Chapter 9:
Monsters!

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If Sierra has to fight another monster, she is going to scream. They will not leave her alone. Why? They keep attacking, keep pestering her and the Hunters. She will never admit it, but Sierra knows Veda is about ready to send Sierra on her way. The monsters are clearly after her.
After Thera's attack, the have been under fire non-stop. There is no end to the monsters. Sierra can't take it anymore. It is wearing her down. The Hunters are getting restless. They need a safe place to go. They need-

*"Scheiße!" Sierra ducks and rolls to the side, avoiding the talons of a gryphon. Yes, a gryphon. They won't stop circling around her, like vultures. If she kills one, five more pop up. Sierra is either going to go insane, or die pretty soon.

She has been running all day, non-stop. The monsters won't give her a break. Someone wants her dead, but who? She doesn't have any enemies, besides Hecate. Who would want to kill her?

She rolls again, and comes up with a bow ready to fire. She lets is fly, and it takes down the gryphon. Just as expected, another comes behind it. Sierra points her finger and the gryphon is magically tied up by a strong rope. She turns at runs, screaming "Help!", at the top of her lungs.

Her prayers are answer. Veda and Thera come to her rescue. Thera raises her arms, and two whirlwinds of water from a nearby lake take out several birds. Veda leaps from tree to tree to gain momentum then jumps onto the back of a gryphon, riding it into the other birds, using its sharp talons to destroy the other birds.

Sierra keeps up her trick of tying the birds up, and occasionally slaying a few with her dagger.

*"Weiss!" Sierra shouts. A large, white, tiger comes bounding to her side. The tiger immediately goes to work, attacking the wild birds. He stomps on a gryphon and roars angrily, warning any another animals.

It appears that they have killed all the gryphon, but for how long? Thera and Veda come over to Sierra, panting heavily.

"We can't keep this up." Veda states what they are all thinking. "We must do something."

Sierra clenches her fists. "I'll leave." Weiss nudges her leg, growling softly. "I must leave in order to protect you."

"No!" Says Thera, "You'll die on your own!"

"Hush, Thera." Veda says. "We will do what we must to protect the Hunters."

Thera purses her lips, pouting angrily. "What about protecting Sierra?"

"I'll be fine, Thera." Sierra sounds a lot more confident than she feels. "Don't worry about me."

Thera looks as doubtful as Sierra feels. She folds her arms and looks away, not facing Veda or Sierra. "I do not agree with this."

"This is why I am lieutenant," Says Veda.

Thera whips her head around, eyes narrowing. "You forget I was once lieutenant long before your time, Veda."

Veda is silent. And a good thing she is, Sierra does not want to break up another fight between the two. There is a sudden roar behind them. A Manticore no doubt. Sierra sighs, shouldering her bow.

"I need to go." She says, wearily.

"We will provide cover and escort you to the edge of the forest." Says Veda. She nods to Thera.

Thera's dark, wavy, hair rises and she mutters something under her breath. A wall of water rises from the lake and comes to her. She thrusts forward her hand and a small burst of water catapults from the large wall. There is another roar and Thera knows she has hit her target. She turns to Sierra, her dark green eyes almost black.

"I wish you the best, Sierra." She looks sad, but behind that is something else…something hidden. Sierra can't quite tell, but she knows with Thera, it can't be good.

She takes Thera's hand and squeezes it. "*Abschied Thera…" and with that, she turns and runs away, Veda and Weiss hot on her heels.

"Laufen! Laufen, Avery!"
"Run, run, Avery!"

"Schau nicht zurück!"
"Don't look back!"

"Zurück zu blicken, ist der Tod!"
"To look back is death!"

Sierra runs for her life. The monsters are coming fast now; she barely goes five steps without being assaulted. Veda is like lightning at her side, taking down what ever comes in her way. Weiss attacks with ferocity and scares away some monsters. They fight relentlessly without stopping for miles.

Finally they reach the edge of the forest. Veda turns to Sierra, sadness in her dark green eyes. She reaches for Sierra's hands.

"I wish I didn't have to do this," She says. "You are my best friend, Sierra."

Sierra is on the verge of tears. Her entire life has been like this; moving from place to place, never staying anywhere permanently. It is still tough to handle. She smiles sadly and hugs Veda.

"Und du bist mein!" She squeezes Veda tight enough to break her in two.
"And you are mine!"

In the distance they hear the roar of another monster. Veda desperately takes Sierra hand once again, looking deep into her eyes. She places a golden ring in Sierra's palm.

"Take this, it will protect you and remind you of us Hunters," Veda barely chokes out the words.

"I can't take this from you, this was a gift from your mother!"

Veda waves her off. "It is yours now, I want you to have it."

Sierra nods, hugging Veda for what may very well be the last time. Veda turns, taking her sword from her back and steeling herself for the coming threats.

"Go now, Sierra. I will hold off your enemies."

Sierra nods, turning away quickly to hide her tears. "Come Weiss," Her hunting companion roar in compliance and together they sprint away.

"Yes, run little Sierra Grey. Run and Hide. You and your brother will be dead soon enough.
Everything is going according to my plan."

* Scheiße- German for the S-word
* Weiss- German for white
* Abschied- German for farewell