Tales Of the Abyss

Chapter One

I sighed lightly, Blood had long since fallen asleep. While I have been awake from some time now. I growled lightly as the Carriage came to a stop. It was dark outside now, it had been for about an hour, alas I was hoping he would at least continue to Engeve, but he stopped just outside the other end of the Thor Forest.

I nudged Blood a bit, causing him to wake up. He looked at me momentary before looking to the door. I stood up, straightening my Uniform. My uniform was the standard Blue with white trimming. Gloves coming up between the Shoulder blade and the Elbow. Belt around the mid-drift, and the weird looking boots.

I pushed open the Carriage door allowing Blood to be the first out. It was a clear night, and kind of Cold. The wind was blowing softly, fluttering my hair around slightly. I sighed again. It was indeed very beautiful out here, but not as beautiful as Grand Chokmah, That was beauty.

As I sat in the doorway of the Carriage, I watched Blood. He was rolling around in the grass. I forced a small smile, as he looked towards me, with those narrow red eyes. He knew how much I didn't want to leave Grand Chokmah. How much I had loved it there.

Blood was a very special Liger; and, It was not just because he listened to me. Blood was the Only Liger that could understand and speak English. He was valuable to me, as many have learned, and I was equally as valuable to him.

Blood had been abandoned five years ago, and was running rampant in St. Binah. He was captured by the Malkuth officers stationed there, and since I was near there, they called upon me to get rid of the beast, But the moment I saw him, something clicked, And when he started speaking to us. Well that was when the shit hit the fan. The officers where calling 'demon, demon' and they where trying to get a Priest in there.

Needless to say, I had calmed him, and took him to Grand Chokmah. Emperor Peony IX tried to have him killed. I knew he was just worring about his lovely rampigs, but when a thief had broken into the Palace, and Blood stopped him dead in his tracks, The Emperor decided to place him with me in his Army, To say the Least, Blood was one of the reasons I was placed as leader of the second Division.

I laughed lightly at the memory, and Blood tilted his head, seeing as I hardly ever laughed. Blood walked over to me laying his head in my lap once again. I patted his head before pushing him off me. I walked to the front of the Carriage, trailing my finger down one of the four horses. Blood walked by my side quietly, knowing I wanted silence.

I ran my hand under the horses head then between his eyes and down his nose. I repeated the motions over and over again, simply enjoying the innocence and purity of this graceful animal.

I pulled away as the Carriage driver came back, with a few buckets of Water. He glanced at me before tuning his attention to the horses. I kept one hand on the horse, rubbing his neck gently. He neighed lightly. The carriage driver set a bucket of water down for each horse, then he set one down for Blood, and backed away slowly, glancing at me as he did. I nudged Blood toward the bucket of water, knowing he was thirsty. He growled lightly but approached the bucket bending down slightly lapping up the water.

The Driver approached me next, I eyed him for a moment before turning my attention back to the horse. I could tell he was trying to find the power to speak to me, and, with the way I was acting, I wasn't much help.

"Miss-" he started before I cut him off

"It is Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger, not Miss Jaeger and not Miss Kiri Jaeger. Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger, Am I understood?" I eyed him, Blood didn't even bother to lift his head up, he had heard this many times before, besides he knew he was one of the only ones allowed to call me Kiri.

The Carriage driver nodded backing up a bit. "Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger, cold I offer you something to drink?"

I shook my head walking towards Blood, rubbing him on the back. Blood picked his head up purring slightly. Blood looked at me, licking his lips as they where wet.

After the Driver fed the horses, and climbed to the top of the carriage opening up a slap of meat and tossing it over the top for Blood's dinner, then Jumped down.

Blood Carried the meat off a ways to eat in peace. I laughed at his haunched over position.

A few hours after Midnight, most everyone was asleep except for Blood and my self naturally. I never could sleep while in a carriage of types, so I usually stayed yup with Blood, having late night or Early morning conversations, and keeping Guard.

As of this moment, Blood was relaxed in a laying position, I was in between his front and back paws, the upper half of my body on his side. Blood looked toward me, sighing a catty sigh.

"What Blood?" I asked as I met his gaze. And he grumbled lightly.

"Could you at least Act happy? Even if you are leaving your home of the past three years?" I shook my head.

"Why should I be happy. I'm being driven to Kaitzur's navel Port, the sailed to Chesedonia! There is no reason to act happy. Besides, your being hypocritical." Blood tilted his head.

"How so?" I grinned.

"Your telling me to be happy, while half the time your glaring at the Driver thinking, ' oh how yummy you might be' " Blood let out a throaty mix between and laugh and a growl.

"Actually its more along the lines of, 'make one wrong move and you will be tomorrow's Lunch." We both laughed, and I nodded my head,

"How true you are My dear Blood, How true you are." Blood grinned slightly.

"You know thats for sure. How about we actually try to get some sleep tonight, huh?" I nodded yawning slightly.

"Hey Blood?"

"Yes?" I turned my head upwards to look at the stars.

"Do you think Jade is as powerful and Emperor Peony says he is?" Blood laughed.

"Has he even been wrong about one he trusts to dearly?" I shook my head

"Suppose not" I heard Blood sigh

"Kiri, Just do not worry about it, ok? We know he is strong, and we know you are strong. Just because your being transferred to the Third Division, does not mean anything about you being Weak. I all know is this Colonel Jade Curtiss better watch his step Or I'm coming after him." I laughed placing my hand on his head

"Night Blood" I yawned.

"Good night my love." Blood growled and I rolled my eyes.

"Not your Love" I said as I dozed off.

The next morning, Blood and I was up with the sun. We where ready by the time the Driver woke up, witch was a bit disappointing on our case. Seeing as we had to wait for the Driver to eat, Blood and I decided on a few laps around the entrance to the forest.

We completed nearly Fifteen when the Driver called up saying we where ready to go. So Blood and I headed back toward the Carriage. I entered first. Sitting on the inside, while Blood climbed beside me laying his huge head, yet again, in my lap.

We resumed the same bumpy pace we did yesterday. Which annoyed both Blood and I, alas we had to behave, because of having high positions in the Malkuth Military.

I sighed tapping on the arm of the seat, and every once in a while one could hear Blood's tail thumping on the thing leather seats. The Driver said that we where going to attempt to make it half way to Kaitzur today, then rest and go the rest of the way to Kaitzur Navel Port, where we would be handed over to Malkuth Navel officers who would escort us to Chesedonia. I doubted the ability of the horses, but I said nothing respectively. I had allowed the Driver to push the horses, despite my concerns. I honestly hoped we could go threw his schedule without any trouble. With our luck, all we had was hoping.