As I get to the barracks, a few soldiers are already switching positions from the night watch. I head inside the barracks. Half of the soldiers are sleeping, and the other half is playing dice. The barracks looks somewhat small. There is a fireplace in the middle of the room. On one half are small cots and the other tables. At the other end of the room is a man setting at a desk. I head other to him figuring that he is in charge. He is the only one that seems to be doing any work.

“Hello. I would like to report a shapeshifter.” I say with sounding brave. All the soldiers that are awake stop playing dice and look at me. The man in charge looks up from his paperwork. He is about in his late thirties, has a black beard that thinly covers his face. His eyes are a dark brown matching his hair. The soldiers hear are wearing common guard uniforms. Covering the main body, but otherwise not offering any real protection.

“Oh really? Well I am all ears.” He says this in a mocking tone just like Nicolas always did. I frown and glare at him.

“Yes. I would. Her name is The White Wolf of the Northern Mountains or Lupa. She is about a foot taller than me and has light purple eyes.” His eyes go wide with the more details I tell about Lupa. He stands up quickly. “Where is she?” I smirk at this and shrug.

“Where is my reward?” He pauses at that and smirks.

“Right here.” He takes out a coin purse from his desk and drops it on the desk. “Now, where is she?”

I smile slightly at the sight of my freedom. “Back at the bar.” I reach for the bag. However, he grabs the bag and drops it back into the desk. I feel a person grab me from behind me and push me onto the desk. They have my arms pinned behind my back. I frown and struggle like a wild beast.

“You know what. We just got a report of a slave girl traveling with The White Wolf just a day ago. Thank you so much Zona for making this easy for us.” I freeze up and instantly start shaking. How could I be such an idiot. This is the closest town for miles. Of course, those soldiers would come here. “You guys can have fun with her until I get back with the shapeshifter.” The soldier behind me starts laughing as I get sick to my stomach. The commander gets up and leaves with everyone except two soldiers. Before I know it, I am being dragged into a back room by two soldiers. As one of them goes to close the door, I use all my strength to break away from the soldier who is holding me down. I elbow him in the face as hard as I can causing him to loosen his grip on me. I break free and hop across the table. I quickly look around. There is nothing around me that I can use to defend myself. This looks like a room for meetings. I left everything back with Lupa and Bruce. I am literally screwed in this situation. Both soldiers look at each other as both come around the table. I gulp and prepare myself for the worst.

As one goes to attack me there is a ringing throughout the town, both soldiers pause giving me an opportunity to attack. I kick one in the groin and the other in the ankle. There is a sickening crack from the ankle as both drop to the ground. I ran to get outside before one of them can get me. I push open the door and the sky is completely black with storm clouds. My eyes go wide seeing a few monsters walking down the street.

Why did it have to be monsters? In the Green Belt, we usually don’t deal with monsters. Usually what happens is that they travel down from the Northern Mountains or a mage decides to go crazy. I run past one quickly and it resembles a human. Great. We are dealing with a crazy mage that brought some dead back to life. See monsters just get classified as everything that is not human. Shapeshifters, werewolves, vampires, zombies, everything is classified as monsters. It is what the Church of the Brothers and the army decided long ago. I keep running, dodging, and escaping from the undead. The soldiers are defeating the undead pretty easily, but they are clearly outnumbered. A few bodies litter the street where some undead are feasting on them I hold my stomach together and go to find Bruce.

I turn onto the street that the bar is on. I don’t see Bruce or Lupa from where I am at currently. No. no. no. I run as fast as to get to the bar. I get there, and they are nowhere to be found. I curse all of creation. I look down the street and see few undead slowly coming this way. I turn to run the opposite way and bump into the commander of the soldiers. He glares and raises his sword at me. “You caused this!” I attempt to doge his attack, but he barely catches me in the arm. I grab a hold of the wound and apply pressure to it. I back up into an alley as he closes in on me. “Die you witch!” He goes to stab me through. With nowhere to run I close my eyes waiting for it to be over. I feel something poke my stomach and I almost scream. I hear the commander choking and I open my eyes.

The sword’s tip barely hits my stomach as Lupa tears the commander’s throat out with her hand. Her hair is crimson, and she looks extremely pissed off. The commander drops to his knee and falls over dead. She looks at me then turns around from me. Almost in a protecting fashion. “You are an idiot. Thinking you could sell her out.”

I pause at that. “… How did you… wait.. what do you mean sell he..” She cuts me off.

“I am not one to be fooled with. I know everything. See everything. The only thing keeping me from ripping you apart is that you are important.”

“Important? I am not important.” I say instantly. Before I know it, I am grabbed by the throat and pushed against the wall. Lupa’s eyes are even a darker purple now.

“You. You are the most important person in the world. You are going to save it.” She drops me to the ground. I breath heavily slightly just scared from the exchange.

“.. Wh.. What?” I say in disbelief.

“You heard what I said. You, Zona Everlast, are going to save the world. If you like it or not.” I sit there in stun silence. That is when I notice a man in robes standing a couple feet away.