Chapter Ten

Lost Companion

"Stella…where is she?" Ghost whispered.

Zorn stared at the dead creature before them. The body was beyond recognition- he couldn't even tell the gender. The female was apparently missing, so this must have been the other bat Ghost had mentioned…her brother.

"She was here only a short while ago!" the white Vampyrum Spectrum continued, reeling on him. "What could have happened?!"

"I don't know" the elder brother told him, though his darkened eyes trailed along the blood-splattered bark secretively.

Plague…

Zorn knew he had come here with some other motive than just taking their little brother home. An attempt at killing him was quite a possibility, but this…assuming Plague had attacked Ghost's companions, what purpose would it serve? At what time had the bat discovered their location? Most of all, why leave one body in the open and make the other disappear?

There were too many questions that needed answering, and his little brother was in no state of mind to even think of them, let alone try and answer them. If Zorn could use just one word to describe his littlest brother's appearance at the moment, it would be sick. He looked near delirious with fear, utterly stricken with the knowledge that the small northern bat he had been traveling with for a matter of weeks was nowhere to be seen. Ghost's expression was caught between horror and happiness as he stared down at the mangled body Zorn could only assume to be the missing female's kin, sweat turning the bat's pure white fur the color of bones. The larger male could hear his sibling's heart ramming in his chest, pushing blood through his veins too fast.

Zorn quirked his ears slightly, studying his brother as he took in fast, short breaths of air. It was rare for Ghost to have such a strong reaction to anything, and for a moment Zorn wondered if the sudden shock would render the other bat unconscious. And to think the bat's disarray was all because of one little female.

"I have to find her"

Ghost's priorities had made a complete shift. Only a moment ago he was preparing to say goodbye to his little companion, and now he was desperate to prolong their stay together. Getting home quickly was no desire of his, and Zorn could see his well. You really are quite different, aren't you Ghost? He mused silently. But you shouldn't let that give reason for fear. Difference does not mean inferiority. The bat sighed. Father would have to wait.

"Let's split up and search, then" the dark furred Vampyrum suggested finally, earning a nervous look from his little brother. "I won't eat her" he offered sincerely.

"I…I had never said you would" the white one murmured ashamedly.

"But you were thinking of it" Zorn told him, his tone showing nothing but calm awareness. "Don't worry so, Ghost. I'll bring your Stella back to you as safe as can be"

The younger bat seemed to quarrel with something inside of him before speaking again. "She might be dead already"

Zorn said nothing for a moment, thinking on his sibling's words. Had he suspected the same thing as himself, or was the pink skinned Vampyrum just voicing the panic he felt, coming up with scenarios in his head at random? The chances that Plague had killed her seemed undeniable, and yet…

And yet the body was not here…

"I'm going to look for Plague" he announced, giving no reason for his decision. "You look for the Brightwing"

With a few wingbeats he left Ghost's side. The smaller bat did not call out to him nor follow after, for which Zorn was glad. He didn't want to mention Plague's possible involvement unless it was actually present. There was no need to say things prematurely- first he would find Plague and see if what he suspected was true. Depending on the answers he got Zorn would either make sure Ghost forgot all about this bad dream of an adventure, or bring his little world that seemed to now revolve around Stella Brightwing to a grinding halt.

How Ghost had gotten so attached to the northerner in such a short amount of time seemed baffling at first, but judging from the relationship between the white Vampyrum and the rest of his kind, it was more than probable. After leaving the jungle for reasons such as his, latching onto something that made Ghost feel safe and strong was a natural response. Now the female was gone, suddenly and with dark implications in her disappearance. Of course Ghost would panic.

Zorn twisted through an array of branches, sniffing the air for some trace of Plague's scent. If he had been nearby so recently, he should be able to track him down. How odd, the bat thought for a straying moment. Tracking my own brother as though he were a bird or beast. Not even when looking for Ghost did I find him like this. Then he found his concentration again, honing his thoughts on why he was doing this.

She might already be dead…that's what Ghost said, but…she may not be, Zorn calculated. Ghost is panicked and fearful. Desperate. But there is no confirmation. We don't know where she is or if she is still in one piece…supposing Plague is out to cause harm to Ghost, would this qualify? Hiding away his oddly precious companion to throw him into a state of unease? Certainly the mental effects have reached that goal…

He barreled to the side to avoid another tangle of branches, beating his wings harder and breathing in the air deep enough to make his noise tingle. He would find Plague. He would sort him out- he would sort both of his brothers out and make sure they returned home like their father wanted. It was for the best. Things needed to be set right- this twisted fear of his own kind Ghost had developed, the relations between all of them, Plague's intentions, and most of all, Bane needed to be appeased. Assuming Ghost's lost companion was found alive and well, he could do with her what he liked.

Although Zorn felt a powerful obligation to meet the demands of their sire, he had no wish to take away any happiness his youngest brother might be able to attain, even if it was just a needy illusion.

Well! Chapter update! It's short, but hey…not the shortest of the bunch. Can't write too much- don't want to be dipping into upcoming chapter material, after all! Next chapter is going to be a bit longer, I'm sure. There's more conversation involved, you see. Lots of stuff to try and explain with it.

So, this chapter was another Zorn pov. It was fun, just like last time. I look forward to more, though I'm not sure how many more there are going to be.

Next chapter, Stella and Plague talk about Ghost.