8 Chapter 7

Plutonic and Hamlin stood in front of Ninah and Aisha defensively. Their Phoenixes clawing them on their insides to protect their mates and children.

The older man took a step forward out of the shadows followed closely by his gang. "Ninah you had so much potential but what did you do?. You followed this group of freaks thinking you had it all good". The man said.

"I remember when your father brought you to me. For me to train you combat skills and I saw how good you were only to disappoint us by marrying your bird-y husband. But don't worry since you two are 'mates'". The man said with a smug face as he air quoted the word 'mates'. "I will both of you this night. Not forgetting your dear son also". He added.

Lucky whimpered at that. He didn't want to die. He didn't want his parents to die as well.

"Why did you attack us? We didn't harm you". Plutonic said.

"You broke the code". Hamlin hissed beneath clenched teeth.

The man laughed again. "What code? Are you kidding me?". He asked. " You have no right to live. That is reason enough to kill you". He hissed back, his laughter gone suddenly.

The four behind the man lifted their bows, aiming them, ready to shoot. "You are such a disappointment". He snarled.

"You don't have to remind me again". Ninah snapped as she tightened her hold on Lucky.

"No problem. You're all just a waste of time and space!". The man said as the four behind him tightened their grips on their bows as they stretched the arrows ready to shoot any time.. any moment the man gave out any signal or whatever hunters do. Ninah had to do something... and fast!. She wanted to save her son. She could run and use her druid powers to speed up but won't Arnold, the older man -hunter track her down and kill her and Lucky?. She wouldn't risk that at all.

Rufus was oddly quiet as Hamlin held him in his arms, shielded with his wings. Aisha's eyes were on the hunters though she was standing behind Hamlin, she was a few feet away from Ninah. Plutonic was a feet away from her as well but was standing right in front of her shielding Ninah away from the hunters. "It is brave of him but also stupid". Ninah thought to herself. "The arrows are iron.. he'll be pinned down easily. What's the point of standing in front of me?". She internally questioned herself. Lucky whimpered again and his temperature was rising, if not careful he'd set her on fire or even worse incinerate her. "Calm down sweetie". She whispered to him.

"Mommy, I'm scared". He whined.

"Don't worry mommy is here. I got you sweetie.. I got you". Ninah replied still in a whisper.

"Whatever happens this night know that I love you both". Plutonic mind linked her. It had been so long since they'd done that. At first she wasn't sure if it was just her mind telling her things or it was in fact her husband mind linking her.

"I can't be alone with all that's on my mind". Ninah responded.

"There's so much wrong going on outside. I will stay with you". Plutonic replied as Arnold interrupted their thoughts. "You won't be missed". The man said as the four behind him took a step in front of him and pulled on their arrows before letting them go. Hamlin let go of Rufus who ran to Aisha as he and Plutonic attacked back the incoming arrows with balls of fire burning them to ashes immediately even before the arrows got close to them.

The four hunters didn't give up or back away. They took out more arrows from their sheaves which were on their backs and aimed again before shooting again at them which ended as just like the previous ones.

They took more arrows each pulling out four and aiming at them. "Let's see if you're fast as they claim". Arnold blutered out wearing a smug expression. He was clearly enjoying this but Plutonic tried not to consider much into that, that's how hunters are anyways, they enjoy seeing them in pain and that's why they seek them out and hunt them down. He was angry, he was not only fast but powerful and that is why he was the chief, right?. He was now going to avenge his dead clan members so as to honor them.

With a great cry of sadness that echoed through the forest floor, (Since they lived in the middle of the woods to avoid interaction with humans in their daily lives) Plutonic morphed into his full form. He couldn't morph into a full Phoenix but he was still a Phoenix right?. His red fiery wings arched from his back, his claws were out and also a massive huge beak took the place of his mouth and nose. Plutonic was now half human half phoenix but his whole new form was on fire yet he wasn't burning.

Arnold's face fell and his gang took a step back.

"You cowards!. Attack him! Shoot him!". He snarled angrily. His gang was hesitant, not knowing what to do. Torn between running away to save their lives and risk being hunted down by their boss (if he makes it out alive as well) and be at the mercy of his hands or stay with their boss, protect him, obey his orders and all the same end up dying at the merciless hands of the raging phoenix that was flying admist the air looking down at them.

With trembling hands and shaking knees, they took more arrows out of their sheaves but before they could shoot, Plutonic had shifted into a ball of fire (something only chiefs were privileged to do) and passed through them thus incinerating them to ashes. He stopped in front of Arnold and shifted to his Were-Phoenix form and looked down at him.

"That's one mistake you did!". Plutonic said through gritted teeth. "Attacking my clan and threatening the lives of my wife and child" He added, his voice a little slurred due to the beak he was now using... not his mouth.

Arnold gave out a chocked laughter. It was evident that he was afraid. He was just trying to brace himself up and seem courageous... brave ... but Plutonic could smell the fear emitting from him in waves.

"Don't worry! No one will miss you". Plutonic said imitating his words from earlier on. "No one will remember who you we're. And you will never repeat this mistake again". Plutonic added as Arnold took a step backward sweat covering his brow because of the extremely high temperature that was emitting from Plutonic. He couldn't understand how Phoenixes survived with such temperatures in their bodies but that's why they are supernatural creatures after all, right?.

"You want to know why?... Because you'll be dead". Plutonic said as he covered the distance between him and Arnold, his eyeballs turning to bright crimson red as he looked into the other man's eyes. "This is the last thing that you'll remember you saw". Plutonic added as he touched the man's skin but the man immediately burned and turned into ashes. He had done it!. He had finally avenged his clan members and now if they were to live again, they'd reincarnate in peace.

He fell down on his knees as he went back to normal, apart from his wings and claws that didn't morphe back immediately. He looked down at his hands, not knowing what to feel. Should he have been proud of himself for killing the hunters who had damaged his nest and killed his clan?. He didn't know what to feel but he could feel the contentment emitting from Hamlin. At least now he would be spared from Hamlin's stinging words. He heard another heartbeat not far from behind him. A heartbeat that wasn't familiar to him at all. He then heard someone gasp and a whimper.

Plutonic had never turned so quickly in his life. Ninah looked at him, tears falling down her cheeks. He smelt pain. Her pain. She was hurting and she was in pain. She slowly let go of Lucky of was clinging on her blouse not wanting to let go of her. He could also sense the same feelings emitting from his mother.

"Ninah?". Aisha questioned as Ninah fell down on her knees revealing a hunter behind her who had a knife in her hands. The hunter had stabbed Ninah.

Hamlin quickly pounced on the hunter and broke her neck then set the body on fire which immediately turned to ashes.

"No!". Plutonic exclaimed not believing what he was seeing. "No! No! No!". He said again as he rushed by her side holding her in his arms, Lucky still tucked in between them.

"I can heal you. Let me find my tears". Plutonic whispered in her ear but she gave out a sad smile as more tears streamed down her cheeks. Ninah shook her head, "No plutonic don't. It has been so long since you last cried." She murmured back.

"Please don't leave me. Stay with us Ninah. Let's take you to hospital". Plutonic begged as he tried to lift her up but she tugged on his shirt tightly while wincing in pain.

"Why aren't your druid powers healing you?". Aisha asked in a concerned tone.

"Because the hunter hit a vital spot". Hamlin answered her looking at the ashes in disgust wishing that he could kill the hunter again.

"My love please". Plutonic whispered as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. A circular white circle that had two spirals and a fire ball in the middle got out of his chest.

"Your jade!".Ninah gasped once she had seen it.

"Let me take your pain away and heal you". Plutonic replied.

Ninah shook her head, "You can't. Earlier today I had a feeling that something bad would happen but I didn't know what". She said as a line of blood oozed down at the corner of her mouth.

"I didn't know what it was but then I was always open to the concept of death. You can't heal me Plutonic because I have already accepted my fate". She added before coughing and spitting out blood that covered his shirt.

"How can you say that Ninah? Your husband and son need you. I need you. We all need you". Aisha remarked as she knelt beside her tucking Ninah's stray hair behind her ear.

"Don't leave us Aunt Ninah". Rufus said sadly.

Ninah gave out another small smile, "Death is a part of life. You all have to accept it someday..." She trailed off. "The little one in your womb. Take care of her". She added as she reached forward towards Aisha and pressed her hand on Aisha's stomach.

"I wanted to tell you but you and Plutonic were busy in the basement". Aisha blushed away though knowing that this wasn't the time for blushing.

"I live you Plutonic". Ninah said.

"I love you as much Ninah".

"Please let me go Plutonic. Let me go. I need the rest". Ninah whispered while wincing in pain. She had lost a lot of blood.

"I can't. I can't let you go. I love you so much". Plutonic answered. "Stay with me please".

"You have to move on". Ninah said out of breathe.

"Not without you my mate".

"You gave a two jade piece. You can have another mate". Ninah replied but Plutonic shook his head.

"I can't you are the only one I love. You are the only one I want". Plutonic said as he held onto her tighter.

"Life won't always come easy. We make our plans but the heavens have the last word". Ninah whimpered as she loosened her grip on Lucky.

"I love you Gregorz. Lucky shall be your name. May your third be your most happiness. I hope you'll be lucky as your name". She said as he tightened his grip on her blouse making her sure that it had ripped but she didn't mind.

"Please". Plutonic begged. He had never felt so weak, so lost and vulnerable like today.

He pressed his lips on hers but she pulled back and spat out more blood from her mouth. "Be well!". She whispered but they all heard it and with that, her head fell on his chest and she didn't speak... not even breathe again.

He didn't know what to do. Aisha was in Hamlin's arms being consoled together with Rufus. Lucky was still holding tightly onto Ninah as if his hold would prevent her from leaving but she was long gone.

His jade quickly span around as the top spiral cracked and the fire ball turned from red to a shade of pinkish. He clunged to her body tightly against his and then with all the unspoken million feelings in his body, he roared. He roared fiercely.

He had lost his mate.

Ninah was dead.