Part 8.

Deep in the woods, it was fairly silent aside from the few scattered bird songs and cricket sounds dwelling from the thick amount of trees and shrubs, There was the crushes of twigs on the woods floor as Zayne and Kyle walked through a U-shaped tree. lightly chatting to each other.

"What's your favourite colour?" Zayne asked him, getting a scoff in reply.

"That all you got? no interesting questions in that noggin of yours?" Kyle teased him, they'd been playing twenty questions for about five minutes before Zayne had ran out of any juicy ones.

"Come on, You're killing me"

"No, I dont think that could happen...you're much too strong for me"

"Naaaaah you could take me if you had the right things" he says, pushing out a branch to make way for Kyle, who accepts his kind gesture.

"Really? Like what?"

He pauses and looks behind him with a teasing look.

"Why? planning on killing me?~"

Kyle takes a finger to his chin in though, smirking as he pinches Zaynes cheek.

"Hmmmm, now that is a great question~"

Zayne seemed enthralled by Kyle, like he couldn't break free of his gaze, locked tight and if he was being honest with himself, he loved the power Kyle had over him. And maybe Kyle was slowly beginning to realize that, coming up with a clever plan to test the exercise.

"But there is one thing I could probably beat you at?"

"What's that?"

Kyle flashes a mischievous smile, and Zayne notices the twinkle of courage in his eye too. raising his eyebrow in a warning gaze.

"Don't Kyle...I cant resist it if you run-"

"Guess you better try hard then!" Kyle didn't even let him finish before breaking from him in a full on sprint, he quickly faded in and out of the trees as Zayne fights back the urge to chase him, a primal feeling coursing through his veins. He takes a deep sigh of defeat, smiling as his eyes blaze brightly.

"Oh, now you've done it~"

In a flash he speeds after Kyle with intense speed, it reminded him of a hunt whenever im and his father were chasing down the many odd wildlife in the area, following the strong scent of Kyle as he keeps his pace ahead of Zayne.

"I'm going to catch you Kyle!"

"Still outrunning you aren't I?"

His teases send a burning sensation into his legs, no longer needing use from two legs as he bends forward, propelling himself at greater speeds on all fours, the mud beneath his hands crushed and scattered at his feet, he was gaining on Kyle after a lengthy chase. Kyle was beginning to get tired and started slowing down.

Giving Zayne the perfect window to strike, pouncing and tackling him like last time, landing in the exact same position as last time, with Zayne pinning him down and Kyle looking up at his eyes that burn down on him.

"Well...you caught me..."

Zayne didn't reply, he was breathing heavily and his teeth were slightly sharp and lengthy, for a second Kyle thought he had pushed him too far. But was stunned to the core when Zayne surges down and kisses him deeply.

Kyle had never kissed anyone before, and neither had Zayne with both practically being home-schooled, It was an odd feeling with his teeth as they were, but Zaynes hands laying gently on his wrist was enough to make Kyle melt into him. things were slightly heating up as Zayne had trailed his hand onto Kyle's neck, lowing his kiss to the jawline.

But Kyle had gotten so flustered he was overwhelmed, lightly pushing Zayne off him as they both look at each other like the other was a life raft, in a vast ocean of darkness around them...time had seemed to stop for them.

"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" Zayne blushed a deep red as his teeth shorten back to normal and his eyes were duller than before, worried he had hurt him in some way.

"No....no I just, wasn't expecting it..."

"Oh...Can I d-"

Kyle didn't even let him answer as he grabs the hem of his shirt, pulling him down into a sweeter kiss than before, lighter and more Kyle's speed.

Zayne preferred this to his instinctual urge before, it felt like he could truly understand him and the chase was soon a forgotten memory as they kiss each other like it was a drug.

But as they were so distracted by each other, a twig nearby cracked, alerting Zayne immediately as his head shoots up, his ears perking up as he gazes in the direction of the sound, and his face sunk and began to whiten as if he had seen a ghost. Kyle, though concerned, looked up where he was looking, and he soon understood the very panic written on his face.

Standing in-between two vacant trees in cover was an ancient looking woman with stark white hair drooping over her hunched figure, she was holding a cane in her hand and her face was contorted in an inexplicable rage.

"Well...did the Pollins boy not learn his lesson from the last time you entered the forest...you dont belong here, and neither does your little pet" her voice had a sinister edge to it, as if her intentions were to hurt them.

"Kyle, get up, now"

The sudden fear in Zaynes voice made Kyle's knees shake, he was scared, and not only that but he was actively choosing to flee instead of fight.

"Mags...please..."

"ARCANA MALEVOLO" her voice called out and she extends out her cane.

To the boys horror, a shadowy winding circled on the floor, opening up a black abyss where a creature was rising, another circle was forming, and then another. Kyle was so astounded by what he was seeing he didn't notice Zayne was quickly shifting into wolf form, alerting Kyle to get on his back, whining like crazy.

Kyle jumped onto Layton's back and without hesitation he bolts off into the forest away from the woman, who Zayne clearly recognized. Kyle was buckling under the woman doing literal magic before his eyes, he had no idea Zaynes world was anything like this, lowering himself to avoid any swiping branches launching at them.

Kyle looks back and widens his eyes at the shadowy creatures chasing them, they looked like Centaurs, though their skulls were exposed and were coated in a shadowy black mist that hissed loudly.

"Faster, they're gaining on us!"

Layton attempts to speed up but the monsters were gaining at inhuman speed, gaining neck and neck with him as they swipe for Kyle, trying to pull him off his back.

"NOOO!" Kyle screamed as the beast grabs his forearm, yanking him off Layton with ease and bolting in the other direction.

"ZAYNEEE!"

He tries to turn back but the monsters were attempting to capture him as well, forcing him to run home for help, Kyle was now beginning to panic terribly, he was kicking and screaming at the beast but each hit proved pointless and it continues unfazed.

"PLEASE, NO!"

The beast hissed as Kyle disappears into the depths of the forest, Layton was sprinting at full speed for help as time was very quickly running out. After about 5 minutes of being dragged by the creature, it runs in a smoggy area and into a hollow of sorts. The tunnel was going for a while and its walls were covered in vines and moss.

"Valar el torien~"

Without warning, the creature that was clutching Kyle threw him forward into the watery mud, he was covered in dirt and was shaking with an unspeakable fear.

He looked up and saw the woman from before, the woman Zayne called Mags.

"Ahhhhhhh, I see now...you aren't a pet, much more it seems" she said with a crooked smile.

"W-why am I here...I want to go home..." Kyle said, hugging his arms as the shadow centaurs behind him scooped their hooves into the dirt angrily.

Mags noticed his fear and waves her cane once more.

"Excilium~"

And with a small purple light at the end of her sharp cane, the centaurs dissipated and slowly faded away. Kyle looked up at her, he was still petrified, but he was slightly in awe of her.

"Come child, there is much we should discuss before they arrive~"

"Who's arriving?" Kyle asked as he stand, cautiously following her into a small dome like hut, it had a small door she fit into easily, while Kyle had to slightly duck into the doorway but was amazed to see it was vastly bigger on the inside. He couldn't contain his excitement at all the things he saw, there were nearby fairy creatures in mason jars hung from the ceilings.

A glowing paper airplane had been floating in the air stationary before noticing Kyle, quickly flying into a birdhouse as it nests away from sight.

"Is...is that paper airplane...sentient?"

"Yes, but forget about that stupid thing, sit"

She flicks her cane and a chair pulls out from the wall and bumps into Kyle from behind, sitting perfectly as the chair scoots over to a small table. Multiple floating tea cups were zooming for the table as cups of different teas were placed in front of him.

Kyle was rather confused as the kettle pours more than one colour out of its spout, But each cup had a different drink inside it.

"Ummmm..." Kyle was unsure about what to do as Mags soon hops onto the chair opposite him at the table.

"Now, shall we begin?"

*

Zayne soon bustled through the tree line, naked from turning but he didn't care, he needed his entire families help to save Kyle from the Witch in the woods, how could he forget so easily he thought to himself.

After reaching the house his mother appears from around the house with a basket of laundry that had been drying in the sun. she only catching a small glance at Zayne and shuts her eyes in anger.

"ZAYNE!"

"MUM! YOU NEED TO HELP ME, KYLE AND I WENT INTO THE FOREST AND-"

"You did WHAT?!" She cut him off, her face livid with rage.

Cara speeds inside, It only took a few minutes before she reappears, but she wasn't in human form as a large wolf bolts through the door, Her fur was a dark maroon with a shining red hue whenever the sunlight hit her fur, she lifts her head up in a growl and howls so loud it shook the house beside her.

Zayne didn't see the point in putting the pants on and hard re-shifted back into his wolf form. Alyssa who was hanging around with Shaun had heard the howl from outside, telling Shaun to stay in the house until they were back.

She leaves the room as her eyes were blazing brightly purple, rushing downstairs in the middle of her transformation.

And eventually she makes it outside to see Cara and Zayne.

"What's going on? that howl means danger right?" The wolves all spoke to each other in their minds, having that familial bond made it possible to hunt in a team.

"Zayne stupidly led Kyle into the woods, I think Mags is keeping him hostage as punishment for disrespecting her boundaries!" She growls deeply.

After the wolves had waited, Adrian arrives in his wolf form, he was the second largest there and had a grey mane that rushed down to a crazy puffed out tail.

"Everything alright?"

"We need to go in there and save him!"

"Calm down Zayne!"

In the flurry of conversation, Cara yelled as she walks ahead.

"Kyle is now apart of our pack, and we never leave the pack behind, so we are going to get him back...But rushing in is stupid"

"I have your back Alpha" Adrian says, proudly standing next to Cara.

"Same here mum" Alyssa said joining the two with Zayne right next to her.

"What's the plan?" he asked as they all sprint towards the direction of Magse's hut.

"We're going to juke that bitch, but first we need a distraction..."

*

As time slowly flew by, Kyle was still at the table and Mags was sat there silently watching him, It was incredibly uncomfortable.

"Why did you take me..."

"All in good time...drink" she says pointing to the many cups in front of him, he was still as confused as before.

"Which one?"

"Ill leave that choice to you, I'm interested to see what you pick~" she snickered to herself, Kyle looks back down at the six tea cups in front with all different liquids inside. two of them looked similar with a black viscous substance inside with speckled stars inside, floating freely. While the other was black with what looked like minuscule planets.

"woah..."

"That's an old favourite of mine~"

The two in the middle were blue and green with sticks and bugs resting in the green one, while the blue one had what looked like a tiny beach with a flurry of dolphins jumping out of th teacup happily, Kyle's face lightens in amazement.

"Are you sure any of these are drinkable?"

"That depends, do you feel the need to?" she asked, her finger resting on her own cup

"I'm not sure..."

The last two were stranger than the ones before them, the one before the last was empty, or what Kyle thought was empty as he tips the teacup to get a better look before silvery liquid pours onto the table out of nowhere, slowly hardening and turning invisible where it was stained.

She chuckles to herself.

"So alike...its so wonderful~"

"What did you say?"

She didn't answer as she cleans the mess with a click of her fingers, restoring the cup and its contents.

"Continue"

Kyle looked cautiously into the very last one, at first the room was calm, but the minute he looks into the cup a giant pillar of flames flies out of it, burning into the ceiling of the hut.

"HOLY- what the hell was that?!" Kyle shudders away from the last one, hearing a small sound of hissing and roars, looking back into the cup, his eyes widening.

"Is that-"

"A dragon? indeed it is" she said, looking rather proud of herself.

"W-where did you g-get that thing?" Kyle says with a frantic patting to his eyebrows which were slightly singed.

"Oh i have my ways, now that you know what's inside each cup, which one do you pick?"

"That question is...so hard to answer, what do you want me to do with the cup? do I drink it because I'm pretty sure im not supposed to drink dragons"

She cackles at his questions.

"Such a professional in the knowing's of our world...in such little time? Bah! if I have to hold your hand like I did your mother, you got another thing coming kid!" she says with a sly smirk.

Getting from the table and leaving Kyle with a million questions all at once, when he goes to stop her to ask about his mother, she had disappeared from thin air.

"Wait! what was that about my mother?! Come back please!" He begged the empty air, but she didn't come back.

"Hold my hand like she did mum? what the fuck is going on?!" he begins to panic, realizing the cups meant a whole lot more than she let on, if this included his mother, it was worth investing in.

He cradled each other the cups while examining them closely, looking for any intricate detail that may give him a hint, Mags however had other plans.

She had reappeared outside her hut and was walking along the tunnel walls, dragging her cane as she chants softly into the air.

"Vinea Vallum~"

The walls behind her sprouting with multiple vines that wrapped around each other tightly, forming walls behind her that grew its own defences of spikes on poisonous flowers.

She had made it to the smoggy area at the entrance to her home.

Waiting patiently.

Kyle however, was still racking his brain over the relevance his mother had to the teacups, what significance they had. A sweat breaking on his brow as he places the teacup in his hand down, agitated.

"Come on, this cant be that simple, what did she mean?"

Kyle paces around the small table.

"My whole life...I only ever heard the bad of her, why would she have been here, why?!"

Then the questions start turning into assumptions as quickly as they came. Tearing at the hair on his head.

"Was she a witch?...is that what Mags is? UGHHH WHY DON'T I KNOW ANYTHING!" he yelled, sitting back down and staring deeply at all six cups, his frustration wasn't coming from the fact he didn't know his mother, but more so the fact he grew up in a world where he knew all the rules, he knew all the consequences.

And here, he knew nothing, at Zaynes home he didn't really know much either, asides from the everyday stuff that families were used to. But even then, he didn't have a normal family to experience it all with, feeling like his entire life was so small, and everything he once knew even smaller.

He struggled at the thought of himself never moving away from this, the very thought that he let his little brother down by not being there for him, how his mother and father didn't want them, choosing to leave them with monsters instead. Feeling all the power in him drain, he lets out a small sob, burying his eyes in his fingers.

"How could she leave us there...how could she leave ME!" He cried out, and in his broken state, he barely realizes the branches on the wall were slowly moving from them, and cradling Kyle's small form.

He leapt from them in shock, reeling from the arm-like branches that curled in, as if saying it was sorry for frightening him.

"Oh god...I really need a nap" Kyle admits, sitting down on the floor, the branches drifting over to him, sticking out one in the gesture of a handshake.

"This is weird...but alright" he says, lightly grabbing the branch as he shakes it, the arms then clapped to together happily, getting Kyle on his feet and lightly pushing him back to the table.

Meanwhile, mags was still patiently waiting as the sound of multiple paws come stampeding from the brim of the woods, and in a flash, Zayne, Cara, Adrian and Alyssa were all converging on Magse's Home with a blinding rage, all growling and wanting their family back.

"Mags if you dont let the boy go, we will be forced to attack!" Cara snarled at the witch as Mags chuckles under her croaked breath.

"All I need is patience Cara, you should teach your pack to know their boundaries"

"Give him back, NOW!" Zayne Roared, the long teeth in his mouth bared and ready to tear her limb from limb, the entire pack slowly creeping on her from all directions.

And with a long and uncomfortable silence, Mags looks up while her fingers glowed with magical energy, her brows furrowing.

"Guess we'll just do it the hard way then~"