Hyenas are one of the best long distance runners on the planet, and it's not because of their size but because of their unique style of running, loping across the plains allowing them to travel vast distances without expending too much energy. Xander had the same ability and now with a warm breeze blowing across the town Xander loped through Tree Hill worried about the increase in activity in a town where nothing usually happened.
First Lucas and Keith had been injured and Keith had lapsed into a coma, then the nurse had been attacked at the hospital, Hailey had been attacked at the cafe and the sky overheard was darkening by the second, warning of an impending storm. Enough was enough, Calamitas had to die.
Problem
was that the package still hadn't arrived from Giles and Xander had
no idea where Calamitas could be, he was chasing ghosts and getting
really pissed off doing so.
An irritation made worse by the fact
that for the last fifteen minutes Xander had been shadowing a raccoon
mistakenly thinking the creature lurking in the shadows had been a
demon.
Circling back around the town Xander once again came to the basketball courts to think. Sitting on the bleachers he shut his eyes and forced himself to concentrate on the sounds around him not really sure that Calamitas would be out in the day but Xander knew that Calamitas had to be close by he could feel it.
" Mind if I sit?" A voice asked and Xander snapped his eyes open to see the Blonde girl he'd run into a few times standing besides Hailey,
" Knock yourself out." Xander stated staring at Hailey who couldn't meet his gaze,
" I'm Peyton and this is Hailey." Peyton stated and Xander turned to look at her,
" Xander, " He replied
"Umm we're Luca's friends and well he'd really like to see you." The blonde explained and Xander's eyes scanned the area around the riverside courts.
" Look Peyton I'm …busy at the moment but tell Lucas that I'll stop by the hospital later.
" Busy doing what?" Peyton demanded,
" I'll be by when I can, I have something to take care of first, " Xander shot back losing his patience and standing, looking over his shoulder he stopped for a moment and then leapt from the bleachers.
Three men were making their way towards the trio,
" That your car?" One asked Xander pointing to the convertible that Peyton had pulled up in.
" No it's mine, and what's it to you?" Peyton demanded stepping forward and one man pulled a knife,
" Cause it's ours now." The man with the knife sneered, and Hailey gasped in shock.
Xander took a step forward himself and the man with the knife watched him,
" You going to play hero?" Another man asked the chains he was holding catching the light on the court.
" You're making a mistake." Xander told the men in a cold calm voice, " I'll give you one chance to walk away."
The three men laughed and Xander stared at them his eyes cold,
" Go to the car and stay out of the way." Xander instructed the girls standing behind him,
" I can help." Peyton started but Xander replied
" Go!"
Hailey and Peyton scampered away and Xander looked at the three men
" Did he send you?" Xander asked and one of the men laughed,
" Nobody sends us anywhere."
Xander nodded and leapt into a kick his heavy
boot catching the man in the stomach,
The man doubled over and
Xander performed a near perfect spinning kick and his boot hit the
side of the man's head with a sickening crunch and the man fell still
to the ground.
" In a minute you're going to wish you'd walked away." Xander stated moving forward toward the man with the knife.
The man took a big swipe and Xander leaned out of the way of the blade, allowing the man's arm to come close to Xander's body and as the man attempted to pull out of the momentum from the big swing Xander punched him in the face.
The man staggered backwards but stood straight and he lashed out again. Putting all his strength behind a blow that was aimed at plunging the knife into Xander's chest.
Xander caught the man's wrist as it descended towards him and kicked the man in the crotch. The man made a noise like he was about to be sick and curled forwards, but Xander twisted the wrist he still had back behind the man's back and planting a boot in the middle of the man's back he pulled the man's arm back savagely, the man dropped the knife and Xander pushed the man forward and sent him sprawling across the pavement.
Still watching the man, Xander kicked the knife well away and turned to where the third man was standing shocked. Seeing that the man wasn't yet a threat Xander went after the man lying on the ground,
Walking behind the struggling men, Xander looped his arm around his opponent's neck and started to apply pressure the man started to struggle but Xander ignored the flailing arms and held strong until the man sagged unconscious.
Looking back at the third man he smiled and the man pulled a gun pointing it straight at Xander.
Xander scooped the dropped chains off the ground and wielding them like a whip crashed them down against the gun and the man's hand. The gun clattered to the ground and Xander kicked it away hastily.
Xander swung the chains and moved towards the man who looked at the chain wielding one-eyed young man and bolted.
" You make me chase you and I'm going to be pissed!" Xander yelled but the man didn't slow down and looking back to make sure the other two men were still unconscious Xander took off after the third racing away from the light of the basketball court. When Xander neared the fleeing man he swung the chain again and sent it flying through the night where the metal wrapped around one of the man's legs and he became tangled and fell.
Xander jumped on the man and delivered a sharp blow with his elbow to the back of the man's head stunning him, then he snatched the chains again and wrapped them around the man's wrists pinning his arms behind his back.
" You make me carry your sorry ass and I will hurt you." Xander growled into the man's ear and grabbing him under the elbow forced him up onto his feet and walked him back to his fellow assailants.
" You two ok?" Xander called out to Peyton and Hailey who both nodded staring at Xander as they emerged from behind the car.
" What?" Xander asked looking around to make sure there weren't any more threats.
Looking back, Peyton opened her mouth a couple of times but was basically speechless finally she gave up,
" Maybe we should call the cops," Hailey suggested looking at the two men sprawled on the ground,
" Maybe we shouldn't." Xander suggested and he was going to continue but stopped as a figure appeared by the water's edge.
The figure was tall nearly 7 foot high and wide and Xander noted the girls had stepped forward obviously seeing the same thing. Moonlight reflected of a long broad sword and the figure roared into the night. Calamitas.
" What the hell is that?" Peyton half shouted as Calamitas neared the trio,
" Go." Xander stated and the girls started towards the car but stopped short of getting in looking back to Xander.
" Come on Xander!" Hailey shouted,
" I'll meet you back at the hospital." Xander told the girl,
" Xander!" Peyton shouted in disbelief and Calamitas let out another roar, the girls screamed and jumped into the open top car.
" Go, " Xander stated again and prowled towards the demon.
The hunt was over and now the fight would begin.
