Shadows in the Forest 'Open'

[Jezbel]

Everything was happening so fast Mika hardly had time to fully understand what Leaf had said. "But Leaf... she said just a quiet to scared to say anything above a whisper. She let go of his shit and started to untie the bracelet her father gave to her. Hands shaking she grasped Leaf's hand pulling on it slightly tying the bracelet to him. I don't know how this is going to end...She thought looking up at him with big green eyes. But I hope you'll be ok.

As Leaf spoke to the man Mika started fishing in her bag with her good hand, pulling out the bottle with flammable liquid and a match forming her own plan. She was surprised at how soon Leaf told her to run, losing her balance making her clamp on to the bottle sending splinters of pain up and down her arm. But she ran.
"You! Get the girl!" The leader shouted rubbing his hand, "And don't kill the boy! We need him alive." Once men did as they were told and went after Mika fallowing behind her. The other four surrounded Leaf. Some made upper cuts at him; others went for lower down unafraid of his comment. He was a boy after all what could he do? All they were worried about was keeping him alive and not taking all their frustration of hunting him out on him now.

Once at a good distance from the man she turned around starting to run backwards and tried to light the match. Once, twice, three times and all a fail! "Damnit!" She said striking the match hard and finally checking it. In less than a second fire seemed to flow from her mouth and onto the man chasing her. He fell to the ground trying to put the flame out. He wasn't able to tame the flame. She stood frozen there now unable to move, now unable to feel the world around her. Did I, did I... She couldn't finish the thought; the man laid there a burning pile of flesh. She had killed someone, murdered a human being.

[Leaf]

It worried Leaf when he saw a man chase after Mika, but he couldn't pull himself out to stop him. Moreover, he would be doing worse to bring the other four along with him. All he could hope for was that Mika would be able to make it out of the place alive. Watching the blades shimmer about, Leaf did his best to dance out of their way, keeping his motions fluid. The thing was, he didn't have the time to counter as another sharp edge would be swung his way right after another.

Out of the corner of his eye, Leaf saw the leader beginning to pick himself back onto his feet. He couldn't let this happen, for five was going to be harder to deal with than four. Leaf ducked under a blade and slipped between two of the thugs and headed straight toward the older man. The leader immediately noticed his approach and dove for his sword. He grabbed it and raised it up, nicking Leaf in the hip before the thief kicked the sword out of his hand, making the leader fall flat on his face.

As the other men realized that their target had slipped out from between them, they turned around to face the thief, who had grabbed a handful of dry dirt. With a quick toss, the dirt spread into a dusty cloud, temporarily blinding the men. Taking his opportunity, Leaf began his transformation. Pure white fur spread over him and his fangs and claws emerged, arming him with natural weapons. Soon, the boy was replaced by a proud wolf, with the leather bracelet as the only human thing left.

Leaf gave a quick glance toward the direction Mika had run off to. There was no sign of her nor her pursuer and Leaf hoped that she had gotten away alright. He then faced the thugs, who had recovered from the sand and approached him more aggressively than before. "He is like his friend! A beast! Catch him!" the leader screeched. Leaf's ear swiveled, startled. His friend… Did they mean Shadow? Was it they who had taken him? Leaf bared his fangs and snarled before pouncing toward the men. If they were involved with the disappearance of Shadow, then he would make them pay dearly.

[Jezbel]

Then men were getting more and more frustrated as the boy evaded their attacks. How could four grown men not get a single blow on one boy? He seemed able to just slide past their attacks, no problems what so ever. Their blows were getting faster but also sloppier. It was easier to dodge them do to the lack of aim. The men didn't even notice Leaf's escape for a moment or two. Not until the clang of metal on the ground. Spinning around they were taken by surprised when dirt flew into their eyes. A few stumbled back the others cried out.

When the dirt cleared all of them were taken back by the sudden transformation Leaf had taken. "Just because he's a mutt doesn't mean he can get away!" The leader yelled veins popping out on his forehead. One man started freaking out; he wouldn't deal with another one like him. "Get a hold yourself." The leader’s voice was a low growl. He wouldn't let his team fall apart on him now. Three of the men fallowed the leader’s example and surrounded the wolf. They wouldn't let him get away this time.

Mika stumbled backwards away from the scorched body. A small crowd was starting to form, whispering filled her ears. Scared looks were thrown her way from every type of creature. To Mika even the squirrels seemed to scurry away from her. "I- I - I did- didn't m-m-mean t-to." She stuttered again and again. She saw the group of children come into view, the girls started screaming at the body. Mika could get anything out to explain. She started to run, what was she going to do now? Go back to Leaf, help him? Would she be able to do that? With an un clear mind she started back to the shop, hiding along the walls trying her best not to be seen.

[Leaf]

Tooth and claw was deadly, but had significantly less range than the steel blades. Traces of red began to stain Leaf's snow white coat as the stings of the accumulating cuts began to hinder his movements. With the swipe of a claw, three long gashes stretched across one of the men's faces. The blow was returned with an unhesitant swipe of the sword and Leaf could feel his side raked open. Leaping back, Leaf sought to catch his breath. It was becoming harder and harder to keep his eyes on the dancing metal.

As he was darting his eyes back and forth, Leaf felt a strong yank at his throat. "I've got you now, you animal!" a man cackled. Leaf snapped his head back, seeing the thug who had chickened out earlier. Somehow, the man had produced a rope and lassoed it around his neck. Feeling the coil, Leaf began to thrash and tear at the rope, trying to break free. His movements were stopped by the choke of the cord as well as the gleam of a sword that appeared before him. "Finally! We've got you," the leader sneered as he leveled his sword at the wolf's throat. "Alive, too. Master Knowles is going to reward us greatly." Leaf growled menacingly, but the thugs only sniggered at his pitiful demeanor. "C'mon boys. Let's go see if the girl's been caught yet." the leader said to the men, waving his hand in the direction where Mika had run off to. "And you, thief," he said, pointing at Leaf. "Don't even think about escaping, or…" He made a slicing gesture by his neck before roaring with laughter and walking down the road. Leaf was then tugged along by the rope, trying to resist as much as he could. The other men brandished their blades beside him and gave Leaf a glare, making his futile struggle even more worthless. He only hoped that Mika had gotten away safely.

[Jezbel]

Disgusting smiles smeared their way across the men’s races. Seeing the werewolf begin to weaken was a joy to them, seeing blood glisten off of their swords brought a happiness that could compare to little other. This was their job, this was their love. As Leaf appeared to is having a difficult time staying on his own feet the men’s swords picked up relaxing at the site of his pain. They would have killed him right there, why shouldn’t they? After all they were the one’s crawling through the brush, hunting for day and only to keep him alive? That didn’t seem right to them but of course they knew if they went too far they wouldn’t get a reward. That reward is what saves that dog from collapsing dead on the street, blood racing down the sides of the road.

As the rope tightened around Leaf’s throat the men eased back knowing that he would be going nowhere. They left him, walking down the road if they hadn’t almost killed a boy. They walked right by the barrels Mika was hiding behind, completely unaware of her proximity. Within thirty steps they would come upon the body. Not wasting time Mika went around the barrels walking normally down the street. Mika had watched them capture Leaf unsure about what to do and at the moment she still wasn’t sure. She came about five feet behind the guard who was intently watching Leaf, stopping she signaled Leaf to stay quiet by raising her finger to her lips. She looked around nothing coming to mind until she saw a man; he was an intimidating man one that would have to help a small helpless little girl. She ran over to him tugging on his sleeve. “Mister, could you help me? That mean man took all my money and said he would do bad things to me!” She put her face in her hand sniffling working to sell this.

“Of course, I’ll teach him a lesson.” The man said walking to the guard. Within seconds they were yelling, a minute later the guard punched the man and a fight broke out. She slipped between the crowd to Leaf bending down she untied him, “Come on we have to go.” She said quietly helping him up, though it was a little weird pulling a wolf up. “I don’t know what we should do…” She said to herself walking away from the crowd helping Leaf along. She looked back and started to panic the leader had come back and breaking up the fight, just a head turn to the left and they would be done for.