MERRY DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I did! Any ways I apologize for the last chapter, I can't call it anything but LAME. But I didn't know how else to get Ranik with Saya and Nathan, cause…well yeah can't really say much with out giving this part of the plot away. So here's the next chapter hope its better. :D

CHAPTER SEVEN: Saya likes pink

The rain and storms had passed, leaving the land lush and green and wet. The sound of birds singing as they flew around gathering twigs and other materials to rebuild there damaged homes filled the air, and the sound of other animals feasting upon the fresh shoots of the fields. It was almost, magical. Nathan often enjoyed this beauty while patrolling the Western border, one of the calmest areas of his home. He sighed and leaned against a white wooden fence, that had been broken in a few places, it didn't bother him, it added charm to the area. The area, long ago had been farming land, that was until of course the chiropterans clamed the area as there home. Nathan's thoughts were interrupted as a large creature wandered from behind the trees into the field, all the other animals that had been there scattered quickly, but Nathan didn't move, he merely watched. The creature was huge on all fours, about Nathan's height. It was brown in color, its front legs thin at the shoulder but thick and muscular at the elbows and lower. The beast also had a long slender face, with two large yellow bulging eyes. At the base of its snout were a circular role of sharp knife like teeth and a long slippery tongue that lolled out and brushed against the ground and grass when the creature lowered its head. It also had a large chest, but its middle and hips and back legs for that matter were small and scrawny. The creature almost looked dumb, ridiculously so. But Nathan knew better, these creatures, as slow in the head as they were, were very fast and very mean. Nathan was really in no mood to have to scare off this chiropteran, but knew he'd have to if the beast continued nearer to the border.

Ranik stood near the entrance of his new home. The entrance looked nothing more then a den for lions, but it was much more then that. He now knew that upon entering, and continuing back in the dark, you would soon find the real entrance. The entrance into a underground…there was nothing to call it but what it was, an underground kingdom. It had many corridors, and large rooms lit by a vast sea of candles. It was beautiful, Ranik still was shocked, and also had many more rooms and corridors to explore. He sighed, he'd gone on his patrol, and returned. He vaguely wondered where Saya was.

'Is she ok?…I hope she's not hurt!…no, no, don't be stupid, she's fine…….But…what if she isn't?' He shook his head, he had been told once he'd finished his patrol to return home, and he had, now all he had to do was wait…and that was the worst part. He jumped at the sound of approaching foot falls and turned to see Saya approaching, she smiled.

"Is Nathan back yet?" She questioned. Ranik shook his head in response. Saya frowned and glanced towards the west.

"Hmn…I wonder if there's been any trouble." Ranik shrugged his shoulders before glancing towards the west as well.

'I doubt Nathan would get hurt…would he?' Though Ranik was attempting to keep himself from worrying, he found keeping Saya from worrying a even more grueling task. For the Queen continually passed this way and that, biting her nails and muttering to herself.

"I'm sure he's fine Saya, Nathan is more then capable of handling himself." Saya looked at Ranik, who gave her a small smile. She sighed and turned towards him.

"Your right, your right. Nathan can handle what ever it is that's keeping him."

'I hope.' She secretly thought to herself as they continued to wait.

Nathan entered their midths little over an hour later receiving gasps from the both.

"Nathan? What happened?" Nathan looked at Saya and blinked before gazing at himself.

He was covered in blood from head to foot, which was no doubt the reason she was asking.

"Oh, just got into a small spat with a chiropteran…one mind you who won't be getting in spats with any one else again." Saya sighed in relief before scowling at him hands on her hips.

"Nathan, you are so dramatic!" She said rolling her eyes before entering the den and vanishing from sight. Nathan only chuckled before both he and Ranik followed her, vanishing from sight.

Ranik was lounging slowly flipping through the pages of a book when Saya entered, questioning clueless look upon her face. Ranik looked up at her as she approached.

"Have you seen Nathan?"

"I think he was going down to the bath chamber to clean up." Saya nodded before gazing down at the book.

"What are you reading?"

"First Folio, it's a book that holds many of Shakespeare's stories." Saya smiled.

"Shakespeare huh? Poetic." Ranik blushed slightly as she giggled before turning and exiting the room.

Nathan sat upon the smooth stone bench, near the pool of water that filled the chamber with warm steam. He peeled his shirt slowly from his skin, lifting it and pulling it over his head, the blood flaking away near his collarbone and wrists. He tossed it aside, he'd burn it later. His skin had been tinted pink from the blood that had soaked through his shirt. He kicked his shoes off before peeling his pants from his legs and tossing them aside before peeling his underwear away before it joined the pile of bloody tattered clothing. He slid into the warm water before lowering himself until the water touched the bottom of his nose and little bubbles formed near his nose. He rose his head and turned a bit at the sound of giggling.

"Aren't you a little old to be blowing bubbles?" Saya teased. Nathan stuck out his tongue.

"Look who's talking." She gasped and put her hands on her hips.

"What are you saying? Are you saying I'm childish?!"

"You said it not me." She flushed red before approaching and was about to say something when Nathan's hand sprung up out of the water and grabbed her hand causing her to lean forward slightly, her eyes wide at the mischief in his blue eyes.

"Nathan, no, no, no…NOT THE DRESS!" She yelped as he pulled her into the water with a splash. He laughed as she sprung up out of the water, her black hair clinging to her face neck and shoulders as she gasped for air.

"Ugh!" She splashed him before glaring at him, both starring a moment before they both broke out in laughter. She sighed before sinking under the water, remaining under a few moments before coming up and tossing her now soaking dress out of the pool of steaming water. Nathan cocked and eyebrow at her. She smiled.

"It was weighing me down." She stated scooting nearer to him where he leaned at the edge of the pool.

"You look better with out it." He stated gently kissing the top of her head as she leaned against him.

"You know, you kind of look good in pink." She stated as she fingered his pink stained collarbone. He snorted.

"I will never wear pink." He stated causing her to pout and gaze up at him.

"Not even for me?" He shook his head before she smiled and they shared a kiss.

Well there's chapters seven, I hope it was up lifting and cheerful…for reasons I cannot say. Haha. Totally for shadowing if you get what I mean, if any one can point out what's being for shadowed I'll give you brownie points. Next chapter should be up tonight or tomorrow.