Ash

Frost follows me out back so I can take him to my secret, magical, antisocial abode. I laugh, that gets me every time. I figured I would share this space with him so he can have a free area to practice his powers without worry of someone seeing.

"There is this space out here that is protected by magic. Only people I personally let in can see it and feel it. I want to share this place with you so you have a safe place to practice your magic."

Frost looks at me shocked, "You want to share that with me?"

"Of course I do, you are a friend and one who deserves to find out who he is," I smile.

"Thank you," Frost gives be a small hug and then I walk over the boarder. I notice Frost looking around surprised.

"Frost Killian, I give you permission to enter my secret, magical, antisocial abode," I know I don't have to say that every time, but it cracks me up and it seems it made Frost laugh as well.

"That is a very fitting name."

"Why thank you," I bow and chuckle. When I look up I see Frost looking off behind me at something. I turn around and see Jinx sitting in the grass looking at Frost with curiosity. "Hey Jinx," I greet.

Jinx hops over to me and jumps up into my hands. A grin spreads across my lips as I feel the warmth of my companion. He thankfully doesn't go all fire in front of Frost. I think he knows that I haven't told Frost yet.

"Who is this little guy?" Frost wonders with a grin as he reaches out to pet Jinx. I am about to warn him about Jinx's temper with new people but Jinx let's Frost pet him no problem. Maybe he can tell that Frost is part Mura.

"This is Jinx, he is my partner in crime," I chuckle.

"He is so cute and warm. Can I hold him?" Frost asks and I go to tell him it probably isn't a good idea but Jinx just hops right onto Frost's shoulder. I expect Frost to wince in pain just like everyone else when they hold Jinx because of his fire, but he just smiles at the little bunny.

"Isn't he precious. When did you get him?" Frost questions.

"Not long before I left to go on my long journey to the Royal Pack."

"I have never seen a rabbit with such a fiery red coloured coat."

"It is unusual, but we love him all the same," I give a small smile to which Frost returns as he continues admiring Jinx. "So, do you want to work on your powers?"

"Of course I do! Here," Frost let's Jinx hop off his shoulder and onto mine. Frost takes a few steps back and awaits instruction on what he should do.

"Let's start easy," I tell him to start with trying to make a step with the ground. The earth begins moving and growing into a rectangular step. I get him to continue. He makes step after step as the mossy staircase grows taller and taller before stopping at a tree branch. Frost stands in the branch and grins down at me. The Earth element is one of the most stable. It doesn't take much to keep something you have formed in that state. This means that Frost can easily take his attention off of the staircase and it remains standing. I climb the grass-covered stairs until I reach the branch Frost is proudly standing on.

"That wasn't too bad," Frost comments.

Next we start to get a little more advanced. I instruct Frost to focus on the tree across from us. Take in the thick bark and long, solid branches. Now he must bring the branches closer so we can step onto it. He must move the tree to bend towards us and extend the branches our way. I can see the truck of the tree shaking and swaying slightly, but Frost is having trouble getting it to bend to his will. At least we now know where to start with all this.

"This is what you need to work on, Frost. Glad we figured it out. I am going to head back to the pack house. Are you going to be okay here?" I question and Frost nods, he face still shows concentration on the task ahead of him.

I climb down the stairs and leave the boarder. I walk back in the direction of the pack house with Jinx on my shoulder. Once I am in sight of the house, I hear voices coming from the backyard. I walk around and see Jax standing protectively in front of Cress and the boys, Sam, Hayden, Braden, and Cal, are also out there. What's going on? I look to the tree line and see who I have dreaded coming face to face with again after what happened last time.

Malakai.

What the hell is he doing here? I can sense more wolves in the tree who are hiding, waiting. I materialize my sword and walk onto the training field. I hold the sword up in front of me as I take my stand ahead of all my friends.

"What do you want Malakai?" I demand.

He starts laughing hysterically, "No fucking way. You? The weak, pathetic excuse of a human being let alone a supernatural is the Saviour. Not much, are you? Tell me, if you aren't a wolf, then what are you?"

I remain silent. "Not talking, very brave of you. I don't think the light has any hope of winning this war if they are putting all their faith in you. Do they even know who you are? What you are?" Malakai looks at the faces behind me and sees Sam, Cress and Cal looking confused. "Tsk, tsk. Not very trusting, are we? I can see why though, those you have trusted have turned against you." I see Cas and James step out from the trees with triumphant smirks on their lips. Of course they are cohorting with Malakai.

"What do you want?" I spit out my question once again.

"Oh sweetie, what do you think? We want you," Malakai responds.

I chuckle, "And what makes you think I will go with you?"

"Who's going to stop us from taking you? Your little pack here? We have you outnumbered threefold. Tell me Ash, do you think that every single person in this puny pack can take on three grown, unhinged wolves? Hmm?" He continues when I don't answer, "I didn't think so."

I focus on my senses to see if what he is saying is true. I can sense at least fifteen hundred wolves in the woods, spread out inside and outside the territory. How did they get passed all the guards without anyone being warned. This pack only has seven hundred wolves including children and elderly. This is nowhere near a fair fight, even with my powers, but I won't go down without a fight. If I can hold them off long enough, maybe I can give the pack enough time to evacuate. I look to my right where Braden is standing, preparing to fight. I open the mindlink we share and push my thoughts towards him.

I will buy you all some time. Evacuate the pack and tell them to go to the Royal Pack for refuge. Maybe contact your mom for help because this won't be the last time we hear from these guys. Take care of Frost and Jinx for me, I sadly smile as he looks at me with tears in his eyes. I know he wants to refuse, that he wants to protect me, but he also understands that the lives of many outweighs the lives of the few. They teach you that from a young age as next in line for the Alpha title.

Braden hesitantly nods, I will. You be safe and you come back to me, you hear? I nod back to him. Braden moves to tell Hayden and mindlink Cal. They begin backing away to the pack house to begin evacuating.

"Back up leaving you to fend for yourself? Ha! Weak wolves, scared of a little fight."

"If you want me, Malakai, then you are going to have to take me," I regroup my sword, awaiting a fight.

"As you wish, Saviour," he smiles sadistically and whistles loudly to announce the war beginning. Luckily, everyone charges towards me, I can't sense anyone going for the pack house.

I use my sword to slash wolves as their jaws and claws snap and scratch at me. The moment the sword hits them, they turn to ash. I can see Malakai for a brief moment in the blur of wolves to see him looking shocked. I guess he underestimated me. I continue slashing wolves, but they begin surrounding me and I get clawed right down the back and bit on the leg and arms. I can feel myself growing tired as I will myself to stay awake and fighting. Judt a few more minutes in order for the pack to be evacuated off the land. That's all I need to hold them off for. A wolf manages to knock me over, but I continue throwing my sword around, trying to kill as many Wilds as I can. I am about to give up when I can feel more wounds open up around my body and they are bleeding very quickly, it is getting difficult to heal myself. The ground rumbles and I see the faint glow of blue eyes in the distance through the bodies of the rogues. I can't make out anything else though. The rogues look confused and the ground beneath them cracks and then opens, swallowing them whole. I can't bring myself the stand yet as I focus on at least stopping the bleeding of my wounds. It will take a couple minutes. Hopefully no more than two. I look to my side and see that it was Frost. I never noticed the blue glow in his eyes before but it makes sense, he is part-Mura.

"Frost? Be careful," I warn, knowing an incredulous Malakai, Cas and James are still here, watching.

Frost looks in the direction of the three boys and he snarls at them, showing his fangs.

"Bloodsucker, how did you manage to do that?" Cas spits.

"None of your business. Leave, now," Frost demands, looking to me briefly to make sure I am okay. I give him a reassuring smile. I am almost done stopping the bleeding from my wounds.

Malicious laughs are heard echoing throughout the field. "Why would we leave? She is defenceless and I am not scared of some mutated vampire. Stay out of the way and we won't kill you," Malakai insists.

I slowly stand up off the ground much to everyone's shock, "As I already told you, I am not leaving. Now get lost before I burn you to a crisp."

"Interesting choice of words Saviour, very interesting. Know this, in two moons time, you will have the blood of bodies of everyone you care about on your hands. Mark my words," Malakai threats as he, Cas and James disappear into the woods and off the territory. That is when I finally take a breath.

"Ash! Are you alright? Who were those guys?" Frost asks.

"I'm okay Frost. I will just have a few scars." Due to how deep the claw and teeth marks go, it will leave scars. "Those are the ones we are fighting against in this coming war. They are the dark and we must defeat them. We have two days prepare before their first attack."

Frost shakes his head in understanding. I can practically see the gears turning in his mind while I watch him process what just happened. I know the question that is surfacing on his tongue.

"Let's go find the others and then I will explain everything to you all, okay?"

"Okay, let's go find them," Frost agrees. 

I grab out my phone and notice that my screen is completely destroyed. "Do you have a phone?"

"Uh yeah, I have it for emergencies. Here," he hands me the flip phone and I smile slightly at the sight. A vampire who looks no older than twenty has a flip phone. Talk about vintage. I chuckle aloud.

"Don't laugh, I don't use it often so I don't need something fancy."

I nod with a grin still playing at my lips. I have memorized Jax's number over the years and plug it into the small phone. The dial rings and I hold it to my ear. The tone ceases and I let out a breath, hearing my best friend on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" a confused voice wonders.

"Jax! Are you alright?"

"Ash, thank God. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Frost came to help me out. We took down a good chunk of Rogues, but Malakai and the others got away. They are planning an attack in two days."

I hear Jax's breath hitch on the other end. He is worried, not just for me, but for his newly found mate. I bet he is freaking out right now.

"Okay, what do you want to do?" Jax questions.

"Are you all headed to the Royal Pack?"

"Yes."

"Good, Frost and I will meet you there. We should only be a few hours behind your guys. I need to make an announcement when we get there. Are you all running in wolf form?"

"Yes, I had to stop because my phone was buzzing in my bag. I am just jogging behind the group now."

"Okay good, stay safe and call if you need anything."

"Dido."

The phone has a long beep indicating the call has been dropped. I hand the phone back to Frost and I toss mine into the trash. There is no hope for that thing. We pack some essentials and head back towards the Royal Pack. Walking will take us longer to get there than the pack. Hopefully we won't be too far behind, but no man's land can be dangerous and you never know what is lurking around the dark shadows.