Chapter 37

Delma went directly to Darc's side, ignoring the bloody gash in her arm. She laid her hand on his forehead. "He feels warmer then he should.

Paulette went to Kharg and copied Delma. "Kharg does too." She looked around at the group. "Isn't there anything that can be done?"

"I told you, all we can do is wait," Ganz said tiredly. "Delma, let me check your arm."

Delma looked at Darc, reluctant to leave his side.

Camellia came up and knelt on Darc's other side. "Go, I'll stay with him."

Delma searched the sage's eyes and saw understanding, not mockery. "Thanks." She stood and went to Ganz.

Paulette looked at the sage. "She's really scared."

Camellia sighed. "Of course she is. She loves him no matter how hard she tries not to and I am sure Darc feels the same. Both of them are stubborn and don't want to admit their feelings, but they're still there."

Paulette studied the sage. "By the way you were flirting with him I thought perhaps..."

Camellia laughed. "That I loved him? No, but it is fun to tease him. He blushes so prettily."

Despite her worry over Kharg, Paulette had to laugh as well. "I can't imagine him blushing."

Camellia winked. "But he does."

Meanwhile….

It seemed like hours, but it was in fact probably only ten minutes when the light faded, leaving the twins light headed and exhausted. Kharg sat down and after a minute so did Darc.

"Wow, I didn't expect that." Kharg sighed. "Kind of weird."

Darc nodded in agreement. "So now what?"

Kharg hesitated, knowing Darc would not like what he was about to say. "I think Lilia's right. We have to leave, and talk the other Deimos here into coming with us."

Darc was on his feet in an instant. "What?" he yelled.

Kharg stood, careful to stay out of his twin's reach. "We're outnumbered. We'll all die if we stay here."

Darc seemed ready to start yelling again then sighed. "You're right."

Kharg blinked. "What did you say?"

Darc scowled and folded his arms. "You heard me."

Kharg grinned. "Yeah, I did. I just wanted to hear it again. You've never said I was right before."

Darc sneered back at his brother. "You've never been right before."

Kharg had to laugh. "Oww, that hurt, Darc. Now we just have to figure out how we wake ourselves up."

Darc considered that for a minute then slapped Kharg soundly upside the head.

"Ow!" Kharg yelped. "What the hell did you do that for?"

Darc shrugs. "Aren't you supposed to

pinch yourself to see if you're dreaming? Thought it might wake you which would wake me."

Kharg scowled. "Well, it didn't."

Darc grinned toothily. "Oops."

Khag's eyes narrowed. "I'll show you an oops." He lunged, tackling Darc to the ground.

"Get the hell off me, you damned crazy Human!" Darc bellowed, trying to struggle free.

Kharg wouldn't let him. He smacked Darc upside the head the same way he'd been hit.

Darc let out a string of curses that'd make a sailor cringe. "I'll get you for this!"

Kharg smirks. "You'll try, I'm sure."

Suddenly there was a flash and everything got blindingly bright.

Wound cleaned and bandaged, Delma returned to Darc's side. She knelt and arranged Darc so his head and shoulders were on her lap.

Paulette looked down and gasped as she realized Kharg's eyes were open. "Oh thank the spirits you're awake!"

Delma looked down at Darc just as his eyes opened. She cursed and leaped up, letting Darc drop abruptly.

THUD!

"Oww! Damn it, Delma!" Darc yelled.

Delma glared at him. "Don't you damn it Delma me! You scared the hell out of me!"

Darc sat up with a scowl and rubbed the back of his head.

Kharg gave his twin a smirk as he was helped to his feet by a concerned Paulette.

Chuckling, Volk walked over and offered Darc his hand.

Darc muttered, but he took it and let the Lupine pull him to his feet. "At least someone shows me a bit of respect."

Delma smirked. "Maybe that rap on the head will knock some sense into your thick skull, but I doubt it."

Darc growls and takes a menacing step towards Delma.

Lilia quickly stepped in front of Darc, knowing full well what was going to happen. "I don't think we have time for you two to fight right now."

A threatening scowl spread across Darc's face and he glared at Lilia, clearly telling her to get out of the way.

As usual Lilia blithely ignored him. "Now if you're both able to travel we should keep going."

Darc mutters and glares at Delma then Lilia. "Damned little pest." He whips around and stalks away.

"Actually," Kharg says, looking at Darc. "There's something I need to say before we go anywhere, well Darc and I that is."

Lilia looks at him and smiles. "What is it, Kharg?"

"Well..." Kharg hesitates.

Oh, for..." Darc complained. "We think, as much as I hate to say it, that Lilia's right. We should round up as many Deimos as we can and get off the hell off this land."

Everyone stared at Darc and Kharg. It was so quiet that even the softest noise sounded loud.

"What?" Darc snapped. "We're outnumbered, why stay here like a bunch of dumb sheep and get slaughtered?"

"You agree with me, Darc? You want to run from a fight with Humans?" Lilia couldn't believe her ears. She must have been hearing things!

Darc folded his arms. "No, I don't want to run. I'd like to fight the bastards, but only a fool wastes lives by throwing them against a larger force."

Paulette nodded slowly. "You're right, Darc. It is foolish, but how do we find our way back. Even if we get a boat we don't know with way our homeland is."

"Maybe the dragon spirit thingy will guide us, huh? Huh Darc?" Maru offered.

Darc hade to bite back a snicker at what Maru called the spirit. He shrugged. "Annoying thing hasn't been much help as of late, but it might."

Alisha looked distressed. "But our home, we don't want to abandon it, we…"

Darc stared at her, eyes colder then anyone had ever seen them. "So you want to stay here and get wiped off the face of this land? Be my guest, but I'll say it again I'm not putting my ass on the line for some other fool determined to stick his or hers for that matter…. into the line of fire. I'm leaving, the rest of you heroes can suit yourselves."

Alisha looked shocked and a bit hurt. "We saved your life when we freed you and you'd just walk off and abandon us?"

Darc stared directly into her eyes. "Yes."

Kharg sighed at Darc's cold bluntness, but he couldn't get angry. This time he agreed with his brother. He would not stay either. "I'm leaving too. I agree that it's futile to continue this."

"Kharg!" Paulette gasped in shocked horror.

The young half-lupine was stunned into silence both by Darc's cold finality which made it clear he meant it and by Kharg actually being willing to leave them as well.

A/N- Short I know, but as long as it's been I figured short wouldn't matter to you who are waiting and better then nothing. Thanks for being so patient. Hope everyone had a great holiday season! R?R please!