#16 Bows and Arrows

Adira

The sun began to crest over the trees and everyone was in place. I stood in the center of the meeting place between the Sparrow pack and Zale’ dragon pod. It was nothing more than a large, circular opening in the middle of a forest with some picnic tables and a covered pavilion. I sensed the pack I’ve belonged to my entire life all around me along with the pod who had so willingly accepted me as their own. Together, it felt like we couldn’t fail.

Keeping to his word, Quarter showed up right at daybreak. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t alone. There were five rogues spread out around him.

“I thought you were coming alone?” I shouted across the field.

Quarter laughed, stopping a couple dozen yards away from me.

“As if you came alone? My scouts found the pathetic mutts from the Sparrow pack and the foolish dragons easily.” Quarter said,

I smirked at his admission. All it told me was that he knew nothing of the Archers or the Warriors wolves hidden in the trees.

“Touche.” Was all I said in reply.

“I admire you entering the meeting on your own, however,” Quarter said, motioning towards the woods, “For that, a sign of good faith.”

I caught movement on the edge of the treeline and used Lucille’s heightened senses to figure out who was joining the party. Dangling limply in the arms of one of the rogues was Marcy.

“What did you do?” I growled, digging my heels into the ground and itching to notch an arrow.

Quarter laughed wildly,

“Oh, she’s fine,” He waved his hand dismissively, “Just a pathetic, fragile human who can’t handle a few hours in a jail cell.’

A furious growl unleashed itself from the confines of the forest, shaking the trees and causing the birds to scatter into the dimly lit sky. I felt Aidian’s anger and fear deep in the pit of my stomach.

“It would seem that big brother isn’t so happy.” Quarter pouted and I resisted the urge to gauge his eyeballs out with the tip of my arrow.

“You’re lucky he’s waiting for my command. I wouldn’t be as patient as him.” I said threateningly.

“A deal is a deal,” Quarter said, “I’ll give the wayward Luna back to her pack if you turn yourself over.”

I pretended to think about it, cocking my head to the side and allowing Lucille to toy with the rogue through my expressions. She was no less inclined to give herself over than Aidian or Zale were to let me. She was ready to rip this man limb from limb. We might be the future leader of a dragon pod, but she would always be fiercely loyal to the pack she was born into; and Marcy was that pack’s Luna.

“I thought about it, I really did,” I mused, “But, I’m afraid that big brother said no.” I mimicked his snide remark from earlier.

The smile faltered on Quarter’s face,

“Hm, that’s a shame. I thought the Alpha would care about his Luna more than that.” He tried to bait me.

“There isn’t an Alpha alive who cares for his Luna more than Aidian,” My eyes darkened as they narrowed on the false Alpha, “And there isn’t a sister alive who cares for her brother more than me.”

“And you show that love by allowing his Luna to be killed?” The rogues around Quarter were closing in, surrounding me on all sides; I pretended like I didn’t notice.

“Now, Quarter,” I tsked, “Do you not know me at all?”

I raised my hand and casually brushed a peice of hair behind my ear. A single to my Archers. Seconds later, five arrows zipped through the air and pegged the five rogues square in the forehead. The wolves dropped to the ground, dead.

Quarter looked around the circle, gawking at his now dead wolves, and moved closer to the one rogue who was left; the one holding Marcy.

“Care to rethink your plan?” I asked in a cheery voice.

“You’ll regret that.” Quarter’s voice grew dark and all the humor was gone from his expression.

“No, Quarter, you’ll regret the day that you thought coming after my family was a good idea.” My tongue turned sharp and my low voice vibrated out of my chest just loud enough for him to hear.

Howls rang out through the woods and the sounds of paws pounding the earth came rushing towards me. All around the meeting spot, rogues came spilling out of the darkness of the trees. There were over a hundred feral looking wolves and even a few witches scattered among the group.

But, I didn’t flinch or show an ounce of fear. There was no fear to be felt, no surprise, no shock. Our plan had worked. The Archers and the Warrior wolves had easily scouted out all of the rogues, reporting back their numbers and their locations so we were prepared for their attack. Their numbers were nothing compared to ours.

“I thought you were against species mixing? Like your old pals from the Council.” I asked, eyeing the dozen or so witches.

“We all want the same thing,” Quarter said as a tall, blonde woman walked up to his side, “Everyone sent back to their corners.”

The blonde woman grinned and I noticed her cat-like eyes immediately. She laid her long, pale arm over Quarter’s shoulders and leaned against him.

“Spoken beautifully, my dear.” She sang, trailing a manicured finger over his cheek.

“Who the hell are you?” I sighed, annoyed with the small talk.

“Oh, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Marlow.” She said,

Oh, perfect, I thought bitterly to myself. I knew exactly who this was. After the werewolf and dragon princess, Astoria, cleaned up the mess in Louisiana, she determined that a witch named Marlow was responsible for it. A few of the members of the Table looked into her and discovered her wicked past with the werewolves, both the old Council and the Big Four packs. Apparently, she was the wicked witch who just wouldn’t die.

But, I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she had a reputation.

“Never heard of you,” I scoffed and her eyes went wide, “Can we finish this?” I sounded bored.

“Never heard of….” She looked offended, “Well, then.” She huffed.

“Last chance, Archer. You for the human.” Quarter ignored the mad woman’s ravings.

“Last chance,” I echoed him, “Your life for Marcy’s.”

He didn’t find my offer very appealing.

“Her death will be on your hands.” He said and then all hell broke loose.

Aidian and his wolves, and Zale, Balin, and their dragons all stormed the field first. Zale and Balin stopped on either side of me while the rest charged towards the rogues who were closing in on all sides. Colorful arrows began to fly through the air, skillfully dodging our allies and taking out the rogues. The witches quickly threw up some shields, but they only worked for so long; our arrows were bewitched to weaken and then break through a witch’s barrier.

“I’m going after Quarter, the witch, and Marcy.” I told Zale and Balin just as Cain and his Warriors joined the circle.

“We’ve got your back.” Balin said,

Cain, in human form, ran up beside me with a handful of wolves beside him; the rest had joined the fight. We exchanged a nod and then he shifted into his wolf. The four of us, plus the other Warriors, took off towards the center of the circle where our targets were hiding.

“Do you have her?” Aidian shouted in my head as I ran.

“I’m heading for her now.” I replied.

“Me, too.” He said and I knew there was no arguing with him.

I pulled my silver dipped sword from my back and used it to slice my way through the battle raging around me. I didn’t have time to make sure any of my attackers were dead, and I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting to Marcy and securing her safety. Cain was taking down rogues left and right, and Zale’s fire was raging a path for us straight through to the center.

I finally caught sight of them. The rogue holding Marcy was surrounded by other rogue wolves and a witch, but Aidian and a few other pack members were moving on them. Quarter was retreating into the woods, like the coward he was. Just as I was wondering where the witch had gone, she appeared in front of me, her cat eyes glowing bright green.

“I’ve heard about you,” She said, “Although the rumors failed to say that you were mated to a dragon. Interesting, indeed.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re nuts?” I deadpanned and she laughed hysterically.

“Cute,” She said, “Very cute.”

“I wish I cared enough to ask why you’re here, but honestly, I don’t. If you’ll excuse me, I have a coward to kill.” I made to move around her, but she blocked me.

“Now, now. I can’t let you do that.” She said,

Zale and Balin stepped up, standing on either side of me, while Cain and his wolves were still trying to get to Marcy. Zale’s eyes were bright red and fire was pouring from his palms while Balin looked positively murderous.

“And why not?” I sighed, beginning to get seriously pissed off.

“I’m afraid that Quarter is my little minion, albeit a terrible one,” She rolled her eyes, “But, mine nonetheless and he’s baited you here on my command.”

“Oh, like how you baited Astoria and tried to kill her with her own dragonfire?” I said and Marlow cocked an eyebrow at me, “Yeah, we talk.”

“Hm, and here I was thinking you hadn’t heard of me,” She smiled smugly, “Yes, well, clearly that was a failed attempt. Live and learn.” She shrugged.

“The Princess is harder to kill than she looks,” I said, adjusting my sword, “And I won’t be an easier.”

I’ll admit, I didn’t relish the idea of going up against a witch who is Goddess knows how old and has already come back from the dead at least once, but I would do what I had to do to end this.

Marlow’s hands started to glow and she smirked crookedly, her cat eyes seeming to pulse with her magic. I waited for her magic to attack me, leaning into my fighting stance with my sword tilted towards the witch and my bangle ready to come to my aid. Instead of attacking me, screaming came from across the field.

I straightened up and my head snapped towards the spot where I last saw Aidian, Cain, and Marcy. I started gaping at what I saw. Marcy was floating in the air, rising higher and higher from the ground and squirming wildly. She was screaming in pain.

“What are you doing?” I shouted at the witch.

Aidian’s wolf was running in circles below his mate, barking and whining up at her. Cain and the Warriors took down the rogue who’d been holding her along with the other enemy wolf surrounding them. The witch who was nearby stood in a protective bubble, her eyes nothing but white orbs as she stared up at Marcy. It was like Marlow was using her magic through the witch.

“Quarter failed to properly motivate you,” Marlow said, looking my dead in the face, “Either you die or she does.”

“What does this prove?” Zale growled at the witch, stepping forward, “Killing one member of the Table isn’t going to do anything.”

I grabbed his arm to keep him from attacking the witch.

“One at a time, little dragon, one must have patience,” Marlow spoke condescendingly to him.

Zale looked like he was about two seconds away from setting the entire place on fire. Something Marlow seemed to figure out as well,

“Before you react, let me remind you that I’ve beaten death once before and I’ve made the necessary arrangements to ensure that I can do it again.” She said,

I thought back to what Astoria had told us about her interaction with Marlow. She had stumbled onto some kind of ritual that involved sacrificing female wolves. I didn’t know enough about magic to discredit the fact that whatever she did would make her unkillable. I yanked on Zale’s arm and pulled him back, shaking my head at him.

“Smart girl.” Marlow said,

“Let her go,” I demanded, “Do what you want to me.”