Shaggy and the Forest

Chapter 10. The City

(Reader's pov)

After several days of travel, they have set up camp, sitting around the fire no one speaks for awhile eating a deer they caught before, Shaggy stares into the fire thinking of Alixia, thinking of Walt and how he will react to Shaggy's sudden and unexpected return. Alexandria stands as she finishes the meat and she goes off to train, Benji remains sitting slowly eating his meat, Jasper finishes his meat and checks his wound on his side, "Still can't believe you cut me this bad," Jasper says to Shaggy, Shaggy smirks, "Well, I was trying to kill you so enjoy the sentiment, plus she did heal you," Shaggy gestures to the direction Alexandria went. "Yes but it only works if you don't reopen it every day," Jasper says, Shaggy stands looking at Jasper, "I know your skill but I know their skill as well, well I don't know how to tell you this but, they will destroy you," Shaggy chuckles handing Jasper his sword, "We must practice, if my life is in your hands I must know those hands are worth my trust." Shaggy stands heading to a clearing just off the mountain path Jasper right behind him, "Really another day of practice? We have been practicing each day we make camp, and you always say the same damn thing!" Jasper says slightly annoyed, Shaggy laughs, "I'll continue to say it until I know I can trust you, now strike me."

Jasper lunges at Shaggy sword at waist height he swings upward, Shaggy counters, spins and slaps Jaspers back with his blade. "Come now Jasp.." Jasper spins swinging low at Shaggy's legs, Shaggy jumps barely dodging, as Shaggy lands he rolls backward, Shaggy braces himself lifting his sword to block Jasper's sword, but Jasper is ready for this so he changes his swing from over hand to from the side, Shaggy drops to the ground sweeping his leg tripping Jasper causing Jasper to fall over Shaggy, Shaggy rolls back to his feet putting his blade to Jasper's neck, "Again!" Shaggy lowers his sword and backs up preparing for an attack. Benji watches from the side for the many hours they practice, he is lost in the training when he feels a hand on his shoulder, turning Benji sees it's Alexandria and chuckles, "You scared the shit out of me Alexandria." Benji says turning back to the training, "Does Jasper know he is getting better?" Alexandria asks in a strange way, Benji looks up at her, "I think he does but his pride won't admit he needs this," Bengi turns back to watch Jasper lunging at Shaggy still failing to get the drop on Shaggy, "Soon it will be your turn young pup," Alexandria says in a harmonic voice, Benji looks back at Alexandria jumping when he sees Alexandria's true form her hand still on his shoulder, "I swear I'll have a heart attack before the battle begins." Benji smirks as he hears Alexandria giggle.

(Benji's pov)

Gathering his gear together for the trip ahead, he notices Alexandria out of the corner of his eye going off towards the clearing away from camp. He looks back towards the others before standing to follow her wondering what she is up too. Entering the clearing he sees Alexandria transform a few feet ahead, though this time he is not as scared, watching her transform he sees her loom at him, "I see you are ready for your first lesson young pup." Alexandria says in her harmonic tone, "Yet you have no weapon, are you wanting to die?" Alexandria asks in a sardonic way. "I don't have any weapons, but I have experience with hand to hand combat," looking at her he wonders what she is planning. "Well, shall we begin?" He asks watching her close, Alexandria smiles and takes a step then fades into the wind, looking around he tries to smell her but can't seem to find her, off in the bushes Shaggy and Jasper are watching waiting to see the outcome, Alexandria forms behind him swinging for the back of his head, but he sensed her behind him and ducks rolling forward, spinning to face her but she is gone in the wind again, taking a deep breath he looks around, Alexandria forms to his right, he catches the scent of her and lunges to the right but Alexandria knocks him back using the wind. "Damnit, how can I even get close to her." He says to himself looking up to see Alexandria smirking holding her hand flat palm up to a small tornado forms in her hand, he gets up and lunges at her but sidesteps her next attack and jumps into a tree, he will have to use all his instincts in this fight both tiger and wolf. He jumps from limb to limb as Alexandria sends wind strikes at him barely missing with each strike, he stops a few branches up turning to look at Alexandria only to see her floating in the air the same height as himself, he growls and drops to the branch below grabbing it swinging himself toward Alexandria, Alexandria floats to the side and he falls to the ground fifteen feet down, landing on his feet he rolls turning he runs toward Alexandria, he jumps swinging at her while in the air, this time he catches her off guard landing one hard strike on her side.