Sorry about the long wait! I've been busy and had a case of writers block. Here's the next chapter, hopefully the next one won't be to long but I'm still getting over my writers block so no promises!
"NiGHTS come on." Reala coaxed. "You have to eat something."
For the millionth time he pushed tasty foods towards NiGHTS, who was sitting on the bed wrapped in furs. Jackle was there, frowning, it didn't look good. There hadn't been any change in NiGHTS attitude for hours; she hadn't even nibbled the food Reala offered her.
And Reala...
Jackle was worried about him, almost as much as he worried for NiGHTS. Reala hadn't rested since he brought NiGHTS back, and he wouldn't until he had calmed NiGHTS down.
"Which had better be soon." Jackle thought. "What happened out there?"
Reala hadn't told him, he had just called for help. Jackle had been standing there, waiting for Reala to acknowledge him for hours.
"NiGHTS?" Reala sighed. "Dammit!"
He stormed to the table, choosing some different foods from the feast Puffy brought in. Reala muttered under his breath incoherently, eyes darting to NiGHTS.
"Reala." Jackle said, making himself heard. "You've been at it for hours; she isn't going to eat anything right now."
Reala growled at Jackle, turning back to the petrified NiGHTS. Jackle angrily fiddled with his cards, quickly choosing the sleep card and aimed. NiGHTS fell down with a sigh, her troubles and worries gone with a spell. Unfortunately, all Reala saw was Jackle throwing a sharp, deadly tarot card at his mate.
With a snarl Reala leapt up, fangs showing.
"How dare you!" Reala growled furiously. "What have you-."
Jackle suddenly leapt foreword, surprising Reala as he snarled in response. Jackle was not one to allow anger to overcome him, so when he got mad all 'maren in the area paid close attention. This included the now shocked silent Reala.
"Listen closely Reala!" Jackle shouted. "You are going to tell me what happened, no growls, no muttering. Speak clearly!"
Reala frowned, but began his story.
"I took her to the forest." Reala started, sitting down on the bed beside NiGHTS and stroked her hair. "It didn't start out smoothly; I didn't think I could ever make NiGHTS happy here. She'd always have to stay; she'd never be free again. I didn't want to see her like that; I wanted her to be happy... so I removed the binding."
"You what?" Jackle asked, his shock making him fall to the floor. "Are you serious? She could have taken off, she could have hurt you!"
Reala looked him in the eye.
"I know."
Silence filled the room for a few moments as they each gathered their thoughts.
I would have let her go; I wanted her to be happy, no matter the cost. But how can I make her happy now? She knows that Nightopia is being cultivated, what can I possibly do to fix this? Can I even fix this... will she never heal?
What was he thinking! That idiotic, stubborn, foolish, 'maren; All of this... for nothing? But removing the binding wouldn't do this to NiGHTS. Something else happened, something he isn't telling me.
"What happened next?" Jackle pushed.
"She was... shocked." Reala continued his tale. "But she didn't run away. She asked me why I let her go, and I told her. She means everything to me Jackle."
"Obviously." Jackle smiled. As rare as it was for Jackle to be angry, it was even rarer for Reala show his kinder side.
"She still didn't leave." Reala smiled, remembering. "She stayed; she decided that she wanted to be my mate."
Jackle half shouted a profanity at this, but shut himself up before he could wake NiGHTS.
"We joined," Reala frowned; a tad embarrassed he was sharing this with Jackle. "And that's... when things went wrong."
Reala sighed. "She woke up before me. I don't know what she was thinking, but she went flying."
"Let me guess," Jackle interrupted. "She saw Nightopia."
"And the 'maren picking it clean." Reala frowned. "I caught up to her as soon as I could, but she'd already seen everything. She passed out and I brought her here."
"Well you're screwed." Jackle sighed walking to the door. "Just let her rest, when she wakes up be gentle and hope for the best."
"That's your advice?" Reala asked, incredulously.
"Yep." Jackle smiled. "You're going to have to beg with this one."
"I don't beg!" Reala hissed.
"NiGHTS saw Nightopia." Jackle stared at him hard. "She's sad and probably furious. You beg now."
With that Jackle was out the door. Reala frowned when he heard it click into place. Brushing NiGHTS' hair with his claws he eased her under a mass of furs, tucking her in. He lay down beside her, holding her next to him.
"What were you thinking?" Reala whispered, brushing his lips on her forehead.
...
"Where was she?"
She was warm, that's for sure. Was someone breathing beside her? It sure sounded like there was. Her stomach was aching, hadn't she eaten anything? Reala had been offering her all sorts of food, why hadn't she eaten? Reala... wait, why am I angry? What did he-...? Nightopia.
NiGHTS' eyes darted open. She was mummified with all the furs wrapped around her body. Her mate lay next to her, holding her body close to his.
Reala's brows were knitted together as he squirmed in his sleep. It was odd for a 'maren to have nightmares, but it brought NiGHTS an odd sense of pleasure to see him squirm. Slipping out from the bed without waking her mate, NiGHTS stood and floated to the window.
Sitting down on the windowsill she silently seethed.
"How could they do this!" NiGHTS thought, tears covered her face and anger filled her heart. "Reala, he knew! That- that bastard! He tricked me into joining with him. I never would have if I had known what he was doing behind my back.
"NiGHTS!"
NiGHTS glared coldly at the recently awakened Reala. Reala flinched at his mates cold stare, but quickly embraced her (despite her protests and struggles)
"Are you alright-."
"You bastard..."
NiGHTS looked him dead in the eye, all the hurt and pain of seeing the land she loved so much being destroyed before her was evident in her stare.
"Why?" NiGHTS asked, her voice beginning to crack. "Was this your plan all along? Taking over Nightopia just to strip it clean? What else haven't you told me! What else are you planning you bastard!"
"You weren't supposed to find out this way." Reala pleaded, hoping to calm NiGHTS down enough for him to plead his case. "I was going to tell you, I swear-."
"How would that change anything?" NiGHTS screamed. "You're still destroying everything! Don't you know what that's going to do? Nightopia and Nightmare are connected! If something happens to one it will happen to the other!"
"That's an old 'maren tale." Reala sighed. "NiGHTS please, calm down."
"Calm down!" NiGHTS said, glaring in fury at Reala.
All her anger suddenly came up in a single burst. If she had been thinking clearly she probably would have done something more effective. But to the distraught NiGHTS who was scared for Nightopia and furious at the male before her summed up her feelings of rage and betrayal in one quick motion.
She clocked Reala in the face with a well placed punch.
A satisfying sharp sound of direct contact relieved some of the tensions she felt as if a small weight came of her shoulders.
"Shit!" Reala growled, rubbing his cheek. "Forgot you could hit hard."
He looked up to see NiGHTS looking dejectedly out the window; the anger had gone, being replaced by a cold sombre gaze. He kept his distance for a few moments, debating what exactly would be the best course of action, preferably one where he wouldn't get nailed to the wall.
A small sob erupted from NiGHTS form, causing an instant reaction in Reala. He flew over and held the crying NiGHTS closer to him. Her body shock with the cries that came from inside her. Each cry seemed like a knife in his own heart, each one reminded him of what he had done to her.
"NiGHTS." Reala sighed. "Please-."
"What?" NiGHTS sobbed. "Calm down?"
"No." Reala pulled her close to his chest and rested his head on hers. "You can be angry if you want, you can feel betrayed. You can hate me for the rest of your days... but don't...don't hurt yourself. Crying like this, not eating. Please, you need to stop doing this."
NiGHTS, still hating the very blood that flew through her mates veins, subconsciously listened to his advice. Her sobs slowly stopped and her breathing steadied. Her mind began to clear and she began to feel the effects of her rage catching up to her. Reala slowly lift her up into his arms and put her to bed. Once more wrapping warm furs around her so she could rest well, she certainly wouldn't want him next to her to keep her warm. Reala stepped back to dim the fire and pick up a chair that had fallen in their struggle.
"Reala?"
Reala quickly turned to NiGHTS, seeing her gaze at him without hatred gave him a small sense of hope.
"Did you lie about us?" NiGHTS asked in a whisper, as if scared to hear the truth. "Did you... do you ... even love me?"
Reala paused for a moment, staring at her in confusion before he spoke.
"NiGHTS." He started. "I won't get any sleep tonight, and probably not for the next few nights. I won't leave your side if I can help it. And if it makes you feel better we can go to a training hall and spar, I'll let you beat me senseless if it will make you feel better."
Reala walked over and sat next to her on the bed. He pulled her close for a hug, kissing her forehead softly.
"Would you really think I'd go through all this if I didn't love you?" Reala asked. "I love you NiGHTS, more than you can imagine."
Reala let it sink into NiGHTS before he got up. As he began to walk away, a small delicate hand reached out and grabbed his. Reala looked down at NiGHTS, who seemed unaware she had reached out to him.
"Please don't go." NiGHTS said, barely a whisper. "I still hate you, but please don't go!"
Reala sat down, careful not to cause NiGHTS discomfort and wrapped his arms around her. What he said was true, he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight. But the soft breathing beside confirmed that at least NiGHTS was getting the rest that she needed.
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