May had gotten to the clearing.

Breathing quietly, she crept along the edge, looking for signs of her father. 

(Warning: Gore and anger blackout.)

She found blood on the ground and a path in the brambles that looked like a fight.

Going along it, she eventually came to the end of it to see a horrifying sight.

Shade was on the ground, blood spilling out of his side. Warren was standing in front of him. Injuries littered his skin, cuts and bruises covering nearly every inch of him, but he was still fighting.

Dad was hurt.

Shade groaned, trying to get up. Lyra tried to attack him, but the knife was blocked by Warren.

He was bleeding.

Warren looked like he was only staying up by sheer willpower. He was pale and shaking, but still up.

Where was Papa?

Then, May saw it.

Her blood ran cold.

Zack was slumped against a tree. His arm was twisted at a weird angle. He was bleeding from his mouth. He seemed to be barely breathing.

He was dying.

Changing into her human form, May felt burning anger settling in her bones.

It prickled in her skin. She was on fire.

Her eyes flashed with magic.

Lyra was on the ground.

Who was that screaming? May couldn't tell if it was her or the one she was attacking.

Maybe it was both.

Who was that trying to tell her to stop, that it was okay now?

Who was that with icy eyes? Was it Dad? Was it the villain?

Who was that who was rubbing her hair? Should she attack?

Who was she?

Was she a monster?

Who's blood was that?

What was going on?

The world was red, and it faded to black.

(And it's over.)

May woke up in a hospital. She hurt, all over.

"Oh, you're awake." A nurse from the corner of the room said, smiling gently. "You had a very bad case of magic overuse. When we found you, we thought you wouldn't make it."

May stared for a second. "Dad. Where's Dad?" Memories rushed back to her, and she began to panic. "Where's Papa?"

The nurse grimaced. Then, she looked down. "We're not sure if they'll make it."

May's eyes widened. 

She couldn't feel anything.

She couldn't hear anything.

Everything was numb, silent...

There was no color.

Everything was dark, numb, silent.

Everything was gray.

——————————

Okay, so that happened. The next chapter won't be quite as horrible.

Bri will be back.

As to Warren and Zack, we will see what happens to them.