*Ayawamat*

The section making up the forbidden area of the forest was much denser than the forest where we spent much of the first half of the event in. Sowk had to cut us a path with blades of darkness in order for us to safely pass through.

Eyes were on us, some of their owners waiting with baited breath not too far from where we walked.

Orion tried not to glance at them. He knew as well as the rest of us that we couldn't show fear. If we did then they would pounce.

*Snap*

"Who did that?" Sowk whispered, glancing around.

"It wasn't me," Orion said, looking down at the ground. There were only decaying leaves underfoot.

"That sounded like it came from deeper in the forest," Sirius said, narrowing his blue eyes. He gasped.

"What is it?" Hota asked.

*Snap* *Snap* *snap*

"There's more," Tahoma said. He scrunched his nose. "It sounds like bones cracking."

Sirius stepped back and raised his arms. He was thrown toward a tree but he moved aside before he could hit it.

"So you can dodged," a voice echoed.

"That voice... It's the Hierachian guy, the one with the sound powers," Sowk said, looking around. She pressed her back against mine. "Everyone, stay close to one another. He'll may come at us from every angle."

I glanced overhead. As expected, the guy came flying down at Sowk at supersonic speeds though he slowed down to a sprinting pace.

Sirius clenched a pocket watch in his hands. His usually warm eyes had grown steely at the sight of the Hierachian. Blood drenched the sound mage. Was it of the creatures that were lurking, or of the other participants?

"Nice, Sirius!" Hota said as he raised clumps of earth to grab a hold of the guy.

He grunted and kicked the mounds of earth away but more were coming to replace them.

"Let me help!" I said, throwing webbing at the guy.

The Hierarchian scrunched his nose as if disgusted.

Sirius stepped forward. "That blood; who does it belong to?" he asked, glaring at the guy. "Answer!"

Sowk gasped. She had gone ahead to check on the edges of the path we were on.

"What did you..." Laying on the ground were creatures resembling of a mix between a lion and a white wolf. Several were unconscious or dead while others were struggling to stand up.

"Seems it was only the beasts," Tahoma said, sighing.

"Still, this is too cruel," Sowk said, walking over to one which was still trying to move. She squatted down next to it. Her hand ran through its think snow-white fur. "Poor thing." She stared at the other creatures next to it. They were bigger, resembling full grown adults.

I knelt down next to the harmed creature. "Here, let me heal it."

"Let... me... out! I, Benjamin Alcatris will not be defeated like this!" he yelled.

"Brother, get rid of that guy quick!" I shouted.

"Please do," Sirius said as sweat ran down his forehead.

"My pleasure," Hota said, grinning. He rose the now completely covered Ben into the air and shot him as far as my eyes could see. He probably would land somewhere in Mt. Rios.

"Wow," Orion said, whistling.

My eyes shifted back to the injured animal. The silk threads were dyed crimson. The poor thing's breathing was becoming harsher.

"It might be best to put it down," Hota said, walking over.

"No," Sowk said, her eyes still on the animal. She stared at the others that were still alive. They were in better condition than the one we were attending. "Help them. We'll continue to aid this one."

Sirius, Orion, and my relatives ran over to aid them.

"They're wild beasts," a voice called out. Standing on top of a tree was a stone-blue-haired guy wearing a straw hat. His flashy pink shirt with blue flowers waved in the wind like a flag. He looked more like he was dressed for the beach than battle.

"So what if they are wild beasts? They're still creatures," Sowk said, glaring at him.

He jumped down from the tree, landing beside her. "What if they had attacked you?" he asked, staring at her intently.

"We would've pushed them away," I answered.

"I asked her, not you," he said, rising to his full height. He turned his back to us. "Well, glad to see that you're all safe."

"Wait, do you know any healing magic?" Sowk asked.

A blue aura, glistening like water, flared in his hands. "Of course."

"Are you a member of team Rios?" my brother asked, arms crossed over his chest.

The guy smiled as he walked back over to the creature. "Yeah. The name is Ricardo. What's yours?" he asked as he ran his hands through the injured animal in front of us.

"I'm Sowk. The guy standing beside me is Ayawamat. While the one with the brownish-orange hair is Hota. The guy over there who looks like Aya is Tahoma. While the lanky, light-blonde guy over there is Orion and the one next to him with the glasses is Sirius."

"I see," Ricardo said, his eyes glistening as the animal's wounds began to close.

The creature let out a small bark.

The uninvited guy patted its head. "Good job holding on until I arrived."

"Wait, why are you cozing up to it? You didn't seem to care a moment ago?" I said.

His aquamarine eyes rose up to me. "Did my questions give the impression? I was merely trying to see why she thought this one here should be saved."

"Why did you want to know that?" Sowk asked, bewildered.

He laughed. "Well, everyone has a different view of life; what it means. Take the people of H.E.H., they tend to view life as something that should be perfected. They view life as a set of numbers and pre-destined outcomes based on one's genes."

"A rather close-minded view of life if you ask me," Sowk said, shaking her head.

"Perhaps, but it is a view," Ricardo said as he stood up once again. "It's important to look at various views, even those that are distasteful at first glance. See what seeds one might garner."

"What is there to obtain from their twisted world view?" Sirius asked, walking over.

"What indeed," Ricardo said, grinning. "I have a rough idea, but more investigation needs to be done. Plus, I want to see what others of that nation think."

"Aren't they all brainwashed?" I asked, leering at him.

"Are they? During the tournament portion, I witnessed something intriguing. Something that makes me doubt my preconceived notions about the Hierachians. But who knows, perhaps he's simply the exception to the rule."

"He? Do you mean the battle between Sarah's male knight and the hunky white-haired guy?" Sowk asked, tilting her head.

"Yes. The latter saved the former in the end, earning the anger of that guy you just sent flying," Ricardo said, glancing at the sky. His eyes widened, but I didn't see what had him so shaken up.

He extended his hand out. Sparks of blue radiated from it until a strange looking blue-sword resembling glass appeared in his hands.

"Get down!" the Riosian yelled.

Sowk covered the creature we had just saved with her body while my big brother formed a wall of earth around us.

*Boom*

I glanced up and saw a blue streak of light dashing across the sky. It was pursuing something invisible. Was it Benjamin? If so then he must've been using the Sonic Blade spell that Yen knew. I grinned. Having fought her several times, I knew a thing or two about how to deal with sound mages.

"Sowk, stay here. Orion, Sirius; help her take the injured animals out," I said, turning my back to them.

"Got it!" the Hoshi yelled.

"Take care, Aya," Sowk said. "I know you're strong, but don't try to play the hero. That role doesn't fit you."

I scoffed. "I know. Let's go Hota, Tahoma!"

"Alas Draconis!" Tahoma chanted. His teeth clenched together. A growl escaped through his mouth as navy-blue draconic wings sprung out of my cousin's back. He waved the broad, leathery appendages, unleashing a gust powerful enough to lift him into the air.

"Hey, Hota!" Sirius called out.

"Yes?" my brother asked, turning around. "Take care."

He smiled. "You too!"

*Boom*

We all turned our gazes up to the sky again. Tahoma flew back down as shockwaves shook the heavens as well as the forest below.

"They're really going at it," Hota said, watching as Ricardo moved again, striking the invisible target. Another boom followed not long after.

"Perhaps we should leave it to him," Tahoma said, turning around. "Let's go find the mirror pieces."

"Right," I said.

"Will he be alright?" Orion asked, keeping his eyes on the streak of blue in the sky.

"He seems strong enough," Sowk said, picking up the creature. "We better find some shelter for these creatures too."

Ori helped one of them stand up. "Good idea! Follow us, we'll take you to safety!"

The creatures stayed put. Some of them lowered their eyes while others turned around and ran in the opposite direction.

"Wait, it's dangerous there!" Sowk yelled. She watched with unease as some stray attacks from the guys fighting in the air flew down to the forest.

I sighed and sent webbing out. "Listen," I said. "This way." Pulling on the makeshift leashes, I walked eastward.

"Wait, someone is coming," Hota said, stepping in front of me.

Emerging from behind a tree was a cherry-pink-haired girl with steely-grey eyes.

"Aria!" Tahoma said.

She smiled and waved. "Hey, Tahoma! Haven't seen you since the events began. I came to see what the commotion was. It seems that Yanyu is in danger."

"Who is she facing?"

"It appears to be Aida. Our boss is heading there right now."

"She is? How do you know that?"

She snickered. "My group ran into hers. We were battling it out for a part of the mirror they found, until a large disturbance appeared in the north. It was Ashynna herself who said Aida was its source. It's likely that another mirror piece is there too."

"I see," Tahoma said, sighing.

She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's head north. Both my group and bosses' are heading there right now. I think so is Team Rios. Once the dust has settled, we can return to enjoying the rest of the event."

"True, it's no fun with those Hierachians around," Sowk said, staring at the young wolf-lion in her arms.

I nodded. "Let's take them down."

**Solar Note: Hope you enjoyed the chapter ^_^**