Hunters: Moonlit Shadows

The familiar chill in the air gnawed at her nerves, Elena bit her lips forcing herself to stay calm.

No mistakes this time.

Her fingers grazed the silver dagger at her hip, the worn leather grip comforting its familiarity. Her body remembered every fight, every wound, every moment she'd failed.

She paused near a cluster of trees, her eyes scanning the shadows. Every muscle in her body tensed as she strained to listen.

The leaves at her right made a faint rustle.

Elena pivoted towards the sound. "Come on, then," she muttered under her breath.

The rustling grew louder and Elena's grip on the dagger tightened. She slowly walked towards the spot the noise was coming from.

And then, out of the leaves, a fluffy little bunny hopped into view.

Elena's face fell as she stared at the bunny which was busily munching on a nearby shrub.

"Uh… hello there, little guy" Elena said, putting her dagger back in its sheath

"Well that was silly" she added with a chuckle.

The bunny looked up at Elena, twitched its whiskers and continued eating.

Elena couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Well, I guess I have to go now!"

She exhaled slowly and walked towards the inner forest. "I really need to focus, if I want to survive this time" she muttered to herself.

She walked further a bit before coming to a stop "How am I supposed to deal with vampires and wolves at the same time?"

She placed her left hand on her chin "Or should I use him?"

Her jaw clenched at the thought of Liam. She didn't trust him, not for a second. But he saved her last time, hadn't he?

"Focus" she told herself. "Deal with one problem at a time."

The low, guttural growls of wolves moving through the trees sounded in her ears. Her heart leapt as she pressed herself against the trunk of a tree, her dagger gleamed faintly as she unsheathed it.

Her breaths came shallow and steady, her eyes tuned to sound of steps drawing closer.

Three wolves, their eyes glowing amber in the darkness.

Elena's eyes narrowed. One of them stepped forward, its snarl low and menacing.

"Easy," Elena murmured.

The wolf lunged at her.

Elena sidestepped, her blade slashing at its flank. The creature yelped, skidding to the ground.

She raised her dagger to its neck, but one of the wolves came swiping its claws at her head.

She ducked away under the swipe of claws, rolling away and coming up with her dagger ready.

The second wolf lunged at her. Elena bent over holding its fore leg, tossing it over her body. She raised her dagger, driving it into its side. The silver sizzled against its flesh. It howled in pan, retreating as the third wolf snarled and circled her.

Elena's breath came quick, her body moving on autopilot. "Fighting you guys again is easy as making pancake" She smirked as the wolves circled her.

She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, another figure larger than the rest, stepping out of the shadows.

"Liam," she yelled without thinking.

His golden eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable.

Liam stepped forward, his gaze remained on Elena. The injured wolves snarled but didn't approach her.

"How do you know my name?" Liam growled.

"Oh shit, I forgot"

Elena's eyes narrowed, pointing her dagger towards him. "Stay back," she said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Liam's lip curved into a wry smile, but his golden eyes were serious "You're as brave as they mentioned, Elena Devereux"

He raised his hand; the three wolves backed of Elena and strutted to Liam's back.

"Faye, go back to the den and treat Ronan's wound" He said, his gaze still locked on Elena "Our hunter seemed to have given him an unexpected welcome"

One of the wolves growled as if in agreement, and left with the other two.

"Now answer my question" Liam asked, releasing an intense aura

"Vampire's are coming Liam" Elena managed to say as his aura choked her. He's more powerful than I thought"

Liam's brow furrowed "Vampires?"

Liam gave Elena a long glare "Not our problem" he said shrugging.

Elena stared in shock "Wait what?"

"Like I said not my problem" Liam replied, walking towards her.

Elena could feel his killing intent, was this really the same Liam?

"Maybe not," Elena said, her mind racing. "But it'll be harder for you to deal with the vampires if they get to me first."

Liam's eyes narrowed as he stopped in his tracks. "Well, why would you care? Isn't it your job to end monsters?"

"The vampire's are my top priority right now" Elena put her dagger back in its sheath "You all can come later, you can decide not to help me and I'll just do it on my own"

Liam's gaze lingered on her as she walked away "You're not going to survive that alone."

"I've managed so far, I even cut one of your wolves." She shot back, though the words felt hollow even as she said them.

"Really?" His tone sharp, "Because it didn't look like you were winning"

Elena gritted her teeth "What do you want from me?"

"Hey, you're the one who wants something from me," Liam said. "Stop being so damn stupid and maybe I'll help"

She cursed under her breath "Fine" she said through gritted teeth. "But this doesn't mean I trust you."

"Noted," Liam said, his lips twitching into the faintest hint of smirk.

Elena's heart thumped as she saw him smile. "So um, where were you heading?" she asked, resting on a tree.

"Oh just heading to the forest boundary for a check up" Liam replied resting on the tree next to her. "But one of my wolves perceived a hunter and it turned out to be the famous Elena Devereux"

"Famous?" she gave him a questioning look.

"Yeah" Liam smirked. "Your legacy for hunting monsters flawlessly with no ability"

"Oh is that so?" Elena's expression saddened.

"Yeah, I could have killed you here and be known as the monster who killed the No Ability Hunter"

"The what?" Elena cringed.

"The No Ability Hunter, it's a nickname that has been made in your honor"

Elena's scowl deepened. "Well in my honor, I band anyone from using that name"

Liam chuckled while Elena faced the opposite way before giving a wide smile.

"Too bad, I'll have to kill you when this is over"

"Oh yeah that's tru…" She stopped as she noticed Liam's face expression darken.

"They're coming" Liam growled.

In one swift motion, Elena pushed off the ground, the damp earth clinging to her gloves as she rose. Her knees bent low as she reached for her dagger.

Two pale figures stepped into the moonlight, their crimson eyes glaring at the hunter and wolf.

One of the vampires tilted his head towards its companion "Claude, I thought no one but the hunter was meant to be here"

Claude shrugged his shoulders "Yeah, change of plans, we'll have to kill them both." He said, smacking his lips.

"Yeah, I like that idea." The other vampire smirked, lunging at Elena.