Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Azariah
[Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice]
_____________________________
"Damn canines... I just got this dagger last week! Now, it's a mess," Azariah grumbled out loud as she continued to clean her blade. Her eyes roamed over to the four lifeless wolves, each with a silver throwing dagger in their chest. She scoffed, grumbling that she still had to dispose of the bodies.
"You know, I think I was too soft on you four," she spoke to the lifeless bodies. "I think I should have killed you more slowly, making it more enjoyable for me. It doesn't matter if you would have enjoyed it, though, because you'd still be dead! They told me I was to hunt down and assassinate five bandits. So, I wonder where your friend is. I imagine they can't be too far. I reckon they'd want to get revenge. Too bad for them.~" She tilted her head, her soft ruby red hair catching the moonlight.
Her ears twitched, and her hands halted when she picked up the sound of a twig snapping about thirteen yards away. She dropped her cleaning rag and took hold of the handle, placing it in her sheath at her hip. She grabbed her bow and silver-tipped arrows, bringing one arrow to its place against the bowstring. She crouched, facing toward the sound, gradually pulling back the arrow. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, and that's when she heard a growl to her left. Just as the beast flung itself into the air, she let the arrow fly, catching it in its shoulder. The beast whimpered, collapsing into the dirt. Azariah smiled as she stood up, bringing another arrow into place. She approached the wounded beast, confirming her suspicions: the fifth werewolf.
"Change back unless you'd like to die as a coward like your friends. If you do, I'll entertain you with a fair fight before I take your life," she chuckled darkly, slightly lowering her bow.
The beast's eyes traveled over to its dead companions. It whimpered, shedding a single tear for the fallen. Then it looked back up at Azariah, contemplating how to kill her. Though possibly foolish, it shifted back into its human form - a female. The female pulled the arrow out of her shoulder, clenching her jaw as she tossed it to the ground. Her breasts glowed in the light of the waning gibbous moon. Azariah blinked, not expecting a female among the group or for her chest to be so well endowed.
"Well, Assassin? Drop your bow if you'll give me a fair fight," the female werewolf gritted.
"Hmm.~ Someone is anxious to die," Azariah mused, tossing her bow and arrows off to the side, along with her sheathed dagger. "I'll honor my word and give you the fair fight that you now seek. No weapons and no claws. Fists and feet only. Fair enough for you?"
"No weapons," the female repeated, "I accept."
Azariah grinned at the chance to have some real fun. The female came at her, trying to take the first swing toward her jaw, but Azariah blocked it and responded with a punch to the female's gut. The female coughed up blood but then tried a spinning kick, which Azariah dodged with ease. She let the female try to throw a few more punches, effectively avoiding them before giving her a roundhouse kick to her spine. The female roared in pain, collapsing in the dirt. Just as the female lifted herself up, an arrow pierced her forehead. Azariah scoffed with an annoyed groan before scowling at her guildmates that just HAD to crash the party.
"Oh, COME ON! Why did you guys do that?! I was having fun!" Azariah shouted as she retrieved her bow, arrows, and dagger from just beside her mini campfire.
"You aren't supposed to play with your prey, Azariah. The Master has told you that countless times," a tall young blonde man remarked as he stepped closer to the now lifeless body.
"You're no fun, Hayate," Azariah complained before shooting her other guildmate the same pout, "-and you're just as guilty, Rag!"
"I told you, my name isn't Rag. It's Raj!" A short but young black-haired man shouted back.
"You always have such a temper...," Azariah rolled her eyes. "So, why are you two here?"
"Master Wyett sent us to retrieve you. An urgent request was delivered to the guild, and the Master wants you to take the assignment as soon as possible," Raj replied as Hayate climbed over the dead bodies.
"The best assassin in the guild, but you always make such a mess," Hayate nagged her before snapping his fingers and watching as the bodies burst into flame.
"Oh, wow!~ You're helping me with cleanup, Hayate?! Oh, that makes me so happy! Your fire magic is so handy," Azariah squealed excitedly before running over and hugging Hayate. He simply rolled his eyes.
"Yes, yes, just this once," Hayate commented as he patted the top of her head.
"Let me give you a kiss!" Azariah puckered up, getting on her tippy toes, but Hayate just shoved her away with a single finger to her forehead.
"I have a wife for that, Azariah. Must you always act like a child?" Hayate frowned before glaring at Raj, who was suppressing a laugh.
"I do not act like a child," she protested before Raj grabbed her hand, pulling her toward him.
"Stop messing around. We have to get you back to the guild before sunrise," Raj sighed, tugging her along, not caring that her hand was still bloodied. "Just leave the bodies, Hayate. You don't need to watch them burn. They'll be ash in a few hours. Let's just go."
"Fine. Whatever," Hayate sighed before following them.
"You know, I just thought of something," Azariah chirped as she continued walking with them.
"Oh, and what's that?" Hayate asked, pretending to be amused even though he knew what was coming next.
"I have no idea where we are," Azariah exclaimed with an innocent grin. "You know what else?"
"Let me guess," Raj drawled, "It's about you not having any sex in almost a year, and you're still feeling needy and looking for a fuck-buddy. Am I right, Azariah?"
"Dead on, yes," she panned, her cheeks growing warm and rosy.
"Well, as per usual, we wish you luck on finding one," Hayate chuckled as they trudged through the forest. "It's too bad the Master canned Cam. I would rather still hear you rattle on about how good the sex was instead of listening to you complain about having no sex."
"I completely agree," Azariah nodded, "Master shouldn't have obliterated Cam for failing such a simple assignment."
"In other news," Raj added, "I'm glad the mountain isn't as big as the others around here. I want to get back to the Guildhall, though, before the next storm rolls in. Azariah, climb on my back."
"Are you going to use your weird ability again?" Azariah asked, intrigued as she did as she was told. She made sure she was firmly attached before resting her chin on Raj's right shoulder.
"Hey, don't leave me out then. We had to walk all the way to get her. It would be nice to not have to walk all the way back," Hayate said before grabbing Raj's left wrist.
"Of course, I wouldn't leave you behind, Hayate. Your wife would kill me if I did," Raj laughed before closing his eyes, taking in and letting out steady breaths. He extended his right arm, palm outstretched, "Okay, hold on tight, you two." With that, they whisked away from their current spot and, seconds later, reappeared at the Guildhall entrance.
"Home sweet home," Azariah sighed, climbing off of Raj. "Thanks for the ride back."
- End of Chapter Two -
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone