Jayden

"Okay, so how are we going to get Cora out?" A.J. asks.

I switch back to my human form and stand.

"Laiel and Elsa are going to take care of that." I tell her.

Shifting back, I creep over to the base, Blighton and A.J. behind. I roar, gaining the enemies' attention before someone jumps from a tree, tackling me to the ground.

Hunter - antagonist


Settling into a comfortable position on a thick branch, I rested my head on my paws and waited something, anything to happen.

It was almost like a gift from god when I heard footsteps- paw steps padding through the earthy forest grounds, heading towards the base. I swung my tail side to side, claws flexing in excitement.

Soon enough the flutter of wings could be heard above with the rustling of leaves made by two...no, three people. I narrowed my eyes, straining to see who had come visit us.

Jayden. Haven't seen him in what seemed like ages. He came to an abrupt stop and ripped out a loud roar.

What the hell? What kind of maniac walks into enemy territory and pratically bellows, 'I'm here!' Though all signs pointed to a trap, I leapted on to him, tackling him down.

In a mockingly sweet voice, I whispered in his ear, "Hello, Jayden, long time no see."

"Hello, Jayden, long time no see." My attacker whispers.

Hunter. Dammit.

I shift human and shoves her off of me.

"Go on ahead." I growl to Blighton and A.J. "I've got this."

I shift back and corner her against the tree she'd sprung from, the fur on my back sticking straight up.

Hunter - evil

I gave him a smile back against the tree, but it must of turned out as a snarl seeing his fur bristled even more.

"What? No hellos?" I said softly, tensing up and unsheathing my claws. I stood on the ends of my toes, ready to dodge when he attacked. For some stupid reason, I couldn't bring myself to advance first.

Diablo Draco~~~~~~~~Evil

There was a commotion from outside the base, which told me that the mountain cat's amigos have decided to come out and play. I didn't leave my post, but shifted half dragon. I knew a trap when I smelled one. I chuckled darkly and said, "Trate de engañarme a la intemperie? Puede que tenga que hacer mucho más que eso. You can't trick a dragon out in the open unless you have something he really likes." I let out a roaring laugh. "I'm impressed of your leader's gutsy and bold move, mountain cat. I have one thing to say to him if I ever come face to face with him again." I grinned. "Buen intento, pero dos pueden jugar ese juego. If there's one thing I can't stand these days, it's not being able to squish your fellow los benefactores like a bunch of bugs."

Jayden

Why am I hesitating?

I force myself to think of Elsa, think of what happened to her, think of being able to go back to her, think of that kiss...
I charge, the anger inside of me taking over.

Hunter - evil

The spell broke and he charged forward, missing my shoulder by a hair. I twisted back towards him and aimed at his pelt, his one open spot. I was only able to dig my claws halfway in when he turned and snapped at me. Lightly, I sprang back into place, eyeing him cautiously. He sured improved a lot since the last we sparred.

Diablo's roaring laughs faintly registered in my mind. I wonder what the rest of the crew was up to now.

Jayden

She claws me in the side and I try my best not to show weakness, not to whimper, not to look back at the blood. Instead, I charge again, sinking my teeth and claws into the back of her shoulders before she throws me off her.
Dammit. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought.

Hunter

for a second, I stopped and watched my blood seep through my shoulder blades and trail along my arm, making ugly splotches onto the ground.

"Huh," I said absentmindedly, aware of his every step forward, "You got me."

I looked back at his golden eyes sadly and launched myself forward. I forgot about self defence or really about myself at all and just aimed at him. Adrenaline pumped way too fast in my veins and clear headed thinking was out of question.

I could tell he was surprised. No animal in their right mind just launches themselves like that, openings everywhere. My speed was my trump card and I knew it could still save me.

I was willing to risk everything for my freedom;the sense of unity, the friends I had labelled as my family...and now, its finally come back to (literally) bite me.

Jayden

She launches herself at me and I have no time to act, her claws digging into whatever part of me they can find. One sweeps across my face and I shift, scrambling out of the way, human. Blood trickles down one of my cheeks, the very air around me stinging it.

My side...

I feel severed from it, even though I know I'm not. Glancing down, I find just how deep it is, reminded of a canyon, reminded of Elsa's wound.

Hunter makes ready for the next attack and I feel myself fade a little, the adrenaline the only thing keeping my eyes open. I shift back and prepare for the strike, wondering what's better at fighting a cat than another cat...

Spoiler

Ha ha, how long should this fight last? XD

Hunter

Jayden shifted back and forth, but not fast enough for him to hide the long gash at his side. My heart felt a squeeze at the sight. My step falters and I slowed to an unsteady step. What was happening to me?

You did this, Hunter, a small voice spoke inside my head. I knitted my brows together and shook my head, clearing myself of the self doubts. Why did this have to happen in the middle of a fight.

I let out another growl and was about to charge forward again when I realized in the mist of my despair, Jayden crept forward and was just a whisker away from me. I shot away, though not fast enough to completely miss the blow.

Damn...I'll have hell to play for this later. Well, at least we were somewhat even and the guilt won't eat up as much of me.

Spoiler

Um, I don't know. But Jayden won't last much longer. I'm not saying death or anything to him but he might not be awake pretty soon. I don't think either him or Hunter have it in them to kill one another. You?

Jayden

She bolts away just before I pounce, still catching a scratch of my claws. Growling in rage, I whip around to face her and plot my next move. Dark spots appear in my vision, first one then another and so on.

Shit. No, this can't happen.

Thoughts of Elsa flash through my mind as Hunter strikes again.

I hope she doesn't hear me scream...

Spoiler

Mmm, yeah, so what are the rest of the shifters suppose to be doing while we are fighting? Maybe we can write someone in and use it as an excuse to stop fighting.

Hunter

Each blow was getting weaker than the rest and just a second ago, Jayden almost slipped on his own paws. I myself was beginning to feel the repercussions of the wound on my shoulders. Our movements began to blur and all I could think of was attacking.

Yet I no longer remebered why...just that it had to be done.

A sharp, piercing roar speared through my trance as I realized just what was happening. I could taste copper blood, Jayden's blood and it oozed out steadily, too fast for my liking. Fearfully I leapt off him. Though battered and bruised, he still charged at me blindly and for once, my legs failed me and I stood my ground like a doe caught in headlights (so cliche).

Spoiler

I don't know. You can but I'm gonna have Jayden do this... Realistically, I don't think he would last any longer than this point with his injuries.

Jayden

I almost had her...

Just as I am about to strike, just as I see this to be the last of the fight from her, I collapse. I shift human without willing to and have no strength to change back, falling on my stomach. I try to push myself off the ground, hoping that maybe I could get away - cowardice, I know - but I can't. Looking up at her, I find her hesitating, watching me as I struggle. Then...

My eyes close. I slip into a dream of Elsa, my blood staining the grass.

Spoiler

Oh ok, well, I'll just leave it open ended

Hunter


I just stood there for the next few minutes, watching Jayden's unconscious form rise up and down with every breath. I felt weak and terribly fatigue so shifted and I lied back down, almost in a fetal position. In reality, I should be jumping up and down in glee, but I felt a hUndred times worse than when I fought with Blighton. This time, we couldn't walk away with scratches and empt death threats.

This time, it was a miracle we didn't tear each other apart.

I sighed and sat up, hugging my knees to my chest. After much contemplation, I dragged him out into the clearing in the direction the rest of his team went. Pressing some moss against his wounds, hoped that they heard the yelps and smelled the scent of blood. I couldn't be found helping the other time though so i gently lifted his own deadweight hand to child the moss in place.

I shifted back into a cheetah and doves into the safety of the woods