Future Dragon: Rose Long (Season Two)
Disclaimer: I don't own AD:JL. Well, what do you know? That also means that I also don't own the episode "Half Baked".
Chapter/Episode 10: Traitor In Our Midst
Rose didn't stop running until she ran back inside the tunnel at the bottom of the bridge. After slowing down her pace, she finally came to a halt near where she had entered. Then, she turned around to see Jake walking inside. "Rose..." He could hear him say as he walked inside, Rose being able to see that the vines were transforming into snakes.
"Jake, you have to listen to me..." Rose began. "...The Huntsman is planning something big; something terrible! You have to stop him!"
"But what about you?" Jake asked after he walked up to her.
"You can't save me Jake..." Rose said as she started to turn around. "...It's too dangerous." Rose then started to walk away, but she stopped when she felt Jake grabbing her hand. Turning back around, Rose was just in time for Jake to reach up and start to pull off her mask.
"You're worth it..." Jake replied as he pulled off her mask. Smiling, Rose leaned closer and kissed him, closing her eyes. However, just as soon as it had started, it stopped; Jake vanishing into thin air in the blink of an eye.
Her lips now making contact with thin air, Rose opened her eyes to find that Jake was gone. "Jake?" She asked, her voice filled with disappointment.
LINE BREAK
Back in the real world, the door to Rose's room opened and Amberly stepped inside, carrying a tray as she used her foot to close the door behind her. "Here." She said. "You're lucky that I brought this for you after what you did yesterd-" However, she stopped when she realized that the only things that were on the bottom bunks were the books.
Looking down at the floor, Amberly could see Rose on the floor, having rolled over onto her back during the night. Dropping the tray to the floor, Amberly's eyes widened as she quickly stepped over to Rose's side and turned to the side, falling to her knees.
"Rose?" She asked, reaching out and putting her left hand on Rose's shoulder, giving her gentle shakes. "Rose, are you okay?"
Amberly's shakes seemed to do some good, for Rose moaned and tried to roll away. "Rose, you need to wake up." Amberly told her, giving her one more shake.
Instead of waking up, Rose just moaned again. "Jake..." She moaned. "...Jake, no. You have to...You have to stop The Huntsman..."
Hearing this, Amberly's eyes widened and she gasped, continuing to watch as Rose tossed and turned on the ground. "...You have to uncover his...his plan..."
Her eyes still wide, Amberly got to her feet before she quickly turned and ran for the door, opening it and then running out without closing the door, leaving Rose alone on the floor, moaning as she slept.
Finally, Rose stopped moaning as she slowly opened her eyes. Groaning, Rose pushed herself up into a sitting position. Yawing and stretching her arms Rose looked in front of her, seeing the tray of food in front of her.
LINE BREAK
Outside, the sound of flapping wings could be heard as a male Rose-Ebony-colored dragon and a female Safety Orange-colored dragon with red hair flew side-by-side, nearing the Huntsclan Academy.
Casting a glance at the Rose-Ebony dragon, the female smiled as the Rose-Ebony dragon turned his head to the side to look at her. "So, have you decided where we're going?" She asked.
"I just thought that we would go for a fly..." The Rose-Ebony dragon replied, turning his head back to normal. "...It doesn't matter where we go..."
LINE BREAK
Unbeknownst to the two dragons, two Huntsclan soldiers, both with dragon skull helmets, were outside the school, talking to each other, both of them holding their staffs like walking sticks. However, when they heard the sound of the flapping wings, they both turned their heads to the side and looked up to see the two dragons flying up above.
Their eyes widening, both hunters turned to the side without saying a word to each other. They then tapped their staffs against the ground and disappeared in a green orb of light.
Seconds later, the bright orbs reappeared on the roof. Quickly, the two Huntsclan soldiers lifted their staffs off the roof and spun them around in the air, their staffs morphing into bows. Both of the hunters then aimed for the two dragons.
LINE BREAK
"So, we're just going to fly around all day?" The Safety Orange dragon asked, turning her head to the side.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Her companion asked.
"No..." The Safety Orange dragon replied, just as she heard a whizzing sound. "...What's that?" She asked, starting to turn her head back to normal, gasping as she saw a glowing green arrow coming right toward her. "Watch out!" She heard her companion shout.
The Rose-Ebony-colored dragon came to a quick halt; managing to stay in the air, he turned to the side just in time to hear a grunt coming from his female companion. His eyes widening, he could see the glowing green arrow lodged in her chest. Her eyes were wide and the flapping of her wings started to dwindle before her wings finally stopped flapping.
"No, no, no, no, no, no!" The Rose-Ebony dragon shouted, looking down as his female companion started to fall down toward the ground. "NO!" The Rose-Ebony dragon shouted, reaching down for his companion, even though she was out of reach, falling to the ground.
Before the Rose-Ebony dragon could move an inch, he roared in pain as he felt an arrow hitting him. Quickly turning his head do the side, he looked down to see that a glowing green arrow had planted itself in his side.
Groaning with pain, the Rose-Ebony dragon looked up and squinted, finally realizing that there were two Huntsclan soldiers on the roof of the building he was near. However, the two hunters quickly lowered their weapons and jumped from the roof, landing on the grass.
Grunting in pain, the Rose-Ebony turned his head back to normal and managed to look down to see his companion's body lying on the grass below right beside some bushes. Thinking quickly, the Rose-Ebony dragon dived down, crashing into the bushes, hiding.
Seconds later, the two hunters, neither of them carrying their staffs, approached the Safety Orange dragon, reaching the side of the bushes. "Check the orange one..." Ordered the first hunter, who extended his arm and pointed at the body of the Safety Orange dragon. Nodding, the second hunter wordlessly walked over to the slain dragon, reaching her side and turning to the side. The hunter then knelt down and put a hand to the dragon's neck.
"Well?" Asked the first hunter, who put his hands on his hips.
"It's dead." The second hunter confirmed, pulling his hand away before he turned his head to the side. "But wasn't there a second dragon? Where did that one go?"
"Maybe it fled..." The first hunter waved off, turning around and starting to walk away.
Sighing, the second hunter said nothing as he stood back up. He then turned to the side and quickly started to walk away from the Safety Orange dragon's body.
As the hunters disappeared from view, a rustling came from the bushes that the Rose-Ebony-colored dragon had landed in. Trapped in-between the branches, the dragon managed to lie down on his back. Quickly, he wrapped his claws around the arrow that was lodged in his side. Gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut, the Rose-Ebony dragon yanked out the arrow, roaring in pain.
After roaring, the Rose-Ebony dragon started to breath heavily, eventually rolling onto his side, hissing as his wound touched the dirt. "I...I..." He managed. "...I gotta get outta here..."
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL BREAK
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
Amberly was panting by the time that she turned the corner, now at the hall that led to The Huntsman's quarters. Stopping for a few seconds to take three breaths, Amberly quickly started to walk over to the door to The Huntsman's quarters.
Upon reaching the door, the young trainee turned to the side and brought her fist up, knocking on the door twice. Within seconds, she could hear The Huntsman's voice: "Come in."
Quickly, Amberly reached down and grabbed the knob. Turning it, she pushed open and stepped into the room to find The Huntsman standing with his back against the wall, his arms crossed. "I was not expecting you, #94..." He said.
"Huntsmaster..." Amberly said, her eyes wide with worry. "...I apologize if this is not the proper time, but I have something that I have to tell you." Upon saying this, she took a step toward her leader.
"And what would that be?" The Huntsman asked.
"When I entered my room this morning..." Amberly explained, taking another step toward The Huntsman. "...I found my roommate, The Huntsgirl, on the floor. She was asleep...and she was talking in her sleep." Taking yet another step toward The Huntsman, she finished: "What she said deeply worried me."
"What did she say?" The Huntsman's tone indicated that he didn't have a shred of interest.
"She..." Amberly started, but she quickly stopped, taking a deep breath as she clasped her hands together. Then, she continued: "...She...She...She appeared to be talking to someone. About you. She was saying that that person needed to stop you and your plan."
After saying this, Amberly squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her fists, waiting for The Huntsman to figuratively explode. However, when no yelling came. Opening her eyes and lowering her hands, Amberly could see that The Huntsman hadn't moved.
"So..." He finally said, dropping his arms to his side and stepping away from the wall. "...Let me get this straight: You think Huntsgirl was telling someone about my plan?"
"I know, Huntsmaster..."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" The Huntsman shouted, waving his arms down, making Amberly jump to back in fear. "She knows nothing about the plan, #94!" The Huntsman pointed at Amberly. "She isn't aware of anything. Anything."
"I heard her, though..."
"She doesn't know anything..." The Huntsman put his hands on his hips. "...She knows nothing about my plan. Neither do you..."
"I am aware of that, Huntsmaster." Amberly took a step back. "But please, believe me. I know what I-"
However, before she could finish, she spun around as the door to the room opened, the first hunter from outside stepping inside. "Huntsmaster." The hunter said, bowing in respect.
"Yes?" The Huntsman asked.
"There's a slain dragon outside." The hunter said as he straightened up. "I think it would be best if you come outside to take a look at it..."
Amberly turned her head to the side as she heard footsteps and she could see The Huntsman walking up beside her. "I'll be right out." The Huntsman told him. "Lead the way..."
"Yes, sir." The hunter said as he turned around and walked right back out the door. Amberly watched as The Huntsman wasted no time in following the hunter, walking by her and walking out the door, turning to the side and disappearing down the hall.
LINE BREAK
Outside, three hunters, one of them being the second hunter from the attack, were all standing around the slain Safety Orange dragon. Being hidden by the branches of the bush, the Rose-Ebony-colored dragon watched them all as he lied on the ground.
Suddenly, the first hunter pushed up to the front and stopped right in front of the slain dragon. Within seconds, The Huntsman walked up and stopped beside him, looking down at the dragon. "There was another dragon..." Said the first hunter, turning his head to the side, making The Huntsman look up and turn his head to the side as well.
"Where is it, then?" The Huntsman asked.
"It got away, sir."
"Hmm..." The Huntsman replied, returning his head back to normal and looking down at the slain dragon once more. "...Well..." The Huntsman admitted. "...That was an excellent shot..."
"Thank you, sir." said the first hunter as The Huntsman turned around and started to walk away.
"Get the dragon inside." The Huntsman ordered as he walked away. "And prepare for the corpse to be skinned."
"Yes, sir." The first hunter said, starting to lean over.
The Rose-Ebony dragon watched with a scowl on his face as the four hunters then each took a part of his companion's body; two of the hunters taking her arms while the other two took her legs, starting to cart her off.
As soon as they vanished from the sight, the Rose-Ebony dragon growled to himself. "They killed my girl..." He said. "...The Huntsclan killed my girl. I have to find a way to bring them down."
LINE BREAK
It was getting to be late afternoon, and still in the bushes, the Rose-Ebony dragon managed to get back onto his back. As soon as he was on his back, the dragon reverted to his human form. He had short black hair and wore a Rose-Ebony-colored tank-top and blue jean shorts.
Hissing as he slowly sat up, the human hissed again as he slowly managed to pull off his tank-top. Dropping it into his lap, he slowly reached down for it and lifted it up. Slowly, he then began to tear the bottom of it, making a long strip.
Holding the strip in one of his hands, he used his other hand to throw the rest of the tank-top off into the distance. Slowly, he then used his now free other hand to take the other end of the strip. Slowly, he then brought it down to the bottom of his belly.
LINE BREAK
Back in the halls of the school, Amberly was walking, a worried look in her eyes and her fingers trembling. "Take it easy, Amberly..." She said to herself. "...It's okay. Maybe she was just-" However, Amberly quickly stopped, for she saw Rose walking down the hall, heading toward her.
Freezing, Amberly watched with wide eyes as Rose walked up to her, stopping right in front of her. "Is something wrong?" Rose asked.
"N...N...No..." Amberly managed, shaking her head. "...Ro...Rose?"
"Yeah?"
"Wh...Where are you going?"
"To the library." Rose answered, taking a step to the side. "I need to pick up a few more books. Why? You want to come?"
"N...No..." Amberly shook her head before she quickly started to walk by Rose, trying to get as far away as possible.
LINE BREAK
Grunting, the human formed Rose-Ebony dragon finally finished tying the strip of cloth around his waist, covering his wound. Sighing, he lowered his hands as a bright light engulfed him. As the light faded, he was back in his Rose-Ebony-colored dragon form.
Unbeknownst to the Rose-Ebony dragon, Amberly pushed open the doors to the Huntsclan Academy and quickly stepped out of the building, starting to walk over toward the bushes. "Amberly..." She said to herself as she walked. "...Think! That person that she was talking about-she could be considering betraying the clan for him..."
By this point, she was right in front of the bushes that the Rose-Ebony dragon was hiding in. Her eyes widening, Amberly clasped her hands together again. "...What if..." She whispered. "...That guy she was talking about...is a magical creature? Even...a dragon?"
At that moment, Amberly heard a branch snap from the bushes. Lowering her hands, Amberly's worry-filled eyes started to fill with confusion as she tool one more step toward the bush. Now right in front of it, she managed to look down, only to see the Rose-Ebony-colored dragon.
The Rose-Ebony dragon had a shocked look on his face, but the look of shock quickly faded and he growled. "Huntsclan..." Then, with a grunt, he shot up, lunging up toward Amberly.
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL BREAK
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
Yelping, Amberly jumped back, stumbling back before she gasped, falling onto her back. However, she managed to sit up just in time to see the Rose-Ebony dragon growling at her as he started to get to his feet, facing her.
Her eyes wide with fear, Amberly managed to roll over and then get to her feet, panting as she ran back toward the building. The Rose-Ebony dragon's growl slowly started to die down as he watched the young trainee reach the door; he then watched as Amberly pulled the door open and ran inside.
As soon as the trainee was gone, the Rose-Ebony dragon closed his eyes as he sighed, trying to calm himself.
LINE BREAK
As the door closed behind her, Amberly turned and started to run down the hall, only to grunt and come to a stop as she bumped into someone. As Amberly stumbled back, she could hear a soft grunt as five books fell to the floor.
Looking ahead of her, Amberly could see Rose bending over to pick up the books. As Rose reached out for one, Amberly watched as Rose looked up to look at her, a look of annoyance in the older girl's eyes. "You can help me, you know?"
"Sorry..." Amberly said softly, slowly starting to walk over to her roommate. As soon as she reached Rose, she knelt down, and looked down as she picked up a book. However, she gasped when she saw the title: Dream Doors.
LINE BREAK
Sitting in the library alone, Amberly was nearly shaking. "C...Calm down, Amberly..." She told herself, slowly wrapping her arms around her own belly. "...Sh...She's...go...going to betray the clan. We...We're all going to go down..."
However, just seconds later, her eyes widened and she gasped. "...But..." She whispered softly. "...Maybe...Maybe there is a way to save myself if she betrays us to the dragons..."
LINE BREAK
It was pitch black outside as Amberly pushed open the doors to the Huntsclan Academy. Holding her breath, Amberly slowly and carefully started to walk toward the bush. As soon as she reached it, she stopped, taking a deep breath before she opened her mouth: "Dragon." She said softly, making sure that there was no contempt in her tone.
Quickly, she heard rustling, and the Rose-Ebony dragon slowly stood up, facing her. "You again?" He growled, clenching his fists. "What do you want?"
"Please..." Amberly begged softly, slowly getting down onto her knees. "...Don't hurt me. I wanted to talk to you..."
"A slayer wanted to talk to me?" The Rose-Ebony raised an eyebrow.
"...There's a traitor in the clan..." Amberly explained. "...And our leader is planning something. I have reason to believe that this soldier might betray us to your kind. Please...I don't want any ill-fate to befall me. I-I want to make a deal with you..."
"A deal?" The Rose-Ebony dragon asked, his eyes widening. However, a smile soon broke out onto his face. "Well, maybe you can. So...you say he's planning something. Do you know what?"
"No..." Amberly shook her head. "...But...I can find out...I can."
The Rose-Ebony dragon just stared back at the young trainee, crossing his arms. Slowly getting to her feet, Amberly nervously spoke again: "All I nee...need to know i...is that once you tell the...the rest of the dragons this, you'll exclude me."
"Well..." The Rose-Ebony dragon replied. "...I'd say that that depends on what you bring me. I want to bring down the Huntsclan, not have my time wasted..."
Nodding quickly, Amberly took two steps back. "I can bring you his plan." She told him. "I'll just need some time. How much time can you give me?"
"I don't have too long..." The Rose-Ebony dragon said, glancing down at the cloth that was still wrapped around his waist. Looking back up at the young trainee, he narrowed his eyes. "...How about a day? Bring me his plans by tomorrow night, and we got ourselves a deal..."
LINE BREAK
The next afternoon, the door to Dragon Slaying 101 opened as several of the students walked out. In the back of the crowd, as Amberly started to walk down the hall, she turned her head to the side, watching Rose walking down the other end of the hall.
Sighing, Amberly turned her head back to normal and continued walking down the hall.
LINE BREAK
Opening the door to the room she shared, Rose sighed with relief as she stepped inside, using her foot to close the door behind her. "Finally..." She said to herself, starting to walk over to the bunk-bed, where only five books were stacked together on the bed.
Reaching the bed, Rose reached up and pulled off her mask, dropping it on the bed as she reached down and picked up the books. "...Maybe I can finally learn more about that corridor..." Rose said as she held up the books.
LINE BREAK
Holding onto the books, Rose turned around a corner, finding herself in an artillery room, with several mêlée weapons on the walls. "Hopefully I won't be bothered in here..." Rose muttered as she continued to walk through the room.
Finally, Rose reached the end of the room. At the corner of the room, Rose turned to the side and started to lower herself down into a sitting position against the wall, setting the books down at her side. However, she then picked up the very top book and held it over her lap as she brought her legs up.
She then opened the book and started to read it.
LINE BREAK
Breathing heavily, Amberly turned around the corner and slowly started to walk down the hall that The Huntsman's quarters was located. As she reached the door, the young trainee took a deep breath and then turned to the side, reaching out for the knob.
Pushing the door open, Amberly stepped inside. Relieved to find that The Huntsman was not inside, Amberly turned to the side and slowly closed the door behind her. She then turned back around and started to look around.
"I should try the desk first..." Amberly whispered to herself as she turned to the side and slowly started to walk over to the desk that was at the side of the room.
Once she reached the desk, which was filled with loose papers, Amberly put her hands down and started to sort through the papers. Almost immediately after spreading some papers apart, Amberly found the small, opened cardboard box.
Her eyes, wide, Amberly took it and lifted it up off of the table. She then reached into the box and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"This is it?" Amberly asked, dropping the cardboard back onto the desk as she took the piece of paper in both of her hands. Unfolding it, she looked at the writing, reading out loud: "Huntsmaster, I know you will pleased to hear that the tenth Aztec Skull has been recovered..."
LINE BREAK
Sighing, Rose closed the book that she had finished reading. "Nothing..." Rose muttered, pressing the back of her skull up against the wall as she tossed the book across the room, where it landed next to three other of the books.
Sighing, Rose pulled her head away from the wall and turned it to the side, looking down at the final book: Dream Doors. Wordlessly, Rose reached down and picked it up, holding it over her lap as she opened it and started to read it.
Turning to the next page, Rose started to lower the book into her lap to make it more comfortable. Turning the page again, Rose skimmed the page and then turned it. "Aw, here we go..." She said as she looked at the next page.
Silently, she began to read the section. However, unbeknownst to her as she read, a portal started to form against the wall. Within a few seconds, the portal was completely formed, showing the yard of Fillmore Middle School.
However, Rose was completely oblivious to this, until she heard a strange "zinging" sound, making her look up from her book. Turning her head to the side, a smile appeared on her face. Jake was standing on the other side of the portal, his hand near the portal.
"Jake?" She asked happily, closing her book. However, Jake quickly pulled his hand away as the sound of terrified screams could be heard from his realm. Dropping the book to her side, Rose pushed herself to the side and sat on her knees, looking right at him as Jake turned his attention back to her.
However, he quickly turned his head to the side and that was when Rose noticed that there was a second portal showing a Krylock Demon right across from hers. Finally, Jake turned his attention back to Rose. "I'm sorry." He finally said, quickly turning away and running into the next portal.
With wide eyes, Rose could only watch as her portal closed.
LINE BREAK
Tucking the piece of paper with the letter into her uniform, Amberly continued to walk down the halls, passing by the artillery room, just as she froze, hearing the sound of Rose's voice: "No, Jake!"
With wide eyes, Amberly turned to the side, watching Rose pound against the wall, screaming out pleas: "Jake, come back!" She begged. "Please! I have to talk to you! Please!"
Turning back to the side, Amberly quickly started to walk away from the room as she could actually start to hear Rose start to cry. Slowly shaking her head, Amberly told herself: "Don't worry about her. You're going to be safe no matter what she does..."
LINE BREAK
Amberly pushed open the doors to the Huntsclan Academy and she stepped out into the early night. Walking toward the bush, she stopped and reached into her uniform, pulling out the piece of paper, finally stopping in front of the bush. "Dragon..." She whispered.
Within seconds, she could see the bush branches move, along with the sounds that followed it. Then, the Rose-Ebony dragon slowly stood up. "Well, did you find anything?" He asked.
"Here." Amberly said softly, handing the piece of paper over to the dragon, who quickly snatched it away with his claws. Quickly unfolding the paper and holding it up to his face, his eyes widened before he slowly lowered it.
"The Aztec Skulls?" He asked in a hushed and frightened whisper.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, The Huntsman opened the door to his quarters and stepped inside, his staff being held in his free hand as he turned around and closed his door. Quickly, he turned to the side and started to walk over to his desk. However, as soon as he reached it and looked down, he could see that all of the papers were arranged differently than from when he had left.
"Huh?" The Huntsman narrowed his eyes. Dropping his staff to the floor, The Huntsman, hunched over his desk and started to search through all of the papers quickly, many of them falling off of the side of the desk and to the floor.
After pushing all of the other papers to the side, The Huntsman's eyes widened. "What the...?" He asked. "...My...My notice?"
LINE BREAK
Sniffling, Rose finished stacking all five books. Holding them in both hands, Rose got to her feet. Her eyes were red and poofy from crying and she sniffled again as she started to walk out of the room. However, the second she stepped out into the hall, she heard quick footsteps against the floor.
Gasping, she turned around, but it was too late. A large figure bumped into her, throwing her down onto the floor in a sitting position, her books landing on the floor around her. "Master?" She asked as she realized that it was The Huntsman.
"Watch where you're going, Huntsgirl!" The Huntsman scolded her impatiently before he quickly stepped to the side and quickly started to walk down the hall, Rose turning her head to the side to watch him go.
The Huntsman kept on walking, growling with annoyance. He was completely unaware of Rose climbing to her feet as he walked on. Turning around, Rose started to jog toward the leaving Huntsman. "Master!" She called loudly, making The Huntsman stop and turn around.
"Master, what's wrong?" Rose asked as she stopped in front of him.
The Huntsman seemed like he was about to tell her, but he simply just turned back around, walking away again. "Nothing, Huntsgirl." He told her. "Just go back to your quarters." However, at that moment, The Huntsman stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened. "Huntsgirl?"
"Yes, Master?" Rose stayed still, watching as The Huntsman turned around to face her.
"You share your room with #94, do you not?" The Huntsman asked.
"Yes." Rose answered honestly. "Master, may I ask why?"
"Do you know where she is?" The Huntsman clenched his fists and his question came out as a growl.
"No, Master..."
The Huntsman said nothing and he quickly spun around, quickly walking down the hall again. Her eyes widening, Rose called out: "M...Master!" However, when The Huntsman ignored her, Rose sighed as she started to chase after her old master.
LINE BREAK
"Are the skulls...bad?" Amberly asked as she watched the Rose-Ebony lowered the piece of paper. "Wh...What do they do?"
"Let's just put it this way: It's best that we know this." The Rose-Ebony dragon told her. "Thanks to you..."
"So..." Despite herself, Amberly allowed herself to smile as she took a step back. "...Does that mean that you're going to hold up your end of the bargain?"
"I'll do what I can..." The Rose-Ebony dragon said as he looked down at her. "...That's the best that I can give you for now."
Hearing this, Amberly's smile slipped slightly, but that wasn't what made her smile completely vanish; just seconds later, her smile vanished and gasped, turning around when she heard the voice of The Huntsman: "Well, well, well..."
The Huntsman was walking slowly through the doors of the building, his staff in his hand. "...#94, I'm surprised. However, I think I understand now. You were trying to keep me suspicious of Huntsgirl so I wouldn't suspect you as you tried to betray us..."
"Humtsmaster, no..." Amberly begged, her eyes wide with unquestionable terror, holding her hands up as she backed up. "...It's not-I-I was just-just trying to protect myself!"
The Huntsman said nothing. Instead, he just grunted as he leapt into the air, twirling his staff, making it form into a bow and arrow. Quickly, he aimed it at the Rose-Ebony dragon and fired it. As the arrow shot toward him, the Rose-Ebony dragon grunted as he lifted his tail up, and just as the arrow was about to hit him, he used his tail to slap the arrow away.
However, he was so busy doing this that he could not protect himself as The Huntsman slammed into him, using his feet to knock him down. Standing over the dazed Rose-Ebony dragon, The Huntsman pointed the bow and the arrow down at his prey and fired, resulting in a sickening thud after the arrow hit the target.
After seeing this, Amberly quickly turned to the side and tried to run, but after only four steps, below her, The Huntsman's staff, which had reverted back to its normal form, was swiped under her feet. Gasping, Amberly fell onto her stomach and face as The Huntsman stood over her.
Amberly quickly rolled over onto her back, her wide eyes filled with forming tears as she begged: "Huntsmaster, please! I'm sorry!"
"I'm not..." The Huntsman growled as he brought his staff up almost as if it were a golf-club. Then, he brought it down, swiftly toward the side of her neck...
LINE BREAK
Breathing heavily, Rose neared the door and the exit. Slowing down, Rose eventually broke down to a quick walk, but she immediately stopped when the doors opened and The Huntsman stepped inside, holding his staff in his hand that was visible to Rose and something else in his other.
"Master?" Rose asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Huntsgirl..." The Huntsman said dangerously as he turned to the side. "...I want to show you something..." He then lifted up his other arm, making Rose gasp, her eyes widening with horror as she realized that The Huntsman was holding up Amberly's severed head by her long braid.
"...This..." The Huntsman said. "...Is what becomes of a clan member when they betray the Huntsclan. Understood?"
Despite the horrified look on her face, Rose miraculously managed to nod twice before she spoke, even though her voice was broken: "Y...Yes, Huntsmaster." She said. "An...Any tra...traitor deserves to be punished. Ver...Very just..."
"Glad you think so..." The Huntsman said dangerously, lowering his arm with Amberly's head. "...I just thought...that that would be something that you should know..."
"Of...Of course, Master." Rose continued, her voice still shaken. "All slayers should know that. But you don't have to worry about me..."
The Huntsman said nothing. He just looked at her for a few moments before he finally turned around and started to walk down the hall. The second that The Huntsman turned his attention from her, Rose quickly turned around and put her hand up to her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut as she moaned.
END FLASHBACK
Rose sighed as she finished, slowly setting her head back down on the pillow. "Is that it?" Joel asked, making Rose slowly roll her head to the side.
"Well, of course not..." Rose told him honestly. "...But I'm tired, and that was as bad as it got. I spent my last couple of weeks exploring the Dream Corridor. Then Jake came and got me out of there..."
"Hmm..." Joel seemed satisfied, especially as he nodded his head. Then, he grunted as he slowly got to his feet. "...Well, that was very interesting. Thank you for your tale, Rose. Greatly appreciated..."
As he said this, he extended his clawed hand down. "What?" Rose asked, slowly returning her head back to normal.
"Just a simple shake..." Joel said, almost as if he was confused as to why the woman was confused.
"Oh..." Rose replied, smiling slightly as she slowly lifted up her hand with the dragon birthmark. She slowly took it and started to slowly shake it, but Joel quickly pulled his claws away, making Rose hiss in pain as his claws cut into her hand.
"Oh!" Joel's face was filled with surprise. "I'm sorry!" He apologized as Rose slowly lifted her head up to inspect her bleeding hand, the blood starting to roll down her wrist.
"I'll...I'll go get some bandages!" Joel said before he quickly turned around and started to run out of the room.
As Joel left, the door closing behind him, Rose slowly turned her head to the side to look at the closed door, her face expressing her confusion as to what had just happened.
BLACKOUT; END
A/N: Yay! End of Season Two! What did you think? I was actually really excited to write this season, but it felt like it took forever. It's almost a relief to be done. I will admit that the reason I wrote this one was to try to answer just what the "consequence" for betraying the Huntsclan was that Huntsy mentioned in Breakout. Rose apparently knew, but it was never really revealed. It sure ain't blackmail. I think execution is probably the most reasonable assumption.
Please review.