Chapter 21

It took a while for her to recover. Yet Shadow Ring was soon back to normal and ready to train.

Draven didn't leave her side until she was well again, it surprised her that he stayed all this time. "How long?" she asked.

"Nearly a week," Draven said in a whisper. "I am so sorry… I should have been more careful…"

Shadow however paused. She sighed aloud and said. "You knew where I was the whole time, didn't you?" she asked.

"Yes, I tried to pretend I didn't know, you were always so down on yourself when I found you instantly… I didn't want to crush your spirit in training, you improved greatly, I mean… it's become more difficult to track you, but I still knew where you were…"

"Draven," she said, he looked away until she took her hand and gently guided his gaze back up to her. "I don't mind, the fact is, you knew where I was, and you said so yourself, I improved. Despite the setbacks, you are making me get stronger for it. I have improved greatly thanks to you!"

"But you got hurt since I delayed myself… I thought you could have handled the monster alone…"

"So did I," she said. "The fact that you had faith in me was enough for be to believe I could take it out too. But I underestimated it, that mistake was mine, not yours."

He turned away embarrassed still. "I hesitated and you got hurt… that isn't fair…"

"A ninja must take risks, even if it means their life is on the line…"

Draven froze, as did Shadow Ring, lingering by the door was Flash. "But a ninja shouldn't take foolish risks like the one you did." He said scolding Shadow Ring. "You have talent, that is certain, however I won't train you."

"Wait, please, let me prove…"

"This discussion is over." Flash announced. Then his sights turned to Draven. "You have been training her, have you?" he asked. He nodded his head to him. "Keep doing so, she will learn better from you than me. After all, I would kill her."

Shadow froze as he left, Draven turned, unable to find the words to say, her fists clenched with rage. "I'll show him…" she vowed. A look of determination came over her, then her eyes set on Draven. "Keep training me!" she demanded. "Don't hold back, and I don't care if you find me in no time, keep training me like you always have, then I will prove to him that I am just as good as he is!"

He was stunned to her declaration, but he gave a nod to her. "Yeah, what makes him so damn sure you can't be taught and become as good as him… no… let's make it so you are even better than him!" said Draven.

A look of excitement came over her. Shadow eased herself out of bed. "Let's get started!"

"After you fully heal!"

#

Meanwhile…

The time finally came.

Hunter and Jag returned back to his homeland. There, Hunter found a group of strong warriors wearing monster pelts awaiting him. "Let me guess, your brothers?" Hunter whispered.

"All eight of them, you met Leo already,"

"No kidding…" They approached as the brothers all glared down at Hunter, they turned to Jag and said.

"So it's true, isn't it? You're courting him?"

Jag nodded his head. "Hunter and I are…"

He didn't get a chance to finish, the largest of the brothers grabbed hold of him and nearly smothered poor Jag into his chest. "WAY TO GO LITTLE BROTHER!"

"No kidding! The son of Garou as a brother in law!"

"This is great… but how strong is he?" came the voice of Leo.

Suddenly, they all bore the same look, their eyes widened as looks of greed came over the brothers. "Whoa, hey, wait! We just got here!" Jag protested.

"Now, now. Just because he IS the son of Garou, doesn't mean he's as strong as Garou… you know how sometimes there can be a weak link in the family genes…" said the elder brother Ty. He wore a skin that appeared to be that from a tiger monster. "Besides, we all had to do it too when we found our better halfs. We had to prove we were strong enough to be at their side… it's only fair…"

Jag wasn't impressed. "You were out to impress the WOMEN'S family to prove you were worthy of them… why do I feel like you are treating me like I'm the girl in this?" he muttered.

Hunter sighed aloud. He knows the feeling. After all, his brothers wanted to spar with Jag the moment they learned he was going out with him. However Hunter was quick to ensure they didn't as well made certain his parents got involved to ensure none would go over his head in attempts to fight Jag. However, being in his neck of the woods, Hunter felt he had to prove himself. "It's okay, if they want to spar, I'll spar. But the question is, how much of my strength do they want me to display?" he asked.

The eight were grinning now. "Ooo, you planning on holding back on us?" chuckled Leo.

"I doubt your brother wants to attend eight funerals." Hunter said rather brashly.

"Ooo, this one's got lip!" snickered the third eldest Cougar. "Let's see what you got!"

"Do you have a place with a big clearing?" Hunter asked.

"Why?" demanded Leo.

"I need the space."

They guided them to a massive clearing in the middle of the woods. From there, Hunter looked about and nodded his approval. "Yeah, this should do it…" he said.

"So how is this going to go? One on one?" asked Leo.

"Nah, too much time, I'll take all of you on at once."

They froze.

The brothers then burst out into laughter as they turned to Jag. "Your friend got a death wish?"

"It's you who has the death wish." Muttered Jag. However Hunter approached him oddly.

He leaned in and whispered. "I'm about to show them a side of me that not even you have seen yet… I hope you are ready for it…"

This, surprised him greatly, but he nodded as Hunter insisted he back up quite a bit. Jag obliged as Hunter turned back to the brothers who were all stretching out and stood at the ready. "You got to be a cocky son of a bitch to make such a claim to battle all of us at once!" snickered Leo.

"Not cocky… confident… by the way… what the biggest monster you have taken down?" he asked.

"Demon level threats are no issue to us, it would take the whole family to bring down a dragon." Said Ty. "Why do you ask…"

"Just making sure."

Hunter stretched himself out, it had been a long time since he went into his larger form. Not since Amai Mask took over his father's power has he considered growing himself out again. But, it wasn't time to hold back. Jag's brothers want to see his strength; he will show it to them!

"You done, son of Garou? You know, I heard you aren't quite like him… In fact some say you aren't really acting like a son of Garou at all…"

"Shut up Panthra!"

Hunter however smiled. He turned to the brothers but there came a glare in his eye. "You want to see how much I am like my father… so be it… you asked for it…"

His body began to contort, his arm was the first to burst in size, then his chest, the legs soon followed as he began to gain height and mass. Slowly, he kept growing, bigger, and bigger until he was tall enough to see over the land and towards the sea. Hunter towered over the brothers, he went down on to his hands and glared. "Whose first!?" he said in a monstrous voice.

They froze.

All eight of them froze stuff as they stared up into the eyes of the monster named Hunter.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Hunter peered to the forest clearing. Jag's father emerged and approached his sons. Each of them got a stiff slap to the back of their heads. "What did I say before Jaguar returned? Do not embarrass your brother like this!" he roared.

Hunter calmed himself down, reverting back to his former self, however, he felt a little different as he did. When he returned to normal, there were odd stares given to him. "What?" he asked.

"Hunter… you have finished turning back… right?" asked Jag.

"Yeah…"

"Then now come you look different?"