Chapter 9

Max hits the ground on his feet like it was nothing. He looks down at the massive blood puddle below his feet.

"Max, she might be alive." Kiara says trying to comfort him,

He stays silent and sighs as he follows the blood trail. "It's blue." Kiara says surprised,

"It means she's changed into the natural Sylvie form. I am going to kill whatever took the body."

****

Megan is falling in and out of consciousness. She can hardly feel anything, she doesn't have the strength to open her eyes. Is she being dragged?

If she's still bleeding, she's got maybe a minute tops. She fills a slight thud, she hears a strange voice. She can't tell if it's a person or two beasts fighting for dinner. She isn't sure if she wants it to be a person in all honesty. She hopes Max is okay at least.

Her senses start to come back a little, enough to feel tears leak from her eyes, she doesn't want him to find her. But she knows he won't stop until he finds her.

She uses all her energy to force her eyes open, gah it's like trying to push a parked semi uphill. Come on! Finally! Yes! A little more!

They open ever so slightly, she can see some light, probably the sun, up above, maybe shining through the trees. Then all at once, everything fades to black.

****

Max follows the trail closely, the blood line of Megan's trail starts to fade very gradually. "Did the beast pick her up?"

"No, she's lost most of her blood. But it's also dragged her fast."

"How's that possible? She shouldn't bleed everything that fast, sorry Max."

"I don't know, we'll find out." He says ignoring Kiara's sympathy again.

They keep following it for a few minutes, Max stops and looks ahead at Megan in her Sylvie form, she lies there on her back.

"It's got to be a trap."

"Yes it is. I want you to focus on the surroundings. In case they fire an arrow or something." Max says,

He walks over to Megan's lifeless form. He hangs his head.

"Up behind!" Kiara shouts,

Max, with insane speed, turns, grabs the goblin looking man by the throat, turns and slams him into the ground. The thing yells out Max pulls a dagger and rams it into his head.

"Three behind you."

Max stands and turns as another swings down at him. Max reaches up and grabs the blade. Instantly, the part where the blade and hilt meet is incinerated and breaks. The goblin thing looks at his hilt and back up.

Max looks down at him, this and the first aren't that big, the two behind this pathetic thing are huge brutes though, taller than Max.

The small creature turns to run, Max lifts his leg and kicks it, sending it flying forward and finally rolling harshly across the ground.

The other two growl loud and rush him, Max ducks under one swipe of a huge stone cleaver. Max jumps horizontally and throws his leg into the other making him roll backward. The first brute grabs Max by the leg and holds him up.

Max kicks him in the hand, the brute whines and drops him. Max throws his body up and grabs a massive finger and pulls, throwing himself up to the brute's shoulders, Max has pulled his gun and unloads into the brute's head.

It lets out a very short grunt and falls to his face. Max jumps off just before it plops and lands on his feet. He looks at the fleeing brute with disgust and anger, he bends down, picks up the cleaver of the second small creature.

He draws his arm back as a black wave washes over the cleaver and disappears. Max throws, the cleaver sails and spins harshly till it lands in the brute's back.

It yells for a second, then explodes into black ashes. Kiara doesn't have an actual heart, but if she did, it would have stopped. She keeps quiet and watches as Max walks back to Megan.

He drops to his knees, guilt rises in him more than before. He sighs and runs his hands through his hair.

He punches the ground hard and growls at himself. Tears run down his hot cheeks and soak the mask material.

"Max, you have a visitor, this one's different."

Max gets up and looks back at the Atalipi man. He looks at the creatures and back at Max. "I can help her." He says,

"She's dead." Max says,

The Atalipi nods, "Yes. But I can bring her back...but may I be bold enough to ask a favor for it?"

Max narrows his eyes, his heart is pounding. What if it's a trick? "What favor?"

"You help us with these Frauts. They slaughter my people."

Max looks at Megan and back. "Agreed."

The Atalipi sighs shakily with relief, he hurries over to the Sylvie and kneels beside her.

"My power...it's a secret."

The Atalipi looks at Max and raises an eyebrow, Max simply gives an expressionless look. The man nods, "I understand."

"I'm also looking for someone. An Atalipi, by the name of Sagé."

"Ah, um. I believe I know him. Why are you looking for him?"

"Max, his heart rate is speeding up."

Max thinks carefully, "My friend was murdered. I have a feeling Sagé was a close friend of his. I can't say much more, I want to make sure he's okay. Maybe he can help me find out what happened."

The Atalipi pulls a herb out of his vine satchel looks at Max, "Indeed, I trusted him more than anyone."

Max studies him, waiting for him to continue. The Atalipi crushes and squeezes the herb in his hand over Megan's mouth, four yellow drops fall onto her lips and roll into her mouth.

"You might want to stand back." He says,

They both stand and take a few steps back, suddenly Megan gasps and jolts upright. She clutched her chest with both hands, she whines and looks up at them.

She falls back and flops to the ground. The Atalipi drops to her side again. As Max drops beside him, Sagé quickly pulls another, small herb and carefully, gently pushes it into her throat.

"This will heal her wounds faster than YOU'VE ever seen." He smiles,

They carefully roll her over and watch the deep wounds seal themselves. They lay her on her back, Max sighs with relief and hangs his head.

"Thank you. Thank you very much."

Sagé pats his back, "She will be okay, but she will be out for several hours. So, tell me a story while I take you back to my town."

"No, not there yet, I need your tech. I have a friend waiting for me."

"Then I will accompany you. We will all go together."

"Thank you Sagé, I'm in your debt."

Sagé smiles, "She means a great deal to you."

"Yes. She does."

Max picks her up and they start back to the lab.