Vayne: Don't fret Hades, this won't be yuri.
Chapter Two: Barred Fangs
Rena and her friends walked through the streets. Everyone stared at their surroundings, shocked by the sheer beauty of the city. It was a long walk to the graveyard as they had to go through the entire city to the sacred grove that housed it. They approached an eerie forest with black floating lights.
"Is this it?" Ara asked.
"Yes. Come on." They walked through the forest and soon were barely able to see.
"What's going on?" Elsword grew defensive as they became enveloped by white fog.
"The spirits like to bring people to other parts of the graveyard. Just stay calm and take a look around." With that, they all blacked out.
Raven woke up alone and surrounded by headstones and memorial statues. He got up, and began to walk through the dim graveyard. He noticed a trail of fog leading down into a crypt. It's like it wants me to follow. Raven sighed, and entered the crypt. It was dark and moist, and moss clung to every portion of the walls. He noticed something glowing further in, a dim light within the murky blackness. As he reached it, he picked it up. He had made a mistake.
"What are you doing...let me go...let me go!" A child's voice screamed in his mind, a young girl, "Stop it! Put me back!" Raven realized the spirit was screaming at him, and that this wasn't a memory of her death. As he began to put the sphere back she spoke again, "My rest has been disturbed, you must suffer!" Suddenly several tendrils of shadow began to chase him, emerging from the tomb. He turned to run, but they latched onto his Nasod arm. He saw himself being pulled into a black portal, and the next thing he knew he was in darkness. He felt small hands grabbing his arm, tearing the metal plating off with ease. He howled in pain as piece after piece went flying into the dark, "An eternal curse upon thee!" Raven, his arm gone, held his head in agony as he felt something crushing his entire body from the inside. He couldn't think, and blacked out.
"Anyone see Raven?" Rena asked, concerned. Everyone had found one another, but Raven was not here.
"No." They all said.
"We have to find him." Without another word, everyone headed back into the graveyard. They followed Rena as she knew this place the best. She suddenly stopped, and stared dead ahead.
"What is it?" Elesis asked. They couldn't see what it was, but Eve seemed just confused.
"What is so important about this Rena?" They all jumped as Rena wailed.
"Raven!" She ran forward as the thick fog cleared. They all stared in confusion at the black clump on the floor. It was not Raven, or a raven. It was a large wolf. It was laying on its side, eyes closed, as Rena came up and shook it.
"Rena what are you doing?!" Elsword and the others ran up to her. Elsword grabbed her and pulled her back. Rena forced herself free as the wolf slowly opened its eye.
"Raven? Can you hear me?" Everyone gasped as the wolf groaned in reply.
"I can hear you Rena...what happened to me?"
"I don't know." She said.
"Did he say something?" Ara asked, making Rena stare at her.
"You didn't hear?" Everyone shook their heads.
"Guess only you can hear me."
"Guess so Raven. Can you stand?" Raven slowly got onto his feet, but wobbled. He didn't know how to balance himself, "I'm sorry, but we have to leave now. If the city finds out about this..." Everyone looked at each other.
"Stay with Raven, we'll get the luggage." Elesis said, and everyone ran off to the city.
"Raven, come on." Rena helped Raven towards the graveyard entrance, and they hid in the foliage as they waited for the others.
"All I remember is...picking up this strange glowing sphere and a child screaming to be let down. My arm...was torn apart slowly in a black abyss." Rena placed her hand on Raven's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry..."
"What happened to me?" Raven asked as he sat down, getting the hang of moving quickly.
"You disturbed a spirit's rest, so they cursed you. It's punishable by death in the Elven kingdom so we have to hurry out of here."
"This is all my fault...I'm so sorry."
"Raven, you didn't know." They looked up as they saw the cars come into view. Rena got up so they could see her, and they pulled up to them. Much to their surprise, Raven quickly jumped into the back of the truck, which was driven by Elesis, and Elsword and Chung pulled a cover over him to obscure him. Raven closed his eyes as he felt them drive through town. After a few minutes, he felt someone begin to pull the cover off. It was Rena, and she sat down in the back with him, "I'll keep you company."
"Thank you." The car started again, and Raven remained on his side. Rena was shivering as they drove out of the forest and into the snowy field. Raven nodded his head, "Want to lie on me? I don't mind." Rena slowly crawled over to him, and laid down and pressed herself against him.
"Thank you." Rena sighed. He's so warm.
"Don't worry, we can make this work." Raven gave a wolfish chuckle, "Guess I'm the house pet now aren't I?" Rena jolted up.
"No! You're our friend, not a pet! But..." Rena couldn't help but run her hand down Raven's back. His fur was smooth, almost like silk and ruffled in the wind. His coat was sleek, and seemed to shine in the pale, cloud obscured light.
"If someone comes to the mansion, we have to act like I'm the household pet. It will just be easier."
"O...Okay..." Rena didn't argue, and laid back down and went to sleep.
"Well...we're home." Aisha sighed, followed by the others. None expected this to happen. Raven had been cursed and now has to live the rest of his life as a wolf when all they wanted to do was relax and be together. They all sat down in the living room, Raven sprawled out on the carpet.
"So...Rena's the only one who can hear him?" Elesis asked and Rena nodded.
"Because of my close affiliation to nature, I can speak to animals. I might be able to teach you guys too."
"What would we have to do?" Elsword had no clue what Rena was implying.
"Well, it's more of a ritual actually. Every Christmas everyone performs the ritual on newborn children. It's quite simple actually, but I still need time to prepare."
"You guys don't need to fret over me."
"No Raven! This is my fault and I'm going to-" Rena was cut off as Raven stood up and growled.
"Stop it Rena! Don't make this your fault when the blame is mine! All I have to do...is adapt." Raven shook his head and calmed down, "I'm sorry."
"No...no you're right Raven. But still...if I only hadn't insisted on the graveyard."
"Rena, it's fine."
"Yeah...it's fine." Rena sighed. Now what am I supposed to do? Ara stood up.
"Come on, let's cheer up! It's the Christmas season, why are we all moping around?" Ara turned on the cd player and let the music fill the room. Raven stretched and yawned, and soon fell asleep. Today had taken a lot out of him, and the others understood.
"Well, I'm going to start dinner." Rena got up. What should I do for Raven? He's a wolf now so he can't eat most of the things he did before.
"Guess some meat would be nice." Rena jumped as Raven's thoughts invaded her mind, "Looks like I can hear your thoughts." Rena sighed, and headed into the kitchen. She started to cook some rabbit she had gathered recently, thinking Raven would like it. For the others she started on some stew.
"Raven where you going?" Rena heard Ara ask, then heard Raven go up the stairs. She turned a few minutes later to see Raven holding his sword in his jaws. She said nothing as he nudged the back door open and went into the yard. He started to train, figuring out how to fight as a wolf. She smiled, and returned to the food.
"Thanks Rena, that rabbit was really good." Raven sighed as he laid down on the floor.
"Raven hold on." Aisha said, and ran up stairs. When she came back, she had with her a large, fluffy pet bed, "I'd feel bad if you had to sleep on the cold floor." She laid down the bed in the corner, and Raven looked it over. It was more than big enough to hold him, and he was about as long as Aisha was tall and as high as her waist. He made it slightly more comfortable before laying down again.
"Oh...that's comfy."
"Raven likes it." Rena said.
"No problem Raven. I actually always wanted a pet and was getting ready to get one." Raven rolled over, acting like a dog and causing everyone to laugh.
"Well, it's late." Elesis said as she got up and bent backwards, hands on her back. Everyone got up and headed upstairs except for Rena.
"Rena..." Raven groaned.
"Please, at least for tonight."
"Get a blanket at least." Raven smiled as Rena sighed and headed upstairs. When she came back, Raven was fast asleep. A tear descended down her face.
"Raven...I'm so sorry..." She wrapped herself in the blanket on the floor next to him, and went to sleep.
Raven slowly opened his eyes to the bright morning sun. He rolled over and saw Rena on the floor facing him, fast asleep. Rena...Hmm, she's so cute when she's sleeping. He nudged her with his nose.
"Rena, wake up." Rena groaned and rolled over. She started muttering in her sleep.
"Mmm...Raven that tickles...Mmm, don't stop..." Rena grew silent once more, and Raven stared at her. He crept around her and headed outside. His stomach growled, and he sighed.
"Looks like it's noon." Raven assumed looking at the high sun. He sniffed the air, "And everyone else is gone. Guess lunch is on me." Raven closed his eyes and paid attention to the smells in the air. He crouched down low and darted into the forest. He nimbly jumped over bushes and logs, surprised by his speed, as he pursued a familiar scent, "Rabbit? No, vole. Smells the same but...better." He slowed as the smell grew stronger, and could tell that the vole was just on the other side of the bush Raven was hiding behind. He readied himself, and lunged at the smaller animal. He quickly dug his teeth into its throat and bit down, crushing its neck for a quick death. The taste of blood flooded his senses, "Mmm, that's pretty good." Raven began to devour the dead animal, working fast. He quickly picked the carcass clean, then stared at the remains, "I'm sorry." He apologized and dug a hole. After burying the remains of his prey, Raven licked his bloodied maw, "I gotta wash off before I go back." Raven sniffed the ground, "He must have been here for something." He heard something in the distance, water. He sprinted through the trees and found a stream. He stuck his face into the freezing water and shook it rapidly, cleaning his face. For good measure, he wiped his mouth in the snow. He looked back in the smooth water, a perfect mirror, and his face was clean, "Time to go back." As he walked through the dense forest, he felt bad for Rena. She was so sad for this curse, and felt it was her fault. It wasn't even in her power to control. He finally reached the house and saw Rena on the porch.
"Raven! You had me so worried!" She ran up to him and leaned down, hugging him tightly.
"I was starving so..." Raven looked down, feeling bad for killing an innocent creature. Rena however, smiled.
"You hunted?" Raven nodded, "Maybe you can be my hunting buddy."
"If you want. Hmm...I wonder." Can she hear my personal thoughts? "You hear that?"
"What?"
"That's a no. Looks like my personal thoughts aren't spoken." Raven sighed, "Still have some privacy."
"That's good. Mind if we go to town?"
"Sure. Do I need a leash?" Rena looked down.
"If you want to stay with this pet idea then yes."
"Well, I'm fine with it. Let's go."
