Whoot! Another chapter is completed! Oh, just letting people know, there's a bit of incest and character death in this fanfic. Not in this chapter, but in later ones. Sigh. Yeah, there's probably a lot of things to warn people about that might be odd, but I promise this mostly focuses on the progression of Russia/America's relationship (which doesn't have any warning other than yaoi but that's not really anything serious).
Oh god I have about 26 chapters planned out for this thing and still counting. Why do I torture myself like this?
Name Changes
1. France's name is just Franka (he's still a guy!)
2. Spain's name is just Cerri
3. Prussia's name is just Gilt
4. Austria's name is just Roder
5. Northern Italy's name is just Feli
6. Southern Italy's name is just Lovi
7. To my knowledge, Denmark doesn't have an official name so his name is Marco
8. To my knowledge, Norway doesn't have an official name so his name is Nora
9. To my knowledge, Iceland doesn't have an official name so his name is Ice
10. Hungary's name is just Veta
Poland's name is still the same, except he doesn't have a last name.
Wow, lots of dialogue in this. O_O I'm kind of not used to writing that...
Chapter 3
Tralo came back; his hair slicked back except for two flicks of hair out of place and the air around him was still steaming from the warm bath he had taken. His eyes were a milk chocolate brown but the sunlight made some of it appear a golden color. His lips were slightly lighter than the rest of his face, and they were curled in a smirk that seemed to say that they had a secret they wished to tell. The dark skin Tralo possessed had no blemish or imperfection, not even scars that Art had from battles. The only thing on his sculpted chest was the droplets that clung to his lean and muscular body. His only clothing was a deer skin that wrapped around his hips and flared a little to allow room for his thick, strong thighs. Under both of his arms, were large bundles of branches.
"Hey, I got something for the fire!"
"Ah, thank you my friend. Alf, help him!" Art ordered. It was the same way he commanded the wolves.
"Yes father!" There was no doubt that Alf was Art's son. The voices sounded different in pitch, but the way they commanded attention was the same. As much as Ivan hated to admit, it was hard to dislike this quality of the boy.
Alf took the bundle held by Tralo's left side and ran up to the mouth of the cave to start the fire.
"Hey Hew! Are you guys done with the meat?" Art asked his twin, arranging the dry wood for his fire.
"We're almost done."
"Well, why don't you let Kiku and Mei finish up and can you get some nuts and berries quickly to eat with the meat?"
"Okay." Hew said, getting up from his spot. He walked up to Ivan, and offered his hand. "Why don't you come with me? It's better than waiting here all this time."
Ivan nodded, and got up to go wherever Hew needed to go. The two boys started walking to the wooden area to the right of the cave, where there seemed to be nothing but conifers. Hew didn't seem too bothered. The Russian boy kept his confusion to himself and followed his shorter companion. They walked for over a quarter of a mile, but there were still no such plants that had any food. Soon they have to weave in between the thick growth in order to avoid walking into trees. The trees grew closer together to the point Ivan could barely squeeze between the branches. Finally when they got through layers of the thick brush, did Ivan see why Hew went this way. There was an area that had no trees, but short bushes that had dark red berries. The plants grew together, as if cuddling each other to avoid getting cold.
"Well, now you know a little secret about us."
"I know enough of your brother than I wish." Ivan snapped. Hew just chuckled lightly.
"Hey, he's actually been through a lot, you'd be surprised. Alf's actually freaking out now that he knows that he's the one becoming chief when our dad gets old and not me." Hew said, quickly plucking the ripe fruit off the bush he was at.
"Were you the one that was supposed to be chief?" Ivan asked, watching the other boy do his task. It was hard to believe that people saw potential of a future chief in him. Not that Hew was a bad person; he was actually the kindest individual of the group that Ivan had met. But Hew is too quiet and feminine, and he lacked the aura that commanded attention like his father and his twin brother. In fact, even the youngest brother, Petra seemed to grab more attention.
"I'm the oldest twin, actually, the oldest child by fourteen minutes. But my father said that he didn't think I had enough presence to be the leader of the tribe. This is fine with me considering that I used to be worried about that being my future. I really would want to avoid being banged up and marred like my father. Also, I don't want the pressure of having to produce a son or having the threat of being killed every day."
"Oh, I see. Well, I find your father rather fascinating. My father isn't nearly as... rough I guess the word is what I'd use. Do you really feel your life being threatened every day as chief?"
"Yeah, but that's the way you have to be to be chief. There are other people like us around, so you have to be alert and ready to fight. But he was different when he was around my mother. Now when I look back, I can truly see just how much my father loved her. Though, I think Alf loved her just as much. She was his protector when he was young and did stupid stuff. Every time he would sneak out when we were young or got hurt while skinning and doing other chores, our mother fully supported him. Ah, I'm sorry. I hope I am not boring you. I am almost done. I will just get some nuts from the other cluster of bushes."
"Not at all... um, Hew." Ivan said, blushing slightly because he had forgotten Hew's name for a second.
"Let's go back now. Um, sorry, I think I picked too much. Can you hold some of them while we go back? Just until we get past the dense area-"
"Oh no, it's alright, you don't need an excuse. I should be of some assistance since you people were kind enough to let me stay with you." Ivan carefully grabbed a couple handfuls of nuts and fruits, and the two continued their way back to the cave. Once they got past the dense growth of trees, they started to talk again.
"I know that you and my brother probably didn't get a good start on your relationship, but please don't hate him."
"I... okay, I do hate him right now. But it's because of-"
"I overheard. Alf's doesn't really mean any harm to people at all. He's really one of the most comforting people to talk to about those kinds of memories. Sometimes... we talk about mom together and we comfort each other."
Ivan sighed. He had acted rather immaturely to the situation but he still didn't know if he was going to apologize to Alf.
The smell of meat over the fire filled both their noses, and they quickened their pace. The Russian boy spotted Alf poking the meat with a stick, making sure each piece was cooking evenly. Su, the large, pale blonde man with blue green eyes was calmly weaving thin strips of wood together, making something that resembled a plate. The smaller man that was sleeping before, Tino was watching him with a small smile on his face. Now that Tino appeared much more comfortable, he looked similar to an angel. His face had a slight flush of color that made his cheeks rosy and full looking. If it were not for his long legs, he could resemble the small angels that were in the paintings in the town church.
"Kiku, why don't you sit next to me? It's warm under the blanket." It was from Mei, the only woman in the tribe. Kiku shook his head furiously, a red blush not only on his cheeks, but all over his face.
"Mei, you are supposed to be Alf's. Don't request such scandalous things!"
Ivan didn't understand what the two meant so he ignored them. Luwd with his large arms motioned for Ivan to come to him. The Russian teenager did so, careful not to drop any of the handed picked fruits and nuts. There was a weaved wooden basket similar to what Su was crafting, except that the basket had a matching lid and it was about two feet tall and a foot wide. Ivan was impressed with the craftsmanship. There were even darker pieces of wood that made the trim, making the piece look more like a decorative than an actual functioning basket. He dropped the fruit into the medium sized basket and sat down next to Luwd.
"Ah, poor Kiku. It is kind of awkward when your best friend's future wife has a crush on you."
"Huh?" Ivan reacted. He still didn't understand the dynamics of their group yet.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just thinking out loud." The older man explained. Hew came by and put his share of gathered food and dropped it into the basket. The older twin brother sat down next to Ivan, and told the two of them dinner was almost done. The other teen nodded and contemplated whether or not he should ask Hew to help clear his confusion about the tribe and everyone's relationships. Ivan was sure that the young man would be honest with him, and give him all the details, but he didn't know it would be rude of him to ask. The Russian was just a wounded stranger that already owed them so much, and he didn't need to bother them anymore than he already has.
"Kiku, I'm not his wife yet. Plus, I don't have to force myself into that kind of life. I still have a choice."
"But you should think about not just your survival, but my own. Don't jeopardize my life like this!"
Hew sighed. "She never gives up." He turned to Ivan and asked, "Have you ever had to deal with a stubborn girl before?" Ivan instantly thought of his sister Natalya and blushed. He had forgotten about Natalya and her strong affections towards him. How she would sniff his pillows for the scent of his hair and would stalk him even when he was out with his friends. Ivan realized that he didn't think of his friends since he got to the home of these strangers. His mind had even strayed from all of his adopted family that he used to be so concerned about. It was humorous and sad at the same time. How could he forget the people that obviously loved him very much? Was he really this cold hearted?
"Hey, are you okay?" Hew asked, waving his hand in front of Ivan's face.
"Uh, yes. I was just thinking of my sister. She too had a strange... obsession for me. I understand how Kiku feels."
"That's kind of weird, not meaning to judge, but isn't that incest?"
"Not really, she and her family adopted me. It's not as awkward as it sounds."
"Then why does it sound awkward from you?" Ivan didn't even feel any doubt about his answer to Hew's question.
"Because I don't feel the same." Ivan answered honestly, feeling secure about telling Hew about it. Hew nodded. "That's why I was glad when I didn't have to be chief anymore. I am not into girls, but Alf appears to be that way. I think he would be a good leader just like my father."
"I'm not homosexual Hew." Ivan snapped.
"I'm sure you're not, I'm just saying that I am. No need to get worked up," Hew laughed. Ivan realized how foolish he must have sounded and laughed as well. It wasn't as if Hew looked like the type of person to openly flirt or do anything to make someone uncomfortable. Nor did he seem to be someone who would take advantage of an individual who appeared to be vulnerable. The young man had only shown kindness to him since the moment he arrived. Perhaps he was being too defensive here. Ivan wasn't judging them so why should he believe that they were judging him? Why did he feel so insecure being with these people?
"Food's done! Tino, Kiku, do you think you can help be distribute the food?" Alf called out. The two nodded and got up to what Ivan assumed as lunch time for these people. Tino passed out woven plates to everyone, giving the new one that Su was working on to Ivan. Kiku grabbed the basket that held the mix of fruits and nuts and gave about two handfuls to everyone. When his eyes that were tired from dealing with Mei looked at Ivan, the Russian boy shivered. He definitely understood why Kiku eyes looked the way they did. The older man probably had his troubles of coming up with ways to avoid the young lady and strange paranoid thoughts of Mei possibly doing awkward things to him while he slept. He averted his eyes instead on the food, not wanting to look at the eyes that shared the same frustration.
Alf came, with chunks of the cooked meat on a large woven platter and used a tongs made of two strips of wood to pass out everyone's portions. When he came to Ivan's plate, he had a noticeable frown and asked him how much.
"Just a little bit. I was friends with the deer," Ivan said softly. Alf nodded and placed only enough meat to cover about a fourth of Ivan's plate. Even if Ivan didn't know the animal, he still probably wouldn't have eaten much more than the portion given to him. He wasn't accustomed to eating large pieces of meat.
The deer meat was in thin strips, which allowed eating without a knife. They made the plate a little damp, showing how they still retained some of the juices. Ivan made sure to ignore the thought that the meat was from the deer that comforted him that night and ate them quickly. It was different from the beef and pork that they sold in the butcher shop in the town. It tasted like it was marinated in the grasses and fruits that were local to the area, giving it a refreshing and light taste. Ivan found it quite delicious.
The berries were very sweet, almost as if they were covered in sugar. It surprised Ivan that the fruit tasted so sweet. They were a dark red or almost purple color and looked as if they were small spheres that clustered together. They weren't anything like the fruits that Ivan was used to such as oranges and pears, but he really enjoyed them. He hoped that his brain had formed a cognitive map of how to get back to the berries again so he could delight in more. Nuts were the last part of his great meal. They had a slightly bitter after taste, but they were still very good. Once Ivan had gotten done with his food, Tino immediately came by his side and asked if he wanted more. The Russian declined and the smaller man took his plate.
Ivan noticed that Alf was still eating and decided as his father would say "patch things up" and walked towards him. He sat next to the boy, expecting him to pay some attention to him. Alf though looked out of the mouth the entrance, his eyes glazed with wonder as if he was fixated on something that was over a hundred meters away. The sky blue eyes were instead the color of the ocean, a darker blue that held mysteries and treasures that tempted you to get closer. The sunlight reflected off his eyes made it look like it sparkled with gold that lay underneath the vast blue. Ivan's couldn't breathe. He almost lost all the passionate hate he felt for the boy, and he just wanted to look into his beautiful eyes for as long as he could. Alf realized Ivan's presence though and the eyes turned to their usual sky blue. The playful light made the bright orbs seem to sparkle with a natural glitter.
"Alf, I uh... I just wanted to say I was sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. You were just trying to be nice and to entertain me somehow."
Those eyes were fixed directly at him, as if playfully dancing around his soul. Ivan could feel his face grow warm with an unknown feeling. What was this?
"That's okay man. I know I was at fault too. I just made an assumption of you based on only one fact I knew about you. Just because you live in a town doesn't mean you haven't faced hardship. I don't think about those many hardships and things like that myself. It's just the way I am. I hope you aren't as mad as you were before."
"N-n-no, not at all. Ah, I... I forgive you!" Ivan couldn't believe what he was doing. He never had such speech impediments while he spoke. Even as a child he never spoke with such hesitance. It mad him flush with embarrassment, but thankfully Alf didn't care.
"Cool." Alf said, and continued looking back at the scenery. "Are there a lot of women in your town?"
Ivan was shocked that Alf would ask that. "Um, yes. I think about half of the population is female. Maybe a little more because most of the younger children are female."
"The idea of more than three women around in our world is odd. Mei is the only girl here since my mother died."
"Why is that?" It did seem strange to Ivan.
"For some reason the cold is harsh towards women. Funny, you'd think because their bodies naturally have more insulation in comparison to men, they would be better survivors. It is probably why my father, though he may not personally know Mei, he admires her. She didn't join the group until Hew and I were five. I don't know how she survived, but she did. It's pretty amazing that women the same age as us couldn't live through what Mei went through at such a young age."
"I see. So you did have other women, other than Mei or your mother?"
"Oh yeah. There were other women, shunned or abandoned by their town that came to live here several times in the past. But they never lived for long. They aren't survivors like Mei and my mom. And as much as my father hates his siblings and their success, the Fulavi tribe's old leader had a strong wife too. Her name was Veta if I remember correctly. Of course, Hew always mocks my horrible memory so you should probably ask him. Hahaha." It was odd. When Alf said he was sorry and he forgave you, he really meant it. He spoke so calmly about such personal information as if he were telling it to an old friend he hadn't seen in a while. Ivan wished that he could be similar. He didn't know if this was Alf's personality or that he have something that Ivan had lost a long time ago. Was it innocence? Ignorance?
It made Ivan think about himself. He seemed to be still in a prison in his mind in comparison to Alf. The shorter man was free with his mind and his actions, and Ivan was restricted. Restricted by manners and learning what people liked or disliked. Ivan didn't really care how awkward or sad he made people feel, so why is it that he was still acting in such a manner?
His thoughts were interrupted when Alf started to talk again.
"Veta, or whatever the old Fulavi wife's name is, just died last year. She had caught a nasty flu and just couldn't recover. The old leader was so devastated that he didn't want to be in charge anymore. Now he's quiet and doesn't really do much, in fact, whenever we encounter them, he just sits there and watches. They now follow the orders of their new leader, which is the old leader's younger brother. Oh! Yeah, be careful of the Fulavi tribe, they're big trouble."
"Why is that Alf?"
"Their new leader is this guy named Franka. Apparently he's my dad's least favorite brother and my dad doesn't get along with any of his brothers. It's probably because they always had this fierce rivalry and just get into each other's skin in a way none of the other brothers did. Don't really know why though, but I never had a problem with my brothers. I just don't like Franka because he's a little... well, he's weird. Be careful around him. He'll sneak up behind you and well..."
"Does he assault you?" Ivan asked, concerned that someone could make the boy so hesitate.
"No! It's not assault at that point. It's more of molestation. Which is kind of gross because if you think about it, because we're all related. I mean, I'm that freaky guy's nephew. But that's not the only reason to look out for him. They don't have any women in their tribe and now that Mei's older, they're going to try and kidnap her soon. My father says that men must always protect the women of the tribe and I intend to do that. Besides, I always saw myself as a hero somewhat. I was the one who nursed Mei back to health when we were younger. She might be infatuated with Kiku, but she says that she owes much more to me."
"Oh, you must care a lot about her very much." Ivan was shocked at his statement. It sounded so odd as if it came out of a stranger's mouth.
"She's supposed to be my future wife. I guess my protective nature around her has now become a habit. I feel kind of bad for her though. I know she really likes my friend Kiku, even though he won't be chief ever. But that's only because my dad says he's too old and doesn't have the endurance of someone who can lead a team. If I don't find another girl, and if Mei refuses to be my wife, we have to banish her from the group. It's really harsh and I don't want to have to resort to such tactics." Alf sighed. He was done eating and scratched his head. "Well, I want to get my mind off that. I think I'm going to take quick dip in the river with Kiku to freshen up. Do you want to come with us?"
"No, I think I will just-" Ivan paused to hiss because his ankle felt a sharp pain again. Alf noticed the Russian's left ankle wasn't properly wrapped. He grabbed the Russian's left thigh so that he could pull the leg towards him and examine it. Ivan gasped. The other's hand was just a couple of inches from his crotch. He wanted to voice that the other was being vulgar or invasive, but nothing would come out. Alf slowly wrapped the beige scarf, making sure that it was untangled and ready for him to use. Once the shorter teen took off the scarf, he unlaced his boot, revealing a sliver of heated skin to the cold air. Ivan hissed again, for his wound was irritated when Alf took his shoe off. Alf noticed his pain and he massaged the toes and sole of his feet. The pressure was very soothing, and it helped the pale blonde boy relax as the other began to wrap the cloth around his ankle. The other although was shorter than Ivan, he possessed strength that seemed beyond his frame. His grip almost hurt, and the way he tugged the scarf made Ivan afraid that he was going to break it. Soon, he was done, and put Ivan's boot on for him. Alf was actually quite good at it now that Ivan saw the finished product. His left leg looked exactly like the right one, except the calf looked thicker due to the scarf's material.
"There you go! Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
"Yes, and thank you Alf." Alf nodded and called out for his best friend. Kiku swiftly came to his side, with two sets of clothing. His eyes had their tired look again, probably from new advances from the aggressive girl. Ivan watched as they left, not paying attention to their conversation as they left but heard their voices. The Asian man's eyes were now lifted, and his face looked almost as young as Alf's. One of them probably had just told a joke, because both of them started laughing, Alf being much more animated of the two. He was holding his stomach and lightly jabbing Kiku in the shoulder.
"Did you and my brother forgive each other from last time?" Ivan gasped and jumped a little. He never notice Hew approaching him from behind.
"Yes, we did."
"Ah, well then, as long as Fulavi don't show up, you should have a pleasant stay with us." Fulavi's name kept popping up. Ivan was curious. What was this tribe's name?
"Hey Hew. What is your group's name?" Hew looked at him with a shocked expression. The quieter twin probably thought his brother already told Ivan.
"We are the Lyonias."
"Lie-on-ee-as?" Ivan said slowly, making sure to pronounce their name correctly.
"Yeah, my father said our grandfather used to talk about these animals called lions. Creatures that were the color of gold and had such power that made them the dominant animal of the African continent. Even humans with their extreme intelligence didn't stand a chance against the mighty lion. My father was so fascinated by the stories about them that once he established himself as leader, he called us the Lyonias, after the lion."
"How did your grandfather know of lions and Africa?"
"He used to live far from this place. It was near a different town, a larger one that had a more diverse population. They actually liked talking to us 'nomads' as they liked to call our family. They talked to my grandfather about things they learned in textbooks and from their travels. My grandfather was a good story teller, and he could remember almost word for word all the details the town's people had told him." Ivan was about to ask what kind of person Hew's grandfather was in more detail, he was interrupted by Mei.
"Hew I'm going to get different fruit for the meal later. You just stay there and rest okay?" Her eyes were bright with energy.
"Alright, but shouldn't you have someone with you?"
"I'll be okay. I'm going to pick from the area near the river where Kiku and Alf are. They'll protect me."
"Well, why not bring someone with you just in case. Ivan, do you mind escorting Mei like you did with me?"
"Not at all." The Russian teen got up from his spot, looking at Mei. She smiled at her escort and led the way. It was odd just following the young girl, not having a conversation like he did with Hew, but Ivan didn't want to be rude. It was probably uncomfortable, even invading, to have an outsider just suddenly show up to your home. Especially one that was a large male that within a couple of hours showed great anger towards the future leader of their tribe. Not just the future leader of their group, but her future husband and good friend. Ivan felt bad that he made a woman fear him and didn't like the fact that he lost his temper so easily. Yes, his wish to not be rude while staying with these people wasn't being accomplished.
There was a large river now to the left of their path. The water was clear and sparkled in the sunlight. It rushed down the sloping landscape, as if it wasn't affected by the cold air at all. A few trees were scattered around the river, but they were still young and were barely taller than Ivan's six foot tall frame. Bushes in that area huddled around the trees, similar to small children staying close to their parents. It was through further inspection that Ivan noticed the strange yellow fruit. The fruit had a variety of color. The coloring was in an ombre pattern, going from the top a bright white to a bright yellowish-orange at the bottom. There was defensive spikes that covered it looked as sharp as tacks, and some of the spikes had even collected the hair of animals that had brushed up against it. Sitting on top of the fruit were dark green leafs that also had the strange white spikes. Ivan didn't think that it would be safe to ingest those kinds of fruit, but he understood that the nomads knew more about nature and survival better than he did.
"Would you like to try one?" Mei asked. Before Ivan could answer, she plucked the fruit, not bothered by its spikes at all.
"Yes, I think it would be fun to try one."
"Here you go. Don't worry; it's not as menacing or scary as it looks."
Ivan popped the little berry into his mouth and chewed. The spikes were not hard; in fact, his teeth crushed the protective barrier easily. The gush of juice filled his mouth, and it tasted almost like liquid sugar. He swallowed it, not feeling the prickly sensation against his throat that he thought he would experience. He smiled back at the Asian lady, very happy that she offered him the fruit.
"It is very good." Her smile grew bigger. It was nice to see her open up to him.
"I'm glad you enjoy them. They really aren't as sharp as they appear."
"Hi Mei! Hi Ivan!" The voice was loud, and it echoed several times. Ivan knew it was Alf's voice. He looked behind him and saw that Alf standing their in full naked glory, waving at them. Kiku was using a tree branch to cover his genitalia, not liking the way Alf brought such sudden attention to them. Mei giggled and waved back at the eager blonde.
"Hi Alf!" Her voice had the same tone as when she flirted with Kiku. Ivan became confused. What was her relationship with Alf? From Alf's point of view, it seemed to be just mere friendship that would have to lead to the continuing of not only their well being but their group's well being. Now the pale blonde wasn't so sure.
There was a rustle. Ivan was sure he heard something. Mei seemed to have heard it as well, for she stiffened and didn't seem so carefree. Alf continued to his task of bathing and playfully splashed Kiku with water for his modesty. The only sounds that were now heard were the sounds of Alf's laughter and the movement of the water. But Ivan knew he heard something move near by.
"It was probably just a light b-breeze or a small animal near by." Mei said, her voice stuttering slightly and not sounding confident at all. Now the sound of footsteps and hushed voices were in the air, this time much louder. Loud enough for Alf and Kiku to hear it. Both young men immediately dressed and ran toward Ivan and Mei, but it was too late. Ivan heard arrows streaming through the sky and soon he was caught in a strange net held down by said arrows. The thin rods were at each corner of the net, forming a square shaped barrier preventing Ivan from moving. Mei gasped and tried to pry the net off, but the arrows held it down effectively.
There were six men with various weapons. There was an albino with short, spiky hair. His white hair had a silver shine to it, making it appear as if he had some sort of natural crown on his head. His body was long and lean, and the only imperfections were the red scars that still looked like they were healing. His pale skin was a perfect match to the snowy background to the point it was very hard to notice him. The only way one could possibly tell he was truly there were his eyes. They were the only other color on him and his ruby red eyes were bright and full of energy. They brought such a stark contrast to the pale hair and skin. His thin lips were curled in a confident grin and had no fear or doubt. He had his arms draped around a dark skinned man, who held the bow that shot the net that captured Ivan.
The tan man's eyes were a green similar to lush and healthy grass in the spring time. His hair was short as well, but it flicked into slight curls at the ends, framing his face to make him appear more innocent than the albino next to him. His smile was also much less intimidating, but no one could deny the fact that he had a strong body. The dark hairs on his abdomen couldn't hide his core muscles, and the lack of flexing also didn't diminish the look of masculinity and strength in his form. Although his body was not as lean as his extremely pale companion, his body could rival those of bronze statues.
"Your woman will be mine Lyonias!" A blonde man shouted. His hair was a golden color, with a slight orange tint to it. His hair was similar to Hew's, for it too appeared very well kept and framed his face in delicate waves. Unlike Hew though, any feminine traits that the hair gave were masked by the facial hair and rippling muscles on his arms and legs. He had a hard body, just like the other two, but he didn't wear any deer skin over his chest. Instead, there was barely any to cover him in what most would consider a loincloth. His dark sapphire like eyes were darkened a bit, as if with permanent lust. It made Ivan shiver looking into those eyes. He suspected that might have been the man called "Franka" that Alf was talking about earlier.
"I will never be yours you creepy old man!" Mei shouted back at him. Her eyes that were a peaceful, earthy brown were now almost red with rage.
"Go ahead, fight. But you won't be able to stop all of us!" Another tall and strong man shouted. He had longer hair, but it stood in disarray and was spiked. It was a blonde similar to Su's blonde hair; except that there were light brown highlights that gave character to what might have been a plain hairstyle. The blue eyes were similar to Alf's, but instead of childish mischief, they held some sort of wicked gleam in them. He was the tallest one and he had the largest frame, but he didn't look over weight or even that much bigger in comparison to the others. His clothing was different from the others, for he wore a black fur hat on top of his head that matched his jet black fur clothing as well. He carried a looked to Ivan, a large axe. The blade wasn't fashioned like an axe that Ivan was used to. There were blades on both sides instead of just one, and it looked much heavier than any of the other weapons used by the nomads. At the end of the large instrument was a secondary weapon that had thorns that looked like they could pierce the human skin.
"We don't wish to hurt you or anybody else. We just wish to have a female for Franka." This was a different being. He was much the second smallest of the six men, and he had a hair curl that formed a spiral. The hair strand was so thin that it appear as if the curl was floating by itself. His blue eyes were dull, and similar to Kiku's eyes, they made him appear tired and older than what his body suggested. He had no special clothing or accessories, and he was very petite. But he had the talent of being able to communicate with animals just as well as Art can. The proof of this ability was the large, black wolf to the right of him. It breathed heavily and showcased its sharp teeth. The animal looked from its thin master to the other tribal people, as if pleading the small man to allow him to attack them.
"Enough talk! I, awesome Gilt, will just take her!" The white haired man shouted and made a dash towards Mei. But a thin arm was thrust into his path, immediately stopping him in his tracks.
"Gilt, you can't just like, be tactless like that stupid. Don't you have some sort of honor or something?" It was the skinniest of the six men. His body wasn't strong, but judging from the way the larger man listened to him, Ivan knew he had to have some sort of inner strength that couldn't be seen. His hair had only a slight wave to it, making it appear almost perfectly straight. The blonde hair was the same color as Hew's but it swayed in the wind similar to Natalya's hair. His green eyes were like a rare emerald, with such clear color and sparkle. Though, the most beautiful part about him was his thick eyelashes. They were blonde like his hair, but they were so thick that even the light hair couldn't help but stand out from his pale skin. Ever time he blinked; it reminded Ivan of the ideal woman's lashes. It was odd to see such a feminine looking man as a tribal nomad.
"Aw, be quiet Feliks. It's not like you haven't shown some brutality."
"Maybe so, but you're a beast that can't be tamed sometimes. It's hard to believe you're like, related to Roder or your other brothers sometimes."
"Fuck you man. When I'm sent on a mission I complete it!"
"Boys, boys, there is no need for fighting. My brother, Feliks is just saying that perhaps such a direct approach may not be the best option. Feliks, my dear boy. You are too young to be so bold with your thoughts. Please try to restrain yourself." Franka said, trying to bring peace.
Alf got to Ivan, cutting through the thick ropes of the net and pulling him out. Ivan thanked him but was still concerned. The Fulavi were really going to challenge them now, when most of the Lyonias were not even present?
"If you want Mei, you're going to have to go through me!" Alf said with rage, and he stood in a battle stance in front of Mei. He had no weapons, but he had his natural physical strength. Franka laughed at his nephew, for he couldn't believe that a sixteen year old would have the nerve to think he could fight all of them.
"Alf it's dangerous. I'll go get your father-" but Kiku was interrupted by a swift arrow that just grazed the left side of his cheek. The contact was so faint that his wound didn't even bleed, just turn a light pink color. He looked to see Cerri, the tan man, looking at him with the same mischief that was in the albino's eyes.
"Now there Kiku, there's no need to bring in our youngest brother into this. After all, I think my nephew made it quite clear he can handle himself well. Unless it is you who is scared?"
"No I am not."
"Then I say we have at it." And the one with dull blue eyes lifted his left hand, which was the signal for his black wolf to attack. Its green eyes glared at Kiku and it dashed from side to side in a zigzag pattern in order to try to confuse the Asian man. The mouth almost foaming in the anticipation of biting into the Asian man's flesh. It prepared itself for the attack and in a split second narrowed its eyes and obscured its vision just a little. To bad for the animal that Kiku kept his guard up and when the canine attempted to strike him, he got right underneath it pushed it to the side, making it land on its left side. The wolf howled, charging at the dark haired man again, but Kiku handled it just as he did the first time. Its owner was not pleased with the way his pet was being treated like a nuisance of sorts and came in charging with a large dagger in his hand.
"Right behind you Nora!" The tallest one shouted and followed his words. Alf knew that Kiku wouldn't be able to handle the blow of the axe and had to distract the taller of the two somehow. He hatched at idea and once the larger of the two came close enough to him, he gave a swift kick to the gut. Because he hit the other man higher than actually intended, there was a loud crack of the ribs. Alf had broken the bottom two ribs close to the diaphragm. Knowing that this might not be enough to take the man down, he gave another quick attack, this time a punch to the jaw. The jaw bone still remained in tack, but it appeared to have been effective in disabling the larger man.
"Sorry Marco, but you're not messing with any of my friends today!" Alf cried out. The one named Marco, fell to the ground clutching his stomach. He glared at the confident teenager and growled. He swung the giant axe violently, but the shorter blonde dodged them with ease. Alf's smile grew wider as he noticed the other male slowing down and losing strength. He jumped into the air and threw a rock at Marco's face. The projectile struck him on the left ear, and the man in dark clothing slumped to the ground with his face buried in the snow.
Kiku had also quickly dealt with Nora, for he sent the dagger into the rushing river and could now fight hand to hand combat. The other was hesitant with his movements, which showed that he hadn't had much practice in this area of fighting. The dark haired man found a weak spot, under Nora's left knee and thrust his arm against it. Nora coughed, unable to handle anymore abuse to his body and sunk into the snow just as his comrade did.
Ivan stared in amazement. He didn't think that nomadic groups would fight so violently over a woman. He looked at Mei who appeared to have tears in her eyes. It must have been hard for her to watch. At any moment, both of her friends could have been knocked out or even worse, killed, and she would have been taken by the other tribe.
"Well, it looks like they have a new member in the Lyonias. Mind if I take you on?" It was the feminine man's voice. Ivan saw Feliks staring straight at him, but with a slim spear in his hand. The point of the spear was made of obsidian, and Ivan grew nervous. Sure he could overpower the other man easily if there were no weapons involved, but with such an advantage it was hard to say who was going to win. Ivan prepared himself however and waited for the other man to make the first move at him. Feliks twirled his weapon around, his nimble fingers trying to find a place to strike the Russian teen. He thought that the left eye would be a good weakness and leaped into the air using the spear. He kissed the spear for good luck, and threw it as one would throw a javelin. Ivan ducked and dodged the impaling instrument and prepared himself for fair combat. Instead of landing in some sort of clearing, the blonde in the air positioned himself to try to aerial dive toward Ivan and wound him that way. Ivan waited for it and he stepped out of the way at the last second and kicked the other man in the back.
Feliks fell onto his hands and knees. He tried to get up, but the pain that shot from his spinal cord was so horrible that he thought he was going to pass out.
The pale blonde sighed, not used to such strenuous activity and went back to observing Kiku and Alf. Alf was fighting the Gilt, keeping up with the other man's pace and delivering good blows himself.
"Hahaha! Your father trains you well little nephew!"
"Shut up and fight!"
Suddenly a loud whistling noise sounded into the air. It was almost as loud as Alf's voice and it made everyone stop what they were doing. The whistle came from a long man with a petite frame. His dark, brunette hair made his pale skin seem to glow in comparison. Ivan still thought it was odd that his hair looked perfectly combed and styled, except for the flick of hair in the front that stood tall and proud. There were no grooming products such as shampoo, and yet this stranger's hair had the perfection that all those advancements in hygiene tried to achieve. His violet eyes were the same color as the robes of royalty and they were framed with perfect eyebrows and long, dark lashes. To the Russian teenager, it was amazing that such a powerful sound came from a man that he would believe at first glance to be quiet and mannered.
Next to the man were two boys who appeared to either be twins or siblings that were only two years apart at most. Ivan guessed that the older of the two was the one that had darker hair, similar to the man who whistled while the other had auburn hair. Both had a flick of hair that curled and stuck out, but the darker haired on had it on the right side and a little closer to his face. The younger's hair curl was on the left side and it seemed to form almost a heart shape design. They were thin males as well, but they did seem to be more cowardly than the others for they huddled close together in a way that didn't remind Ivan of two people who were just really cold.
The only other boy that was near them was another albino. He had dull eyes similar to the man who controlled the black wolf, but instead of blue, they were lavender. His hair was perfectly in place, similar to the new commander that made Franka bow, but he didn't have any hair out of place. It was clear that he was definitely young, possibly still twelve years old, but if he were already this tall at such a young age than Ivan knew he would grow to be a huge man.
"Franka, this is not the way to obtain a woman. This is an unacceptable manner of a leader."
"Roder, you have given up your opinion on what a leader is supposed to be and I-"
"If you don't back down you will regret it!" Roder snapped. Franka instinctively bowed his head and he groaned. Old habits were hard to break.
"Why is he bowing to dad Lovi, isn't uncle Franka the new chief?" the auburn haired boy asked his darker haired sibling.
"That idiot needs to learn to bow and be more modest. Our entire family hasn't been doing as well since he had been commanding everyone."
"Big brother! Don't say such mean things."
"Well then allow me to Feli." The young albino said. "We haven't been able to hunt for big game, gather as much food, or even produce a future chief because he's too busy wanting to annoy his youngest brother."
"That's enough Ice. I will handle it from here." Roder said, not wanting to hear the young child continue with such blatant disrespect for his elders. The brunette whistled again, Gilt and Cerri began to pick up the two who were injured and unconscious. Roder then ran to Feliks side and slide an arm underneath to support him. He turned to Alf and smiled.
"I am glad to see you grow up to be a man." With that, the Fulavi tribe left.
Ivan sighed in relief and turned his attention to see if Alf and Kiku were injured. Kiku seemed fine and started walking back to their camp. Mei was still slightly shaken from the experience and was being held by Alf. The blonde boy rubbed her back and kept telling her that everything was going to be alright and that she would always be safe.
Ivan began to wonder about Alf and Mei's relationship. But he didn't know why he bothered to think about such things. Why did he care?
End of Chapter 3
Oh yeah! They forgave each other and Ivan learned so much about them! Urgh, I am no good with battle scenes. I apologize! Bleh...
Read and review! I would love to see what you guys think so far.