Ahndrian Archives

The four of them hid around the tree line. Rei notched an arrow and took aim at the strangers’ camp, just as Thomas planned. She released the arrow and ducked from her hiding place— never letting her eyes leave the opening they would have to walk out of.

They strolled out casually, as though the arrow was little more than a simple nuisance. Alice got a good look at them for the first time and gasped. She recognized it— the body armor they wore. Whoever they were, they had something to do with the men who brought her to the city.

Just like Thomas planned, Rei shot another arrow at the man, hoping she couldn’t miss the larger target. Their efforts were crushed almost immediately. The arrow just barely pierced the body armor. The man pulled it out with ease and peered into the tree line.

“I can’t see where it’s coming from. You got a visual?” the man asked.

“How the hell do you expect me to see them if you can’t even see them, Reed?” she answered the man.

“Well, Dora, I assumed with your eyes. Figured you were capable of something.”

Dora clenched her fist before taking a breath and placing her hand on the pistol hanging from her side, “What do you think? Some of those people from the city looking for revenge for their friends?”

“Probably. I’m sure it’s just more of those hotheaded kids. I told the boss we need to raise the training age. Give teenagers a sword and suddenly they think they’re invincible.” Reed sighed and turned to Dora, giving up on his search in the trees. “Don’t waste the ammo. We’ll need it if more of those hell hounds show up.”

“You know the boss doesn’t want us calling them that,” said Dora.

“Yeah, she also said not to be seen when we’re out. So, let’s clean this up quickly,” Reed paused and turned to face the tree line again— this time looking directly where Alice was hiding. “There’s a girl over there. A wolf too. Don’t think it’s trying to eat her. Also, a boy, four o’clock. Just a few meters. Neither of them shot the arrow, so there’s another one somewhere.”

Alice’s breath caught in her throat. How? She was sure she was completely hidden.

“Come out!” Reed yelled. “I can see everything around me. You won’t be able to hide very well if you’re standing that close. At least you’re smarter than the last bunch. They saw us and just kind of walked up.”

Thomas had no patience left, trap or not. He walked out of the trees with his sword in hand and his body hardened from head to toe. Even from where she stayed crouched, Alice could see the tears on his face.

“Give it back.” Thomas cried out. “Give me back Inali’s dagger!”

Reed turned to face him and cocked his head to the side. He reached down to the sheathe wrapped around his leg and pulled out the crooked dagger inside.

“This piece of shit? Was that the kid’s name? Inali, huh? I think I actually remember that one from the facility. Holy shit, small world.” said Reed.

His tone, his expression, everything about him pissed Alice, Thomas, and Rei off more. What he said was confusing, but worse still, it was like killing Thomas and Rei’s friend was a joke to him. His entire demeanor and the scent he gave off proved one thing— he was amused.

“Well kid, you want the dagger back, then we’ll play a game. If your friend with the arrows can hit me with their next shot. I’ll give it back to you.” Reed joked.

Thomas had enough. He rushed forward, screaming out with everything left in him. Reed chuckled and stepped forward to meet him, brandishing Inali’s dagger. Thomas swung his sword at Reed, but Reed blocked it with ease, letting Thomas’s sword cling off the dagger. Reed brought his knee up to Thomas’s stomach, but the sound of the body armor hitting Thomas’s skin made him jump back.

Thomas lunged again, screaming, and grunting with every swing. Reed looked like he was playing with him. He parried and dodged everything Thomas threw at him. It was a game to him.

“The other one’s coming, Dora.” Reed called out, just barely, purposefully, ducking another one of Thomas’s swings.

He was right. Alice had seen enough, and she was tired of waiting. Right before he spoke, Alice had already rushed from her hiding spot with Rabbit was right behind her, fangs bared.

Alice leapt mid stride, just making it over Dora’s leg as she kicked out. She did her best to regain her balance as she landed. As soon as she had her footing, she took off again, reaching into her pack to grab her pistol.

Dora grabbed her own gun when she saw Alice. She raised it to fire but lost her focus when an arrow cut through the air in front of her— piercing the ground by her foot.

“Damn kids.” Dora spat. She turned her attention to the forest, ignoring Alice completely. “Hey, wolf girl is yours too. I’m gunna kill this damn bowman.”

“Whatever.” Reed responded— his tone growing more serious by the minute.

Alice aimed her electric pistol at Reed and took the shot. It didn’t even phase him. He continued to dance around Thomas, but the look in his eye had changed. He was growing bored.

Alice rushed him, tossing the pistol to the side, and going after him with her claws instead. Her speed caught Reed off guard. Her claws managed to tear through the body armor, slicing into Reed’s side. Even though it was shallow, Alice could see the blood on her claw. She wasted no time going in for another swipe.

Reed had officially gotten bored of the kids. He’d even been injured. Shallow or not, he was sick of it.

As Alice attacked again, he grabbed her arm, swinging her around just as Thomas swung his sword. The blade cut deep into Alice’s forearm. She screamed out in pain, kicking against the ground to knock Reed back. He fell to the ground, with Alice on top of him.

Rabbit leapt forward as they hit the ground. He dug his teeth into Reed’s arm. Reed grunted in pain, loosing his grip enough for Alice to roll off of him. As soon as she was free, Rei released another arrow from inside the field, having moved behind the smaller trees within. Her shot just barely missed his head.

Despite Rei’s attempts to throw her off, Dora took the shot. Rei appeared next to the trees, her teeth clenched tight and tears beginning to form in her eyes. She dropped to her knee— one hand wrapped around her shoulder.

“Damn, only grazed her.” Dora grunted.

Alice felt sick seeing the blood on Rei’s hand. She glared at Dora and took off, ignoring the pain in her own arm and Reed fighting off Thomas and Rabbit while pinned to the ground.

With every step pain surged through Alice’s body— like it was tearing itself apart and putting itself back together again and again. She howled in pain, but her eyes never left Dora. Before she knew it, she was on all fours, charging, faster and faster.

“What the hell!” Dora screamed, cocking her gun and aiming at the monstrous wolf she suddenly faced. It was only a bit larger than Rabbit, but its dark brown coat and the silver seeping through the white in its eyes made her hesitate as it opened its maw and roared— lunging without hesitation.

 It was over in an instant. The shot from Dora’s gun glancing off the armor-like fur on Alice’s body. Every eye on the battlefield, except for Rabbit’s, was locked on the blood dripping from her teeth. She turned around slowly; every little movement sent a surge of adrenaline through Reed’s body.

Should I run?

Should I fight?

Can I fight?

I’m gonna die.

Every thought in Reed’s mind came to one conclusion.

“Hey, Thomas, you get it too, right?” Rei called out, the pain in her arm suddenly becoming background noise to her other surroundings.

“Yeah,” Thomas realized it the moment Alice turned around. We’re not in any danger. “She’s got this.”

Thomas stepped back and watched silently. He placed his sword in his sheathe while Alice continued to approach Reed— who had stopped struggling against Rabbit completely. After a few screams, it was over.

Thomas waited— staring at the wolf before him in awe. The moment she was behind him, he rushed over and pulled Inali’s dagger from Reed’s lifeless hand.

“It was better than what you deserved.” Thomas whispered.

He turned around and his heart skipped a beat. Alice was unconscious— back in her human form, laid out on the ground in front of Rei. He rushed over, but Rei put her hand up and gave a pained smile.

“She’s good. Pretty sure I heard her cry when she transformed. Can’t imagine the pain.” said Rei. “Her arm already stopped bleeding though, so I guess that’s a plus.”

“We’ll get her to the clinic as soon as we get back.” Thomas looked up at the quickly illuminating sky. “I’m sure they know we’re gone by now. We’ll meet up with whatever retrieval team is out looking for us.”

Rei laughed again, groaning when she moved her arm, “We’re never gunna live this one down. You know that right?”

“We’re all alive, so... it’s worth it. Right?” Thomas muttered. He bent down and lifted Alice onto his back. Rabbit circled around in front of him, waiting for them to head out.

“You know,” said Rei as she got to her feet. “there’s another good part in all this, besides getting your dagger back.”

“What?”

“Once we get back, I’m pretty sure we’ll be graduating with Alice.” Rei answered.

“That’s if I let you graduate at all?” A deep voice roared from behind them.

“Fuck!”