Chapter 7

They soon stopped for lunch beside a pleasant stream. Jame produced several sandwiches from his pocket that were only slightly squashed and they ate in silence, both holding back what the other was already beginning to know. After finishing his sandwiches, his stomach still rumbled loudly and he asked her to stay put while he went out to hunt.

Elena sat languidly by the stream before taking off her slippers and dipping her feet into the cool water. She looked around, surprised at the peace and tranquility surrounding her in such a purportedly dangerous forest. She was still musing when she felt a slight pinch on the tip of her toe. It didn't hurt, but she pulled her foot back and leaned forward to look into the clear water.

A hand shot out of the ripples and grabbed her around the back of the neck, pulling her down into the water. She had time to let out a small scream before it was cut short and she found herself being pulled along beneath the water with the sky far above and the bottom far below. She turned to look at her kidnapper and was winked at by a handsome young man with pale hair. Furious, she thrashed against him, but his grip was like steel and her lungs were already beginning to burn from lack of oxygen. After a few more weak attempts to break free, she went limp in his arms.

She woke to the crackling of a fire as gloom began to descend on the forest once more. She was lying on the bank of the river under an outcropping of earth that sheltered her from the light patter of rain. Thinking it had all been a dream, she sat up quickly and cast her eyes around for Jame's now familiar figure.

"I was wondering if you were ever going to wake up," a low voice chuckled from the gloom. Elena stared at the stranger, alarm bells ringing in her chest. He was regarding her with open interest in his intense blue eyes. He had short blonde hair and wore a blue robe much like Sotsona's, but he was leaner and shorter than her old companion. The ears poking through his hair were silvered, rather than matching his hair like Sotsona's. However, his face was perfect, as if it had been carved from marble in the likeness of an Oni.

"Are you Kitsune?" she asked nervously. For some reason, her skin crawled when he grinned at her.

"Got it in one. My, you are clever and beautiful." His voice was almost too smooth and she flinched away when he reached out to touch her face. "Come now, don't be so shy. We'll be getting to know one another very well."

"Do you know Lord Sotsona? I am his pupil and under his protection." She tried to sound brave, but she was visibly quaking and knew the Kitsune could already smell her fear. Fox fire flared up around her, fighting back the rapidly approaching darkness.

"Do you think Sotsona's name will save you?" he asked as he stood and moved to sit close to her, trailing his fingers over her face and neck. "Why not whisper it like a prayer and see if he comes to rescue you?"

Elena cringed as he leaned in to nuzzle his face against her neck. Tears rose up in her eyes as he put his hands on her. Because she knew Sotsona couldn't help her. He wouldn't even know she was gone for days.

Lightning flashed overhead and thunder crashed. The sky seemed to open, releasing a turbulent deluge that startled the Kitsune. Momentarily forgetting her, he stood and stared at the torrential rain. "What in the name of-"

Feeling suddenly bold, Elena looked up at him. "You didn't forget my traveling companion, did you?"

"What do I care for that sniveling pup?" he spat as he stared, transfixed.

Elena pushed herself to her feet and peered up at him. "Are you afraid? You should be. He is the Storm and he is looking for me."

"Got it in one," Jame's voice reverberated around them. "My, she is clever."A sudden gust of wind tore through the crevice and lightning struck the mouth of the opening. Jame appeared as suddenly as the lightning, his silver eyes shining in the darkness and his teeth glinted as he regarded the Kitsune.

Shoving her back, the yukai stood to face Jame, even as the lightning flickered overhead and threw the shadow of a dragon in his wake. "She will never be safe Orashi-sama."

Jame merely grinned, excitement rising inside him."Let's end this now."

He suddenly burst forward, but the Kitsune was already gone and he knocked Elena off her feet. She cried out in pain as she skidded along the ground with his full weight on top of her, coming to a stop when her head bumped against the rock wall. It had only been a matter of a few feet, but her human body was not built to cope as his was.

"Elena, are you all right?" Jame asked in a panic as he rolled off of her. He could already smell the blood, but he lifted her gently and stared in horror at her ragged back.

She reached up with a pale trembling hand and touched his face, smiling. "You came," she murmured in awe.

"Don't worry. I'll make it better,"he told her fiercely. "Hold on."Elena was vaguely aware of the pain in her back and the wind racing by as she clutched Jame's shirt. She could think of nothing else.

Jame splashed unceremoniously into the Healing Pools. She lay quietly in his arms in the hot water for a moment and he waited, holding his breath as he held her submerged up to her neck. Suddenly, she began screaming and thrashing, but he maintained his firm grip on her.

"It burns!" she screamed desperately as she fought him futilely with every ounce of her strength. "Sotsona! Father! It hurts!"She weakened as the pain eased and slumped against him. He gathered her to his chest and rubbed his hand over her clean, pure skin.

"I'm sorry, Elena. The water heals, but it comes at a price."He held her limp body as he walked out of the water and headed for another pool. He set her on her unsteady feet and stripped her sodden, torn clothes off as he held her against him. When he lifted her again and headed toward the pool, she began to fight him.

"No, Jame! Please don't do it again!" she pleaded, her pain-soaked brain foggy and frightened.

"It won't hurt this time," he promised as he gently propped her up in the shallows of the cool pool. He threw his clothes onto land and scooped her up to his chest as he waded further in. She lay against him quietly with her eyes closed as her strength slowly returned.