Voices

Healing

 A week had passed by since Eli found out my monstrous secret, and since I haven't had to hide anything from him it made it easier to be around him. He still was teaching me to be a slugslinger, and was trying to explain trick-shots when Trixie ran out to us. She seemed worried.

"Guys," she started, "there's trouble!"

"Nice to see you too," I grumbled, lowering my blaster.

"Eli you remember the Hooligang right?" she asked, obviously ignoring my sarcasm.

"Yeah, I thought they ran for the hills after we saw them last."

"We all did! But they've been causing trouble at that cavern again, and this time they've been using the Ghouls to terrorize the citizens!" I poked my head up from behind Eli's shoulder trying to seem like I was in the conversation.

"We have to go back and run them out again," Eli said while turning away.

"But what about training?" I asked sadly. To be honest I liked training with Eli, he was gentle and explained things to the point where I'd understand the topics.

"We'll have to continue tomorrow. Sorry, Astrus."

I stood there with a blank expression, thinking. "Could I go along too?"

"No way!" Trixie shouted. "The Hooligang is, like, wicked tough! And you're still learning to be a slugslinger!"

"You said they have Ghouls, with my current state I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to help you guys out." I turned to Eli, "What do you think? Can I go along too?"

"Well," he stopped thinking for a moment, "I don't see why you wouldn't be able too. And with you being affected by the Dark Water too maybe you'll have a connection with the Ghouled slugs." I smiled brightly; my fangs exposed, and hugged him tightly.

"Thanks, Eli!" I cheered heading back to the hideout.

When the three of us got back Eli got his Mecha beast 'Lucky' ready to head off into the caverns. I stood next to the mechanical animal looking at it in amazement. Eli glanced over at me and smiled, "Do you wanna tag along with me? I'm sure Lucky won't mind a bit." I looked at the beast's glowing blue eyes. Eli tapped my shoulder grabbing my attention. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just thinking. Do you think I'll be able to help you guys at all?" I asked barely above a whisper.

"I'm positive that you'll be able to, given your Dark Water appearance." He gestured to my current state.

"Do you think I'll be able to help without using any slugs?" I looked at my sharpened craws, and then retracted them, like a cat, into my skin. He nodded and hopped up onto Lucky. He held out his hand and helped me up onto the mechanical beast. He then started off into the direction of the cavern, Trixie, Kord, and Pronto all following close behind. I wrapped my arms protectively around his torso, and lightly pressed my face into his back. I felt him tense up so I let him go and tried to keep my balance.

We made it to the cavern in less than an hour and I could already tell the duel wasn't gonna be pretty. There were Ghoul slugs hopping around growling at the citizens. Something inside me snapped and I hopped off of Lucky and onto the ground while he was still running. I landed in a crouched position, like a cat, and scanned the area for the leader. I ran around to find him, keeping to the shadows. When I finally caught sight of him I saw him get ready to fire a Ghoul at Eli, anger flooded my nerves and I ran up the tree he was under and waited for him to take aim. In the split second it took him to get Eli in the crosshairs of his blaster I was on him knocking his aim off to the point that he shot his slug into the ground. I extended my claws and had them in direct line of his throat, my fangs bared.

"Astrus!" Eli yelled.

"Get outta here, Eli! I got this!" I growled at the leader who was trying to wiggle his way out from under me. I placed my hand onto his chest and pushed him into the dirt more.

"Looks like you got yourself a new pet there, Shane." He said as he slightly raised his blaster to my side. "Too bad she's about to die."