"Comatose" Song, the one that inspired this fan fiction (by Skillet) can be viewed here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hVAx2FP-fik

Aastik Davis stretched, lifting himself up from the thin cotton-silk blankets within his tent. He looked around himself and stretched again. He groaned and stood, pulling on his army boots. They were all in human form. For now.

Aastik was a young warrior, half Vampiric Werewolf (a werewolf that lives on blood) and half demon. He stood tall at six feet, five inches tall. He had long, silver hair, though not colored from age but genetics. He was muscular, with a slight tan to his skin. His eyes were light green, the color of the element he possessed. He had to power to manipulate the Earth's features. Such as dirt, rock, grass, trees, and so on.

He pulled the zipper of the tent down and stepped outside, grabbing his jacket off of a line, where they left to hang from the previous wash. He looked at the other tents, of his four  men, and his mate. He had a lingering feeling that he would regret bringing her along, but quickly shook it off. He pulled on his jacket and placed the Golden Scorpion badge, the MacNiall Crest, back in its place over his heart.

Aastik served - honorably - under the wing of Lord Bruce MacNiall, the most famous, wealthy warlord in the areas he knew. Yet, there were those who opposed him. Aastik, and his men, were currently traveling on foot into the Mau territory - the biggest threat to the MacNiall Empire - in the heat of wartime to gather as much information as they could. He reached into his jacket pocket for his black leather gloves, smirking at the tents as he kicked the main outside pole, sending one side crashing to the ground in a mangled mess of man and material.

His men groaned, thinking he would be polite with the only woman on the squad. But, Aastik knew better. He did the same to her, as well. "Come on," Aastik ordered. He was the Captain, and was fairly strict. His words were dripping with a Danish accent. "We have to move," he drawled next. "We can't spend too long in one place."

The squad grumbled in protest, but complied. They knew well the dangers they were expected to face. They grabbed their clothing, just as Aastik had, and began to pack up their tents. The squad had avoided a fire, to decrease the evidence that they were in the territory. Their tents, as well, were simple. Sticks propped up and a tarp-like material.

Aastik inhaled sharply, his mate joining his side. He noticed her worried look. "Fi," he said. Fi (pronounced -fee-) was all she was ever known by. "Is something the matter?" He asked, placing a hand on hers.

"Aastik," she said, almost a sob. "I feel like something bad will happen today." She fisted her free hand over her heart and squeezed, grabbing a handful of her uniform. "It doesn't feel right, Aastik," she told him.

He rubbed her arm, glancing back at his men. "Fi, the mission is almost over. After today, we're home free. Then, you and I can find our  own home, away from all this quarrel. A life to ourselves," he said with a smile.

This didn't compensate her. She shook her head, walking back to her 'tent' to retrieve her things. "I doubt we'll make it to the end of today, Aastik," she said gravely.

Aastik stood straight, furrowing his brow. He couldn't have this effecting his men, giving them negative morale. He walked to her, his stride quick. "Fi," he almost snarled. "Don't get everyone else in a hustle over your superstition!" He noticed he'd grabbed her arm, and was squeezing. He let go quickly as she glared at him.

"This is our mission, Aastik," she snapped. "I'm not going to quit. If you think it's better for 'your' men not to listen to the spirits, then I'll pretend nothing has happened. I'll pretend that I haven't seen the Crystal Rose. I'll act as if she never told me we were all going to die today!" She huffed, walking to her bag. She was second in command, next to Aastik. "Move it!" She yelled to the men and began to march off.

Aastik shook his head as one of the men passed him. "She's separating us," he said. "That's a horrible thing to do with these conditions."

Aastik sighed. "I know, Lieutenant. I know. But, try to keep the squad together, and keep her head cool. I'm going to scout ahead," Aastik mummered as he jumped away, speeding ahead of his group. His thoughts raced as fast as his feet carried him. "What the hell is her problem?" He thought to himself, dodging a fallen log. He could hear his men, and Fi, behind him. He sampled the air, baring his teeth as he stepped up the speed a little bit. He didn't notice the ridge in front of him, and jumped over the edge -- realizing what happened only when it was too late.

With a yell of shock, he hit the rocky, dirt-covered side of this ravine. Before he knew it, he was falling head-over-foot down the slope, already covered in dirt. It was a sumersault-like motion he was stuck in. He tore his dagger from its sheath, stabbing it into the side. But it was too dry, and the dirt only chipped away in large chunks. It didn't even slow him down, which was his original thought.

He saulted again, this time hitting hard on a rock jutting out from the ravine-side. It did something, because for the moment he was in the air he coughed a little blood, and felt his back pop. Luckily, not broken. He heard the swoosh of something flying by his side. Darting his green eyes to the top of the ravine, he saw his men sliding down the ravine with great care. "Good, they're not going to make the same mistake I di-." He couldn't complete his thought, for he hit the hard surface of the lake before he knew it. By how dry the ravine walls were, he was lead to assume it was just dirt.

He was momentarily shocked and frozen by the throbbing pain in his back. He didn't break the surface of the water - he was going to hurt for a long while now. He opened his eyes, seeing that he was sinking. Trying to avoid the gasp reflex, he began to thrash his hands for the surface. He was soon there, pushing his body about a foot above the water and gasping for air as he did so. He could still hear his team. Good.

Struggling to the non-cliff-sided waterbank, he pulled himself onto the large boulders, still coughing for air. Laying flat on the surface, the Squad was soon standing in a cirlce around him. With red, physically drained eyes, he turned his head softly and looked around at them all. Then smiled. "Hell of a ride that was." Cough. "Don't ya think?" Cough cough.

Fi shook her head. "Well, congrats, Falcon," she teased. "You've announced us."

Aastik lifted his head, looking around. Sure enough, they were in their mission area. "I'll be darn," he said. He couldn't help but smile, though why he didn't know. He looked at Fi, feeling the anger radiate from her body. Nope -- not over it yet. "Shift," he growled.

With their bones popping and snapping, they slowly changed to their wolf forms. Aastik, being the strongest, was the fastest to shift to his 'battle form.' He looked around, watching his Squad. Watching around them. When shifting, they were most vaunerable - their changing bone structures would be easy to break - like breaking butter.

He sniffed the air as the last changed, his lips curling into a snarl. "Something is on the wind," he ordered them. The soldiers glanced worriedly at one another. Aastik turned to them angrily, sensing the shiver of fear that crept into their spines. "We will fight for our lands, and if need be, we will die for our king!" He paced a circle around them as they huddled pathetically close to their comrades. "Fear!" Aastik snarled. "Fear has no place in this war - a war filled with brutal genocide and ruthless attempts of murder!" He paused, lowering his head, looking up at them. "Tonight we will all die."

The youngest soldier, Private Callahan, winced with a slight gasp. "Sir, with all do respect - how do you know we will die?"

Aastik stood, a sure image of battles faught and a rank well deserved, with a strong pose - his head slightly lowered, his fur bristled, and his eyes half-closed in the hatred of what was to come. "Because this is madness," he hissed.

Callahan reeled, looking towards the dark, gloomy forest behind them. Just in time, ten large, black shadows leapt from the ruins of a portion burnt of the forest.

They moved with incredible speed and agility - one leapt for the group, the others fanning out. Callahan ran towards the water, screaming as best a wolf could. These animals were so much larger than he was! He was also the main target. A large, brown Mau leapt for him.

"NO!" Aastik yelled as he began to sprint to the two. He felt weight crash into him, knocking the air out of him - and breaking some ribs. He yelped, smashing onto the ground - and his back - by three Maus. Being half Mau himself, they knew he was their biggest challenge - and the leader. They began to rip at his neck, chest, and legs - until he was immobilized.

Aastik, nearly unconscious, fell onto his side. He was covered with blood, and he barely got three bites into one of the animal. He looked around, his vision blurring, to see his team being mauled. Callahan was already dead - half in the water. Obviously his throat had been torn out. Three others were also dead, their bodies limp in the maws of Maus. All four of his men were dead. He looked for Fi - with no luck.

With an angered growl - from the pits of his heart - he staggered up. He swayed, and looked around at all of his bretheren he would have to ruthelessly murder himself. "Monsters," he said - his voice low and hoarse. "Damn you all!" He screamed and leapt. He caught a smaller one by his throat - and shook, snapping his neck. He now had their speed. He was soon on a second - then a third - a fourth, fifth, sixth - and soon there were only two left.

He stood before them - only to notice that the largest had the dying Fi in its