What a nice night this is. Not a sign of those weirdos in our territory. Last night was strange. Meeting and talking to the one called Slenderman. He said he never meant any harm, and while I can believe that, I still don't really trust them.

Well as long as they stay out of our territory then I have no reason to pick fights with them. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard something in the distance. I lifted my ears and sniffed the air.

I hear voices. I smell fire, meat, and human scents. I growled to myself and started following the scents and sounds. I moved quietly through the darkness as I closed in on them.

Now I can see them. Four men sitting around a fire, cooking what smelt like deer. The men wore thick, camouflage clothing and had an assortment of knives and guns on them. Looking closer, I could see small print on the back of one of them that read "Nighthunters".

I inwardly growled. So that poster was true. These people called Nighthunters are out and about to find us. I'll just take care of these four. I stealthily moved closer, getting ready to leap out at them.

But as soon as I stepped closer, the loud ringing of bells was heard. The men quickly stood, looking around as they grabbed weapons. I glanced at my foot to see a thin wire that I had nudged.

I then felt a slight sinking feeling under me and quickly jumped back, avoiding the net trap that sprang up where I just was. Stepping back a bit, I felt a sudden intense pain in my back leg. I let out a yelp and looked back to see a large, metal bear trap attached to my leg.

My yelp must have alerted the hunters because they quickly came rushing toward me. I growled, pushing past the pain in my leg to defend myself. I leapt at one of them, but he quickly slid under me as I stumbled on my injured leg.

I quickly turned and attempted to bite or claw at the hunters, but they simply dodged my attacks and circled around me, slicing their knives and daggers across my skin. What the hell? Why can't I hit any of them?

They easily dodged around me and attacked mercilessly. It's as if they already know all about me. But how? I suddenly felt one of them jump onto my back. I went into a frenzy of jumping and twisting around to try and throw him off.

I felt him hold on as he plunged his knife into my back. I roared in pain as he repeatedly stabbed my back. I turned my head, trying to bite at him. After a few attempts, I finally bit into his arm and pulled him off me.

I held onto him and violently shook him around. That's when I felt his hand still gripping the knife that was now in my mouth. In an instant, he stabbed the knife into the roof of my mouth, causing me to yelp and let go of him.

He hit the ground, groaning in pain and holding his ripped up arm. I could feel the knife stuck into the roof of my mouth as warm blood began trickling from it. I can't fight them. I need to get out of here before I die.

I quickly darted past the men and into the darkness. Almost right after, I heard a gunshot followed by a sharp pain in my shoulder that caused me to yelp again. I pushed back all the pain and just ran as fast as I could to escape those hunters.

Once I knew I was far enough away, I finally stopped, panting as my legs almost gave out on me. I have to call for the others. I lifted my head and made the usual call for help, almost choking on blood as I did so.

After a few moments, the boys emerged from the darkness, quickly rushing to my side. They all circled me, noticing the wounds all over my body.

"Marlow?! What happened to you?!" Zane yelled with worry.

I managed to answer him between pants, "Those damn Nighthunters...they attacked me...I was outnumbered."

Paul stepped in. "We need to get you out of here. Maybe you should change back to normal so we can take you home."

I shook my head. "I can't. Some of these wounds would kill me if I changed back. Especially the knife jammed into the roof of my mouth."

I opened my mouth slightly, showing them all the knife stuck in place. I hissed in pain for a moment as I touched the knife's hilt with my tongue.

"Come on, we need to get you somewhere safer," Zane told me.

With each of the boys walking with me, I slowly limped my way farther into the woods. After a short while of walking, I stopped, panting as my legs trembled.

"I...I can't go any further...I have to stop."

I practically collapsed on the ground, too tired and weak to even continue standing. I laid there, breathing heavily as more and more blood poured from my wounds.

Zane came closer to my face. "We need help or Marlow may not make it. There has to be someone we can ask for help."

"Well, there is someone," Jasper calmly stated.

I growled slightly, knowing exactly who he was referring to. "No...I don't need help from them...don't you dare ask them."

"I'm with Jasper on this one," Paul interrupted. "I don't care much for those people either, but we don't have a lot of options here."

Jasper went over to Oliver, nudging him slightly. "Oliver, you're with me. Zane, Paul, stay here with Marlow and keep her safe. We'll be back soon."

Before I could say anything else to stop them, the pair had already disappeared. Paul began pacing around while Zane came over and laid in front me, resting his head over mine. Even in this state, Zane is still able to bring me comfort.

"Just hang on, Marlow. You're going to be okay. I promise."

Slenderman's pov

Things have been pretty calm and quiet tonight. Not at all like the events of last night. I was reading a book in the living room when I heard Toby's voice.

"Umm, does anyone else notice that the Nightstalkers are back?"

I looked over to see everyone beginning to gather at the window with Toby. I set my book down and stood up, going over to see for myself. Toby's right, I can see a couple of Nightstalkers walking around outside.

"That's odd. I only see two of them," Jack stated.

Without saying anything, I went to the front door, hearing the others following behind as I went outside. Both of the beasts stopped and turned their attention to us.

"What is your business here?" I asked them in their heads.

The two Nightstalkers carefully came closer with their heads down and sat side by side before us, one of them speaking. "We're not here to cause any trouble."

I identified the male, monotone voice as coming from the one on the right. The other one remained silent.

"Where is Changeling and the rest of your pack?" I questioned.

"That's actually why we're here. My name's Somber. This is Mute. Changeling needs help. She was attacked by people calling themselves Nighthunters."

"Nighthunters?"

He nodded. "They're hunting us. Changeling is very injured, so we came to ask if you have anyone here that can offer medical assistance."

"I do. But I'm not sure I trust you enough to send him alone with you."

Mute seemed to lower his head while Somber spoke again, "I understand. I don't blame you. But Changeling's life is at stake here and we have no other options."

I took a moment to think before answering, "I want to offer you assistance, so how about I send one other to accompany my medic."

"Hmm, alright. But no more. Changeling is already against the idea of getting help from you."

I nodded. "Very well. Give me a minute to explain to the others."

I gathered everyone back inside and began explaining, "Apparently, there is a group calling themselves Nighthunters. If you can't tell by the name, they're hunting the Nightstalkers. Changeling was attacked and gravely injured by them and those two, Somber and Mute, asked for help."

I noticed Jack stiffen slightly, as if knowing where this was going. "Jack, I would like you to go with them and help Changeling. Don't worry, they agreed to let one other accompany you. So, who wants to go?"

Ben grinned and started to raise his hand, but Jeff beat him to it and said, "I'll go."

Ben frowned in disappointment. I nodded in approval at Jeff's decision. Jack then looked over at Jeff.

"Why do you want to go?" he asked.

Jeff shrugged his shoulders. "I want to see Changeling again."

Jack then headed upstairs while saying, "I'll get my things."

Once they were all set, I watched the two boys go back outside. At least if Changeling is injured, she won't be able to harm them. Somber and Mute seem trustworthy enough. And maybe the Nightstalkers will start to trust us for helping them.