"Why are we in the middle of the woods at night," Rexie exclaimed, pushing a low hanging branch out of the way. Yuriko said nothing, continuing to push forward. Something told her Mia and Zack were this way.
"We told you Rexie," Ayami exclaimed. "Future girl sensed something. Maybe the kids are here. You saw mini mart. They were obviously gathering supplies."
Rexie simply grumbled a response as the group continued forward. It had been monthes now and the group had been chasing leads down to no avail. This latest lead had seen a mini mart ransacked for food, the frightened employee raving about a werewolf and a girl stealing food.
"Babe how you doing?"
Felicia turned, giving Adam a soft smile as he looked at her. "I'm doing okay," she sighed. "Thanks for coming with me again. Sorry about date night."
"No worries," Adam grinned. "Besides the others are kinda helping. Their scrawling to see if they can locate the kids. Besides, if I didnt come Aaron wouldnt have given me this." Felicia paused as Adam now drew a rather large handgun from his waistband. "He gave you a gun!"
"An enchanted one," Adam grinned. "You know in case we run into trouble." Felicia could only sigh. She would have to yell at Aaron later for giving her boyfriend an enchanted firearm.
"Diane can you see anything," Naomi asked. Diane turned, pushing her long black hair behind her ear. "Nothing," she sighed. "You wouldnt happen to have a light spell in that wand of yours would you?"
As Diane was about to answer they could see Yuriko come to a sudden stop. "Quiet," she hissed. "I sense something."
The group paused, their eyes straining into the darkness as they tried to find what Yuriko was sensing. "Wish Aaron and Haley were here," Diane whispered, immediately being shushed by the group.
"Foolish children did you not think we would be looking too?"
The group shuddered at the disembodied whisper. The voice was chilling, unearthly. "What is that," Yuriko hissed. Turning towards Rexie and Ayami she could see the looks of apprehension on the imp and succubus face. "A lich," Ayami gasped. "What is it doing out here?"
"Laying a trap," the lich chuckled. "And please, call me Deimos. I prefer my victims screaming my name when they meet their demise. Enjoy oblivion."
Deimos disembodied laughter faded into the dark as a new noise now pierced the darkened woods. The group could hear footsteps, uneven, heavy, and more than they were ready to deal with. As they gazed out into the darkness they noticed several shapes emerge from the woods.
"Voids," Diane called.
"And worse," Ayami growled. "Revenants."
Yuriko and the others now beheld at least half a dozen Voids marching towards them. Behind them though was at least 20 creature's the teens had never seen. Grayish, rotting flesh, with eyes that burned with an intense red light. Yuriko and the others could see human and lycan monstrosities shambling at them. Arms outstretched as their moves hung open in a death wail.
Adam was the first to act, drawing his pistol from his side as he fired off a series of shots. Much to his surprise his shots rang true, striking a Void in the chest, leaving fatal wounds.
"Let's get some," he roared. "Dont get cocky," Ayami snarled. The Voids now paused, allowing the Revenants to shamble forward.
"They have zombies now," Diane screeched, erecting an invisible wall to keep the creatures at bay.
"No Revenants," Rexie hissed as she scanned the creatures. "Zombies have no master. These things are like puppets, controlled by the lich and just as strong as the Voids."
Felicia and Naomi now fired off spells at the approaching Revenants as Yuriko used her powers to telekineticallybrip the creatures in half. With each creature they destroyed though more came, with the Voids lingering back.
"We need to fall back," Diane called. "Theres too many of these things!"
As the group looked for an escape route they were shocked to see a series of shadowy tails dart out from the darkness, entombing the creatures before their bodies disappeared. Puzzled they wondered who their savior was, only to see a five tail kitsune drop from the trees.
Akira scowled at the Voids, assuming a defensive stance as the Voids roared in anger. "You enjoy attacking children," he growled. "Why not attack a true warrior."
A smirk cracked across the kitsunes muzzle as the Voids charged. He knew they were mostly mindless beasts, acting on rage, hatred and instinct. The beasts now attempted to strike, the kitsune useing his speed and skill to avoid their strikes before countering. These things were no challenge to him. He knew their tricks, he didnt even need his magic to dispose of them.
The group watched in awe as Akira took on the attacking Voids singlehandedly, snapping arms, necks, useing his blade to behead the creatures. The kitsunes battle skill was impressive enough that in only moment the Voids lay dead before his feet.
"What are you doing her fox boy," Ayami growled as she approached the five tail kitsune.
"Saving your lives," Akira replied acidly. "Not that a demons life is worth saving."
"Akira," Yuriko said, trying to calm Ayami down. "We appreciate the assist but why are you here?"
The kitsune paused, sighing heavily as he gazed at the woods. "I owe you and those children a life debt," he said. "I will not be the fuel of a child's nightmare. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you need my help."
"And what if we dont want your help Akira," Rexie scowled, the imp floating off the ground so she could stare directly into his eyes.
"I wasnt asking permission," he growled. "From now on I will search for the children. You will need me."
The teens looked at one another, an awkward silence descending upon them as they gazed into the woods. As Leary of Akira as they were, they were going to need all the help they could get.