Can you help me?

"I know not." Vrael murmured, obviously distracted.

Alba looked at him quizically, but took no notice. She had missed Vrael. They had not seen each other for a few months and it was good to be close to him agian.
The Manticore animagus closed her eyes and fell asleep after a while, a faint smile on her lips.

Vrael held Alba close as she drifted off to sleep. He took the moment of silence to contemplate how much life was going to change in the next few days now that the demon hunters were here.

Alba's dreams were haunted with disturbing thoughts of men in black robes, their faces hiden from sight, and the screams of her friends echoing around her mind. In one, she was running down a never ending corridor, switching from Manticore to human, knowing that someone or something was chasing her but not daring to turn round and look.
She woke with a start, jumping as her horrific dreams ended with a jolt.

Vrael snapped to attention as Alba jumped, soothing her with gentle words in another tongue.

Alba smiled and kissed Vreal's cheek. She was glad he was there, holding her close. She looked at Shadow, wondering what was going through her mind.

"She is afeared." Vrael murmured, sensing Alba's thoughts. "And she has a right to be." He muttered to himself.

Alba thought for a moment, resting her head against Vrael's shoulder.
"Who are the Demon Hunters?" she finally asked, "I'm not sure if they're a big threat or not."

"They are not truly hunters..." Vrael said slowly, debating in his mind how much he should say.

Alba looked deep into Vrael's eyes.
"I'm just worried about you. And Shadow. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"Do not fear for me, my life is not in any danger." Vrael said quietly, but he failed to add one word. Yet.

Alba was still not completelly reasured. She was silent for a moment, then asked:
"So if these 'demon hunters' areb't really hunters, who are they?"

"Shadow named them 'Demon Hinters' to hide their true form. They are followers of Karthragan." Vrael said.

Alba stiffened. She had heard the stories and knew of the demon.
"You mean..." she hesitated, "Sadow's father?!"

Vrael nodded his head once, sharply. An expression of worry flashed across his face for a split second.
"She must have been trying to fight them off, but being injured as she was there was no hope, and therefore she fled to one of the few people she can trust. You."

Alba fell silent. SHe didn't know what to do. If the so called 'demon hunters' were demons themselves, there was little she could do to help her friends. After all, she was no match for a demon.

Shadow awoke from Vrael's sedative with a sudden gasp, and her face only showed fear and pain. Her magic started to snake out around her before she had a chance to think.

Vrael jumped up, pinning her down gently but firmly, trying to calm her down with words in a different language.

Alba jumped, and for a moment she didn't know what was happening. She finally realised what was going on and ran to help Vrael calm Shadow. Her sudden movements allarmed Alba and she felt fear spark inside her.

Vrael sang something softy to Shadow, and her scared expression started to fade. Her attempts to rip her wrists out of his grasp after trying to punch him stopped at the same time. She closed her eyes briefly.
"The Demon Hunters!" She said, fear in her eyes again.
"There are not here. They will not hurt you." Vrael said quietly.

Alba knelt on the floor beside the couch where her friend now sat. She knew she wasn't helping but then again, she didn't know what to do. She hadn't the foggiest.

Shadow was taking deep breaths, and then she looked at Alba.
"Thanks, for helping me."

Alba smiled at her friend:
"You're welcome."

Shadow smiled back just before her eyes closed again and she drifted into a more natural sleep.
"She is healing herself." Vrael said quietly. "We best leave her. I must prepare plans for this little... problem."

"What kind of plans?" asked Alba, "Defence or offence?"

"Defense." Vrael said. "Shadow would never take the offence unless there was no alternative. Raven, on the other hand..."