Chapter Thirteen – Monstrosity

~Okuro~

I stumbled, falling into the deep snow. My body trembled, desperately trying to fight the cold winds gnawing at my flesh. I looked up and around. Kasu and Mo were nowhere to be found. I couldn't even feel Kierra anymore. In fact, I couldn't feel much of anything by this point. Vigorously shaking my head, I pushed forward. I had to find my way back.

Kasu's angry expression flashed in my mind. I had insisted to go on my own, and she agreed, with contempt in her expression. Kierra had protested this decision loudly. Even with her injured shoulder, it took both of them to restrain her as I left. As guilty as I had been, I had to go. Something had called me, and I had followed the call to it without a problem.

But now, with the stone in my hand, I couldn't find my way back. I was lost in the eternal blizzard of Kamui. I had called to Kierra for so long, but there wasn't any response, not even a feeling that she'd heard me. And without her, I was sure there was no way Kasu or Mo could find me in time. But how much time was that? My steps weren't as long, and they were slower. I felt so heavy. I just wanted to lay down where I stood. But I couldn't. I'd die if I did.

With what strength I had left I sent Kierra one final plea for help. If she didn't listen this time, I was sure to die. But then, even if she did listen, I didn't know if she could find me in time.

Kierra… Please listen… I'm sorry… That I insisted to… Go alone… Please… Help me… I can't…

A burst of shock greeted me from her end of the connection as I fell.

And then there was nothing.

My mind returned to me slowly, focusing everything for my freshly opened eyes. Already standing, I looked around. All around me the air swirled in blacks and deep shades of blue. I heard a shallow, shifting wind, but I did not feel it. Cautiously moving forward, my thoughts asked me where I was. It was a question I couldn't answer for myself. Kamui had vanished when I collapsed. Where was I and what had called me here?

"OKURO… AT LAST WE MEET…"

The loud voice snarled at me. The large mass before me opened a crimson eye, laying claim to it. I stepped back, defensive, as it raised itself upon massive limbs. The creature's black flesh divided itself between lava like marks. It tilted its squared head, blank red orbs studying me. "What do you want from me?" I said in a low tone as it took a step towards me.

"I WANT THAT BODY OF YOURS BOY." The monster laughed at my shock. It lowered its head, still studying me.

"Who are you?"

Another boisterous laugh. "YOU CALL YOURSELF A GOD INCARNATION. YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL WHO I AM." It brought its face to mine, exhaling fiery mists in my face. The "ground" beneath me trembled as it moved its body to surround me. The shallow wind went silent as I tried to think.

"I HAVE KILLED MANY OF YOU, AND THE GODS DON'T EVEN TRY TO WARN YOU ABOUT ME! THIS WILL BE TOO EASY."

It clicked.

"Galdea. Killer of Gods."

Galdea huffed more mist in my face as he chortled. "SO YOU HAVE HEARD OF ME, BOY."

I waved the mist away. "Don't be proud. I know you can't kill me."

"THE COLD MAY DO THAT FOR ME. THEN YOUR BODY WILL BE MINE FOR THE TAKING… ONCE YOUR PITIFUL SOUL IS OUT OF THE WAY."

"Why me?"

"YOU ARE PART OF GEKIGAMI. I WILL TAKE YOUR POWER. THAT PATHETIC SISTER OF YOURS WOULD BE A SUITABLE FIRST KILL." He chortled to himself.

"I'll fight you off. You aren't a threat to me without a host body."

Galdea's massive tail wrapped itself around me. "YOU WILL BE MY HOST BODY. MORE DIFFICULT THAN I'D LIKE BUT SO MUCH MORE WORTH IT." His reptilian mouth pulled into a grin as he imagined it.

I began to feel less attached to the world Galdea had pulled me into. The ceasing of that strange breeze worried me for reasons I was unsure of. All the same, the world began to fade around me. Galdea looked up, hissing contentedly. Suddenly his massive body was in motion. But, before he could make it very far, the breeze started up again. Now a powerful gale, it began pulling me from this world in its wave like rhythm.

"YOU WILL BE MINE BOY…" Was the last I heard from Galdea, before he too was gone.

A sudden heat greeted me as I awoke in Kasu's hideaway. Moegami slept a few feet away, emanating heat in his phoenix form. I was sure Kasu was on the side of him I couldn't see. I was against something soft, warm. Looking up, I realized I had been placed on Kierra's tigress form. Her breathing was slow and steady, but not quite that of sleep. "I know you're awake, Kierra." I mumbled, staring at her face.

She sighed, shaking her head as she opened her eyes. "You're lucky. I had closed out the connection when you left. If I hadn't let it in again… You would have died out there. Kasu and Mo were afraid you had when I brought you back."

"You went out to find me alone?" I felt Galdea in my mind. FOOLISH GIRL…

"I had no choice. I'm faster than Kasu and Mo. They would have slowed me down… It was narrow enough as it was. You were barely breathing when I found you. By the time I got you here… you weren't. I was scared I didn't get back fast enough." She shuddered, as if to emphasize that point.

I greeted her with silence. Galdea was trying to control me. I was too occupied fighting him off to realize Kierra had gotten up until I felt cold air where she had once been. "I need to go do something. I'll be back." She said, almost like she was evading something. She trotted out quickly, to avoid questioning. Once she had left the room, Galdea felt that much more prominent. He pushed for control of my body. All I could do was fight him. But as only half an incarnation, how long could I last?