Amani

City streets fell to the side in a blur as they tore through stifling masses of people. Hands clasped together - one holding on for dear life and the other to save a life. Strands of brown hair whipped across her cheeks and covered her eyes from seeing but her heart kept pounding and her feet kept moving. Something was wrong but she was too young to know she should be afraid. He promised her she wouldn't ever be in danger and she believed him. Stumbling a tiny body fell unable to keep up anymore. Without hesitation he lifted her to his hip and as tiny arms wrapped around his neck he barreled through a crowd of colors and smells - searching, for somewhere, anywhere, to hide this little being.1

She added an extra couple of pounds, but it didn't slow him down. They were coming, coming to kill the last leader of his kind before she rose up to take command. And he couldn’t have that, because her death would mean everyone else's as well. He searched the faces of the people who were frantically scrambling out of his path. He pushed aside a man that scowled at him and didn't get out of his way fast enough, turning sharply to duck into an alley. He was attracting way too much attention to stay out in the open any longer. He didn't stop until he was sure that they were out of anyone's immediate eyesight. 2

Panting, he set the little girl on the ground, and stumbled to his knees, trying to catch his breath. He was bred into a clan of fast runners, but never had he attained such speed. When his breathing became more or less steady, he spared the tiny being a look. She couldn't possibly have been more than three. He tried to understand how Connor, his brother, could have hidden her for so long, without them finding her. She stared back at him with dark, questioning eyes. She didn't talk very much, which could be to their advantage. He closed his eyes and listened, listened for them.3

'They' were the pure bloods. Many generations ago, there had been an illegal union between the son of Nathan- the leader of the vampire clan- and the daughter of Fath, the leader of the werewolf clan. The result had been Seth, a strong, almost invincible hybrid who could walk the streets by both day and night, and was a ruthless killing machine. 4

Seth was the only half vampire, half werewolf hybrid. All of his descendants were more or less of either one. Seth's eventual death, by both Fath and Nathan, left a small clan of hybrids without a leader. This young being, Seth's last daughter that accompanied Malik was their only hope. Malik stroked the hair of the girl. Her name was Amani, because it had been her parents' wish that she survived to lead the nomads. 5

Malik's ears caught a slight sound, like a muffled footstep. Not wanting to take any chances, he lifted Amani and bolted. There was no safe place for her, only where the clan resided. It was there that Malik headed. 6

The clan's hideout was simply a small cave at the bottom of a hill. It was cleverly hidden from view, and Malik entered with caution. He went straight to the back of the cave and placed a pallid hand on the cold, hard wall. He felt around until his hand grasped at nothing- the entrance of a cramped tunnel that would lead them to safety. The tunnel snaked through the mountain, occasionally branching off into several others that were meant to confuse any intruding pure blood. It then opened out into a chamber, which led to the clan's main room.7

Victoria, a beautiful hybrid with three quarter vampire, was there to greet them. She swept Amani up in her arms and looked at her with some sort of reverence before arranging a meal for her. His job completed, Malik collapsed on the couch that was placed against the wall.8

"So this is our new leader," Victoria said, brushing back the girl's long, brown hair.9

"Yes."10

"And Connor?"11

"He died, trying to protect her,"12

An uneasy hush fell over the room, which only contained the three of them. Everyone else was probably in their own quarters or out hunting. If the pure bloods were following them and found them here, they would be in a hell of alot of trouble.13

Amani wolfed down her food, went over to Malik, and settled on his lap. He looked down at her as she sighed contentedly and fell asleep.14

Night had already fallen when the rest of the clan returned to the hideout. The leader of the hunt, Falcon, eyed the girl suspiciously. 15

"This is our mighty leader?" he asked, facing Malik. They shared an intense dislike for each other, and the arrival of Amani did nothing but cause a reason for an argument.16

"So it is," Malik replied coolly, eyeing the raven haired hybrid with hate.17

"She's just a toddler! I won't be ordered around by some kid!" Falcon protested, his red eyes dancing like hot coals. Amani was awakened by his yelling. She sat up and clutched at Malik's waist, pouting. She wanted to go back to sleep.18

"Are you jealous, Falcon? This is what Seth wanted. She is, after all, your sister,"19

Malik had struck a nerve. Falcon had always thought that he was going to lead the clan. He was Seth's first born and favorite, until Amani had been born. If it wasn't for her, Falcon would have already had complete authority. Falcon raised his hand as if to strike the little girl, and then he stopped and stalked away. The rest of the clan looked at each other, wide eyed. It seemed as though Amani had to be protected from the pure bloods, and her own brother. Amani herself did not let go of Malik.20

Later that night, after dinner, Amani slept on a small cot next to Malik’s bed. Malik was awake, standing by the window and looking out. The sun would rise soon. If the purebloods were coming, he would see them. It was very unlikely that they would, though. They could afford to take their time. Amani had a little while before she could take the lead.21

Unfortunately, Falcon couldn’t see it that way. He had to get rid of Amani, no matter what his dead father wanted. It was his birthright to follow in his footsteps, not hers. He was strong and fast enough. He was perfectly capable. Hadn’t he been acting as their leader for the past three years? He wasn’t about to give up the position to his little sister. Falcon waited until the next evening, when the clan left to hunt, and Malik, Amani, and a hybrid called Clarisse were in the hideout. Now was his time to strike, and he descended upon the main room in which they would be, his form quickly changing. He burst into the room, catching them all by surprise. His bulky frame bulged and folded, and a dark colored wolf lay in a crouched position, muscles coiled and ready to spring. Quickly, Malik jumped protectively in front of Amani, and Clarisse transformed into a wolf. She lunged at him, a few strands of fur from her silver coat floating into space, and slammed into Falcon. In a second he had her pinned to the ground and was snapping at her neck. Malik was at a disadvantage. He was more vampire than anything else, and his wolf form would not be complete. There was not much he could do against a strong hybrid such as Falcon. Still, he transformed, if only for Amani’s sake. He was a grotesque looking creature. He still walked on two legs. He was a vampire with an elongated snout and misshapen, furry ears. A tail grew from the end of his spine, and it was plush and fluffy. He had a light coating of fur, but all of his muscle and skin still showed. Saliva dripped from his open mouth. He has less strength, but more speed that Clarisse and Falcon. As Falcon was about to make a fatal bite to her jugular, Malik tackled him and succeeded in throwing Falcon to the ground. The hybrid recovered quickly to his feet. Both Clarisse and Malik tackled him, and they both had to fight to pin him down. Clarisse bit down into his shoulder. Enraged, Falcon through them both off and sent Clarisse flying into a wall. Limping slightly, he rushed towards Amani. 22

Amani’s eyes glowered. They turned a pure black, and she began changing. She became a lithe young wolf pup, and darted away. She was fast, almost as fast as Falcon, and he bounded after her, favouring his wound slightly. Malik took the opportunity to lunge at him and catch his teeth on the scruff of Falcon’s neck. With his long limbs, he held onto the wolf and sunk his long, sharp fangs into his neck. Falcon writhed and screamed. He could feel the life draining out of him as Malik drank deeply. Once he almost succeeded in throwing him off, but Clarisse had recovered and come to Malik’s aid. They finished off the weakened Falcon, and dragged his body out of the hideout.23

In the corner, Amani watched, her deep black eyes showing no emotion. She understood everything that was going on. These hybrids were her own kind, and were here to help. Falcon, who was now dead, had only played the first game of her death. There were stronger creatures, which far outnumbered her clan. If they got smarter and decided to join forces, she would probably be killed as easily as her father had killed any of them. Time would tell. For now, she climbed on the couch, curled into fetal position, and went to sleep.24