" Maybe he's encountered some trouble and needs help."

She began to slither forward, but Grey was instantly in her path, a low, warning growl rumbling in her chest. Her massive body blocked the way completely.

Snow huffed in frustration, crossing her arms. "Fine, you overgrown mutt. Have it your way." She reluctantly settled back, though her gaze remained fixed on the village.

From a nearby rock, Emma let out a short, sharp laugh. She was perched like a gargoyle, her rusty dagger picking at her nails. The sight made her look even more dangerous.

Snows head turned towards her. " And what's so funny, you little green pest?" she snarled.

Emma wasn't intimidated by her gaze, she sneered mockingly instead. She didn't need words to convey her message, she found the mighty Gorgon being bossed around by a wolf absolutely hilarious.

Snow understood what she was implying, her scales seemed to rattle with her rage. Her serpentine blue eyes flashed, and her tail began to lift, ready to strike. But just then, her eyes saw something at the corner of her vision which made her expression change. The anger vanished, replaced by a sharp, focused interest. She was looking past Grey, towards the village gates.

There she saw two figures who had just left the village and were starting down the path that led into the forest in their direction. Her sharp eyes instantly lit up when she noticed one of the figures, who was non other than Adrian, he was finally back.

Without a second thought or a glance back at Grey, Snow slithered off at her fastest speed, turning into an icy blue blur.

Grey snarled in fury, as if telling her to get back here. She was annoyed that the Gorgon had completely ignored her and ran off.

With a powerful surge of her legs, she launched herself after the Gorgon, her form turning into a grey blur of speed and anger, her paws kicking up plumes of snow that made a frightening trail behind her.

Emma, perched on her rock, stared after them, her mocking smile gone. Her eyes widened with sudden anxiety at the fact that she was left behind.

With a frustrated screech, she leaped from her rock and scrambled after them, her small green form was far quicker than one would think. Easily catching up to the both of them and actually daring to surpass them, in an attempt to reach Adrian first.

*****

Adrian walked beside Mr. Miller, leaving the village behind as they headed in the direction of the forest. The air had gotten even colder due to the evening finally being here, Adrian's breathing became irregular but the doctor on the other hand, seemed unaffected, he continued to move with his confident pace that made the weather seem irrelevant.

"...I know you think this is a bad idea but." Adrian was saying, his breath pluming in the air. He was trying to sound confident, to convince the stern man beside him. " I'm telling you, the 3 of them aren't really all that dangerous. Grey might be a bit big sometimes but she's nothing but a protective bodyguard, and the Gorgon—I mean Snow, she's just curious, maybe a bit frosty around the edges sometimes but that's all there is to her. She's not innately evil at the end of the day, just a bit too cautious.

" The only one I'm actually not so sure about. Is Emma, but I'm sure I can handle her if it comes down to it."

Mr. Miller raised a brow after hearing him out, his expression looked like he was wondering whether there was something wrong with the young man beside him.

" You want me to believe, that you can take on the responsibility, of looking after A shifter, a gorgon, and a goblin. All on your own?"

" Y-Yes..." Adrian flashed a wary smile. The doctor simply shook his head lightly from side to side, not bothering to say a word. Adrian jaw tightened, a sense of nervousness coming over him. He knew that if Mr Miller refused to help him. He might have to reconsider taking Snow and Emma with him, but that was practically impossible since the both of them had already decided to go after him no matter what, how was he supposed to sneak the both of them with him if Leo's people arrived, not to mention get them into the capital that was branded a safe heaven.

He didn't need to be told to realise what fate awaited Snow and Emma if they were seen near the capital not to mention in it.

" Mr Miller, Please, I'm begging you~" Adrian's voice softened, now even more pitiful.

"I know it sounds crazy, but—" Adrian's words were cut off as a low, deep rumble vibrated through the soles of his boots. It wasn't loud, but it was somewhat continuous.

Adrian blinked his eyes, wondering what it was, but his face fell when he realised the rumbling was getting closer by the second.

Mr. Miller stopped instantly, his head cocked upwards. "Avalanche?" he muttered, his brow furrowed only for him to recall that there were no mountains in the area.

Adrian's own explanation died in his throat when his eyes glanced at the forest. The rumble wasn't coming from the mountains. It was coming from the forest directly ahead. The trees at the edge of the clearing began to shake, snow cascading from their branches in great white sheets. Just when fear threatened to grab him, his pupils dilated in shock as the silhouettes of three creatures came into view.

He spotted Grey, Snow, and Emma rushing towards him, only, it seemed They weren't aware that they were moving too fast.

Snow who was in the lead, had a look of excitement on her face as she approached him, while Grey looked annoyed as she chased after Snow, Emma on the other hand was slightly lagging behind Snow as she ran on the snow.

" You've gotta be kidding me..."

Adrian stood frozen like a statue, a look of horror on his face. His heart rate seemed to have stopped entirely but he shook his head, realising that this commotion might attract unwanted attention.

" Stop! You guys, come on."

' You're literally making me eat me words' Adrian felt like crying but no tears came out.

While trying to get them to stop. He didn't even see Mr. Miller move. Adrian who was standing on the ground, suddenly felt a powerful hand grab the back of his coat before hauling him into the air.

" H-Hey!!! What are you doing!" Adrian screamed as he flew through the air, completely startled.

The world spun in his eyes before he slammed against the rough, sturdy branch of a tall pine tree, his legs and arms dangling below.

" Woah!!" Adrian gasped and hugged the branch when he saw how high he was, his vision seemed to stretch and contract continuously, only when he closed his eyes and steadied his mind,did his perception return to normal.

" Arrgh! Hey be careful, are you trying to scare me to death old man!" Adrian glared at Mr. Miller who had leaped into the tree and landed beside him, causing the tree to quake.

" Old man? Are you looking for a beating boy? Is that how you thank your saviour." Mr Millers left eye twitched as he scolded the boy.

Below them, the three girls skidded to a halt where Adrian had been standing a moment before, their momentum carving deep grooves in the snow. They looked up, surrounding the tree. Grey's massive wolf form looked instantly apologetic, her ears flattening against her head as she whined softly, as if trying to reconcile for failing to keep the others at bey.

On the other hand, Snow and Emma had no such remorse. Snow's serpentine blue eyes blazed with possessive fury, and Emma bared her fangs in a silent snarl, both of them glaring at the large human who had dared to separate them from their prize.

Mr. Miller didn't even flinch under their combined, murderous glares. He simply turned his head, his expression utterly deadpan, and looked at Adrian, who was still clutching the tree trunk for dear life, his whole body shaking.

"So," the doctor said, his voice dry as dust. " Still think you can handle all three of them on your own?"

Adrian let out a weak, shaky, and utterly defeated chuckle. "Okay." he squeaked. "Maybe 'handle' was the wrong word."

*****

A short while later, the five of them were gathered in a small, sheltered clearing deeper in the forest. Snow and Emma had sour expressions while Grey sat at a corner, she was finally back to herself after having Adrian reassure her that she was still a good girl

Mr. Miller stood with his arms crossed, his gaze occasionally flicking back towards the village, which was just visible through the bare branches.

"It seems no one else noticed the disturbance. Good, now we don't have to worry about anyone coming over here to check it out." he remarked, his tone suggesting it was a minor miracle.

Adrian stood nervously between the two factions. On one side, Snow and Emma were still shooting daggers at Mr. Miller with their eyes, their bodies tended with aggressive energy. Snow's tail twitched ever so often, and Emma's grip on her rusty dagger was white-knuckled.

"Hey, come on, you two, calm down." Adrian said, his voice pleading. "He's not going to hurt you. He's just here to help."

" We can see that but..."

Snow's glare shifted from the doctor to Adrian, her expression one of deep offense. "Why did you spend so much time just to fetch a filthy hunter?" she hissed, the word laced with pure venom.

Adrian stiffened. ' Wait a minute, how come she knows Mr Miller is a hunter.' he thought to himself, realising that such information was detrimental right now since he knew how much supernaturals were supposed to hate hunters.

But even as he said it, the pieces clicked into place in his mind. Mr. Miller's incredible strength, the effortless way he'd leaped onto that high branch with him in tow.

' Who am I kidding... It was obvious from the very beginning.' Adrian let out a defeated sigh.

Adrian glanced at Snow who still seemed sour and felt even more worried. Judging by her current mood, it looked like she hadn't had a good encounter with hunters before.

' No... that part should be natural since Hunters are known to hunt her kind without a second thought.' he said before his eyes glanced at the bandage on her abdomen.

' They might also be the reason she was injured in the first place.'

' Wait a minute, since Hunters are supposed to hunt supernaturals, how come he seems so nice to them instead?' Adrian glanced at the doctor.

He had been so focused on his own strange situation that he'd never stopped to truly question the man who seemed to have all the answers.

Mr. Miller's gaze swept over the three girls, lingering for a moment on Emma. The goblin girl met his stare with her still persistent glare, her dagger trembling in her grasp.

" I'd appreciate it if you toned down the killing intent... We're all supposed to be friends here, it be a shame if someone got hurt." Emma suddenly flinched when she heard Mr Miller's voice in her ears as if he had whispered directly into her ears yet her shaking eyes stared at the man who was a few meters away from her.

Mr Miller smiled at her, this time Emma didn't glare at him but took a step backward, her face wary. She tucked in her blade, and simply stood at the side.

' Huh?' Adrian glanced at her, confused, curious as to why she suddenly seemed so conserved, meanwhile, Snow's expression turned even more sour. Greys jaws opened wide as she let out a yawn, revealing her rows of gleaming fangs before resting her head on her front paws as if nothing concerned her.

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