THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER! :O I'm just as surprised as you are. It's come to my attention that I've been spelling Hynmoufs different every time :P forgive all my spelling mistakes in this one. Please enjoy…..

The creature roared and something slammed into Karigan, her sword flew from her hand and the ground rushed to meet her. She cried out as her arm was jarred painfully. She heard Thomas scream and jumped to her feet as something bit off the weapon's head.

"Nooo," Macy yelled and ran at the thing. She managed to duck its first strike but its leg slammed her back into the cliff face.

All the other weapons attacked but none could prevail. They were taken out almost just as effectively. Karigan cursed.

She reached for her broach and disappeared completely. The world went dark and grey but she saw what was attacking them clearly and in perfect colour.

It was a man. He was tall, not unnaturally tall though. He had shoulder length hair and wore loose garbs. His head snapped towards her. His eyes were empty, pale orbs in his head. He tilted it back and howled up at the night sky.

It didn't matter what the man once was, but now it was a creature of darkness that needed to be killed. Karigan rushed at it.

She could dodge easily now she could see it, but it could see her too. It slashed as fast as it could but she ducked and rolled. She came up but was too slow and fell back as blood soaked through her uniform. It had swiped her right across the belly.

She gasped and fell to her knees but didn't drop her sword.

The man tilted its head and looked at her curiously.

Robert darted behind him and jumped high. His sword flashed and the creature's head rolled away. Karigan looked at it. Her ability dropped and she stared at the disfigured, grey skinned animal head that lay at her knees. The body was long, long limbs, long face, long hair.

She must have been delusional. She had thought she saw Robert with wings, and his sword flashing with dark lightening, dark power.

Karigan gasped painfully. Robert held her softly as darkness crept into her vision. She could feel coldness spreading and she thought sadly about her family and friends.

"I'm dying." She gasped, tears leaking out of her eyes.

"No, Westrion will always watch over you." Robert told her. "You won't die so easily, not on my watch."

Darkness filled her vision and she was no longer conscious of anything.

"I spy with my little eye, something beginning with C." Macy announced.

"Condor." Karigan answered immediately.

"Damn," Macy cursed, "I thought that was a perfect one."

"Anything to do with Condor and I'll get it." Karigan affectionately leaned forward and patted him on the neck.

"I was trying to pick something you wouldn't guess." Macy sighed.

"Why didn't you pick something obvious? Like tree." Rory suggested.

"Well, Mara wouldn't have gotten that." Macy joked and Mara frowned. "I still can't believe you picked her over me Willis."

The group laughed and Willis gave Mara a quick peck on the cheek. Jokes had started flying around ever since they had made it back to the village and he had pulled her into a massive passionate kiss in the middle of the crowd of weapons.

Everyone had run out, wondering what had happened during the secondary examinations. Felix was one of the first ones there. He had looked extremely disappointed when he saw Karigan wasn't dead, but not for long. She'd charged through the crowd, one arm holding her stomach and the other raised to punch him very hard in the face.

The group fell into silence. They had reached a fork the road. One lead to Sacor City and the other to the Granite Hynmoufs. Here they would be parting company.

"You'll have to come and see us sometimes. When you girls have finished your final exams." Macy told them. "They're beautifully."

"You'll love it, unless you're allergic to dust like me." Robert muttered.

The girls giggled.

They said their goodbyes and hugged each other.

"If you ever get bored with Willis," Robert told Mara, "you know where I am." He winked and she giggled.

Karigan gave him a hug. "What's wrong, I'm not pretty enough for you?" She joked.

Robert smiled slyly. "I know better than to cross Fastion."

Karigan blushed and quickly looked away. The group smiled and waved good bye and soon they were out of each other's sight.

"So what was the creature?" Captain Mapstone asked with wide eyes.

"Turns out the thing was a Wendigo." Mara told her. "A creature that feasts on the flesh of humans."

"Apparently Mornhavon experimented on people and that's what happened." Karigan commented.

"I'm glad you're back safe and sound." Mapstone told them earnestly. "Now, you girls better change back into your uniform. You already intimidate the other riders as it is."

"Your guard is dropping." Fastion told her as they circled each other.

Karigan corrected and came at him again. He ducked, kicked out and she jumped back again. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and he brushed his fringe out of his eyes. It was boiling hot but they continued their on-slaughter, both trying to beat the other.

Finally they both collapsed in bursts of laughter. They walked over to the little bit of shade and sat down heavily. They drunk deeply from their water skins.

"Have you put in to get your shifts next week covered?" Fastion asked.

"Yeah, Brenne is taking mine." She told him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Believe it or not but Kingston is taking mine." He told her.

"Really? Wow."

"Come on," He got up, smiled down at her. He pulled her to her feet and kissed her passionately on the lips. "Don't let your guard drop or you'll die in a fight."

"I know," She rolled her eyes and lifted her blade, the black band clearly visible on the long sword.

The two Black Shields faced each other and attacked as one, their movements blurred as they whipped around in the deadly dance of blades.

Disclaimer: Anything you've recognized in this story belongs to KB :D
And the story is over :( please review all you lovely people who have stuck with this story and given me your support :P

THE END! Louisiana out :D