Azara Origins

Chapter 12: Proof

Jasper and Azara walked through the forest, as the stars flickered above them. Jasper had an arm around Azara. They walked into an opening in the thicket.

Jasper froze.

"What is it?" Azara asked, feeling him tense.

"Me," a voice said.

They turned to face the speaker, and out of the shadows came a woman.

"Maria," Jasper whispered, keeping a protective arm around Azara.

Azara's eyes narrowed.

"Jasper," Maria sneered. "Jasper's friend." She studied the two coldly, a slow smile spreading across her face.

"Oh... how cute. She is more than a friend. That will make it all-the- more fun killing her as you watch."

From all around them they heard merciless cackles.

"Kill the girl... but the major is mine," Maria said, waving a hand dismissively.

"No!" Jasper yelled as twenty newborns surrounded them. Azara lunged, exploding into her wolf form. She ripped into one of the newborns before slashing at another one's throat.

Jasper and Azara tore through the newborns, but the sheer numbers started to overwhelm them.

Maria watched from her perch on a pile of rocks. A newborn lunged at Azara's waist, but Jasper slammed the newborn into the ground.

"You've gotten soft," Maria spat. "That is why you will lose.

The circle of newborns closed in. One newborn lunged at Azara, but Jasper pushed her out of the way. The newborn wrapped her arms around him.

Jasper grimaced but was able to grab the newborn's head and snap it off. He turned to see Azara surrounded by a cluster of newborns. She nipped at any newborn that reached for her.

"Give up, Jasper," Maria said in a soothing voice. "We promise to kill her quickly, if you come back to me."

A newborn lunged at Azara, but Jasper was there in a flash. Grabbing two of the newborn's arms, he twisted, snapping the arms clean off. Another newborn leapt at Azara, but he swung, decapitating the newborn.

A heavy-set newborn threw Jasper into a wall. Azara tried to help but was grabbed by two other newborns. Jasper ran at the large newborn, and at the last second, swung out his arm midair, snapping the newborn's head off.

Azara broke free from two newborns and lunged at one. The second newborn enclosed his arms around Azara, and she howled in pain, still managing to rip the newborn's head off.

Azara collapsed to the ground in her human form, shaking. Jasper yelled and tore the last two newborns apart. He dashed toward Azara but stopped when Maria stepped in front of her.

"So sad..." Maria said, kicking Azara in the ribs. Azara yelped, clenching her fists.

Jasper snarled and dove at Maria. She leapt, trying to get out of the way... too late, as he smashed her into a wall and ripped her in half. Jasper stood there for a moment... gasping for air before sliding over to Azara.

He put a hand on her side. "Broken."

"Re-brake them," Azara wheezed, "before they heal wrong." She pulled off her belt and closed her mouth around it.

"I'm sorry, Azara," Jasper said, his face pained. He placed his hands on her side and re-broke her ribs. The belt muffled her yell, but Jasper felt every break. When he could not take it anymore, he used his powers...

... and Azara went limp.

Time Skip

Jasper helped Azara walk to the main cabin after he had burned all the newborns.

"There they are!" Rex yelled as he raced towards them. His smile faded when he saw Azara.

"What happened?" Drake questioned as he opened the door to let them in.

"We-" Azara started.

"What did you do?" Dusty growled at Jasper, as Jasper and Azara walked into the room.

"He did nothing," Azara said defensively. "Except save my life. We were ambushed."

"Ambushed? By who?" Drake asked.

"Maria," Jasper said, still watching Azara.

"One of your friends?" Dusty sneered.

"Dusty, he has done more for this pack, more for me, than you ever have," Azara snarled. Dusty whirled and stormed out of the room.

"Ouch," Drake said.

Azara frowned.

"Dusty, I didn't..." Azara trailed off, feeling a wave of calm cascade over her.