8

As Hef continued to crush the supernatural alliance, Kreer, his loyal companion and co-conspirator, was preparing to confront the warriors who had managed to survive the alliance's retreat. While Hef's overwhelming power kept their attention, Kreer was silently gathering his own forces and plotting his next move.

Kreer knew that the survivors of the alliance were a formidable and determined group, and he had no intention of underestimating them. He gathered a group of his most loyal and powerful supernatural beings, including vampires, werewolves, and other creatures, and led them into battle against the warriors who had dared to challenge the might of Hef and himself.

As the survivors of the alliance prepared to face off against Kreer and his forces, they knew that they were outnumbered and outmatched. But they also knew that they had to stand their ground and fight for the future of the supernatural world.

The battle that ensued was fierce and brutal, with Kreer and his forces using all manner of dark magic and supernatural abilities to try and overpower the warriors. The survivors fought with every ounce of strength and courage they possessed, their determination unwavering in the face of overwhelming odds.

Despite their valiant efforts, the survivors found themselves struggling to hold their own against Kreer's forces. The battle raged on, with neither side willing to yield, and the fate of the supernatural world hung in the balance.

The survivors knew that they were facing an uphill battle, but they refused to give in to despair. They fought on, drawing on their inner reserves of strength and resilience, determined to stand against the darkness that threatened to consume their world.

As the battle reached its climax, both sides fought with everything they had, each refusing to back down. The outcome of this confrontation would have far-reaching consequences for the supernatural world, and the survivors were prepared to make whatever sacrifices necessary to ensure that the forces of darkness did not prevail.

You walk back out onto the Haven streets and squint up at the sky, judging the time by the arc of the sun. Midday. Plenty of time yet.

Far to the east, you would guess as far as the military stronghold, a rumbling boom echoes, and you feel a slight tremor beneath your feet.

You shake your head. Humans being humans. What would they do with their time if they weren't testing munitions or hurting your people? Best not to dwell on it for now. What would you like to do with the remainder of your day?

Tiva proves difficult to track down. You're just about to give up in frustration when you happen upon Haken. The brute of a wolf grunts when you mention Tiva and points toward the docks. "She's over by the theater," he growls in a rumbling basso. "Wasting more time with that loser Lapu no doubt."

The water off Long Wharf is a calm steely gray, and a chill wind blows through your hair, red bristles flying. You wish you'd brought a coat.

Tiva and Lapu sit huddled at the edge of a dock, their unmoving backs to you as you approach. Not wishing to startle them, you purposefully scuff your foot along the ground, and Tiva cranes her neck back to glance at you.

"Hey, Decaarr," Tiva says. "How ya holding up? Is Dena doing okay?"

Lapu shifts his head from Tiva's shoulder, looking back at you for a moment with puffy red eyes before flinching away, returning his gaze to the water.

"How could she be okay?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "Our parents were there. I even saw Dena's before we ran. Yeah, they're home now, and they're acting like nothing happened, but you saw the experiments. All of us know what's going on."

Tiva shushes him calmly. "What did I say, Lapu? Constant dwelling isn't going to make anything better. I'm scared, too, but we can't let our fear control us."

So much has gone on in the last few days that you don't know where to start.