Merciful - TVD [2]

4

Meanwhile later, as the group of four hiked through the mountains, Elena was clearly becoming tired, they all noticed this when her breathing got heavier, "How you doing?" Damon asked Elena curiously.

"Fine," Elena replied, trying to steady her breathing.

"You know, I could help you." Damon reminded her in a sarcastic tone.

"No, thanks," Elena told him without hesitation.

"Just one little fwoosh." Damon sarcastically commented, throwing his hands up in a curved motion.

"Yeah, with my luck, you'd drop me," Elena responded.

"What are you guys, twelve?" Alaric complained and Mallory chuckled.

"I'm fifteen and don't even act like that," She remarked.

"You've been alive for eight hundred years, too, so," Damon pointed out, earning a glare from Mallory.

____

The sun was setting and Mallory, Damon, Elena, and Alaric were still walking through the forest in the mountains, "We got about a mile left," Alaric informed the group.

"The sun's about to set." Damon pointed out.

"I can see that, Damon," Elena responded, clearly annoyed.

"I'm just saying," Damon replied defensively.

"The moon doesn't reach its apex for a while. We have time." Elena explained to the group before they suddenly heard some twigs snapping.

An unfamiliar man suddenly walked closer to them. His shirt was severely stained with blood and there was a trail of it under his eyes and down his next. Once seeing him, Alaric pointed his crossbow at him, "Stay where you are!" Alaric warned him.

The immediately stopped walking, turning to look at Damon and Mallory, who were standing beside each other, "Vampires." He realized before rushing over to them. More specifically, Mallory. The two of them began to fight and the hybrid pushed Damon against a tree. Mallory didn't fight back much, in fear of getting bitten.

As the man tried to bite her, Mallory grabbed him by the neck, restricting him. Before he could get a chance to bite Mallory, Alaric shot an arrow at him but Ray was still trying to bite Mallory. Damon's eyes glanced over to the visible wolfsbane grenade in Elena's bag. He snatched it from her bag, causing Elena to frown in confusion before Damon suddenly pulled them pin from it, "Mallory!" Damon called out loudly, causing Mallory to turn to look at him.

Damon threw the grenade and both Elena and Alaric were quick to take cover. Mallory quickly caught the grenade before allowing it to explode on Ray's face. The hybrid screamed as his face burned. While the hybrid was wounded and on the ground, trying to stand back up, Mallory lifted up her leg and kicked him in the stomach at full force. The kick was so powerful that Ray's body twisted in a way that broke his back. The hybrid then dropped back to the ground, unconscious.

Damon walked over to Mallory, glancing down at the body before looking up at his sister, "Impressive." He praised her and Mallory smiled proudly.

"Why thank you," Mallory sarcastically replied. She winced, pulling out a single shard of glass out of her cheek. She dropped it to the ground, the small cut on her face immediately healing.

"Let me guess. Hybrid." Alaric spoke up and Mallory nodded her head.

"I would say so," She replied, glancing between Alaric and Damon, "Pick the bastard up and help me tie him to the tree."

Just a few moments later, Alaric and Damon were tying Ray to the tree while Mallory watched them closely, making sure they didn't screw everything up, "These ropes aren't gonna hold him much longer," Alaric told the group, "What else do we have?"