Blood Battles (Prologue)

Prologue:1

Then sun had just set when the two men sat upon the park bench. Only a soft sunset was what remained before the night would come. A small boy was sat on the playground swing and few yards across from them pushing off from the ground lightly. His black curls swayed back and forth around his head. His small hands held tightly to the chains while he rocked his body back and forth to gain height, but only to a certain point. He never let his feet be off the ground more than a foot before he would stop pumping and let himself slow down again. A small white plush bunny sat against the bottom bar of the structure and Kit’s azure eyes would look at it once in a while to make sure it was still there and watching him.2

Kit looked back at the two men across the way. The younger teen was laughing at something the older of the two had said. Excitement; Kit felt his heart race while he rocked on the swing and for once it wasn’t because he was scared. He and his guardians were finally able to enjoy themselves without worrying for their lives. Kit looked at the older man and smiled. If anyone needed a break it was Avi.3

The older aristocratic vampire had wide blue eyes. His shoulder-length, wavy hair was the exact color of desert sand and constantly being worn in a tail behind his head. His outfits were artistic Kit noted and the man obsessively wore an expensive amulet around his neck. 4

Kit would never admit it to anyone, but he was infatuated with the man; a kind of feeling that felt nice. He made him feel safe and comforted. Avi spoke softly, yet every word carried. He had an air of peace about him and was inhumanly tall. His wide-chested build made him look stronger than he was. It was...‘sexy?’ Kit found himself using the word Jewels would use when he talked about women. Maybe that wasn’t the word he should use since Avi was a man. Another word came to his mind; fatherly, but Kit would never say such a word to the man’s face. He wasn’t his really his father after all and calling him such might make Avi mad. 5

Kit tried to shake these thoughts from his head, but an ache in his heart pulled at him every time he would look up at the man he wished to call father.6

As time went by, the light had completely gone from the play ground and the rays from the moon dimly lit up the park. A breeze blew through the area making trees rustle. The empty swings beside Kit moved in the direction the wind was blowing, their chains rattling silently. 7

He looked across the way to see Avi and Claws conversation had ceased and an eery silence enveloped them, except for the strong breeze. Kit continued to slowly rock on his swing, but not like before. His hands clutched tightly to the chains from a fear rising in his gut. The two older men sat perfectly still while watching their surroundings intently.8

Avi starred up at the full moon and in the far distance heard the howl of a monster. His gaze turned stern. He felt his other part taking over. His fingernails which were already digging into the wood of the bench turned into claws and dug farther into the wood. The once small fangs in his mouth grew and protruded from beneath his lips. His senses heightened and he looked over at Kit. The small boy was staring at the ground, his body trembling lightly from the cold breeze. The bushes behind him rustled from the wind...and something else.9

Kit heard a soft sound and looked down to find his bunny had fallen over. He jumped from the swing and set it back up against the bar so it was again watching him and then took his place back on the swing. A few seconds passed before Kit heard the noise again. His bunny had once again fallen over. Kit sighed in frustration and dropped to his knees in front of the toy. He set it up straight making sure the wind couldn’t blow it down again. He waited a minute to see if it would fall over again, but this time it didn’t. The wind picked up and became fiercer, but the toy still didn’t budge.10

Kit reached for the toy, but his hand froze mid-reach in realization. A small growl made his heart clench in terror and he looked up to see a large beast jumping at him from out of the bushes. He fell back against the gravel out of shock and his hands went up and covered his face instinctively to try and protect himself, but he knew it wouldn’t make a difference. The animals fang filled mouth was open wide and ready to snap down on Kit before an almost invisible force sent the werewolf flying to the side and away from the helpless boy.11

Kit’s eyes slowly opened and he found a panting Avi standing in front of him, knees bent and in an attack ready position. Kit ran, jumping under a nearby bench and away from the fight. He could hear Claws fighting with another one of the werewolves farther away. He pulled his legs to his chest and buried his face in his knees. He silently prayed for this to be over fast, and wished for Claws and Avi to be safe. Claws, he was sure could hold his own against the monsters, but Avi was older and even thought he was strong he worried for the man’s life. 12

A loud growl made Kit look up. A third werewolf was now reaching under the bench trying to get at him, his body too big to fit under, but trying none the less. 13

Kit backed up against the seat on the other side but found it being pushed back and making him fall, his elbows catching him in an upright position. The werewolf was pushing the bench back as well while trying to reach him. Kit looked between his legs at the monster. Drool fell from it’s mouth as the hunger in it built up. The smell of the boy’s flesh made him push harder and Kit hurried backwards, pushing with his hands and feet to get away. A clawed paw reached out and snagged on his pant leg tearing at the flesh beneath. Thinking this was the end for him, tears sprang to his eyes and threatened to spill over.14

Kit’s shrill scream carried over to Avi and the man was temporarily distracted from his own fight. The ten second pause was all the werewolf needed before he lunged at Avi and sent him sprawling on his back. He sat on his chest and reached down to bite at his neck but wasn’t quick enough. Avi’s foot retracted and kicked out at the stomach of the animal. He was up in a flash and took off towards Kit before his enemy could recover. When it had though, it chased him and tackled him to the ground before he could get more than half way there. He grunted with the impact when he hit the ground. He found himself pinned to the ground and yelled out when sharp teeth tore into his back, ripping flesh and tissue and making blood splatter.15

His eyes wandered to his right and he found Claws sitting on the back of a man. His face was down by his shoulder and his fangs were sunk into the vein pulsing in his neck, sucking viciously, making the Animorph weak with each withdrawal of blood. It was slowly reverting back to it’s human form, not able to keep it’s animal form in tact any longer.16

“Claws!” Avi yelled out at him while fighting to get the werewolf off of him. The red-haired teen looked up at him, blood dripping from his mouth. His claws dug sharply into the back of his victim so he would have no chance of escape.17

“Help Kit...” He yelled out. 18

Claws followed Avi’s pointing finger and his eyes bulged when he saw the boy cowering for his life, small whimpers escaping him as the werewolf struggled to pull him from underneath the bench. He jumped up from the mans back knowing he had no strength to stop him and charged at the other animal. He jumped on it’s back and sank his fangs into it’s shoulder blade. 19

The animal howled with pain and recoiled from Kit. His paws reached up behind him and threw the young vampire off. Claws landed on his feet and skidded across the ground before running at the creature again. The werewolf raised a paw to hit him away again, but Claws’ speed moved him before the werewolf could touch him. The werewolf was confused for a moment as it’s attacker seemed to disappear and before he could find him, Claws foot swung out under him and knocked him off his feet.20

Claws lifted the bench Kit was hidden under and threw it at the werewolf. It yelped in pain again and Claws scooped Kit up in his arms and ran towards the struggling Avi. He dropped Kit in front of the worn-out Avi and jumped at the third enemy he’d yet to have a go at. Avi looked up at kit. The boy was clutching his leg and on second glance Avi realized why. Blood seeped through the fabric of his pants. He was hurt.21

Avi lifted Kit into his own arms and stood his ground to the recovering werewolf. He’d flung the park bench off himself and was now stalking towards the two. 22

Claws backed away from the other werewolf when he reached out to hit him. He backed into Avi and the older man shoved Kit into his arms. 23

“Run, now.” He whispered. 24

“But-!” Claws tried to protest, but stopped when the man glared back at him.25

“Now!” He yelled. Claws wanted to stay and fight, but he knew Avi was thinking of Kit’s safety and obeyed.26

The two werewolves payed Claws no mind as he shot off into the forest. Both circled Avi, stalking closely and leaving him no exit. Avi watched both animals closely. He bared his fangs and hissed threateningly, but it didn’t phase them.27

The one behind him lunged first and he ducked.28