A dozen of the beasts are flattened and the rest scatter. Jake Muzzin takes advantage of the opening, diving into the gap before the imps can regroup.

Jake is in full werebear form and each swipe of his mighty paws turns another imp into a bloody smear. The imps dart in and out and around between the boulders to stab at Jake with their long spears. Morgan snipes at any he can see, moving up as he fires. Travis shrinks back down to his regular size as another cloud of arrows whizzes over his head. An imp jumps out at him but Travis catches it and snaps it’s neck with a hard squeeze.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are surrounded but hardly concerned. The pressure is steady but nothing they haven’t seen before. An impish dart grazes Morgans cheek. His vision blurs.

“Poison!” The Leaf manages to shout a warning before falling to the dirt.

Travis pulls his fallen comrade to safety and whistles for Jake to regroup. The werebear turns at the sound and fifteen arrows pierce his thick hide. Lumbering over, each step becomes more uncertain until Jake reaches the Leafs and collapses. A snot laden river of drool pours from his mouth and nose which does not abate as the massive bear shape slowly veers back into Jake.

Not out of options, the young Leaf does what he does best and grows big. He swats at the imps on his left and a cloud of arrows hits his right side. He swats at the imps on his right and his left side is covered in arrows. While he is three stories tall Travis is not hurt by the tiny shafts, they are more of an irritant than anything. But it doesn’t take long for Travis to feel his vision blur. The last thing he sees before everything goes black is the swarm of imps capering around his teammates.

Two Arizona Coyotes find the Leafs seven hours later. Alex Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller don’t bother to conceal their amusement as they look down on the three Maple Leafs, stripped of all their gear with bare asses burning in the desert heat. Alex checks the surrounding area for any trail or signs of another ambush while Clayton pulls the Leafs into the shade. After a few minutes Alex returns shaking his head, the imps are long gone.

Clayton pours out a canteen of water onto Morgan, who comes to with a start.

“It’s okay.” Alex says, smiling ear to ear the smile of a victorious rival. “The imps always let the desert do their dirty work. Don’t bother looking for your stuff though, it’s gone.”

“We thought we surprised them.” Morgan says, wincing as he gets to his feet. “Thought there were only a few dozen.”

“Yeah, they’ll trick ya.” Clayton says. “Surprised your boy Mats didn’t warn you, he’s from around here I think.”

“Do you have any clothes we could borrow?” Morgan asks.