Echopeks

The girls heaved a sigh of relief, and nodded, they all rushed to their rooms and Meagan hurriedly picked out some clothes too. 

In minutes they were on their way to the orphanage in deep silence, to someone else they will seem like a regular family on a road trip, Meagan shook her head, she didn't know how she felt about the girls having powers or abilities yet. 

As soon as they arrived, the girls ran inside and Meagan was hot on their heels, but she noticed that they stopped abruptly, rushing to catch up, Meagan saw that the place looked abandoned. 

They walked in slowly, suddenly very alert and prepared to defend themselves. 

"Where did everyone go? Why does this place look abandoned?" Meagan couldn't stop the string of questions as she looked around. 

The pair walked into what used to be the learning hall for the children, but now it was just dark, quiet and had cobwebs everywhere. The only sounds was the sound of their boots on the ground. 

"Shh…" Maren suddenly placed her hands on her lips, her stance rigid, as she indicated with her hands for everyone to stop moving, fear was suddenly evident on their faces as they obeyed Maren. 

Maren turned suddenly, then screamed. " Get down! Now!" then Maren proceeded to dive to the ground as suddenly sharp spikes flew past just where they were standing minutes ago. 

********

Meagan turned a terrific gaze at the origin of the attack and what she saw made her scream, her eyes widened. The creature a porcupine? A man porcupine? What the hell! 

Screaming, Maren answered the question. "It's an Echopek, I think…" Maren eyed the creature thoughtfully.

Scoffing in disbelief, Meagan retorted. "Echo what? You made that up didn't you? And why are the eyes that yellow? Did everyone go crazy or just me!" Meagan breath came out in pants.

Maren sprang up and crossed her hands, her eyes blazing and the swords appeared again, with the double sword, she warded off the new set of spikes that the porcupine man blasted at them.

"Portal… and the Kathartides…? How… I guess it's just more food" the creature screeched out with tones that sent chills through the ladies bodies. 

Maren lunged at him, with a fierce glint in her eyes, and in a powerful stroke, clanking sounds filled the air as she used her sword to strike out the spikes it sent. 

With a big leap, she got him good by slashing his head in two as it dissapeared, just like ashes in the wind. 

Just then, a loud shrill pierced the air, and the harsh breaths of more Echopek filled the surroundings. Meagan and the triplets exchanged desperate glances, realizing they were sitting ducks, surrounded.

An Echopek snarled, and the pack charged. Meagan's eyes turned cold, her gaze steely. She swiftly drew her gun and unpinned a grenade from her pocket, hurling it as far as she could. The explosion provided a brief respite.

Seizing the moment, Meagan aimed with precision, shooting the creatures between the eyes without missing a shot. The triplets watched in awe, their faces etched with shock and admiration.

Maren lunged forward, tackling the Echopek with ferocity. Mahalia's eyes glowed as she channeled her melodies into a frenzied attack, the light bringing them down. Matilda, however, remained behind, her gaze darting anxiously to her hands.

Matilda was scared as she hadn't learnt to control her powers and the last time she had attempted to use it ended in a disaster. So she held herself back. 

Meagan realized that the porcupine thingy, were so much that they were just coming, and she was running out of ammo, she noticed that Mahalia's light now burned the creatures away. Her eyes were still shining in a bright light. 

Frantically, she called Maren. "These porcupine thingy creatures aren't relenting, what do we do?"

With a strained voice, Maren replied. "Echopek… and they should be reduced sometime soon, I think…

Just great, Meagan thought as she rolled her eyes. 

Maren was so engrossed in the fight she didn't even spare them a glance, Meagan saw three of the creatures run towards Mahalia, and the girl was still focused on another set, so they flanked her.

With sure stance and precision Meagan shot at them and killed all three. Then with narrowed eyes, she tried to shoot the one stalking towards her, this one seemed more mature. 

Taking in a deep breath, Meagan squeezed, pulling the trigger and nothing came out, horrified she quickly pulled the casing frantically and confirmed her fear, she was out of bullets.

The creature seemed to know she was desperate, as it had a more malicious gaze, and eyed her, then Meagan smiled at it.

"You think you have got me don't you Echo… whatever your blasted name is" With a smirk, Meagan pulled out her combat knives, rolling it with a combination of professionalism and thrill. 

As the Echopek screeched and charged at her, Meagan charged at it too, years of combat kicking in, with a very neat spin, she dug the knife in the Echopek's chest but to her horror it didn't do much damage, the Echopek seemed to mock her before picking her up bellowing at her face, then throwing her with such force that Meagan was sure that she would burst in pieces. 

With a loud thud, Meagan hit the ground, trying to stand up immediately. But the same Echopek continued to charge at her, mortified, Meagan stood up slowly, but then Mahalia focused her light on it, as she winked at Meagan, her lips spread into a smug grin. 

Show off! Meagan thought quietly. 

As the creature screeched in agony, Meagan swiftly drew her knives, their blades glinting. With a swift, deadly arc, she severed the beast's head from its neck. 

Mahalia's eyes sparkled with admiration as she nodded at Meagan. "Nice work." Her voice was low and smooth.

Meagan's eyes widened in alarm. "Mahalia, watch out!" she screamed, but it was too late.

A hail of razor-sharp spikes hurtled toward Mahalia, Meagan's heart racing, she lunged forward, but her movements felt slow, as if time itself had betrayed her.

Mahalia, oblivious to the danger, continued to smile at Meagan, her expression frozen in admiration. The spikes closed in, their deadly tips mere feets from her unsuspecting back.

Meagan's world narrowed to a single, desperate thought: Save Mahalia.