Chapter 12: Let the Battle Begin!

Thursday and Friday morning passed too quickly for Rose's liking. She and Kel headed to the shop for some last-minute planning.

"Jake, I need to talk to you." Rose said with a solemn expression on her face.

Jake looked concerned. "You okay?"

"I'm quitting the Huntsclan after the…thing tonight."

"Won't the Huntsman kill you?" Jake asked.

"Yes." Rose said slowly. "I'm gonna escape, though. I'll fake my death somehow and…just, run."

They were quiet for a minute. Jake spoke.

"There has to be another way…"

Rose shook her head. "There isn't."

Spud walked up to them. "Hey, guys. We're all being miked, so…" Spud handed Jake two headsets. Jake handed one to Rose.

"Ready, Huntsy?" Jake asked, teasingly.

"Always ready, Dragon." Rose replied. "Always ready.

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Thunder rumbled in the distance as the Huntsclan members tied up their prisoners and set up the skulls. Lao Shi was flying over them.

"A-drag to C-drag." Jake's voice came through the walkie talkie. "Come in, C-drag."

"Is that really necessary?" Lao asked into the walkie talkie. "Anyway, there are ten guards lining the trees. Attack from behind and-"

"Look! Up in the sky!" Yelled a Huntsclan member.

"Aiyah! I've been spotted!" Lao quickly flew into the trees.

"Shit!" Muttered Jake. He and Rose hid in a bush as a guard ran by.

"Now what?" Whispered Rose.

"Wait for Cat…"

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"Attack on impulse!" Ordered the Huntsman. "Nothing can stop me now!" He opened the spell book.

"Yo, Huntspunk!"

The Huntsman whirled around and saw Cat in dragon form.

"Miss me?" She asked.

"Not particularly." The Huntsman shot at Cat. She dodged.

While the HM was distracted, Jake quietly snuck to the spell book. He reached for it when the HM stepped back on it.

Crap! Jake thought. He flew to Ben and Leah.

"You guys okay?" Jake asked. The nodded. A shriek was heard from behind them. The Huntsman knocked Cat out.

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"Foolish girl." The Huntsman picked up the spell book and turned to the right page. Jake saw this and quickly flew out of the circle. The poor creatures looked helplessly on as the Huntsman started chanting the spell. The skulls shone brightly as the magical creatures cried in agony.

Jake blew a huge fireball at the spell book. The crying and glowing stopped. The Huntsman slowly turned to the culprit. It had started to rain.

"You…" The Huntsman and Jake glared at each other.

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Uh-oh! 00 Sorry this was so short, but it's better than nothing, no?