• Dragon's Demise
    Dawn's Defiance
    A wolf howled in the distance. The full moon was like the sun. Water glistened on the tropical trees, making each seem like a emerald diamond. Another wolf howled in answer to the first. Then a chorus of howls filled the night. In a nearby village called Yoru, the towns people cowered in panic. Women grabbed up their children who were to young to understand the apparent danger. Men grabbed ammunition and slept with their guns loaded, watching for the impossibly silent stalkers of night. Two children ignored their mother's warning to stay inside. They had slid out out the back way. The young girl had black curls that just reached her neck. The boy's hair was cut short and looked slick and shiny. They were silent as they crept out of the village. The boy held his sister's hand and they followed a trail down to the river bank. Another pair of children were already there and they nodded to each other. A sound of steel being unsheathed broke in with the wolves lonesome cries. The leader boy,in his teens,blond hair, and green eyes made eye contact with them all.
    “We are taking back our town. Before this can happen to our children and our children's children.” he said. He had the biggest sword and the largest shield which he insured would be used to protect everyone. “I have had enough of this. My finance was killed by the hands of these shape shifters!” he yelled.
    “My dog was taken hostage by the cretins!” the young boy said.
    “Those bandits need to be taught an important lesson!” his sister agreed. The teenager's sister was silent.
    “Marie?” the teenager asked. Marie looked up in apology.
    “Brother. I have called for help.” she flinched under the sudden darkness in her brother's face. “I'm sorry Johnathan! I knew we would not be able to do this on our own! I mean look at the people you gathered! We are only children Johnathan! We are only week saplings! Remember the stories! Every myth, and every legend is based on fact! We didn't even review the possibilities of the stories being true!” she said. Her heart was beating fast.
    “When are they coming?” Johnathan asked. His voice had become tainted by anger.
    “Any minuet now from what the letter said.” Marie replied looking up at the sky brightened by moon light.
    “Johnathan...maybe it would be best...” the young girl began. Johnathan turned on her.
    “Shut up Annabell!” he hissed. His eyes were wild and venomous.
    “No! Your going to kill us all!” Marie yelled. One second later Johnathan was standing over his sister's body. She held her cheek, which shone red. Blood dripped from her mouth.
    “Marie. I...” he began. She stood, her eyes were dark in anger.
    “Jonathan! I can't believe you just slapped me!” she cried out. Her brother looked at her, dumbfounded.
    “Guys! Did you ever once stop and think. They take four people every one month during the full moon. Can they only transform then?” the young boy asked.
    “Victor that's nonsense. Everyone knows they transform when they want to.” Johnathan said angrily.
    “Then they aren't taking much. They only attack one night out of many.” Annabell replied. A rustling behind Victor and Annabell made them look up. His blond hair and blue eyes were the first things to be noticed. Then the rest of him vaporised.
    “Hey.” he said. He examined the scene with out a word.
    “Drake!” Marie yelled, embracing him.
    “Hi Marie.” he responded lovingly.
    “Drake! Your here!” Johnathan said tossing him a sword.
    “Yeah. Can we go now?” Drake pleaded. He was not one to be in the middle of a fight when it included girls, but with Marie in danger he had to come along to protect her. He proceeded to brush Marie's dark hair from her warm chocolate brown eyes.
    “Marie called for assistance. From them” Johnathan replied. Drake looked up in horror.
    “The Hunters? Aren't they supposed to be dead?” Drake asked.
    “Those things never die. They always come back. They have already rebuilt the old ruins their ancestors used to live in. Now they will stay close to us. Watching every little thing we do!” Johnathan hissed. Drake looked at him and nodded.
    “It's for the best. We aren't monster hunters. One of us isn't even a teenager for goodness sakes.” Drake replied. He looked at the Annabell and back at Johnathan who looked utterly defeated with a shadowed face.
    “So?” Johnathan replied.
    “So, we fight them...we all die.” Drake said. He was a month younger than Victor, yet his ability to read up on Monster Hunting was better then the others, besides Marie, who could hardly stop reading. His logical thinking in tight spots also excelled.
    “Yeah, yeah!” Victor said in impatience.
    “Victor! Before you possibly throw your life away think of the consequences!” Drake hissed, finally losing his long fussed temper. There was a rustling above them in the trees. A few drops of saliva dripped on the grass. They all looked up at the same time. A small wolf looked down at them. It lifted its bristling head and howled. Almost immediately five huge wolves stormed into the clearing. The children braced back to back, arrows and swords at the ready.
    “Marie! Please be careful!” Drake yelled. His heart yearned for her to live.
    “Victor! Get ready!” Johnathan hissed. His anger was clearly visible, even to the large werewolves, who laughed at him.
    “Is the little boy angry at us? We've been very kind to you villagers. We have only taken what we need. No more and no less.” one said. He was the largest of the wolves and the most scarred.
    “Yeah well you have to leave! We aren't going to take your kind anymore!” Drake replied. His heart was beating fast, and he found himself wishing the Hunter would hurry up.
    “Oh, what a strong hearted boy! Talking to obvious superiors like they were nothing but dogs.” another mused.
    “Yeah well we live here. It's where we belong, not you!” Victor hissed.
    “Yeah! We live here and we will protect our village! Move on or die!” Annabell growled.
    “A mere child telling us what to do? I think not! You have overstepped our kindness young lings. You've overstepped it by far!” yet another growled. As if on cue all the wolves began sneaking towards them. Annabell shot an arrow that struck a wolf in between the eyes. The arrow; however, did nothing to phase the wolf. It shook its great head and the arrow fell useless to the ground. Annabell grabbed another arrow and shot again, this time aiming for the heart. Again the wolf shook it off. Annabell's cheeks went red in frustration and Marie took hold of her bow.
    “It won't do anything. I was reading on the Hunters. They are the only ones who can kill them. I believe it is an ability they got when they went through the camp. Quite literally, something inside them changed. Besides their eyes, I mean. When they shoot a bow and arrow, or throw a knife, the weapon glows depending on that hunter's aura. That light enchants the weapon making it next to indestructible and the only thing able to kill these beasts.” Marie said. Her eyes were wide as she watched the ever shortening paces between them and the wolves, who were grinning in anticipation.
    “What about the Hunters? Are they indestructible as well?” Johnathan asked.
    “They might as well be. They are faster, stronger, and smarter then a regular human, and they only have a few really weak spots. Still those spots are covered with dragon hide armor. It hasn't been told where the spots are. Still dragon hide had the ability to protect against most things. They have been called monsters because of the fact most people say they were born with monster blood in their veins.” Marie answered. The wolves stopped their advance.
    “No book states those facts! Child-carrying wretch! Tell us the truth!” Every one looked at Marie.
    “Child-carrying? Marie are you...?” Victor began. Marie nodded.
    “Yes. I'm of child.” Marie said. Her voice carried no shame as she looked at Drake's surprised face. He suddenly felt a strong rage build in him.
    “I'm going to protect you Marie! You and the baby!” he yelled and charged at the nearest wolf. He drove the blade through it completely. The wolf snarled and began to form together again. The wolves blood began to rise up again to form with the body.
    “No way!” Drake yelled. He held his sword tighter. The wolf growled at him fiercely, its sharp teeth shone in the moonlight.
    “Little boys that play with wild animals get bit!” it yelled.
    “Dumb animals that bite the hand that feeds them get put down!” Marie yelled and shot an arrow made out of pure diamond at the wolf. It struck between the eyes and burrowed itself out the other side of the skull. The wolf fell dead and the arrow gleamed and melted into a thick liquid.
    “What the?” Victor mewled, shrinking back from the dead wolf.
    “Diamond. It's the only substance in which a werewolf can be killed by non-Hunters. Problem, it has to be pure diamond.” Marie stated. She grabbed another arrow from her quiver and stuck it expertly on the bow. She waited for a wolf to move at all but they remained perfectly still. Marie looked from each one with an archer's eye, and the moment a large female rose it was struck down. Marie grabbed another and loaded it. Drake looked at her in anguish, torn between letting Marie be her strong self or saving her from the fast moving beasts.
    “Ah. The old diamond trick. Very affective. Also, very painful to us. Why don't you put the arrow down? We have no intention of harming you.” the largest wolf said. It's toothy grin told her enough. Again the trees rattled and Marie looked up for a split second and shot the arrow at the wolf who thought she let her guard down.
    “Okay. You helped now go home.” A voice sounded above them. A girl dressed in armor jumped skillfully from the tree. Her orange hair was pulled back into a strict back length pony tail. She had already taken out a thick sword and was pointing it at the wolves.
    “There is no way we're going to leave a Hunter when her armor is nothing but a goblin's armor.” Marie yelled.
    “For the smartest kid around your logical skills stink. If you want to live run.” The Hunter growled. She looked around for a mere second before picked out the leader wolf and looked at it with glowing eyes of silver and gold. She waited quietly as if waiting for the wolf to come. Minuets passed and another wolf stalked closer. Marie shot it with her arrow. She nodded at the Hunter who was looking at her with distaste.
    “I am smart, which is why I'm not leaving you to die!” Marie said. Drake stood planted to his spot beside her and was silent. He looked on at the wolves with no hatred or dislike of the beings. The wolves stared back at him with anger and hostility.
    “Marie is right. We shale not go anywhere and leave you here. Your armor has holes in it. Besides the children of this village are sick and tired to those dumb mutt's vicious positions on our lives. We are the children of today and the parents of tomorrow! We will fight until our spirits have left this world!” Victor bravely added. The Hunter just looked at him with cold, unwavering eyes. She turned slowly to the startled child.
    “That is the best thing that can happen! Are you forgetting that one bite from the leader wolf of a pack turns humans into a wolf. We call them Luna Wolves just for their night changing abilities.” The Hunter said rather impatiently. Marie glared at her as she turned her back. The Hunter turned to look at Marie with a more then annoyed expression. Marie tried her best to forget her fears of both the “Luna Wolves” and this mysterious stranger to look back with the same frightening annoyance. All the Hunter did was laugh. Hearing that laugh sent chills up even the wolves. Marie looked at her with pure hatred and held onto her stomach.
    “That child is not his. I just thought you should know.” The woman giggled.
    “Lacy! Don't freak them out. Just kill the stupid mutts!” A male's voice sounded from above them. It sounded more then a little annoyed. Lacy looked up into the trees, her silver and gold eyes shinning in the moon light as she did so. Her expression had changed to anger. Her eyes burned like a wild fire ready to engulf what ever it could before being extinguished.
    “My job should have some pleasure in it. I mean sure kill the dogs but why not scare the village children. All we have to do is look at them” she replied. Annabell who had turned very pale when the woman had first appeared, now looked like she would vomit. Her face had a greenish tint to it. Victor put a protective arm around her. Marie and Drake ;however, were looking at each other in confusion. They had know it could not be Drake's but how had the Hunter known?
    “Pleasure? Scaring people? Isn't that what a monster would do?!” Annabell's voice rang out, fearful, but strong. The Hunter move to quickly for anyone to see. Annabell and Victor had been flung into a tree as far from a wolf as possible. Victor, who had taken the brunt of it coughed and fell to the ground. Annabell lay beside him her dark curls covering her face. Johnathan seemed to have unfrozen. He looked at the scene in front of him. He tightened his grip on his sword to the point that his hands hurt.
    “You wretch! I don't know who is worse the dogs or you!” he yelled. The Hunter merely stared at him. Her face was dark with pure hatred.
    “You girl!” she yelled looking directly at Marie, “ Why did you call one of us if all you were going to do was harass them. Most of the people I know would have walked out on you already. I know no one wants to have to deal with these things on their own but think about this. Who is going to save you if I did walk out? Do you think those arrows would keep them at bay forever. No. They are afraid of dieing but not of your hand. They know arrows only last as long as there are. Once they are gone no more danger. A Hunter ;however, knows the trades of these beasts.” The Hunter began. An annoyed sigh came from the trees, which rustled as the person in them retreated.
    “Look. We haven't done anything that bad. Yes, we need human meat to survive, therefore we kill. What these children aren't telling you is that we only take what we need to survive.” a wolf barked. The Hunter turned her gaze.
    “A monster doesn't need human flesh. It needs flesh, but they have adapted to eating humans, so that is what they eat.” Drake said. His voice held no fear, nor any admiration for the “beasts.”
    “Yes. So without any of the regular crap tell us why you don't hunt deer, or fish! Why humans!” Marie shouted. The wolves turned on her. Their eyes now showed nothing but hungry bellies.
    “Look. As much as we have enjoyed talking to you we have important business to take care of.” the large wolf sighed and stalked calmly away. The Hunter barred his way.
    “Uh sorry but no one leaves. I'm in charge now pup. Sit and stay.” the Hunter spoke with immediate anger.
    “Who put you in charge?” it barked. The hunter's eyes flashed dangerously.
    “You really want to fight for that role.” she said, her voice carried over throughout the forest. She raised her sword and pointed at him. A gray light surrounded the blade. Marie looked the Hunter up and down. You could clearly see all her weapons, for all were now shining with that gray light.
    “I could use a play fight to warm my bones.” it sneered. The pack laughed, all except for one who watched with sorrow filled eyes. It's eyes were bright and silver like the moon. It was blind. It's ears however picked up on every single shift of the body. Marie saw it's ears p***k forward a little then fall back. She looked from the blind to the large wolf and back again. For some odd reason she felt her heart go out to it. Annabell had suddenly appeared by Marie's side. Victor was by Drake and Johnathan. Marie looked again at the wolf, who lifted it's head, turned and silently staled away. A lavender smell came as the wold disappeared in a soft blow of wind. Marie shook her head slightly and blinked. No one, but her must have seen the blind wolf.
    “No way! The hunter isn't really going to take on that mutt is she?” Annabell asked.
    “Mutt?! Liston girlie when I get done with this thing I'm going to rip the flesh from your bones and eat your innards while you still alive!” the wolf growled. Marie immediately blocked Annabell from view, as if hoping to somehow protect her from the pain that would come.
    “You will do no such thing!” she barked, emphasizing each of the words.
    “Oh, won't we.” it asked. It's moth had spread into a sarcastic and toothy grin.
    “You try and I'll gut you like the monster you are!” she growled taking an arrow from her quiver.
    “Really?” it said looking at her with an injured expression.
    “Do I look like I'm kidding?” she growled. They glared at each other for a moment. Then the whole pack began descending upon them. The Hunter, who had been glaring up at the trees, grabbed her bow and arrow. The gray light shone on the arrow as it whizzed into a wolf's head. It fell and another came, it's fur was parted where it had been in a fight and apparently been beaten. The pack kept coming. Marie and Annabell, who was using some of Marie's arrows, began to let their arrows fly. The Hunter looked none to please with them.
    “Boy! Get to the blacksmith! Ask him for a diamond sword! Go now!” she yelled at Drake and Victor. Both nodded and took off into the bushes, leaving the Hunter the girls and Johnathan behind.

    Drake ran as fast as he could. Victor was lagging annoyingly behind. All Drake could think about was leaving Marie basically defenseless. A bush snagged on his shirt and he pulled, tearing the black fiber. There was still a lot of ground to cover from the forest to the blacksmith's and Drake knew that he should slow down. However, he could not bring himself to slow the dead run.
    “Drake hold on! Please slow down a little bit! I'm begging you.” Victor gasped. Drake just shook his head and kept running. He looked up at the moon in a good amount of fear.
    “We can't! If we do Marie and Annabell are dead! We've got to hurry!”
    “But if we don't slow down he won't be able to understand us anyway!” Victor said his voice was cut up from his gasping. Drake kept running in silence. Finally, he reached the Blacksmith's shop and knocked on the door as hard as he could, hoping against hope that the man would actually be there. After five minuets Victor caught up with him.
    “He's not here! Come on we're going to his house now!” Drake yelled and took off again. Victor looked after him with tired and angry tears blurring his vision. He had cuts from the thorns and other plants and he had the weird feeling he had been bitten by something with sharp teeth.
    “Wait! Drake come on! Please just wait fives seconds!” Victor yelled. A scream pierced the night making both boys stop in their tracks.
    “What the....” Drake started. Anther scream revealed it to be the wolves, howling in pain. Drake smiled and took off again with Victor close on his heels.

    “Marie look out!” Annabell yelled. They had run out of arrows and the Hunter was bleeding from a few deep gashes. Marie dodged a huge paw as it swept at her.
    “I'm fine Annabell! Look out for your self more then me!” she gasped. They had backed up against a tree and were looking from wolf to wolf. They were looking at them like we were merely morsels of food. Marie whimpered slightly at the thought. The Hunter looked at her.
    “You should run. Your no more use to me!” she said. Marie looked at her like she would turn into an eighty foot spider.
    “Marie! She's right. We've got to go! If we keep this up then the best we will do is get in her way!” Johnathan agreed.
    “No! I'm not running away from this! You can Johnathan! You can run and forget about Brianna's sacrifice! I won't...not until every last of these things are gone!”
    “Marie! Please come back with me!” Johnathan begged. Marie only shook her head. Annabell nodded in agreement with Marie and took another step closer to her. A wolf barked in laughter.
    “For the smartest woman here you are rather dumb! You are of no fighting use and so your just getting in the hunter's way. Why do you try to kill her? I mean of course she's different then most people she is a murderer of beasts.” The wolf said. Marie shook her head violently.
    “I'm not attempting to kill anyone! I am actually trying to save her if anyone would give me five second to explain myself I am sure you will find my reasonings to be perfectly acceptable. If she is to be badly injured in battle I can not take it upon myself to allow this poor person to lay here with no medical attention. So I will take her off the premise.” Marie answered.
    “This is unbelievable! You think for one second I would allow some stupid human to help me! I'd rather die!” the Hunter yelled.
    “Why?! What have we done that made you so angry with us! I never even met you until today and yet you are acting like I hurt you beyond repair at some point of time! What did we do?!” Marie yelled.
    “Marie!” Johnathan was pointing toward the village.
    “I'm not leaving you idiot!” Marie hissed. Johnathan looked at her for a second, shook his head and disappeared into the night.
    “Fine! Stay but stay close!” the Hunter growled. She froze and looked at the wolves who had apparently snaked around them. They looked around and nodded at each other. The wolves leaped into the air getting ready to fight. Marie took two knives from the hunters pouch and Annabell the Hunter's bow and arrow. As the wolves descended upon them them only had revenge and protection on their mind.

    Drake and Victor quickly ran through the town. They were silent like ninja in infested territory. They looked around for candle light in any windows. A few times they had tripped over shovels and rocks, crying out as they fell to the ground. Then they would lie still and wait to be caught. If nothing happened they moved on. If a candle was lit they would push themselves into the ground and into the shadows. When they finally reached the outskirts of town they jumped up the porch steps and pounded on the door. Almost immediately there was a candle light and the door opened slightly.
    “Who's there?” a husky voice asked. It sounded like he had been silent all day.
    “Drake and Victor. Please I need your help. Johnathan, Marie and Annabell are still back in the forest! They are being attacked by werewolves! You have to help us! We need something sharp and of pure diamond!” Drake huffed. He was panting and could only hope that the man could understand what her was saying. A young woman appeared in the doorway and Drake nodded politely to her.
    “Pure diamond are you crazy or something?” The blacksmith asked. He was scratching his slightly bearded chin.
    “No! Marie is using her diamond arrows that she ordered from you!” Victor said. He too was gasping for breath.
    “Michale? It everything alright?” his wife asked.
    “Yes May. Please go back to bed.” he directed. May nodded and left.
    “So? Do you have anything?” Drake asked.
    “Yes. When your done give it back though.” Michale replied and took a sparkling sword from it's sheath and returned moments later with it in tow. He gave it to Drake.
    “Thank you!” He gasped and took off again. Victor gripped for a second before following. In truth he was afraid for his sister now. It had been rather silent for fighting humans and wolves. Victor may have been older then Drake, but he quickly realized how much more athletic Drake was as he zipped through the buildings. Victor himself was rather fast but still had problems staying up with Drake. Drake had always been better at athletics. Victor quickly pushed Drake from his mind and only thought of Annabell and how afraid she must be right now with nothing to protect her from those dogs beside the Hunter. As he was running Victor had to think on how much he truly trusted the Hunter Marie had hired to help them. Again he thought of Annabell's cute curls and bright eyes. And he wished he was there helping her stave off the attack.

    After a few minuets of running they crossed back into the forest where Marie was. Drake was ecstatic as he darted in between the trees and bushes. It was very quiet. No growling or sounds of metal on claw. Drake tripped on a log and fell into the clearing. The first thing he noted was the wetness of it. He shakily brought his hand up to his eyes to reveal a crimson color on his hand. He shivered and looked around. Trees, grass, and bushes were splattered with scarlet.
    “Marie! Marie!” Drake yelled. There was no answer. Some bodies of dead werewolves were still littered around the clearing. Drake turned around and around, looking for any signs of life. He saw drag marks heading north and he followed. He ran only a few yards when he heard a splattering sound. A river of dark red was slipping down a small slope. He starred, horrified at the bloody mass that had once been a strong and dignified Hunter. Annabell was laying at the end of the slope. Drake ran up to her, and flipped her on her back. He stumbled backwards at the torn body. She had been completely cut open, and her pretty face was gone. She no longer had her pretty eyes, or gorgeous mouth. All that was left of that pretty face was bones. White, bloody bones. Drake turned when he heard a shocked sob rake through Victor's throat. Drake whipped his own tears from his face and looked up at the Hunter. He saw movement and he started to it. The woman was still alive. She was looking up at the moon, which was now sinking beneath the skyline.
    “Hurry Drake. Marie is still alive! Poor Annabell. She died saving ME!” she sobbed. Drake nodded taken aback by her tears.
    “Victor! Watch the Hunter! I'll get our revenge!” he yelled and jumped from the slope. He ignored the pain in his legs and began running to where the drag lines showed him he needed to go. He soon realized he was racing against dawn. Drake shivered and took off at full speed. He didn't look back at the blood and his friend. He could not bring himself to watch his best friend crying over his sister's body. Poor, sweet Annabell. So young, and the most creative of their group. Drake almost laughed when he remembered the time she said she wanted to see the universe, or ride a horse across the world. Marie wanted to be in the militia to fight for her country. However, females were forbidden from war. She didn't care though. She said she would change their mind. Drake whipped his eyes clear of the tears that were coming. He would not believe there was a possibility that Marie was dead. He would not accept that possibility. He could not accept the possibility.

    Drake was still running when the moon was sinking dangerously low in the sky. Dawn had yet to kiss the sky, but it was coming. Drake had long- since lost his way in the forest, but he still followed the ever freshening trail to Marie. His legs ached and his head felt like it would explode. His lungs ;however, felt like they were going to implode. Still he would not sit down and wait for Marie to be killed. He kept running with an even pace. Finally he reached the cave where the wolves were hiding. They had Marie and Drake was going to get her back. He entered the black cave with out fear. Glow worms and other animals glowed and lighted the way down to the end of the cave. Immediately Drake recoiled at the harsh and disgusting smell of rotting flesh and and an old, earthy smell. He quickly got back on track and started walking through the cave. Bats swarmed above him, creating a forbidding atmosphere. Still he struggled on. He had to feel around the walls, which had him feeling many different things. He wished for the fifth time to be home with Marie laughing at his side. Victor and Annabell running around with play swords and shouting playful insults to one another. Another pang of guilt pierced Drake's heart, making him gasp in sudden pain. It was his fault that Annabell was dead, and Victor would never see her laugh or complete those wild dreams.
    “Annabell...I'm so so sorry.” Drake whispered. He shook his head and resumed walking. Annabell was a lost cause. There was nothing more that anyone could to help her now. Marie might still be alive. She might still be able to walk away.

    It was a few moments before Drake saw the light from the cave entrance. At that point his heart was pounding and his legs felt like they would fall off at any moment. Finally he could go on no longer and fell into a puddle. He panted and his legs immediately seemed to thank him, a slight numbness came to them.
    “Marie!!! Jesus...MARIE!!!” Drake yelled, shooing away a large rat that had come to rest on his hand. He forced himself up, pain flooded in every part of his body. He whimpered quietly and fell back into the puddle. He was dully aware that Victor had come up behind him.
    “Come on Drake! We have to go save Marie!” he whispered and attempted to drag him from his spot. Almost immediately he moved, tried to get back up and Victor was right beside him. Finally Drake was able to pull himself up from his despair, and tired legs and raced down the cave way with Victor at his side.

    It was a long time before the boys made it to their destination. Drake and Victor were waiting outside a door. Their breath combined into one person and fell silent and grew with each other. Drake who had calmed his heart rate first delicately walked to the old pine door. He placed his ear to the bottom of the door and waited. Almost immediately voices began pouring out.
    “But master! This is crazy! We have enough to feed right now! Why not just kill her?!” Drake looked in confusion at the door.
    They're starting to talk like humans! He realized. He placed his ear near the door for the second time.
    “Now do you get it! I need her to stay as I am. My pact was that I turn at least one person on every full moon and I will stay a wolf for ever. The girl stays!” A strong voice rang out and echoed off the walls. Drake held his breath.
    “What if the girl makes more trouble then she is worth?” a human voice sang.
    “Well...I guess she will have a disability.” it laughed. Drake felt himself rise to the idea of punching this dog hard enough to break as many bones as possible.
    “Let me go! I've had enough of this nonsense! Leave me alone!” Marie's voice swam from under the door. Drake looked back at Victor who nodded and had out a weapon. Drake stood up straight cautiously, his back was to Victor and he carefully slid out the diamond sword. They heard Maire scream and both charged the door, breaking it down and taking some of the wall with them.
    “Marie!” they screamed. Drake spotted her in the hands of an elephant sized werewolf. It's shaggy head lifted and a black liquid merged with the red of blood. It watched him for a moment and lay Marie to the side. She was breathing, Drake could see her stomach rise and fall.
    “What is that?” Victor asked, nodding to the black liquid.
    “It's a poison that transforms a human into a werewolf.” a forced voice sounded behind him. Drake turned to see the Hunter being supported by Johnathan.
    “I couldn't leave her...” he began.
    “You did. You left all three of them! Her would have taken Annabell hostage too if you had stayed to die! Annabell would be alive right now!” Victor yelled. Drake held out a hand.
    “Victor, we don't know that for sure.”
    “Either way! I think you will forgive me once I show you this!” he stepped aside and an army of Hunters walked through the door way. Men and women all lined up in readiness to fight. They all had the same gold and silver eyes.
    “How and why did you do this?” Drake asked.
    “We needed help. They didn't want their girl to die.” he said simply.
    “Thanks!” Victor and Drake said together. One women looked at them happily, which made them look at each other is dismay.
    “What? You though that just because we are fighters we have to be angry people as well?” she asked. She had a sweet voice. Drake, Victor and Johnathan looked at each other guiltily. That was exactly what they thought.
    “Either way Rachel, we need to destroy this pack. They have all tasted human meat.” another commented.
    “Right. Lets go!” Rachel replied. A Hunter dressed head to toe in a yellow uniform came next to the three boys.
    “You guys go out there and rest. You look like you ran a hundred miles.” Drake and Victor looked at each other, humored. Then Drake remembered the fact Marie couldn't just walk out.
    “Wait! There is a girl in here! Her name is Marie and I want to get her out of here!” Drake yelped. The man nodded and took off. His speed amazed the three of them. He was back in a few seconds with Marie. She was extremely pale, and her eyes were closed.
    “Most likely from shock. Stay close. We are still looking for the leader.” the man said and stalked off to help the first hunter.
    “Come on Drake.” Johnathan said weaving his arms around Marie's chest.
    “Poor Lacy.” Victor mewled weakly.
    “Who?” Drake asked. The two boys looked at him in disgust.
    “The Hunter that was the first to respond!”
    “Oh, sorry.” Drake replied and grabbed Marie's feet. They led her out off the hall and only a few feet from the bustling Hunters. Even so it was enough to obscure most of them from view. They don't know how much time had passed, or when the three of them decided to fall asleep. All they knew know was that there was a loud commotion going on in the real world. Drake was the first to come alive and notice Marie was no longer laying across his lap.
    “Marie?!” he called groggily. Victor stirred next, and then Johnathan. They all got stiffly to their feet and moved to were the Hunters had been moving in and out scoping for the last werewolf. Drake unsheathed his sword, and the sound of it made shivers go up his spine.
    “Where is everyone?” Victor asked.
    “In the room.” Drake replied anxiously.
    “What should we do?”
    “Go in.” Drake finished the sentence with a “no more questions tone”. They inched closer to the room with beating hearts. A loud bang made everyone jump, and retreat a step. After a few moments Drake pushed on. His fear of what he would see scaring him more then he had ever been before. He threw open the door, his sword at the ready, a form set only to retreat as Rachel's body came flying at him. Johnathan caught her and fell back against the hard stone. Her armor had protected her very well and she was immediately on her feet. She charged back in while throwing Drake a sympathetic glance. Knowing that is was a bad omen to be looked at that he turned again to the door happy to not have a body thrown at him. When he looked in however he would much rather have fallen off a cloud.

    Marie was in the middle of the hunters. She was transforming into the monster she had wanted to kill. Drake was standing in the doorway looking confused. Another contraction made her yell out and suddenly in a flurry of pain and emotions she was standing tall. Her white fur gleamed in the dim light. The hunter that had first been with them, Lacy, was looking at her sorrow. Rachel looked back at Drake with an identical look. Marie swished her tail and knocked a few of the hunters away then she walked past them. The didn't try to stop her. Instead they were looking behind her. The deep gray of the Leader Wolf appeared by her side.
    “Kill the boy. Kill them all.”
    “I will not! Drake is too important to me!” Marie argued back. It was a telepathic message. Any Fae(a character that is thought to be made up by humans. Also known as Faeries) could do it with another Fae to keep Hunters and Humans out of the mix.
    “KILL THEM!” The blast from that message made her head hurt like a hot brand on a cow's hide.
    “No!” she screamed back. She took off for the door her large legs lifting her easily from the ground. She could only hope Drake would wake up and move.

    Drake stood rooted to the ground. He did not want to move and leave Marie in the care of some giant wolf thing. As Marie glided closer he tensed and readied himself. He kept the sword by his side, unsheathed and ready.
    “Marie find yourself! Please!” he whispered. Victor and Johnathan were by his side in an instant.
    “We're here for you Drake.” Victor whispered, Johnathan nodded in agreement. Drake felt his friends presence and tried again to reach out to Marie. The Hunters were getting closer and closer to her.
    “Marie! Find yourself!” he shouted in his mind.
    “Drake! Kill me you have to! Please! I can't live like this! I just can't! Kill me!! KILL ME!” she shouted to him in her mind. Drake shook his head. Marie barred her teeth and got ready to attack him. As she leaped at him Drake instinctively threw his sword out in front of him. Victor and Johnathan stood at the ready to help him. Drake tried not to cry when Marie floated closer her gleaming white fur and amber eyes were the last thing he saw before slamming into the ground.

    Drake woke quickly. Victor and Johnathan were also up. Marie was no longer a wolf. The pretty blue dress she had on before was torn and bloody. Her dark hair covered her face. Her still body made Drake want to die. He walked up to her body and felt the cut her had made in her heart.
    “M-Marie? W-wake u-up. Marie! Marie! Please!” Drake shouted. Rachel moved towards him but someone reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her once again to the fight with the leader wolf. Victor walked up to him carefully.
    “Drake...come on. She's not wakening up. She's gone Drake.” Johnathan said slowly. He gulped and regretted ever coming up with the idea of coming to fight the monsters.
    “I'm so sorry! I should have been there. I should have been able to stop it.” Drake sobbed into the ground beside Marie.
    “Not to mention the baby.” Victor added. Drake instantly looked at Marie and thought of the dieing child in her.
    “No! Please let it survive!” Drake yelled and cut through Marie's stomach. The blood made Victor shrink away.
    “Drake! We couldn't even tell she was pregnant there is no way we could save her baby.” Johnathan said. Drake nodded and put his blade down. His eyes were bloodshot and tears were still falling rapidly down his cheeks. Suddenly a large object appeared behind them. Johnathan was the first to act and punched the werewolf on its foreleg. It bent down and grabbed him in his mouth, a black liquid fell into Johnathan's bite wounds and he began to howl in pain.
    “Drake move!” Victor yelled and the two of them scrambled away from its snapping jaws. The Hunters were rushing to their assistance, trying to fool the wolf away from them.
    “Victor!” Drake yelled as the wolf picked Victor up in its mouth. It released him, the same black liquid finding its way into Victor's wounds. Drake grabbed his sword and took off for the door. Instantly the wolf had him blocked. Drake turned around and ran only to be blocked off again. He held out his sword and crept towards the wolf.
    “Brave move human. Did it ever occur to you I wanted you to move like this?” the wolf asked. Drake took a sharp intake of breath and held his sword tightly.
    “Brave isn't the word.” he looked at his friends. Marie, laying dead in a pool of blood, Victor and Johnathan screaming, crying and holding onto their arms like it was the only thing keeping them alive.“If I was brave then this wouldn't be happening.” Drake kept walking towards the wolf. His sword was up and he rushed it. The wolf charged him as well. There was a sudden splash of blood and the thumps of both bodies. A strange silence aside from Johnathan and Victor's screams, came over the cave. Not even the small creatures stirred. Rachel finally moved tentatively forward, her long curly blond hair stirred in an unseen wind. Neither Drake, nor the wolf moved. She let out a deep breath and ran to Drake's side. He had a bite mark on his shoulder which was dripping the “poison”. She shook her head, but noted he was breathing. She looked toward the werewolf. The diamond sword was sticking out of the wolf's heart.
    “Drake did it!” she yelled out. Then the boy woke and screamed like someone who had just been stabbed through with an iron sword. Rachel picked him up and carried him towards the crowd of hunters. They looked at her with an angry air.
    “Rachel! Put him down! He's becoming one of them!” one of the men shouted. She looked at him, her gray eyes burning with determination.
    “I know, but they are still in the early stages. They might not end up like the other pack.” she turned to the rest squad. “They will not turn out like the other pack. They will be fine.” She pulled Drake closer as he screamed. “Dawn's promise stays strong and true. It won't defy them the chance of this new life. It can not.” Drake withered and screamed to the beautiful dawn light coming through the cave cracks.

















    Chapter One
    Family Feud
    I waited by the edge of the staircase for a few minuets then headed back into my room. My mom and dad were having another of there common fights. I allowed the musical art of Three Days Grace's “Gone Forever” to flow into the room. Turning up the volume to drown out my mother's screaming noise I flipped through the first volume of the “Fairy Tale” manga (Japanese Comic Book) by Hiro Mashima for the tenth time. I enjoyed it, sat it down and looked around my room. Swords glimmered on the wall, bows and arrows were hooked on every post of my bed, four pairs of what I call Wolverine gloves lay on my desk around a pile of unfinished homework. I searched through my book shelf for another book to read. Sighing I gave up my search and looked across the green plains of Rain. It was never cold and despite the name hardly rained. For some reason though the plains stayed green. The burning sun did little to burn the grass and turn it into desert, but that is what made Rain come to be. The bustling city had four major parts and many not so major ones. My school had one hundred kids in every class, so I didn't know many people. The people that I did meet quickly became my friends. Jamie, Julie, Kat, Claude, Mike, and Joan were my best friends. Each of them knew things about me I couldn't tell to anyone else. For instance I love to play horse games meant for toddlers. Not because their so easy, but because they have horses in it. I play more gory games then I do the horse games though. I sighed, shook my head, which made my thigh- length black hair come out from behind my ears. Grumbling quietly I waited to be summoned again by my parents.

    After thirty minuets I was finally called down. My dad was waited quietly, his blue-black hair matched mine perfectly. My mothers brown hair was out of the equation. I had her looks though. The full lips and green eyes. Mine were actually contacts, but she always told me to keep them on. They were prescription and could actually be worn day and night. I cant tell how many times I practically begged her to let me take them out to see what my true eye color was. She told me to keep them on at all times. When I asked her if they were keeping me from going blind or something she laughed and said no and the I didn't really need them. Also, though I had no proof, I suspected my father of lying about his hair color. One day I saw it becoming brown in some spots and the next thing I know he's back to his blue-black color. I looked up startled as my father began talking.
    “Kaylee you mom and I just had a discussion about if we are going to take on this new job.” my dad began. I rolled my eyes and drifted off. It was always the same thing. A new job, I had to stay home alone and they got to go see the world. They call themselves “paranormal and legend hunters”. I call them dorks who obviously have no true life. They didn't care about anything but their jobs.
    “Kaylee since we always seem to leave you alone we were thinking of sending you to live with your uncle.” I jumped to my feet at my mothers words.
    “Uncle Charles? I thought you said he was a bad influence and shouldn't be here!” I almost yelled. My heart was thudding faster and faster. I hadn't seen my uncle's castle called a house in ages. My family had gone over for a Christmas party. Uncle Charles decided to tell a story about the history of Yoru, the small town he was from. He was talking about a group called Hunters and how they cam to Yoru once. He started out describing the scenery and about the Hunters, a group devoted to killing anything fictional that is attacking humans or threating to reveal themselves as real. He referred to those as Fae, and told up that a Fae is anything from a story of tale that has lived a long time, but is supposed to hold magic and not exist. Werewolves, vampires, and griffins are a few he mentioned. He said that the Hunters made their home in the old run down tower only a few miles from here. One day they got a letter about a girl named Marie and decided to go and help her. While Marie her brother Johnathan, and her friends, Drake, Victor, and Annabell took the fight in their own hands. When only Marie was able to fight the Hunter came and tried to get the children to go home. At that point my mother rushed in, swooped me up and told my uncle to “Grow up and leave such stories for the children to tell.” I wanted to hear more of the story and was just about distraught when he wouldn't continue on with it. That was the first time I was about to go to my parents and demand something. That was when I first heard them talking in quiet whispers about me. When I tried to get closer an ease drop on their conversation my uncle grabbed me from behind. As the unfairness of it all hit me again my cheeks began to grow hot.
    “We know what we said Kaylee, but we can't think of anything else to do right now.” my father explained.
    “You could just leave me alone. I won't bust anything.” I offered. I loved my uncle, but the thought of leaving my friends left me heart broken.
    “We trust you Kaylee, but we don't want you to be alone if the worst were to end up happening.” my dad moved on. I looked at him angrily and turned to my mom who looked like she had just condemned herself
    “The worse? What's that? When you finally realize that ghosts and legends are just that? There are no such things as ghosts, and vampires!” I yelled. My mom looked at me in surprise and my dad with disapproval.
    “You can believe what you want to but some day you will realize what we tell you is true.” Mom said. She looked away from me when I looked at her with accusing eyes. My dad watched us, his own face unreadable and pale.
    “What's going on?” I nearly shout, “You suddenly end up thinking that on this mission your going to end up dead? How can it be that you think that the impossible happens every day but there is no way you might return from this mission alive!”I shout, feeling angry and betrayed.
    “Kaylee please just let us explain.” my dad said quickly.
    “No! No more of this. I can't believe I am the only person who have parents gullible enough to believe in the bogeyman!” I shout my voice strained. My mom opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “No more. I'm going to school.” I say and head out the door.
    By the time I reach Claude's car he knows what had happened and he tried to comfort me.
    “Don't let it get you down K. There will always be a tomorrow.” when he looked over and saw me dazing off he rolled his eyes and looked at me in a slight bit of anger. I glance at him as he turns back towards the road.
    “Tomorrow. Always the next day. For what though...to be ignored and sent away to live with someone you had only met once before in your entire life.” Claude kept his eyes on the road, but his expression told me enough. He was telling me to cut my losses and be happy I had parents who actually didn't want me to be completely alone for a few months or maybe even years. It always depended on the place, and the “mission”. I sighed and grabbed the pile of unfinished homework out of my torn backpack. Claude risked a glance at me and his eyes showed a humor I would never understand.