Chapter 58

All four participates all fired their bows as their arrows pierced through one of the magic based animals and into a couple more. They all quickly drew their arrows and fired as they were taking out many animals. Robin drew five arrows at the same time and fired, hitting five animals as they disappeared into nothing. Cadmael was sniping the animals that were heading towards him as his eyes were like eagle eyes. Hunter pulled out a large arrow, drew it far back and fired as it shot like ballista. His arrow hit multiple animals as the three students were doing well. But Iris was having trouble as the animals were close to her. A cougar threw itself at her as she rolled out of its way, until a bear hit her. It disappeared as one life point went down for her. More animal attacked her as she tried drawing again, but a cougar and a wolf hit her as she was down to two points. More animals attacked her as Iris grabbed some of her arrows and stabbed multiple animals with them. She then drew another arrow and fired an arrow as it pierced through multiple animals. But a falcon flew into her, knocking her down to one life point. The other students noticed she was in trouble as Iris remembered a moment as she only heard Kanika's voice.

"Remember that you are useless. And you will forever be useless." Said Kanika.

A bear ran up to her, until an arrow pierced through it as it snapped Iris out of her trance. It was Hunter who shot the arrow as Robin jumped over Iris and fired five arrows at the same time. She hit five animals, while Cadmael sniped the falcons in the air.

"Hey, you okay?" Robin asked.

"If I were you, I'd snap out of it and focus." Said Hunter.

"Hey, is she good?" Cadmael asked.

"Why did you help me?" Iris asked.

"We're hunters it's what we do." Said Hunter.

"Except for me. I'm a knight. But even I can't stand by and watch you fail this bad. You have one chance. Make it count." Said Robin as the parted way.

Meanwhile, in the arena. The gang watched surprised, while students and the audience started talking about Iris.

"The new guys for team Salem aren't that great." Said a girl.

"Why did they choose these guys to represent us?" Said a boy.

"Hey, that's Isaac's team. Don't bad talk them." Said another boy.

We then see Chase chuckling to himself as the rest of his team looked at him.

"I am so glad that I'm actually watching. Is that really what Isaac's team is capable of? What a disappointment." Said Chase.

"Says the guy who was pissed off the past few days." Said Oliver.

"What was that?" Chase asked.

"Hmm?" Oliver responded.

Meanwhile Team Thunderbird and San Teresa cheered their team members.

"Nice one, Hunter!" Said Logan.

"Hurry, birdbrain!" Said Xoc.

The Headmasters watched in surprised as Merlin looked fine, without any worry.

"Merlin, are you still sure about your decision?" Alastair asked.

"I am. But fingers crossed, right?" Said Merlin.

"I just don't see why you chose them." Said Alastair.

"I do." Said Jorge.

"Oh? Care to explain?" Alastair asked.

"From what I've seen…they have the will to push on. The boys from the Strength challenge hit their limit. But kept on going. The girl of this challenge, she was about to lose. But her natural instincts kicked in, while abiding by the rules of stopping the magic animals with the arrows. They're able to adapt, survive, and push their limits. They have lots of potential within them. More than they know." Said Jorge.

Iris's hand was shaking, but she closed it as it stopped shaking. She then regain focus and started to fire her arrows at a faster rate. She started hitting all of the animals in front of her as she dodged, drew, fired and hit her target dead on. Her points were rising and in the double digits, while the others were already in the triple digits.

"C'mon, Iris! You got this girl!" Said Violet.

"Go, Iris!" Said Scarlet.

"You got this." Said Garry.

Iris kept her focus as she dodged the animals as a bear jumped at her. But she aimed at it and fired, turning it into nothing. Iris saw many heading her way as she stood strong and drew the arrow far back than normal as it Hunter, Robin and Cadmael noticed her.

"She's really strong." Said Hunter.

Iris's magic went into the arrow as she fired and pierced through many of the animals and destroying them. Her points reached the triple digits, until falcon flew into her as her life points were at zero. The animals ignored her and they ran towards the other students as they kept on going. Iris lowered her bow as well as her head as she was disappointed in herself, while gripping her bow's handle. It would be later as the horns went off and the challenge was over. We see that Salem had 121 points, Thunderbird had 407, San Teresa had 449 and North Winchester had 518 points. The school rankings changed as North Winchester was in the lead with 14 points, San Teresa with 13, Salem with 12 and Thunderbird with 11 points. Students of Salem were disappointed as Iris kept her head down, while North Winchester were getting most of the cheers. It would be later as we see Iris walking gloomy behind the others as they walking together as a group.

"Scarlet, girl talk." Said Violet.

"Right. You guys go ahead." Said Scarlet.

"Can I come along?" Garry asked.

"No." Said Violet.

"That's mean! C'mon!" Said Garry.

"Don't worry. Trust us. We'll perk her up. Girl talk. No boys." Said Violet.

"Now, go." Said Scarlet.

"We'll be over here then." Said Marcus.

Violet and Scarlet walked let Iris catch up to them as they stood with her.

"Hey, Iris. It's okay." Said Scarlet.

"We lost because of me." Said Iris.

"True." Said Violet.

"Violet!" Scarlet yelled.

"But who cares! Well, the school does. But what I care about is you! Am I right, Scar?" Violet asked.

"Mm-hmm. She's right. We're here for you." Said Scarlet as she hugged her.

"You're just having a bad day, that's all." Said Violet.

"Then I'll invite you to your favorite frozen yogurt place. My treat. Don't tell the boys. It's only for us girls." Said Violet as she and Scarlet giggled.

"Thanks, guy. I love you." Said Iris as they hugged.

The guys were watching from a distance, near a tree as they looked relieved.

"She's smiling. I think she's cheered up." Said Marcus.

"Awesome!" Said Franklin.

"I wish I was a part of the hugging." Said Garry.

"Sorry, pal. But they did say girls only." Said Jasper.

"Hey, Team Salem." Said someone.

They turned and Hunter, lead of Thunderbird and Emma Wong, the blind girl. Cadmael and Xoc Canul, Estaban, the man bat and Francisca of San Teresa was with them. Even Patricia with Chubs her pet dragon, Faye, Oliver, Robin and Aidan of North Winchester were there as well.

"Can we talk?" Hunter asked.

Part 2- It would be moments later as Salem was sitting in a circle with some of the members of the other schools, while eating frozen yogurt. Scarlet was petting Chubs as she was having the time of her life as they were talking.

"You guys are losing badly." Said Hunter.

"Technically, we're in 3rd place. So it's not as bad as you think. Plus, you seeing someone?" Violet as she slid close to him.

"Stop being a perv! Sorry, she's like that." Said Marcus as he put her in a headlock.

"I don't blame her." Said Xoc as she stared at Hunter.

"Anyway, are you alright? You seemed really out of focus." Hunter asked Iris.

"I'm fine. Thank you." Said Iris.

"You had me worried back there. But it's good to hear doing well." Said Robin as the others agreed.

"I don't mean to sound rude or anything. But why do you guys care?" Garry asked.

"The death of Ana Van Helsing didn't just affect this school. It affected us too." Said Emma.

"When all of this started, we were just students competing against another school for the honor of the which school was the best. But we didn't care about the other team. Hell, we didn't even bother to talk to them." Said Oliver.

"As hunters, we need to get along. Even if we come from different lands, country, race or culture." Said Esteban.

"Us knights already have a bad reputation because of the past. We too wish to get along with hunters. We have honor as well as compassion." Said Faye.

"Aye! If we can prevent harm, why not stop it? Also, does anyone else see the giant hedgehog and rooster?" Aiden asked as Hans and Gunter were in the background.

"Ignore him." Said Marcus.

"It's kind of hard not to. What are you…strange, spiked man. And subspecies of cockerel" Said Patricia.

"How can you tell?" Faye asked as she looked.

"I know my dragons when I see one!" Said Patricia.

"Well, thanks. It's cool to know you guys care." Said Marcus.

"We're happy that you're all fine. Hey, big guy! You good too? You and your friends looked pretty sad in the last challenge." Said Aidan.

"Yeah, we're good." Said Garry.

"Yeah, bro. It's going to take a lot to take us down." Said Franklin.

"That's what I like to hear, brother!" Said Aidan.

"(Clears throat) Uh, Jasper, right? I don't know if you knew or not. But I'm the guy dating your sister." Said Cadmael.

"I know." Said Jasper.

"Cool. Uh, look. I don't mean to be nosy. But was your arguing about me and your sister dating?" Cadmael asked.

"No. It was about something else that is personal." Said Jasper.

"Oh, good! I mean, not good, uh…" Said Cadmael, nervously.

"Nice going, hermano." Said Xoc.

"Shut up! I just wanted you to know. And I was afraid that I offended you and your family." Said Cadmael.

"You didn't do anything wrong. A little advise. My sister can be a bit brattish and stubborn. So don't expect her to be perfect." Said Jasper.

"Oh, I know. She's not afraid to show it. But she is very beautiful." Said Cadmael.

"Is this going somewhere?" Jasper asked with an uncomfortable look.

"Sorry. But I like her because she had a dream. She's an excellent dancer. Our first date, we danced together for hours. She told me her dream of become a dancing teacher and entering competitions. Every dollar she gets. She wants to give it to her parents. She told me that she's only been good at dance and useless towards everything else." Said Cadmael.

"Yeah, she's right. But her heart is in the right place. Even if she can be a brat." Said Jasper with a faint smile.

"So you're a man bat?" Violet asked.

"Like in batman?" Garry asked

"Camazotz and yeah, if you want go with that." Said Esteban.

"Hey, blood am I, right?" Said Violet.

"Oh, yeah." Said Esteban.

"Oh! He's so chubby! I love this little guy!" Said Scarlet petting Chubs.

"He's my pride and joy. I raise this child all by myself." Said Patricia.

"You're making it sound like you gave birth to him." Said Faye.

"I might as well have! Chubs was born as the runt of his family. With his race, they're destined to die at a young age." Said Patricia.

"No!" Scarlet replied, emotion and with her hands on her mouth.

"Yes. But I begged my father to let me have him." Said Patricia.

"She pestered him until he said yes." Said Faye.

"I was dedicated damn it! His mother didn't want to let him go. So I ran away with him. Chubs was so little and weak. But I made sure I fed him and played with him. And now look at him! Look at my handsome boy! One day he'll mate with a female and they'll give me grandbabies! And I can die as a happy mama!" Patricia teared up.

"That's so beautiful!" Scarlet teared up.

"Is it?" Faye asked.

"But I want to say thanks for helping Iris. The three of you. You didn't have to do that." Said Marcus.

"No need to say anything. I would've done it again." Said Hunter.

"Personally, I don't see the point of the games. It's just schools trying to show off." Said Robin.

"But we should get going. We got training to do. We are trying to win." Said Cadmael.

"Yeah, that's true." Said Robin.

"It was nice talking to you all." Said Hunter.

"Take care." Said Emma as she bowed.

They all left and said goodbye as Patricia hand Scarlet a dragon egg as sign of good will.

"And dub thy, dragon mama. Take care of this egg. And raise it as your own." Said Patricia.

"I will! I will not let you down!" Said Scarlet.

"I know you won't. You have a dragon's heart. Metaphorically, not literally. But goodbye. C'mon, Chubs." Said Patricia.

"Why did you do that?" Faye asked.

"Because she understand! Unlike you." Said Patricia.

"Whatever." Said Faye.

"Is that real?" Garry asked as he poked it.

"Yes." Said Scarlet.

"Where are you going to keep it when it hatches?" Franklin asked.

"…I need to talk to Isaac." Said Scarlet.