Monster Legends: Inevitable Betrayals

Burning Prophecies

Taiga took one step outside the hospital to see dozens of people waiting for him. 

Most had signs up in the air, and some even had torches. 

"Down with the rule!" they chanted. 

Taiga hated it all, clenching his teeth and trying desperately to be silent. Uriel put a finger to her lips, temporarily soothing him. The protestors, almost in unison, slipped on masks that once represented their greatest enemy. 

Taiga was mortified to see Scryb's disgusting features all around him. The face was pure hatred, his slimy grin smirking down at him from the dead. 

Kimber mouthed "look," as she pointed to one of the back rows of protestors. There stood a monster with a long pink gown that floated a few inches off the ground. They also had a Scryb mask pasted to their face. 

It was Xiron the Ruby. 

"XIRON YOU DIRTY SON OF..." Taiga almost blurted, but inhaled deeply to stop himself. A single tear trailed down Uriel's face as she recalled how Hackster had died to Scryb's forces. Now Xiron supported his rule. 

Uriel fell to the ground, completely in shock, as all of the rioters suddenly peered in their direction. They saw nothing. 

Xiron floated over toward the sound, sure she had heard something. She approached fast, as she was now only mere feet away. 

Shadow and Uriel clenched their eyes shut, as Xiron inched ever closer. 

Taiga took out Hackster's glasses that the hamster had given to him as he died. He had treasured them for the entirety of his rule. He then looked back at Xiron, her bright Scryb mask highlighting his expression of disbelief and rage. Hackster's dying breath still felt fresh against his flushed cheeks. 

Xiron had loved the hamster, cared for him, but now wore the face of her greatest oppressor. The monster that had mercilessly killed him for personal gain. Her magenta colored hand cluelessly brushed against the tiger's fur, causing Taiga to shiver and Xiron to jolt forward in surprise. Taiga's body reappeared to the rioters, along with Uriel and Kimber as he bumped against them. 

Xiron stared at Taiga with immediate regret and fear. His face swelled with uncontrollable anger, and his eyes had turned back to yellow. She glanced at Hackster's glasses, making a sudden sadness rush through her veins. 

"Taiga, I-" 

His hit shot faster than lightning. Xiron's face absorbed the blow, the mask shattering along with her light nose and chin. Taiga's knuckles almost went through bone, but held back beforehand. His hand leaked blood, which was certainly not his own, and twitched rapidly when he realized what he'd done. 

Xiron reeled back toward the protestors, making them clear a circle around her. She somehow maintained balance, as her sadness was now replaced with adrenaline. 

"TAiGa!" she screeched, her voice shaking like a broken microphone. Her face was horribly deformed, as her forehead was pushed inward along with her lower jaw. Her bottom set of teeth bulged outward, in addition to the pair of bloodshot eyes. Taiga stared at the protestors, their jaws all gaping from the sight. Their point was amazingly proved before their eyes. 

Taiga suddenly sprinted from the scene, uncharacteristic for the usually brave monster. Uriel and Kimber followed shortly, leaving Shadow behind to gaze at the incoming mob. 

She was still quite traumatized from every event that had occurred, and this was the breaking point. Her lip quivered, watching her friends race away. She couldn't bring herself to move. 

The wave rushed towards her, causing her body to be overlapped in seconds and then violently tossed between protestors' feet. Her bright orange hair was dirtied and battered, as the last of the rioters bashed her head into the cement ground. The last sight that her eyes perceived was Kimber glancing behind to see her friend beaten beyond belief. 

She didn't return. 

Taiga and Kimber's endless stamina proved difficult for the protestors to compete with, but Uriel lagged behind, beginning to cough hardily from exhaustion. A rioter tried to grab her, but was met with a dagger to the temple. Taiga ran backward, snatching Uriel in his arms and continued to sprint forward. As he heaved her onto his shoulder, another oppressor leapt toward him. The monster was Narok, another member of Taiga's former army. The soldier had advanced ahead of the mob, intent of catching the escapees. 

Taiga predicted his leap, jolting backward to meet his attempt, two daggers in hand. They went through his rough uniform without struggle. 

"Urghh..." groaned Narok, face turning white while he limply collapsed. Xiron now led the group, barely regaining balance after the hit. Her teeth still stuck out like a sore thumb, bulging from her lip. Taiga tapped Kimber on the back, urging her to speed up. Xiron yanked out her lean staff, a red thunderbolt suddenly shooting out of the tip. 

Before she could react, without looking, Taiga threw two daggers at Xiron. One sunk into her chest and another to her abdomen. She sunk down without another word. 

Several other rioters quickly caught up to the struggling group. Lighterium, Saulot and Zeighar were up front, still in hot pursuit. LIghterium was put down quickly by a lingering dagger, and Saulot lost balance and was swiftly overwhelmed by the incoming monsters. Zeighar shot purple lightning at Taiga, but his target dodged, flipping backward and over the blast. He glared at the tiger, unable to notice Kimber's fatal rush, propelling him toward the crowd. 

As the group ran, Taiga noticed a nearby clearing that led to a forest. They were nearing the city edge. 

"Taiga, what are you doing?" exclaimed Uriel. "If we exit the city, we're nearing feral monster territory! There are no laws beyond city limits!" 

"We have no other choice," retaliated Taiga, picking up speed and turning with immense speed, jerking his whole body around skillfully. The mob did not expect this, causing most of the cluster to halt and topple over. Dozens of monsters clobbered into one another, but some escaped, refusing to let Taiga leave. 

"We're almost there!" shouted Kimber, matching Taiga's sprint into the clearing. They approached the bridge that connected to the forest, granting passage over the lake. Once they crossed, Kimber slashed the bridge, severing it in two. 

Mop, the monster from the hospital, retreated backward, only to leap over the enormous crack between water and land. As he jumped, Kimber hurled her spear, striking deep into his yellow fur. His eyes went dark, plummeting down into the deep waters. Kimber snatched her spear and joined Taiga, beckoning her into the forest. Xiron could barely see them leave, scarcely clinging to life. She scowled at Taiga's fading shape, clutching her worsening wound. 

Taiga brushed aside the immediate trees and rushed into the nature ahead. His persistent run turned into a sprint, darting past plants and various types of wildlife. He suddenly halted, sensing trouble ahead. He looked down to see a severe drop of about twenty feet ahead, and beyond the drop, lay tens of straw huts and quaint fires spread about the area. Diverse monsters roamed around, seemingly unaware of the chaos in the city. 

Taiga slid down the cliff, Kimber close behind. He set Uriel off his shoulder and clenched his muscles tight. He was finally exhausted. A monster noticed him, turning around in an instant. 

Silverleaf's wise smile caught Taiga off guard, earning a defensive position from the intruder. 

"Easy Taiga, you're safe now," he soothed. 

"How did-...I was running as fast as possible, I...how could-" the tiger sputtered. 

"Oh Taiga, you have much to learn. Tea? The elves much look forward to meeting you."