The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

First Round

[Teri]

Teri stood over the waterfall, her Mother's trident in hand. She looked up at the sky, near the sun. The treeline was covering most of the light. She knew it was nearly sundown and if she wanted to find Sophia she had to find her fast. She walked away into the trees and followed the same path from earlier, this time being more thorough. Hoping to find any clues to where Sophia was taken. Apollo couldn't catch up to her in time, but Teri thought that she might be able to pick up the trail. She knew Sophia was strong, she hoped she would be able to hold out long enough for Teri to come rescue her. The light was dim through the trees, making it a little difficult to see where she was going. She tried to stay calm, but all there really was to see was kicked up dirt and sticks. Nothing gave her any significant clues. Teri looked around through the trees.

"Sophie!" she called out. The wind echoed back but gave no other response. She called out a few more times, but no answer was given. Teri didn't give up, she decided to sweep the area for any more clues. If there was any left to find, that is.

"Sophia!" she called out one more time. It was suddenly followed by a snap coming from somewhere behind her. She whirled around for the source, but saw nothing. She armed herself and looked closer. She seemed to be the only one around. At least, at the moment.

She turned around one more time, and at that moment a Shadovian leaped out from behind the trees. Teri screamed, but somehow jumped out of the way just in time before it was able to knock her to the ground. This time she was ready, she didn't want to hold back any longer. Teri gripped her trident tightly and charged at the beast. She plunged her trident into the Shadovian and it let out a howl. It reared up on it's hind legs, pulling Teri with her and almost knocking her into a tree. She put her feet up against the trunk and pushed her trident harder into the creature. It screeched and finally crashed onto the ground. Teri grasped her trident and tried to pull it back out, but it felt stuck. She used all her strength to dislodge it.

Suddenly, another howl rang through the trees. Teri glanced down. She knew she was about to be hunted. She had to get out of here. She put one foot against the slowly melting creature and pulled with all her might. As soon as it came out, another Shadovian tried to attack her but was met by the other end of the trident. It stumbled away and Teri turned around to face it. She didn't know where this one came from, but she quickly prepared herself to fight it. The Shadovian hopped up and made multiple swipes at her. With each strike, Teri blocked it with the trident and tried to fight back. She poked and stabbed and quickly moved out of the way before it was able to tackle her. The battle was followed by a third Shadovian, but it wasn't able to pin her down. Teri tumbled to the ground and quickly picked up the trident. She made a stance and pointed her weapon at both of the creatures. They roared at her and slowly started walking at her. Teri backed up slowly, not taking her eye off of either of them. She wasn't sure if she could take on two of them at once. She wasn't sure what move to make.

Without warning, the creature on the left began to charge at her. But Teri heard something else. Something yelled through the sky, into the trees and took a flying kick at the face of the Shadovain, knocking it off it's feet and the figure tumbling to the ground. It shook it's head and ran around in circles before joining the other and began to prepared for another attack. Teri gasped when she recognized the figure.

"Sophie!"

Sophia glanced at her for a moment.

"Teri, get back!"

The other Shadovian leaped at Sophia and she quickly drew her crystal sword and with one swing, it's arm was cut clean off and it howled in rage. She approached it cautiously and attempted a few more hits, but as she was distracted the first Shadovian jumped over her and headed towards her. She quickly glanced at Teri. But this time, Teri was ready. She was no longer frozen in fear, she raised her trident high and struck back as the Shadovian landed in front of her. She swung with all her strength and struck the creature cold and hard in the chest. It reared up, but had no strength left and died on the ground. Teri breathed heavily as she stared at the Shadovian, its body beginning to melt. She heard Sophia's tired grunts and snapped out of her daze. The creature swung hard with it's paw and knocked Sophia's sword out of her hand. It was too far to grab and she backed up slowly, not taking her gaze off the creature. She heard Teri yell from afar as she charged at the Shadovian. She leaped high into the air and stabbed the monster hard into it's back. The creature shrieked and stumbled to the ground, until it finally ceased to move. Teri struggled to remove her trident as Sophia went to grab her sword. It retracted back into it's crystal form as Sophia looked at Teri. Teri hopped off and looked back at Sophia.

"Sophia, you're okay!" Teri smiled.

"Yeah. You okay?" Sophia asked.

"Yes, I'm alright." Teri looked down at herself, but didn't notice any wounds on her.

"Where's everyone else? Are they okay?"

"Yes, they're fine. Apollo was injured, but I'll tell you everything when we get back."

"Okay."

They both walked slowly away, trying to catch their breath and calm down after the attack. As they walked, Teri thought to herself. She finally fought back against those awful creatures, and won. With the help of Sophia of course. Who somehow appeared out of nowhere, but Teri didn't seem to care. She was here and alive and she was glad to see her okay.

But that thought of happiness didn't last.

From behind them, a gust of wind blew that made them shiver. Their smiles faded as they both felt like something wasn't right. They looked at each other for a moment, then looked around themselves.

"Sophie, do you feel that?" Teri asked nervously. Sophia didn't respond right away, but took a moment to confirm her suspicions.

"Yeah..."

Neither of them understood what was happening, they only knew that they didn't like whatever was happening. Teri gripped her trident close to her as Sophia held the crystal. She looked down at it, not wanting to show her weapon just yet in case it was actually nothing. It glowed dimly in her palm, but noticed that it began to get dark. Fast.

Teri and Sophia looked above them and saw that the trees and leaves above them seemed to be closing in on them, as the clouds above rolled over the sky and began to blot out the light of the moon. Their surroundings began to fade and they struggled to see anything beyond their faces.

"Sophie, what's happening?"

"I don't know," she said quickly.

Sophia shivered in the cold and put a hand to her shoulder. Teri let the bottom of her trident touch the ground but refused to loosen her grip. They looked around and stared at what appeared to be nothing, but the both of them knew that there had to be something.

Teri suddenly gasped loudly, making Sophia's head turn as they stared into what could only be described as a large pair of deep, red eyes. And it stared right through them.