Chapter Two: Fight for Survival

Author's Note: This'll be a bit confusing, but the bit that was in italics last chapter is a flashback of sorts to five years ago, when Yurick was 12. The following section is a continuation of that story, but not in italics because it didn't work with another thing in chapter three. I'm shooting for daily updates over the break at least, and we'll see what happens when school resumes. Enjoy!

Yurick stood outside, watching his breath freeze in the chilly night air. He heard a noise a bit to his left, and sent a scathing glare to the one responsible.

"Quiet," he hissed, "If they find us before we're ready, we're done for!"

"Scared, are we? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, hearing that from a kid like you." The voice came from a hulking man, six feet tall and almost half as wide, who he would come to know as Smith. He had a mop of black hair that he kept secured at the back of his head with a leather strap. His eyes were like two coals, their cold light gleaming out from under two bushy eyebrows.

Yurick seethed with indignation. Kid? His brutal life had forced him to grow up long ago. He was just about to send back a biting remark to the man when, sensing his intentions, Smith held up a hand. Yurick glared furiously at this casual dismissal until he saw Kansu, one of Smith's men quietly whispering to him.

"The preparations are complete," he said in a carrying whisper. Smith turned to Yurick and glared.

"This had better work kid, or we'll roast you and feed you to the beasts ourselves." Yurick thought this was quite unfair, as the men would have had no warning of the beasts had he not gone and told them. Even now, he was having reservations about warning the men of the cougars. The first encounter had gone extremely poorly, and he disliked having to have companions in the upcoming fight. Necessary, yes, but undesirable, for Yurick preferred to work alone.

"Well kid? Where are they?" demanded Smith.

"They are close, tell your men to get into position." Yurick replied curtly.

"I'm warning you, if this doesn't work-"

"I know! You'll roast me then feed me to those damn cougars! Now will you shut up and let me concentrate?"

Smith evidently trusted him enough, for he started hurriedly barking orders at his two men that they hurried to obey. Still glowering from the most recent argument, Yurick focused on setting the fire within the house just as the first cougar appeared. He had to be careful not to ignite the dynamite that the men had found too soon, lest their plan have no effect. His series of small fires were designed to lure the animals into the house from the smell of burning food. Once they were all in, he would light the dynamite. He desperately hoped this would work, for they did not have much of a plan beyond this.

Yurick shifted uncomfortably as the cougars began to invade the house, searching for the strange smell. When the bulk of the pack had entered, he quickly sent a stream of fire to the nearest barrel of explosives. If all went well, the first would start a chain reaction to bring the building down and crush the beasts.

"It would be wise to put some distance between us and the mansion," called Yurick, not even bothering to keep his voice down. Tall flames began licking the windows as the men hastened to obey. A large bang permeated the air, followed by a series of other loud explosions. Then, they heard the sound of cracking wood as the structure caved in on its self. For a moment all was silent.

Suddenly, Yurick heard a loud snarl, as a particularly large cougar forced his way out of the wreckage. Followed by several of its companions, the remaining members advanced on the men with more fury than a thunderstorm.

"What now?" asked Yurick frantically.

"Now, the real fun begins," said Smith, a slight smile playing about his lips while he raised his massive sword. "Get 'em, boys!" Smith and his two comrades leapt forward and began attacking the cougars with a ferocity that surprised Yurick. They seemed to enjoy taking the lives of the animals. Yurick felt strangely sad, as he watched Smith take two down with one blow. The animals had done nothing wrong; they had merely been trying to stay alive. He wondered if they-

"Oy, kid!" A rough voice startled Yurick out of his musings. He sat up quickly, trying to act as though he had merely been studying the battlefield. He and took a quick look down at his short dagger and laughed softly, knowing the small weapon would have little effect on the 200 pound cougars. Gathering his thoughts, he sent a fireball to the nearest cougar. The creature squealed in protest, and while it was distracted, he slipped his knife into its heart.

The fighting went on in this manner for some minutes, until there was a lull and Yurick looked up while pausing to catch his breath. His companions were hacking and slashing away with a crazed delight Yurick could not fathom. As his blue eyes flicked toward Smith, he noticed another cougar, slowly slipping unnoticed behind Smith's back. Yurick watched in horror, as It pounced, knocking the man flat on his stomach. Yurick heard a muffled shout from Smith as he flipped onto his back to try and defend himself. Yurick saw that he had no chance of getting his weapon up in time.

The cougar pounced again, this time going for the man's throat...

"Oh no you don't!' cried Yurick as he jumped in front of Smith, wielding only his dagger. The Cougar considered him for a moment, and then charged again. Yurick stabbed with all his strength as the creature gave a protesting howl. It fell, with a sickening thump, and moved no more. Yurick turned to Smith, with a smirk on his face.

"Let's see you call me a kid again," he sneered, "Why, if I wasn't here, you'd be-

Yurick suddenly paused, and turned around, only to be thrown to the ground. He heard a horrible crunch and felt a sickening pain in his right shoulder as he looked up at the cave cougar that, while he had been watching Smith, had been stalking him. As the creature drew closer and closer, he transferred his dagger to his left hand, but could not stop a scream of pain from escaping his lips. What the hell had he been thinking?

As he waited with dread for the creature to approach, he tightened his grip on the knife. If he was going to die, then the damn creature was going with him. He stabbed wildly, catching the creature in the center of its chest. It snarled, and was going for his neck when a massive sword cut it down. Yurick looked up, hardly daring to believe his eyes.

Smith had come to save him.

If you liked this, please review! It makes me really happy and encourages me to write more! Also, thanks so much to my friend Jess who, being an amazing writer, helped me edit this.