The Hunters

She's a What?

CHAPTER THREE

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Everything was black. I couldn't find out exactly what happened but knew if I didn't act soon I'd pass out and die in this vortex.

I heard screaming off in the distance and felt something clutching me, but I couldn't tell what was going on. Then I remembered. The hunters chasing that youngling...that youngling was what was screaming. I wouldn't let her die, and I couldn't afford to die either.

I concentrated on a solid ground, anything at all would do. The screams grew louder now and I could feel a heavy weight at the core of my body. Slowly I felt the reality around me grow stronger and stronger until it was almost crushing. Then, unexpectedly, I hit the ground with a hard thud. My skull crashed against the cold surface and I yelled in pain. The younglings screaming did nothing but intensify the ache to my now spinning mind. I tried to lean forward but was pinned by the surprisingly heavy girl. She thrashed about in complete shock. I tried to avoid her fists but one caught me right in the temple. Fiery agony bloomed within my skull and my vision went black again.

I was still barely conscious when the youngling finally stopped screaming and lay still for a couple of minutes, then she crawled off of me and poked me lightly with her foot. When I made no attempts at movement she grunted in satisfaction.

"Time to get you back to base," she said with satisfaction. "Oh we really did good this time! The clan leader for heavens sake!"

I stiffened at the strange accent to her voice, but pretended to still be unconscious. I heard strange clicking noises and then she bent down beside me. She grasped my hands firmly in hers, intent on tying them up. But I wasn't going to go that easily.

With a scream I lashed out at her, digging my finger nails deep into her face. She jumped back in surprise but something was wrong with her in the way she glared at me. I jumped up and puffed out my wings in an attempt to size her up, but all she did was stare at me with the same blank expression. I hissed at her and flapped my wings again trying to get any kind of reaction, but her cold glare was unwavering.

"We don't wish to hurt you," she said in a strange buzzing voice. "Please come back with us calmly and you will not be harmed." I could see something flash behind her eyes and her face try to move but all that came out was a hiss from within her skull. I took at step back as her body shook, clicking noises coming from her joints.

Then she took a giant leap forward, a demonic wail echoing within her head. My heart froze as I noticed her red eyes and grey tinted skin. She wasn't a sister, but instead some mutant freak. I jumped up high and heard the thing below me whirl in a circle; ready to catch me when I came down.

Not today freak I thought to myself.

I brought my wings up hard, making my decent quicker. The thing below me clicked as it tried to readjust but it was already to late. My foot collided with a satisfying smash against its skull. Lightning whirled from its body as it collapsed to its knees.

I on the other hand fell to the ground as I realized just how badly it hurt to kick it's skull. My foot throbbed and I clutched it in a pathetic attempt to make the pain stop. I heard strange clicking noises and looked up to the the creature peeling off what I thought was its face. What was left made me almost throw up.

A metallic skull with two red orbs for eyes glared at me. A low screeched left its jaws as it began to stand up. I held back a scream as I tried to stand but fell back to the ground with a dull thud. It's joints hissed as it stepped towards me; slowly gaining momentum. I began trying to drag myself away, little sobs caught in my throat as the thing approached. My insides reeled like a whirl pool and suddenly they became extremely hot. Thick sweat beaded from my scalp and ran down my face. With each closing step my insides began to grow hotter and hotter. I began panting as I attempted to breathe in cooler air but it wasn't working. What was wrong with me?

The creature let out another low hiss as it extended its arms towards me. I stood shakily and began to hobble away, pain erupting from my foot with each step. But I wasn't fast enough to keep this up for long. Fear filled my body as I tried to hobble faster, but the thing gained speed as well. It screeched low and to my surprise was a lot closer than I had originally thought. What happened next pushed me over the edge. It's hand reached out and grabbed my shoulder and its low hiss sent shivers down my spine. I spun around quickly and was eye to eye with the most horrific sight I had ever seen. That's when I lost it.

I opened my mouth and let out the loudest blood churning scream I could manage. Hot flames filled the air around me, only causing me to scream louder. The thing released its grip and fell to the floor. Its skin melted off reveling a metallic skeleton. It twitched as the flames caused it to spark and sputter.

I fell to my knees, unsure of what had happened but to exhausted to care. I dragged myself away from the lifeless skeleton and slowly closed my eyes. The cool floor provided comfort to my over heated body and within seconds I was half asleep. Where had the fire come from I pondered as I drifted off into darkness. I shivered slowly as the heat went away and coldness took its place.

Now all I could do was wait until I was rested enough for the travel back home. I sighed slowly as I thought of home and Aeris. How I missed her ignorant babbling right about now. The Menders would have a difficult time teaching her.

I heard a strange beep come from the skeleton on the other side of the room. I opened one eye and peered at it for a while but didn't hear another beep. That was probably your imagination Arielle calm down. I closed my eye again and pulled my wings against my back for warmth. Rest now and leave tomorrow I thought to myself as I slowly drifted off into a deep slumber.

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There a little longer then the last two. Sorry I haven't updated in a while I've been busy. Yes I have a life who would have guessed.