Heather

“Son of a bitch! My ax!” A short, blonde figure came running out of the shadows in the direction the cat was headed. Elliott pulled himself up, grabbing his shoulder, and Aaron took a few rushed steps in his direction as they both watched the girl disappear after the cat.

“Should we....”

Sounds of a scuffle, followed by the screech of a panther in pain, and then several sharp thunks filled their ears, and a few moments later, the figure reemerged from the darkness, wiping her ax on her pant leg, muttering to herself about “damn fools and idiots.”

When she realized she was back in front of them, she slid her ax into a belt loop “Don’t be firin’ no damn guns in here right now,” she said with a thick, country twang that made Elliott’s accent seem mild. “You’re liable to shoot clean through the walls and hit one of yer friends.”

Once again, the two Guardians exchanged glances.