Chapter 10: A new Perspective

12 minutes ago

The two warriors evacuated from there as their target eviscerated La Assassino Noire. Once he was decimating the stilt-legged bastard, he dropped to his knees and collapsed on the ground. They stood there motionless in awe and fear from what had transpired in front of them.

"Shit. I can't believe he managed to kill that monster just by himself." Lyddie contemplated.

"Such power. I didn't know he can do that." Bestinslot complimented. "Does that mean Lyddie can do the same thing?"

Bestinslot cleared his head from such curious distractions. Rather he rushed to the side of the Deinonychus. When he reached there, he found out that the Deinonychus is actually still conscious from the battle. The Deinonychus just gave into the exhaustion of his legs. He was panting uncontrollably from the fight, it was amazing he haven't passed out at all. The boy glared at Bestinslot with fear and malice.

"Pagod ako." He wheezed.

"What? Did you say something?" Bestinslot asked in confusion.

"Hindi ka marunong mag Tagalog?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know what you're saying."

"Okay … bobo." He hissed. "I am tired."

"Oh. Okay so you know English. That's good." Bestinslot sighed in relief.

"What do you want with me?" He inquired.

"I want to help you."

"Bakit?"

"Huh?"

"Sorry. It is hard. My mind is telling me to talk to you in your tongue. But my mouth is just translating it all to Tagalog." He explained. "Why? Why do you want to help me?"

Bestinslot hesitated to say. Eventually he breathed, "There are people out there who wants you dead. And I don't want that to happen to anyone who is relatively innocent."

He already figured out it was lie. "Heh? Don't lie to me. Tell me the truth?" He demanded.

Bestinslot shocked expression gave away any chance for him to lie. "Okay." He leaned closer and whispered to the Deinonychus ears, "I am … your dad. Sort of. But I want you live still. You're my responsibility."

The Deinonychus boy whispered back, "And?"

He exhaled in annoyance, "I need you to do me a favor."

"Thank you."

"So please come with me."

Lyddie had obstructed in their conversation. "Are you going to get rid of him or not?"

Bestinslot had to reveal what is going on soon. Better start now than to have any more complications in the future.

"Lydd-" He started to speak out. But something astonished him so much he forgot to say what needed to be said.

"What? Is there something wrong?" She asked.

He shook his head back to reality. He pointed at her face. "Lyddie your face! It's … no longer cut up."

"Really?" She touched her face. She run her fingers down her cheek and felt no pain or cuts. It was as smooth as ever. As if she never even fought the Green Devil.

Bestinslot slid his eyes over her shield. He gasped in bewilderment from he is seeing in front of him. Her shield. Her Triceratops skull shield is slowly forming back to place. It seemed to be very liquid-like at sight. And it seemed to be repairing itself from the blast.

"Lyddie, you're healing. Healing at an alarming rate." He stated. "How could she do that? Maybe it was because she was a child born out of laboratory tube rather than the natural way.." He examined the Deinonychus, "Can you do that?"

"Do I look like I can do that?" He hissed. Bestinslot waited for several minutes to see if it was replicated. Nothing happened. He is still numbed from fighting.

"Why do ask that he can do the same as me?" Lyddie queried.

"Lyddie," Bestinslot started to ramble on the truth. "You were not the first one born." He pointed his index finger at the boy. "He is the first born. He is your older brother."

Her eyes contracted to a tiny marbles. "What?"

"This is your brother."

"I'm related to this … monster."

"Lyddie, he as much as a monster as you. Which means, he is not a monster."

"Iris's story proves otherwise."

"Lyddie, please. I beg of you. Bear with him." He pleaded.

"Why should I?" Lyddie jeered at his words.

"Not now. I don't have time to explain."

Bestinslot gripped onto the boy's left arm and lifted him back up. The Deinonychus is still incapable of using his legs for now and just drooping there. The boy hissed menacingly at his pain. He was about to take him back to the lab for encampment. But paused in his steps because of the utter realization that he had forgotten all about Eideard's knightly squad.

"Crap. I have to tell them to call off the hunt. I have taken care of their problem with Lyddie."

"Lyddie, can you get the other arm? And can you take him back to our house on your own? I need to talk to Eideard." Bestinslot asked.

"No." She uttered under breath.

"Lyddie, this isn't the time to start being rebellious, your brother needs to rest."

"He is not my brother. He will never be." She jeered.

"Please. If you're not going to do this for him. Do this for me."

She stared at her adoptive father with sympathy. She sighed in annoyance of the situation. "Alright sure. But you have to clear this up with the others."

Bestinslot nodded yes. "I will. But not now. I need time to do this."

Lyddie grabbed onto his right arm and slung it over her neck. His claws are right up onto her neck. As she hold him down, she severely placed a death grip on the Deinonychus's shoulders.

"Aray!" He howled in pain.

Bestinslot disregarded his plea, thinking it was the battle are causing his ache. "Lyddie, you know where to go?"

"Yeah. I won't get lost here. I know where to go." Lyddie answered.

"Okay. Tell me. I want to be sure." He demanded assurance.

"Okay." Lyddie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a four seconds, she answered, "Home is right of here and go straight. From eventually after a few minutes of walking about, we could see the lights of the house."

"Really?"

"Just trust me. Because I trust in you right now."

"Alright. If you say so." Bestinslot faced the direction they came from. "If you don't reach home by tomorrow morning, I will be going through the woods to find you."

"Okay see you later."

Bestinslot said, "Goodbye. And don't get into trouble." He then sprinted at full speed out of there.

"Okay carnivore. Let's get out of here."

After several minutes had passed of walking through the coniferous forest, Lyddie could notice the yellow lights of the mysterious structure.

"Ha! Found it. He should trust me more." Lyddie exclaimed in pride.

She shuffled the Deinonychus worn out body and dragged him further. As she was tugging him to the house, he decided to make a conversation to pass the time.

"So, you think you're like those hairless primates?"

She was baffled at his behavior. "You imbécile. At least I am more civil than you. You savage beast."

"Check the mirror little sister. I think you need to redefine the definition of beast." The Deinonychus scoffed. "Because I see a prime example of beast right here in my eyes."

"You're nothing more than a willing murderer."

"And you're nothing more than a naïve girl. Thinking the whole world will love you if you do this one nice thing."

"I would have been a hero among them if I killed you."

"A hero? Yeah right. You still killed me. That would make you no worse than what you call me."

"At least I destroyed something that caused pain and misery."

Lyddie was infuriated at him, she wanted to drop him off and break his bones. But it seemed not worth the time. Besides, that little vocal scuffle killed enough time for them to reach the entrance way of the house. She opened the door with a swift kick. Lyddie sighed in relief to be back at the house. It was how everything as she left it. The desks are lain there perfectly. The pillars are still in one piece. And the rotting corpses of the giant scorpions still taint the floor.

"Home sweet home!" She yelled in cheerful manner.

Dean dejected the mood, "Just get me to a bed."

Lyddie scoffed at his insensitive nature. But she still did what he asked. She heaved the boy further upstairs with all her strength. In all reality, he wasn't physically exhausting her. He was however a mental nuisance every time he utters a single word. Ultimately they found themselves on the third floor of the building.

Lyddie tossed his body onto one of the beds. She soon left him on his own and examined him from the other side of the room.

"Hey. Aren't you going to tuck me in with the kumot and read me a bed-time story?" He jested.

"No. You're going to stay there and sleep." She said in a vile attitude. "I will be here making sure you don't get out of my sight. You monster."

No words.

Several minutes, maybe hours had passed by. The Deinonychus boy fell into a deep sleep and was sleeping soundly. Lyddie sat there on a bed and waited for Bestinslot to return. But she cannot escape the effects of weary sleep. She began to yawn very frequently. She soon to find herself trying desperately to not close her eyes. She blinked.

Snore. Snore.

She fell asleep by just a simple blink.

The excessive chirping of the morning birds woke the girl from her slumber. Her eyes fluttered beautifully as she was stretching out her arms. The sun was barely out, making the sky outside still dark blue. She examined the room no change. She walked over to the bed that she lain the Deinonychus on.

"I can't believe I fell asleep."She reflected on herself. "Well let's check if he had fully rested from last night."

She unraveled the sheets from the bed. His body had been replaced with the pillows!

"Damn! That bastard got away." She mentally cursed. "He couldn't gotten far from here. Right?"

She rushed out of the room and down the stairs. She burst through the door and found Bestinslot right in front of her. She was speechless to find him already at home. Her face flustered in regret and pinned herself to the wall. Bestinslot stood there motionless in shock of Lyddie's irregular behavior.

"Um, what are you doing here dad?" She asked.

"This is my home too. I also need to see if the Dean is fully rested."

"Dean?"

"Yeah the Deinonychus. I thought of a name for him while I was walking back here. He is not an animal so he needs a name. So I thought of the name Dean."

"Well that is nice. But I need to go through."

Bestinslot stayed in place and crossed his arms. "What happened?"

She had to let him know the truth. Embarrassingly, she replied, "Hehe. I may have let Dean escape."

His eyes twitched in shock. "What?!"

"Yeah. Yeah. I know. I am in deep in trouble for this." She admitted.

"No. Not at all. But Dean is." He scratched in irritation. "He could get hurt or worse out there without someone supervising."

"He is still a monster. Why can't we just let him be and die?"

"Lyddie. Of all things you have gone so far within your first 2 days of your life, you cannot be empathetic on your brother's situation." He snapped at her.

"He is not my brother! I already told you that. I will never be related to that demon." She ran away crying into the dense forest.

"Lyddie! Wait! Crap." He chased after her. "Damn it. Why Lyddie are you so dense about his position right now. Hopefully you would just calm down and accept it. But it is not going to be that simple then. This is not a simple truth to accept when you wanted to be something to be inspiring rather than hated of. That's why I hate humans so much."

They dodged through trees and shrubbery. Eventually, because of Lyddie's inexplicable healing factor, she out ran him through stamina. He was panting uncontrollably and just hobbled wearily to catch up. In the end, he lost her through the forest's thick vegetation.

"Damn Lyddie's never-ending unbelievable stamina." He smashed his fist down at the dirt floor.

Once Lyddie figured out that she lost her father through the sprint, she stopped by a nearby willow tree. The branches have nearly reached the floor. Like those door beads, the leaves rustled in such a glass like manner. But a willow tree is a willow tree. She entered through the willow's branches. The willow tree was hollowed out, allowing it be a small natural shelter. It was dark, damp, and cramp. But she had enough space to move her shield around easily with ease. She took a seat down on the dirt curled her body into a ball. She began sobbing silently in her arms to avoid being heard by others. She doesn't want anyone to see her like this at all.

"I'm not related to that monster." She attempted to comfort herself. "He is a beast. He harms people. He scares people. He is a threat."

She stopped tearing a bit and sneezed out her mucus. "And I am a hero. A hero that will have everyone praise me for helping them. Like Iris. I'm not a monster." She whispered.

After a few hours had passed since then and she still is in the same hollowed out tree. She seemed to have cried herself to sleep. When she opened her eyes, noon has already befallen the day.

"I have been crying from dusk to noon already." She pondered.

Emotionally exhausted from her situation, she head outside of the hollow natural shelter. She poked her head out of the hanging branches. Nothing was there to greet her. No Bestinslot. No knights. No monsters. No one. She exhaled calmly and exited outside of the willow's extending branches. She walked outside for some time to ponder what she is going to do next.

A few seconds had passed and Lyddie is at narrow and shallow stream of water flowing to her left. She kneeled down by the streams shores to refresh herself. She dipped her head underwater and took huge gulps of water. She rose her head high into the air to inhale some oxygen in her body. Then, she looked up high in the sky, staring to the small clouds and light blue sky above her.

"There was no way I can go back to Bestinslot after what I did. Maybe the village would find a place for me to live in." She pondered.

She heard a sudden splash in the water before her. It was a small, white cotton-like thing that is swimming slowly towards her. It seemed it had two black and shiny marbles in front of it. After a while, Lyddie figured out what was that thing in front of her. It was Fluffers! After crossing the water, it was seeking shelter on Lyddie's arm.

"Fluffers!" She held the bunny closely to her without breaking any bones.

He was shivering a bit due to the water's cold temperature. But it seemed to calm itself when in Lyddie's possession. The bunny looked straight at her with its enlarged and beady eyes.

"Fluffers, what are you doing here?" She asked him as she poked kindly on his twitching nose.

Suddenly a short howl echoed in front of her. She tilted her head forward and noticed what caused the deafening howl. A gray wolf, accompanied by two smaller but fearsome yellow and black wolves. They snarled at the sight of Lyddie. No. They were desiring the thrill on feasting on Fluffers hide. Fluffers shifted in fear and hid behind Lyddie's back. Lyddie stood up for battle against the wolf trio.

"Damn carnivores." She cursed in a whisper.

The yellow wolf launched first at Lyddie with its fangs opened wide. Lyddie used her left vambrace for that wolf to sink its teeth in. Once the wolf gripped onto her forearm, the momentum of the leap managed to bring Lyddie down on the floor. While on the floor, the Onyx wolf leapt onto her back and gnawed ferociously on her right shoulder. Onyx wolf was capable of ripping parts of her flesh with the bite. Lyddie squealed in pain and was struggling irresponsibly to shake off the wolf off of her. The gray wolf dashed forward to prey on Fluffers.

Fluffers was terrified of its predator and started to retreat from the fight. Gray chased after the bunny with extreme speed. Once in range, gray launched off the ground and was about to rip the rabbit to shreds. Luckily for it, Fluffers had an unexpected savior lurking in the shadows. Dean soared into the sky from a nearby tree and crashed onto the gray wolf. It knocked them into the ground hard. Surprisingly, they barely suffered from the collision and they ended up with recovering their awareness swiftly.

They both rolled into a standing position. The gray wolf snarled at Dean with anger and ferocity. Dean glared at the animal with the exact same attitude. Gray launched itself to Dean with its snout gaping wide for a dangerous bite. Dean foresaw its attack a mile away. He slid on his arse on the dirt floor below the attacking wolf. He regain his running form and hurriedly latched his hands on Fluffers. He made a mad dash to Lyddie's location.

Lyddie was still locked in the death grip by the two wolves. Dean came by just in time to rescue her. He kicked the golden wolf from latching on her arm with its sharpened fangs. With her left hand free, she was rose from the ground to allow her to stand. Onyx was gripping onto her back still even after she stood up. She with her free hand, she attempted to grab the wolf behind her. Lyddie gripped onto its tail and flung the bastard away from her body. It hit the dirt floor with a thump. However, Onyx was still capable of battling its prey.

Although Dean had different plans than just fighting the animals. He clutched Lyddie's hand and dragged her away from the battlefield. They ran for quite the distance as the wolf trio chased them. Eventually, they found themselves at the hollowed willow tree. Dean threw the Lyddie behind the willow's branches. He rolled onto the ground with Fluffers safe in his arms. The wolves halted the pursuit before them. Their ears bowed and their heads sulked for the failed hunt. They sprinted away from the dysfunctional siblings.

Lyddie was panting heavily in fear rather than exhaustion. Dean, however, was completely out of breath right now because of fear of death and exhaustion. Her eyes gazed at Dean for a succinct time then at Fluffers. Fluffers was completely unscathed in the turmoil and hopped off of Dean's hands. It then hopped along normally to Lyddie's spot.

"I can't believe they left us alone." Lyddie commented.

"Yeah, they usually wouldn't do that. But they were entering a den of a much more dangerous predator than those three."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Can't you smell it? The piss of something very dangerous and big." He remarked.

She sniffed out the air and found out he was right. The scent of the willow was foul with excrement and urine of something big and hazardous.

"Can't believe I didn't notice that." Lyddie remarked. After realizing that Dean saved Fluffers and her from danger, she wished to get some information to why.

"Why did you save my Fluffers?" She held the rabbit closer.

"Honestly, you'll be sad for a lifetime if I let animal you love die. And I don't want to see you so depressed and crying all the time."

"So you do care for me?" Lyddie asked for clarification. Dean is becoming much more than she expected.

"Of course. I'm your kuya, your brother, I never wanted to see you hurt."

"We just barely met. And I insulted you."

"Well, yeah we barely met. But still, Bestinslot was the only one in the world to have ever cared for me. And Bestinslot cared for you. So I must do the same. Because I deeply believe, that we are a family. I don't know why though. I just have this felling really."

"Oh." Lyddie sulked her head to avoid his gaze.

"Lyddie?" He tried to communicate with her.

Still her eyes was hidden from him but answered his call nonetheless. "What?"

"Let's get out of here. Whatever lives here, it might come back. And it will probably be very pissed if it sees us in its abode." Dean explained.

"Oh … okay."

Dean seized her left hand and attempted to lead her back to Bestinslot. They followed a straight path that Lyddie took to escape from Bestinslot. Despite everything around them looked all too same, their heightened senses were able to allow them to the correct path.

"Dean? Why did you let that man live?" Lyddie questioned him.

"What man?"

"The one with the white robes. The one that you severed his arm off."

"Oh him. Honestly I was starving. I haven't eaten at all when I was born. So I found those two and wanted to eat them. I won't deny that. But then his severed arm was out there. And I was so hungry. I took it and go, leaving them there." He partially lied. "Honestly, I did wanted to kill him and eat his innards. But some other thing in my mind told me not to and just deal with eating the arm."

"Wow you really are merciless. Yet you were at least kind enough to leave alive. Even though what prompted you sparing him was not out of morality." Lyddie reflected on his answer.

When they were done talking, somewhere afar before their path was a familiar face. It was Bestinslot frantically scouring the area with extreme anxiousness. He was pouring his body into bushes and climbing up trees with his hand in his hair.

Dean yelled out as he waved his hands, "Hoy. Papa. We're here."

Bestinslot rotated his body and noticed his couple of kids. With a large smile across his face, he dashed forward and gripped his kids with his arms. His hug had such a touch of tenderness and kindness that the children can feel it.

He looked at them both with tears in his eyes. Whether or not he realize he is crying does not matter right now. He is just glad to finally be with them.

"Where have you two been?! I have been so worried looking for all of you."

Dean scratched the back of his head. "Sorry. I was going out to get some breakfast for myself. Then I saw Lyddie here alone and fighting a trio of feral wolves."

"What?! Lyddie do you need help?!" He questioned with worry in his voice.

"I'm fine. Um … Dean saved me and Fluffers from the wolves." Lyddie explained. "I owe you two an apology."

"For what?" Bestinslot questioned.

"An apology for Dean for calling him obscene names and treated him as a mere monster. And for you for running away."

"Lyddie." Bestinslot eased her regret. "Look. I love you. You're my kid. And I understand on how you hate Dean. There is no need to be distraught about that."

"And Sis, I have to apologize first. I disrespected you and your wishes for happiness. I … did not have that sort of ambition before in my short life here. Until, our dad came by to help me. I was kind of doing my best to survive without a care. But when I met you two, something urged me not to kill you at all."

"I'm glad that you guys settled your differences."

"How about the Chantelle and Iris's town? Will they settle our differences with Dean and me?" Lyddie questioned with hopeful curiosity.

"Oh. Let that be a different date to where those guys can trust you two. Humans are much more stupid than you may think."

"Can we all just go home now? I'm tired and cold for some odd reason." Dean whined.

Bestinslot faced Dean. "Yeah we wil- oh crap! I forgot you're naked this entire time."

"Naked? What is naked?" He asked with innocence.

"Never mind about that. Just follow me and go home." He averted his eyes from Dean's direction.

Dean stared quizzically at Lyddie. Lyddie responded it with unsure shrug and just went on forward with Bestinslot. Dean followed along.

By the time they returned, the Sun is descending from the sky. Leaving the sky above dyed with a reddish gold tint. This was actually pretty calm situation for the three. They escaped from the misery and death from nature and managed to resolve the problems with each other. Things are looking up to the disfigured family. But such tranquility does not last long.

As they walked to their humble abode, Bestinslot and Dean noticed something strange about the house. The doors were opened again.

"Aw crap. Not again." Bestinslot whined. He sprinted to the entrance way of the structure.

He examined the scene and found any traces of unnatural influence. Like it was unlocked by something more calm than ever. No slime. No claw marks. Nothing. It was most likely opened by something that was competent and clean. He crossed through the entryway and discovered the trapdoor wide open.

"Dean, Lyddie?" He wished their attention. "I want you guys to stay inside and check the floor above."

"Alright." Dean responded.

"You can count on us."

Bestinslot gripped onto the ladder's poles and slid down hastily to the lab. Once he reached to the lab's grounds, he removed his Schiavona from his sheath to prepare for a battle. Nothing greeted him with claws or fierceness. It was rather empty. He peered around the corner to see if something is out of the blue. He scanned carefully only to find that the Culture Vat Room's metal door was left wide opened.

"What the hell?"

He crept silently to the doorway. His blade ready to swing at the intruder. He leapt in front of the doorway and found nothing that was sabotaged in the room. Rather two new objects were located right before him. One of the objects was a large brown spotted egg. The egg's size was remarkably like the size of a regular watermelon. And the other object was a note written in fancy cursive writing.

The note stated:

Do not leave anyone behind. Protect my child.

Signed by, The Professor

"The professor? Child? Leave anyone behind? What?" These new questions flooded his mind with confusion and intrigue. He glared at the paper again. Then at the giant egg.

"Whatever the case may be. This giant egg is mine now eh?" He thought. "I better show this to them."

He clutched his arms around the egg and despite the egg's size, it was quite easy to hold and carry. In fact it was so lightweight that the egg can be held with one arm with barely any challenge. He dragged the giant egg back up to the surface. He placed the egg in the center of the room.

"Guys. You can come back down now." He ordered them.

After the few short seconds, Dean and Lyddie returned to the first floor. They gawked at the humongous egg in the center of the room. Eventually, they removed that galvanized expression from their faces.

"What in hell is that?" Dean interrogated Bestinslot.

"Honestly. I have no idea." He replied.

"What are we going to do with it?" Lyddie inquired.

"No clue. Sorry."

"Maybe we could raise it and have a giant chick for a pet." Dean jested.

As soon as he spouted those words, a certain crack can be heard in the middle of the room.