-Mark P.O.V.-

I smirked and patted Avery's back several times. "Your right." Avery said.

I looked out towards the deeper parts of the forest and sighed.

"If we ever want to get to Pepe we need to head deeper in the woods." I told them. Anastasia just nodded.

As I turned to walk away from the group I stopped and stared at the dense, dark wood. And I just stood there and continued to reminisce as to all that had happened in the past few weeks (yes I said weeks)-

Many good times- saving our cousins, saving the Kitsune village. And all the bad- mainly Miranda trying to be all tough by not showing us any pain.

My train of thought was stopped by a tug of my tunic. I whipped my head around to meet Macey's eyes.

"When is Miry coming back?" she asked quietly.

I thought for a bit. 'What should I say to her?' I thought silently.

I waited a bit longer before stating "Miry wants us to meet up with her as she fulfills some missions." came my own reply.

Macey shouldn't worry about my sister. I started to walk away, the others starting to trail after me.

As we wandered deeper into the forest, I continued to be on guard, hand on my sword, for precautionary purposes.

Crack!

We stopped. I lifted a fist as a signal to be quiet. I heard the crack of a tree branch. I stood there, every fiber of my being sat still and unmoving.

And all I could hear is the sounds of my heartbeat and breathing.

But we all stood there, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, but was only mere moments. I relaxed a bit, thinking that everything was alright.

But it wasn't. And at that very instant, as I turned around to give the signal to start moving, time seemed to be still, as a Fallen burst from the bushes and lunged at me, claws and fangs bared at is, and blood stained on them.

I quickly turned around to try and block the strike, but felt a pair of arms push me away...

But not quick enough. The Fallen's claws slightly grazed my side, tearing my tunic and a part of me with it.

Fire. That is all I felt. It was as if someone poured liquid fire in my side, and it continued to spread. I cursed at myself, for allowing this to happened.

My vision started to blur, so I couldn't see who pushed me. And if I remember correctly, it was...

Who was it? I fell on my hands and knees, with one arm gripping my side as the other gripped my sword. I slowly felt myself bleed out slowly, and heard the sound of Gwen's screaming my name.

And as I felt the world around me start to literally spin, all I could say was "This isn't like the many others..." for I was too weak to speak more.

My friends were way too busy dealing with other Fallen, so I laid there, like a sitting duck.

And as the battle drew on longer, the chances of our survival diminished even more quickly.

I saw a bright light. And heard screams. Screams? Whose screams? I couldn't yell.

The light lingered a bit before disappearing. And after it was all gone, there were no more Fallen.

I heard the words "On no ohem jio struiy kegare zexioc. Kyou kyou no ritsu ryou" before my consciousness faded.

I recognized that voice. I know that language. What was it? The language? I can't remember. All I do remember is that the voice belonged to Mikala.

And with that, my consciousness faded.