Chapter 1: Keeping On
The one on the ground ran into the tree line, ducking behind one of the trees to take cover as under the light-weight armour that they wore they pulled out a short rod. They then twisted it which extended it to a bo staff that was nearly as long as they were tall. They peaked out and around the tree to see where those that had been following were.
Their attention was then drawn to a bright red glow behind them, turning their head to look they saw a fireball coming right at them, in response they rolled over to one side as the shot hit the ground sending out a flash of red as the fire was extinguished. During the flash the one on the ground could be seen a little better, she was a tall girl, a bark-like skin, her purple eyes were faint in the light, as was her green vine-like hair. She surveyed the sky where the shot came from to see if who she was being chased by were there.
Silence. Nothing could be seen. She slowly stood up, twirling her weapon a couple of times in one hand as she kept watch around her for any other attacks. Then it came, a strong gust of wind that was far stronger then should happen in the tree's. She resisted the gust for a couple of seconds before she was thrown back a short distance into a tree, dropping her weapon as it got thrown to one aside while she fell down into the snow around the base of the tree.
"Janet you fool" She muttered to herself as she got up slowly. "Stood in one spot for too long." She quickly looked around, spotting the faint red glow from the person who was giving it off. She glanced more to find her weapon, spotting it she ran for it, then from above the tree moved, a branch reached down and grabbed her bo staff before she got to it and raised it high up to the tree tops. She looked up a little frustrated then one of the roots from that tree moved up from the ground, the sounds of something moving got her attention, and as she looked around she root slammed into her throwing her back into the snow again.
As she looked up again she saw another fireball coming her way, she rolled sideways allowing it to pass her and hit the snow. She got back on her feet again as another strong gust of wind hit, this time it circled around blowing the snow up around her. As she shielded her eyes she spotted one of the shadows in the tree's above her. She ran between a pair of trees that were close together and started to leap up them by kicking off each of them, and then grabbing onto a large branch, swinging onto another branch, then quickly climbing and jumping to get up to the top of the tree, above the shadow she had gone after. She quietly positioned herself above it, the snow storm the gust of wind created making it hard to see the ground, she then leaped at the shadowy figure, grabbing on as they fell into the snow-covered ground below.
The person that was forced into the ground quickly recovered and on their back a set of small wings flapped into life, but before they could go far Janet shot up and grabbed a leg pulling them back down while the gust of wind that had created the snow storm like environment around her disappeared.
"Behind" A high-pitched voice called. Janet looked around and saw the glow of a fireball coming at her. She pulled on the one she was holding the leg of hard, pulling them down and then she used them as a shield as the fireball hit them in the back. The person screamed as Janet let them drop to the ground as she looked around, not seeing anyone who could have spoken to her, only thing she could see was a Raven sitting in one of the trees watching.
She glanced around more to see if someone was there again, but immediately saw one of the remaining two shadows that were after her. She leapt against the tree like before, going upwards as the shadow came in fast, swooping low, then as they were passing by the tree she was jumping up, she leapt against towards it, kicking off the side and she landed on the back of her target taking that one down to the ground. As she recovered and looked up she could see the glowing figure in the distance, then the head of the one she just brought down raised, aiming their hard towards Janet, she saw the mouth open up, immediately she flipped around, grabbing the person from behind as they made a high-pitched screech, Janet aimed them at the final target who then seemed to drop to the ground. Janet released the one she had and stood up once the screech stopped.
"Hungry now" The same voice from before spoke, leaving Janet a little confused as she went up to the tree her weapon was in, giving it a kick as the grip around her weapons was no longer there, the force of the kick shook the tree and her weapon fell. She caught it and twisted it again, retracting it to its original length.
"Seriously did you have to use me to take that shot" The first one spoke as they wondered up while Janet wondered out of the trees into the clearer space that the ruins provided and up to a pile of 4 backpacks and took out a tennis-ball sized object, wacked it against one of her hands which made it light up in a strong light that allowed her to see clearly. She then held it slightly above her and let go, the object hovering in place. Janet then started to remove the thin but strong back armour she was wearing while the one that had spoken came close enough to be seen. She looked similar to Janet in physical appearance but with the wings which were black framed in segments of a pale green. This one also had pale blue and pale green stripped leggings, a teal crop top with ribbons that gently wrapped around her arms ending in a wristband, a loose pink mini skirt that and calf high purple boots with straps.
"Come on Amy, not like I had much other options" Janet giggled a little as she finished removing her armour and started pulling out some thick clothes and started putting them on over a black bodysuit she wore under the armour. "So not going to say that your big sister is getting better?"
"Ha" Amy laughed a little. "Just be happy I didn't go physical on you."
"Try being the one hit by Emma's screech" The one that glowed commented as she wondered in, rubbing her ears. She had plated charcoal black skin red lines around the edges, orange hair that ended in yellow tips and where her eyes would be she had a pair of glowing yellow marks that she was able to see though. She also had the same wings and leggings Amy had along with a pink poncho with one sleeve on her left arm, a teal skirt that from that came down to her knees on the side and was mini length on the front and back and dark purple over-knee boots that had a strap and buckle around her ankle.
"Well I said sorry Rachel" The final one said as she sighed as she walked over with the Raven flying around her. This one has dark-ish white human skin, black curly hair and brown eyes. She had wings extend from her arms by the wrists that was the same length as her arms and covered in dark read feathers in addition to having tail feathers, while she had talons for feet. She also had a deep yellow short beak and pair of thin black antenna. She wore a pink tank top and teal knee-length shorts that her tail poked out the back of. Her feet were wrapped in a dark purple material that let her talons poke out the ends of along with the same leggings and wings on her back like the other 2 had.
"Just shows how well we have trained Janet then" Rachel smiled a little as she held a hand out and a small pink orb with a metal frame attacked to a necklace appeared out of the hand.
"Still, me screaming wasn't the best idea" Emma sighed more. As then a pink energy wave passed of her, Rachel and Amy, changing them to become slightly shorter, and with Emma her antenna disappeared leaving a pair of black dots on her forehead while her beak became a short stub that was started to form with her nose merging in. In addition all 3 of them had lost the wings on the back and the outfits they had one and were in clothing for keeping warm in while in the cold, with space for Emma's wings to still be used and Rachel in thicker clothing then the others.
"Well least next time Oracle wants us least four of us are ready" Amy commented as they all grabbed their bags and stated to walk off towards light of a city in the distance, Raven landing on Emma's head.
"What happened to five then?" A familiar almost metallic female voice spoke to them.
They all turned to see who it was as the person emerged from the shadows. They were a bit taller than Janet with red metallic skin with silver panels and black dreadlocks for hair.
"Well that would be due to Terri not taking the death well" Emma sighed a little.
"Been a couple of earth months now" The new person replied as she joined them on the walk.
"Even then Undia, the pair of them were close, cant lessen the blow" Janet sighed a little as they kept going, entering a large city.
"So what brings you to earth then?" Amy spoke up after a bit. "Someone needing some beating then?"
"And there you go again Amy" Janet teased her sister a bit.
"What, why else would she be here?" Amy stuck her green tongue out.
"Ignore her" Rachel shrugged to Undia.
"Well she is sorta right" Undia explained. "I was sent here to track down a Lurden that got off Meridian after it stole a fold orb and a couple of other magic items."
"Which one are they again?" Emma asked.
"The person-sized gray-ish monsters." Rachel explained. "Normally living under the surface of Meridian tho."
"They have been for years" Undia added. "They are creatures easily controlled by dark magic, and because of that they are monitored. But the last few days they have been acting up and earlier today a group broke into a part of the infinite city that stores a lot of relics of the past and got away with a few items. We managed to track where they went, but when we attacked, one of them opened a fold and got though. Took hours to track what world they are on."
"Well our job to help I guess" Emma nodded happily.
"Depends, no orders from Oracle for you to help me and you all have your daily lives to lead, so go on as normal and just keep an eye out" Undia smiled to them as she then looked around before settling on a direction to wonder off in, giving a wave as she left.
"Well you best find it first or I'll have given it all the beating" Amy called out.
"So see you both tomorrow then?" Janet asked.
"I got shopping before that party mum is taking me to" Rachel sighed. "Have to dress up smart, nice..."
"Still seams weird with you calling Sophie your mum" Emma laughed a little. "I know the adoption made her your mother in legal terms, but still."
"I am adopted too" The voice Janet heard before came again.
"You hear that?" Janet asked as she looked around.
"Hear what?" Amy asked as they all looked at Janet.
"The voice that said I am adopted too." She replied.
"Nothing was said, only thing was Raven calling out, think he is hungry" Emma spoke as she gave Raven a rub on his belly.
"I am certain I heard someone else" Janet pleaded to them.
"Regardless it started to get late, see you all later" Rachel waved as she headed off.
"I better get home too to feed him" Emma shrugged as she gave Raven a stroke on his head before he took flight and she stretched out her arm wings and flapped away and both of them took off.
"Come on sis, you believe me right?" Janet asked but Amy was just silent as the pair of them made their way home.
Rachel wondered into a small bungalow on a quiet estate on the outskirts of the city. Upon entering she was in a central room with lounge and kitchen all in one. She took off some thick layers that she had to keep warm and changed her footwear from boots to slippers, leaving her still in thick trousers and jumper over a thick top underneath.
"Mum, I'm back" She called out as she got a drink and a straw while neatening up her medium length hair.
After a few moments a tall well built female of a different species to Rachel wondered in. She has medium length dark green hair and matching reptilian-like eyes. She also had a long tail, spikes down her back and the tail and on the forehead along with claws instead of nails. She was completely covered in brown scales while wearing some dark trousers and a shirt along with her own slippers. She smiled when she saw Rachel. "Hey, training go well then?" She asked as they had a hug.
"Yea, Janet is coming on well in her combat abilities, that armour you got is handy" Rachel smiled to her as she sat down on a stool under a counter in the kitchen area.
"And the rest of you?" She added as she herself took out a salad from the fridge and sat opposite from Rachel to eat.
"Getting Amy to use her powers over fists can be a challenge at times while Emma you would never have thought she had a fear of flying before all of this" Rachel smiled as she got herself some meat, put it on a plate, and when she sat down she activated a holo screen next to her and the plate then warmed up cooking her food.
"Still no Terri around then?" Sophie sighed a little.
"No. We last see her at school, but she will avoid us and so hasn't been at practice, and now it holiday's none of us have seen her" Rachel sighed as she replied before stopping the cooking of her food and grabbed a knife and fork to eat it. "Oh, by the way, any strange reports come in over the last few days?"
"What do you mean by strange?" Sophie asked a little puzzled.
"Got told of a Lurden loose that is here on earth today" Rachel replied. "Can't exactly let something like that have free roaming over the city."
"True. I remember being taught about them in planetary studies" Sophie smiled a little. "But nothing has come in which would suggest a Lurden is around, but I will keep an eye and ear open."
"Thanks. And do I have to go tomorrow night?" Rachel then almost seemed like she was moaning.
"While you don't have to be there, I would like you to come and it will be good for you to try and have a normal life to fall back on to get a bit of a break from your magical one" Sophie smiled to Rachel, who just sighed and nodded.
Author's note: So back, and there are plenty of things to come, just hope I can get what is in my mind across for this, but enjoy