swords while Luna and Kiba aimed their bows. And a tall female burst out of the trees with three guards armed with clubs. "Hmm,a group." she said and her eyes flicked tword me. "You little rat! Get away from him!" she screeched at me,and pointed to the cowering man behind me.My eyes narrowed "I am not a rat!" I growled,I wasn't that tall, but I was taller then Edward. A guard sniggered stupidly,"Shut up Dim-wit!" another said banging the sniggering guards' head with a club. "Can't you see ma'lady is trying to deal with this peasant?" the other asked. While the woman was distracted by her guards,I charged at her with my sword ready. But, her guard quickly kicked me in the stomach before I hit her.

      I fell to the ground and coughed a little blood,"Well." I sputtered getting to my feet. "At least i know your guards aren't as weak and stupid as I thought they were." The lady snorted,I saw a quiver strapped around her chest and a bow slung over he shoulder. Ah I thought So she's not a sword type,but her friends aren't so weak. I glanced at them the smallest one had taken me out no sweat. but then a two crossbow bolts flew at him and hit him with pin-point accuracy. One in the chest were the heart was,and one in the head. He fell over blood leaking from the wounds. "Mcgreggor!" the one that hit him with the club cried. But it was no use,Mcgreggor was dead almost instantly when the crossbow bolt hit his chest. "You,you killed him." the Guard growled. He was staring at the body of Mcgreggor,cold and lifeless,staring at nothing. "You damn kids!" the guard yelled,and was about to charge at me. But the lady stepped in his way and whispered in his ear,he nodded,then whispered it into the other Guard's ear. He nodded too,then rushed at Kiba hitting him with his club,knocking him out. Then the skinner Guard caught Kiba before he fell to the ground. "Kiba!" Me and Edward yelled as they dragged him off into the woods.

                                                                                 CHAPTER FOUR

                                                                                     I Lose a Arm

        Edward shot his crossbow bolt after them,but I doubt it hit them. "Give Kiba back!" I yelled as I tried to run after them. But Edward held me back "We'll get him back." He reassured. "Let me go!" I yowled "Not until you stop." Edward said firmly. I stopped thrashing,and he let me go. I sank to the ground and bowed my head. "You!" I howled punching the ground "I let them take Kiba,what kind of brother does that?" I asked myself quietly. I felt everyone's eyes on me,but it wasn't pressure,it was sympathy. I started to cry,and I never cry. "Travis.."Toby started but trailed off,Edward rested a hand on my shoulder. "It's ok,we will get him back." Edward said again, I snorted,and wiped the tears from my eyes. "I would've gotten Kiba back by now if you didn't hold me back." I retorted quietly. Edward sighed "We couldn't risk losing you,If you died,who would be the leader?" He asked. I herd a whimpering noise,then looked to my right and saw Percy whimpering while Leo and Pan tried to cheer him up.

      I then remembered that the man was still behind me,I wiped away the tears and looked at him. He was trembling,and he had Blackish fur,and a Greyish underbelly,and I just noticed a wolf standing next to him. "Who are you?" I asked a little to harshly. The man just scowled at me "Shadow, Shadow Nightstalker." He said gruffly, I held out a hand "Nice too meet you Shadow Nightstalker.",Shadow just grunted and pushed my hand away. "Why are you leading a bunch of kids?" He asked rudely. "I don't know," I replied "why were you screaming like a girl and running from one?". Shadow stood up and glowered at me. He was a good two feet taller than me,which made it hard to look mean. "Are you going on a quest?" Shadow asked not looking away from me,I nodded "Yeah so?" I asked bluntly. "I'm coming with." He said quickly,"Why?" I asked."I bet I could lead this lot better than you could." Shadow challenged,I shrugged "You want to see?" I asked,I glanced at Edward nodded the tiniest nod,and he nodded back,quickly Edward took out a crossbow bolt from his quiver,and loaded it into the crossbow. He nudged Spark and pointed to his crossbow. Spark nodded and did the same,I looked back at Shadow and saw him unsheathing his sword. I did the same,"Go!" He said quickly and darted forward.

    Shadow tried to slash at arm,but I sidestepped. He growled and went for another attempt but i parried with him. Since he's bigger than me,he relies more on his strength then speed. I thought so I kicked his shin and his eyes widened in pain. "Ouch!" He howled,while his sword was lowered I kicked him in the stomach which sent him sprawling back. I put my sword to his throat,"Still think you can lead?" I asked cheerfully. "N-nope!" He mumbled,"What? I didn't hear that." I said putting my free hand up to my ear. "No!" he said louder. I let him up and his wolf scrambled over. "Are you ok master?" the wolf asked,"Yeah,I'm ok." He said,I turned around and I herd footsteps getting closer then the sound of a crossbow bow bolt getting fired and the footsteps stopped. I looked back and saw Shadow with a look of horror on his face,I looked over to a small dead tree and a crossbow bolt was stuck in it. I looked over at Edward and Spark,and Spark's crossbow bolt was gone. "Sorry," Spark said apologetically as Edward glared at him "it slipped." I shrugged "Well,It didn't hit him,so no harm done.". I turned to the kids who were standing there,"And who are you?" I asked lamely. The oldest stepped forward,he looked a lot like Spark. "I'm Will," Will said,then he gestured to his brother that looked liked him "This is Frolo," then he gestured to the smallest who looked exactly like Spark. "and this is Mason."

    "Mason,Frolo,and Will?" Spark choked, "Yes?" they chorused "I know you guys." .  Will looked at Spark "Big brother?" He asked quietly,Frolo popped out from behind Will "It is him!" Frolo said,and Mason launched himself at him "Hey big brother!" He said grinning. "Ok,Ok." I said quickly "If we're going to have kids in this quest,they are going to be your responsibility Spark.", "Ok Travis!" Spark said absently as he watched Mason ride Creek. I sighed hopelessly,"So," Toby said quickly "You wanted us to go to Animore right?". I turned to him and nodded "Yeah,just not right now." I said quietly and looked at the sky "It's almost dark,so we'll stay here.". "Fine." Toby pouted and turned around to walk in the woods,I saw Shadow walk over to Luna "Well hey there," Shadow said in a flirty way,"what's a good looking thing like you doing out he-" but he was cut off by Toby punching him in the face "No one flirts with Luna!" Toby growled menacingly. He was a about to punch Shadow again,but a rustling noise stopped him.

   Then out of no where a muscular knight walked out of the bushes,armed with a sword. I quickly unsheathed my sword. "What do you want?" I asked, The knight looked offended at my words. "I'm only out on night patrol peasant." He shot back,my eyes drifted to his sword it was a long one,and it was a strange looking substance. It looked as if it could come in handy when you want to cut somebody's limb off. "It looks bewitched." I herd Will whisper to Spark. My attention snapped back to the knight as he started talking. "Who might you be young peasant? How did you manage to get a well crafted sword?" the knight asked leaning on his sword. "My uncle." I replied curtly,"Oh you mean Moresby? That fat merchant?" the knight laughed. I ignored his rude remark and continued,"My name is Travis." I said curtly. "Amos's boy?" the knight asked,I nodded growling as I did so.

  "You are?" I asked curtly, "Greggory Ruth." he replied. "If you have your sword out you probably want to fight me." I said gripping my sword hilt even tighter. "Right young Travis." He said and stopped leaning on his sword,and held it tightly in his hand. "It felt better being called peasant instead of Travis." I muttered to myself. Then Greggory lunged at me,I quickly blocked it with