To: coolgirlc- changelings are shape shifters, like beast boy fro Teen Titans, but can change to the original colours of the animal or thing they change into.
Chapter TwoTwo days had gone by since Andrew had fallen on Jakes front steps. Fu was tending to him.
"It doesn't look good," said Fu. "He's been internally injured, and badly. He might not make it."
"What's his chances?" asked Rose.
"He doesn't have a chance," said Fu. "His condition is so bad, I just told you that he might not make it because I didn't want you to worry."
"Oh no," cried Rose. She flung herself into Jake's arms. "He was one of my friends."
"It's ok," said Jake. "I know it's gonna be hard but he wouldn't want you to be upset."
"I know," she sobbed.
"Is mommy ok?" asked Cheryl.
"Yes mommy's ok," answered Jake. "She's just upset."
"Oh," said Cheryl. "Was that animal that talked a friend of hers?"
"Yes he was," answered Jake. "Matt can you take your sister out somewhere for a while?"
"Sure," said Matt. "Come on Cheryl, let's go to the park."
"Yeah the park, the park," she cheered.
"Matt take this," said Jake, throwing him a cell phone.
"I'm finally old enough?" said Matt, astonished.
"No, but if I have to contact you I can call the phone," said Jake. "Now go."
Matt got his coat on and helped Cheryl with hers. Then the two of them walked out the door.
"Hey Matt," said Dylan, walking up to them. "Why are you with your sister?"
"Something happened at home," said Matt. "One of my moms friends got hurt. My dad doesn't want us to see my mom crying."
"Oh," said Dylan. "Ok. Do you know how to skateboard?"
"No," she answered. "Matt I want to play at the playground."
"Ok," he said. "I'll be there in a minute."
Cheryl ran off to the playground, under the watchful eye of her brother.
"Say what?" said Dylan. "Why are you doin this? Your gonna ruin your image."
"I'm listening to my dad," said Matt. "I don't need Cheryl getting hurt."
"Whatever dude," he said. "I'll call you later."
With that Dylan took off to the skate park. He stopped to talk to Serena, who slapped him upside the head. Serena walked over to Matt.
"Dylan's a retard," she said. "I'll come with you, and keep you company."
"Thanks," said Matt.
They walked to the playground to see Cheryl playing on the slides.
"She looks like she's having fun," said Serena.
"Yeah," said Matt, gloomily.
"What's up?" she asked. "You look depressed."
"Nothing," he said, remembering his dad's words very clearly.
"Something's up," she said. "I've known you for thirteen years. I know you better then you think. What's wrong?"
"It's just…" started Matt. "You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Dylan."
"Ok," she said. "I promise."
"My dad told me that I was a dragon," said Matt. "Then he showed me. I am one. I'm a dragon. It's been bugging me."
"You're a dragon?" she said. "That's cool."
"Your not scared?" asked Matt.
"No," she said. "My mom told me what I was already. I'm a phoenix, like her."
"You're a magical creature to?" Matt asked, astounded.
"Yep," she answered.
Just then a man came onto the playground. He had a green outfit on, a brown fur cape, a helmet made out of a skull, and a large staff.
"Are you Matthew Long?" asked the man.
"Yes," answered Matt. "What do you want?"
Suddenly he shot something at Matt. A net. It surrounded his body and captured him. The man did the same to Serena and Cheryl.
"Now that I have your kids," said the man to himself. "You'll have no choice but to obey me."
The man started to laugh, sending chills down Matt's spine. Suddenly the phone Jake had given him started to ring. The man answered it.
"Hello," he said.
"Matt, it's ok to come home now," said Jake from the other end.
"Oh he won't be coming home right now," said the man. "He's in a little trouble right now. If you do not give me my niece back then you will lose your children."
With that he hung up.
"Now," he said. "We shall wait and see."
"Oh he won't be coming home right now," said the man. "He's in a little trouble right now. If you do not give me my niece back then you will lose your children."
Jake couldn't stop it. Anger filled his entire body. It was one thing to hurt him when he was younger, but now that he had kids it would hurt a lot more. The Huntsman had crossed the line to far.
"HOW DARE HE TOUCH MY CHILDREN," screamed Jake.
"Jake!" said Rose running into the living room. "Why are you yelling?"
"The Huntsman has Matt and Cheryl," he said.
"NOOOOOO," she screamed, falling into Jakes arms. "Not my children to. He's taken the life of my friend and now he's going to do it to my children."
"Not if I can help it," said a voice from behind them.
They turned to see Andrew standing at the door. He looked better then ever.
"You're ok!" said Rose in shock.
"Yes," he said. "I turned into a phoenix. They have natural healing powers."
"Good idea," said Jake. "Do you think you're ready to help us?"
"Definitely," he answered.
"It seems your father doesn't care about you," said the man. "If he did your parents would be here already."
"Who are you?" screamed Serena.
"I am the Huntsman," said the man. "I lead the Huntsclan."
"The what?" asked Matt.
Suddenly the Huntsman saw it. The mark of the Huntsclan snaking it's way up his back.
"You have the mark," he said, astonished.
"What mark?" asked Matt.
The Huntsman came over to the net and let Matt out. He grabbed the bottom of Matt's shirt and looked at the mark.
"Do you know what this means?" asked the Huntsman.
"No," he said. "My mom just said it was a birthmark."
"It is the mark of the Huntsclan," he said. "It tells you that you were destined to kill magical creatures. Most of all the dragons."
"But, I'm a dragon as well. You really don't care about that?" started Matt.
"Not really. If you don't harness that power then you don't need to worry about it. Do you want to learn how to move so fast your opponent can't see you?" asked the Huntsman. "Learn to strike without fail, and with complete accuracy?"
"You can teach me that?" asked Matt.
"Yes I can," he said.
"But my little sister," said Matt. "She has this same mark. Only it's around her arm."
"She can come as well," he said, releasing her. "Who is your friend here though?"
"She's just a human," said Matt.
"I am not," said Serena. "I'm a phoenix."
Matt glared at her. His eye said, you weren't supposed to say that.
"A phoenix," said the Huntsman. "Maybe…how would you like to join as well?"
"Really," she said. "But I'm a magical creature."
"Yes but a very loyal and very powerful magical creature," he said. "You could heal our wounds when we are injured."
"Ok," she said. "I'll help."
The Huntsman released her.
"Good now come with me," said the Huntsman. "We have much to learn."
With that he tapped his staff on the ground. A large green bubble surrounded him and the three kids. Then they were gone.
While he was away, Andrew had learned how to turn into any animal at will and knew how to act like that animal. Right now he was a wolf, sniffing the ground.
"You do know it's not normal for a wolf to be roaming around Central Park right?" asked Rose.
"Yes," answered Andrew, not paying attention to Rose. "Wolves have the best noses for picking up scents. I'm following your children's scent right now."
Jake was flying high in the air, searching from above, trying to find his kids. He landed.
"I don't see anything," he said, gloomily.
"Hey over here," called Andrew.
Rose and Jake ran over to him to find three nets lying on the ground.
"This is where the scents end," said Andrew.
"They must have teleported," said Rose.
"Do you know where the Huntslair is?" asked Jake.
"No they could have, and probably did, changed it," she answered.
"I can find the Huntsman's scent," said Andrew. "All I need is something that he's touched or an article of clothing."
"We don't have anything," said Rose. "Wait, what about those nets?"
"Your kids touched them as well," said Andrew. "It mixes the scents and confuses the heck out of me."
"Oh," she said. She started to tear. "I want my babies back."
She fell to her knees and cried, Jake trying to comfort her. Suddenly Andrew shouted.
"Hey I found something," he said.
"What?" asked Jake, still comforting Rose.
"It looks like a piece of the Huntsman's cape," answered Andrew. "I've got the scent. We have him now."
"Remember the scent," said Jake. "We can't go looking for them now. The Huntsclan will expect that."
"But I want my babies back," cried Rose.
"If we barge over there, the Huntsclan will destroy us," said Jake. "We need to get in when they're least expecting it."
"Ok," she said, suddenly very angry. "When I get my hands on that man I swear I'll kill him."