Nightfall (Under The Moonlight Rewritten)

Chapter 2: Strange Encounters, Grief, Anger and Regret

(A/N: Thanks to Frostgoddess, Serena, Hawk and Falcon are her Oc's however I may have changed a few things such as personality or a slight change in appearance ~Crimson)

Chapter 2:

The wind was refreshing as I swung my legs from the branch of the tree I currently sat on. For the first time in forever, I felt free. It was as if a huge burden was lifted from my shoulders. I smiled genuinely as I closed my eyes and breathed in and out. It felt so refreshing up here when I heard running. I looked down at the three people below. There was a girl around the age of 21 with brown hair and blue streaks. She was talking with two other boys. Both boys were blonde and had streaks in their hair. One was red whilst the other had green. I craned my neck to look at their faces but I accidentally lost my balance and screamed as I fell. As I fell I saw their heads whip around at the direction of the sound. I cringed internally as I hit the ground, I looked up at the three and almost gasped. They had red eyes, they were vampires. The girl stepped forward with a hand outstretched to me which I gratefully accepted as she pulled me up. "Hi! I'm Serena, and this is Hawk and Falcon! What’s your name?" She said in a cheery voice whilst pointing at the boy with red streaks and the one with green streaks as she said their names.

"Serena! Why would you tell her that? What if she was the enemy?" Hawk hissed, the girl named Serena frowned with an annoyed expression. "I'm sure she isn't evil Hawk" she said." Well then, why do you smell like a werewolf girl?" Hawk said with narrowed eyes and a death glare. "Why do you also smell like a vampire?" The other one, Falcon said but unlike Hawk, his question was not a threat but rather out of curiosity. . "I have a name, its Arianna and thank you Serena” I replied nodding to Serena when I mentioned her. "No problem!" Serena replied with a close eyed smile. "As for why I smell like a werewolf and a vampire, it's because I am a hybrid of the two so it’s only natural for me to smell like both" I said as I looked at the two boys. Hawk made a noise that sounded like an ‘Hn’ whilst Falcon's eyes widened slightly in shock before making an ‘Oh’ noise.

I smiled slightly at his innocence but suddenly the smell of smoke wafted through the clearing. I looked up at the sky and gasped. Smoke filled the screen and it was coming from the direction of my house. "What’s wrong" Serena asked. I looked at her. And said one word. "Fire". Her eyes widened in understanding and worry before reflecting fear. "I don't think you should go there. It's dangerous” She murmured but thanks to my hearing I heard it. "That’s my house!" I said. Her eyes changed and showed a feeling that looked like sympathy. I growled, I didn't need her pity, "Look girl, don't start growling at her. Face it. Your parents are gone, dead even or lucky to be alive.” Hawk said. "How do you know?!" I yelled. "Because...that’s clearly the work of the M.H.A or Monster Hunter Association. I can see you’re new to this supernatural stuff. One word of advice. Don't get involved in the M.H.A's business." Hawk said with an agitated note. "That can't be true! You don't have any proof? What’s the worse they can do?" I asked still furious.

Hawks pupils dilated like a cats and he growled. "They made our father and mother watch as they tortured us but our parents gave up their lives to save us. They burnt Serena's house to the ground along with her parents. They were going to torture her until we saved her. They could do the same to you and your family!" Hawk told me. My eyes widened in shock and I looked at the ground. "I'm sorry…I didn't know...” I whispered. Hawk ‘hmphed’. "Clearly" He said as he stalked off. Falcon looked at me tears in his eyes and ran after his brother but not before taking one last look. I shut my eyes. I felt like such a jerk. "Look, it's not your fault. It's alright, they'll calm down eventually" A gentle voice said as a hand laid on my shoulder, I opened my eyes and looked at Serena and smiled a small smile which she repeated back. "Come on Serena!" Hawk yelled in the distance. “Coming!" She shouted before turning back to face me. "Never stop smiling Arianna and never forget yourself, it'll be the only thing that'll keep you sane in this harsh, cruel and cold world." She said before running off after the boys. I looked up at the sky before nodding and running towards my home. I can only hope I wasn't too late.

Once I reached the edge of the forest, I froze. This was not at all what I was expecting. A cloud of grey smoke surrounded where my house would be. The faint smell of burning wafted through the air. You could see shadows of various people in the smoke. One woman stepped out from the smoke. She wore a black jacket with what I presumed to be the M.H.A's chest on the right pocket. She had black jeggings and also wore black combat boots. She pretty much wore full black with a few traces of dark grey from the tank top she wore underneath her jacket. The woman had black hair that went to her shoulders in small waves. Her hands were on her hips which drew my attention to the leather scabbard attached to her hip. On her other hip was a gun holster with what looked like a silver pistol.  She started yelling out orders at the soldiers so she must have been someone important. Still, the woman looked like familiar somehow but I stopped pondering as more shadows emerged. I felt my throat dry.

Two soldiers clad in black were dragging my unconscious mother out. She was covered in cuts and had slight burns as if she put up a fight.  I felt the beast inside growl in rage but I forced myself to watch. The woman shouted something again and the men dragged mum away. As they did so, the woman turned her head slowly. There was a scar going through her left eye. Both eyes were a striking silver colour but the left one was slightly whiter. The woman turned her head back to the smoke as two more men emerged with a few wounds here and there. They were dragging my dad who was well awake. He was growling and his eyes were blood red with the pupils dilated like Hawks was earlier in the forest. Dad was covered in bruises, burn marks and cuts. There was also blood dripping from his nose. I was pretty sure he saw me, as he mouthed some words to me, in response I froze before nodding numbly, he seemed satisfied as his gaze shifted, instead locking onto the woman. When he saw the woman, he immediately growled louder and tried to snap at her but was quickly restrained
There was something else my parents weren't telling me.

I turned back and watched them. I was having an internal battle. The logic part said to go and find them later as there was nothing I could do at the time being but my stubborn side wanted to chase after them even though I knew I would never reach them in time. I. turned around with tears in my eyes as I shut my eyes tightly as tears rolled down my cheeks. Father told me to promise not to see revenge and I had nodded to him but right now, I don’t think that would be a promise I could keep. I opened my watery eyes as I wiped the tears away, I have had my time to grief, I have felt anger at myself and I have regretted my choice to run away but we can't change the past, no matter how much we may wish to do so.  By now the van was nothing but a black speck on the horizon. "Are you okay?" A girl’s voice said from behind me. I whirled around and was about say a sarcastic response of what do you think even though it was rude, but when I turned around, well let’s just say it wasn't what I expected.