Whatever hit the creature in front of me hit it hard enough to take it off its feet and flip it over on its side. Standing in shock, I tried my best to wrap my mind around what just happened, and through the darkness, I saw a faint sheen of metal. And there, sticking out of the side of the Gigginox's head, was my other sword. "See? I told you that you needed me"I heard from the darkness. "Well look who decided to show up." I grumbled, "We thought you died already." Siege began to run toward the writhing monster on the ground before me. "Just shut up and not be worthless for once in your life!" he shouted, drawing the colossal blade from his back and leaping to make a downward slash. Worthless?.. Me?.. hogwash. I'm delightful, I reassured myself as i took a deep breath and ran to pull my blade from the monsters head. Sharp pain reminded me to be careful, Im already wounded and id rather not.. ya know, die. As I grabbed the handle of my weapon, Siege had began his assault. with a metallic hum, his blade cut through the air, chopping down on one of the Gigginox's wings. I'm glad I had a firm grip, his attack caused serious damage and cut through the webbing of its right wing and caused it to lurch back in pain. The quick motion of the creature threw me almost straight up above it. I grabbed a stalactite out of instinct. Far below me, I saw siege and the monster attacking and defending. Siege knew what he was doing, but unfortunately, so did the Gigginox. With one quick motion, it took a jab at Siege, much like what it did to me, but he blocked it with his sword. Due to its size, He couldn't see around it and left himself blind to its next attack. Moving his blade aside, it was too late. The creature had already stood up on its hind legs and flopped directly on top of him with a crash. "SIEGE! YOU OKAY?" i shouted from my safe location.. No response. I didn't know what to do, it was too far too fall without hurting myself.. all i have is my swords and this stupid rock im holding on too.. A smile crept over my face. "Siege! if you can hear me you may want to curl up or something! its about to get bumpy!" Putting one sword back into its sheath on my side, I used the other to hit the base of the stalactite. My brilliant plan was to chip it off so the rock would fall on the creature. Giggling to myself as it hit the stone with all my might, i could see a crack start to form. Creaking and cracking, i knew my idea was working. Perfect, I reached out to grab another hanging rock, but nothing was there.. I didn't think it out very well. All the other stones were too far away, leaving me stranded on it. "Aw nuts.." a large crunch sounded and before i knew it, me and my sanctuary were sent careening toward the back of the beast. I tried to be brave, but in situations like that, you learn how high your voice gets when you really scream. My feminine squeal made the Gigginox stop squishing Siege and look up to see what all the fuss was. Only to get a face-full of big, heavy rock and a screaming, tear soaked Shane. Direct hit, my little rock idea hit the creature in the face and exploded into stone and blood. I had hit its back and bounced off to hit the ground a few feet away. I wish i knew it was bouncy before i did that.. That was awful. Still covering my head and whimpering, i felt something nudge me. I looked to to see Siege pushing on me with his foot. "Hey Shane?" He said looking down at me. Oh boy here we go, I braced myself for praise. Goodness buddy, you're so smart! I'm sorry i called you stupid and stuff lets be friends! I could picture him saying. looking up to him with a smile, i replied "yes?" and awaited my reward. "You're an Idiot." He growled as he extended his tree trunk of an arm down to help me up. Eh, close enough. Helping me to my feet I stood to admire my handiwork. I felt my body to make sure everything was in place. Something was wrong.. "My scarf!" I shouted abruptly. I began to scurry around in the darkness looking for my present. "Oh this ratty old thing?" Siege asked as he extended his sword. And there wrapped on his hilt, was my awful wonderful scarf. "I picked it up a while ago, figured i could use it as a blood-rag. but you can have it back i guess." Unwrapping it from his sword and tossing it toward me, i felt relived. Not just because i got to be warm again, but also so Kyrui wouldn't make me another one. I'm not sure she could survive another.. After wrapping the scarf snugly around my neck, i turned to take a look at the Gigginox. Its head was smashed into the ground with the large stone and its legs and wings were outstretched. it wasn't moving. "Is it dead?.." I asked Siege as he walked up to it. "Not sure, that's what this is for." He grabbed the handle of his sword and positioned himself above its neck, like he was about to chop some wood. "Woah woah woah, what are you doing? its probably dead just leave it alone." I said as i held up my hand and walked toward him. "Probably? Probably isnt good enough. We're getting paid to kill this thing." Raising his large sword above his head. "And I intend to get paid."

"wow.." I mumbled as we stumbled through the snow back to the camp. "Oh get over it," Siege barked. "Taking off a head is the best way to ensure demise." "Well yeah but.." I said as i looked down to look at myself again. "Don't you think you that was a little excessive?" "Well I told you not to stand so close!" he yelled. He was right I guess.. I stood far to close to the fallen creature as Siege.. Uh.. Borrowed.. Its head. I was completely covered in blood and i was sure my armor would be permanently stained red. "Get off of me!" we heard from the distance. "Hold on.. Isn't that your girlfriend?.. where was she?" Asked Siege as he stopped to listen. "Shes not my girlfriend. But yes that's her.. Somethings wrong, lets go!" I shouted as i ran past him. I hadn't thought about it, but she was gone for a long time.. Something must have gotten her as she tried to come back. Running as fast as i could, i heard her voice struggling with something near camp, as i turned the corner of the large snow drift before our camp I saw her. On the ground.. Wrapped up.. By her father. "You'll have to kill me before I let you go out there again!" He growled from the ground. He had her in a headlock. "THAT COULD BE ARRANGED" She screamed as she wrestled with him. Whew.. just a protective pa. Not a monster. "YOU!" He roared as he saw me. Okay, maybe a little bit monster too. Piking her up and throwing her over his shoulder, he stomped toward me. "it was your fault wasn't it, why didn't you do something?" Jeepers. I didn't know I could sweat so much so fast. "Wait sir, i tried my best she saved my life!" I said stepping back away from him. I bumped into something. "What did you do Shane?" it said. looking up, i saw Siege towering over me looking down. He looked angry. "Um. She got poisoned.. and she got taken back by the Felynes.." I said, still beneath him looking up. His face changed, anger turned to rage "So you let her get hurt and did nothing to stop it?!" He shouted, stepping into me, knocking me to the ground in front of Kyruis father. "You didnt do anything? And you let her get so wounded she had to be taken from you?! you don't deserve to be a hunter!" Reaching down to grab my scarf, he pulled me off my feet and up to his face, leaving my legs to dangle in the cold breeze. "What if those cats weren't here? she would have died and it would have been all your fault!" Reaching his arm back and making a fist, I braced for impact. His punch hurt almost as much as his words, sending me into the snow drift back first and facing him. It would have been my fault and mine alone. I was stupid and didnt know what to do in a panic."Im sorry.. I tried my best! I didn't know what to do!" I shouted back, hands shaking. I could feel blood begin to pour from my nose. In a fury, he took large steps, stomping in the snow making another fist. "Ease off Siege!" A small voice peeped. He stopped and turned to kyuri's father. He stood with a blank face and slowly shook his head pointing to his shoulder. Kyuri was still draped over his shoulder and we could only see her legs, her upper half was on his other side. "Im fine its not a big deal! we'll just be more careful! it was sort of my fault anyway!" she continued. "Shut up girl! this isn't about you!" He shouted as he turned to face me again. "Uh, unless I'm mistaken, It sort of is about me.. Isn't it?.." she questioned, still facing the other direction leaving her legs facing us. Siege stopped in his tracks, still staring at me. But something happened, it seemed like he wasn't really looking at me, but lost in thought. "We're done here." He said turning to walk toward the skyboat. "Lets go" Me laying in the snow, Kyuri over the shoulder of her father, and her pa all sat in silence for a minute. "Its okay son," He finally said to me "I was just going to scare you a little bit but I think he scared you more than I could. Don't worry about it, shes okay now." Reaching a helping hand down to me "C'mon, lets take you kids home." "Jeez, whats his damage.." Kyuris legs questioned. Kyuris pa walked faster than me. I walked slowly thinking on what Siege said. With me trailing behind, she could finally see me.

"AND WHY ARE YOU COVERED IN BLOOD?"