Playing Games

SCOTT POV

I was afraid.

Never in my life I thought that I'd admit that I feel very afraid. From the time that I heard Diana was mortally hurt, my mind became cloudy as my heart start to feel unpleasant feelings that I couldn't comprehend. I thought my imprint on her diminished little by little, and the pictures of her in my head begin to fade. The sullen emptiness eventually changed into intense anger, that being stuck on that damn rock made me feel so useless.

I was never afraid for my life.

I am more than afraid for the life of my Luna. It's always been her. And yes, I was a prey of my own fear for Diana's death. Nothing else. After seeing how Tamara grew stronger and deadlier from sucking out all of Claudia's power leaving that vampire futile, I thought no ordinary wolf can easily defeat her.

And in my current state of being where I am so powerless than I couldn't even lift myself up on my both feet, I hate to be honest that I would end up a vegetable like Claudia if I'd fight Tamara right there and then. I needed to make a plan and make sure I'd kill that nagua before she spread her malevolent deeds.

I took the slight chance to keep out of Tamara's sight as soon as Daniel freed me from that rock. Daniel had Ofir's powers kept in some marbles, so I supposed he'd be able to handle that nagua. Every step was impossible, but I did try the best that I can to stand and walk on my flimsy legs.

Constantly, I recalled Diana's head-turning smiles in my head, as it gave me strength. Each time I stumbled, I imagined her fingers in between the spaces of mine, giving me courage to stand up. Just when I was about to stand again, something tapped on the top of my head, that rolled over through the bushes in front of me. I searched for it and found a glowing marble stuck between the rocks. For a while, I hoped it wasn't Ofir's marble.

Sadly, it was.

Did something happened to Daniel?

When I touched it, the marble sank in my palm as if I absorbed it through my skin. Then, I instantly felt less weak. Surprisingly, my vision got better, and my mind got clearer. I felt lighter, that I could easily stand without grunting or holding onto the boulders. Though still powerless, I did feel a lot better. Clearly, the marble helped the bearer achieve his best of health.

And, so I did.

Shapeshifting to my wolf form, I immediately ran through the rocky mountains to achieve a successful escape. I leaped from one rock to another, like a frog making its way through the water lily pads. Then, I stopped and looked back as I think of Daniel. Not knowing what went through me, my paws lead me back up the rocky mountains where I left Daniel. I couldn't be a coward and leave him considering that it seemed something have happened to him.

Running at a certain speed, I sensed something following me, hiding in the dark shadows of the rocks. With the moonlight sending its ethereal glow, I could clearly see Tamara's bloody face staring at me. With the glow of her eyes, it looked like she just fed.

"You found a marble", she said. "I happen to be marble collector, just recently" she licked the blood off her face.

I shapeshifted into my human form as I stay distant from the eye-sore creature. "Come and get it", I glared at the nagua and couldn't get more annoyed at her proud smirk. In one swift move, we both leaped in the air and caught each other's attacks. Her claws and fangs were ready tear me apart. She gave me one good scatch on my chest, as I land a combination of a hard punch and a flying kick on her face and chest.

We had a few exchanges of hard blows, and overthrows. I could say, Tamara was pretty fast and strong. Gladly, Ofir's marbles protected me so well, that I get healed as fast as I get injured from Tamara's claws. However, as our fight go along, I noticed something that I find wary. She's fighting and blocking but not merely attacking with an intention to kill or hurt me.

I moved back for a temporary ceasefire. I breathe heavily as I studied her face and gestures trying to figure out what was she planning all along. She then smiled ear to ear and grabbed a handful from the pouch hanging around her waist. "I'm tired of playing games. And now, you're mine", she blew dusts towards my way that instantly petrified every cell in my body.

I can feel a tingling sensation whereas a part of me fights off that entrapment. Then, Tamara walked towards me with her hand across her chest. "Not so tough now, aren't we?", she laughed wickedly but then she stopped when she sensed someone coming from the rocks. I thought it was part of my imagination and that my head has been playing tricks on me. But then, I saw Diana appear from behind the rocks alive and real as she exhale sharply from the hard climb. In a few seconds, Roman and Ofir appeared on her far right side and then draw nearer my Luna who's gazing right back at me and my dangerous captor.