Red Like Roses

Chapter 9

"Where do you think you're going?" the Alpha asks stepping out from behind a tree.

"Home," Meghan says her voice quiet but deadly.. She grips her bow tightly and stares right back at the Alpha.

"Oh I don't think so," he replies," She's ours. We still need her you see. I'm sure you understand."

"We?" questions Aidan putting Heather down against a tree.

"Yes," the Alpha says. "WE!" As he says this the yellow, orange, amber, and green eyes light up all around them. Ethan draws his swords and Meghan readies her bow looking up at the trees for a good vantage point. Aidan doesn't move an inch and stands there grinning.

"This is gonna be fun," as soon as the last word leave Aidan's mouth 5 daggers fly through the air each hitting their mark and bringing a wolf down. Aidan swiftly pulls down his hood and the wolves stand in shock before rushing forward. Aidan draws his twin scimitars and rushes forward cutting and slashing in a gracefully way that seems almost as though he was dancing. Dancing with death that is. Ethan charges forward with his bladed staff giving Meghan cover as she leaps up into the trees and opens fire on her enemies. Meghan's mind wanders leaving her body to do what it knows to do so well. When she returns she sees her falcon perched beside her and her own pack of cast out misfit wolves surrounds the battle.

No one is weak because they are different, she thinks while looking at each of her wolves. Some had deformed paws others were, blind or deaf but all were deadly. The alpha of her pack which she had given the name Machiavelli looks at her and she nods. Machiavelli howls and the wolves leap into combat momentarily stunning the werewolves. Meghan's falcon, Diana, also joins swooping down at the werewolves.

"Are you going to lose to three PUPS?!" the Alpha yells. At that moment the wolves are spurred forward and Aidan is knocked backward. Ethan tries to run toward him as the wolf raises its paw to finish Aidan off. Meghan screams:

"NOOOOOO!" And then a shot rings out through the air. The wolf collapses to the ground and everyone turns in the direction of where the bullet had come from to see Heather standing with her weapon raised and a man standing nearby. Heather's eyes that had been filled with pain are replaced by rage. Heather nods once and the man takes off like an arrow. His figure seems to flicker out of reality and no one sees him. They look around confused to see him reappear on the other side of the battle field. They stop confused and then 5 of the werewolves fall to the ground. Heather grins at the now enraged Alpha who takes off. The Alpha charges the man who had so easily taken out a chunk of his forces. As the two fight Meghan hops down and signals to the boys who run over and help support Heather as they run towards the Spire, slipping away while the werewolves watch the battle between their Alpha and the mystery man.

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Once he had toyed with the Alpha for long enough the man decided he had given the kids enough time to get far enough away and that it was time to end this game of cat and mouse. He jumps backwards, away from an attack, and kicks back at a tree propelling himself back at his opponent. He takes out his weapon a long metal pole with a retractable blade at the tip. He shoots towards the Alpha and stabs him through the stomach as he tries to stand pack up for another attack. The Alpha clutches at his wound in his human form, and the others rush forward to help their leader while the man disappears into the shadows once more.

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The man walks back to his camp silently and sits down with a groan.

"What? You getting old Henry?" asks the man's friend Matt.

"Shut up," grumbles Henry," had to save some kids."

"Why?" asks Matt sitting down next to him. Matt was about 16 with bright green eyes and only about 2 years younger than Henry.

"Cause they were saving Heather," he replies," and we need her with them," he quickly adds.

"You sure you're not going soft old man?" Matt asks teasing him.

"Shut up," Henry mumbles. Matt chuckles and starts making food for the two of them.

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What were you THINKING?!" yells Crow at the top of his lungs. Heather groans internally and opens her eyes.

Not the nicest way to wake up, she thinks to herself.

"Would you shut up Crow? Some of us are trying to sleep," she says with her usual smirk. Crow turns around relief clearly written on his face as he sits down next to her.

"Ya know you put them in this situation. They get their stubbornness from you," he says grinning back.

"And who do you think I got it from?" she asks.

"No idea," he replies and they laugh. "How do you feel?"

"Like I was run over by a truck," she says and tries to sit up but realizes she can't feel her previously injured left arm. She looks down and gasps, her eyes widening as she falls silent. Crow watches her as she process the gap from her elbow down where there used to be her arm. He sighs and says:

"You're wound just wasn't healing fast enough anymore and it got infected."

"They........had...........to,"Heather says looking back down at the empty space.

"Heather?" Meghan says tentatively. Heather doesn't move or speak. Meghan walks over a curls up in bed beside Heather. Crow looks at the boys and nods. They all leave and Heather is left with her thoughts.

How could this happen? Heather wonders. I was the best, the strongest. I won the position of leader! Heather immediately remembers that day 4 years ago. She was 12 years old but in the best 16 year old warrior group. And she was still the best in her class. They were in class studying hand grenades through the ages, when Ashley walked in. She briefly speaks to their teacher who nods, Ashley then turns to the class.

"Hello everyone!" she said with an excited smile," today I come with exciting news!" Ashley's eyes meet with Heather's." Today our old leader will step down and someone from this class will take his place!" The room erupts into cheers and chatter. But Heather silently stood up and walked towards Ashley.

"How will it be decided?" Heather asks and the room falls silent.

"You will compete within rounds. First in groups of four, then two, then the one on one finals. If you make it that far that is," she smiles mischievously." Since there are only 10 of you pick 2 people to choose their teams from this class and the other 2 to pick from other classes. Pick your teammates wisely." With this Ashley leaves the room. Kids start standing up and forming teams. Heather goes up to the teacher along with another student.

"My team mates can be from any class and year, yes?" she asks.

"Yes but....," Heather's teacher begins. Without waiting for her teacher to finish though Heather nods and leaves the classroom. She goes down to the year 14 rooms and stops in front of one. She walks in and bows to Shadowsan their instructor.

"I would like to take Solace, Winter, and Willow to prepare for the fights in the arena for the title of leader later today." Heather says respectfully. Shadowsan considers it for a moment and then nods.

"Solace! Winter! Willow! Come help Heather win her place as the head of the Spire!" says Shadowsan sending Heather a smile that she returns. The three girls nod and bow. "Do not disappoint me!" he calls out. And then the door closes and as soon as the girls walk a little bit away they start to cheer.

Time to prove ourselves, Heather thinks.