Thwang!

The string on my bow made a satisfying snap as I released my arrow. It glided through the air and easily imbedded itself into the target. It was inches away from a bull's-eye.

So close! I thought.

I reached back to grab another arrow out of my quiver but there wasn't one. I looked over my shoulder in surprise and realized I had fired all my arrows. Apparently I had lost track of time….again. I pulled out my phone and checked the time: 8:30 pm. That would mean the archery range would have already closed half an hour ago. Not that it mattered to me. I spent so much time here that I had become friends with the manager. She let me stay late as long I promised to lock the place up.

So I went and collected my arrows and placed all my things in a bag monogrammed with my name, Dustelle, on it. My mom was the one who had it monogrammed. If I had done it myself, I would have just put Dusty. I walked out to the parking lot and systematically shut of all the lights on my way. I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and a sense of unease swept over me. Normally I was fine being alone, but tonight something felt different. A month ago I would have dismissed my feelings as paranoia but after that night….

Don't think about it Dusty!

I started to scan the parking lot for any other sign of life. There wasn't anything that I could see but eyes aren't the most truthful of senses. I pulled out an arrow from my bag and notched it on my bow. I had never shot anything alive before but if it was between me and them, I was going to pick myself. I heard a rustle towards the back of the parking lot and I swung my bow around to face it. It was an animal, but I didn't know anything beyond that, since the lot was too dark to see much of anything. I heard some snarling and another animal jumped out of the trees. This one was chased the other one in my direction and as it got closer I could see what it was.

No it can't be! I shook my head to rid it of the memories of that night, the night I was attacked. This can't be happening.

But there it was. The animal that had gone after me all those weeks ago was here and it was fighting with the second animal. It looked like some sort of cat. There was snarling and hissing and before I had even realized it, I pulled the bowstring to my ear and fired. It clipped the first animal which yelped and jumped backward, giving the cat thing an opening. I shot again and though I missed, the first animal took off into the tree line. The second one, I think it might have been a leopard, turned to look at me. It had piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare straight through me. Then it started walking towards me.

I am so screwed, I thought.

I sprinted to my Jeep, hell bent on getting away. Unfortunately the cat was faster. It over took me in a few bounds but instead of going for me it leapt onto the top of my Jeep. Then it proceeded to plop its butt down and yawn. That did it! The thing scared the living crap out of me then decides to sit on my car just for the heck of it?

"Scram!" I told it, losing all the fear I had before. The cat, which I could now see looked like some sort of snow leopard, only blinked.

"I mean it Furball! I scared away whatever that thing was, so you should be grateful! You definitely should not sit on top of my Jeep!" I yelled at it exasperated.

Were it any other time I might have marveled that a wild animal was sitting on my Jeep but right now I really wanted to go home. This stupid cat had other ideas though. It padded off the top of my car then onto the hood then onto the ground. Then he walked up to me.

I stared at the Snow leopard and informed him, "Y'know snow leopards are supposed to be scared of humans."

The cat looked at me and could swear it was grinning at me. I was about to offer it my hand to sniff but I heard voices behind me.

"Roy! Oh goddess I'm glad you're okay!" A boy with dirty blond hair yelled. He and a curly haired girl next to him ran towards me.

Are they talking to the leopard? I wondered.

I turned to look at the cat behind me, except there was no cat behind me. In the cat's place there was a tanned boy about my age. He had wavy black hair with gray tips.

"Holy Shit!" I screamed.

The boy ignored me and looked over at the two people that been yelling earlier.

"Are you two alright?" He asked.

"Just some bumps and bruises, Roy. It was a trap- Hey who's this?" The red headed girl asked, finally noticing me.

"I don't know anything about her except she's good with a bow," the dark haired boy answered.

"Hey! Hold it! What is going on here? And where did that cat go?" I demanded.

The girl raised an eyebrow and the spikey blond shot a look at Roy.

"Haden I need you to make her forget," Roy ordered the blond. He said it so nonchalantly. Like it was no big deal he was asking someone to mess with my mind.

"No!" I drew my bow, seething with anger, "You aren't going to make me do anything!"

I switched between aiming my bow at Roy and at Haden because I wasn't sure who was more of a threat. Haden held up his hands in front of him in surrender and turned to the dark haired boy.

"What do you want me to do boss?"

The girl interceded, "Look I don't want anyone to get hurt here but if we tell you what is going on you might not like the answer,"

I lowered my bow slightly, "I don't care. I still want to know."

The girl looked at Roy for his input. I also stared at him trying to mentally persuade him to listen.

"Fine!" He growled, "But we can't do it here, it's not safe."

"We can go to my place," I offered then paused for a second. " I don't suppose you guys have a car?"

They all shook their heads.

I sighed, "Alright you can ride with me."

We all loaded up in the car. Of course I was driving. Roy ended up next to me and Haden and the girl were in the back seat.

"So..." the girl asked, "I don't believe we know your name."

"I'm Dusty. How about you?"

"I'm Tamara, and I believe you already know Haden and Roy," Tamara gestured and the blond and the dark haired one next to me.

"Dusty's an unusual name," Haden commented

"That's couse it's short for-"

"Deer!" Roy yelled.

I slammed on the brakes and stopped fifteen feet short of the deer.

"Damnit Charlie!"

Roy looked at me like I was crazy.

"It's the deer. His name is Charlie," I explained.

"Do you often name deer?" Tamara asked after she recovered from being thrown into the back of my seat.

"No," I replied, "I only named him after he rammed into my car…twice."

I stuck my head out of the window, "Move it or lose it Charlie!"

The deer finally jerked out of its dazed stupor and trotted across the road. I sighed and continued home. This was gonna be a long night.