AN: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I am so, so sorry. Shame and ashes shall rain upon my head, and I shall wear the crimson L for Late upon my chest in the village square. Seriously, I am so sorry I lapsed on this again. I can only blame life, as is my want. However! My updates for this shall now come swiftly! *dodges thrown objects and boos* No, no seriously! I really mean it this time! I've wrangled my sister into beating me should I go too long without updating this!
Also... this is kinda almost done. Really, I think there's only about three chapters and an epilogue until this one is finished. Sooooo... yeah. Let's get to it!
Enjoy!
The shaded walls of dozens of corridors blurred past Hoykar, as empty and chilling as they were when they were filled with scores of hollow-eyed Gliders.
Carefully nestled in his arms, the babe giggled and clapped his hands as if they were simply playing a game. How Hoykar wished he could muster such happiness. Voll was awake, Winnowill would be stopped, and their people would live again. He knew this. And yet he could not banish the shadow that loomed over his heart.
He attempted to press such doubts from his mind. He had a mission now, he had to open the Mountain to the Wolfriders below. Every second their allies were scattered was an age for Winnowill to cause irreparable damage. All he had to do was get to Door and-
Hoykar froze in mid air.
Kureel glared down at him, eyes iced over with rage.
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The Glider in her arms jerked suddenly, body convulsing as he began to choke on the very air in his lungs and throat. Crescent gripped tighter on the half-broken body she held, struggling to protect him from further harm.
In front of them the ground rippled, a testament to the strangled magic flowing from the Glider. She heard Cutter's sending without listening, knowing only fear for the fallen creature she held, and rage at the torment he suffered.
Winnowill was doing this. The Snake was so desperate to complete her plan, she cared little for her breaking tool. Skywise was yelling something, oblivious to Door's suffering, caring as much as Winnowill.
Crescent cared. Fingers brushing the doll-like Glider's cheek, she opened her mind.
**Door!**
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**What are you doing?!**
Hoykar winced, battered by the harshness of the sending.
**You're helping these monsters?! Why?! How can you betray our Lord like this?!**
He blinked tears of pain back from his eyes, struggling to stay aloft under the mental attack. **I'm not betraying him! Kureel, Voll is awake! Winnowill was holding him in sleep! She lied to us! Kureel, please, help us! We can free our people from what she has done to us! Voll will-**
**Voll would lead us to death!**
Hoykar crashed against the stone floor, barely registering the babe's frightened squall over the agony that threatened to split open his head. Kureel sent again, and images assaulted his mind.
Gliders laying outside, their blood drenching the ground. Faces he knew, Reevol, Yeyeen and Oroleed, Eresir, Talno, Aroree. Then he saw himself. Moon-silver hair dyed crimson with blood, blue eyes staring sightlessly into the sky. Kureel was in his mind, his feelings rushing into him like an unstoppable tide. Voll wanted them to stay in The World, wanted them to open their arms to those who were of The World. The World would take his Hoykar from him. The World's cruel winds would buffet his Sparrow ceaselessly, smashing him against the rocks until there was nothing left of him. How could he not see this?! How could he stand against him?! Hoykar was supposed to be with him always, forever by his side! Hoykar was his! His little Sparrow. They had touched souls damnit! When had he lost him?! How could he throw it all away for these monsters and that doddering fool of a Lord?! Didn't he see that on Voll's path there was only death?! The Glider lay stretched out before him, unmoving, lifeless, dead.
Just like they were now.
Hoykar forced himself up, body braced by a shaky arm. Trembling from the pain, he lifted his head, meeting Kureel's shocked eyes. **No. Voll's path leads to life!**
Before him, Kureel shook, disbelief etched on his features. Hoykar pressed on.
**We are dead Kureel! More so now then physical death could ever make us! Winnowill has taken our people and made them into mindless statues of flesh and blood! There is no future for the Glider's in Winnowill's hands!** he struggled to his feet, holding out the child for Kureel to see, **This is the future! Here! In the life this world has to offer us!** Tears flickered into Hoykar's eyes, **You never lost me my Eagle. I am still your Sparrow, I always will be. I've been waiting here.** his hand stretched out, begging, **For you.**
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**Door! Door please!**
Crescent tumbled through the darkness of the Glider's mind. She felt as though she were drowning in despair, unable to pull her head above the black current. **Door! Answer me!**
From the corner of her eye, something flickered. She pressed harder, **Door please! Door?**
Distantly she felt something move, sluggishly, like a lizard in the first chills of winter. A thought struck her. **Door? Door it's Mrel. Do you hear me? Mrel.**
An eternity passed, then the voice came, as childlike, lost, and heartbreaking as it had been the first time she heard it. **Mrel?**
She sighed, moving towards the barely visible shape before her. **Yes Door, Mrel. It's my soulname. You have it with you, that's why you can fight her. You have to fight her Door.**
The shape shrunk back, curling itself into a tiny ball. **Can't. Can't fight. Never fight.**
**Yes you can! Door listen to me! You can't obey her, not in this or anything again!** she reached the figure, intangible finger reaching out to touch the quivering form. **You have to or you'll die. We'll all die.**
**Scared.**
She pulled him close, feeling as though they were truly touching. **I know. I'm scared too. But we can't let that stop us. We can't let her stop us.**
**Said... she said...* the Glider's spirit pressed against hers, fragile and shaking, **She said it would be alright. It would stop hurting. The fear would go away.** the form shook again, sorrow washing over them both, **But it all went away! Mama went away, then the world went away. So scared.**
She ran her fingers over his hand, soothing as his trembled. **You don't have to be scared any more Door. I'm here now.** slowly, she tilted his face up, their eyes meeting. **You never have to be alone again.**
She flowed into him. He flowed into her.
Crescent's eyes flickered open, meeting Door's quicksilver orbs. Drowsily, he smiled at her. His arm twitched and, guessing what he wanted, she raised his hand to press against her cheek.
**Mrel.** he sighed, so soft, yet no longer afraid.
She brushed his hair back from his face, eyes filled with love. **Aeryus.**
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Neither moved. Eternity seemed to pass them by, washing the world around them away. Suddenly, Kureel moved. Hoykar felt his heart still, not daring to hope.
Then the elder Chosen began to walk forward, eyes soft. Hoykar felt his fear wash away, tear pricking his eyes anew and a smile came to life. They were barely a hands-breadth away, seconds more and they would be touching again. Then Kureel speed grew, and a sharp ringing and bright flash threw Hoykar's world into a state of pure horror. He leapt back, twisting his body.
The hunting knife buried itself in his arm instead of the child's body.
Hoykar moved without thinking, darting forth again, foot circling and crashing down like a hawk.
He stood still, tears pouring down his face as blood trickled down his arm, eyes on Kureel's unconscious form. Then he turned, gliding away as quickly as he could.
Within his chest, his heart beat strongly.
Within his soul, his heart lay shattered into thousands of pieces.
AN: Oh my little Hoykar. My sweet, sweet angst-muffin. How I love to torture you.
Hoykar: *dead*
Yeah well, it's your own fault for being so dang pretty and woobie-like. Anyhoos, reviews!
Guest(1): Yeep, he's gone. Honestly, I've never really been a Scouter-fan, but I actually felt a little bad for killing him off. Still, it sort of had to be done for future events. Hope you can forgive me! *offers cookie-bribe*
Guest(2): Yeah, things really kinda took off in the last few chapters. Sorry I didn't get this in within the next month... or next few months... I am a horrible person. *shame*
FanFictionAddiction4EVER: Always like it when I can keep people guessing! Hope you like what's to come!
So there we go, one down and just a few to go! Don't forget to R&R kids, Hoykar really needs the hugs!
Hoykar: *still dead*
Arrivederci! ^-^