Once outside the city, everyone seemed to relax further, happy to be out in the sunshine, making their way home. Dakota in particular seemed overly happy, and Nya held her tongue as to why. Oh she knew. But she knew it wasn't her business.
As they walked Nya fell behind, walking casually at the back of the group. The rest were engaged in a conversation about something trifle, talking animately ahead. Nya preferred to enjoy the walk back home to herself, surrounded by the calm sounds of nature circling them., unafraid of any of the beasts that roamed their area.
The twenty-year-old hybrid was more than capable of handling herself in the woods, even as they grew more lethal over the years. Her father had been training her since she turned five. It had been a form of homeschooling, her mother teaching her how to read, write, and count, and anything else their daughter wanted to learn, while her father had started exercise and obstacle training, helping her build muscle and flexibility. At ten she started learning fighting techniques, and then at sixteen combat training.
I think dad said Nolan’s training starts in a couple weeks. Maybe he’ll let me chip in.
A rustle in the bushes caught her ear, and her head turned, her eyes scanning for any lurking threat. There was another rustle, but this one was further off. She was about to assume it was a rabbit or a deer when a familiar scent caught her nose and she turned, sniffing again and swearing. The rest of the group was too far ahead and the property loomed in the distance, only twenty minutes away. Turning she bolted off the trail, booking it after the noise.
She wasn’t fast like her father or Nolan. Her legs pumped though as she flew as fast as she could through the trees, the rustling moving ahead, then to her left, then jumping to her right.
“Nolan!” she yelled, trying to slow him, “It’s Nya!”
This wasn’t the first time he’d been caught zooming through the trees. Chances are he snuck out, wanting to play superhero, or whatever imagination game he concocted for the day. Her baby brother was too intelligent for his age; he knew how to sneak past their parents, and he knew how to evade Nya when he wanted to, but he couldn’t grasp the dangers of the world at his young age. Not yet.
“Nolan!” she called again, well into the forest now, the trail long lost behind her. No one would be able to here either of them, and that thought scared her.
The rustling broke off, but ahead she could see a part in the trees and then a large field full of tall grass. Some of it was trampled or dying, and Nolan stood amongst the shorter grass, looking away from her. Her chest was heaving when she caught up, wanting to drop to her knees and catch her breath but pressing on.
“Nolan,” she sighed, grabbing his shoulders as she reached him, “You know you can’t be out here.”
She turned him to face her and blinked twice, kneeling as she saw his tears. Had he thought she was angry?
“Hey,” she spoke even softer, wiping his tears, “I’m not mad. I got scared because I couldn’t catch up.”
“I want mommy,” he sniffled, his lower lip shaking, “I’m scared.”
She hugged him tight, kissing his head, “Then we will go see mommy. C’mon.”
“What about them?”
Her stomach dropped, her little brother pointing into the field where he had been staring. Slowly her eyes rose, readying herself for what he’d found. It could be anything; a body, a wolf, a creature…
Or better yet, why not one of the stealthiest and deadliest monsters crawling the forest. A wraith rose from within the tall grass, its ugly head craning as it looked down at them, sizing up its competition. She cursed herself for not realizing it sooner, but they rarely smelt except right after a meal when they reeked of blood. And they moved so quickly and quietly they could have easily kept up with Nolan while Nya remained unaware, following only the sounds of her little brother running through the brush.
Nya stepped in front of her little brother, and an inkling of fear dripped into her. It wasn’t fear for her, but for the five-year-old behind her, shaking against her leg.
“It’s okay Nolan, I can fight one of these jerks,” she tried to reassure him, careful not to make a sudden movement and prod it to attack.
“N-n-n-n-” Nolan’s word stuck to the terrified boy’s lips, “n-n-n-ot one. T-t-t…”
There was a crashing sound to her right and the trees fell hard as an even bigger wraith joined the first, hovering midair as its tentacles ran along the ground.
Two, he meant…t…w…o…
A scream pierced the silent clearing directly behind her, and Nya turned her head as slowly as possible, facing the third wraith. Three. There were three giant monsters wanting her flesh and blood, and they had her surrounded.
“Nolan,” Nya whispered, her eyes jumping from one wraith to the next, waiting for them to strike, “You need to be brave okay? Look to your left.”
He did so, staring at the only open path left.
“Mom and dad are that way. I want…I want you to run okay Nolan? I need my little speedster brother now. Run all the way home until your safe. I’ll make sure they don’t follow you.”
Nolan’s saucer blue eyes widened, looking up at her, “They’ll hurt you Nini.”
His nickname for her always made her smile, but it only clenched at her heart harder.
“They can try. Now go Nolan. Run!”
Nolan turned to flee as she turned in the opposite direction, jumping into action as she ran straight for the smallest wraith. The air shimmered around her as she beckoned her second strongest gift graced to her, pulling the atoms together to form a sword in her hand, one made of shadow and air, yet stroked harder than steel. Striking down, she sliced cleanly through one of the tentacles, causing the foul beast to scream, the other two swooping in to attack and ignoring the fleeing child.
After lunch, Nolan decided he wanted to play alone, to the relief of Reyn and Eli who got a couple hours to themselves. Of course they still could do little, knowing Nolan's senses were nothing if not over powerful, like Nya's. Instead they cuddled on the couch, enjoying the peaceful company they rarely got. As three o'clock loomed though, Reyn decided to check on Nolan. Ascending the stairs she popped her head into the playroom, only to find it empty.
"Eli?" she called down, confused as she checked Nolan's bedroom and it too was empty, "I can't find Nolan. He isn't in his room or the playroom. Can you check outside to see if he's playing there?"
Sometimes he got past his parents and out the back door and they would find him in the small field of their backyard, playing in the sun.
