Chapter 2-Tauros

"Hey," a hand tapped me on the shoulder. I turned, and started when I realised the boy in front of me was Chris.

"Umm, hi-hi!" I stammered, heart jumping erratically. He smiled shyly, pushing his hair back from his forehead. Morning chatter made its way to my ears, and I shifted the strap of my denim bag. I was on the way to Science. "I was wondering…" Chris said a bit hesitantly, "If you would like to…"

Man, this suspense was killing me. If he didn't spit it out soon, I'll probably go into cardiac arrest.

"Well, uh, would you like to hang out with me sometime?"

I was all like, YES! HE PRACTICALLY ASKED ME OUT! But I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't help the goofy grin that spread over my face. "Sure!" I agreed. "Uh, what do you have next?"

"Science. You?"

"Science too!" I replied, heart almost singing. Together we walked to the labs, and, unfortunately, ran into Holly, Shadow Wirk, Terra, and Drew. None of them looked very pleased, as only two days ago Holly had been beaten up thoroughly by Willow, Shadow had been bashed on the noggin by Night for trying to hit Hawk, and Drew's $$ had been whopped by me. Terra had broken up with Chris (insert cheering here). They glared at us as they walked away. Life was pretty good, huh?

I sat beside Ice, and just when I thought the excitement of the day was over, Chris slid into the chair on my other side. Yep, life was definitely good.

Until the tauros came along.

Willow, Night, Chris (yes, Chris again), Alayna Brett (one of the more popular girls), Light Fare (Night's best friend), Hawk, Shayde, and I were practising weapons in P.E when it decided to saunter into the middle of class. I was shooting arrows with a crossbow towards the target when it appeared. Foot in the stirrup, load, pull over, snap the clip in place, lift it up, aim and…shoot! I watched in satisfaction as the bolt flew straight, thudding into the bullseye. I repeated the actions, Foot in the stirrup, load, pull over, snap the clip in place, lift it up, aim and…WHAT THE HELL?

I spotted a huge lumbering beast in the forest, not far from where we were practising. I shuffled backwards a bit, put down the crossbow with the bolt still loaded, and picked up my longbow and it's quiver. I didn't bother to unstring the crossbow, as they could stay like that for ages and the string wouldn't go loose. Longbows, however, were a different story and I had to bend it and re-string it. I retreated back a bit more, to where the rest class was, holding the two bows.

"What is that?" Alayna asked, bewildered. She hoisted her sword up a bit, unsheathing it in preparation for whatever was coming towards us. Night did the same, releasing the weapons that our father had also given him. Light and Chris also pulled out their swords. Willow, Shayde, and Hawk brought out their knives, and I nocked an arrow, aiming at the thing's head.

At first, when it was in the trees, it didn't look too big. Unfortunately, we underestimated its size and when it finally emerged from the trees, we were all stunned. The creature was about three metres tall, as broad as two men standing shoulder to shoulder, and had a massive head. This head was around half a metre long, slightly larger than your average head. It also had cloven hooves, horns, and predatory eyes. Yeppers. You got it right.

It was a tauros.

Also, the beast had an added bonus of being stark naked. We could see, clearly, and unfortunately, that it was male. What a way to find out. Hawk squeaked. Alayna gulped. Willow twitched. I whisper-yelled, "My eyes, they burn!" the guys shifted uncomfortably, not liking the scene at all. Tauroses preyed on women, and that prospect wasn't very inviting. Oh, and he also had a broadsword in his hand.

"How the hell did it get here?" hissed Mr Lawson.

"Isn't that what we're all wondering?" replied Shayde.

"Um, if you people are interested, I think he's plotting how to kill us," Willow squawked. Alayna scowled.

"No crap, Sherlock," she muttered.

"Watch out, I think it's gonna charge us…!" yelled Hawk. And indeed it was.

The tauros thundered at us, and everyone scattered. I rolled, trying not to crush my quiver. Speedily, I fired two arrows. "What was your first clue?" I enquired mildly as the bull-man freight-trained past, two quivering arrows stuck in his hide. Chris didn't look very pleased when he was confronted by half-a-ton of smelly monster. Still, he, Light, Alayna, and Night formed a defensive circle around it, their swords pointing at it aggressively.

Willow, Shadye, and Hawk ran to back them up. Mr Lawson looked around wildly for a weapon, and grinned in thanks when I passed him my crossbow. He pointed at a tree and signalled, giving unheard, but still clear instructions to stay up there and shoot. I gave him the quiver of crossbow bolts that lay on the ground before running away and swarming up the oak's trunk. Aiming my bow and nocking an arrow in preparation, I waited for my chance.

I fired the same time Mr Lawson did, the arrow flying in an arc before smacking into the tauros' back. I put down my longbow, and slithered down the tree while Mr Lawson struggled to reload the cross bow. He heaved at the string, trying to pull it over and then clip the arrow to the bow. I ran to his aid, ducking a knife that Willow threw. It flew past and buried itself in a very sensitive part of the monster. A very, VERY sensitive part. Enough said.

Two guesses how the tauros reacted.

If you guessed not very well, you are correct.

It bellowed in pain (surprise, surprise) and ran around like a mad cow. Pun intended. Anyways, we all scattered for the second time this day before surrounding it once more. I reloaded the crossbow for Mr Lawson, before drawing my hunting dagger and joining the fight. Hawk and Shayde were copying Willow's example and throwing knives at the tauros, which I had to admit, was a very good idea.

Pretty soon, after three more arrows, one or two crossbow bolts, a large number of sword cuts and knives in sensitive places, the tauros gave up, keeled over, and died. We all cheered, retrieving our weapons and arrows. Fortunately, the fright it gave us was over.

Unfortunately, it had an ugly buddy.

A/N: Ooooh…Cliffy! Review! Review and get a cookie!

Until the chapter, May Starclan light your paths.

~Winterthaw of Thunderclan