Chapter 25

She has gotten better.

Deep within the forest outside of City K. Draven was in midst of battle against one Shadow Ring. Her speed has increased rather well, her skills have gotten sharper to say the least, as she is able to nearly avoid him. The game is this. Shadow Ring has to avoid Draven at all costs, if he catches her, they have to battle it out. If she wins she get a ten minute head start as they continue the game.

If he wins however, Draven gets to ask a favor.

So far she has been able to avoid him well. Her aim is nearly spot on, he's just too fast at times. Second, her ability to use and assets her surroundings have paid off. The monster attack that had her bed ridden for a few weeks made her realize she has to see everything around her and use whatever she can to her advantage.

"I think I need to step this up a bit…" Draven snickered.

He started to increase his speed. She turned as her eyes widened. He was catching up.

With that, she suddenly dropped from the trees and went on foot!

"Ah, interesting tactic…" he thought.

Draven dropped from the trees as well, but began to listen to his surroundings. He made a promise not to use his full abilities on her, however his senses aren't something he can just dull down on a whim. No, he waited and listened to the forest, it was quite.

"HEY DRAVEN!"

He jumped to the voice as he turned and saw his twin Goliath approach with Lilly close by. "Damn it, we're training here!" Draven protested.

He paused. "Oh, you mean Shadow Ring that is twenty paces north hiding behind the large elm tree?"

Draven sighed aloud as Shadow Ring appeared. "What the hell, how did you know!?" she demanded.

"Your thoughts are too loud." Goliath snickered.

Shadow Ring's glare turned to Draven. "Where you using your powers?!" she demanded.

"No! I promised I wouldn't. I was using my senses!"

"Well, we're going out to get a bite. You wanna come with?" asked Lilly.

Shadow Ring turned away. "I am one with the darkness, I have no need for… social activity…" she said rather proudly.

Until her stomach rumbled.

"We could use a break, come on, and let's get something." Draven insisted.

She sighed aloud. "Very well then, let me change…"

Draven nodded as she vanished once more. Goliath however crept over to his brother and whispered. "So… you dating her?"

"I like to think so, but I don't really know for sure. I like her, but I don't know if the feeling is mutual." He whispered back.

Shadow Ring appeared once more. She wore baggy clothing and a hoodie with cat ears on the top. "Okay, let's go," she said.

"I love your sweater!" Lilly decreed.

"Whatever," she muttered.

They ventured into the nearest city for a bite to eat. Yet as they did, there were problems along the way. People were starting to get rowdy, there have been protests day in and out over the Association, posters, banners and signs of people saying. "Humans protect humans," other had photos of Draven's family, crossed out in black marker stating they weren't heroes. There were even some of Amai Mask too.

"Guess we picked the wrong day to eat out," muttered Goliath.

"Who cares what they think, let's go," called Lilly as she clung on to Goliath's arm. He smiled warmly to her and nodded as they made their way through, yet people began to notice them.

"LOOK, IT'S THE FREAKS! THE MONSTERS ARE HERE!" he shouted.

People turned their focus to them and began to shout out swear words and other derogatory remarks. Goliath stood there and took it, Draven sighed aloud. "You think they would learn that we are on their side. I know we don't look human, but…"

"Tch, you ACT more human than a lot of people," said Shadow Ring. "But I got this, they look like they want to corner us."

She reached into her sweater sleeve, then suddenly…

BOOM

A smoke bomb went off!

The four were able to leave without incident, so they were quick to go to the other side of town as the protest continued. "Remind me to get some of those," Lilly laughed.

"They are no good to you unless you can move fast. You have to, they only have a blocking rate of 20 seconds if that. It depends on the winds too," Shadow explained.

"Then maybe we ought to get a few of those." Goliath snickered.

They found a small diner to stay and eat at. Everything appeared fine as they sat down and placed their order, but then, Draven began to notice the stares from various tables. "Huh, guess they are everywhere now…" he muttered.

"Apparently so, it doesn't matter. We're here to eat," Goliath decreed.

Their orders arrived. The brothers dove right in, Lilly was giggling as Goliath ate rather wildly, and yet there was still a form of daintiness to his dining. He could cut his steak in half before swallowing it whole!

Draven was a little more liberal and swallowed his whole without hesitation. They cleared their plates in less than a minute!

"Well, that's a good snack, may have to hunt something up later…" Goliath said.

Draven agreed. As good as human food tasted, nothing was as filling as a monster though. Lilly and Shadow took their time with their meals, yet at the same time, Shadow appeared on edge. "You okay?" Draven asked.

Suddenly, she grabbed the butter knife from the table and threw it hard towards Draven! He ducked just in time, yet froze as he turned and saw a man with his arm pinned to the wall! Yet in his hands as a bat with nails in it!

"Shadow…"

She stood up, fearlessly confronting the man as she grabbed another butter knife from a different table. "You got something to say?" she asked. "Because I certainly do. I don't take kindly to those who harm friends of mind. Understand?" she demanded.

The man sneered. "He's a goddamn monster you little imp! It's not a crime!"

People were suddenly froze in fear. "Not a crime?" the waitress asked. "You intended to bludgeon someone with a bat full of nails!"

"He's a freaking monster! Look at him!"

"Yeah, well, people can be terrifying too." Shadow picked the bat up off the ground. With the butter knife in hand she turned and glared at the man. "Like this."

In a single, smooth stroke, she was able to cut the wooden bat into two!

No one moved. Not one said a word. The man himself froze in fear. "How…"

"Doesn't matter," she said in a rather scary and careless tone. "You know I am capable of doing that… which means I can take your arm off with this too." She said and held the knife before him. "You come after my friends again, I will personally show you how I do it."

She reached up and pulled the one in the wall out. The man dropped as he was quick to scurry out of the diner. Shadow turned and went back to her seat.

Draven was stunned, so was Goliath. "That… was amazing" Lilly whispered.

"That was nothing," Shadow said as she went back to her meal. "I wasn't even trying…"

Goliath leaned over to Draven. "I see now why you like her."