Star Crossed In Time

It was still in the middle of the night so even though we could hear them coming, we still couldn't see them. Eris remains calm despite having these things coming at her so I try to remain calm myself. 

Eris stops her magic and stands silently by the burning herbs as the creatures crawl closer. Everyone remains quiet as the first sounds are heard coming from them. It was this clicking noise as if they were using it to somehow see their surroundings.

I nervously bite my lip as I look back at Eris. She's still just standing there, completely unbothered. Maybe I'm just overreacting? Suddenly, I see the first one... nope. I was definitely not overreacting! The large creature slowly crawls forward on all fours as the clicking noise continues.

It opens it's large mouth and breathes in deeply as if tasting the air. Another two creep up behind it and proceed to do the same. One goes to step forward but touches the one next to it. The two immediately snarl and snap at each other as their long talon-like claws scrape the burnt ground. 

Every time their mouths snap shut, a clanking of their sharp teeth can be heard. The one in front turns and snarls at the other two, instantly putting the fight to a stop. I look at the one in front closely... he must be the leader or the alpha in the group...  

They turn their attention back to the burning herbs and begin sniffing the air again. My heart thunders against my ċhėst as I look at the large creatures before us but I make sure not to move, not to utter a single noise.

Bai Lei holds me tight against his side as we all watch in silence. The two lackeys move closer, passing up the leader and making their way to the smell. The leader seems to be a lot more cautious... Eris said they were pretty dumb but the leader is making me nervous. 

I quickly look over to Eris to see her frowning. She was expecting them all to come at the same time... shit. Will this mess up her plan? I bite my lip even harder when I see the two grow closer and closer to her. She still remains quite but when the two before her stop just outside of the circle she created, she lifts her foot and slowly drags it across the burnt ground.

The two before her become so excited, they lunge straight at her. I suck in, causing Bai Lei to cover my mouth with his large hand but it was too late, the leader heard it. Eris doesn't even blink as the two lunge straight at her face. 

Inches from her beautiful face, the ground under her instantly comes to life in a brilliant white light. The two creatures freeze midair and cry out in pain. The leader's head snaps back to the other two with a growl.

Eris snaps her fingers and I watch in amazement when the creatures begin sinking into the hard ground. They thrash and fight with everything they have but nothing they do allows them to break free. As they sink further and further, the leader lowers itself and begins to crawl backward. 

Eris sees it and begins walking over to it. The creature tries to turn and run but with just a word from Eris, a large barrier suddenly appears around the entire area. When the monster hits the barrier, it cries out in pain and anger. 

It's head suddenly whips back over to us, instantly making me jump and freeze. It's official... I'd be one of the first to die in a horror movie! The thing lunges straight at us, making me suck in and pull at my magic. 

Bai Lei suddenly shoves me behind him as he too unleashes his power but something horrible happens. As Bai Lei and I both unleash our magic on the thing, it causes a huge explosion of powers. The combination is so powerful, Bai Lei and I, along with Guozhi and the old man, go flying back several feet. 

As we struggle to stay standing, the old man rolls away with a cry of alarm. Guozhi quickly catches the old man and tries to sit him up but when I look back to the blast, I see the monster flying through the explosion with its mouth wide open in a snarl! Its claws are out and reaching for us! It's happening so fast, my brain struggles to understand how it's completely unaffected!

Eris cries out "Stop using your powers!! It does nothing to them but it does hurt me!!" I look over and only now do I see the several cuts all over her arms and legs. No wonders she couldn't stop the attack... we blasted her ȧss! 

Bai Lei pulls his power back and struggles to keep his arm on as my heart threatens to stop. I go running over to... help? I don't really know but at this point, I'm not even thinking straight. All I can see is Bai Lei struggling in pain under this creature!

Eris' eyes glow with an eerie light as she takes off running to us. She throws her hand out towards me and yells "Obstructionum!!" I hit something so hard, I'm nearly knocked out. I stumble back and fall straight onto my ȧss as my lip begins to bleed. 

I blink away the stars just in time to see Eris leaping into the air with grace belonging to a cat! She looks like a female warrior from the heavens!! Her eyes glow so brightly, they look like pools of light! She cries out and lifts her hand out as she flies down towards the beast on Bai Lei.

Suddenly, a bright light comes out of her hand as a wicked looking light blade appears out of nowhere! As she lands on the beast's back, she cries out and slams the glowing blade down into its back!

The creature cries out, instantly releasing Bai lei's shoulder! Eris wraps her arm around the beast's neck and pulls back with a snarl! A freaking snarl!!! She lifts her other hand towards Bai Lei and says something under her breath. 

Bai Lei flies straight back into the same protective bubble the others and I are in! I reach down and try to see past my tears as I look at his bleeding shoulder in fear. He grits his teeth and says "I'm fine, I promise!" I grit my own teeth as I hold him close. We both turn to find Eris still battling with the beast.

Guozhi paces back and forth as he watches everything with worry and fear. Eris is thrown from the beast but she amazes me once again when she contorts herself and twists around like a freaking cat! She lands with grace and slides back a few feet with a dark smirk.

She slowly stands up and says "This is between you and I pretty boy, do you perhaps remember me?" The thing actually snarls and snaps its sharp teeth at her as if it understood. Eris laughs but it's dark and terrifying.

"I may not be able to kill you but I can still hurt you... come, let's play," Eris says as her eyes flash again. She lunges at the beast just as the beast lunges at her but she does something unexpected, midair, she suddenly moves to the side.

All of us, even the monster, all look at her in shock and confusion! The beast flies straight past her and lands hard on the burnt ground. She gracefully lands with a smirk as the beast snarls and turns to face her yet again.

When it goes to lunge again, it suddenly freezes. Shock hits me yet again when I suddenly realize where the beast had landed. Inside the trap! She planned the whole freaking thing!! She never planned on fighting the damn thing! 

It cries out in anger as Eris' magic begins pulling it back into its underground cell. When the beast is finally gone, Eris quickly walks over to us and waves her hand. The protective bubble immediately disappears as she comes to a stop next to Bai Lei and I.

She kneels down next to his shoulder that just won't stop bleeding and says "Nothing from your world will save you from its bite but you're lucky I'm here." She reaches into her dress pocket and pulls out a little glass vial and says "Drink"

Whatever uncertainty Bai Lei had about Eris was no longer present as he takes the vial with gratefulness and quickly drinks it without a second thought. He makes a surprised face and says "I was expecting it to taste horrible." 

Eris laughs and says "None of my brews taste horrible if I can help it. The bleeding will stop now and you'll be able to heal normally. How's everyone else?" I give her a grateful smile and say "I'm sorry we weren't any help but thank you. We're all okay." 

Guozhi suddenly pushes himself next to me and stares at Eris with stars in his eyes as he says "Marry me... I'll make you the happiest woman." Eris gives him a strained smile as she stands up and says "I'm glad everyone seems fine." 

"Who is this and what have you all done!?" Someone suddenly says with anger. We all turn to look and see the old man with his golden staff. Bolin and Xia both stand next to him and stare at Eris with shock and... fear?