Basically this is a story where duo, a human, is pulled from his world and ends up in a strange world. The details of that happening will be told while the story is written. He was saved from a fate worse than dead by Gersung, a Lord of the Northern provinces, who trained him in the art of healing. Find out the rest by reading this story …
Duo's point of view for the intro and then I think I'll stick to 2nd point of view. I thought the story came to its right better if I wrote like this. Hope you guys don't mind.
'thinking'
"speaking"
War and life – Part 1
In war time things don't always go the way we want them to. I realized the meaning behind those words all the faster since I woke up in that damned forest, but let's not skip ahead. What happened? Well, if you really want to know, we'll start at the beginning of this story.
It all happened when I ran from home. Before I realized it, I fell and ended up in a place I had never seen before. A lot of things happened in between, but they are memories I don't like to think off. I was lucky though. Gersung found me. He's the man I've been living with for the past year and I'm glad I can say that he's like a father to me.
He cleaned me, fed me and taught me the art of healing. I had learned much about that on the streets, but I had never thought that those skills would someday actually save my life in the way it had. Gersung had recognized my skill and had … well I always say he took me under his wings. It might not be the correct word choose, but using the right words would only make me remember and I don't want that.
"Duo wake up!" Liliana's voice called from downstairs. Duo yawned as he slowly opened his eyes. "I don't want to," he mumbled as he turned around again.
"All the food will be gone if you don't come down now boy!" Duo didn't pay it attention as he already knew it was a hallow threat. She would never do such a thing to him. He had learned that after two weeks at this place.
"Fine, I'm not making any stew for you at lunch," Liliana shouted again. That had him awake in no time. Stew might not seem much, but Liliana was one hell of a good cook and it was Duo's favorite food in this world.
"I'm up, I'm up!" He shouted as he quickly jumped out of bed. He quickly washed and dressed himself. His purple shirt felt rough against his skin and he couldn't help but pull at it for a few seconds.
"Where are my boots?" He questioned in wonder as he studied my room. It was a small place so Duo knew they couldn't have been far. He had checked under his bed, in his closet, under his table and then it hit him. He had left them in the hallway last night. Duo grinned when he found them standing by my door. Liliana must've had them cleaned. All the mud was gone and a pair of clear, dark brown boots remained.
"Thanks for the boots," Duo told Liliana when he skipped his way towards her. His trademark smile was already etched on his face as he gave her a quick hug of gratitude. Liliana laughed and Duo's smile only got wider.
"You're quite welcome Duo. It's my job, you know that."
"Just because it's your job, doesn't mean that I shouldn't be grateful for it."
Juliana laughed again as she walked towards the fire. The smell was delicious as she removed the lit of the pot that was hanging in the fire. The first time Duo saw such a fire it had been a major shock, but he had become used to it after a few weeks. "It still surprised me how much you show your emotions Duo," she told Duo absentmindedly. Duo smiled sweetly. No one had been able to notice the bitter feelings that rose within him when someone told him that.
Liliana's dark red tail moved as she was focused on her task. She was an anikun, a red raccoon to be more precise. Humans, like Duo, weren't all that common here. It had been hard for Duo to accept that when he first learned about this world, but it was like so many other things that he had become used to by now.
"Where's Gersung?"
"He's with the horses." Duo laughed at that. Gersung was a true animal lover and he definitely loved his prized horse.
"What's so funny?" a familiar voice questioned behind Duo. Duo turned around and offered Gersung a shrug in answer. Gersung stared at Duo for a while before he smiled as well.
Gersung was a man who you wouldn't describe as a the trustworthy and gentle character at first sight. His inner monkey (which was often said against the animal they represented), was often considered too playful and untrustworthy. Duo however, had long ago learned that just because an anikun represented a certain animal, they weren't exactly like that animal.
"Okay, you boys. Breakfast is waiting so wash your hands," that was directed to Gersung, "and you," Liliana continued as she let her gaze land on Duo, "at the table now."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Duo commented as he quickly seated myself. He impatiently waited until Gersung and Liliana were seated as well, which seemed to be amusing to them. When they could finally eat, he didn't waste any time to start stuffing his mouth.
"Duo. Why do you insist on scoffing your food down like that?" Gersung questioned with a chastising look. Duo shrugged as he continued to eat. "You know why," he answered when his mouth was semi empty. Gersung sighed suffering before he too began to eat, but at a more docile pace.
When breakfast was over, Gersung had a grief look on his face. His gaze soon caught Duo's and Liliana's as he began to talk.
"I received news from the west."
"The war?" Duo questioned as his happy mood vanished instantly.
'Where they moving again? Where they making their way north? If that was true, than they would soon be in danger as well,' Duo though as he felt a sense of forbidding come over him.
"I'm afraid so, Duo," Gersung answered him as if he could guess where his thoughts had gone. "What are you going to do?" Liliana questioned with a soft look towards Gersung. Duo could feel the sorrow she projected. He could feel the very air thicken with anticipation and regret.
Duo studied Liliana as her dark green eyes showed her sorrow at hearing the news. She supported Gersung fully in his healing and his beliefs, but she often regretted the road her kind had taken.
Liliana's shoulders were drooped and her fuzzy red ears were flattened against her head. Even her tail, that was usually moving about, was completely still. The same could be said about Gersung's tail.
"I don't know, but I have a responsibility against the my friend. I can't leave them like this."
"I know love. I feel the same way," Liliana was quick to say in an effort to calm her mate's temper. Gersung sighed deeply and his guilt and sadness filled the room.
"But if I do, not only will I put you both in danger, I will also put the lives of this village in danger."
"Life isn't fare, Gersung," Duo warned him as a familiar darkness entered his voice. Gersung leveled his adoptive son with a sad look and remembered when he had first met him. Duo looked away from him in an attempt to stop the same memories from coming forward.
"Then we'll go."
"Liliana?" Gersung questioned surprised. Liliana's ears were perked again and a determent look was in her eyes. "We have a responsibility to our people, yes, but we if we don't stand united, we will only lose by ourselves."
"She's right," Duo commented as he glared at the table. "They won't stop until they control everything. We don't stand a chance if we don't act united."
"Then it's decided?" Gersung questioned as he looked towards his mate and then Duo. Duo simply nodded his head while Liliana smiled sadly at her mate.
"I think it was decided before you even entered the house," Liliana answered him. Gersung looked slightly guilty and that made a small smile come over Duo's lips again.
When the people heard the news, cheers went up as well as saddened and alarmed noises. Duo stood by Gersung as he told them they didn't have to fight, but he could read the conviction in their eyes. They had all lost some family member to the army that was destroying every symbol of a peaceful and free life.
They were on the road by the next day. The village Duo had spent the last year of his life was left behind without a living soul left in it. It pained him deeply to leave it behind, but he somehow felt that he was doing the right thing. He was moving towards his destiny …
The forest they were crossing through was thick, but it gave many a safe feeling. Duo rode next to Gersung as they searched for his friend, Treize, and his army.
"So who is this guy anyway?" Duo questioned in hopes of passing the time usefully.
"An old friend. It's because of him that I and Liliana met. In my opinion that means that I owe him something."
"That's ridiculous. I hope that's not the only reason you're going to help him?"
"No."
Duo waited patiently, but Gersung didn't explain further.
"Stop!" Gersung suddenly ordered. The small row of people behind them came to a stop and Duo felt a chill go up his spine. He narrowed his eyes as he felt like he was being watched.
"You should stop spying on friends and offer us a guide through this wilderness," Gersung called out.
The bushes moved and they were suddenly surrounded by forty armed anikun. Duo stiffened as he could feel a heated stare on his back. When he looked behind him, his eyes came across a pair of cold blue ones. Duo had trouble focusing on something else again, like say the man that began speaking.
"Gersung, my friend, it's been a long time."
"Truly, you could've come out sooner Treize," Gersung chastised his friend, though his smile told otherwise. Duo finally managed to look at Treize and he was surprised by what he saw. His dark brown hair was a sharp contrast against his white perked ears. His bushy tail moved smoothly from left to right and reminded you of an arctic fox.
"I must say I was surprised to receive your letter."
"I couldn't afford to ignore it any longer."
"I know how you feel," a second voice said to my right. This one was tall with blonde long hair. A pair of doglike ears were at attention as his eyes moved over the group.
'Gersung warned me that his friend was surrounded by powerful anikun, but this is ridiculous. I never felt such power before and I'm just human!' Duo though as he felt overwhelmed by the sheer power in the air.
"Though I have to say the human is a surprise."
"Weak creatures," another anikun spat to Duo's right. He looked asian with black hair in a tight ponytail. The black ears on his head weren't noticeable unless you were looking for them. His tail however flicked anxiously behind him. The orange color and black rings reminded Duo instantly of a tiger. They stares met and the tiger scoffed before he ignored Duo completely.
Duo felt kind of miffed by that remark, but he didn't let it show though. 'Let them underestimate me. It's not like I wasn't used to it,' he thought as he kept his smile friendly.
"I would advise you not to speak to my adoptive son like that," Gersung casually told the tiger. He received an angry glare in return.
"Then I pity you for choosing a human."
"You shouldn't judge without knowing all, Lord Chang."
Duo blinked at Gersung. 'Did he say lord? This stuck op guy was a lord?' Duo thought as his smile widened. 'He should prove to be fun to annoy.'
The troop easily made their way further towards the camp. When they got there, Duo was surprised. 'It's humongous. How are they even able to keep it hidden for so long. How many soldiers are gathered here anyway? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand?'
"Sir?" A small boy came running towards them. He stopped at Treize's feet and saluted him. Duo watched the entire scene curiously. He seemed too young to be a soldier, so did that mean there were civilians here too? "The rest is already gathered at the main tent."
"Thank you Cedric," Treize said as he motioned Gersung forward.
"Duo will join me," Gersung said and Duo felt surprised. Gersung usually tried everything to keep Duo away from official business. Treize first searched Gersung's gaze before focusing on Duo.
"As you wish my friend." Lord Chang however scoffed at this.
"It's bad enough I have to tolerate Quatre."
"Wufei!" Treize warned him. That warning shut him right up, though his glare didn't lessen in the slightest.
"Come along Duo," Gersung said.
Duo followed Gersung and the four guys that had stood out to him in the group. He slowly began to realize why they were so important. His instincts were already telling him that he had to be careful around them. They carried great power.
When Duo walked inside the tent, he felt shocked. The tent was spacious and there were a few chairs around a big table which he assumed where for the guests. But it wasn't the tent that surprised him, it were those that occupied it. One was a tall boy with brown hair. His bang covered half of his face, but I somehow knew he was skillful. His black tail and ears instantly reminded me of a panther. By his side sat a blond …
'Is he a human? No it couldn't be! I haven't seen a human for so long,' Duo thought surprised. He tried to keep his thoughts focused on what was going on, but it was hard to do so. Gersung pulled him towards the table and when they sat down, he offered him some whispered advise.
"Stay quiet and simply listen Duo. There's a reason why you're here and you'll find out soon enough."
Duo nodded and let his eyes swoop over the rest of the attendees. Treize stood up and called everyone's attention.
"We are gathered here during a time that leaves me saddened. Not only are we losing our lands, but what is the hardest shock of all is that we were betrayed by one who we thought was a friend. Dermail may think he has us beat us, but we believe in justice."
Duo listened to him, but he couldn't follow. He never would've figured this band of anikun to be friends with Dermail. He may not have known him directly, but his last owner had received frequent visits from him. That at the least gave him some kind of leverage.
'Maybe that was why Gersung wanted me here,' he thought in realization.
"But even in hard times old friends and bonds are united in a mutual fight against evil. So with gratitude I welcome my friend Gersung to the Darken Forest."
"I would've whished things wouldn't have had to come to this, but alas they did," Gersung said as he stood up. "But before I will let this meeting officially begin, I feel the need to introduce my adoptive son, Duo."
Duo stiffened when all the gazes in the room focused on him. He swallowed nervously and offered them a shaky smile. He hated not knowing what to do!
"As you can all see, Duo's a human. I have trained him in the art of healing and I'm glad to announce that he even matches Lady Sally's skills."
Wufei growled when Gersung mentioned that, but it was ignored by those in the room.
"Then we welcome you as well, Duo, son of Gersung the Great, Lord of the North."
Duo nodded his head shortly to show his acceptance of the welcoming. "Let me introduce to you my counsil. We have Lord Chang. His mate Lady Sally is our honored healer and is sadly not able to join us at this moment, but I'm sure you'll have the chance to do so later today. Next to him is Lord Marquise, Lord Yuy, Lord Barton and his mate Quatre."
Duo nodded to all of them as they were introduced. Only when his eyes met Lord Yuy, did his thoughts stray. They were the clearest blue he had ever seen and he was sure he could stare at them for a long while. But there was some fear in that stare as well. Something that warned him to be wary of this anikun ...
~ To be continued ~
That's it for now. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave me a review! ^_^