It's been quite a while my dear readers but I have returned with another lovely chapter for you all to enjoy. Well don't let me get in the way :) *disappears into the night*


Caira flew on her jetpack to Broken Hill Mine. She glanced back and saw Sunny, Crow and Parnell. The medic thought back to when they decided to come along.

Flashback

"Caira! Where are you going?" Cabot asked as he saw her prepare to leave.

"I'm going to Broken Hill Mine. Ares is there and I need to talk to him." Caira said.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Going by yourself I mean." Griffin said.

"Yeah I'm the only one Ares will listen to..hopefully."

"I'll go with you." Parnell said.

"Parnell-" The assault raised a hand and cut her off.

"It's too dangerous for you to go alone. We can't have you running into any large wildlife like a tyrant."

"I'll go too." Sunny said and Crow nodded as well.

"Thanks guys" Caira said with a smile.

"Keep in touch. All of you." Cabot said. The four hunters nodded and departed for Broken Hill Mine.

End Flashback

"Crow will set a dome around you and Ares so he won't try to escape." Parnell said but Caira shook her head.

"I don't think that's necessary. Ares won't run away."

"How'd you know?" Sunny asked.

"Because he has no reason to run this time." Caira said. "I won't give him one."

The other three hunters could sense the determination in her voice. She definitely cared about the Goliath even though a month hadn't passed since the two first met. Parnell smiled. If their bond was this strong now it would get even stronger in the future. Caira wouldn't let a fight like this break her friendship with Ares, especially since they're the only human and monster to form such a bond. He could only hope Ares felt the same deep down.

They had finally arrived in Broken Hill Mine and the place was just as messy as before. Crow sent out Gobi to find the savage-skinned Goliath and they followed a little ways behind. They occasionally stopped as the batray searched a couple caves but continued when Gobi returned with no luck. Crow sent the batray out one more time and it screeched when it found their target. A outline of a Goliath appeared on their minimaps and they flew towards the entrance of the final cave.

"Alright Caira, we'll stay right here. Go on ahead." Parnell said.

"Be careful." Crow said as Gobi perched itself onto his shoulder.

"Good luck." Sunny said and Caira smiled in thanks as she walked away.

'All you need is mental strength. Be calm and assertive and Ares will listen.' Atlas' words of advice replayed in the medic's head as she approached the Goliath. He was eating a few human corpses and Caira winced but took a deep breath once Ares noticed her. Red eyes met brown and the Goliath growled at her presence. Caira knew Ares smelled her scent when she entered the cave and the scents of the other three.

"Ares, we need to talk." Caira said.

"And why should I listen to you? Humans are known for lying to get what they want." Ares said.

"Not all of us are like that."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"I don't." Ares' eyes widened. "I just want you to listen to me. And I mean just you."

"Just me?" Caira sighed.

"I know your mother has been talking to you in your head." Ares narrowed his eyes but remained silent. Something was different about her though he couldn't figure out what it was. The fire beast thought his rage would build from her presence but it didn't. "Just listen to what I have to say and you can make your own conclusions from there."

'Do not listen to that pitiful human! Kill her!' His mother commanded but Ares didn't move. There was something in Caira's eyes that he could see. He shook his head. No, he couldn't let her regain a hold over him.

Caira could see a small amount of struggling and took out her grenade launcher. Hopefully this move will buy her is undivided attention. Ares saw the medic take out her weapon and snarled but what she did next caught the Goliath completely off guard. She threw her grenade launcher to the side and it slid several feet away. Ares watched the weapon stop sliding in complete shock and turned his attention back to Caira.

"Why? Why would you.." Ares trailed off and Caira met his eyes with hers.

"When we first met, I told you I wouldn't hurt you. I'm just keeping my word." Caira said. Ares couldn't believe she had the strength to abandon her weapon and continue to face him. There was a fire in her eyes that burned with determination. She would see this through and showed no fear of death. The Goliath was impressed and even his mother remained silent at the display. Then Caira continued. "I did know about the Wraith Trap but not as long as you think. My team and I were hired to hunt down a Wraith but a containment chamber was already built to contain it. Ebonstar captured it and it wasn't until later that we found out what it was for."

"But you let it happen." Ares said.

"What would you have me do then Ares? I wasn't in a position to do anything."

'She is lying. Do not listen.' Ares growled.

'Be quiet mother.'

"I'm not as strong as you are Ares. There's only so much I can do." Caira stared at the ground as she said that but took another breath and looked at him. "But I won't let that happen to you. You're my friend Ares, and I'll protect you as much as I can."

For awhile Ares remained silent and Caira watched him look at the pile of half eaten human corpses. The Goliath didn't know what to say. He knew that Cabot was the leader of the hunters but even he answered to someone of a higher rank. So he understood that Caira most likely wouldn't have a say in what happens. Plus, he didn't know the whole story. What if the Wraith attacked the humans first? That still didn't give them the excuse to torture her but he shouldn't hold it against Caira for the actions of others. He was so fueled up by rage that he rashly acted out but that was his nature as a Goliath...right?

"I'm sorry I kept this from you." Caira said but Ares shook his head.

"No, I should apologize to you. I lost myself to rage and acted out when I should not have." Ares said and Caira's eyes widened. He had calmed down since their argument at the Wraith Trap. The Goliath could still feel that her presence continued to have a calming effect on him but it was more potent now.

'You can not honestly believe this human!'

'Enough mother!' The voice hissed in anger.

'She continues to have a hold over you! Get rid of her!'

'Actually she's more of an anchor.' A new voice entered the Goliath's head.

'Atlas?' ares asked.

'Indeed. I've decided to reopen my connection to the Hive Mind of our species and lend my assistance.' Atlas said.

'Hive Mind?'

'Later. Right now just listen to Caira. She's your anchor.'

'Stop this right now!' Their mother shouted and Ares winced in pain but Atlas ignored her.

'Anchor?'

'Indeed. It means she can keep you grounded and in control of yourself. Don't listen to our mother.'

'No! You are wrong! Do not interfere!'

'Stop! Both of you!' Atlas and their mother grew silent and Ares continued to think. Was Caira really telling the truth? "Just leave me alone!"

Caira was taken aback by the Goliath's sudden shouting though she did detect a hint of pain within that verbal burst of anger. His mother must be talking to him and doing so wouldn't allow him to concentrate. He wouldn't be able to think for himself. The medic took step closer but Ares moved back.

"What's wrong?" Ares shook his head.

"Everyone is talking to me at once. I do not know who to believe or what to think." Caira watched as Ares gripped his head. He wasn't in pain but he was attempting to block out all sound so he could regain is bearings. Despite that though, the medic moved closer to him. She saw what Atlas was talking about. Ares was trying to hold on to any stability that he may or may not even have.

'You must be that anchor that will keep him grounded.'

Caira was worried about him but she needed to calm down. Feeling worried wasn't going to help him; being calm and assertive is what he needed from her. The young woman moved closer and the Goliath moved back again but this time Caira didn't stop. Ares continued to back away until his tail hit the wall. Without knowing what to do, he started to turn to his instincts for help. His eyes started glowing and he let out a loud growl.

"I'm only here to help you Ares. If you don't believe me, then kill me." Ares' eyes widened when she said that. This was something he never expected to hear her say and both his mind and instincts could sense the strength behind her words. No human had faced him with such determination and no visible fear of him without their weapons. Caira was completely defenseless but was standing before him like she didn't need her grenade launcher. As if she was stronger than him.

"You are willing to risk your life..for me to believe you?" Caira smiled.

"If I have to then I will." The glowing in the Goliath's eyes faded and he felt himself calming down.

'No! Do not listen!' His mother shouted but Ares ignored her.

'Believe her Ares. No human would do what she's doing now if she didn't care. Especially one who's job is to hunt our kind.' Atlas said and Ares knew the Behemoth had a point. Caira moved closer again and held a hand out towards him. The Goliath stared at it for a minute and slowly moved his head closer. Once her fingers made contact with his head, Ares purred. Her was just as gentle as when they first met. Caira smiled brightly as she petted him. He had picked her over his own mother! Ares nuzzled into her had and his red eyes met her brown ones.

"I..I am sorry Caira." Ares said and he looked away. "I should not have acted like that."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." Caira said. "Weeeeell, maybe except for all those people you killed."

"I-" Caira held up a hand and cut the fire beast off.

"But maybe that's my fault too. We became friends over such a short period of time that I even forgot what you were." Ares looked at her confused.

"What do you mean?" Caira sighed.

"I humanized you." Ares tilted his head and she continued. "Basically, I treated you like you were human when I really shouldn't have and tried to make you live up to a standard that did more harm than good."

"I-I see." Caira petted his head again.

"Buuut, I'll be sure not to make that same mistake again." Ares wagged his tail. Sensing Caira acting like herself but in a more calming way, he couldn't help but be drawn to her even more. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"Sure."

'I will not let you.' Ares gripped his head as his mother's eerily calm voice echoed in his mind. 'It seems now that you are too far gone within the corruption of those humans. If I can not save you from them then you shall die with them.'

Suddenly, Ares removed his hands and felt the ground start to tremble slightly. His instincts were telling him that danger was approaching.

"Caira! We got big trouble outside!" Parnell shouted as Sunny, Crow, and himself flew over on their jetpacks.

"What's going on?" Caira asked.

"Monsters coming this way." Crow said.

"A whole small army of them!" Sunny said and Ares looked towards the entrance.

"Mother sent them."

"We need to find another route out of here before we're surrounded." Parnell said.

'I'm on my way.' Atlas said and he cut the mental connection.

"Something wrong Ares?" Sunny asked when she noticed the Goliath staring blankly.

"Atlas is on his way here to help." Ares said.

"Let's hurry." Caira said and the group left the cave. Ares stopped them before they could move any further and took a deep breath. He could smell the scents of several of his kind moving through the main passageway.

"They are already spreading out past the main entrance into the other caves. They will be upon us soon."

"Gobi!" Crow commanded his batray to search through another exit near them. The batray screeched as it detected more monsters moving towards them. They started running through another passageway until they arrived at the relay room. Several grey-skinned Stage-One Goliaths started to pour into the room. The hunters took out their weapons and Ares stood tall on his two legs. He let out a roar and the other Goliaths stopped moving. The hunters looked surprised until they saw a Stage-Two magma-skinned Wraith appear behind the small Goliath army.

"You didn't really think they would stop because of you right?" The Wraith mocked.

"You!" Ares snarled. It was the same magma-skinned Wraith from Atlas' pack.

"Yes me. You and Atlas are too soft! These humans and their fancy technology need to be destroyed! Our mother sees that you and that Behemoth have been blinded! Your foolish decisions will get us all killed!" The Wraith shouted.

"Please tell me we have a plan." Sunny said. Caira looked around but wasn't able to find another exit.

"We'll need the dropship to escape at this point." Caira said and Parnell messaged Bucket to bring the dropship. As soon as the Stage-Two Wraith signaled for the Goliath army to attack, a giant sandy-brown rock in the shape of a ball crashed to the ground in between the Goliath army and the hunters. It unrolled to reveal a Stage-Three sandstone-skinned Behemoth with six ice blue eyes. It was Atlas! The Behemoth punched the ground and a large rock wall shot up from the ground in front of them.

"Right on time Atlas." Caira said with a smile. "Though, I don't think you alone can help us get out of this."

"I would beg to differ. When is that ship of yours coming?" Atlas asked and the rock wall already started to crumble as the grey-skinned Goliaths started to climb over it. The dropship finally appeared high above the relay room but it was too dangerous for the ship to go any lower.

"I don't think our jetpacks have enough fuel for us to reach the ship." Crow said.

"I'll use my Tongue Grab." The hunters looked at the Behemoth. He actually wanted them to climb up his tongue to reach their dropship. Sunny and Caira cringed a little. The idea of scaling up his slimy tongue was a bit gross but it was their best option they currently had. The Wraith burst through the weakened rock wall and Ares moved in the way to block her. The Goliath blocked a sideway slash from her with his forearm. Ares had enough armor to withstand a few attacks from this Wraith but only for a few minutes, and that was only if she didn't use her Super Nova. Then a few Goliaths jumped on his back. Ares roared as he knocked a couple to the ground but more replaced them.

"Ares!" Caira shouted and the savage-skin glanced at her.

"Go Caira!"

"But Ares-" Ares snarled as he threw a Goliath into a wall and backhanded another one. Then his eyes started glowing.

"Go!" Atlas climbed up the relay tower and shot his Tongue Grab. It wrapped vertically around the small end of one of the dropship's wings. Sunny and Crow had already started climbing.

"This is so cool but gross at the same time." Sunny said. Parnell decided to climb last and turned to Caira.

"Hurry up Caira! We need to get the hell out of here!" Parnell shouted.

"Go humans. Ares and I will handle this." Atlas said or that's what Caira and Parnell could make out what the Behemoth was saying. The medic looked back at Ares, who was fighting the Wraith, and nodded at Parnell. They both started climbing up Atlas' tongue and they managed to reach the halfway point when a couple Goliaths jumped on the Behemoth. Ares was too busy holding off the Wraith to help.

"Hurry!" Atlas shouted and the two hunters used their jetpacks to carry them the rest of the way to the dropship. Atlas retracted his tongue back into his mouth and knocked the Goliaths off his back. Then he heard Ares roar in pain and turned to see the Wraith slash the savage-skin on his chest. Ares blasted his Fire Breath at her but she warped out of the way and activated her Warp Blast. The force of it knocked Ares backwards a few feet and he hit the ground with a loud thud. His armor depleted a few minutes ago and blood was now flowing freely from his wounds. The Wraith had a couple injuries but not as much as Ares. The Stage-Two Goliath looked up and saw the dropship leave.

'At least Caira is safe.' Ares thought and saw Atlas jump down from the relay tower.

"This is your fault Goliath." The Wraith said as she pointed one of her scythes at him. "You brought those humans to our den. You will pay for your betrayal first!"

"Enough!" Atlas shouted. He used his Tongue Grab and it wrapped around one of the Wraith's arms. The behemoth pulled back and the Wraith went flying into a wall. "Ares, I will handle this Wraith. Hold the other Goliaths back."

"Easier said than done." Ares said as he picked himself up.

"I knew you possessed hatred for humans and as such, I'm not surprised you took our mother's words to heart. You will face me." Atlas said and the magma-skinned Wraith hissed in annoyance. "You know as well as I that your decoy is useless against me."

"I won't need it." The Wraith sharpened her scythes and rushed forward. Atlas, in his old age, had faced quite a few Wraiths before. The Behemoth threw up a rock wall just in time for her to run right into it. Atlas thrust his huge hand straight threw the wall and grabbed the Wraith by her neck. The wall crumbled away and he threw her into one of the Stage-One Goliaths. His exposed belly started glowing and he shot a Lava Bomb at them. The Wraith was quick enough to warp out of the way but the grey-skinned Goliath wasn't so lucky. It roared in pain as the lava burned through its scales ad Ares landed a Leap Smash on it. Its red blood turned black as it convulsed and died.

Atlas slammed his hands to the ground and a fissure shot straight through a couple Goliaths as it made its way towards the Wraith. She warped out of the way and activated her Super Nova. The Behemoth crossed his arms in an X-shape and took the attack head on but his armor was depleting fast. Another Lava Bomb was boiling in his mouth and as soon as the Super Nova ended, it burst from his mouth. The Wraith shrieked in pain as the attack made contact with her body. Atlas looked to Ares and saw that he was getting weaker.

'There is still too many of them.' Ares thought with a growl. He was holding a hand to his chest in an effort to stop the bleeding. There were bite wounds on his forearms and leg, scratches on the parts of his neck that weren't armored, and some burns on his back. The savage-skin growled again as he grabbed a Goliath by its neck and choke-slammed it to the ground. He tailsweeped another Goliath and crushed its skull under his foot. He shot his Fire Breath at another group but one lone Goliath leaped over the fire and tackled Ares to the ground. The grey-skinned Goliath started claw swiping at Ares' wounds and the savage-skin roared in pain. Ares kicked it off of his body and it flew straight into a wall. A large puddle of blood pooled under Ares.

'Not good.' Atlas thought. He curled into a ball and rolled over to his Goliath ally. The Behemoth managed to come up with a plan but he couldn't use the Mind Hive to tell Ares or else their mother and the Wraith would hear it. There weren't anymore Goliaths blocking one of the exits but that Wraith won't let them leave as long as she was alive. He uncurled once he reached Ares and raised a rock wall. "Ares, there is an exit clear of opposition but we must kill the Wraith first."

"What do you suggest then?" Ares asked as the Wraith started slashing at the wall.

"Run!" Atlas shouted as he curled into a ball and started rolling for the exit. Ares stood up as quickly as he could and leaped after Atlas. The Wraith broke through the wall and hissed in anger.

'Do not let the get away!' Their mother shouted.

'I won't mother.' The Wraith replied and she warped after them.

Ares followed the Behemoth through the caves as fast as his inured body would allow. He could hear the Wraith warping closer to them and blew his Fire Breath in the direction she was coming from. However, she warped through the fire and pinned Ares to the wall with her scythes. The blades tore through his arms and he roared in pain. Then a fissure appeared and knocked the Wraith away from Ares. Atlas came rolling through the corridor and unfurled next to him.

"Go Ares. I'll deal with her." Atlas said and the Goliath looked at him.

"But, what about the other Goliaths? There are still more." Ares said.

"You underestimate me young one. I'm no stranger to fighting while being outnumbered. Besides, I have the advantage within caves." Atlas said and Ares stared at him for a moment before nodding. He dropped down to all fours and continued through the tunnel exit. Just as Atlas watched the Goliath leave, the Wraith warped back into the room.

"I've had enough of you Behemoth." The Wraith said and Atlas snorted.

"So no more calling me Elder One? Very well then." Atlas said. The Wraith lunged forward and used her Warp Bast. Atlas took the hit and only had a little armor left. The Behemoth quickly used his Tongue Grab and pulled her towards him. He swung his fist towards her but she warped out of the way. The Wraith made a slash and her scythe went into his exposed stomach. Atlas growled in pain but swiftly stepped on her tail and tendril legs. She shrieked in pain as the bones in her tendril legs and tail were crushed. A huge hand grabbed ahold of her neck, slammed her to the ground, and Atlas towered over her with his blue eyes glowing. "I warned you a long time ago that you're too brash. You always tried to rush into a fight when that's not what Wraiths should do. Your armor vanished early in the fight but you still continued when you should've fled."

"Damn you. Our mother will have her vengeance realized and both you and that Goliath will die with your precious humans!" The Wraith shouted and Atlas narrowed his eyes before he shot a Lava Bomb directly on her head. She shrieked and flailed wildly as the lava burned through her flesh and the Behemoth applied pressure onto her neck. A loud crack echoed and the Wraith didn't move any longer. Atlas removed his hand and sighed.

"What our mother wants will start a war with the humans. I don't know how many of them there are but such an outcome must be avoided." Atlas said. He put up a rock wall to block the other Goliaths, curled into a ball, and exited the mine.


Ares trekked across the forests of the Fusion Plant and sat by a river. He winced as his movements pulled at his wounds and bent down for a drink of some nice cold water. He didn't know where the dropship took Caira and her team but he wasn't going to try and find her. At least not right now. He needed to eat and find a cave to rest in until his wounds healed and his armor regenerated.

"Enough is enough. We need to take mother down and soon." Ares said to himself with a growl.


And that's all for this chapter! Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys next time! :)