Author's Note: I'm extremely sorry that I've not been able to write sooner, but I've a very busy past couple of weeks. This one's gonna be exciting, and I hope that you enjoy!

Chapter 5: Heroics

"Braska!" Auron cried out in horror when he saw his friend thrown from the fray smack dab into a large tree trunk. He fell to the forest floor, limp like a rag doll. Auron slashed at the giant wolf Fiend before running to Braska's side. He winced as he ran, grabbing his left arm which was bleeding profusely from a deep gash. Ignore it Auron, your friend needs you. He told himself. His gaze became hazy as he reached Braska, and Auron felt that he would fall right there beside him. He looked back at the battle that continued to rage. Grogar had the advantage, even though Drogan and Stephan had apparently fought with him before, due to his size and speed. Gregor, being as slow as he was, had been knocked out long ago, and was now lying in a heap a safe distance from the fight. Jeran was casting healing spells on the group, trying to keep away from the fangs of the wolf.

"Auron…" Braska groaned as he blindly groped for Auron's dark green collar. "Go help Sonja…" He coughed, but Auron knew he would be alright. He had a large lump forming on his fore head, so Auron gave him a potion he withdrew from his belt. "Hurry, I'll be fine!" Braska pushed him weakly, urging him to follow the man who'd taken Sonja. "GO!" Auron took off, ran past the brawl and into the depths of the forest, looking for some sort of trail to follow. He heard Drogan yell in pain, and he stopped, undecided on what to do. He knew that if the man got away, he would never see Sonja again, but if he left the others behind to fight Grogar alone…In the distance he heard a scream, but it came from within the trees, and not from behind him. Sonja!

"Sonja!" Auron murmured to himself. His mind made up, he headed in the direction that the wail had come from.

Braska sat up and leaned against the tree, his vision blurred in pain. His head felt light, but he knew he had to do something. He would prove to himself that he wasn't worthless, that he was a good fighter. Auron may've been better than him at everything, but this time, he would prove that he was the best. He slowly got up, leaning heavily on the tree to raise himself, and the dizziness threatened to overwhelm him. He picked up a small sword that had been lying next to him, and he limped over towards the site of battle. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as he approached. Jeran had knocked out. He saw Stephan being struck down by swipe of a giant paw, which left Drogan and Tulio to fight the beasts on their own. Tulio shot his arrows with amazing accuracy, and hit the beast in the right eye. It threw its head back, howling in pain. Drogan saw his chance and leapt for its throat, but he was knocked away by the wolf's muzzle as it shook its head about, trying to shake the arrow out of his eye. Braska started to run at the animal, and it still was preoccupied with the arrow so it hadn't seen him coming. Drogan had pulled himself to his feet and was about to strike, but Braska beat him there. The boy leapt at the Fiend's throat. Drogan stared open-mouthed at the spectacle. Braska plunged his sword deep into the wolf's jugular, and was thrown off as the wolf snapped at him and snagged his blood-stained shirt. He hit the ground hard, and didn't move.

"You're persistent, but you're also stupid." The scarlet coat waved behind the man as he stood by the cliff's edge. Auron had followed the man all the way to the other side of the forest, and now had him cornered at a steep cliff that led into the ocean. The sound of the crashing waves exploded below, drowning out Sonja's screams for help. The man laughed. "Just like you're father…you even look like him." The sun was starting to rise behind them, and the sky had a yellow glow. The wind whipped Auron's raven hair about wildly, and his Russet eyes gleamed with hatred.

"You have no right to talk about my father, you filthy, no good…" Auron yelled, advancing on the tall man. "Put her down, NOW!" He brandished his bejeweled sword and it flashed in the morning sunlight, meaning that he meant business.

"You even look like your father…" The man cocked his head at him curiously. "Except, your eyes are your mother's…" Auron growled in frustration, and gritted his teeth. His arm throbbed with pain, but he refused to acknowledge it, refused to show any sign of weakness. He wasn't sure what to do, but he knew that he wanted to kill this man. That was all he knew. He didn't even know this man's name, and he wanted to kill him…

"Who are you?!" Auron took another step forward, and the man took a step backwards. "Tell me!"

"Reemes." The man said simply. "If you want me, come and get me." He threw Sonja over the side of the cliff, down to the thrashing waves below.

"NOO!" Auron leapt to the edge, and saw that Sonja had managed grab a hold of a tree root that had grown out of the cliff. "Sonja!"

"Auron look out!" Sonja screamed as the Reemes brought a broad sword down upon Auron. Auron threw himself out of the way just in time, and rolled to his feet, his sword in hand.

"Come on, boy! Do you think you can beat me?!" He lunged for Auron, thrusting his sword at him. Auron was faster, and quickly stepped to the side of the blow and struck Reemes' arm. His arm flared in pain, but he didn't relent. He stabbed the man in his back, and shoved it in deep to pierce his heart. Reemes cried out, blood dripping from his mouth. He fell to his knees, gasping for air, only to swallow blood. Auron pulled his sword from Reemes' body, and ran from the wailing man back to Sonja.

"Sonja, hold on!" He stuck his sword deep into the ground and hooked his ankles around the hilt. He lowered himself down to Sonja, and grabbed her arms. "Grab hold!" He yelled over the crashing waves. She obeyed, and whimpered slightly when she finally let go of the tree root.

"Auron…" She sobbed, slightly. "Please…"

"Just hold on, I'll get you up!" He pulled, using every muscle in his body. He yanked her up, and threw her to safety at the top. Then he pulled himself up with his legs made it to the edge. He flopped down on his back when he reached the top, exhausted and out of breath.

"Auron!" Sonja yelled, tackling him in a hug. Her tears were flowing freely, splashing onto Auron's shirt. Auron was a little taken aback; he'd never seen her cry before, except when he'd broken her arm. He sat up, and she still was hugging him, making it hard to breathe.

"Are you okay?" He was worried that he might've hurt her again. She muffled a 'yes' against his shoulder, and he put his good arm around her. "Hey, then why are you crying?" She started crying even harder at this. "Come on, Sonja, I mean…" He stopped when he looked over to where Reemes' had been. He wasn't there anymore. "Sonja…" The alarm in his voice made Sonja suddenly quiet her sobs, and she followed his gaze.

"Did you think that it would be that easy?" Reemes had gotten to his feet and was standing in a hunched position, leaning heavily on his broad sword. "It's hard to kill something that's already dead…" He spit blood onto the ground at his feet. Reemes limped towards the petrified children, a menacing look on his face. "You can't get away, Hybrid. You're mine!" He loomed over them and raised sword to attack. He grinned evilly, and started to swing the sword, but stopped midway. The look on his face was one of surprise and horror. He turned around, and Auron saw the ax that had been lodged right between his shoulder blades. "You…" Gregor, Sonja's father, stood at the edge of the treeline, a look of triumph upon his face. An arrow zipped through the air and struck Reemes between the eyes. Drogan and Stephan charged at him, Stephan hacked at Reemes' legs, while Drogan went for his head.

"Die, you bastard!" Drogan cried out as he cut off the head of the monster. Reemes' body slumped over, headless and legless, while the head went flying over the cliff and into the waves, lost forever in their depths. Electricity heated the air, making it snap, and raised the hairs on Auron's arm. A dark spirit flew from the body of Reemes into the sky. Sonja clung to Auron's shirt, and started sobbing again, hiding her face. He winced when he tried to balance himself with his left arm. "Aww, now isn't that cute?" Drogan said after he had kicked the rest of what was left of Reemes' over the cliff.

"Sonja!" Gregor ran over to his daughter and scooped her into his arms and out of Auron's. "Are you okay, Sonja?"

"Where's Braska?" Auron asked, worried that he hadn't seen his friend yet.

"He was taken back to Westra when your mother came looking for us." Stephan explained. "It's a good thing she showed up when she did, bringing all of those villagers with her, 'cause Tulio was the only one left fighting that beast."

"Jeran took your mother and Braska back to village," Drogan said gruffly. "He had to force her to go back with him, she wanted to find you so bad, especially after she found out what we were fighting." Drogan helped Auron to his feet, and ruffled his raven hair. "You fought well, kid, I'm proud of ya." He smiled at him, and then turned back to talk with Stephan. Auron noticed that he was now wearing the scarlet coat that Reemes had been wearing.

"Auron…" Gregor had put Sonja down, and was now rubbing the back of his neck. "You fought bravely." That was all he said. He took hold of Sonja's hand and led her back to the treeline, waiting for the rest of the group.

"Drogan…why…?" Auron pointed towards the coat, and looked puzzled.

"It was your dad's, so I've decided to take it back from that filthy bastard Reemes." Drogan smoothed down a wrinkle. "Looks good when it's worn by the right person." He smiled wolfishly and started to walk towards the forest. "Come on, your mother's worried about you." Auron started to follow, but he stopped and watched the sun rising above the horizon, lighting his face. Dad, if you can hear me… I hope I made you proud… A voice pervaded his thoughts.

You always make me proud, Auron… Just keep on the path you're on, and someday you'll be the warrior you wish to be. Remember, tomorrow's always a new day, and life it what we make it…Make yours the best it can be…

The voice faded, and Auron smiled. He grabbed his sword that was still stuck in the ground, and wiped it clean of blood on the grass waving in the wind. He then stuck it in the ground, and the sunlight made it flash a brilliant many colors. This one's for you, father. He turned away, leaving the sword on the edge of the cliff to forever look to the horizon, and to the new day.

Author's note: Well, I hoped you liked it…don't worry, that wasn't the last chapter, that was just the end of part one. Anyway, you know the drill…R&R! love you guys!