his time when the three of them walked, there was no
silence. No one wanted to be alone with their thoughts, not after Ryan's fate had come so close to being just like all the others that had left the tunnel. They knew he was lucky to be alive and they definitely didn't want the think about that. They should have been worried about how much noise they were making and about attracting attention but they figured they were in danger no matter what, and everything out there would probably be able to smell them before they could hear them.
So this time they found things to talk about, memories mostly, and they all had something silly or embarrassing to say. They remembered how Nate used to love to sit and sing when he was a kid. He used to be a terrible singer and refused to drop the subject until he had demonstrated how much he had improved. Scarlet and Ryan laughed at how bad he was back then compared to how good he was now they were teenagers.
They talked about Ryan pretending he was a prince from the fairytales his parents told him about, and how he made Scarlet his princess and Nate the jester of the castle that they always made out of cushions and blankets. Of course this was acted out as well and Ryan bowed slightly, being cautious of his wound and Scarlet curtsied back laughing at Nate as he danced around like he did as a child. It felt good to focus on the good things that had happened even if they didn't seem good at the time, but smiles and laughter never lasted long anymore. The simple naivety of childhood was long gone.
Snap!
The sound was quiet but still loud enough for Scarlet to hear. She quieted the boys so she could hear better and the sound came again.
Snap!
Something was coming and it wasn't going to be good.
A boy that looked to be around their age came running towards them. He looked human but Scarlet wasn't taking any chances.
"Can you help me? Please, those things are after me." He looked like he had just been chased by something, his shirt was unbuttoned and it seemed to have been ripped by the claws of some kind of animal. His grey t-shirt was covered in dirt, like he had fallen while he had been running. His blonde hair was spiked and a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek, he wiped it away with the back of his hand, as he stepped closer to the three of them.
That's when Scarlet noticed his eyes. There is always a way to tell what creature you are looking at and it's usually the eyes that give it away. His were silver. Metallic silver with flecks of black and a yellow ring around his pupil. Only one creature had eyes like these. Scarlet quickly pulled out her sword, putting the sharp tip to the boy's neck. She started walking forward making the boy step back until his back was pressed up against a tree.
"So Damien's sending werewolves to do his dirty work now? What happened to the keeper?"
She felt annoyed. She didn't have time for this boy, but while he was here she was going to get some information. Scarlet seriously doubted the keeper was scared of a bird and the fact he left them alive was playing on her mind.
The boy laughed a little but stopped after remembering there was a blade dangerously close to his throat. "The keeper had a prior engagement and I had some spare time." The boy shrugged.
The anger in the pit of Scarlet's stomach fired up. Killing really didn't mean anything to these things. "If you were sent to kill us then what's with the act? Why not just kill us?" The sword on his neck was just to keep him where she wanted him. She never planned on using it.
"Hey, Damien's got his plan and if I'm a part of it, I might as well have some fun with it."
This boy was really getting Scarlet worked up and she was so close to doing something she would regret. She twisted the handle of the sword in her hand letting the end of it touch the boy's neck.
"One last thing, and I want a real answer, where is Damien?" She stared into the boy's eyes.
"Oh you're going the right way. Just keep going straight through here, you'll get to where you want to go," the boy said honestly, as he looked nervously at the sword.
Scarlet studied him for a little longer, questioning whether he was being truthful or not. She stepped back after concluding he was telling the truth and turned back in the direction they had been walking.
"Let's go guys, we're done here." She was about to continue walking when there was a voice from behind her.
"You're so angry," it said "why not kill me?"
"I only kill when necessary," she replied without turning around, she continued walking with Ryan and Nate not far behind.
"Damien had his plan, but a person has got to eat," the boy whispered so Scarlet, Nate and Ryan couldn't hear.
Faster than you could blink, the boy was in his wolf form. He pounced at Scarlet, but she turned and lifted her sword so it had landed between the wolf's ribcage as it jumped. It fell to the ground belly up with the sword still stuck between its ribs. Scarlet grabbed the handle and pulled it out letting the blood drip from the tip onto the body of the boy before her.
"It was necessary," she muttered.
Nate and Ryan were shocked. They knew she would never hurt anyone if she had a choice but they didn't know she had the courage or the strength to do that. Before anything more could be said, they were surrounded by angry wolves. This time it was Ryan who said something.
"Ready for round two?"
It might not have been the best thing to say to a pack of murderous wolves, especially when they were outnumbered, but it was so completely the wrong thing to say that Scarlet and Nate couldn't help but smile, just a little. They were ready for another fight.