The Elf on the Soccer Team And the Girl Hidden in Shadow

Chapter 5- Girl Discovers What She Is

Auris was locked in a Mexican stand-off with the three mountains of rippling muscles that had blocked their path. She glanced over his shoulder at them, realizing just how tall they were. Each was at least 6'5, nearly a foot taller then Auris who was only an inch or so taller than herself, who stood at 5'6. And then the muscles grew.

Their muscles expanded outward, like dozens of balloons receiving air, flexing, threatening. What the hell is going on?

Auris responded. His skinny arms burst with veins, like lines upon a map, pulsing next across his neck and face. She couldn't quite tell from her bad angle behind him, but it appeared as if his green eye that she could see had narrowed, like that of some cat. His ears were easier to see, and they were clearly turning into points on either side of his head, just like any elf you'd read about in old myths. His nails extended out from his fingers like razors, and his stance lowered, reading to strike if threatened further. "This is just a misunderstanding," He called to them, unthreateningly, like a nation trying to reopen negotiations before war could erupt. We all know how those stories end. "I don't know why you would go out of your way to corner me here, but this won't bode well for anyone. Please, at least let the girl go."

"I hear you, Auris, I do," The leader called back, his shirt beginning to tear as his greenish hued skin continued to expand. "But we have questions for her as well. We're well aware you don't have the capabilities to open a dark corridor by yourself."

Now Auris was growing distressed, "I don't even know what you're talking about! Just back off, Axe! I'm not letting you mess with her!"

The leader, Axe finally slowed his growth. Chaaya could now tell that two of Axe's teeth, normally reserved for the bottom set of canines in a human mouth, had grown upward, like tusks. "Don't lie to me! You set our sensors off! Stop playing me the fool, you runt!"

One of Axe's companions took a step forward, releasing a loud grunt, like some pig, and it was on. Auris wasn't attempting diplomatic negotiations anymore, and he made the first move, blistering forward through the icy air to land a kick into the one that had taken a step. His kick was powerful, lifting the muscled figure from its feet, and sliding across the ground. The other two were fast as well, Axe swinging an arm thick as a tree trunk straight into Auris. He flew across the entire parking lot, slamming into an inoperable light pole that bent with his impact.

"Stop it!" Chaaya screamed. She wasn't used to fighting; she'd never so much as thrown a punch, let alone watched a fight that would put any martial arts exposition on the planet take place. This was it. This was the other foot dropping. All three of the muscle-bound masses shot after Auris who was slow to return to his feet. He was still a bit faster, parying the first one to reach him's assault, but the three worked well together. They encircled him, taking cheap shots into his sides, quickly bringing him to his knees. Axe took the final shot, slamming a first across Auris's face that sent him sprawling across the ground.

Chaaya should have been terrified, but her adrenaline was kicking in, and she dashed across the parking lot. She cut in front of the three, blocking them from taking any more shots at the defenseless Auris, waving a warning finger at them as if she was in command of the situation. Fake it til you make it, right?

"Are you all deaf?! I said stop it! Now leave him alone!" She screamed, again forgetting her pained vocal cords. She hoped her voice would carry into the arcade, and perhaps a mob would come to her rescue. But hopes are for fairy tales and pandora's box.

"Get your finger out of my face or lose it," Axe replied cooly, and she could tell by the ice in his eyes that he was serious. She lowered it, keeping her eyes on the leader as she attempted to pull Auris to his feet.