Back with more! Now we get to see some more of Andromeda's dilemma, and some problems with Sorrento and Fenrir arise. Also, there's no boyxboy meant or implied in this story. The Guardians are just really protective of each other, because they're the only ones who understand each other.
Thanks! And let's get to the story!
Chapter Four: Devil's Eye
Shun awoke quite suddenly again. He wasn't sure what had woke him now. Everything seemed quiet. Oddly so. He stood and looked around. He was alone in the temple. That was strange. He knew that Shura had gone on some mission for Arles. Shaina was probably teaching June, Reda, and Spica how to speak in Greek. But where was Mu? He was supposed to be here as well. He sighed and walked out and leaned against the mural. He had no idea where the Gold Saint was, but he wasn't sure he wanted to find out just yet either. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
After a while however, he heard something panting at him. And panting loudly. He opened his eyes and looked, pausing uncertainly. It was a wolf, and a big one. It could easily reach is hip when it was standing. It was an odd color, a pastel green, and a blue crescent moon which was turned sideways was on its forehead. Its bright black eyes were trained on him though. It was sitting and panting up at him, wagging its tail invitingly. Shun paused and looked at it. It seemed to realize that he was unsure of it however, because then it laid down and whined at him once, tail still wagging. Then it panted more.
Shun couldn't imagine what was going on. He'd never seen anything like this creature before, and yet it was looking at him like he was some long lost friend. He wondered at it. Its sleek muzzle and strong teeth made Shun reluctant to be near it, but its eyes were friendly enough. Its body was thin and full of muscle, the Alpha of a wolf pack if he'd ever seen one. Shun thought a moment about it as the wolf crawled towards him carefully on its belly. Slowly, Shun reached down, and let his hand run over the wolf's soft fur.
It sat down again and gave a soft whining sound, letting its tongue loll out of its mouth and panted more at him. It closed its eyes and nuzzled his hand gently, gnawing at it gently with his teeth. But for some reason that didn't scare Shun. It made him smile. He felt like he knew the creature somehow. He wasn't sure how, but he knew the creature. He gently continued to stroke his head. He had no idea where the creature had come from, but he felt like it was a friend all the same.
Shun closed his eyes, trying to think of what it could possibly be that made him feel this way. Then he thought of Annette's words. How she had said that Fenrir had lived in Asgard with his wolves. His wolves. Shun opened his eyes and knelt down in front of the wolf, his hand still on his head. Shun could tell by looking at the creature that he could prove dangerous, but this didn't make him nervous at all. He must have met it before. The wolf continued to pant reassuringly, his tail wagging gently. Slowly, the boy pet his head.
"Where did you come from little one?" Shun asked. Then he paused. Had he really just called it that? Why would he call it that? However, the wolf hardly seemed to mind. In fact it almost seemed excited.
Upon being called the nickname, the wolf bowed into the play position and wagged its tail at him, leaping from side to side playfully. He'd never seen any creature act that way, not even a dog. But Shun couldn't help but smile at the creature. He sat down with his back against the wall, completely at home with the creature. The wolf turned in a circle twice and then laid down by Shun's side, nuzzling his hand to rest on his back. The wolf didn't close his eyes, though his ears laid back slightly. Not threateningly, simply relaxed.
Shun didn't feel fear at all by being so close to this creature at all. He turned his head and looked away, in the other direction, pulling his legs up against his chest and resting his chin on them. He sighed slightly, wondering why the wolf would be here at all. Or where Mu was. Or where anyone else had gone. Where was anyone? How had this thing gotten all the way up here? Had someone helped him get up here? But suddenly, his question was answered as the wolf looked up and started to pant again, wagging his tail. Shun paused.
"I see Lunar found you," a voice said. "He's always liked you, ever since you found him the first time. Then he reincarnated after that with us."
Shun turned and looked. He saw a small young man about his size. He had dark storm gray eyes and silver hair. His armor was blue and had small claws on the shoulders. He looked quite savage. Even Shun could see that. But his eyes softened a little as he looked at Shun. The boy walked over and kelt down, laying his hand on the wolf's head and looking at Shun.
"You don't remember me yet, do you?" he asked. "The name's Fenrir, though I think you've heard it before."
"What are you doing here?" Shun asked.
"I came to get you," Fenrir replied, sighing. "Annette said to wait, but we can't. We can't take the chance that Arles decides to hurt you. I don't think any of us could stand for that. She says that Athena will come soon. And maybe she will. But I decided we needed to save you now."
"You're going to end up getting hurt," Shun protested. "You can't fight Gold Saints! Even if you're as powerful as everyone says, you can fight them all by yourself!"
"Who says I'm alone?" Fenrir asked mischievously. He took Shun's arm and pulled him up onto his feet. "Come on. We need to go."
"What?" Shun gasped. "But I don't have my cloth or anything!"
"I know," Fenrir replied. "Don't worry. My wolves are getting it now. They'll bring it here."
"What?" Shun asked. "But how? How are you doing this? How can you just sneak around in the Sanctuary?"
"Don't you notice? How quiet it is?" Fenrir ask. Shun paused, comprehension dawning on him. "That's the power of Siren's Lullaby. He plays his flute and everyone falls into a deep slumber. And they won't wake up for a while yet. And he chose to allow you and me and my wolves to remain awake. We'll have to leave though, before anyone wakes up."
"But where would we go?" Shun asked.
"To Heaven," Fenrir replied. "It's the only place where you'll be safe from Arles until we can return. And while we're there we can train until we become more powerful again. Zeus hasn't returned yet, but he will soon. I'm sure he'll understand."
"But... wait!" Shun cried, a little flustered.
"Look," Fenrir sighed. "I understand that you're worried about the people here. And there are people that you love out there that could get hurt. I felt the same way when I left Asgard. But we can't stay here. We have to go. Don't they think they'd be hurt if they found out that you had gotten hurt? Isn't this the best way to protect them? Arles will probably be so worried about finding you that he won't hurt anyone else. Isn't that better?"
"I guess," Shun said quietly. "It's just that...I can't leave my friends like this. They'll be worried." Fenrir laid his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"And my friends are worried too," Fenrir said. "I'm sorry. But it'll all work out in the end. I promise."
Shun looked up at the boy. His eyes were ferocious, and yet full of such kindness and understanding right now. Shun knew that he was right. It would be better to hide away and hope for the best. And if he was stronger he could help everyone. But it didn't ease the burden on his heart anymore. Still, at last, Shun nodded. And Fenrir's eyes softened slightly again.
"Don't worry," he said. "We're here for you. Look. My wolves have come back."
Shun looked over his shoulder as about a dozen wolves came in. five of them were dragging Shun's armor towards him ever so gently, as if afraid they would scratch it. They dropped it by Shun's feet, and many of them panted at him and wagged their tails. A few even rolled over and showed him their bellies. Like he was a member of their pack. And a high ranking one. Shun took the armor and put it on. The pink cloth of Andromeda rested in place, and Shun felt better for having it on. It was like he had been missing something. Shun sighed a little.
"Alright," Fenrir said. "Let's go before anyone wakes us. We don't want to freak anyone out more than we already are. Hup!"
That strange command made all of the wolves jump up to obey. Fenrir motioned for Shun to follow, running off. The wolves followed him in hot pursuit, so Shun joined them. Instantly he noticed that all of the wolves but the one name Lunar slowed down and let him pass until they were on all sides of him and behind him. Lunar on the other hand ran between him and Fenrir, allowing Fenrir to be slightly ahead and Shun to run directly at his side. Shun suddenly felt a slight thrill. He felt like he'd done this countless times before. Like he had run with this strange pack, felt their freedom. And Shun felt glad for it. He didn't remember yet, but he knew that these wolves were as good as his friends as any.
Shun saw Mu on the way down from the temples, where he had fallen from Siren's strange lullaby. He hadn't stirred yet, but he looked ill at ease, even in his sleep, as if he knew that something was going on. Shun was just glad that he wasn't awake for the awkward explanations that would have to take place. Or to hurt Fenrir's wolves. Shun had a feeling that wouldn't be good. They leaped over and around him and continued on their way. They ran on down through the temples of the Gold Saints and over the vast training grounds for the Saints. Toppled pillars and broken rocks were a common sight here. But not all of the sleeping Saints. That was strange. Shun spotted Shaina, June, Reda, and Spica all asleep on the ground there, silent during their lesson. Shun felt a little sad as he saw them but ignored it and ran on.
Suddenly Fenrir and his wolves skid to a stop, and Shun managed to stop as well. There was silence for a moment as Fenrir waited and his wolves did as well, their noses twitching slowly and their ears quivering for any sound. Then a young man stepped out.
"Sorrento," Fenrir snarled almost like a wolf. "Don't scare me like that."
"You act like it could have been someone else," Sorrento teased.
Sorrento was a tall and thin young man a few years older than Shun. His hair hung down to his shoulders and was a light purple color, and his eyes were pink and seemed unfocused. His Scale was a dull gold or copper color, it was difficult to tell which, but it shone brightly. In his hands was also a thin golden flute. It was a beautiful instrument, and deadly. He paused when he saw Shun and smiled at him gently.
"Ah," Sorrento said. "We meet again. It's been a long time, Andromeda."
"Shun," Shun corrected him distractedly.
"Very well then, Shun," Sorrento said with a small laugh. "Shall we go then? They'll awaken soon. We'd best put as much distance between us and them as we can."
"Alright then let's go," Fenrir replied. "I don't want to hang around here much longer. No offense Shun, but this place stinks with Arles creeping around here."
"None taken," Shun replied. "Let's go."
"Hup!" Fenrir called again simply.
His wolves leaped off to obey, and Sorrento and Shun leaped after them, joining Fenrir in a few moments at the front of the group. Within moments they had disappeared from sight in the Grecian countryside and were well on their way out. Shun knew that soon everyone would wake up and there would be a lot of worry and rage in the Sanctuary, but he also knew that this was better. He could taste the freedom now, and it felt great. Shun felt happier than he had in a long time, and he didn't even remember why.
There's that chapter. I hope you enjoyed. It was a fun Chapter to write. As for why the Chapter's called "Devil's Eye" you'll have to try to guess. Guess right and I'll give you a shout out.
In the next chapter, we'll see Saori and the others again, and they'll be a little panicked to learn that Shun is missing. Also, I'll put a bit of a shot of Arles in the next chapter that will add a bit of trouble for our poor Saints. Then I might also put a small part of Shun and the others as they make their way towards Heaven. Should be fun right?
I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you'll continue to read!