Omen of War

Chapter 22

Vivien Heartstring (P.O.V)

"... And Vivien Heartstring. We all know she's the first Tiger-humans' leader and even though they are gone, I believe she would be a strong fit for this role as a former leader who can give insight into how a witch fights and how vampires fight." April spoke as she gestured to me.

I glanced around and then up at the people she had called on for her council. Kevin and Lorine were up there, but so were Zephyr and Valencia. Isabella was making her way up to April right now and I slowly made my way towards her. Why did she choose me and Isabella? Let along with the three new people that no one truly trusted yet? Was she that strapped on people to replace those that she lost?

As I made my way up, the sound of a screech filled the air. Griffins flew out of their perches down at something behind a few houses. April stiffened up and fear came crashing from her in a wave. Before anyone could move to stop her, she bolted for her house, her hand on her sword.

With a sigh, I followed. Alex ran in front of me, already in tiger form with his fur spiked up along his back. Something had them both spooked. Kevin, Lorine, Zephyr, and Valencia must have recognized that something was up too because they were running after Alex and April in their tiger forms.

As I got to the house, I noticed two witches and two tiger-humans approaching the house. A growl rippled out of my throat, and I pulled out my sword. April and Alex were inside with everyone else. As I stood there, preparing to fight with my sword, vines shot out of the ground and tried to swat the witches and tiger-humans away.

I turned my head towards Isabella, noticing she had followed me. She looked determined and didn't at all seem to be exhausted. I could tell by how the witches and the tiger-humans backed away, that it could very easily not be an illusion given Isabella's talents with nature's magic.

"Hey grand aunt, let's fight them together." Isabella said with a smile.

I nodded and kept an eye on the tiger-humans that were approaching. I handed Isabella my sword, turning to my tiger form. A growl rolled out of my throat as I felt every strand of fur along my scruff and shoulders spike up.

As they continued to approach, I felt a roar beginning to rise through my throat. My roar had the tiger-humans pausing for a few seconds. I unsheathed my claws and charged at them.

The first cloudy-eyed tiger-human tried to rear up on his hind legs to swat at me. I ran full force into his stomach with my head down. I felt his claws rake along my shoulders and up to the top of my head. I growled in anger and tried to claw his right hind leg.

Howls filled the air and I glanced around to find werewolves pouring out of their side of the city. They charged at the witches and cloudy-eyed tiger-humans with a look of anger. I felt a small wolf jump onto my back and the next thing I knew the tiger-human in front of me was trying to get a small black wolf with a set of scars on its left eye off it.

I turned towards the other tiger-human to find it already locked in a fight with a white wolf. The white wolf's fur was coated in blood and her gray eyes told me exactly who she was. The white wolf was Artemis and judging by the size and stature of the small black wolf, it was clear it was Zackery.

I backed up, letting the two fight the tiger-humans, and looked at the witches who were locked in a magic fight with Isabella. Isabella seemed to be faring well, but she looked like she was nearing the edge of her magic capabilities. I slowly moved towards the witches, ignoring the blood that was coating my shoulders, scruff, and head.

As soon as I got close to the witches, I launched myself forward, my claws outstretched. Before the one closest to me could react, I had her pinned down. I roared in her face, watching the color drain from it, and breathing in the scent of fear coming off her. I backed up, letting the poor girl get up. She turned and bolted, leaving her friend behind. Her friend noticed me and the fact her friend had left and hesitantly backed away.