The group dispersed. Keiko went off to study for her test, while Kurama, Kuwabara, and Yusuke went to go find Loren. Hiei disappeared.
The three boys found Loren exiting the barn, having traded her mare's harness for a saddle and bridle. They looked at each other, silently agreeing to follow her in secret. Little did they realize just how fast Storm was.
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"Just *huff* how *huff* much *huff* further *huff* do you *huff* think *huff* it is *huff*?" Yusuke panted as they ran parallel to Loren in the cover of the bushes and trees randomly located throughout what turned out to be a very expansive amount of land that the Conner's owned.
"I'm afraid I couldn't tell you, Yusuke, as I have no idea where "it" is!" Kurama replied, breathing hard.
Kuwabara was too out of breath to comment. If he hadn't been, he would have been able to point out that the ground they had been covering had been trampled by a large group of hoofed animals. He was able to notice this because he had to stare at his feet in order to get them to keep moving. Soon they reached more trampled ground, and soon after that there was little sign that anything had ever grown there, and fresh prints were everywhere. The boys finally realized where Loren was headed when they spotted a small-medium herd of cattle.
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She wasted no breath hollering to the creatures, indeed, they seemed to be expecting her and several trotted out to meet her. Loren ignored them and turned to the task of rounding up the scattered herd, though most obliged her by trotting into place. Loren liked animals. They understood her a lot better than people did. And she understood them. She knew which of the animals she would have trouble with and which would automatically do what she wanted. She didn't begrudge the more difficult ones; they just made this more fun.
The boys crouched down in the low shrubbery as they watched Loren work. As ignorant as they were about cattle, they realized that not many people could get such results from them. Loren was also skilled with a lasso, as she demonstrated several times on the more difficult bovines. There were several that were especially clever, ducking and dodging with an intelligence some humans failed to exhibit. Loren lassoed them all and led them back to the herd, several times, but they refused to stay there.
Loren frowned, no longer relaxed. There was something strange about these cows; they weren't familiar to her. She turned towards the shrubs the boys hid behind.
"I'm willing to bet these are more your department than mine," she informed them.
All three boys stood, a little embarrassed at being caught. That soon changed to dismay as a humanoid cow with glowing red eyes, similar to the ancient Minotaur, reached to pull the girl out of her saddle, screeching "Die, human!".
Storm reared, her front hooves crashing down on the demon's head. She spun quickly to kick out at it, catching it in the stomach and lifting it up in the air, to land several yards away, in a thorn bush. The three boys stared at the horse for a second before launching into battle against the remaining cow-demons. They seemed to multiply, and soon the boys had their hands full. In a flash Hiei was battling alongside them, slicing the monsters into hamburger meat. Even this was not enough, though, and soon they were overwhelmed.
Loren wiped the sweat from her eyes as she concentrated on staying mounted. The task proved impossible, however, as the demons swarmed over Storm and brought her to the ground. Loren was thrown several feet away. Struggling to get up, she saw that Storm was buried beneath massing bodies, helpless. Fury washed through her, though she still didn't show it outwardly. How DARE these creatures attack her only friend? She launched herself at the creatures, punching, kicking, and dodging at an incredible rate. The boys were taken aback at her skill and ferociousness.
Not even this could stand against the massing demons, and soon she was overwhelmed as well. As Loren struggled with the demons, she became aware of several power sources appearing near a huge one, a large, unimpressed cow whose back was turned to the pandemonium. As she was dragged a little to the side, she realized with a start that the cow was belching forth new "minotaur" even as the newly "born" ones were preparing to join the attack.
"Filthy humanssssss!" they screeched. "Take us to the poooooooweeeeer!"
Loren had had enough. Her hands glowed with brilliant silver-blue energy, which soon took shape as two small handheld axes. She managed to shake her attackers off of her with them.
"That's great!" Yusuke yelled, still busy with his own share of the creatures. "Now help us out!!!"
Loren stared at him calmly, though inside she was still angry at the cow-demons. "I don't know how to use them," she pointed out mildly.
Yusuke cursed as one of his opponents landed a hard blow. Loren ignored him and studied her new weapons. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She glanced at the "mother" cow and came to a quick decision. She brought the axes hilt to hilt, making sure the butt of the weapons touched. When she pulled them apart, the hilts seemed to stretch, and a chain formed between the two. The blades thinned and lengthened, curving to form a half-circle around the hilt. The chain lengthened as needed, and Loren began whirling one axe around her head. When she was sure she had enough control over her newest weapon, she sent the axe flying, slightly to the side of the cow.
"YOU MISSED!!!" Yusuke yelled, beginning to wear down.
Loren ignored him and with a flick of her wrist severed the creature's head, bringing the blade around to attack the remaining demons. With a few sweeps of the flying blade, all demons within her range were killed. Loren gave the chain a yank and the axe was back in her hand. The others fought with renewed energy as the creatures' numbers were rapidly depleted. Finally, every one was dead. Loren kicked one as Storm came to stand beside her, shaken.
"Is there a name for these things?" she asked tiredly.
"Not that I know of…" Yusuke replied wearily, sitting down amongst the bodies.
Kurama shook his head and sat as well, while Hiei glared at Loren. Kuwabara had already collapsed and was panting like a dog. Loren glanced around. The real cattle had stampeded, destroying the fence between them and a green pasture. Loren sighed. At least that had worked out okay, and for now the cow-demons were as good as a fence. She glanced at the boys.
"You're like them, only stronger," she informed Hiei.
"Hn." was the fire demon's reply.
"Soooo…" Yusuke began from his position on the ground. "Sensed anything weird lately?"
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A/N: Second chappie up. Yay. Me tired. Me asleep on my feet. Me hope certain people don't mess with me right now.