Dawn was approaching. Lila, concentrated on remaining silent. Her captors looked like they were sleeping, but, Lila knew better. Occasionally, the dark eye lids would open, and red eyes would shift to her. Instantly, all breathing and movement froze.
Lila cast her eyes around. The cage, had extra space. But, Lila felt her breath tighten in her chest. She hated being in small area's. Closed doors, cages, holes. It always made her desperate. She felt like she was losing an important part of her.
Lila turned to Lucas. His eyes were closed, his golden hair dimly glowing in the lack of light. She couldn't tell if he was sleeping, but her mind trailed off into more pleasant thoughts. She knew her face was flushed. She shouldn't be looking or thinking of him, like that. It went against her very nature. Her basis of life.
Lila scooted closer to him, wanting to see how bad his wound, really was. Her eyes had trouble locating the area of the wound. After a few minutes, she finally was able to locate it. Carefully she lifted the measly bandage. Fresh blood, began pouring out of the open wound.
Lila quickly looked away. He was still bleeding heavily. Guilt attacked her insides. It was her fault. He got hurt because of her. It was ironic, that anyone she tried to trust, got hurt. That is why, all those secrets, were buried deep within her. If she told anyone about them, they would get hurt.
Undoing the bandage, Lila reached into her pocket, trying to find fresh cloth for a bandage. Disappointment hit her like a fist. Nothing, she wished she had thought to put more in her pocket.
"I'm sorry, Lucas." She breathed, feeling a tear slip down her face. She raised a hand to her face. Catching it with her hand, she accidentally brushed the wound.
Sucking in her breath, Lila waited for Lucas to awaken. But nothing happened, except for when she looked down, the wound was no longer there. Eyes widening in shock, Lila scooted farther away.
"Icki! Look up!" whispered a familiar voice.
Laying a hand over her heart, Lila sighed. The action, returning her heart beat to its normal pace. Looking up, she saw those concerned eyes, dancing with joy. The silver fox, was looking down at her from the top of the cage, her ears flapping quickly.
"Flinx! Quiet." She gestured towards, the black wolf-like creatures.
Flinx, toppled toward the ground, laughing merrily. Sitting up her tail, swished from side to side. "They are asleep. Argels are very heavy sleepers." She chimed.
Lila tensed. They couldn't be asleep. They weren't the last time she had checked. Looking over at her captors, Lila had to control herself. They had turned away from her, but, their legs thrashed about wildly, low snarls occasionally escaping from their body.
Flinx, lifted a paw to her mouth, "That is how they sleep." She said, gently. Taking action, she stepped over to the cage. Putting one of her paws into the huge lock, she muttered a word. "Shank-a-link."
Lila was surprised and relieved, when the cage door opened. Pouncing in, the silver fox stood proud. Her small shape extending to the size of an argel. "Ready to go?" She asked, her fox tail swishing.
Lila shook her head, breaking out from her trance. In the back of her mind, she truly felt that this was too easy. Escaping was supposed to be harder than this.
Standing up, she went back over to Lucas. Instincts guided her hand to his shoulder, were she gave him a small nudge. Almost instantly, his eyes snapped open, his hands gripping her wrist.
His mouth opened, as if to speak, but seeing her, he fell silent, releasing her wrist. Memories of the night, played through his brain and he looked down at his wound. Shocked to find, that it was no longer there. Stifling the almost overpowering urge to jump up, he brought himself to a standing position.
"Whats..." He quieted as his eyes landed on Flinx and the open door. A comprehending look appeared on his face. Lila smiled and headed out the door. Scanning the area for her sword and pack, she almost fell down to the ground in defeat.
The smallest argel was using her bag as a pillow. Its paw, covering two swords. Flinx saw her eyes widen. Assuming that Lila wanted her bag. Stepping softly towards the argel. Flinx began to mutter, the same word as before.
"Want a shank-a-link... that's right... shank-a-link is what you are about to recieve." The silver fox muttered. Momentarily the kicking stopped and the argel, laid still.
Flinx grabbed the bag with her teeth and gave a tug. Yanking the bag from underneath the argels head. Lila and Lucas held their breaths, prepared for the argels to awaken and attack. But, the argel returned back to kicking.
Flinx stepped lightly, dodging leaves and twigs on the ground. She handed Lila the bag. "We have to go, leave your weapons." Flinx said, heading off into the woods.
Lila cast a wistful glance, at the sword under the argels paw. That had been one of the only things that she had from her real family. She wasn't too fond of having to leave it.
Quietly the trio headed into the forest. Stopping, Lila looked back. She would get it back, sooner or later.
Lucas grabbed Lila's shoulder. Knowing what she was thinking. "You can reflect, when we are safely out of danger." He whispered sharply.
Lila scowled at him, brushing his hand off of her shoulder. She raced to catch up with Flinx, who was almost out of sight.
Lucas glared after her. Things had just been changing too. She was so sensitive. It was hard to stay on her good side. Soon he sped up too, passing Lila's proud figure.
For many moments the trio walked in a stiff silence. Flinx still felt that she should remain big. The argels could wake up any moment. Then, the two would need her speed.
Visibly shaking herself, Flinx paused briefly. She shouldn't be thinking so negatively. She could be jinxing them. Quickening her pace, she continued on the way.
A red light fell across the dark forest. Lila stared at it in wonder, not pausing in her rather fast pace. It was so dark and haunting. How come she had not realized this earlier? She hugged her shoulders, trying to comfort herself. For once, wishing for someones strong arms to hold her. Pinching her shoulder, Lila pushed the cowardly, inviting thoughts away.
Lucas too had made note of the unwelcoming forest. If he had observed this earlier, he would have made sure everyone made it out of the forest by nightfall. Standing taller, he cast an aware eye around. Anything could happen, best to remain calm. He thought inwardly.
Just as the sun was rising, a ear shattering noise broke the forests silence. The noise grew closer, a mixture of a howl and a moan.
Flinx reacted immediately. She turned around. "Get on!" She commanded.
Grabbing a fistful of silver fur in his hands, he pulled himself on. Flinx raced over to Lila. The sound growing steadily closer. Lilas hands fumbled in excitement and a mixture of fear. Her hands sweating profusely. She almost fell to the ground but Lucas caught her wrist and dragged her up on.
Once her riders were safely on, Flinx raced off. The world becoming a blur of thousands of colors. The sound fading, but never ending.
Fear forced Lila to clutch Lucas tighter. Her white fist clenched the velvet of his cloak. She squeezed her eyes shut. She hated not being able to see everything around her. The silver fox's padded paws fell silently across the land.
The ride was almost smooth. There was the occasional leaps up into the air, where Lucas felt his face pale. He felt like he would lose his grip and fall off. Then, that would be the end of them.
Flinx continued running, even when the sound had completely faded away. She kept telling herself. The danger would be over, once they got out of that forest. Then, she would stop and let her weary riders and herself rest. Sleep sounded precious, it was one of the few thoughts that kept her running.
Lila opened her eyes finally. The sun was brightening the land. It was still dark and neutral, with no fine leaves or flowers dotting it. Feeling completely safe, Lila closed her eyes, and leaned her head against, Lucas's shoulder. Falling into a tolerable fit of slumber.
Lucas shook himself. His eyelids were heavy. He felt so tired. But, he needed to stay awake. To concentrate on gripping the fur.
The forest went on forever. The sun had almost reached his peak. But, Flinx slowed to a stop. The movement, startled Lila out of her slumber.
Kneeling down, Flinx let her riders climb off. The sound was still distant, but it was getting closer. "Hide. I've done all I can." She managed to gasp. She could feel her body, returning to normal. Stumbling into the undergrowth, she disappeared.
Lucas grabbed Lila's wrist. "Hurry, its dangerous." He hissed, casting his glance around. It was easy for a silver fox to hide, but two tall humans. That was a harder task.
Lila finally shook herself to awareness. Finding a tree, she started to climb it. "Follow me." She murmured. Letting go of his hand.
The tree was long and thick. It was a difficult tree to climb. Lila watched with amusement, as Lucas almost lost his grip several times. He was not a natural, when it came to climbing.
The sounds grew closer, and Lila found herself staring down at the huge black argels. Lucas froze, in his process of scooting closer to her.
Lila's mind roamed in desparation. There was something, something that she had been given.
"I smell them, there still in the forest." Snarled the biggest of the argels.
The smallest of the argels, let out a long thundering growl. "Find them! Torrigor will kill us! Find them, you dogs!" It thundered.
Lucas swayed dangerously. Rustling the branch. Making dead leaf's fall, onto the smallest argel's snout.
Lila reached into her bag. She needed the flowers.
"One for protection." It whispered, the voice sounded rushed and worried. The figure glowed white and a small object was placed into the small box near it.
"One for truth." The figure was surrounded in a purple light. Another small object was placed into the chest.
"One for strength." A yellow light encircled the cloaked one.
"One for love." A pink light encircled the being.
"One for hope." A lilac light brightened the surroundings.
"One for life." A aqua aura surrounded the cloaked person.
"One for wisdom." A green light appeared and faded.
"... The tree, check it." The argel said, its voice absent of any anger.
Fumbling through her bag, Lila finally found the flowers. Taking all of them into her hand, she grabbed Lucas's hand.
Please, let it work. She repeated in her mind.
Lila swallowed the scream in her throat, when she found herself, staring into the red eyes. The long matted claw went straight through her body. As if passing through air. The argel leaped out of the tree.
"Nothing there." The huge argel, growled at the others.
The smallest argel let out another thundering call. "I smell that bilmora, it knows where they are at it." He snarled racing off into the undergrowth.
Lila let out a long sigh. It had worked. Lucas, stared down at the ground in wide eyed, disbelief. "Impossible." He muttered aloud. Finally able to stop swaying.
Lila was about to reply cheekily, when a heart rendering sound broke the forest. Lila instantly knew where the sound came from. The argels had found Flinx.
"Tell us, you traitor! Where is the chosen one?!" Thundered the angry argel. The sound echoed in the dark forest. Lila's grip on Lucas's shoulder tightened.
"Never!" Chimed Flinx's voice. "Besides, I don't know where she is." Flinx's voice echoed in the silent air.
Lila waited, trying to think optimistically.
"Liar!" The argels thundered.
Lila remained frozen to the branch. They were near by, she might be able to help Flinx.
"In ten seconds, the sun will be up, and you will be a pile of dust." Whimpered Flinx.
Almost immediately, Lila felt the ground rumbling. The argels racing for their lives. They burst out of the undergrowth, blurs of black racing towards their cave.
The sun seeped across the land, blinding Lila. She had never been more glad, to the sun. Another day, another live saved, a journey to make. Hopefully, Flinx was still well.
Letting go of Lucas. Lila weaved her way down the tree. Leaping gracefully to the ground. Lucas followed after, stumbling out of the tree and landing heavily on his behind, with a loud thump.
He winced, knowing that he had acquired an unwelcome bruise. Lila turned to him, her eyes distant, he could almost imagine, tears pouring out of her eyes.
"We have got to find her." She insisted, heading into the undergrowth.
Lucas rubbed his sore rump. He felt specifically neglected. She hadn't even laughed at his fall! He hated to be ignored. Frowning he stood up and followed after.
He found Lila, kneeling on the ground, with a raggedy bundle of silver in her lap.
"You should have told them. I'm not worth dieing for." She muttered.
The silver fox, stirred weakly. "You are too. You have so much to learn, so much more. I was a slave, controlled by a black piece. I have to make up, for all the bad that I have committed. I owe you my life." Flinx insisted.
Lila knew she was about to break down again. A day later, Flinx had gotten hurt. Just because of her. She didn't deserve that sort of loyalty.
There was a gruesome, deep wound on Flinx's back. It was deep and bleeding freely. The argels had attacked Flinx, and left her to die. Lila couldn't stand to lose another, life risking friend.
She kneeled over the wound. Trying to stop its bleeding. "Don't say that. You can't be held accountable for what the black piece made you do." She sobbed.
Then she truly did break down, the tears pouring down her cheeks and onto the wound. Wiping away her tears, Lila stared down at the wound. Steam was coming off of it. The blood clotting, and the wound completely vanishing.
Flinx's eyes popped open. "It doesn't hurt." She chimed. Pouncing out of Lila's lap.
Lila raised a hand to her mouth. "How did I do that?" She muttered.
Lucas stood closer, staring at the silver fox with wide eyes. Then he raised a finger and pointed at Lila.
"It was you!" He declared. "Your the one that healed me!" He said grinning. That made up for all the time she had ignored him.
Lila sprung off of the ground. "Did not!" She exclaimed.
Lucas smirked. "Did too. I wonder why you were crying." He added mischievously.
Lila folded her arms and glared at him. "Why would I ever heal you? Your too arrogant, and you would never let me hear the end of it." She responded. "Besides, I never cry." She added.
Flinx head shifted back between the two. Her feet moving nimbly. "Can you two, ever stop bickering? Lets go find the others." She said, her tail swishing energetically.
As if on cue, an amused Lydia appeared from behind a tree. "There you are." She said coyly. "We were beginning to worry about you!" She said, walking towards the two. Followed by a giant of man.
Lila and Lucas stopped bickering and stared suspiciously at the man.
Lydia gave a strained smile. The pressure was starting to get to her. "Lila, Lucas meet..." She began, but was interrupted.
He laid a giant hand on her shoulder. "I'm Banes." He said, giving a wide grin.
Lila froze. Her eyes widening in thought. She looked over at Lydia. "So this is your, Troublemaker?" She said quietly.
Instead of getting angry, he gave a rumbling chuckle. "Yep, thats me. I'm the Troublemaker." He said patting Lydia's shoulder.
Lucas just stared at the man, suspicously. Lila and the others could accept him, but, Lucas needed to get to know the man a little more.
Lydia gritted her teeth, trying to stop from falling over. Banes underestimated his strength. Stepping away from Banes, she turned. "Well, lets go. I'll take you to the others." She said, brightly.
Flinx, hopped up on to Lila's bag. Curling into a comfortable ball. "I'll just take a, well deserved slumber." The silver fox, chimed.
Lila cast another strong glare in Lucas's direction. Than, caught up with Banes. "So..." She began, starting a very interesting conversation with him.
Lucas glared at the two's back. He wondered why the two were laughing so much? Lila wasn't much of a laugher. The only times she laughed, was when she managed to make him stutter, or angry. He folded his arms.
I'm not jealous! He insisted to himself. But, couldn't help clenching his fist, when Lila gave another laugh.
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There, makes up for a little bit of the three weeks. An ok chapter. Still not my best. But, it was fun to write.
Lila has now discovered three new things about herself! The process of change, is a painful and slow thing. Especially, when it happens to a proud, spirited girl.
you rock socks!
-Lightzing ;)