TheGame2

down off her back. "I've always wondered which was better, the clone or the Original." With a smack on the rump, the anti-Jade lunged forward. Jade launched herself at the clone. They met, snarling, two giant beasts, slamming agenst each other. They growled, snaping, dancing about, hair up, ears back. Jade landed a hard shot with one of her paws to the clone's head. It stagered back forcing HunterKai to jumo out of the way. Jade turned, looked into my eyes and barked sharply. It was like a message flashing acros my brain. It was as if she had shouted at me, "Get out of here." I didn't want to, I hated leaving her there to battle that monster but if I did, Hunterkai would have killed me then and there. As it was, his shot was blocked by the tow grapleing dogs. I ran, tears still streaming down my face, pain stabing me with every step. I ran, silently thanking Jade and praying I had done the right thing.

I had been running for almost an hour, The sun would be setting soon. I leaned agenst a large tree, gasping for air. I was trembling, not out of fear but from exustion. My legs burned almost as much as my lungs. I couldn't hear Jade anymore. I jad no idea what had become of her and the anti-Jade. I knew what HunterKai had ment by the Game. It was a game, one of the oldest games, the hunter and the hunted. That was what he was doing, hunting, tracking me threw the forest. He had come close a few times to ending the game. I had lost several inches of hair to a missed shot from his brace. He had nicked me with an arrow, it took forever to get my arm to stop bleeding. A twig snapped snapped, without thinking I lept forward. I heard the passing of the arrow, where my shoulder had been a moment before. I took off threw the forest, my legs, back, lungs screaming in protest. I could hear him behind me, following me. Suddenly the forest opened up, a large clearing stood infront of me and beyond it.....

APEC castle!!! I hadn't realized I was that close to it. I screamed, falling forward, something cold clamped around my ankle. I rolled over, HunterKai's brace was clasping my ankle. He bore down on me, smiling cruely. "Well done, Fields of Heather, well done. I must congradulate you, you have lasted longer then any other. It's almost a shame to have to kill such a worthy opponent, almost." he smiled down at me, the brace letting go of my leg. In the fall I had dropped my backpack. I don't know why I hadn't discarded it earlyer, but now I grabed it, ripping it open. I grabbed the only weapon I had, my wand. I couldn't peform any spells, the pain had robbed me of my abilitys, but there was one thing I could do.

HunterKai stood over me, smiling as he aimed his brace at my neck. I pointed the wand into the air and fired.

Out of the end of my wand shot a stream of red sparks. They ingulfed HunterKai's head nd shot high into the air, looking like a line of angry red fireflies. HunterKai stagered away from me, the burns already healing, but temporaly blinded. Rolling over, I jumped to my feet. I had gone only a few feet when HunterKai grabed the back of my jacket. He wraped one arm arounf my neck, holding me agenst him. I heard a loud click and felt him press his brace to my neck. "Nice trick." he hissed in my ear, "But ultamity, a waste of time."

"No, it wasn't." I gasped for air. Over my raspy breathing we could hear the alarm being sounded in the APEC castle. The main gates were opened and a large group of people were spilling out of the castel towards us. HunterKai chuckled, "They'll never reach you in time."

I smiled, though it was more of a wince, "They don't have to." It was then that HunterKai noticed the ground trembling under out feet. Something was crashing threw the trees behind us. Hunterkai pushed me away. I spun around in time to see a very battered and bloody Jade bareing down on us. The next few minutes were a blur as jade threw herself between me and HunterKai, snapping at him. The next thing I knew, someone grabed me. I turned and looked at Kai21. "Mistress Heather, are you ok?" he said. I felt like laughing, instead it came out as a cough. "Do I look OK?" I rasped, suddenly haveing lot my voice. Kai21 had to hold me up, my legs refused to do so any longer.

"HEATHER!" I turned around and saw the most wonderful, beautiful sight, Kai13 running towards me.

The next few minutes were a blur. I remember Kai13 crushing me to him, before sweeping me into his arms. I woke the nect morning, or rather the pain woke me, to find Kai13 curled up agenst me. He spent the next several hours fussing over me, did I need more pillows, blankets, was I too warm, cold, did I want something to eat? He was so sweet. Somewhere around midday, Twilight, dgre and MicroMary showed up. Kai13 had chased them away the night before, promicng to let them see me later. Kai13 proped me up among some pillows and let them in. Twilight and dgre sat down on either side of the bed, Micro stood back and listened. I told them everything.

"It makes sence," said dgre, "We should have guessed that KillerKai wasn't the only high-quality clone. Why only make one?"

"I guess your right but what about that anti-Jade?" said Twilight. "If Nadless has Jade's DNA, why not make up a couple dozen Jades and storm the castle?"

"A waste of time." said Micro, "He could make 6 to 8 anti-kais with the same amount of time and resources. Plus, can you imagin the size of the vats he would need." Just then, Kai21 ran in. "What's wrong? asked Twilight looking at the conserned look on Kai21's face.

"Mistress Heather, this was found stuck to the gate just now." Kai21 handed me an envolope, my nake scralled across the front. I read the note once, then again, finaly I read it aloud.

"Fields of Heather, I must congradulate you. I was wrong to think you unworthy. You are very much my equal and it was a pleasure playing with you. I have no dout that we will meet again. I look forward to out rematch. HunterKai"

I lowered the note. Silence greeted me as I looked into the faces of my friends. I felt Kai13 lay a hand on my shoulder. Suddenly I felt very tired. I forced myself to speak.

"The Game's not over, it's only just begun."