The Search For Peace 2

Chapter 27

Gunshots filled the empty silence of the snow-glazed forest, the Sagittarius Clan aiming for the Gemini clones with great precision. But it didn't matter how many times they shot them down, because once they dissipated into a cloud of smoke, more appeared in their place.

Joshua Aspen wasn't surprised. For weeks he had been fighting these little annoyances with his clan mates, so he was fairly aware of the outcome this far. However he was also aware that this time, he and his clan would have the advantage, thanks to a certain Virgo.

As his left shoulder hugged the end of his rifle, he aimed for one of the female clones of the bunch from behind a tree. His target was ignorant of his position, turning her head as she searched for another Sagittarius to attack. She was a good set of meters away, but aiming wasn't a problem for him at any distance, given his ocular powers.

With ease he locked onto her little blonde head, and she had almost noticed him, but before she could react, his bullet fired through her skull, smoke clouding the area as she vanished. He clicked his tongue with disappointment, missing the satisfaction of seeing blood spray everywhere after his shots.

"Arcane Vision Craft," he said as he lowered his gun in the midst of the towering trees. "Transparency." And just like that, the trunks of wood circling him became as clear as glass, displaying freely whatever was behind them. Striding slowly, he darted his gleaming orange and black gaze around the area.

To his left, he could see the shadows of his clan mates as they waded off the attacks of the twin clones. To his right, some wolves had joined them, taking down the multiplying bunch. When he finally looked up front, his gaze locked onto an peculiar sight.

As he took careful steps towards her, he eyed the back of the small Gemini girl, her yellow hair cascading down as she stood still in front of a tree. She was identical to the rest of the clones, but for some reason, Joshua felt something different about her.

He was very close to her now, yet she hadn't moved at all, let alone flinched. It confused him; the other clones were always quick on their feet.

She was using her magic, no doubt. He could see it inside her like a ball of energy. And it was bigger than the ones the clones had. Which only meant that he'd finally found the master behind this puppet show. He smirked to himself, and advanced stealthily.

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Adrian Abbot tried desperately to calm his anxious heart, the organ so loud he couldn't tell if his frantic panting was louder. His nose itched, but he ignored it and briefly peeked at his target from behind the tree trunk.

The Gemini Boy was barely inches away from him, and he seemed so lost in thought, his eyes closed under his round glasses. Adrian tucked his head back, gulping as his mind raced. The wolves had led him here, after sniffing him out of all his counterparts. Adrian's nose had been tingling too, the smell of flesh and bone making his mouth water.

He shook his head wildly at the thought, afraid his animal instincts would take over completely. It was bad enough he had a pair of extra furry ears poking out of his head, and not to mention a tail.

His wolf ears perked up at a sudden sound to his left. A twig snapped under the weight of a wolf, and he watched it with a fearful eye as it snarled at the Gemini boy, advancing carefully.

"No, no, no!" He yelled in a whisper, scrambling to his feet. To the wolf, that boy was nothing but a meal, so it was only natural it wouldn't hesitate to kill him. But Adrian knew he could not let that happen.

"Stop!" But he was a bit late to the boy's rescue, the wolf already on top of him, gnarling at the arm he had put up to protect himself. The Gemini boy screamed with his eyes closed, trying to kick the heavy animal off.

"I said stop!" With all his might, Adrian pulled the wolf off, a dormant strength he didn't know he had taking over him, allowing him to throw the animal to a far off a tree. Its back hit it with a loud thump, and as it fell back onto its feet, Adrian got on all fours before the Gemini boy as well.

With crooked glasses, Charlie Macfarlane cradled his possibly broken and bleeding arm as he watched the Virgo in front of him growl like a wolf....at another wolf.

He glared at it, his eyes all but slits as he did, the canines in his mouth growing in size. The low guttural sound emitting from him increased, until the wolf in front of him shrunk with fear. Finally, it let out a soft whimper, then straddled off.

As Adrian stood and brushed the snow off his jeans, he noticed the Gemini boy staring at him like he had grown a pair of extra ears or something. Which was true.

"What-" As much as he had mingled with the Virgo's, this was the first time Charlie had seen them in their true element. "What are you?"

He inhaled sharply and his powers began to fade, along with the furry features he had obtained. When he was back to normal again, he smiled down at the Gemini boy he had rescued. "A human, what else?"