The sun had begun its slow descent, casting golden-orange hues across the city skyline. The air was calm, almost deceptively so. Vali and Zaria strolled down the stone-paved walkway that led back to where his car was parked, chatting about their plans for the evening. The mood was light, almost casual—until they froze.
Vali's sharp eyes locked onto the distant image of two familiar bodies being hoisted into the back of a sleek, matte-black van. Kimara and Amy, limp and unconscious, were tossed in like luggage. Before either Vali or Zaria could react, the van roared to life and disappeared around the corner.
Zaria's heart dropped. "No... Kimara!"
Vali's jaw clenched. "Fuck!!" He yelled his blood boiling "We're going after them."
An hour earlier...
Amy's batons clacked together as she twirled them in rhythmic motions, standing across from Kimara in a small, shaded clearing near the edge of the park. The two had just wrapped up a spar, both girls sweating and panting from the effort.
"You've gotten better," Kimara said, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.
Amy grinned. "You've just gotten sloppier."
They were just starting to gather their gear when the wind shifted. A sharp scent—metallic, like rust—cut through the air.
Kimara's instincts flared. "We're not alone."
The first attack came like a whisper. A sudden wave of dizziness hit Amy, and she staggered. Kimara turned toward her, but before she could move, a trio of men emerged from the treeline, their eyes gleaming with malice. "What do you assholes want?" Kimara shouted gripping her pair of obsidian-hued daggers tighter, their crimson hue veins flaring brighter for a split second.
The ambush was cleanly executed. From the other end of the clearing, Zorya stepped forward with slow, deliberate movements. Her sleek silver hair was tied back, eyes focused like a predator eyeing wounded prey. Her daughter Reina stood at her side, the teenage wolf already partially transformed—fangs bared, eyes glowing faint gold, and claws forming over her fingers.
"I'll handle the baby shark" Reina snarled, eyes locked on Kimara. Kimara gritted her teeth. "Come try me, bitch."
The moment their feet moved, the forest floor erupted into chaos. Kimara dashed forward with a burst of speed, crimson hue trailing behind her daggers. Reina met her halfway, claws clashing against steel as the two exchanged rapid strikes, dodges, and counters. Kimara lunged forward with a stab only to be Parried and met with a heavy punch to the gut.
Mara grit her teeth and pressed on, managing to slash a retreating Reina on the shoulder, Reina swung with her off hand, claws clashed against radie reinforced steel, both girls stood there at a stand still until...the temperature suddenly dropped and black frost started creeping up Reina's arm making it feel heavy and numb. Reina spun low, sweeping Kimara's legs, but the latter flipped mid-air, kicking off a tree trunk and lunging with a horizontal slash. Reina ducked, retaliating with a clawed uppercut that Kimara barely blocked. "Is this all the infamous daughter of Seamus can manage?" Reina sneered ,"Shut up and die already" Kimara whispered giving Reina an intense death stare.
Back in the clearing, Amy was struggling. Dimitri, a stocky figure with brutish muscle packed into his short frame, had partially transformed—his arms now boar-like and dense, reinforced with thick hide and jagged bone protrusions. His snout twitched with irritation.
"You're fast. Pretty but very annoying," he grumbled.
Amy ducked under a wild swing, striking his ribs with both batons. A flash of pink flames surged out, forcing him to retreat a step.
"You hit like a fridge, but you're so frickin slow, but you're just a dumb too" she said with a smirk.
Dimitri turned beetroot red, his anger boiling beneath his half transformed hide, but in all honesty the real danger wasn't Dimitri.
A man in a dark trench coat stood just out of range. His eyes were pale, glassy. The moment he raised his hand, a strange wave of energy pulsed through the air. Amy blinked. The world started to soften around the edges. Sound dulled. Her heartbeat slowed.
"Damn it... not now..." Amy grimaced inwardly, Dimitri charged again, like a drunk driver aiming for a light post. Amy tried to react but her limbs felt heavy. She moved slower. Pink fire sputtered from her hands barely slowing the tanking fools charge. She took the time to roll out of the way causeing Dimitri to collide with the tree behind her, Amy quickly scrambled to her feet then her legs gave way slightly.
Kimara, having driven Reina back temporarily, looked over just in time to see Amy fall to one knee.
"No!" Reina took the opportunity, slashing down and catching Kimara across the shoulder. Blood spurted. Kimara screamed and rolled back, clutching the wound.
The sense-dulling man stepped closer, eyes locked on Amy. "Rest, girl."
Amy forced herself upright, batons trembling. "I'm not done yet."
She roared and slammed her batons together, releasing a burst of flame so bright it blinded the goons momentarily. She lunged at the sense-duller, striking him hard in the chest.
But Dimitri was already behind her.
His elbow came down like a boulder, crashing into her spine. Amy's legs buckled. She collapsed face-first.
Kimara screamed in rage and swung her daggers at Reina with a flurry of wild, frost-covered strikes. Reina growled, matching each blow, claws clanging against steel, until Kimara unleashed a torrent of frost that covered Reina's arms completely immobilizing them. The force knocked them both back, Kimara tried to rise, body shaking from overexertion, her and Amy's intense training had been helping them improve so much, but after a long day of training they were already significantly exhausted. Her eyes darted to Amy—motionless. Her own vision blurred.
The man's power was affecting her now. The scent. The sound. All fading. Reina limped forward, blood dripping down her brow. "Lights out, princess."
Kimara swung her left blade in one last desperate arc—only for Dimitri to catch her arm and slam her into the dirt. A boot to her side knocked the wind out of her "For two little princesses they sure were a lot of trouble" He said said grinning at Reina who just rolled her eyes.
Zorya finally stepped forward, cool and composed. "Package has been secured. Time to move out."
A black van rolled up moments later, side door sliding open. Kimara and Amy were both hoisted up, tossed in unceremoniously.
As the van sped away, Zorya's eyes flicked to the sky. "They'll come for them and we'll let them" she said with a twisted wicked smile.
Back in the present...
Vali's fists trembled. "Whichever asshole did this," he growled, cracking his knuckles "I'm going to make them regret it." Zaria nodded, fire in her eyes. "Let's go get them back."