• Paw prints trekked through the grass, leading through the forest. Curious Laura kneeled down and inspected them with skilled hands. They were fresh. Somewhere off in the distance she heard the creature howl and Laura sighed “I hate hunters. Though I must say, he must be bold to be hunting a werewolf!” She thought. “I should go help it” she continued before she flicked her short brunet hair out of her dark brown eyes. Then without wasting any more time she launched out of her crouched position, running deeper into the dark forest.
    ~
    The huge wolf like creature crashed through the growth, its eyes wide and nostrils flared. Bloody wounds dotted around its shaggy dark fur that had come from the hunter’s lethal gun. “How can one person do this damage?” thought the werewolf desperately before another bang sounded and a strangled howl passed his teeth as the bullet found its mark on his leg. Collapsing to the ground, exhausted and unable to stand the wolf looked up at his persecutor as he stepped from the undergrowth to face him. The hunter sneered at the mighty creature that almost seemed to be bowing now before him. “Finally, I’ve got you were I want werewolf” he said and raised his gun to the face of the wolf. “You don’t understand” the creature whimpered “I’m different from the others” he said pleadingly. “Don’t try trick me, werewolf!” The hunter snarled in response before moving the gun to the place its heart now raced furiously in its chest. Every hunter understood that a werewolf could take a lot of beating, but this would be the shot to end this pitiful creature. “I’m telling you the truth” the wolf half howled and cried. “SHUT UP!” the hunter bellowed “It’s too late, you’re not getting away. You’re dying this day, right now!” with these words in the air he placed his finger on the trigger and lined it up with the wolf. On the ground, though unable to cry in his current form his ears folded on his head and whimpered “no, no, no” both in plead and denial that his life might be about to end. “It’s too soon the werewolf” thought. Closing his eyes tightly the hunter savoured in the creatures fear before he pulled the trigger. At that moment with both the hunter concentrating on his prey and the werewolf eyes shut a rocky tentacle had been snaking its way below the hunter and as he shot it flew upwards hitting the hunter and throwing the hunters gun away. The hunter sat on the ground looking shocked and staring at the tentacle. Following the limb with his eyes, he saw a small girl standing next to what appeared to be a octopus formed by rocks. The werewolf on the ground turned from the hunter and the small girl, confused about what had happened. The girl was saving a werewolf. A creature were known to be savage and bring terror were ever they went although he was good, he understood the fact that she probably didn’t know this yet. Though still bleeding at the leg he lay, awkwardly looking up at his saviour and unable to do anything. The girl without moving her gaze away from the hunter she commanded the octopus creature, “Distract the hunter” she said simply and leapt to the side to dodge the eight arms of the octopus shoot at the hunter. She dived nimbly next the werewolf and placed her hands over his wound on his leg. She wasn’t and expert healer though she knew the basics. Reaching for the power deep inside her she brought it to the surface and let it pour from her hands, then she began knitting the muscled and flesh with a soft sizzle using the power like millions of tiny hands connecting the wounds separate sides together so it appeared to have never been apart from a faint scar. Meanwhile the octopus swayed its tentacles and with a gurgle light green goo seeped from between the rocks. “Poison” the hunter thought and ducked as the poison laced tentacle shot over his head. Jumping to the side he kicked his legs out send him flying and another tentacle shot out like a harpoon to the area he had been standing previous. Making a sound which could have been a growl the octopus flew several more tentacles at the hunter, but the hunter was too agile and weaved through them expertly. The octopus, who was only eager to do his summoners will and had no time for games such as this raised his tentacles and stopped the poison from flowing and concentrated its power at five of the tentacles letting them turn darker and darker in what looked like black flames. “A dark attack now? How many moves does this creature have?” he though furiously before the octopus shot his new attacks at the hunter. Again he dodged the octopus’s tentacles and he spotted his fully loaded gun over on the grass a few meters away. “I’ll end this” he though before he leapt over to it, avoiding another tentacle he raised the gun and shot several times at the creature. Crying out the creature used its tentacles to protect itself. When the bullets stopped coming the creature lowered its tentacles and threw them out in frustration out at the hunter which he dodges neatly again. A fresh wave of rage shot through at the octopus, as it decided that its dark attacks obviously weren’t working and it was time to go all out. Bringing his tentacles he let the darkness fade and suddenly it shock and water spurted around the creature and formed around the creature. The water rushing at a terrifying speed n which made it as sharp as any blade, and as heavy as any club. The hunter raised his gun to shoot the creature though he was too slow and the octopuses tentacles shot out and snapped his gun easily. Snaking up his arms and leaving cuts in its path the tentacle hit him roughly to the side and the hunter cried out in pain. Blood poured from his wounds, but the octopus gave him no time to recover and beat the human again and again till the grass at his feet had turned crimson. The hunter then new his mistake had been when he had angered the creature and new thought entered him mind. “Am I going to die?” he thought lying on the ground. The hits had finally stopped coming as the octopus obviously though he was dead. “No” he though and heaved himself from the ground and glared at the girl no helping the werewolf to his feet, refusing to back down, and pulled a short blade from his backpack. His emergency weapon. “He must be a weapon master” the girl said grimly looking at the blade. “Probably” the werewolf agreed, who had recovered from his near death experience. “I am a junior weapon master” he spat at her. “But I don’t need to be a master to kill you both” he said bitterly. “I can still beat you two” he bellowed and launched himself at the octopus and slashed at it furiously. Unprepared the octopus was slashed across his head and blood poured from his wound. Weakly the creature tried to block but it new that it had failed his summoner. Falling, the creature disintegrated into the rocks that it had been born from. “No” Laura shouted in dismay at the fallen creature. She knew she wouldn’t be able to summon another one till sometime. Furious at the death of the creature she turned to the hunter and raised her hands letting her power vent through her fist. Though now, this was no healing power, this power burned like fire and flicked at the air around her turning red under the intensity of her rage. She placed her burning palms together and quickly recited the well-known of another summoning. The fire disappears from her hands and the hunter grinned. Her attack had failed and he raised his sword. Suddenly a giant burst a huge bird shot through the canopy and swooped the hunter who shouted out in shock. Landing next to the girl the huge bird raised its wings and firs exploded off its deep red feathers. “Kill him” she said rage in her eyes as she stared at the hunter. Without a pause the phoenix raised its wings and with a might beat fire exploded off the hunter and his screams echoed through the forest. His sword fell from his hand as he tried in desperation to stop the flames. With a snarl the werewolf leapt at him and raised his paw exposing sharp claws and he slashed the hunter’s neck. With a thud the hunters head rolled across the grass away from his burning body. He was definitely dead this time. “Thank you” the girl said to the phoenix. The bird looked at her with an unreadable expression “Anytime” it replied simply before it disappeared through the trees, leaving embers in its wake. Now turning to the werewolf she asked “are you okay?” “Fine thanks” replied the werewolf with a trouble sounding voice. “Look, thanks for helping me but you should just get away before I cause you anymore trouble okay?” said the werewolf looking at the burnt human body. Although it he had killed in his own defence he never enjoyed killing people. It went against everything he believed in, and was working to achieve. “Wait!” the girl cried in alarm and grabbed his arm. The werewolf stopped trying to leave under her touch and turn his huge wolf face to hers. “I- I’m Laura” She said looking embarrassed at her outburst, though she didn’t move her hand from his arm. “Luke” the werewolf replied. For a minute he stood staring at each other thinking. He knew she obviously wasn’t going to go. “She’ll leave eventually, they all do.” He thought to himself. “We should get going then” he said and began leaving the battle wounded clearing. “So I can come with you?” Laura said hope in her eyes and a smile on her lips. “Well I don’t think you’re going to leave me alone” he said smiling at her. “Yet-” he thought and began walking again. Again Laura stopped him. “Hey, I was wondering if I could connect with you” Laura said. Luke stared at her blankly. “Errrrr, uh” he mumbled, disturbed at what she had said “I’m not really looking for a relationship right now-“ he began awkwardly looking away. “No not that connect” Laura laughed covering her mouth to stop herself laughing any louder. “Connecting is what a summoner does so she can have a bond with the creature and summon them whenever she needs them” she explained, laughter still in her eyes. “Oh!” said Luke embarrassed at his stupidity and opened and closed his mouth, trying to find a response without and luck. Laura laughed again and if Luke had been in his human form he knew he would have been red in the face. “I can connect with any animal as long as I have its consent, and it’s strong in health” Laura explained. “Okay I guess we can connect” he said awkwardly and Laura beamed at him. Holding out her hand she placed it on his shoulder and murmured some certain words in a language he didn’t recognise. With a strange burning sensation he looked down to a strange mark on his fur that looked like circle on a cross. “Whenever I summon you, you get a temporary energy burst from me.” Laura explained. “What happens if you summon too many creatures?” Luke said still examining the white mark. “It’ll start taking my life power and if I summon too much, or give too much power my heart could give out” she said simply. “Common let’s get going” she said and walked into the trees ahead. “Yeah in a second” Luke called after her and turned back to the fallen hunter going over to him he stared down at the human who had so very closely taken his life and yet given him the chance to meet Laura. An odd mixture of feeling welled through him. “One thing is for sure” he thought to himself “I won’t forget you and then he saw it short blade. Picking it up he examined it. It was well crafted and made a brilliant weapon. “What would a junior weapons master be doing with such an expensive and well-made blade” he said, confused. Shrugging it off he continued through the forest after Laura and the blade in his hand.