Ah running. One of my favourite past times. In my mind nothing was more relaxing than a long-distance run around the school or around our tower block to clear ones thoughts. However, like many things in my life as of now it was becoming increasingly likely that we were sprinting away from danger and there was almost definitely something behind us. Running away from something as fast as our legs could carry us was becoming as likely as being betrayed, knocked out and set on fire. All of which were happening with startling regularity.

But anyway, back to our regularly scheduled programming. We were running for our lives. Again. Sheira and I were sprinting northwards, making the most direct path we could towards the location that our escape vehicle was sat in. Sheira was naturally leading as I have no bearings to my name and all Sheira had to do was look up towards the night sky to see if we were at least going in the right direction. I knew there was a North Star, but I had no idea what you were supposed to do with it.

But even then it wasn't all that easy to head in a straight northward line. Some of the steel crates were packed in so tightly it was impossible to get around them, so we had to take a detour to get around them. To top that off whoever built this place did not make it easy to manoeuvre through, in fact this place probably resembled a child's scribble drawing from above. Intertangling tracks and roads that lead to nowhere were seemingly trying to throw us off.

But so long as we were moving away from the constant destruction in the centre then we were just peachy. Shadow was doing a very good job at keeping everyone else busy as every now and again a pulse of pure energy would rip through the site followed by a, I kid you not, mushroom cloud of sparkling blackness. Other minor explosions also popped up every now and again and on one occasion a terrified scream hurtled through the air towards us. A figure who was slightly singed dropped out of the sky, hit one of the wooden walls and fell on his back and didn't get up. Sheira ran forward to check his pulse, waited a few moments, nodded, happy that he was still breathing and left him to lie in a pile of his own drool.

Well at least Shadow hadn't killed him. That was a plus.

We wove our way through the towering crates, a clear path set out in front of us and then the last thing we wanted to hear happened. Footsteps. Sheira and I looked at each other and you could tell we both had the same idea at the same time.

Split up? She mouthed.

I nodded, and she nodded back.

"Keep going forwards, alright?"

"Sure thing. See you at the finish line."

And with that I sprang forwards, Flame hugging my heels, darting along the stone floor and squeezing between two carriages. Being alone became very unnerving as near silent footfalls echoed all around me. At one point I saw a flash of light, momentarily illuminating three figures as they crept through the darkness. The Harpy must have sent them off in case Sheira and I managed the miraculous and escaped. I moved as silently as I could, my ears straining for the sound of any noise over the pulse of my own heartbeat and to make things even worse, I was feeling ridiculously jumpy as the adrenaline fed my fight or flight reflex.

Flame dimmed his fire a low as he possibly could and kept low to the ground creeping along by my side. Every now and again he would lean forwards and sniff the air, which meant that we would occasionally dart off in another direction because he didn't like that particular smell. I trusted in his senses more than my own, which was probably wise since everything where he's come from was either A.) Trying to eat him or B.)Trying to steal from him, or possibly both at the same time. Nature's rough.

Flame also meant that we were going in the right direction because apparently he could "Hear a living engine" and apparently it was quite close. Humans are useless, I mean why couldn't we develop better senses? Surely being less good than the things trying to eat us cannot be a good evolutionary strategy. While I was lost in the ideas of what superhuman hearing could do to me, Flame had suddenly paused. He lifted his head, curling out his tongue to taste the air around him and then he frowned.

"Hey. What's up?" I asked quietly.

"I don't know," he said. "I got something for a moment, but..." He shook his head. "It probably just got caught on the wind, its probably no big deal. Come on, we've got places we need to AARGH!"

Flame leapt back as the pointy end of a spear missed him by a claws length. He dropped to the ground snarling as three figures stepped out into the light their beasts next to them. My heart sank as I recognised each an every one of them. A gazelle, a dove and a dog with a flaming head. Under their masters helmets I knew each one of their faces, even though I'd only known them for a few short days.

"Hey guys," I said as Chip, Leela and Sophie removed their brass helmets. "Fancy seeing you here."

Flame growled in greeting to Sprint, Valentine (Leela's turtle dove) and Inferno.

"Its nice to see that you're still alive you big idiot," Sophie said with a smile, not her usual cheeky grin, but it was a friendly face at least.

"Though you could have at least warned us you were leaving," Leela said. Her bow was strapped to her back and while I knew that these guys wouldn't attack out right I was still weary of their weapons

Chip leaned forwards on his spear. "Yeah if you told us that you were planning something this crazy, you would have had to fight us off coming with you."

I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, but I didn't want you guys getting hurt."

"You're not expendable either buddy," said Chip quietly.

I sighed. "Though I suppose I have you guys to thank for clearing the way for this long?"

Sophie shrugged, "we did our best. We made sure she didn't find you missing until about two o'clock, then we fed her a few false leads and ideas but the moment she got suspicious we had to step back. We look out for each other in Fire, even if one of us does something mind-numbingly stupid."

I chuckled. "Yeah that's the word for it. But I know I'm doing the right thing, they'll die otherwise."

"We know that. You're crazy but you're right," Leela sympathized.

I sighed, "and yet you guys aren't here for a little catch up. Are you?"

All off them, beasts included, became very interested in their shoes all of a sudden. "We're sorry Nick," Sophie said. "But the Harpy is coming down hard on Fire, she's threatening to punish all of us, even those who barely know you. Trust me dude, we all care about you, but I can't have all the cabin being punished because of one person. I can't let them all down like that."

I should have felt stabbed in the back, but I didn't. I know, I know they're basically going to hand me over to the Harpy if I don't put up a fight, but I got their side. Sophie was the only leader that these guys had and if she let all of them get their wrists slapped because she didn't try to get me back then they'd lose all faith in her. They'd lose the leader they had and needed.

"Hey, don't sweat it," I said, "I understand that you need to do this."

"Its nothing personal buddy," Chip said sadly, as he flipped his spear into a more comfortable grip. Leela notched an arrow into her bow and Sophie pulled out her sword and shield. It was a short broadsword, nowhere near as long as Incaendium but Sophie knew what she was doing with it so was probably more experienced than I was. But mine talked, so there's that.

I gripped Incaendium's hilt firmly. "That being said, I'm going down without a fight," and I drew my sword from his scabbard. There was a collective gasp from all eyes watching my blazing sword while Incaendium buzzed gently in my hand.

Well this is going to be interesting.

"Can you help me out?" I whispered.

Of course, I can, but you need to stay vigilant. Taking on multiple opponents at once is advanced stuff, so keep your guard raised.

"I'll keep that in mind," I said as I relaxed into a fighting stance. I glanced around at my friends, all of whom were preparing to fight. Flame growled by my side and glanced towards the other beasts. I nodded in agreement, he would keep them busy while I dealt with the humans. I sighed slightly and smiled at my friends. "So, who wants to go first?"

That honour went to Chip. He darted forwards with all of his Flash like speed aiding him forwards, his spear spinning like it was attached to a wheel. I whipped Incaendium downwards, the metal screeching as it drew along the hilt of Chips spear, forcing him to pull away before his fingers were sliced off. I heard Flame roar as he tackled Sprint, bowling him over before Valentine and Inferno leapt onto the screaming pile of teeth, fur and feathers.

Sophie lunged forwards, her shield raised to head level while her sword came low, slicing towards my stomach. I leapt back in time to dodge as well as counter the spear head that had come flying towards me by knocking it away with a clear swing of my sword. Something whistled past my head and I barely had time to shield myself from the volley of arrows that Leela was firing at a similar speed to that of a machine gun. All three of them were surrounding me and I definitely didn't have enough room to do anything. This was not going well. At all.

"Incaendium, I think we have a problem," I hissed as I batted the spear away while attempting to counter a sword strike at the same time.

You need to clear some space. Who's causing the most trouble?

"Chip. I can deal with the other two."

Then make sure he doesn't keep going, you don't want any long-range weapon in the fight for long.

I'll take his word on that. Gritting my teeth, I lowered my shield to Sophie's and slammed it into her. The force clearly made her stumble and I followed that with a kick that sent her sprawling. I dodged sideways as Chip's spear skimmed my side and grabbed hold of the staff. That's something I'd always noticed about spears. Unless you're hurling them at someone's face they're not much use in close combat, because someone can just reach out and drag them out of your hands. Chip had clearly thought of that though because as soon as I tried to pull the spear from him a blue light that crackled with electricity raced down the spear towards me.

I let go and fell back slightly. Sophie wasn't quite up yet and a fireball in Leela's direction would keep her busy for a little while, so I didn't have long to find a way to get the spear form Chip. Hmm...The hilt was metal instead of wooden, not breakable, but maybe I could melt it? That might just work. I urged Incaendium to raise his temperature as I watched Chip carefully. I needed to go in the opposite direction to him or I'd be kebabbed, so he would have to believe my feint. I moved left, the spear racing to catch me, right, left, right again and then I made to move right. Chip plunged his spear to where I would have been standing while I raced to the other side. My hand, blazing with fire, clamped down on the hilt sending the metal sparking with red hot metal as I brought Incaendium down.

The result was similar to that of TNT. Both Chip and I were thrown backwards as the spear exploded in front of us, shattering into shards of burning shrapnel. I managed to leap to my feet and glance over to Chip who was lying on this back, unmoving. My heart stopped for a second and then I saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. I let out that breath I'd been holding. Knocked out but otherwise still alive. One down, two to go.

"Leela next I presume?"

Arrows are far more likely to kill you than a sword, once she's out of the fight you've got yourself a semi-level playing field.

"Semi-level?"

Just get on with it!

Sophie rushed at me, her sword clashing against my own, her shield preventing me from getting any major hits in, while a small rain of arrows barely missed the two of us. I needed to stop Leela from firing anything, and I could either do that by breaking her bow or waiting for her to run out of arrows. Preferably the latter as running headlong into the crosshairs didn't seem all that desirable in my humble opinion. I kept one eye on Leela the entire time. Her shots were slowing down, the frequency decreasing, until she reached back and there was nothing there. She'd finally run out.

I seized my chance and forced my entire body weight against Sophie's shield, so she stumbled backwards. Instantly, I sprinted towards Leela who was running in the direction of the closest arrow. As I reached her she whipped round, her bow sailing past my head. I ducked, grabbed hold of her wrist and tried to force her to let go of the bow. Instead her bow cracked into my forehead with a sickening crunch that sent white spots dancing in front of my eyes and if we were in a cartoon universe, birds would be flying round my head. Point noted, try not to get hit in the head.

She aimed another blow at my ribs, but I sidestepped it, bringing Incaendium up to counter. The wooden bow practically disintegrated as Incaendium sliced it in half like if was made of tissue paper. Leela looked down at the two pieces of bow, the wire holding them together, and smiled sheepishly and then shrugged. She leapt forwards and wrapped the string around my wrists and jerked Incaendium straight out of my hands. Quick as lighting she twisted behind me and pulled the wire to my neck and pulled back.

I know she wasn't trying to kill me but when someone is trying to choke you it doesn't matter if they're friend or not, you are going to panic. She probably knew just how long to close my airways to knock me out cold as well. I frantically tugged at the wire while gasping like a fish, (which probably wasn't attractive in the slightest) and tried to figure out how I was going to get out of this one. Leela had somehow managed to leap onto my shoulders and was now forcing all her weight into giving me the official K.O. Think, think, think, what do they do in the movies? Usually they find some convoluted way to MacGyver their way out of it but all I had was a little firepower–

Sigh. Have I mentioned before that I'm an idiot? For some reason I keep forgetting that I'm a walking match. Don't know how I'm managing that, but somehow I am. I gripped the wire tightly and poured heat into it, the thin metal wire melting to magma. It snapped almost instantly. I felt Leela loose her balance, so I pushed back, slamming Leela into the carriage behind her. I whipped round to see Leela looking a little worse for wear, but she was okay.

But more importantly it didn't look like she was going to be re-joining the fight any time soon. Now it was one on one and those were odds I could work with. I ran forwards and scooped up Incaendium just in time to clash with Sophie.

"So," she said through gritted teeth, "you seem to have learned a lot since I last saw you. New skills, you can fight, and you've got yourself one nice ass sword. Spirt blade, if I'm not mistaken?"

"How'd you guess?" The metal screeched in protest as I parried Sophie's low strike and knocked it upwards.

"Well, the fact that you were talking to it kind of gives it away."

I leapt sideways to avoid the shield strike. "Fair enough."

"Where'd you get your hands on something like that? Spirit blades aren't exactly common."

"I got it from the guy we're travelling with. He's called Shadow, red eyes, Dark elemental, has a giant rhino for a beast, you can't miss him."

"You know what?" she lunged forwards, aiming to disarm me, "I think we saw him run past us, or we at least felt the ground shaking."

"Well he's the one currently forming those mushroom clouds. He's also teaching us two how to not die on the job."

"That explains a lot," Sophie gritted her teeth against the force of my strike.

I had both hands on my blade, so I could deliver a lot more power that she could, and she was clearly feeling it. But Sophie was more experienced, she knew what she was doing, with or without the shield she could probably kick my ass any day of the week. Meaning there was only one thing I could do, I had to get rid of that shield. Incaendium had picked this up as well and was frantically whispering instructions to me, however his plan sounded like I could get stabbed in the process.

Oh well. When in Rome.

As Sophie lunged forwards again I muttered a quick prayer and launched forwards myself, twisting quickly to get under her arm and press my back flat against her front. I felt her instinctively freeze in shock as I took my chances and grabbed hold of the inside of her shield and forced my entire weight against it. The shield was wrenched from Sophie's grip and I tossed it aside out of reach.

She raised an eyebrow, "well, well, well you've certainly got some new moves."

"You pick up a few things every now and then."

Now we both only had one weapon it was easy to see why Sophie was still the better swordsman, or swordswoman in this case. Her experience was vastly superior to my own and every strike I made she parried perfectly. On the other hand, I was also blocking every attack she made on me as well so there's that. But I needed to finish this, and fast. The train left at midnight and even though I didn't have the foggiest idea what time it was, the fact the moon was hovering almost directly over my head could not possibly be a good sign.

But the universe clearly had decided that it was on my side for once as what was the one lesson that I had been taught for two solid hours just earlier tonight? Disarming. Clearly my good deeds in a previous life were worth something at long last. I didn't want to take off any of my friends digits, so the twisting technique seemed more useful at this point, even though I wasn't very good at it, but you have to take what you can get.

I waited for an opening and lunged, twisted my blade once round Sophie's, and nothing happened. Well that went well. Take two. Second attempt went much better. I darted forwards and dragged, and then somehow lodged Incaendium into a small notch in Sophie's sword. He stuck, and I twisted in a tight circle and pulled forwards slightly. The blade slipped from Sophie's grip and before she could sprit forwards to retrieve her weapon, I grabbed hold of it and threw it clear out of her reach before slamming the Incaendium's hilt against the side of her head.

She crumpled like paper and fell to the ground, and then raised her hands as the tip of Incaendium's flaming blade hovered close to her throat.

I sighed. "Look, I don't want to hurt you guys, trust me I don't, but this is something I have to do. I have to get them back."

Sophie rolled her eyes which, and I'm being perfectly honest here, was not the reaction I was expecting. "Don't you think we know that, you idiot? We wouldn't have gone so easy on you otherwise."

"Wait, what?" They had done what?

"I mean you've learned some pretty impressive skills man, but if we wanted to take you down you wouldn't be standing here right now."

"What?"

"She's right," moaned Chip groggily. "Though if we're laying everything out on the table you totally kicked my ass."

"You're on my side?" I said. I probably sounded a bit stupid, but I was completely baffled by what was going on. "Hold up, you lot were trying to take me back a few seconds ago so unless you lot had some joint telepathic change of heart..." The penny then dropped with an ear ringing bang. "This was the plan all along, wasn't it?"

"Yep," said Leela.

I spared a moment to facepalm in the corner. I'm an idiot. I asked these guys to watch my back and that's what they'd been doing the entire time. I couldn't only guess that the whole reason that we hadn't been found yet was because these guys had somehow managed to hold the Harpy off my case until now, so the hell would they sell me out?

"We're all completely on your side. What the Harpy did is nothing short of murder, by doing nothing, your family is going to die. Others think the same too, all of Fire is with you and at least half of the other cabins as well. You're not in this alone," Leela said happily.

If I wasn't conscious that I was on a severe deadline I might have actually welled up. For the first time in years I had friends! Support! Halleluiah!

"Thanks guys, you have no idea how much this means to me. But I still need one more thing from you guys."

Sophie frowned. "You're asking for a lot buddy, you already owe us big time and we can't keep the Harpy off your trail. You might have dropped off the Wind-Readers radar, but she still has eyes and ears everywhere."

"I know that, so what I need you to do is tell us where we are."

All three of them took it in turn to look completely baffled. Finally, Chip spoke up, "you want us to do what?"

"You heard me, I want you guys to tell us where we are, or where were going would be more accurate."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chip asked.

"We have a lead. Molly is based up in Scotland in the Dunloch Ruins outside of Edinburgh. All I need you guys to do is buy us some time to get up there and then send in the cavalry."

"Why?"

"Because you'll either be the ones who are rescuing my Mum and siblings and you'll be the ones rescuing our sorry ass's as well when we inevitably run into trouble."

"But you want us to buy you time as well," said Sophie, "How long is this journey going to take?"

"I don't know. A couple of weeks knowing our luck."

Sophie shook her head. "No can do, that's too long. A couple of days at most is what we can manage, five tops."

"A week then," I said with a pleading note in my voice. "Seven little days and then you can come rescue us and you have my permission to say I told you so. Deal?"

Sophie simply rolled her eyes. "You, Nick Hayden, are a pain in my ass," she chuckled as she reached out and shook my hand firmly. Chip and Leela nodded in understanding and Flame padded up to my side once again, issuing a low growl to the other creatures. For the first time in this crazy journey we had back up, a plan B that didn't involve handing ourselves over to the freak and her bunch of merry misfits.

The sudden sharp sound of a train whistle blared over the site and a single column of steam puffed over the lines of carriages. By the looks of it, it was only a few rows over. I glanced back at my friends who simply grinned widely.

"Now as much as I would love a catch up I've got a train to catch. Seven days, remember that."

"You got it, now get a move on!"

I nodded and turned to run off and then I whipped back around with such a speed I should have given myself whiplash. "I almost forgot, be careful who you talk to. Molly has someone at the camp on her payroll."

The three of them took the news like a slap to the face. "What?" Sophie gaped.

"You heard me. Don't ask how I know, its been a really weird week, just be careful who you talk to. It could even be someone in Fire, but they know about me and that we've left so make sure you trust someone before you talk to them. I'm so sorry about that, but I've got to go. See you on the flipside!" I yelled as I sprinted under and over the lines of metal and tangles of splintered wood towards the column of white steam and the seemingly never-ending screech of the whistles.

Flame and I vaulted the last cart and turned to see the steam engine sitting on the tracks. Shadow had been right about one thing in his cryptic description of the engine, it was without a doubt the most obnoxious thing I'd ever seen. Most of the carriages it was hauling were your standard, rickety wooden contraptions, but the engine? The engine was, how do I put this? Oh yeah, looked like it had been decked out by a Kardashian.

The whole thing was an eye watering bright baby blue and was gilded with white quartz and what looked like solid gold embellishments. Rhinestones, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and thousands of other gemstones had been decoratively pushed into the framework forming a glittering swirl all the way down the engine until it spelled out the words "Pyrite Express" in priceless jewels and solid gold. The first three carriages were fit for royalty. Dark wood, satin curtains, what appeared to be a full-sized chandelier sticking out of the top, gold and silver lining and thousands more minute gems formed roses and Disneylandian type forest scenes with princesses and magical creatures.

Either this thing was owned by a five-year-old girl or someone who had waaaay too much money on their hands. As well as too much time and a complete lack of sense as I would not like to see the cleaning bill for that thing after its been raining.

I think I must have stood there for a few seconds before a yell caught my attention. I whipped round just as the wheels groaned and began to slowly turn, the whistle screaming as the whole thing began to puff its way towards the entrance. Sheira and a slightly worn down and battle-scarred Shadow were both leaning out of the open carriages, gesturing wildly for me to hurry up and get over here. This is it, I thought, we're out of here and no one can stop – oh no.

As I was running towards the carriage I turned to look over my shoulder and saw the guard in the single tower drop like a stone as someone threw him against the window. That figure then leaned over the controls and somehow I knew that he had changed the tracks. If we didn't change them back we'd just go in a circle and the Harpy and the rest would have us trapped like a spider under a glass. I sighed and knew that I wasn't going to make it up there fast enough. I wasn't fast enough on my two feet, but what about on all fours? How fast could a lion run?

My hand went up to the amulet round my neck. My last beastly experience had not been pleasant in the slightest and I hadn't been altogether very skilled at piloting my furry new body but as the saying goes sometimes you've got to run before you can walk.

Sheira and Shadow were only ten meters or so away from me, screaming profanities that all went along the lines of 'Get in the freaking box now!' I turned towards them and then back towards the tower and I felt my shoulders sag forwards like a deflating balloon. Why does it always have to be me?

"Nicholas Jonathan Hayden get in now or I swear to god I will strangle you with your own amulet!"

Taking Sheira's warnings into account I turned and saluted to the two screamers in the box, putting on my best Hayden smile. "I'll be right back, so don't leave without me."

Before I could let either of them process what I had just said I pressed the lion figure on my amulet into my chest and instantly the sensation of the change overwhelmed me. A sound like a piece of paper being torn in half echoed inside my head, my skin pinched and my spine cracked as I dropped to all fours. I opened my eyes and glanced down at my paws and then back up towards the signal tower as Flame's voice swirled through my head.

Don't think about it. Just run.

And that's exactly what I did.

I leapt forwards and sprinted as fast as I could, praying that I wouldn't stumble like the last time Flame and I shared the same headspace, my heavy paws beating against the ground. Bystanders and the train seemed to fly by my peripheral vision as I ran at fifty miles an hour my target getting closer and closer and – oh for god's sake.

The Harpy and her minions were rounded the corner and dropped their shields as they saw me sprinting towards them, creating an unbroken barrier. All of them looked very worse for wear after Shadow's furious attack on them all but I didn't need to think about sending out apology cards (I'd have plenty of time for that and various other punishments when I got back), I needed to get over then somehow.

The wooden carriage to my right gave me an idea. Just before I reached their roadblock I spun to a near stop and with my back legs coiled like a spring I leapt, my claws burying themselves in the aging wood with screeched in protest of having something so heavy sit on it. Though let's be honest, none of these things were probably built for a lion hanging off the edge like Spiderman but you have to deal with what you get. The sharp tip of a spear jabbed at my foot, so after yelping in pain I scrambled up onto the roof, where it worryingly sunk a bit. Flame buddy, you need to go on a diet.

I looked back towards the train which was still wonderfully chugging along slowly, still a long way away from where the tracks shifted. But that distance wasn't going to last forever. Better get a hustle on. I ran as fast as I could along the top of the rusted boxes, ducking occasionally from the rogue projectile launched from the swarm of people below me, as my destination closed in. A glass window was the only thing in my way and I highly doubted that it was going to be bullet proof. I sprang forwards and CRASH! The glass shattered under my paws, splintering like a piece of wood that had just been thrown through a chipper.

I landed heavily on the dirty wooden floor and quickly scanned for any signs of life. The faint sound of breathing was coming from somewhere under the floor so the guard was still alive, soemwhere. The guy that had knocked him out was nowhere in sight. The room itself was pretty barren. A small hatch in the back revealed a trapdoor which I quickly covered with the lonely chair and table in the corner. A threadbare rug, coated with dust and rocks, sat miserably in the centre of the room and against the wall to my left, sitting in perfect unison like rusted soldiers, were the levers.

I padded over and noted that each one was covered in a thick layer of grime as I inspected each one carefully. Some were more worn than others from continued use but some of them look like they hadn't been moved in over a century. A yellow scrap of paper caught my eye and as I peered closer I realised that each one of the levers was labelled with which direction they would take the train. Excellent! At least I wasn't going to have to push each one and hope for the best.

I quickly scanned the row from left to right, the puffs of steam closing in rapidly, each one turning up a negative. Until, of course, I had to be the last one. I read the piece of paper and grinned, perfect. Not really having a thumb would prove to be a bit tricky but if I wrapped one paw round the front and one round the back I might just be able to get the lever down.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Nicholas."

To any onlooker I must have looked like a cat that's just had a cucumber put behind it. I jumped, somehow managed to turn one hundred and eighty degrees mid-air and landed with my teeth bared and a low growl issuing from my lips as I turned to look at my intruder. I was surprised to see Seeker standing there behind me. He wasn't a small man, rugby players looked short next to him, and yet he'd somehow dropped out of thin air. The trapdoor hadn't been opened and none of the windows had been smashed. My point is it's very difficult for him to look inconspicuous.

He raised his hands in a peace gesture, "don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Dude, you literally just quoted Hal9000."

"Nick," he said exasperatedly.

"Also, don't even think about trying to stall me, I know when people are to keep me in one place."

He sighed, "nothing gets past you, does it?"

"Let's call it street smarts and forget about it. Now onto the more pressing matter of how the hell did you get in here?"

Seeker didn't say anything, instead he held his arm up and I watched as the skin and flesh began to harden and then fracture, splintering into stone and dust. Ahh, I get it now. So, he was in the room this entire time, just turned to rock. His arm reformed and was back to normal like it hadn't even changed at all.

"Cool party trick," I said, "but let me get this straight, you knocked out the guard, who I presume is on the other side of that trapdoor and trapped us in here yourself. But let's be honest you could have been a bit more inconspicuous...unless you wanted to get me in here and then drag me back to the Harpy kicking and screaming." I back up a few steps at this realisation while Seekers shoulders slumped forwards. He looked exhausted.

"Preferably you'd come back willingly," he said sadly.

"Meaning you just want me to give up?" I said in complete shock. "To forget the fact that my whole world is being held captive by a homicidal manic who delights in torture?!"

"We can't do anything."

I roared in anger and frustration, the window panes shuddering under the noise, scaring Seeker by quite a degree. "You're her friend and you're just abandoning her? That woman would over hot coals for those she loves, climb every god damn mountain and she'd never lose hope and you're just going to leave her to die?"

He didn't say anything, just became very interested in the cracked wooden floor. I took his silence and knew what it meant.

"Go to hell asshole," I spat, "now if you excuse me, I have a train to catch."

I reached forward and clasped one paw around the lever and prepared to push forwards when Seekers voice pierced the tense silence.

"You're so like your parents."

I turned back round to him a scowled. He looked right at me now a sad smile on his lips. "There was once a time when Jack and Aleena went running off to save your namesake, your dad's best friend, and I tried to stop them then. I wanted to keep them safe, but I failed and I'm not going to let the same thing happen twice. Your dad would never forgive me if something happened to you."

I stared gobsmacked at him for a few seconds before I started to laugh. Like a proper belly laugh, the type that had you on the floor and dribbling while everyone else wondered what the hell was so funny. He raised an eyebrow in confusion as the last of my chuckles died away and I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye.

"Oh man, you really think he would say that? We're both talking about the same guy here right? This is the man that took a lightning bolt to the face in order to save those he cared about. He taught me that, that mentality of always pushing forwards despite the oncoming storm, and he also taught me one other lesson on that subject matter." I leaned forwards and looked Seeker dead in the eye. "He taught me to never let anything or anyone stand in my way."

Seeker's expression didn't change but his eyes...his eyes looked saddened by my decision and quite alarmingly there looked like there was a little anger there as well. I was going to have a fight on my hands soon wasn't I? Before that could happen I darted forwards and wrapped one paw around the lever but before I could go any further with my fool proof plan a sharp pain suddenly dug into my back. I yowled and wheeled round on my attacker and then promptly realised that I was in big trouble. Big being the operative word.

Seeker was transforming into his beast form, his entire body splintering to dust and reshaping to something that wasn't quite human. And from the size of the claw, it wasn't exactly small. I watched in horror as hulking mass of fur took form, followed by four paws each lined with claws twice as long as my fingers, then a bowling ball sized head lined with teeth and then two squashed button eyes that glistened with Seekers dull brown instead of the shiny black most common with that species.

The giant grizzly bear rose upwards onto its hind legs and bellowed, the roar ringing in my ears like an echo. I was aware of a whimpering noise coming from within my throat and then I turned and lunged, trying and failing to make a desperate grab at the lever as I was flung across the room by my tail. The wall shuddered under the impact and I fell to the floor wheezing and then yelping as knife-like claws whizzed in front of my eyes.

Throughout this entire ordeal Flames voice had been screaming inside my head, not so encouragingly yelling that we were utterly screwed and was actually saying his final prayers. Thanks man, that's really helpful. I was waiting from him to calm down by sprinting round the little room as fast as my legs could carry me. The bear (I didn't know her name other than the fact that she was a chick), and her colossal size meant that she was extremely cramped in the small space, so I was able to easily duck and weave under her heavy paws and snapping teeth.

All this time I was aware of the line of steam getting closer and closer, and it was it me or was that thing going a lot faster than it was before? I had to get to that lever and fast. She roared again as one of her paws hit me in the shoulder sending me flying across the room. I stumbled to my feet, a line of red trickling down from the struck area, just as she lunged at me once again, lifting me up was one clawed paw and pinning me against the wall. I gasped for air, digging my claws into her front leg as I was slammed repeatedly against the wood.

It was safe to say that this was not going well.

She raised her other paw and prepared to bring it down, but I grabbed it and pushed back with all my might, allowing her to tighten her grip round my throat in the process. Wonderful, she was either going to knock me out or strangle me, my two least favourite ways to die (Okay, second and third to drowning but you get the point). The panicking voice in my head and my own thoughts were now on the same wave length. Don't get clobbered.

The bear slammed me once again against the wall, the wood splintering behind me, which also dislodged my desperate grip on her fur and that clawed weapon came racing towards me. What happened next I can only explain down to pure reflexes. As the equivalent of five kitchen knives came closer than I would have liked, I felt my body begin to channel fire, but not at the palms of my hands/paws. It was going to my throat. I didn't have the remotest clue what was going to happen but just as I felt the first claw scrape against my skin I opened my mouth wide.

And opened fire. A jet of orange flame poured from my mouth right into the bears face. Both her and Seeker screeched in agony, letting go of me so I dropped to the floor with a thud, fire still streaking from my mouth. When the smell of burning hair filled my nostrils I closed my mouth tightly and started at what I had done. The bear had become a ten-foot-high bonfire and was desperately trying to pat out the flickering flames, so she could devote her full attention back to slicing me in half.

"How..." I whispered opened mouthed, "how long have you been able to do that?"

Don't look at me that was your doing, Flame also had a stunned tone to his voice, but by all means if you could do that again I would greatly appreciate it.

"I don't think its hurting her all that much," I said watching as the bear went from blazing to slightly smouldering.

Then take her out! Just...don't bash my body around too much

Fair enough. I stalked closer trying to remember every BBC documentary that had lions in it. How did they take out big prey again? Was it the legs or the throat you were meant to go for? But even then they had an entire pride helping them out and a wide-open savannah, while I on the other hand I was cripplingly alone and was in an enclosed space that was the definition of claustrophobic. Well, more for her than me. Hold up! I've got an idea.

"Hey Flame? You know how in wrestling and boxing and stuff like that they always say to use your opponent's weight against them?"

I don't like where this is going.

"Well, that makes two of us," I winced in what I was about to do, coiled up like a spring and leapt right onto the bear's back.

Her reaction was an expected one. The moment my claws dug very firmly into her back she entered into a very persistent attempt to remove me by slamming into walls and haphazardly swinging her razor-sharp claws in every direction. I zipped up and down her back tearing out chunks of fur and burying my canines into her neck and any available flesh, making sure to stay in her blind spots and the place you can never quite reach to scratch (Turns out bears have that too). I just had to angle her right and then I could try something that I could only pray carried over from the video game world.

The whistle screeched, I had ten seconds at the most before we were trapped, and our mission was over. I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth and prayed to every deity I knew and then I leapt up onto her head and pushed all of my weight forwards. She toppled like a Jenga tower. Close to two tonnes of fur and sharp claws pitched forwards and rolled, slamming full force into the weak wooden wall which screamed in protest and splintered like it had just been punched by a karate black belt. Then the ground dropped out from beneath us and we plummeted twelve feet to the hard concrete, the bear landed on her head and didn't move while I proved that yes, cats do always land on their feet.

A flash of blue caught my eye and I watched in anticipation that throwing a bear at the levers had been enough to force the mechanism into submission. The engine barrelled towards the split and I prayed that my God of War technique had actually worked, all the while it got closer and closer and then it reached the junction and– It shot forwards, straight towards the wide-open gate that was our ticket to freedom.

"Yes!" I whooped joyously, "YES! Ha-ha! Suck on that Harpy!" I was leaping round like a loony in celebration and the last carriages began to streak forwards and two panicked looking figures hung out of one of the open doors.

"NICK!" Shadow and Sheira screamed wildly, "COME ON!"

You didn't need to tell me twice. I sprang and sprinted after them, pushing myself as far as my body could go and with Flame feeding his own energy into me so I could run faster than I'd ever gone before. But that train was now on the home straight and was now speeding up at an alarming rate to the point that I was struggling to keep up with it, and as if my luck couldn't get any worse, over the panicked screams of my companions and the chugging of the massive gears of the locomotive I could hear someone chasing me. I didn't even have to look over my shoulder to know who it was, but I knew that if they caught me it wasn't going to be pretty.

I was losing it, both of us were tiring, the Harpy was gaining and the train with Shadow and Sheira in it was pulling away faster than I could ever hope to keep up with it. Oh and of course, there's a bridge going over a huge river on the way out so if I didn't do anything I was going to be trapped between a rock and a wet place if you excuse the analogy. I was stuck. Trapped with nowhere to go. There was no way in hell I was going to catch up with that train, so my only chance now was to see if I could fight my way out of the yard and find a way to meet up with the others later on.

The rails screeched as the bridge took the trains full weight which left me with no other choice but to turn around and fight – wait. What? Something tightened round my front ankles, so I looked down and saw two thin tendrils of darkness wrapping themselves round my legs. I glanced over my shoulder and saw where the tendrils were coming from, Shadow and Sheira's carriage, and I also saw them suddenly whip backwards. Uh oh.

That was the appropriate response as not a second later I was forcibly yanked backwards with such a speed it should have A.) dislocated both of my shoulders and B.) if I was in a cartoon universe it should have removed all the fur from my body. My scream of fear was also completely warranted especially as I looked down and saw myself zooming over rushing water. I was directly in front of the other two, Sheira looked slightly startled and Shadow's face was screwed up in concentration to the point that he didn't notice the steel frame of the bridge hurtling towards me. At the last second he realised I was about to be bisected and yanked the tendrils back which save me from certain doom but also resulted in my face slamming straight into the wall.

I slid down and moaned as the other two rushed forwards to see if I was okay. I stumbled to my feet, accidently sat on Sheira and then peered out of the door to see the mass of people crowding the gates of the trainyard. The Harpy was actually punching the ground with her fists and howling like a wounded animal and Seeker/Bear bellowed in rage after us, knowing full well that there was no way they were catching up to us. Meanwhile the mood from the train was one of celebration.

"WOOHOO!! TAKE THAT! SAYONARA SUCKERS!!" We whooped and leapt around the carriage in joy, even Shadow got in on the action by punching the air with his fists and shouting into the wind at our pursuers who were rapidly vanishing to black spots in the distance.

"We did it! We might just have a chance now guys," I said, the excitement barely contained in my voice. "Our luck might just be beginning to turn."

Something very sharp at the back of my head quickly made me wish I had just held my tongue.

"All right you lot we don't take to kindly to stowaways," said the strangers. "Hands in the air and no funny business. You too mittens, paws where we can see them. The boss is real excited to meet you."

We weren't in a place to argue as all three of us raised our hands clear above our heads, the joy on our faces souring to a scowl and the mood turning black as once again we were out of the frying pan and into the fire. Our captors talked quickly on their radios and cuffs were clipped round my friends wrists and they were hauled to their feet. I just scowled over the hills and I spoke the only thought that was in my head.

"Me and my big mouth," I growled.

***

So after over a month of writing, I'm back. College has started up again so the updates wont be coming as regularly as I would like, but what can you do. In the meantime what do you think about our heroes situation? Is this all a big misunderstanding or is it something more sinister? Comment what you think and any other questions you may have and give this chapter a vote if you enjoyed it.
See you next time!