By the end of the second day of travelling, Eve was itching to stretch out her legs to rid herself from the cramps overtaking her calves and thighs. She was not sure that she would be able to cope with any more time coped up, driving down the same monotonous highways.

Had they had to spend another moment driving, Eve suspected that she would have ripped out huge chunks of her hair.

As soon as Curtis pulled over, Eve jumped out of the door and felt the breeze as it tickled her face.

'We will camp tonight and head off in the morning. With any luck we will arrive by mid-afternoon.' Curtis said as he hoped out of the driver's side door.

'Arrive where exactly?' Eve asked curious about their destination.

'Ha, I suppose I didn't really say did I. Currently, my mum and dad are living on the outskirts of the Silver Hill pack. Got a nice little house there.' Curtis informed her surprising Eve.

'From the look on your face I can see that you have heard of them.' Curtis said with a little laugh.

'Um yeah. They say that the pack is directly descended from the old royals. That's about all I know.' Eve said as she stretched her arms up to the sky causing her vertebra to pop.

'Yeah, not far off. Be prepared we will have to visit the Alpha and Luna to show our respects. They are not real keen on letting strangers wander around I suspect.' Curtis informed her.

'Oh. You haven't met them before then?' Eve asked him.

'Very briefly when I was basically a kid.' Curtis said as he began to unload their bags.

Together they gathered up their things and moved into the cover of the trees. After about half an hour, Curtis announced that they had gone far enough and that they would stop for now.

Eve began to set up a small campfire whilst Curtis slipped off into the trees in search of some small prey for their dinner. By the time Curtis returned with a rabbit hanging at his side. Quickly and efficiently, Curtis skinned and gutted the animal before putting it on a spit over the fire.

Eve's stomach grumbled at the site of the rabbit browning and becoming crispy over the fire. The scent invaded her nostrils, and she reached forward ready to remove it from its cooking position.

'Well, well. That seems mighty fine doesn't it boys.' A voice said from behind Eve.

Jumping up Eve turned to see a group of six men step out of the shadows of the trees. Definitely rouges Eve thought as she observed their dirty appearances.

'Y'all wouldn't mind if we joined for some dinner. Ya see we have been travelling a long way and we are sure hungry.' The leader of the group stepped forward closer to the light of the fire. Now that his face was illuminated by the flickering fire, Eve could make out the rotting teeth in his mouth.

Curtis stood up slowly and moved up behind Eve's back, giving her reassurance and slight comfort. The rest of the rouges slowly fanned out, half encircling the pair.

'Unfortunately, fellas, I did not realise we would have company, so we only have the one rabbit. I'm not sure that we would be able to split that between all of us. Do you?' Curtis said as he placed his hand on Eve's back.

'On the contrary, I think there is enough for us. It smells very tasty.' The leader said stepping forward as the other rouges fanned out further and fully encircled the pair.

'And you little girl... you look mighty tasty as well. Despite those scars you got there.' The rouge leader said.

'You can take the rabbit and move on. We don't want any trouble.' Curtis said pulling Eve closer.

'Oh dear. You see, me and my friends here - we don't mind a bit of trouble.' The rouge said as the circle tightened closer.

Eve and Curtis glanced at each other, ready for the shit show that was about to be unleashed. Curtis gave her a small smile and a nod. She was ready, she had trained hard the last few months to be able to protect herself.

Eve gave Curtis a quick nod in return. Except her face was grim.

Eve leapt to her right aiming to have to advantage of surprise. And she did. As she tackled the rouge to the ground she, she felt his head crack against a rock on the ground. She knew instantly that he would not be getting back up.

As she jumped up, she saw the Curtis had acted similarly to her. Now they were only outnumbered one to two at least.

'Well, well, looks like we got some fighters on our hands boys. Now you listen here. I was gonna go easy on you two. Not anymore, I don't think. Me and ma boys, were gonna kill you boy. And then we are gonna hold you down little girl and take turns with you until your all bruised and bloody. Then I'll kill ya. Or perhaps... we should make you watch boy. Yeah, I like that better. That's what we are gonna do.' The rouge said turning to Curtis with an evil grin on his face.

Curtis leaped forward towards the leader, but one of his companions jumped in the way. Eve turned away to face the other rouges. She was confident that Curtis would be able to handle those two, so she turned to face the remaining rouges as they stalked towards her.

They both gave her a sickening grin before launching at her. Ducking to the side, she ran towards the fire where Curtis had left the knife used to skin the rabbit sitting on the ground. She crouched down prepared for the attack coming her way.

They snarled and ran forward again. Eve kicked one of them on the side of their knee. He crumpled a little allowing her to plunge the knife into his shoulder. He screamed out in pain as she ripped it out to face the other attacker causing blood to spurt forth. He would die in a few minutes judging from the level of blood loss Eve guessed.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Curtis had managed to snap the neck of one of his opponents and he was now fighting their chatty leader.

The rouge facing her seemed even more angered by the death of his comrade.

'Come here little girl.' He growled out at her.

He threw a wild, swinging punch at Eve, just clipping the side of her head as she ducked down. Her vision blurred slightly as she threw solid punches into his side. She jumped around to the side bringing her knee up to strike around where his kidney floated.

The rouge crouched over in pain as Eve jumped back out of his reach. Baring his teeth he launched forward again, but it was clear that he was not used to having to fight one on one. The rouges probably always outnumbered their foe and did not have any need for fighting skills.

Darting forward and back she managed to swing the knife forward and slice open his arm a few times.

Fuelled by rage, the rouge leaped forward again somehow managing to catch her off guard. Wrapping one hand around her neck, he pinned her against a tree. Before she had the chance to recover from her shock, he used his other hand to pin her hand holding the knife.

She was quickly running out of air. Desperately, she brought her free hand up to his face. With all the strength she had left, she sunk her thumb into his eye socket, feeling it squish away. He let out a horrific cry as he stumbled back bringing his hands to his mutilated eye.

With minimal hesitation, she stepped forward and cut his throat. He died within seconds.

Eve turned to watch as Curtis pushed his clawed hand into the chest of the rouge leader. He ripped his hand back leaving behind a cavity. Dropping the body to the ground, Curtis turned to face Eve.

Tears filled her eyes as she realised that she had just taken the life of three people - evil though they may have been.

Rushing forward, Curtis pulled her into his arms. Gripping her tight, he tried not get blood onto her.

'Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?' Curtis said stepping back and holding her in front of him.

'I-I don't think so.' Eve managed to stutter out.

Gently, Curtis traced the back of his hand down her neck that was already turning yellow and purple. No doubt tomorrow her throat would be painted with an array of other colours.

Curtis pulled her back into a softer hug rubbing his hands up and down her back as she silently cried.

'Come on. I don't think that either of us will be able to sleep tonight. We will head towards the pack territory now. Is that okay with you?' Curtis said with Eve still tucked into his chest. She only nodded in reply.

They would stay clutching each other for another half an hour before they separated and left the camp and the dead rouges behind.