“Iris, want help?” said Arima

“Yeah.” responded Iris

I watch as Iris hands over a gasoline tank to Arima. He pours the rest of the gasoline on the dry firewood. Iris eats a piece of gum and reaches into her red puffy coat. She pulls out her hand with a battery in it. She first places the gum wrapper on the positive side and reaches the wrapper down to the negative side. A fire sparks to life from the tools and She places the flame into the gasoline.

“Whoa, the fire is huge.” said Maka while she sits in a chair next to Iris

“Don’t you think it will attract those monsters.” I said looking at the dark forest trees

“Maybe but we got to stay warm.” Iris said in a tone like she is teaching a kindergarten class

“Okay we need a name for the monsters!” said Maka  

“Okay what about Updates?” said Arima  

“Boo!” Iris teased

“Okay what about Stages?” asked Maka  

“Nope.” I said

“I got one! Galbrutes.” Iris said

“I like it!” said Arima

“Agreed.” I said

“Okay, then that's their name.” Maka said

After we got attacked at the EPM, my parents were arrested and taken away. I don’t know how many people got out alive I just know that we all got away. Iris was separated from her mother and father. Arima said he went to the camp by himself. Maka parents went the other direction. Maka has been texting them, but last night her parents phone died. Everywhere we went that has power is either controlled by another group and trust me when I say nobody wants to share. The other reason is because the newly named Gallbrutes are wondering around in that area.

Remember a couple of days ago there was a news report. About a new gun store opening, yea we are trying to go there.

“Well, I’m going to sleep.” Iris said with a sleepy look in her eyes

“Good night, Iris.” I said

See walks over to her sleeping bag and crawls into it. I can’t tell if it's cute or weird. But when she sleeps in the sleeping bag she crawls completely in it, and her long hair is the only thing that you can see.

“Well, I going to follow her example.” Arima said

He is not cute when he crawls into his sleeping bags. He just gets into it and sticks his head out.

“How was your day Maka.” I said trying to get a conversation going.

“It was not as bad as it was a week ago at the camp.” Maka said while reaching her hands over the fire

“Yea that was a terrible day.” I said

“So what weapons are you going to snag.”

“Hmm...maybe a gun and a sword if I can.”

“Guns would be nice, but just in case, we need to at least grab some melee weapon.”

“Wow, Maka I didn’t know that you used your head that much.”

“Hehe..wait don't make fun of me!” Yelled Maka

“SHUT UP!” Iris yelled

“Oh yeah, Iris loves her sleep.” whispered Maka

“I guess you right.”

“It’s pretty annoying.” said Maka “Last year I spent a night at her house and she didn't wake up no matter what I did.”

“What did you do, weren't you bored?”

“I looked through all her yearbooks.”

“Oh yeah, looking for all the hearts around her crushes?”

“Maybe.”

“Snoop.”

“I was bored.”

“Sure.”

“I going to sleep now.” said Maka as she got up and crawled into her sleeping bag

The fire burns peacefully.  I can’t sleep right now, I feel like I should be doing something, killing something. Since that day, I stabbed that Galbrute, I had the lust to kill more. I don’t know why, It’s just I want too, really bad. I told everyone I’ll cut the firewood, it's been the only way for me to hit something and take my rage out without everyone knowing.

I grab an axe and travel out into the woods. It’s cold and quite. I don’t if any of the monsters are sleeping, or waiting to pounce on me. To be honest I want one to show itself. As long as it is a decent size that I can hack my axe into it.

I slam my axe into a tree. I pump my arm back and swing with all my might. The axe makes a loud noise as it cuts deeper into the tree. I continue doing this until the tree is close to falling down. I turn back and walk into our little camp. I put the axe down, and snuggle up into my sleeping bag.  

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*

The sun rises over the blue mountain. The tall green trees stand firmly blocking lots of the sun's harsh rays. I smell something good cooking. I open my eyes and see Iris cooking bacon over the fire. I get up and walk over to her

“What you got there.” I said placing my hand on her shoulder

“Some bacon, want some.”

“Yea!”

She hands me a piece of bacon. A wonderful taste flows through my taste buds. We have been eating, some pretty gross stuff lately, so this bacon is a delicious treat.

“Where did you get the bacon?” I asked

“I don’t know, I was just searching through my bag and I saw that I brought it. I guess we are lucky that I found it in my secret pocket.”

“I guess so.” I said while finishing the last part of the bacon “So why is sleeping beauty up so early.”

“Ah thank you, I know I’m pretty beautiful.” She said proudly “I just woke up because I heard a sound.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up. I could have protected y-”

“Shh.” She shoves another piece of bacon into my mouth

“Mmm.” I said while chewing on the bacon. “Thank you, princess.”

“No problem you lonely peasant.” She said while brushing her hair

“I’m not that low of a rank am I?”

“Sadly you are.” She stopped brushing her hair and a smile appeared. “In fact, brush my hair for me.”

“You're not joking.” I said while reaching out for the square brush

“Nope and you better brush nice and gentle.”

I stroke her soft, clean, and brown hair. Her hair is long and smells fantastic.

“Ouch!” She snapped in suddenly quick pain.

“Sorry Iris.”

“It’s okay just be careful.”

*

“Okay, Akico is just north from here.” Arima said

“Alright!” Iris said happily

A quick whistle shrieks in the air.

“Watch out!” Maka yells. “An arrow just shot at us!”

I look back and see a Gallbrute. It has a medium build. It has green skin and black scales that replaces armor. A club on its back and a crossbow in hand.

“Run!” Iris screams as she hides behind a giant rock

This is my chance. I shove my bag into Arima’s hand. I grab the axe from Arima, and rush for the enemy. The battlefield is covered in dry grass. Tall trees in a parallel path in front of us. Three giant rocks, and lots of small rocks.

I push off the ground “Kah!” I pounce at the monster and swing my axe at its black scales.

“Kraww!” The Galbrute screams in pain as its scales just got split into two.

“Ah..ah.” I breathe in and start to swing the axe.

“Etzor!’ Screams Maka. “Get away from it!”

The Galbrute loads another arrow and aims the crossbow at me. I jump behind a medium size rock. It shoots and the arrow goes through the rock, barely missing me.

“ETZOR!” Arima scream! “Get away!”

“Sorry, but no!”

I get out and run towards the Galbrute. The Galbrute throws the crossbow on the ground has grabs the wooden club on its back.

I mutter “That’s stupid.”

“Krah!” The Galbrute swings its club.

“Ahhh!” I crash my axe into the wood. It’s no different than the trees I was swinging at last night. I fall to the ground and slash the Galbrute’s knees. Blood spills all over the floor. The Galbrute falls and it’s head lands in front of mine.

“Good night.” I swing the axe and I crash it into its head. Blood splashes all over me. It’s weird, the skin is hard but the brain is squishy.

“Eztor.” Iris runs up to me. “Are you okay? You're covered in blood.”

“Haha..don't worry I feel fine.” I said lying. I don’t feel just feel fine, I feel magnificent.

“Well as long as you're fine!” Maka added

“But that was amazing you killed that Galbrute by yourself.”

“Haha..It wasn’t that much.”