The Last Defender

By Clair McIntyre

The road to ruin is often paved with good intentions...

Memphis Halsin is on a man on a reckless self-destructive quest to lure the last Horseman of the Apocalypse, Karanthos of Plague, into a winner-take-all fight. Unfortunately for Memphis, his bold moves have actually cost someone else very dear to him, their life. Not to mention, they nearly cost him his own as well if not for the one woman who swore to never have anything to do with him; Callie of the Griffins. Back to square one, Memphis has little choice but to trust Callie and take an entirely different approach, something that make just break this devil-may-care Halsin.

Time may heal all wounds but it does little to help the heart...

Callie of the Griffins was once just as reckless as Memphis but she too has paid a high price for her actions. Swearing to never return to those ways, she buries her past and becomes the tranquil Rare that everyone knows her to be today. Though since Memphis arrived on Terriana, the home of the Animalia, she has been far from tranquil as she recognizes him immediately as her mate. Callie fought the call for years but after Memphis has a near brush with death, Callie knows she has lost that battle and accepts her fate, though there is she still believes there is no hope for them with the Horseman of Apocalypse still looming over them.

The final battle is upon us, who will win?

Memphis knows that he must fight for a lot of things; his family, his people and most importantly his mate. Though for the first time in his life, Memphis must believe in an ancient prophecy that he has always scorned. The prophecy that has declared him to be 'The Last Defender', the only being able to stand on the very edge of disaster and hold back the tide. In order to do this he must journey around the world, fighting not only his own fears and self-doubts but the very real minions of the last Horseman of the Apocalypse that are out to kill him and those Memphis holds dear. After all, Memphis isn't the only out for revenge, Karanthos is too and this is one battle that may be too close to call.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clair McIntyre
• Release date: Nov 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370772490

Clair McIntyre

I live in Courtice, ON, a place google can't find on the map. I spend most of my time driving those nearest and dearest, absolutely crazy, and procrastinating on numerous schemes. I also like to learn so I can often be found playing video games, reading random pages on wikipedia and watching documentaries.On a more serious note, I'm really an open book. I like to seeing the lighter side in life, and though sometimes what I write might be on the darker side, I like to think that even at the darkest point in one's lives, there's always hope.

Book preview

Book Four of the Halsin Chronicles

By Clair McIntyre

Copy Right

The Last Defender

by Clair McIntyre

Copyright 2016 Clair McIntyre

Cover Art Nathan Duclos

Smashwords Edition

ISBN-13:

Dedication

First to my editor Rebecca Mosseau thank you for putting up with my nonsensical sentences :) To Nathan Duclos, who created the best cover ever from my crazy stick drawing ;P To my mum, dad and sister who always supported me and finally to my readers who have been eagerly waiting the final Halsin battle, this one is for you.

Prologue

Dear Callie Kalomahaya of the Griffins,

I truly hope this letter reaches you in time because everything that we’ve all feared is about to come to pass. Though no matter what happens to me, I implore you to protect and teach my grandson, Memphis Halsin what he needs to know.

For I know that only you can protect him, since you are a very rare breed of Animalia that possesses gifts that can change the world much like my grandson. Nonetheless, I am truly sorry to ask this of you Callie but he really needs you, more than he'll ever admit to.

Good Luck Callie for I know you may need.

All the best to you,

Ian Halsin

Callie read then re-read the short letter before she balled her hands in anger, accidentally crumpling it. Since she was upset over the fact that everything she had so worked so hard to keep from happening, had just begun.

Unfortunately for her, the one person who could prevent a huge catastrophe had to be the boldest most arrogant fool in the world, Memphis Halsin.

Reggie, I need your help, Callie called using a magical pulse to summon the leader of the hellhounds.

Reggie appeared looking as calm and as deadly as ever, seemingly ready to hear Callie out.

I need you to track down someone for me, old friend, Callie said at once.

Tell me the person's name and it is done.

Callie smiled at him before she sighed and said, Memphis Ulysses Halsin.

Reggie cocked an eyebrow before he said, You want me to find the Minotaur?

Yes, uttered Callie as she blew out another breath.

Reggie shrugged his shoulder before he suddenly melded away into the shadows. Immediately afterwards Callie shifted back to her normal griffin form and paced her den, silently cursing Memphis.

An hour later Reggie returned and quietly remarked, He's in deep trouble and you're not going to like where he is.

Callie took her human shape again and demanded, Don't tell me that he's been kidnapped by the Horseman of Plague!

Yes he has, and he's not in good shape either. In fact lesser men would die of the same injuries.

Callie rubbed her face feeling both aggravated and fearful.

Call all the elite hellhounds together and tell them that they're needed urgently. Then as soon they are all here, we'll mount an assault to get him back.

Reggie nodded before disappearing again.

Left alone, Callie quietly prayed to the Light that Memphis would survive long enough for her to save him; before she mentally added, hold on Memphis, I'm coming for you.

*****

Memphis Halsin

They say that in the moments just before death, all your past regrets fly to the forefront of your mind and I always thought it was a big joke, until one of the worst moments of my life happened. Then sure enough, all my regrets were there.

However they also say that a person who is seconds from death is at their most humble, since they'll do anything for a second chance. Which couldn't be further from the truth for me. After all, I was bold, arrogant, Memphis Halsin, and I couldn't be any less humble if I tried. In fact I was completely pissed off at that moment and there were so many things that made me feel that way, which I can't even begin to tell you them all. Though I will admit that a few of them were pretty stupid, when I looking back on them now.

However, what I felt at the time wasn't something I truly remembered first, since my mind always seemed to focus more on the event that caused me to be in this situation. I mean, I remember the moment so clearly; my grandfather was behind the wheel of my car, I was saying some really stupid things and then... then it all happened.

Time stood still for a brief second when Karanthos attacked us as a single thought entered my mind; Just who the Hell did Pestilence think he was?

Then I continued to curse him mentally just as the car spun out of control before the noise of the screeching tires, the shattering glass, and the twisting metal frame overwhelmed me as the mangled wreckage of the car close in around me and my grandfather.

I don't remember what truly happened next because I blacked out but I'm pretty sure that I had been ejected from the car through the windshield. Granted, whatever the case may be the first thing I felt as I came too, was the agony of a searing burn that engulfed the whole left side of my torso. Raising my head up as much as I could and I saw that my left side was on fire from the fuel of the car.

Using a tiny part of my waning magic that had already funnelled itself into my gravest wounds to keep alive, I was able to put out the fire before I slummed back down onto the ground. Then just as I was about to pass out from pain again, I caught sight of the grotesque monster that I had been secretly hunting for years.

So you're the renowned Memphis Halsin, paranormal hunter extraordinaire? And here I thought that you'd actually be a challenge, what a pity, the monster said.

Hey jerk face you'd better pray that these wounds keep me down for a long time because as soon as I heal, I'm coming for you.

What bold empty words, Pestilence retorted.

I snorted, They're not empty, not in the least.

Then as darkness fully encroached on my vision, I clearly remember thinking, run and hide Pestilence because I will kill when I get the chance.

Part One:

Fall From Grace

Chapter One: The Man of the Hour

"Who's says I can't have my cake and eat it to? Obviously I can because I'm a complete law unto myself or haven't you heard?"- Memphis Halsin, Tokyo, Japan

Memphis Halsin

Three days earlier...

My friend Thorn and I were leaving Tokyo's Narita airport in a whirlwind frenzied circus of press. Which was kind of unsurprising, since over the past year my notoriety had grown to a fevered pitch but I still found it disconcerting to say the least. I mean, I had never set out to for things to be this way, but I was a man who couldn't walk away from a dare. So when my best friend Thorn, dared me to rescue the young kidnapped son of the Japanese Prime Minster after watching the news report about it, I immediately went out to prove him wrong. Though who would have known that the son would turn out Japan's little media darling.

Now I couldn't enter or go anywhere in Japan without being widely recognized. Okay granted, my neon blue Mohawk and biker attire didn't help matters but I wasn't about to change my appearance for anyone.

Anyway, Thorn and I were hustled through security quickly by a group of airport security guards who were there to maintain order as much as they could.

Then we quickly boarded a small private jet after buckling in, I looked over at my frazzled best friend, grinning as I remarked,Well, that was absurd.

You think? Ugh, my uncle Llyr is going to have a huge fit over this when he finds out about how notorious we’ve just become. Seriously Memphis, we need to start flying under the radar more, if for no other reason save for our unchanging immortal appearances. I mean honestly, we’re going to start drawing the wrong kind of attention soon.

Relax Thorn, we live in the age of plastic surgery and it’ll take years for people to notice that our youthful appearances are abnormal. By that time, we’ll be old men and hopefully long forgotten by then.

You know, it isn’t very reassuring that you want to keep doing this crazy stuff until we qualify for old age pension. Good grief man, that’s at least another thirty years away.

I eyed my best friend as I responded, And your point is?

That you’re absolutely crazy.

That I am but everyone loves me anyway.

Thorn snorted, You sure don’t lack in confidence do you Memphis?

Why would I? I mean come on, there are plenty of people out there who don’t have any confidence and I figured,‘I’ll just have more confidence than everyone else and make up for the deficit.’

Thorn turned, looked directly at me and remarked, Wow… just wow.

I snorted again as I replied, Relax Thorn, I was only joking. Now I have something to tell you but promise me that you won’t be mad first.

No I definitely won’t promise you that because th last time you said that, we ended up cancelling our vacation for a mission… Light’s sake man, not again!

No, we won’t be cancelling our vacation fully this time, I swear. I am merely suggesting that we postpone it by a day, two at the most, since it’s a small job I swear. Now, getting down to business, there’s a small hamlet in Papa New Guinea that is currently cut off by a raging wildfire. From the intel I received, there’s a river near them, so I figure we take a boat up the river from the ocean, rescue the villagers, then bada-bing, bada-boom we’re done and in Bali enjoying surf, sand and unlimited drinks at an all-inclusive resort. Oh and Kei is even going to meet us there.

Memphis.

Yeah?

Memphis, Thorn said as he eyed me as if to say, what aren’t telling me.

Now promise me you that won’t get mad…

Memphis.

Alright, alright, stop saying my name over and over. Gah, it's so annoying! Any who, there may be a slight… no it’s more of a really remote chance of a possible tribal feud…oh… and the wildfire... well that was kind of caused by an erupting volcano, but it’s going to be all good, I swear.

Memphis!

*****

Callie Kalomahaya

Calm, focused, tranquil, I chanted to myself, as I started my daily mediation by clearing my mind.

Callie! My sister’s voice called before she continued, Callie, where the hell are you?

My tail twitched in irritation at the interruption of my daily mediation.

Effin’ kitty cat never responds to me. Oh no, she rather let me waste my precious oxygen, by shouting like an idiot, than respond. Not that she really cares about her poor neglected sister who's trouncing around in the elements.

I opened one eye, noticed that my sister Tessi was directly below me, at the base of tree. So I decided to ready myself to pounce when the opportunity arose.

Once she had her back to me, I made my move. Though as I pounced I let out a low growl as a warning.

What the… Tessi let out as she spun around and shifted forms.

At first, I had the upper hand because my momentum knocked her back. However not one to be down and out when a sneak attack happens, Tessi rolled in the air with me before we tussled playfully in cat form, not willing to give in, until someone else pulled us apart.

Honestly you two are acting like cubs, and it's really undignified for felines of your age.

My sister Tessi shifted back first as she retorted, Hey, hey, hey, thems fightin’ words, big brother.

Ooh, I shake in fear… not, my brother Asa murmured.

You should! Because I'm absolutely deadly, I tell you!

Yes, yes, I know, I know, you are Tessya…

"… ‘The magnificent’, Empress of Australia, and Dominion of Tasmania, which by the way, is named after me because I’m super awesome."

My brother Asa sighed as I changed forms and burst out laughing.

Callie, don’t encouraged her and Tessi… where on Earth to start with you? First off, I don’t know how many times that I’ve told you this but Australia and Tasmania are actually part of one country.

Rebel lies!

Which supposed rebel group are you referring to now? I asked with a grin.

The future Australian Rebel League, the flippin’ jerk faces! I mean, they are always ruining my future plans of benevolent despot-ship. Ugh trust Australia to have a future league to stop me before I even get started, freakin' crazy people.

Says the cat, who is one step away from an extended stay in a nice asylum, I said sweetly.

Meany, I’m not crazy, that’s what everyone wants you to think.

Tessi?

Focus!

I’m not stupid, Tessi declared.

I did not mean that kind of focus. I mean, focus, focus, as in tell me why you are here ruining my afternoon mediation.

Sunny and Remy want to see you.

Alright, let’s go then, I said at once.

Asa shook his head as he said, No Callie, you are to go alone.

Which sucks by the way especially since, Remy told me to mind my business when I asked him what it was about. So don't forget to tell me all the juicy details later, ‘kay?

No, she will not because what is private is private. Now don’t be so nosy Tessi, Asa stated.

I’m a cat and I’m nosy by nature duh. I’m also a natural born ninja, and someone who needs to be revered like the ancient Egyptians used to do with cats, back in the day.

They also buried cats alive, you know, I remarked.

To which I say, the outrage will never be forgiven or forgotten. Stupid jerk faces… hey Callie, where are you going?

To see Remy and Sunny, I will be back soon, promise, I said as I shifted back to my cat form.

Leaping back up into the foliage of the trees, I nimbly crossed the canopy heading towards the sacred meeting ground, where I knew they would be waiting for me.

It took me a few minutes to reach the grounds. Though once I did, I spotted Remy and Sunny, the Elder Animalia Rares, sitting on the old sacred rocks. Automatically I changed back to my human form before I fully approached them.

"Hello Callie, unfortunately we haven't called you here for happy news, cherie," Remy drawled.

No it is not, we have dire news for you, Kitsune stated solemnly.

What is it? What is wrong?

Memphis Halsin is being targeted, by the Horseman of Pestilence who has recently escaped the seal that Memphis' mother placed upon him. Which means Memphis is the only one in the world who, at full strength, will be able to defeat him but the future surrounding him is murky.

Why are you telling me this? Why not just tell this to him directly?

You know that if we do, Callie, he will do something irrational.

I snorted at that, And how will I be able to make a difference? He has not spoken to me since our last argument, over a year and a half ago.

That argument happened shortly after Memphis' sister Lydia Lindgren had come to Terriana, home of the Animalia. She implored us to activate the Isles power source and most of the rares had agreed to do so immediately. Though a few would only do so if Memphis Halsin took his place among the Animalia, and chose a mate since he started showing signs of full blown heat. Which caused a lot of other Animalia to rejoice over that fact since they thought that a mate would curb some of Memphis' ridiculous reckless nature.

Little did anyone realize, Memphis Halsin was the law onto himself. He is and was always ready to take extreme risks no matter the circumstance. I mean, I had heard many stories of him jumping into deadly situations like rescuing people in politically unsound countries during a natural disaster or taking on noble illicit activities like bounty hunting very dangerous criminals in countries without extradition treaties. Though the hothead, as I liked to call him, even went as far as to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.

Honestly I could go on and the risks he took exasperated me to no end since I do not believe for one moment that he did these things to really make a statement. No I believe Memphis did these sorts of things because he had never been told 'no' before, I swear.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I focused my attention back on the Elders, as I said, Seriously, he will not listen to me because he does not believe in listening to anyone.

Remy snorted, "I know it ma cherie, but you do have a better chance of getting through to him than anyone else because you are his mate."

Respectfully Remy, I really doubt that, since Memphis does not see me as his mate at all. He does not like me anymore and everyone knows that.

He does like you Callie, which is why he acts childishly around you. Though you too, have acted childishly around him, especially by both accepting him and rejecting him in one sentence. So bridge the gap and make him see sense. If that doesn't work... well, just knock him out and drag him back here.

Remy, that goes against what we believe in as Animalia, Kitsune scolded.

"It really doesn't Sunny m'amie, and anyway, desperate times call for desperate measures, which mean if the kid won't see sense, then we'll just show him some tough love. For no matter what, we can't just let him die, no matter how many stupid attempts he makes and ultimately, it's time for Memphis Halsin to grow up and take up the mantle of his responsibilities."

Kitsune sighed, I just can't see him doing that, but I do agree with you that he needs too. So in saying that Callie, I hate to ask this of you, but please keep the fool alive, until we can make him see sense.

I grimaced since I realized that I was between a rock and a hard place. For I did not believe for one moment that I would be able to do the impossible and talk Memphis Halsin into acting rationally, and try to take on Karanthos, the Horseman of Plague solo. But then again, there was a huge part of me that refused to fail in this task because I refuse to fail at anything Seriously we feline shifters are prideful animals and sometimes that pride is a huge double edge sword for us.

So knowing that there was only one answer that I could accept, I responded with, Alright, I will save him from the dire situation, and talk to him about the danger he faces but I will leave it to you two to see that he understand his duty I will not be responsible for that.

That is fair and acceptable, Callie Kalomahaya of the Felines, Kitsune agreed.

Now that, that is settle, we just got word that Memphis is in the middle of a wildfire in Papa New Guinea attempting to rescue a tribe, so you may want to go see him, sooner rather than later.

I stared at the elders and counted to ten before I responded shortly, I am going now.

Both Elders nodded their good byes as I turned around and left the sacred immediately, heading towards a dangerous situation as I felt nothing but a seething anger build within me at the hothead's latest stunt. Irrationally, I wanted to make him pay for making me feel this way, big time and I wanted to do it in such a way that would make him think twice before ever doing something that would make me this mad again.

Chapter Two: Eye of the Tiger

"Quit whining guys, this isn't insane I swear! Okay Thorn I will give you, that normal people venture and do not in the middle of tribal war as a volcano erupts but we're heroes, this is just par for the course." - Memphis Halsin, Papa New Guinea

Memphis Halsin

Okay, okay, I hated to admit it but I kind of miscalculated with this mission. I mean, maybe I shouldn't have took this case but at the same time, it went against everything in me to let people die without even to trying to save them.

This was a really stupid idea, Memphis, my friend Kei shouted at me for the fifth time as we all ran carrying an elder tribesmen on our back away from the angry tribe behind us.

Well I didn't plan for a tribal fight to happen right now. I mean seriously, there's a volcano erupting and the forests are all ablaze, so why the hell would anyone try to settle a score now? I retorted.

You should have known that it was in the realm of possibilities Memphis because you are like Murphy's Law on steroids when it comes to any mission. Seriously, nothing ever goes to plan because something ridiculous always happens, Thorn declared.

It's not that bad, though okay, granted we've been in a few iffy situations over the past few years but those weren’t entirely my fault.

The fiasco last year in Burma was, Kei pointed out immediately.

Alright, that one I'll admit to but it should have been a given since military juntas and I have never got along. So if you expected me to just listen to that stupid military upstart, oh excuse me, 'President for Life', then you'll be in for a long wait. Anyway, someone needed to knock some sense into him.

It didn't have to be you, nor did we have to be involved in a huge brawl neither, after you failed to warn us!

I did when I said 'talk sense into this idiot before I knock him completely senseless', which by definition, was fair warning.

No it's not because you said that to us when your fist was literally planting itself into his face.

Okay, let's move on from that one because that was my bad there. Anyway, we really shouldn't be arguing with a raging wildfire and an angry tribe behind us. Honestly, I can't see this helping our situation at all... now where the hell is the boat, again? I demanded when I realized that I had taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Damn it Memphis! How the hell do you have no sense of direction at all and didn't have the presence of mind to bring something that did?

So sue me that I don't have one of the fancy schmancy GPS units because I'm not a member of the Borg. Honestly, why should I be all wired in when it's nothing but useless extra weight since I'm pretty sure none of it would work given the fact all the other gadgets we use in situations like this, never do.

Yes but still, you respond to natural disasters and rule number one for any first responder is to secure your exit point in a severe event. Come on, we all took the same course and I seriously can't believe you past it without paying attention to something so important. So at very least, carry a freaking map!

Oh come on, what good is a map when the only land markers are trees. Besides, I was top of our class so I should know, I responded with a grin over my shoulder to Thorn.

How the hell managed that, I'll never know, Thorn retorted.

Easy, I have an eidetic memory so I just read the entire textbook before every test.

An eidetic memory that never, ever seems to remember what is on a map, Kei retorted.

Well since I never truly looked at a map...

Memphis! Thorn roared.

Don't get your knickers in a twist Thorn, we're on a friggin' island, so I'm sure we'll find our way somehow.

"Before or after we run into the lava, the raging wildfire, or the angry tribe that you pissed off," Kei pointed out emphasizing you.

Well I'm pretty hopeful that it'll be before, but you never know.

Blessed Light, Memphis! Will you take this situation seriously for once! Thorn shouted again.

I snorted, No, I don't think I will. Come on, Keiran, Hawthorn, we will be just fine. Just do what I'm doing, keep your mind on the surf, sun and fun of our resort near Bali that we'll be enjoying soon and you'll be infinitely happier, trust me. Anyway pissing off both factions of the warring tribes by stealing their chieftains and running them all to the boat was pretty genius idea. I mean come on, it would have taken us ages to reason with them and them we would have all died by the hands of the volcano I'm sure.

"Memphis... when this is all through we're going to have a long talk about it and I mean long," Kei said.

That's what she said, I retorted childishly with a grin.

Memphis! Kei shouted before he started to curse me out.

*****

Callie Kalomahaya

I followed Memphis through the burning trees above him as I too cursed him, though mentally. After all, it had taken me a while to figure out that the hot head didn't know where the heck he was going in fact, he seemed to be just blindly running around. Not to mention, I knew that he didn't have a clue about what was really going on. Since he disrespectfully ran into the middle of a ritual meant to appease the volcano and then to add to it, he kidnapped the elders which caused a bigger ruckus.

Unable to contain my frustration any longer I let out a loud cat screech which halted the angry villagers as well as Memphis and his two best friends. Quickly, leaping down from the tree tops in my cat form, I stood in between Memphis, Thorn, Kei and the villagers.

Callie, why the hell are you here and in your real form, are you nuts? Memphis demanded.

I turned my head to face him and hissed before I morphed back into my human form.

The villagers gasped, before falling to their knees and bowing in reverence.

Please don't bow to me, my friends and as one of guardian of this forest I will protect you from the volcano. Though in return, I ask you to forgive our village idiot for the blunder he has made, I said in the local dialect.

All of the villagers got up from the ground and chuckled at my remark.

What the hell did you say? Memphis asked me in English.

Nothing and just what were you thinking coming here with no plan, no sense of direction and seemingly no sense at all? You know what, just stay here and I will take care of things, I said.

Um... Callie hon, I hate to point this out since I agree with you and all, but we can't stay here with the erupting volcano and active wildfire. Honestly, we've got to make it to the boat like yesterday, Kei said.

Well you can't, since yon fool over there led you in the wrong direction for so long that the boat actually caught fire and sunk to the bottom of the river.

You have got to be kidding me! Thorn demanded.

No and as I've said, I will sort this out now but again, stay here and do nothing, absolutely nothing and I am speaking to you Memphis, I said as I glared at him.

Oh sorry were you really? Because so far you've only referred me as 'yon fool', he retorted sarcastically.

Well if the shoe fits, Memphis, then you must wear it, I responded sweetly.

Kei and Thorn snorted though they tried not to laugh, especially when Memphis glared at them before turning back to me to say something sarcastic but lucky for me, the most revered elder of the village, whom Memphis had on his back, knocked him up the side the head with his walking stick.

Heed the guardian, the old man declared in his native tongue.

Ow, what the hell was that for? Memphis demanded.

The elder hit him again as he remarked, Silly fool, you are lucky that guardian is here, otherwise we would have chucked you into the volcano to appease the spirits for your grievous error.

Elder, please stop hitting him for he can't lose what the little sense he has left. Besides he is my mate and I need him as he is, I responded.

The elder gasped, He's your mate guardian?

Yeah he is... anyway, I really need to get going since this situation is dire but in the meantime please don't rage against my mate any further for he truly means no harm.

The old man looked between Memphis and I before he shrugged and said, Okay, but tell him to put me down. I am a still a warrior, not a feeble infant that needs to be carried.

I nodded as I responded, Memphis, Kei and Thorn let the elders go, for you are hurting their pride as well as their standing among the villagers.

Reluctantly all three let the elders go, who immediately walked back towards the villagers. Then without a backwards glance, I switched forms again and took off into the sky, circling everyone once to create a protective barrier that would keep them safe while I went to work.

Racing across the super-heated air of the forest fire below me, I mentally called out to my old friend Ionika, the Phoenix, whom I had ask to meet me after hearing about Memphis' latest escapade.

I asked, hey Ionika can you calm this volcano?

Hmm... judging by the energy that is coming off this volcano, it is only a VE2 on the scale and I can manage up to a VE6 maybe even a VE7, so I would say so, yes, Ionika responded referencing the volcanic explosiveness scale.

I wasn't entirely sure the exact difference was besides the fact that VE2 was less bad than a VE6 or VE7, and I also know that anything above that would be absolutely cataclysmic.

Okay then, I'll leave you to quell the volcano Ionika, while I'm going to deal with the fires while you're at it.

Spoilsport, I wanted to ride these awesome thermals a bit longer, Ionika responded as she emerged from the clouds above me.

Sorry old friend I promised to protect this forest long ago and I cannot let the villagers down.

I understand Callie and I'm going to plunge into the volcano now, be back soon, Ionika said as I watched her plunge into the volcano causing blue lightning to spark amongst the large pyroclastic cloud that lingered above the volcano.

Content that the volcano was now being dealt with, I flew straight up into the thin upper layer of the stratosphere and once I reached it, I focused my magic on the fast moving freezing cold air around me and I pulled as much of it as I could to surround me. At first, I could feel a small circle of air form around me before it suddenly expanded, though I still waited until I had a massive amount of the super cold air around me before I plunged back down to the ground at supersonic speeds, talking the air down with me as I headed towards the pyroclastic cloud.

Mindful to skirt around the edge of it, so I didn't end up burnt to a crisp, I used my magic again to wrap the cold air around the cloud to cool it down. Then with well-practised ease, I continued to pull down more super cold air from the stratosphere into the pyroclastic cloud until it cool down completely and became nothing more than a large rain cloud.

Then when the muddy rain started to pour, I put the next part of my plan into effect as I landed on a safe piece of the ground and switched back to my human form again. Afterwards, I drew a magical pattern into the ground before I raised my arms up and chanting a spell which hit the rain cloud, causing the ash to separate from the rain water. Then the winds gently deposited the debris on the ground around me as the healing rain continued to fall, renewing the land and completely extinguishing the wildfires.

Suddenly I heard Ionika burst from the volcano as she took the skies once more, heading for Terriana since the volcano was now settled.

Feeling relieved and weakened by the massive amount of magic that I had used, I eased myself down onto the warm boulder beneath me and curled up into a ball before falling fast asleep as the rain continued to fall on me.

*****

Memphis Halsin

I was pissed off and impressed all at the same time when I felt the barrier disappear as the healing rain started. The villagers rejoiced and begrudgingly I couldn't help but feel relieved that this bad situation was now at an end.

Then the villagers ignored us as they turned around and walked back to their village singing what had to be praise for Callie.

Seriously, she just had to go and show me up, I muttered.

Aw give it a rest Memphis, if Callie hadn't of shown up and saved all of our bacon then we would have been so screwed. Honestly, this should serve as a good warning for next crazy mission you want to embark upon, Thorn responded.

Warning for what? I demanded.

To never take up another mission without having a good solid plan. Seriously, these half-baked schemes are getting old and one day it's going to get us all killed, Keiran said.

I bristled at that, We're immortal Kei and we’ll always survive.

Thorn slapped me upside the head and he declared, We may be immortal Memphis but we're not invincible! For we can die just like everyone else but it just won't be because of disease or old age. Now tell me something, what the hell is up with you lately? Oh and don't say nothing because I won't believe that since you've grown more reckless in recent years and I want to know why.

I'm not more reckless than before, I remarked defending myself.

Which caused Kei and Thorn to shake their heads before Kei respond with, You are Memphis! I mean two years ago you would have never taken on something like this without an army behind you. Now you are doing more and more solo missions, and for the life of me, I can't see why, except maybe for the fact that you've got some point to prove.

I looked at my friends as I felt the sting of their words, though I refused to let it show. After all truth be told they were right, I had grown bolder in the last couple years and it was all part of my obsessive plan to draw the Horseman of Plague out of hiding. Something that had escalated after the Horseman of Famine was killed by my sister Lydia, since I had expected him to attack me immediately but no attack came even after a year and a half had past.

Nearly losing my mind with worry, I threw myself into research first, wanting to learn every last detail about him, though sadly there wasn't much information and none of the plans that I made based on that information ever worked. Pissed off by that and refusing to let the grass ground under my feet, I decided to act out more and grow my own personal legend, not to mention the Halsin name in retaliation.

Now I know it seems stupid to do that but it was one of my personal beliefs that if my family name was out there front and centre then I would be able to enrage Pestilence so much that he’d blindly react but in truth, I was the one who was reacting blindly.

I get it! I'm sorry and I didn't mean to be so stupid I swear. Anyway I promise that I'll think more in future, I said quietly.

Kei and Thorn both nodded to me as they moved to pat me on the back.

Right then, let's get out of here and started our vacay, Thorn said ready to teleport out of there.

I was about to nod but then my magical senses picked up Callie's presence on the island and I realized that she was unconscious and lying out in the open, undefended.

We can't leave just yet, Callie is still here and for better or worse, I can't leave here exposed to the elements, I said as I moved towards the forest.

Hold on, you can't just head out there willy nilly because we still don't know these jungles real well and none of us are favoured by the locals either, Kei responded.

It'll be alright, Kei. They walked off in the opposite direction of us and Callie's about a quarter of a mile straight ahead.

Hold on, hold on, you actually do know the lay of the land, here? Thorn demanded.

I sighed since this wasn't something I wanted to admit out loud but I knew I had to be honest with my best friends.

I didn't know before because I didn't have the connection to the Earth that I normally do. Though I'm not elemental like my sister Meri and for a lack of a better description, it's almost like a spiritual connection of sorts. Anyway that doesn't really matter, for the truth of the matter is that my connection was disrupted earlier due to the fire.

Okay that makes better sense to me and I actually understand why you didn't look over the map now, Kei remarked.

I didn't say anything in response as I just nodded my head instead before I walked into the forest towards Callie and it didn't take long to find her fast asleep on top of a large boulder.

Moving towards her, I stopped when I was right next to her and crouched down. Looking at her for a brief moment I felt a lot of emotions warred within me. After all, I really liked Callie, though I didn't know where I truly stood with her either. Which irrationally drove me to act childishly to get a reaction from her and I hated myself for doing that.

So over the past year, I decided to act like the adult that I knew I was by staying away from her until I could act completely rational in her presence but so far that hadn't happened.

Unable to stop myself, I reach forward and gently stroked her hair out of her face as I murmured quietly, Oh Callie, how will I ever be able to win you over? It's impossible, I tell you.

Then with that, I gently picked her up and looked over at my friends whom I finally realized had followed me here. Nodding to them once more, we swiftly teleported out of there and to a private resort on a remote island just south of Bali. Finally arriving on the beach, I looked around at the tranquility that surrounded us and I smiled since I was more than ready to take this long deserved break.

Chapter Three: R&R Mayhem

"Okay, I don't care how pissed off you are at me right now kitty cat but I'm on R&R or rest and relaxation, if you will. So you screaming at me like a banshee doesn’t help me achieve either R, therefore just leave me in peace, will you?"- Memphis Halsin, Bali, Indonesia

Memphis Halsin

Sun, surf and endless sandy beaches were all part of this wonderful paradise environment that I soaked up greedily. Though to be quite honest, I was in sore need of vacation and I was more than happy to finally be taking one after the last few botched incidents.

Looking around, I saw both Thorn and Kei enjoying the same sort of peace, from afar. Thorn, who was an avid surfer, was about a mile from the coast and surfing a large swell, whereas his cousin Kei was currently chatting up a group of woman near a bar. Silently I wished them both well as I was more than content to sit on a large lounger and bask in the sun as I sipped an endless amount drinks.

Hey don't judge me, for nothing said paradise better than 'all you can drink' drinks than were served in cups fashioned from real pineapples which also came swirly straws and tiny umbrellas in them.

Smiling I looked over to the sleeping feline to my left who shared my lounger, I knew my peace would be shattered soon since she was bound to go off on me like a live firecracker as soon as she woke up.

After all, she was going to kill over the fact that I used my magic to change her clothes to a tropical bikini and matching sarong; which I had done mainly to annoy her, since the kitty cat had a bad habit (in my opinion) to dress in plain baggy clothes. Well... only in my presence it seems since I had caught sight of her dressed in other types of clothes when she thought I wasn't near.

I always wondered why she did that but to be honest but I had the feeling that was because she thought it would put some distance between us or achieve some sort of level of propriety. Though Callie should have realized it was a stupid idea since I was nothing if not wholly inappropriate. In fact I don't think there has been a day in my life that I had ever even attempted to be appropriate.

Honestly I am who I am and I have always long held the belief that more people need to be just as honest with themselves and stop with the silly public facades. Especially the people that were willing to put on any public face, as long as it gained them notoriety and fame.

Truly I have put up with my fair share of these types of people who I call 'celebutants' and I'm sure you know what I mean by that. Anyway over the years I have had to put up with them because my family is a long illustrious line of paranormal investigators and somehow we have the right pedigree despite the fact that most of the upper crust think that we are charlatan and con-artists. Not only have I dealt with them but also many cash strapped blue bloods who also knocked too, looking for funding for a slew of things like: golf clubs, hotels, casino, senator campaigns and of course, Ponzi schemes.

I guess it takes all sorts to make up 'polite society' but regardless of that, I could do without all of them and the media. Honestly, I've been hounded by the paparazzi over the years because of my 'bad boy image', something I always found so laughable because I don't smoke, do drugs or party all the time, but that never seemed to matter as the people who bought into all the drivel that the celebutants had said about me.

Honestly it had gotten ridiculously out of hand over the past years because if the tabloids were truly to be believed, I've been married and divorced no less than seventeen times; I have nine love children, one of which is apparently an alien love child that was conceived in a weird cult ritual; on that note I also am apparently, a regularly participant in multiple wild orgies and I've had seven secret male lovers too. Oh and I've somehow managed to do all of this by the tender age of twenty-eight.

Seriously, I've given up trying to reason with the public at large and I have decided to find contentment in the job I love as well as peace in places where the simple life can be achieved.

Though I should really count my blessings because I've have the rare ability to do the all things I want, when I want and that isn't something to take for granted. I mean, if I wanted to go skydiving or land jumping in Vanuatu, I can just go and no one would ask me why. Granted there are some days that I wish someone would but that tends to be fleeting because how can one live a carefree life if there's always a voice of reason nagging you?

That thought caused me to look back over at the sleeping form Callie before I looked back out at the sea, mentally preparing myself for what was to come

*****

Callie Kalomahaya

As I came to, the first thing I noticed was the noise. Which was a cacophony of sounds like gulls, waves and random human conversations. All of which confused me because I had fallen asleep at the base of a volcano on a secluded island off the coast of Papa New Guinea and now I had no idea where I was.

Rubbing my eyes to clear my sleepiness, I took in the sights before me as I tilted my head from one side to another trying to figure out my strange surroundings.

Ah you're finally awake. Man, that was some sleep, kitty cat, a male voice murmured from beside me.

Snapping my head around to face the voice, I immediately hissed, You.

Memphis smiled at me pleasantly before he replied, Oh yes it's me though were you expecting someone else, kitty cat?

For a moment he completely caught me off guard when I fully caught sight of him since the cad was half naked, dressed only in swim shorts, which left every muscular sweat glistening and tanned piece of flesh on display for the entire world to see.

Irrationally this angered me, for I could mentally feel the hungry eyes of every woman who past by and my feline side did not like the amount of potential challenges from others for my mate. I also hate how he managed to reduce me from my normal rational calm self to furious feline wanting to pick fights with every silly woman on this beach.

Ack! Will you cover up? I snapped at Memphis.

I'm on holiday kitty cat and it's like a hundred degrees in the blissful shade here. So I'm sticking with this attire, like it or not.

I let out a small growl before I turned to a small crowd of silly human women who were lingering in the exact same spot for an entirely too long. I watched one of the hussies trying to prepare herself to make a move on Memphis despite the fact that I was sitting right here.

The challenge did not still well with me as I shouted, Hey, move it along! There's plenty of beach left for you silly fools to wander about on, so go already! Shoo!

That temporarily broke the spell as they all looked at me in confusion over my angry outburst.

Hey kitty cat, if you want to shout at someone you should really try shouting at someone in English not a South Pacific dialect, when their obviously tourists.

I looked back at Memphis in with a peeved glare before I wrinkled my nose slightly.

Truth be told I didn't speak English very well, especially when I spoke to humans and to be quite honest, I really preferred to speak any pacific island language. Mainly because humans made me nervous, especially ones from countries that I knew very little of. So I tended to shy away from them, in fact, I had learned English in the past fifty years at my sister Tessi's insistence, though I still spoke it, albeit infrequently.

Leave! He is taken! I shouted in heavily accent English at the silly females.

They scowled at me as they started to responds though, to me, they sounded like squawking geese and I stopped listening as I felt my feline ire start to rise which caused my claws unsheathed. Then I smile at them menacing, waiting for one of the silly flock to attack me.

Then instead something entirely different happened as I felt a soft kiss being planted on the skin between my shoulder blades and the base my neck, before Memphis continue to plant kisses up my neck, leaving kiss marks in his wake. I froze up in shock unable to comprehend the fact that Memphis had the gall to kiss my neck and mark it too! Worse yet, a big part of me liked it too which caused me to let out a small purr as my ire also slowly eased away, though a part of me was peeved over my reactions.

I finally felt Memphis let go of my neck as he murmured to the squawking crowd, See, I am completely taken so you're going to have to find someone else to ogle I'm afraid. Why not try my best friend Keiran, he's over at the bar.

The women looked away from Memphis towards Keiran before they immediately started heading off that way. Once they left, Memphis burst out laughing before he slumped back in the lounger.

Not funny, I said in slightly accented English this time before I switched back to Indonesian, a language I knew Memphis spoke fluently and continued, This is all your fault mister and I could have done them some serious damage.

"Yeah you could have kitty cat since you have one hell of a temper there. Though here I thought you didn't care about me at all; in fact, I distinctly remember you saying, 'You saved my life once, I owe you a life in return, nothing more, nothing less.' So tell me why were you uber jealous just now, Callie? I mean, I didn't think that, that was possible for the ever calm Griffin shifter."

Stop calling me kitty cat, my name is Callie, Callie Kalomahaya of the Griffins, leader of the Felines. Ugh, you are such a jerk and... I started before I broke off and gasped when I noticed how I was dressed and demanded, ... just and what gives you there right to choose my clothes?

As I said before it is too hot out to imitate a boiling lobster, so relax Callie, you are actually more clothed than most on this beach. In fact there's a clothing optional beach, an island over that we could go to if you like, though then you'd be really dressed up then.

Ugh, you are so aggravating! I hissed.

So I've been told kitty cat, so I've been told. Now why don't you stop ranting and raving like a psycho cat and tell me why you were following me in Papa New Guinea. Oh and don't bother to tell me that you just 'happened' to be there I won't believe it.

I took a deep breath in to calm down and counted to ten before I opened my eyes and spoke, You are in imminent danger. Especially if you continue to take these stupid risks you are taking.

Hey Callie? Tell me something I don't know alright, Memphis drawled as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Wait... you know that you are in danger and yet, you still take these risks?

In the words of my countrymen, 'duh'.

I held up my hand to him and stated in an eerily calm voice despite my inward rolling rage, I said quietly, Explain this.

I know I'm in danger Callie and I've known about that for a long time since I'm destined to face the Horseman of Pestilence like my siblings but like all things in life, I will face him on my terms.

Wait, don't tell me that these latest escapades of yours are to make the Halsin name more notorious and thus anger the Horseman of Pestilence into doing something foolish?

Memphis smiled at me before he drawled out again, I always knew you were smart Callie.

Are you insane? I nearly roared.

People on the beach surrounding us stopped but I waved them off and continued, Memphis you must stop this! You forget that the Horseman of Pestilence is an ancient evil and not a being born yesterday. Therefore he will not respond to these silly games for he will not need to since you seem to be hell-bent on getting yourself killed stupidly, anyway. So stop and think for a moment Memphis, if you want to kill a spider you don't weave a trap for it, for the spider will weave a bigger one around you. No, you wait until it doesn't think you are a threat and you squash it, in one swift action.

Memphis looked at me for a long moment, So how do you suggest I kill this spider, exactly?

You reach your full potential and become what you're truly meant to be. So come home with me, Memphis and start your journey to become the last Defender.

"Terriana is not my home and becoming this 'ultimate guardian' is utter nonsense. Seriously Callie, everyone has limitations, you know that and I know that; so me becoming this 'once in a lifetime' ultimate guardian that the Animalia revere will never happen. Therefore come up with a better plan to deal with the Horseman of Pestilence than stupid 'foretold' nonsense and we'll talk."

I couldn't take it anymore as I stood up and declared, You know of not what you speak! And if you want to bash this all as nonsense then first you must learn about what you bash. After all, for I know that Estella told you about the defender role but what she described was a fantasy role and that should have been something that really appealed to you, since you like playing make believe hero. Now good day, Memphis, good day.

With that I got up and started marching across the beach looking for a place to teleport away as I could hear Memphis shouting my name but I refused to acknowledge him. After all, one should never give to fools who are pitching temper tantrums though in my blind rage I tripped, fell and landed hard on the ground.

Then once my hands touched the sand below me, the landscape suddenly changed and the perfectly clear turquoise water because a murky blood red. I looked up and noticed that the clear blue skies darkened to turbulent stormy greenish grey sky that looked like it was filled with poison to me. Looking back down at my hands I saw decaying Earth, that was moving around me like it was alive but a moment later, I realized that I could see millions of creepy crawly bugs that were actually moving I let out a shriek of horror. Scrambling backwards away, I finally realized that resort was in ruins and the grounds were littered with corpses.

Horror set in as I realized that this wasn't a vision of the future or the past for this was the present and move specifically this was a trap that the spider had set for Memphis in order to lure him in.

Callie! Callie answer me, are you alright? Memphis demanded as he hunkered down beside me.

Yeah, I'm alright but you're not, I whispered as I looked up at him, wide-eyed.

What are you talking about Callie?

You're in grave danger, I whispered again.

Callie stop repeating yourself I know I'm in danger since a lot of people have told me.

You... you don't see this? Any of this? I demanded as I waved my hand around.

What a pristine resort with awesome surf? Memphis retorted.

I realized then that Memphis was completely blind to what I was seeing and I couldn't believe it since it became obvious to me then that he hadn't mastered his gifts enough to see through illusions. Which was something that all Animalia learned to master from an early age and in fact it was what we were known best for.

Desperate for it to not to be true, I gingerly scooped up a handful of bug filled disgusting dirt and held it out to him.

Memphis, what do you see in my hands exactly?

Seriously? Memphis asked skeptically as if he thought I lost my mind.

Humour me please, what is that you see?

Sand, beauty crystalline white sand.

I closed my eyes and slowly shook my head before I looked back at him and responded, "Memphis humour me again, cup your