Small World (Slugterra Fanfiction)

Chapter 14: Friend or Foe

"Woah, that means she's kind of like a werewolf now! Just when I thought facing zombies in real life was strange. She looks wicked!" Eli said with enthusiasm, dodging more furniture being tossed by the ravage beast they had been calling a teammate.
"A were-what?" Pronto questioned with an eyebrow raised.
"Seriously? You think the thing trying to kill us is cool? That's what you're thinking about right now?" Said Trixie.
"You gotta admit, she does look pretty tricked out. Just look at those huge claws!" Kord added.
"She is going to rip my handsome self to shreds!" Pronto panicked.
"As much as I hate to do this, I have an idea. Everyone take cover now!" Eli warned as he loaded Burpy into his wrist blaster. Kord swiftly grabbed Pronto who shouted,
"What?! What are you going to do with that slug?!"
"Probably something dangerous." Eli raised the blaster to aim at Dexas carefully,
"Hey, you!" She jerked her head with a ferocious snarl at him, her body hunched in preparation to attack.
"Don't say I didn't bring the heat!" He fired the slug with confidence. Burpy transformed, now spiraling rings of fire close to the beast. It wasn't long until she instantly slammed the slug angrily to the ground once given the chance. A trail of fire followed Burpy to the ground, setting a nearby rug aflame.
"Burpy!" Eli grabbed his little friend worriedly.
"Guess beastly Dexas isn't afraid of fire!" Shouted Kord in the near distance.
"Though I must admit, I am quite afraid of her!" Pronto screeched. This caught the savage mechabeast's attention before her one good eye suddenly widened with a violet glow, the other still remaining a pitch black due to its blindness. The aftermath resembled the result of being hit by a certain slug, since Pronto screamed,
"Forget afraid! I'm terrified!" He ran around in a frantic circle with his hands flailing in the air.
"I just knew she looked like a frightgeist!" Trixie declared. Eli then blasted a water slug without warning, drenching the burning rug and stopping the blaze. During this, Trixie tackled Pronto to the ground and hurriedly dragged him to safety.
"Bro watch out!" Kord tried to warn as fast as possible, but Dexas abruptly pinned Eli down at the shoulders. She gradually lowered her snout to his face, deeply growling from within her throat.
"Ok, Eli, remain calm.." Junjie advised fearfully.
"Easy for you to say..." Eli's eyes were wide open as he watched her snarling just inches from his nose. Her right paw lifted and slashed across his right eye. This left claw marks streaking down from above his eye to his cheek. Eli groaned in pain, cringing but trying not to since that made it worse. Though through it he began to spit out words,
"Dexas...I know you're still in there. I know you can hear me beyond the rage. You can't let this side of you take over! You have to fight it, please! We need you to come back to us..I need you to come back to us. I-I," he hesitated but frustratedly took a deep breath, "I love you, Dexas. And I regret not saying it sooner..." The gang gasped loudly in unison,
"Woah, did...did Eli just say the L word?" Kord asked in shock.
"He did!!" Pronto squealed, soon coughing to collect himself. Eli could see shock swallowing Dexas' emerald eye, causing him to smile lightheartedly while cupping the side of her muzzle.
"You heard me. I love you, and I will no longer be afraid of you." He repeated softly with emphasis, noticing her ears pin against her head. The predator slowly backed away, freeing Eli from his trap. She glanced from him, to the friends in hiding and back again. Seeing all the fear and destruction she'd caused, the beast bolted away and swiftly out of their hideout.
"Dexas, wait!" Eli pleaded while running after her. The gang rushed behind him, all climbing onto their mechas to follow the menacing monster mecha.