Update! Yay! XD

Letters: Ch. 2

YFWE

You set me free to live my life

You became my reason to survive the great divide.

Scott Stapp, 'The Great Divide"

"...how nice of you to join us!"

"Don't even begin to get smart with me, American Dragon," Huntsmaster growled. "Your time has come."

"And... that's what you ALWAYS say, isn't it?" Jake laughed. "And last time I checked, you haven't beat me OR my Grandpa yet. How's this gonna be any different?"

"Grr... get him!" the Huntsclan leader barked. All of his reinforcements obeyed, dashing toward the two dragons. All except Rose, who stayed back, praying that she would not have to get into the fight, that she would not be forced to fight Jake.

"Ah, can't attack us alone, can ya, Huntspunk?" Jake called. "A'ight, then. You ready, Gramps?"

"Always am. Watch your left!"

Jake dodged a ninja that attempted to surprise him on the left, "Thanks! You take care of them... I want the Huntsmaster!"

Grandpa surprisingly seemed content with this idea, and the two set out on their respective missions.

Rose walked to the front door of the shop she knew as Jake's Grandpa's shop. She could

tell that it was dark inside, and she could see no figures moving inside. Were they home?

She tapped on the door. Not too quiet, but not so much that it would wake them if they were asleep. She heard a slight stirring from inside, and a few words that were mumbled incoherently.

The door slowly creaked open.

Lao Shei, Jake's Grandpa and Dragon Master, stood there groggily.

"Y-yes?" he whispered.

"Lao Shei?" Rose stood there, unable to think of what to say to this man. But soon the words came to her. "Um.. I'm Rose. A friend of Jake's."

"A... friend? Yes, it IS awful, isn't it?" Grandpa sighed. "His killer... he should be ashamed."

"Ah... yeah, this is kinda what I'm here for."

"What?"

"Recognize this?" Rose dug into her pocket and held out her black Huntsgirl mask.

Grandpa's eyes widened. "You... you were the Huntsgirl!" His surprise turned to anger. "I must... avenge him!"

"No!" Rose shouted. "I don't wanna fight! I... quit."

"How can I be so sure?" Lao growled.

"I... I came here for forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" his gaze was as hard as stone. "How can you ask for forgiveness? After all you've done!"

"I know, I know!" Rose cried. "I didn't know it would come to this. I wanted out, I swear! I didn't... want this to happen!"

"Tell that to the Huntsmaster. HE was the one that killed Jake."

"Please... I'm begging you," she pleaded. "I've left the Huntsclan. But they'll be after me! I need someone to hide me- maybe even give me a new identity! And I think that you guys could help me. All I need is forgiveness..."

Grandpa glared down at the trembling girl. He seemed to be in deep thought, before finally saying, "I don't know if I can give you that. Right now."

He shut the door, leaving Rose to ponder what she should do next. Where would she stay?

One of her friends at school would surely have room, right? Yeah, that's what she'd do. She'd go to one of her friends' home.

She headed south. If she was going to make it before curfew that night, she'd have to hurry up and start on her way right now.

Something caught her eye. A newspaper from that day. It reminded her of something- Jake's funeral. The obituaries section... it would say something about it, right?

She opened the paper up, and found the section she was looking for.

It read:

Jake Long

Morgan Funeral Services, Inc.

Saturday, April 27, 2005. 3:00 PM

"That's tomorrow," she whispered. "Well, then... that's what I'll do. I'll go back tomorrow, and then... maybe then, Lao Shei would accept her apology.

But it was unlikely.

Jake sprang into action, emitting a great beat of his wings to propel himself over the ninjas and toward the Huntsmaster, who stood nearby.

He lunged, claws outstretched, at the man. In turn, Huntsmaster held up his staff and swung it at the airborne Jake. He was sent sprawling back, falling to the ground.

Grandpa seemed to be having no difficulty with battling the Huntsclan ninjas. He warded off attack after attack with ease, seeming almost bored with their repetitive actions.

Rose stood at the doorway, watching all of this unfold. She had no desire to fight- especially with Jake. But soon enough, she was pulled into the fight- whether she liked it or not.

Her uncle laid a particularly critical blow to Jake, and he was hit all the way to... where Rose was standing.

He slowly got up, holding one of his arms in protest. Huntsmaster aimed his staff...

Four long poles shot out of the end of it. They circled Jake, and pinned him to the wall behind him. He was caught.

"Huntsgirl!" he exclaimed. "This is a vital chance to slay your first dragon. Do it. Do it now."

Rose looked up in silence at Jake's pleading figure.

Their eyes met...

END CHAPTER

Read and review! Last chapter coming soon!

YFWE