Sophie paced back and forwards.

“Sit down your making me nervous,” Teresa stated, watching her walk.

“We have been inside this whale for days! Aren’t you getting tired of swimming Mei-Gan?” Sophie asked, kicking a large tooth and Mei-Gan didn’t respond so she kicked it harder.

“Huh?” Mei-Gan slowly replied.

“... Were you sleeping?” Sophie said, slightly irritated.

“Well even whales can't swim for days on end,” Mei-Gan replied sleepily.

“Wouldn't it have been quicker to fly?” Teresa cut in.

“Flying is obviously quicker, however, I once flew into a country as a large bird and they thought I was some sort of bomber coming to attack them,” Mei-Gan let out a giggle, “It nearly started world war three.”

“I see, so a whale is less conspicuous?” Sophie pointed out.

“Yeah whales are everyone’s friends, you just have to keep an eye out for the whaling boats,” Mei-Gan laughed. “I had a run in with one a few years back. It still amazes me how easily a ship can break under the pressure of a Hydra’s neck...”

“You can turn into mythical creatures too?” Teresa asked, suddenly interested in the conversation.

“Yeah, any animals, just not humans,” Mei-Gan replied.

“So how deep are we?” Sophie asked.

“Well I stay at the surface to sleep so not very,” the whale replied.

“Can I climb on your back for a while?” Sophie asked. “The smell down here is slowly killing me.”

“Sure,” Mei-Gan opened her mouth and Sophie and Teresa both climbed gratefully out.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Teresa put her hand on her head frustrated.

“What is it?” Sophie questioned.

“Monkey here has been sleeping about fifteen minutes off the coast of Rogue Island,” Teresa replied, stomping her foot on Mei-Gan’s head.

“Ow! Huh, would you look at that. I didn't really think it would matter,” Mei-Gan exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” Sophie yelled out, “It stunk so badly!”

“We have to get back inside so no one see's us riding a whale into shore, we don't need any extra attention at the moment,” Teresa said, walking towards the mouth.

“Grr, you better swim fast Monkey,” Sophie said, annoyed that she had to get back into the mouth.

“I will, and I will swim up to Hells Rock Cove. It’s secluded and deserted most of the time,” Mei-Gan stated.

Hells Rock Cove was a beach at the northern edge of Raventon City. It had received its ominous name from a small, but tall rock, poking out of the ocean. Most of the base of the rock was covered by about a meter of ocean. Sometimes, teenagers of the Island would come out to the area at night and dare each other to swim out and touch it. This tradition stopped however, when two of the teenagers that tried to swim out to it mysteriously disappeared. There were no screams, the other kids claimed they just vanished. No bodies had ever been recovered either.

Just thinking about the place gave Sophie a chill down her spine. The cove was pretty deserted during the day, with only the occasional hiker passing by.

Mei-Gan swam around the coast of the island and the cove came into view, “This is strange…” she muttered.

“What’s that?” Teresa asked.

“The island has snow on it,” Mei-Gan replied.

“Something’s not right here...” Teresa stated, “Can you spit us out behind Hells Rock?”

Mei-Gan slowly swam up behind the rock, “Yeah that should be ok.”

Sophie and Teresa hopped out, standing on the base of the rock, Mei-Gan formed back to her human body and stretched a little, “Always feels weird after that long.”

“More than likely that will be Frosty,” Teresa muttered, “He can make it snow anywhere... He loves the cold. I need to find out why he is here... He is a dangerous man.”

“They are waiting for us,” Mei-Gan stated.

“How do you know?” Sophie asked.

“I was just talking to the birds,” Mei-Gan reported, “A strange man with white hair has taken up residence in the castle on the hill,” She pointed to the cliff looming over the beach. “The birds say he brought the cold.”

“Great, they have sent the Psycho to collect the trumpet,” Teresa said, sitting down to think.

“Let’s go see Hyung, he should have a plan,” Mei-Gan said, before suddenly losing her footing and falling into the ocean.

She splashed around for a moment before resurfacing.

“Are you ok?” Sophie asked, trying not to laugh.

“I'm fine,” Mei-Gan replied, slightly embarrassed, “We need to swim to shore anyway.”

“I am going to walk,” Sophie stated, a wooden bridge forming across the water.

Teresa smiled at Mei-Gan, “I think I will walk too.”

“You guys are missing out, the waters great!” Mei-Gan turned into a turtle and swam under the bridge.

Teresa and Sophie ran inland to the abandoned factory where they had trained.

They reached the entrance and a familiar dog ran up.

Mei-Gan took shape, “You guys ran off without me.”

“I knew you would catch up,” Teresa muttered, opening the door.

Ice covered everything, apart from the elevator.

“Looks like Frosty has been here...” Sophie muttered quietly.

As they descended the elevator Mei-Gan formed into a mouse, hiding in the shadows.

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“I don't like this,” Teresa said as the moving platform came to a stop, “Get your weapon ready.”

“I can go and have a look if you want?” Mei-Gan suggested in a tiny mouse voice.

Teresa looked back at her, “...Ok, but subtlety is the key here.”

“I will be as quiet as a mouse,” she replied jokingly.

“Very funny,” Teresa whispered.

Mei-Gan disappeared into the darkness. Sophie and Teresa sat down in the dark room.

“Will she be ok?” Sophie asked.

“Hope not,” Teresa muttered.

“What do you mean? Do you not think she isn't being straight with us?” Sophie now had a concerned expression on her face.

“She is just so clumsy, it could get us into real trouble,” Teresa said seriously.

“I don't know... I like her, she has an odd realness about her,” Sophie added.

“You mean cluelessness. But she is a Keeper, so it’s better that she is with us then against us,” Teresa slowly got to her feet. “Ahh this ice is making my pants wet. Let's head in quietly,” Teresa walked down the hall, entering the Dragon Doors room.

Sophie followed, stopping abruptly as an arrow whizzed past Teresa, just clipping her forehead.

“Not one move,” a female’s voice came from the darkness. “Where is he?”

“Where is who?” Teresa asked, still looking straight ahead.

Sophie stood, frozen in place behind her.

“Where is Hyung?” The woman’s loud request resonated through the room a thick African accent filling her tone.

“You were here before us. So you should have a better idea of where he is,” Teresa responded.

“Kill them,” a male’s voice called out from the darkness on the other side of the room.

“I don’t think so,” Sophie muttered.

“What’s going on?” the female voice called out.

“You should not have used wooden arrows,” Sophie whispered.

Shizen formed into a sword. Teresa quickly turned and faced the male while Sophie turned to the woman.

The woman let out an angry growl as she struggled with the wood entangling her arms.

“I didn't think it would be that easy,” the man stated as he stood up.

Shizen changed shape and darkened in colour, “Alright. You ready Teresa?” Sophie's eyes aglow with determination.

Teresa drew her remaining sword, “I am always ready.”

Teresa took a step forward and a shuriken flew past her head.

“I don't use wood,” The man stated, “I use real weapons so your little tricks won't work on me.”

A second shuriken hit Teresa in the thigh. Teresa let out a gruff scream as she pulled it out.

“You some sort of coward?” she spoke out to the darkness

“I'm not the one who killed my superior while he slept,” The voice replied.

“Who are you?” Teresa asked, narrowing her eyes into the darkness.

“I am Frosty's right hand. But you would remember me as Vince.”

Teresa mind thought through her previous encounters, “You were his second in charge back then.”

“You killed a skilled Keeper in his bed,” Vince said unimpressed, “And stole the blades that were to be mine.”

“I only did what needed to be done,” Teresa responded.

Sophie looked around, there was no fauna in the room. “This is going to be a difficult fight,” she thought to herself, “I could really use some help Gaia”

“So you finally speak to me,” Gaia replied, “Relax the sword, you are too tense.”

Sophie calmed herself and steadied her breathing.

The girl made a lunge at her out of the darkness with a dagger drawn. Sophie felt Shizen move on its own, block the attack then push the girl to the side.

The sword started to grow over her hands, then up her arms, “What’s going on?” She asked Gaia in a slight panic.

“I am giving you a bark coating for protection. Just let me control this, I have been in many battles before. You be my body, I will be your experience.”

“Ok, I trust you,” Sophie replied.

She took a breath in and let Gaia move her. Their opponent lunged at them again, with more timing and skill this time, Gaia moved Sophie’s arm up, blocking the girl’s dagger with Shizen. Gaia followed through with a punch that caught the girl square in the jaw, sending her falling backwards onto the ground.

“This one is an amateur,” Gaia spoke told Sophie. “Probably just became a level three.”

“So what’s the plan?” Sophie asked, relaxing slightly under Gaia’s control.

“We capture her. Teresa holds a blade which is also known as the Interrogation Blade. She can get the truth out of people while keeping them in a living state.”

Sophie had a concerned expression after that last comment.

The girl returned to her feet and stood in a battle stance. “That was a lucky shot,” she stated confidently.

Sophie could barely make her out under the dim light but she figured the girl must be about the same age as her, “Who are you?” Sophie asked as Gaia moved her into a battle stance.

The girl stayed silent, slowly moving towards Sophie.

Sophie kept her eyes on her, “Who are you?” she repeated.

“I underestimated your skill before. But I will not be making that mistake again,” She said, ignoring Sophie’s question.

The girls now stood about a metre away from each other.

“It’s not me you need to be worried about,” Sophie smiled.

“What are you talking about...” the girl was cut off by a loud growl, encroaching around them from the darkness.

Sophie lowered her sword with a smile, “Do you like cats?”

Large green eyes peered out of the darkness from behind Sophie.

Teresa and Vince had now stopped their fight, watching as a large Black Panther entered the room.

“Where did that cat come from?” the girl called out to Vince.

“Be quiet, don't draw attention to yourself,” Vince replied sternly.

“It doesn't matter,” Sophie called out, “This is my pet. It will follow my commands.”

“You’re lying,” the girl replied, not taking her eyes off the Panther.

“I will prove it,” Sophie stated. The large cat walked up beside Sophie, allowing her to pet it.

The cat then faced the girl, preparing to pounce.

Sophie walked over, picking up the bow that lay on the ground.

“Snap out of it!” Vince’s voice fired across the room, “Kill the cat and finish the girl.”

“Right!” she yelled in agreement.

Teresa's blade narrowly missed Vince's head as he dodged out of the way. He jumped backwards, throwing two shuriken. Teresa dodged one and knocked the other to the ground with her sword.

“Draw Doku! Why don't you go all out?” Vince taunted with a sneer.

“I know you know my blades weakness,” Teresa replied bluntly, “That would make it kinda silly for me to use, don't you think?”

“We have not come here to fight you two,” Vince replied calmly, “We are just looking for Hyung.”

Teresa narrowed her eyes, “What do you want with him?”

“We want to kill him,” a third voice filled the room.

“Jade!” Teresa hissed, “What are you doing here you traitor?”

“You know a thing or two about traitors, don't you Snake.”

Jade walked into the dim light created by the torches around the room.

Teresa suddenly noticed Sam's blade at her side.

“What did you do to Sam?” Teresa asked.

Jade made Teresa hold her own sword against her throat.

“He was a casualty of war,” Jade replied emotionlessly, “You can blame Hyung for his death,” she looked at the two hunters, “You two come along, we are leaving. And if any of you try to follow us, you will kill yourself Teresa.”

The tip of Teresa's blade was now resting against her own neck, “I will find you Jade, and you will regret this.”

“Just as I will find Hyung. And just as Balthazar killed his sister while she hid in her little hut in China.”

“Balthazar?” Teresa asked with a surprised look.

“Who is Balthazar?” Sophie interrupted.

“Don't worry about it,” Teresa replied.

Sophie’s face flashed with worry, “But Nathan's in China!”

“I said don't worry about it!” Teresa shot back sternly.

A cruel smile appeared on Jades face, “Balthazar is one of the level five hunters. He holds a whip that was created in the flaming pits of hell. He is unsurpassed in menace and cruelty. He has never lost a battle, and one touch from the demon whip can leave you unable to move for days. If your friend is with Hyung’s sister, then he is dead as well. Oh, and if he owned a black sword then he is definitely dead…” Jade laughed, walking out of the hideout, “Catch me if you can... Teresa.”

Five minutes past and Teresa threw her sword angrily across the room, “I really hate that woman!”

Mei-Gan formed back to human, “I have to run an errand, I will be back soon.”

“What sort of errand?” Teresa asked suspiciously.

“I have to get the Trumpet somewhere safe,” she walked over and took it out of Sophie’s backpack.

Sophie sat with her back against the wall, burying her head in her hands.

“Do you know where you’re going?” Teresa asked, hesitating when she noticed Sophie’s demoralised posture.

“Yeah,” Mei-Gan replied, “Want to meet back here?”

“Sure,” Teresa sat down next to Sophie as Mei-Gan disappeared out the door.

“Be honest with me,” Sophie started, “Does he have any chance of surviving?”

“I don't know. With the swords Nathan holds, he has a better chance of survival than anyone.”

“What if I never get to see him again?” Sophie was now in tears.

“Toughen up. You don't even know if he is dead or not,” Teresa said with surprising realism.

Sophie looked shocked at Teresa’s calmness.

“I just lost Sam, one of my best friends to a woman who I despise… But a woman who used to be my friend. But that is part of what we are doing. Am I sad? Yes. But it makes me more determined to succeed in what we set out to do. Now I am going to find Jade and Frosty, and I am going to liberate this Island. Are you coming with me or do I have to do this by myself?”

Teresa’s speech filled Sophie with determination, “Yeah, I will mourn if I need to when I find out for sure.”

“Right then let’s go,” Teresa spoke as she turned to go out the door.

“Umm... We need to wait here for Mei-Gan to get back,” Sophie called after her.

Teresa stopped in her tracks, “Err... Right… Well we will rest here for a bit then.”

Sophie looked into the darkness, whispering to herself, “God, if your there… Please bring him back to me.”