Stolen Lives
A YuYu Hakusho fanfic
Song list: Falling for the first time by the bare naked ladies
Chapter one: Love's first leap
Hina stretched as she sat on a rotten old tree lying across the path. The lush moss growing across its old bark moistening her green kimono as she patiently waited for Rui to locate where they were on an old map. "It would help," Rui's strong voice rasped out in exasperation, "if the map weren't so old, and the Makai would just stop changing." She pointed to a large black dot and showed the dated map to her younger friend, "We are in the middle of what should be Crossaget." Hina sighed and twirled a piece of her long mint green hair between two fingers, "Why don't we just go to one of the other towns and get a new map?"
Rui rolled her eyes with an unladylike snort. "Because, half of them no longer exist. It could be miles to the next town and we'd never know because this damn map is useless!" Hina stood up and dusted herself off as soon as Rui had finished her small rant. "Well there's no use standing around here Rui. We should just walk west until we find a town. We really don't want to be out in the forest at night." Rui folded the useless map and shoved it into her pocket with a sigh, "You're right. Maybe Skewash is still standing. If it is, we could make it there in a couple of hours."
They walked in silence, to keep from drawing unwanted attention to them, for over an hour before they saw any signs of life. The two young women stumbled upon a small campsite with a roaring fire and four fish roasting on pikes. "A fire! That means someone must be close by!" Hina exclaimed in relief, "Thank Kami! We've been lost all day!" Rui rolled her eyes as Hina plopped down on a log by the fire, "So young."
Jasper grunted as he chopped down a small tree, "That ought to last the night." He muttered as he hauled the trunk onto his shoulder and made his way back to camp. As he reached the perimeter of his campsite he heard a loud, female, voice rejoicing at the signs of life. His curiosity was peaked as he heard a second voice whispering in a fond tone. He could tell that the two women were demons, but their auras didn't feel strong enough to be threatening. Deciding that he could take them should they try anything, he stepped into the clearing and made his presence known.
Rui nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the male demon enter the other side of the camp. Hina shouted in surprise and dashed behind her older friend. The three stared each other down for a moment before Jasper tore his eyes away from the two women. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to invite yourselves into someone else's camp?" He asked with a smirk, making the two blush. Rui was about to snap back at him when she felt Hina step out from behind her. "I'm sorry!" Hina exclaimed, throwing herself to her knees beside Rui.
Jasper stared at the eccentric girl in mild surprise and waited for her get up. When it became obvious that the girl had no plans on moving and her friend was too shocked to say anything he sighed. "Get up. I was just kidding. Geeze. What kind of rock have you been living under? Don't even get a joke." Rui grabbed Hina by the arm and pulled her up to her feet. "We don't live underground," Hina said distastefully, "we live above ground, far above ground."
Jasper raised his eyebrow at the young woman's declaration, noticing the glare her companion was giving her, "So you're koorime then?" He asked, taking note of their matching hair and eyes. Rui reached up and smacked the shorter girl, "You baka! You were specifically told not to let anybody know you were a koorime!" Hina rubbed her head and stuck her tongue out at Rui, "You could have denied it, you know."
"I'd have known it was a lie anyways." He cut in, making his way over to the fire, snapping a branch off of the small tree he was holding as he went. "So what are Koorimes doing off of the floating island?" He asked as he tossed the branch into the fire and pulled a fish off its pike.
Rui gave him a suspicious look and pulled out her map. "We're lost. Can you tell us how far it is to the next town so we can get a new map?" She kept her voice steady, purposefully ignoring his question, earning a jab in the ribs from Hina. "Now you are being rude Rui!" She scolded, wagging her finger at the older girl. Once she felt Rui was properly scolded, Hina turned to face the (terribly handsome) demon by the fire. "We-rather, I," she corrected herself when Rui shot her a glare, "snuck away, and Rui followed."
Jasper snorted as they exchanged glares and what he would assume to be sisterly 'love taps'. "Snuck away from what? I hear it's pretty sweet up there. Everything a girl could want. "The two ice demons snorted in unison and crossed their arms, "Oh yes," Rui started, "ice and solitude. Our favourite." "We just love being bored all day." Hina threw in. Jasper just shrugged, "Okay, don't get snippy. So how long until they send the search party?"
The girls just shrugged, "We've only been gone two days, but the elders think Rui is super sick and that I am locked up in her room caring for her." Hina said nonchalantly, slowly inching closer to the fire. "So...can you help us or not? It's getting late and we need to set up camp of our own soon." He sighed and shook his head, motioning to the log by the fire. "You might as well stick with me, the closest town is three days travel from here, and I can't just let two weak girls travel alone."
The Koorime exchanged a look and shrugged. "What the hell, we couldn't possibly get into anymore trouble then we already are in. What kind of demon are you anyway?" Hina asked as she gratefully sat beside the fire again. "I'm a fire demon, and my name is Jasper. Are you going to tell me yours? You've already mentioned your friend's name, it's only fair." Rui rolled her eyes as she saw the tiny, nearly invisible, blush that spread across Hina's face. "I'm Hina." She was very wrong, they could get in more trouble, and judging by the look on Hina's face, they were already on their way.
Malik smiled as he watched his mate playing with their three year old son. Her long white hair sparkling in the sun light, her bell like laughter ringing through the meadow. "Come play with your son Malik!" She called out when she caught his stare. The rest of their camp watched on with mild amusement as their leader made his way to his mate and child. They had been slacking off quite a lot lately, and a few of them were getting restless.
As night fell over the small camp Malik made his way to the fire pit, where his men eagerly awaited news of their next destination. "Who wants to make a trip into Froeska?" He boomed tauntingly, knowing his men were bound to cheer. He wasn't disappointed as a chorus of gleeful shouts echoed through the clearing. "What are we stealing?" A tall, lanky demon with an eye patch asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I hear they just got a shipment of the finest whiskey and smoked meat," Malik said casually as he sat by the fire and tore a piece of meat from the boar they had roasting.
The stout demon sitting across from him snarled and crossed his arms over his bulging gut, "Figures. You want us to steal food and whiskey. Such a waste! When are we going to go after a real prize?" His beady little eyes flashed red as he glared at his leader. "As soon as I hear of something worth the effort. There was rumors of a large pile of gold in Kerath, but that is where Youko was last rumored to be. I'm not foolish enough to try and steal something from him."
Malik watched as the stout pig demon stood and stalked off, muttering about how his leader had 'gotten soft and pathetic'. His followers watched their comrade go with little sympathy, not caring for the selfish pig's apparent death wish. What kind of moron would try and get in the way of Youko? The last demon that had, had wound up dead and brutally skinned. You just don't mess with Youko.
Two days had passed in the blink of an eye and Rui was not very happy. She had watched Hina very carefully and been horrified to find that the younger ice maiden had fallen in love with the brash, annoying, all around strange fire demon. What was even worse, she thought, was that he seemed to be just as interested in Hina. This was not good. She couldn't possibly let this continue any further, the elders could NOT discover that Hina had developed feelings for a male. It was unheard of!
Hina giggled as she skipped beside Jasper, grasping his hand in her own. "I don't know how to repay your kindness Jasper." She said coyly, fluttering her eye lashes at the tall demon. He just smirked and leaned his face close to hers, "I can think of something, I'm sure." He delighted in the blush that spread across her face, and continued forward. Rui groaned and kicked a rock off the path as she saw Hina's blush. It was only a matter of time before things got out of hand, and she just couldn't find the will to stop her friend from making this mistake.
As Koorime they were forbidden to fall in love with men, or to mate with them. The elders had made it very clear that should they have a male child, no matter the reason, he would be dropped from the highest cliff on the floating island as punishment for existing. Although, if she was honest, Rui couldn't even imagine what their reason was anymore. Up until she and Hina had met Jasper she had always assumed men were violent, horrible creatures with black hearts and no soul. Apparently that was not very true, and she was confused about her beliefs for the first time ever.
Hina, however, had never embraced the teachings of the elders. Her mother had run away with a strange wind master when she was a small girl, and yet she had been unable to find it in herself to hate men the way Rui and all the other Koorimes had. And now that she had met Jasper, she knew that there was no way she could ever learn to hate them. How could she hate someone who made her heart skip a beat when he smirked, or stole her breath with just a glance?
I'm so cool, too bad I'm a loser
Darkness settled quickly over the three travelers as they set up a shelter for their third consecutive night in the forest. Jasper was busy piling branches to build a fire while Rui and Hina set up two tarps to resemble very triangular tents. "Hina," Rui whispered, keeping her voice low enough that Jasper wouldn't hear them, "We should have found a town by now. He said it was only a three day hike." The younger ice maiden rolled her mauve eyes and set her hands on her hips. "Relax Rui," she whispered in return, "we have probably just been slowing him down. You know better than anyone that I am a terribly slow walker. Just watch, we'll find the place by tomorrow and be on our way home."
I'm so smart, too bad I can't get anything figured out
Japser rolled his own ruby red eyes as he heard their whispers. The older one was getting suspicious, which meant he would have to stop leading them in circles soon. It was a pity, he was truly enjoying Hina's company, most demons recognized him instantaneously and either avoided him or tried to kill him. He continued carefully placing the branches in a cone shape, tossing kindling into the middle to feed the fire. Once he was satisfied with the overall appearance he snapped his fingers and a small flame burst to life in the center if his make-shift fire pit.
I'm so brave, too bad I'm a baby
"Well, ladies, how about I go catch us some food?" Jasper said with a smile, clapping his hands together to get their attention. Rui jumped as the loud noise interrupted the silence, but she kept a straight face as she nodded to the fire demon. Hina watched as he walked towards the trees and bolted foreword to get up to his side, "Wait! I want to help you. Rui watch over the camp!" She waved over her shoulder at her very exasperated friend and grabbed onto Jasper's arm with her spare hand. The fire demon just gave her a smirk and lead her further into the bushes, away from the prying eyes of Rui, where they would be alone for the first time.
I'm so fly, that's probably why it
feels just like I'm falling for the first time
"I hear a stream to the right about twenty yards or so away. We can catch some fish." His smooth voice, like silk Hina thought, swept over the young ice demon and she nodded allowing him to pull her further away from her friend. They walked for a few minutes in silence, Jasper carefully thought about how he would go about convincing the ice maiden to be with him before she returned home. Hina watched the distance they travelled carefully as soon as she realized the sound of water was missing from the air. "Jasper, I think this may be the wrong way, I don't hear the water anymore." She said cautiously, gauging his response as best she could.
I'm so green, it's really amazing
I'm so clean, too bad I can't get all the dirt off of me.
"Don't worry, we'll get there. I just wanted to spend some time alone with you, while Rui isn't around to distract us." He shot her a little smirk and pulled her over to a fallen tree to sit. 'Well, sit for now at least.'he thought devilishly, making his smirk grow. Hina sat beside him on the log, a small blush playing on her cheeks at the idea that he wanted to spend time alone with her. She had no clue about how to react to something like this, the elders had always told her it was wrong, but she thought it felt so right. "Tell me, Hina, if you snuck out, why are going back to the island?"
I'm so sane, it's driving me crazy
It's so strange, I can't believe it
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time
Her blush intensified as his eyes bored into hers, making her feel like he was looking into her soul. "W-well," she stumbled over her words and turned her eyes away from his, "I only left to try and find my mother. But I couldn't find her. Rui made me promise to come back home." She played with her hands in her lap, trying not to focus on the intense look he continued to give her. "Your mother left you there alone?" His voice floated around her and her breath hitched. Hearing it from him made it sound so much worse then she had ever actually thought it was. "She wasn't happy. And one day, the wind master came. No one knew his name, but when he left so did my mother. I don't hate her for it, or even him."
Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost
anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost
Jasper's smirk continued to grow as Hina spoke slowly about her mother and the wind master. He knew exactly who she was talking about, but he couldn't tell her. She would just freak out and run away, he had, after all, murdered them both to even out a debt. "She told me, before she left, that the elders were wrong, and that love would be worth the leap." She felt her heart sink as she recalled her mother's parting words. It had hurt a great deal to lose her mother. Although she could not fault her leaving, it was so hard to stay by the grave of her twin, and she imagined it could only be worse on her poor mother.
What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time?
What if I nursed this infection? Maybe the worst is behind
Jasper grabbed her hand suddenly, catching her off guard, and pulled her into his embrace. "It must have been so hard for you, being all alone." He whispered into her ear, causing a shiver to race down her spine. "I wasn't alone, though, Rui took me in and raised me. Her own daughter's were lost the same day as my sister, and so she adopted me when mother left." She slowly brought her arms around his back, accepting the embrace he offered and the comfort she hadn't been able to find anywhere else.
It feels just like I'm falling for the first time
it feels just like I'm falling for the first time
Rui paced around the campsite. It had been nearly an hour. "Where the hell is that girl! What is he doing to her?" She bit her lip and threw herself down by the fire. She was starving, but she dared not leave the camp unattended, not that she could protect it if any one tried to take it. She felt a tiny bead roll down her face and sighed. She was working herself up too high, for all she knew, they were having difficulty catching enough fish. She picked the jewel up from the ground and stuffed it into her pocket, not wanting to risk leaving a trace of herself or Hina behind. Hiroseki stones were incredibly rare and a very obvious trail to leave behind.
I'm so chill, no wonder it's freezing
I'm so still, I just can't keep my fingers out of anything
The fire demon fought back a snicker as the ice maiden buried her face further into his chest seeking comfort she had probably never even known she 'needed' before. "You could always stay with me, instead of going back to be alone." He murmured, tightening his arms, trying to trick her into giving him an answer without thinking. He was tired of travelling alone and he didn't much care for having Rui around, just Hina. If he claimed her for his mate he would never have to worry about money again, he would have a constant supply of hiroseki stones at his disposal. Hina sighed and shook her head, "I can't leave Rui. I'm all she has."
I'm so thrilled to finally be failing
I'm so done, turn me over cause it
He gripped her tighter still and pulled away to look her in the eye, annoyed by her persistent resistance. "I don't mean to be mean, but all you seem to do is cause her trouble. She hasn't smiled, not once, that I've seen. She seems to be angry with you. I think she'd be happier with you gone." Hina took his words in and felt a tear roll down her cheek. "N-no...she's just a little stoic around strangers." She murmured, trying to find the will not to believe his words. He was still, by rights, a stranger and not to be trusted, but she couldn't seem to acknowledge this fact. "Face it, Hina, my beloved, she is better without you, but I, I need you so much. I have been alone so long, stay with me my sweet."
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time
Rui stiffened as Hina walked back into the camp another twenty minutes later, followed by Jasper, whom was carrying several fish in his arms. Hina stumbled over and sat down beside her best friend and tucked her legs into her chest, wrapping her arms around them, and stared into the fire. The older woman stared at her adopted daughter and mentally cursed the fire demon, who was now smirking as he gutted the fish. She shuffled over to Hina and put her arm around the younger girl's shoulder and jumped when she saw Hina flinch. She looked frantically for what had caused her to flinch and let out a silent shriek.
Anything plain can be lovely, anything loved can be lost
Maybe I lost my direction, what if our love is the cost?
There, upon Hina's left shoulder, just below her neck, there was a bite mark, he had mated her. Rui shot the fire demon a glare and quickly formulated a plan to escape the camp before morning. She had to get Hina back to the floating island and away from the poisonous man by the fire.
Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost
Jasper continued to smirk as he set the fish on the fire, he could sense Rui's distress, and it bothered him slightly, knowing she was going to try and take his newest mate with her. But, then, it wouldn't be the first time. His mate's were usually 'rescued' from his presence and 'cleansed' to have the marks removed within a few weeks. He didn't mind too much, because it simply meant he could go find another, although he was slightly attached to Hina.
Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost
Silence filled the air as Rui awaited the tell tale snores from the makeshift tent holding the fire demon. Hina rested peacefully beside her, a tiny smile dancing across her face as she dreamt. A little past midnight Jasper finally fell asleep, or so he allowed Rui to believe. The elder ice maiden scooped Hina into her arms and made a mad dash away from the camp, hoping to stumble upon a town soon. Jasper folded his arms behind his head and thought of the two Hiroseki stones in his pocket with a smirk. He may have lost the Koorime, but at least he would be considerably wealthy for a while.
What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time?
Rui gasped as she ran into the center of the town they had been searching for and saw twelve, very angry, elder ice maidens discussing directions. She ran over to them and bowed quickly as they turned to face her. "Rui! Hina! Where have you two been?" One of the elders shouted, glowering at the two girls. "You two are in so much trouble!" Another scolded, grabbing the sleeping Hina from Rui's arms so that another elder could grab Rui.
What if I nursed this infection? Maybe the worst is behind
As night fell over the small camp Malik made his way to the fire pit, where his men eagerly awaited news of their next destination. "Who wants to make a trip into Froeska?" He boomed tauntingly, knowing his men were bound to cheer. He wasn't disappointed as a chorus of gleeful shouts echoed through the clearing. "What are we stealing?" A tall, lanky demon with an eye patch asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I hear they just got a shipment of the finest whiskey and smoked meat," Malik said casually as he sat by the fire and tore a piece of meat from the boar they had roasting.
The stout demon sitting across from him snarled and crossed his arms over his bulging gut, "Figures. You want us to steal food and whiskey. Such a waste! When are we going to go after a real prize?" His beady little eyes flashed red as he glared at his leader. "As soon as I hear of something worth the effort. There was rumors of a large pile of gold in Kerath, but that is where Youko was last rumored to be. I'm not foolish enough to try and steal something from him."
Malik watched as the stout pig demon stood and stalked off, muttering about how his leader had 'gotten soft and pathetic'. His followers watched their comrade go with little sympathy, not caring for the selfish pig's apparent death wish. What kind of moron would try and get in the way of Youko? The last demon that had, had wound up dead and brutally skinned. You just don't mess with Youko.
Malik held his mate as she sobbed, before them lay a terrible scene. Their tent was in shambles, there was blood splattered everywhere. "Who would do such a horrible thing!" She shrieked as she tried to hide further in her mate's arms. "I don't know Thea. I don't know." He whispered, taking in the sight of his second son's decapitated and dismembered body. This was the second child they'd had together, and it was the second to die in this fashion. "Barlow will rest in peace my love, I swear to avenge him." Malik said solemnly said as he drew his mate out of their tent, and away from the horror. A stout shadow slid away into the darkness of the trees with a twisted smile upon its lips.
The floating island was silent as the elders carried the two 'runaways' through the village towards the council tent. Hina and Rui were dropped harshly on the stone bench in front of the council. The room was cold and dark, meant to echo the sorrow of the situation, Rui could help but think of the irony. They had yet to discover the mark on Hina, this trial was only about them leaving the island.
The leader of the council, Rin, stood from her seat and shot the both of them a disappointed look. "Rui, Hina, do you understand the charges being laid against you today?" Her voice was cold as ice, making both the younger koorime shiver. "Yes." Rui stated meekly, hoping Hina would stay quiet for once and not draw any unnecessary attention to her mark. It seemed that for once, Hina had lost her voice, and Rui's prayers were answered.
"You left the floating island, our sacred home, and strolled around the Makai, exposing our existence to many potentially dangerous demons." Rin walked around the large oak table her sisters were seated at and approached the stone bench, stopping in front of her niece and granddaughter. "Rui," she whispered so that none of the rest of the council would hear, "I entrusted you with my granddaughter, and yet you bring her back mated and so close to her age of first bearing."
Rui winced at her aunt's words and nodded, "I failed to intervene, and the cruel fire demon swept her away from my sight before I could stop her from going. I accept full responsibility, please aunt Rin, don't punish Hina." She paused to lick her dry lips and draw a ragged breath, "She's too young to have been able to fight off such an assault." Hina glared at her feet as they spoke like she wasn't even there.
"I love him, Rui. He loves me; I knew exactly what I was doing. He told me you'd be like this. He told me I should stay." Her voice grew louder with every word, until her grandmother smacked her upside the head. "You know not of what you speak child. He has brainwashed you. Don't fear, for we shall help you remember who and what you are."
Months passed, and finally Hina was ready to give birth. Her grandmother had been unable to determine if she was carrying a male child, but it made little difference to the rest of their race. The young koorime had fallen in love with and mated a fire demon, of all the men she could have picked; he had to be a fire demon. It made the whole situation much worse for her, and the only reason Rin had not been pressured to dispose of the tainted child within her granddaughter was a tradition older than any law.
The first bearing was not to be interrupted. If the infant was denied its right into the world, then the mother would never be able to conceive again. No matter what a koorime did, no matter the crime, she was to always be able to produce her daughter's until her body could make no more. If they interrupted the process their entire race would risk extinction. This small, yet largely important, fact had been the only thing that saved Rin the dishonour of destroying her own great grandchild.
Dusk settled over the floating village as Hina went into labour. Through many hours of suffering, she gave birth to twins. This was not unusual in the village; most koorime had twins in their early years. However, the first one born was a boy.
"A forbidden child!" Rin huffed as she paced around the small hut in which her granddaughter was resting, after delivering the two infants. Rui gazed sorrowfully at the sleeping infant with black hair. He practically oozed demonic fire energy from every pore. "He will be one of the strongest demons in the Makai, when he grows older." She whispered setting the first of the two necklaces she had made from Hina's hiroseki stones around the boy's neck. Rin scoffed and stalked over to the cradle, "It matters not, Rui. You know as well as I that he must be destroyed. He is a terrible omen, one of death and destruction."
Rui turned away and placed the second necklace around the neck of the baby girl beside him, "I think it odd that the result of love and feelings is an omen of death and destruction. I agree that the father was awful, but the baby has done nothing wrong." She turned to face her aunt as the twins stirred. "You asked I punish you, Rui, instead of Hina." Rin said solemnly, ignoring the comment from her niece. "I cannot let her free, the others would have my head, I have decided your punishment and hers."
The little boy in the cradle opened his bleary, fire red eyes as he heard the voices around him. He recognized the two arguing women from before, though he didn't quite understand who they were talking about.
"Hina will be forced to give up her son. And you, Rui, will be the one to cast him from the island." Rin's voice rose slightly, waking the sleeping mother. Hina felt her heart break as she thought of giving up her child, she loved him with all her heart, he was all she had of his father, and now they were going to take him away. "It's not fair." She said softly, drawing the attention of her elders and her son.
The baby boy watched his mother join the argument, beginning to understand whom they were referring to. It was him. He was the forbidden child. He was not supposed to be alive, and for that, they were going to cast him from the island. He scrunched his eyes, drawing his little hands into fists, and let out a mighty shriek to draw attention to him. When he had cried before, his mother had scooped him up and held him close, showering him in warmth.
Hina tried to reach for her son when he shrieked, but was held back by Rin, "Don't get attached Hina. In three days, he will be cast into exile and most likely die within the week." Hina began to cry at the thought and pushed past her grandmother, racing to the crib. "Then let me comfort him while I still can. What trouble is it to you if I tend to my child?" She hissed as she scooped the little boy into her arms, checking to make sure his sister had not awoken.
The little boy greedily welcomed his mother's embrace, troubled by the words of the oldest in the room. He wanted to stay with his mother, but he kept hearing that they wanted him gone. Everyone but his mother, at least.
Hina rocked him in her arms gently, making her way over to the bed to feed him, stepping around her grandmother so she could not snatch the babe away. "Go. You can return in three days to take him away, but just let me have him for now. He is as much a part of me as his sister, and I wish to love him as much." Rin sighed and left the room, she knew better then to try and argue with a stubborn new mother. She, herself, had once been the one bargaining with the elders for three days with a son, although she had been denied.
"Fine, I will take my leave for now. But come the third day, you will not be able to bargain for more time. It is forbidden." Rui and Hina watched her leave the tent and sighed. "Hina, don't worry. I will find a way to protect him from the drop. I promised to help you raise your children, and I will do my best."
Hina screamed as her son was ripped from her arms in the middle of the street, two of the elders holding her back as Rin bound the child with sutra's before tossing him off to Rui. She caught him and glared at Rin, although she knew she was about to be forced to do worse.
Rui walked painfully to the edge of the floating island, gripping the baby tight. "One day, you're going to want revenge." She murmured, meeting the boy's eyes through the bundle, "and when you come for it, kill me. Kill all the corrupt." She slipped one of Hina's tear gems into the bundle with him, watching his tiny nod as he grasped the string.
"Do it now, Rui!" Rin commanded, refusing to look at anyone. Rui took a deep breath and dropped the baby from the cliff, feeling her heart break in two as she heard his wail. She knew that he would be ok, or that he would at least survive the fall. She just prayed to nomads travelling beneath the island found him before it was too late.
Thea walked in front of the group like a zombie, they had been forced to pack up camp and move out of fear the murderer would return. She knew that they could not risk the lives of those who followed her mate, they had a responsibility to keep them safe. Her heart throbbed with every step as she achingly continued foreword. It was hard to leave one's child behind, even if all that was left of the child was the grave.
Malik sighed as he watched his mate stare into space. He wished he could have given her more time to recover from the horrific sight before they moved, but they just couldn't risk it.
A shrill cry suddenly cut through the air, growing steadily louder as the seconds passed. Thea's head shot up as she realized what the sound was coming from, "A baby!" she shrieked, rushing off towards the noise.
Little Hiei began to cry as the air whipped across his cheeks, not fully protected by the bindings that held him. The air was getting steadily warmer, and he could see the ground fast approaching.
The bundle fell through the canopy of trees, snagging on branches here and there, slowing down as it went. Suddenly it lurched to a halt, having snagged on a sturdy branch. The bundle swayed back and forth, dangling about five feet from the ground.
Thea burst into a small clearing and saw a tiny bundle dangling from a low hanging branch. The wailing picked up again as she cautiously approached it, assuring her that the baby inside the bundle was at least still alive. She peered into the fold of cloth, gently placing her hands on the bottom to support it slightly. She locked eyes with the crying infant and her heart skipped a beat. He was beautiful. His piercing red eyes were welled up with tears, though she could see them hardening into gems as they rolled down his chubby cheeks.
Malik took off after his mate as she disappeared into the tree line, hoping that she did not find whatever was wailing dead. That would just kill what was left of her heart. He burst into the clearing to find his mate slowly peeling cloth bindings off of a crying baby, and let out a sigh of relief. At least the poor thing was alive.
She peeled off the last bit of the binding and pulled the baby out of his blanket to check him over. She stared in wonder as his tiny fists and feet flailed, he was perfect. "Ten fingers and toes. Two eyes, and no deformities at all. What heartless wretch would toss you away?" She murmured, pulling the baby to her chest and letting his head rest on her shoulder.
Malik sighed as his mate calmed the scared infant, he knew what was coming next.
Thea smiled as the baby quieted, she felt her mate approaching slowly and turned around to face him. "Oh Malik, can we keep him?" He stiffened as she asked, seeing how her eyes sparkled with tears. He took a deep breath and walked closer to her, "He can't replace Barlow."
Thea winced and nodded, "No, but that doesn't mean I can leave him to fend for himself in the forest. I know he can never replace our son, but perhaps we could replace the wretched parent's that left him here to die."
Malik nodded, unable to deny her this. How could he? Perhaps this would be just what she needed to crawl out of the pits of despair. "Alright. It wouldn't be right to leave him. We will take him into our camp." "Into our family." She smiled.
Malik watched his mate rush out of clearing to show off the child to his men and let a single tear roll down his face. The infant had looked exactly like Barlow had when he was but a few days old. The only difference was his eyes. Barlow had purple eyes like his mother.
