Hey guys! Here comes chapter 8! I'd like to thank Monkeysrcomintogetu
DL: Master Jake, I'm glad you could make it from New York. I see you have heard of our little captive.
J: Sorry I'm a bit late dudes. My mom wouldn't let me out until I finished my homework.
HG: Jake! You weren't going to tell anyone! We made a deal!
J: And that deal was that you wouldn't tell anyone about Rose and I, I wouldn't tell anyone your identity. Well, everyone knows about what should have happened between Rose and I, so it's only fair to leak your information also……… Alexandra.
N: All of the dragons practically fell to the ground in laughter.
HG: (Thinking) Why does it have to sound so girly?! (Speaking) Now you all know. I'm glad! I can finally have a better report in that stupid Dragon Museum of yours! (To the guards) Lock me up.
DL: Yes, lock her up. I don't want to see her anymore. And tie her mouth.
HG: Okay, but last thing before, Jake, I know Rose's home address. (Mouth gets tied)
N: In the dungeons, five dragon guards were blocking her doorway. Not just to keep her in, but in order for those who wanted her dead immediately couldn't harm her. Not worried at all, Alex fell asleep.
ALEX'S DREAM SH: Alex! Why haven't you just turned into a mouse and escaped?!HG: Sorry sir. I enjoy giving dragons false hope. Besides, I'm safe by the prophecy.
SH: (Cracking smile) That's my girl. So what did they do with Max?
HG: They took him away. They said they'd be holding him in captivity for life.
SH: So you really think you'll be able to escape with enough time?
HG: Yes sir. I've fought these dragons before.
SH: And you saw how that ended.
HG: I know, I know.
SH: I've got a surprise.
HG: (Excited) What?
SH: Jamie and Sarah got married the other night, and my wife's pregnant.
HG: You're having a baby?!
SH: Well, technically she is, but yes – we are.
HG: Oh I can't wait to see him!
SH: How do you know it won't be a girl?
HG: I just thought that you would always have a boy – and if I got to spend any time with her I don't think that you'd be able to handle a mini version of me.
SH: You just don't want to be replaced.
HG: (Laughs) Please, like you could ever replace me! But have you found out?
SH: It's still too early. But we intend to find out early.
HG: I'm glad, it makes everything easier.
SH: You all right?
HG: (Tapping foot repeatedly) Hm? Oh, I'm fine.
SH: You sure?
HG: Just trying to think of how to save Max once I get out. They want to kill me at dusk, so there's no nighttime escape. What do you think?
SH: (Pausing) (Thinking to self) Poor Huntsgirl, looks like she'll have to handle this one on her own. (Speaking) Can't think of anything.
HG: (Pauses) Confession time Master.
SH: Yes?
HG: I sort of read your journal.
SH: I know, I watched you – and I'm glad that you did. Alex, you're the one who must rebuild the Huntsclan.
HG: But why me Master? There were so many more warriors who were older and more experienced.
SH: Believe in yourself. What happened to the 'insane' headstrong girl I raised?
HG: Her family was taken away.
SH: No, they haven't. We're all watching over you. Be brave.
HG: Thank you Ma- (Disappears from dream realm)
CELLSDL: Come, Huntsgirl, your first round is beginning.
HG: Round 1?
DL: Well of course, we're dragging this out all day. There's only one of you after all. (Throws into battle arena) (To dragons) Release the hound!
N: Alex took a defensive position, but instead of some large frightening dog bounding out, Thorn emerged.
HG: (Mumbles under breath about Dragons) Ignorance is bliss. (To Thorn) Come here boy.
N: But instead of Thorn being friendly, he jumped Alex and began to claw at her face.
HG: (Barking) Thorn! What are you doing?!
T: (Human English) I'm sorry Alex, not who you think.
HG: (English) I know that voice. NORTHERN HUNTSMASTER?! (Bows)
Northern Huntsman (NH): (Thorn) (Strikes back of neck with claw) You will pay Alex!
HG: How are you here? How are you a dog?
NH: (Cornering Alex) It was fairly simple. I got here by using an old portal converter. It only has enough power for one round trip. As for the animal, well… that's a long story. (Pounces)
HG: (Dodging) Please tell me.
NH: I used a Shapeshifter potion.
HG: Which one?
NH: The one I created.
HG: But doesn't that require a Shapeshifter's blood?
NH: You never should have given up the search for the one who cut you.
HG: That was you?! But Master said that it was a Southern Knife.
NH: Um… yours? Anyhow, so now I am a canine, and it's time for you to vanquish.
HG: Why? I haven't done anything.
NH: (Lunges at throat) Traitor!
DL: Who let the Huntsman in?!
J: I don't know, but he's kicking Alex's butt!
HG: (Deflects with arm getting cut) Wait! Please stop!
NH: (Pauses in action) I'm listening?
HG: I agree. I agree! I'm so sorry Master.
NH: You're just as much of a traitor for not alerting us!
HG: I wanted to, but I just couldn't rat her out! She's like my sister.
NH: And the rest of us didn't matter at all?
HG: She was so sad!
NH: You're going to be awfully sorry yourself. (Lifts paw pointing to the ground) Assume the position.
HG: Master, please no.
NH: Do it Alex.
N: Cautiously, Alex lay down on her stomach and placed her palms on the top of her head. Hearing the threatening growls from the dog ten yards away, Alex couldn't control her thoughts.
HG: (Defeated) I'm sorry Master.
NH: (Growling) Sorry won't bring everyone back!
N: The Northern Huntsman dashed towards Alex sinking his teeth into her soft yet tough skin above her ribcage on her back. She let out a squeal of pain, but wanted to go down fighting – not crying.
He then turned to her kidney section and bit that too. He dug at it with his tight claw. Blood now streamed down her side splattering red oozy liquid on the dragon's sterling arena. Alex began to become lightheaded from rapid blood loss, so the dragons stopped 'Thorn' from his rampage and drug Alex back to her cell. It still confused many that the Northern Huntsman had been able to get through. When they were sent in, everyone assumed the portal had been locked – apparently, it hadn't.
10 MINUTES LATERJ: Alex, I've brought some bandages.
HG: (Coughing) Stay away dragon – it's still Huntsgirl.
J: Sorry, I must clean you up. The blood's scaring the younger dragons.
HG: I'll give them something to be afraid of.
J: Al – Huntsgirl – Why did you let him do that to you? He was only a dog!
HG: (Watching Jake approach) He's one of my Masters – a superior. That's the way it should work.
J: He was trying to kill you.
HG: How many more rounds Jake?
J: Probably two or three. They'll let you know before hand – why do you care?
HG: (Thinking of quick excuse) I'm curious. (Jake sprays something to cut) OW!
J: Quiet! It doesn't hurt that bad.
HG: What I was saying, I'm curious about how long it'll be until I can see #93 again.
J: Is he in the portal?
HG: Nope, he was slaughtered by your kind shortly before the whole accident.
J: So you want to die?
HG: I didn't say that.
N: Jake leaned in closer to bandage Alex's upper arm. Alex could feel his steamy dragon breath flow across her arm, similar to how it felt being so close to Chris. When Jake moved to bandage her back, she was forced to removed her shirt and put on a tiny sports cover. That's when he noticed the scars.
J: What happened?! Are you okay?
HG: A dragon trying to be caring?
J: Spill.
HG: It was the Northern Huntsman. I failed to obey directions.
J: Wait, but if he did this once to you, he could have done it to Rose.
HG: Don't believe it. The Huntsman loved Rose. An actual father-daughter relationship. Why do you think he was so upset?
J: Don't relate to them as that.
HG: But he hated me. Even when I was one of his students, I was never completely up to his standards. Even though I was one of his best students, in his eyes, I was a troublemaker, and he felt responsible for showing me that it was not allowed. He attacked me weekly. I hate it that he thought that was all right, but what he says goes – and even then I knew that rule.
J: And you're trying to save him?
HG: Although I have a bitter thought of him, I cannot tell you the amount of times he saved me from becoming a dragon's dinner.
J: We don't eat people! That's gross!
HG: Tell it to someone who'll believe you.
J: We really don't.
HG: I've seen it before!
J: Well, then it was an outsider dragon.
HG: You're all the same.
J: I would never eat another human.
HG: Don't put me in the same classification as you.
J: Okay, last stitch… and we're done. (Backs away from Alex creating a more comfortable distance than before)
HG: Why are you suddenly caring about whether I live or die? If I remember correctly, you never wanted to deal with me again.
J: It wasn't until you were allowing yourself to be attacked, that I realized everything you did was for Rose. Your love and compassion outweighed your loyalty, and I knew that you actually had a heart. I never thought you truly cared for Rose.
HG: Dragon, there's something that you don't get. I had loyalty for the South. I also figured that the Northern Huntsman would be smart enough to figure her out. But my heart's been torn to shreds too many times for there to be one left. I have no feelings like compassion.
J: What about love?
HG: When Luke killed 93, everything was gone for good.
J: Have you ever formed a crush on a dragon?
HG: Only if a person can love themselves.
J: Are you afraid to die?
HG: I'm not afraid of anything.
J: Yes you are – and you just told me what it is.
HG: You've gone crazy dragon.
J: You're afraid to show emotion – because whenever you do, you just get torn down again.
HG: (Holding tears back) You don't know me dragon.
J: (Sighs) I have to go now. Alex –
HG: Huntsgirl!
J: Alex, try to show everyone the real you. It could help.
HG: The real me is the Huntsclan. (Showing left hand) It's who I am.
J: You can be whomever you want.
HG: This is what I want.
J: Then I can't help you.
HG: (Bitterly) I never asked.
J: That's terrific.
N: Jake left Alex's cell, went through the gate of guards, and disappeared. Alex gritted her teeth in pure anger. She hated the dragon and wanted to be with her Master in the dream realm. She decided that it was time to escape.
HG: (Thinking) Let's see: spider, mouse, fly? No, they're all too flammable. There's no window, so I'll be going right in front of their faces. I know! A ghost!
N: Naturally, without hesitation, Alex transformed to a ghost and flew through cell, through the dragons, through the fireballs, and through the hallways. None of the dragon guards had been able to stop her. Once she was on the outside, she went back to the Shapeshifter form, and darted into the blue sky. She needed to return to the Southern Academy. It would have been impossible to save Max –at least she knew they wouldn't hurt him. Going home would be the only way she could ever be safe. The only problem, was the distance of the flight. The Shapeshifter's wings could go farther and faster than the dragon's wings Alex had to fly with last time, but there wouldn't be anyone to catch her if she had fainted. Alex had to make the trip no matter what. She was going to die anyway if she turned back.
Harder and harder, Alex pushed herself as the dragons were closely following her long tail. There was something new in her veins now. A strength, a power – fire. The sensation urged her to move forward. It took half the amount of energy to fly than before – the Huntsclan was with her and on her side. She couldn't let them down now.
Alex was exhausted. She was flying over South Africa, and the dragons were still holding a close chase.
HG: (Thinking) One night. At a hotel. Just one night. No! I must make it to the lair! Just a few hundred more miles.
4:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING
N: Alex could finally see the lair three miles in front of her. The dragons were surprised she'd been able to keep it up so long. But the only one more impressed, was Alex. She knew that her human DNA was programmed into the lair's computers. Two miles away… and finally one mile. Sirens blew as the magical creatures popped up and began to fire at all of the magical creatures. Alex quickly changed back to human form. Recognizing her DNA, a solid iron box fell over Alex and drug her back into the lair. She was safe – for now.