"Sora how are you feeling?" Sora's eyes blink open. All he sees is Ven's big blue eyes.
"Uh...kind of sore." Sora winces as he tries to sit up in bed. His ribs hurt and it's hard to breathe.
"I bet you are. I brought you some food Aqua made. You've been out for a couple of days." Ven places a plate filled with chicken bits, green beans, and brownies next to Sora.
"A couple of days?!" Sora's eyes widen. Ven grabs his shoulders when it looked like he was about to get up.
"Occisor sleep to regenerate." Ven explains. "Being out for a couple of days is normal."
"Then why do I still feel hurt?" Sora frowns.
"I woke you up before you were done. I just wanted you to get some food to help with the healing. The bruise on your stomach is almost gone. I bet another day of sleep and you'll be completely healed." Ven reassures.
"Oh..." Sora settles down. He grabs the plate and starts to eat. Once he tastes the chicken, he starts to swallow it down. He's barely chewing. He didn't know how hungry he was. Ven just sits there quietly watching him, stroking Sora's hand that he had grabbed.
"Does it normally take you this long to heal Ven?"
"Well you are a new Occisor. It will take a bit longer. It usually takes a day for me...depending on the damage."
"Riku did get me good." Sora chuckles, wincing after.
"Yeah." Ven's eyebrows furrow. "That guy has been staying away from me. I have a few things to say to him. He went too far-"
"I'm glad he did. I feel a lot more confident now. I think I did pretty good."
"You were amazing Sora! But you didn't need Riku to hurt you for you to know that." Ven blinks when Sora cups his cheeks.
"Ven I'm fine. Don't be angry with Riku. I don't want you guys fighting because of me." Sora looks at him seriously. Ven stares at him, his cheeks getting red before he averts his gaze.
"I can't say no to you Sora when you look at me like that."
"Good!" Sora grins.
"I still don't like Riku." Ven mumbles.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Ven grumbles. He ends up laughing when Sora starts to pull at his cheek. "Quit it!"
"Then don't be grumpy!"
"I'm not!"
Sora can feel his eyes get heavy after awhile of talking with Ven. His words become mixed together. He feels himself lean on Ven's shoulder, his body becoming too much for him to keep up.
He feels Ven stroke his back.
"I'll stay with you a little bit longer. Rest as long as you need and get better Sora." Ven whispers against his ear. Sora can feel his lips and it tickles.
But soon darkness takes him again. It embraces him just as Ven is.
"So this is where you've been hiding." Axel smirks up a tree, his eyes glowing so he can see in the night.
"I haven't been hiding." Riku glances down at him from up top a branch. A gust of wind gently moving his long sliver locks that have grown close to his shoulders.
"Could have fooled me." Axel leans against the tree. "I'd be hiding from Ven if I was you."
Riku doesn't respond.
"I thought you were going to go all out but you held back in the end." Axel notices how Riku doesn't give him another glance. He just stays up there in his tree, with his arms crossed.
"Did you expect me to kill him?"
"Well no but you could have done more damage. Though I was a bit surprised that you went as far to bring out your knuckle braces. I was starting to get worried about the little guy."
"... I had to make sure he was strong enough to do the test. The strength I used was enough to reassure me that Sora will do fine with the test as we did."
"I didn't know you could care so much." Axel smirks. "Then again, you were the last one. This is a first for you, having a little brother isn't it?"
"I don't think of him as a brother just as I don't think of any of you as my family."
"It's been 50 years and you still haven't warmed up to us?"
"You'd be a liar if you said you didn't feel the same way."
"Then if not your brother than why care about him?"
"..."
"Not going to answer huh?"
"..."
"I get why you're worried though. I worry about him too. Because something's wrong about him. Something's different. I talked to you about this 20 years ago but you just gave me the cold shoulder. Now I'm sure there's something wrong with him."
"What are you talking about?" Riku turns his cold eyes down towards Axel.
"Are you going to ignore what you saw a couple of days ago...or rather what you didn't see?"
"Stop speaking in riddles and just come out with it Axel."
"During the fight with Sora...did you once see his eyes change?" Axel catches how Riku's shoulders stiffen. "They didn't change once, even with all the damage he had taken. As Occisors, our eyes change beyond our control. Normally when we're fighting seriously or we are in danger. It never happened for Sora."
"..."
"I wonder why Terra and Aqua haven't said anything about it? Roxas hasn't said anything either or Ven...it's like you're all trying to ignore these signs."
"Then what are you suggesting Axel?" Riku's voice lowers. All Axel can see is two glowing eyes staring down at him from the darken tree branches.
"I don't know." Axel shrugs his shoulders lazily. "...You know it's been a couple of days. Sora is still healing."
"If you have something to say Axel, just say it."
"I think I've said enough. You're smart. You get what I'm trying to say. I think you're just trying to ignore it. See no evil am I right?"
"Leave." Riku jumps down from the tree. Axel holds his hands up as he takes steps back. "Are you trying to start trouble Axel? I thought you were close to Sora."
"I am. Don't get the wrong Idea. I'm not trying to start anything but...It's a concern. I'm worried about him. I think you are too."
"We will make sure he's alright." Riku averts his gaze.
"Not if we don't address it and just dance around it."
"Why are you talking to me? Terra is the leader around here." Riku grits his teeth bitterly.
"I don't think he cares as much as we do."
"...This isn't the time to talk about that. As we are, we're not strong enough to do anything. And as long as Ven and Roxas see Terra and Aqua as their parents, we can't do anything."
"True. I'm working on Roxas. The real issue is Sora. He really sees us as his family...so he looks at Tera and Aqua like his parents and saviors."
Riku sighs. "We'll figure something out. Don't you have Roxas to annoy?"
"I don't annoy Roxas." Axel shoves his hands in his pockets before walking off back towards the house. "Just don't push it to the back of your mind Riku. I don't want to be the only one pulling my weight here. If we want Sora to live."
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Riku narrows his eyes, watching Axel disappear into the house. He looks down at his hand before he grips his fist. "The ones who are ignoring the signs are Ven and Roxas...Ven..." Riku snarls.
His chest gets hot. He punches the tree and he's not really sure why.
No...No he knows why. Ven always got under his skin. Now he just can't stand him. He's a mommy and daddy's boy who does anything they say without questioning it. He thinks he's special because he had been here the longest with Roxas. He thinks they are superior. If not for Axel's strange love for Roxas, they would have left here long before now.
Ven is no good for Sora yet he hangs off of him. He takes all Sora's attention and He acts as if he's his protector.
Riku grips his fist before he punches the tree hard enough this time to send it flying.
Ven is the one who should be hiding from him.
"Sora you look super cool!" Ven beams, watching as Sora practices with his two swords.
"You think?" Sora chuckles, putting his swords on his hips before rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Yeah! You're all decked out. This test will be easy for you! cause Sora's the best! You can do it!"
"I can do it!" Sora jumps with Ven.
"You two are up early." Roxas comes outside the house. Axel is following after him like a puppy.
"I feel completely better. I'm ready for the test!...Ven said he'd get up early and help me train a bit. Now we're just waiting for Terra."
"I wonder what you're test is going to be..."Axel muses. "I had to find this jewel and bring it back to Terra."
"Roxas and I had the same mission. We had to defeat a vampire!" Ven chuckles at how Sora's eyes get huge.
"How old were you guys? Was it tough?" Sora looks between the twins.
"Yeah it was really hard." Roxas averts his gaze. Axel catches it and gets closer to him.
"But we won." Ven closes his eyes in his smile. "Don't worry. Terra won't give you anything like that. We were both 60 years old. We had quite a lot of training and their was two of us. You'll get something easier!"
"Wow but you guys are amazing...at 6 you guys killed a vampire...so cool." Sora gushes. Ven and Roxas flush.
"Y-You think so Sora?!" Ven shouts excited.
"It wasn't that cool..." Roxas mumbles.
Sora chuckles before he looks at Axel who seems to be staring at Roxas's smile. "Hey Axel...what did Riku have to do?"
"Hm?...I think he had to kill something." Axel rubs his chin. Sora feels his presence just as everyone turns their head to the sides. "Speak of the devil."
Riku is walking towards them. His face is blank even though he surly can see Ven giving him a look.
"Yo Riku, what did you do for your test?"
"I had to bring back a dragon's bone."
"Whoa! You had to fight a dragon?!"Sora's eyes get big.
"No. I just had to travel and gather information. I found there was a grave site for dragon bones just laying around. I haven't seen a dragon once in my life."
"They say they're one of the strongest beings." Roxas's eyes glow with excitement.
"Roxas is a big fan of dragons." Axel whispers to Sora. "He kept that dragon bone Riku got and then spent like three days at that grave site-"
"Are you saying something Axel?" Roxas gives him a pointed look.
"Nothing. Nothing at all Roxy."
"Don't call me that."
"I wonder what my test is going to be?" Sora mumbles.
"Are you afraid?" Sora blinks, looking up at Riku.
"Nah." Sora grins. "After all I fought you and lived. I'm pretty sure I can take anything on."
Riku's lips twitch. "Oh? Don't get too confident now." Riku teases, his expression loosening up. It's nice seeing Riku like this. Sora feels like there's a mutual respect between them since that fight.
"I think that confidence is well deserved." Ven moves closer, nuzzling Sora's head with his own. "Sora's made a lot of progress."
"Yeah but you guys are still a lot stronger than me." Sora scratches his cheek. His smile falters when he sees how Riku is staring at him darkly. When their eyes meet he averts his gaze, crossing his arms.
"It looks like you all came out here." Terra smiles at all the boys, walking out with his arm around Aqua.
"We wanted to see Sora off." Ven says.
"We're also dying to know what his test is going to be." Axel adds.
"I've been thinking about this a lot Sora...and i've decided what you must do." Terra closes his eyes. "You must bring me the horn of a unicorn."
"A horn of a unicorn?" Sora says slowly.
"Yes. Unicorns live mostly in universe 223."
"...Huh?"Sora blinks.
Terra takes out a necklace and puts it on Sora's neck. "If you need help or you come across something too dangerous, press on this necklace and we'll come running to you."
"Oh okay... but a unicorn?" Sora frowns. Does that mean he has to kill a unicorn?
"Yes."
"Don't you think that's a tough one?" Ven asks cautiously. "Unicorns are known to be dangerous..."
"That is his assignment. I thought long and hard about it Ven."
"Oh..." Ven frowns.
"It doesn't matter Sora. If you need help, just touch that necklace and we'll be there." Roxas says with determination.
"Yeah no worries." Axel grins.
"We have your back." Riku adds.
Sora takes a deep breath before he nods. "Okay...I'll bring back a unicorn's horn!"
"That's the spirit." Terra takes out a stone. He says something under his breath. A pink portal opens up, getting Sora to gasp. "When we go on missions, we usually go to different universes. I am sending you to a universe that is known for it's unicorns. It shouldn't be hard to find one. In order to get back after you've obtained the horn, just grab the necklace and say 'I'm done." and you will be returned here."
"This is...how did you guys do this? I didn't even know there was more then one universe...It's like traveling to different worlds...like those shows about space travel..." Sora shakes his head. "Is it because you're an Occisor you can do this?"
"No. It's because of this crystal. Every Occisor trained fairly enough to go on missions has one." Terra holds out the pink crystal, showing him it. Sora's eyes widen when all his brothers bring one out too. "They were founded by the committee way before I was even born. No one knows where they came from...but they are very useful. If you complete this mission, you'll be getting one as well."
"Wow..." Sora's eyes sparkle. He's getting so excited he's forgetting he needs to exhale so he can inhale.
"Sora good luck. I'll be waiting." Ven hugs him tightly.
"I won't be long." Sora hugs him back before he gives a hug to Roxas and Axel. He smiles at Riku who gives him a nods. Sora gives him a hug before pulling away. "Soon i'll be able to go on missions with you guys!" Sora cheers.
"When you're ready, head into the portal." Terra says. Aqua looks a bit nervous standing next to him but she gives Sora a smile.
"I'm ready! Charge!" Sora shouts as he runs head first into the portal. He screams when there's no ground under his feet and he plummets. His stomach curls as does flips in the air. Sora closes his eyes, he hates the feeling of falling. He didn't expect this. Is this suppose to happen?
Sora feels his feet touch the ground...gently. Sora slowly opens his eyes. He's no longer in front of his home that's for sure.
There's tall purple trees looming above him with gigantic fruits hanging from the branches. They're so big that Sora is sure that if one of them fell off it would crush him. The grass isn't green like it's suppose to be but a sparkling pink.
It's so...girly.
Sora grips his swords as he slowly starts to make his way through the forest, looking out for unicorns...or anything else interesting. Sora can't believe he's in another world. This is incredible.
Sora is surprised when he sees many normal looking animals like deer and rabbits in the forest. He thought everything would be different here.
They also have a horse here- Sora stops walking. He glances over at the horse...the white horse. Sure enough here's a horn on its head.
"It's a...unicorn." Sora crouches down, creeping towards the being. He hides behind some bushes to get a better look. The unicorn is eating some grass, it's white mane glistening and it's eyes a sparkling purple...
It's so beautiful.
"Little one." Sora tenses when the unicorn looks right at him. Did it...speak to him?"
"Did you speak to me?" Sora stands up, coming out of the bushes.
"I did. Why do you watch me so?" She backs up. "Do you plan on killing me with those swords?" It looks offended, the tip of the horn glistening.
"N-NO! I mean..." Sora trips over his words. He fiddles with his fingers. He doesn't know what to say. There's no way he could raises his sword to this creature...She's so pretty. She isn't hurting anything. This isn't a monster.
His mother use to tell him stories of unicorns all the time. She told him they are mystical creatures that help people and protect nature.
"...Are you human? Or something else?"The unicorn takes a step forward in curiosity. She seems to have calmed down. "I don't sense that you are human nor do I sense anything else. You have no ill intent...so what is it that you want from me?"
"I...Could I please have that horn?" Sora points nervously at her horn, his finger shaking.
"My horn?" The unicorn's tail flicks. "What use to you have of such a thing?"
"Well...You see Ms. Unicorn I'm an Occisor in training. This is a test. I need your horn to pass but I don't want to hurt you."
"You lie." The unicorn snorts as it gets closer. She breathes in Sora's face before sniffling him. She walks around him in a circle, nudging him with her nose.
"S-Stop it!" Sora giggles when she nuzzles a ticklish spot. He pets her head. He feels his chest tighten when the unicorn lets him...if only his mother could see him now. He's petting a unicorn. She would love to see this.
"You are pure hearted little one. If you need my horn I will give it too you. Mine was about to fall off anyway." She bends her head for Sora to reach her horn.
"Thank you so much." Sora smiles, reaching to take it-
The unicorn is no longer in front of him. In a flash of black she's gone. Sora slowly turns his head over, his expression falling in horror. There's a large wolf that has the unicorn by the neck. He's bitten so hard he's broken it. The unicorn makes some last weak gurgles before she goes still.
"W-Why?" Sora trembles as the wolf looks at him. Sora tenses, so afraid he doesn't know what to do. He wasn't expecting this.
The wolf, that looks more like the size of a bear, regards him for a moment before he takes off running, dragging the unicorn's corpse.
"H-Hey! Stop!" Sora runs after the wolf, not really sure what he's doing. He still needs that unicorn's horn...and maybe he wants to stop this wolf. It just killed such a wonderful creature. The unicorn looked so scared...Sora will never forget the last moments of that Unicorn and how her limps failed.
It was horrible.
The wolf is much faster than Sora expected and soon enough Sora loses him. "No...I won't give up." Sora remembers the smell of the unicorn's blood and starts to sniff the air. Occisor's senses are much better...he should be able to track the unicorn from its blood. It takes awhile to pick up the scent but when Sora does, he leaps for joy.
He quickly starts to follow it, walking on his hands and knees like a dog.
Sora is once again startled when the scent leads him to a...log cabin? Why would a wolf bring the unicorn to a place like this? In this universe do wolves live in log cabins? And eat unicorns?
Sora grabs the hilts of his swords as he walks slowly towards the home. There's a part of him that feels like he should call for back up. He thinks of his brother's faces...They said they'll help him but Sora thinks he can do this. He just started his test. He doesn't want to call for help so quickly.
Sora silently goes into the house, surprised that it's not locked. He freezes when he sees a boy. Well...it looks much older than Sora. Maybe he is an adult.
The man is turning on a stove, stirring something in a pot. He has long brown hair. With nothing but black pants on. When Sora takes a step forward, is when he notices. The man has a tail and pointed ears on top of his head.
Sora's breath catches when those ears twitch and the man turns around, his eyes falling right on him.
"You're that child. I thought I had lost you." The man's dark eyes look Sora up and down. His nose twitches as he sniffs the air. Sora can't help to stare at this man and his sharp teeth that can be seen whenever he talks.
"Are...Are you that wolf that took the unicorn?" Sora feels his heart race when he takes a step closer.
"If I am?" The man narrows his eyes.
"Um...She was about to give me her horn...so can I have it?...Also did you have to eat the unicorn? There's plenty of other animals here."
"Who are you child? You rudely come into my home and question my eating habits. I won't be giving you anything of my kill. Get out." The man bares his teeth.
Sora feels himself shiver. "I...I didn't mean to be rude! I'm sorry I just came in your house I..." Sora's ears get red. His mother had taught him better. "My name is Sora! I just thought you were a big wolf...Are you a werewolf?"
"Isn't that obvious?" The man raises his eyebrow at him. "I didn't mean for you to introduce yourself. Just get out of my home kid."
"B-But you don't understand! I'm a Occisor in training and I need that horn for-"
"An Occisor?" The man's voice gets low, his eyes turning close to black. "You're an Occisor cub?" He gets on his hands and knees, his jaw getting longer, his pupils dilate.
Sora turns on his heel and takes off running. It's what his instinct is telling him. Sora screams when he turns around and sees the werewolf right on his tail. Shouldn't he try to fight him? Sora can't even stop. If he does that werewolf will slice him with his claws.
Sora doesn't know how long he runs till he notices that the werewolf is no longer chasing him. Sora turns around, catching his breath. The werewolf chased him away from his home. Sora grips his fist, feeling anger burn his stomach.
He ran away like a coward. Sora isn't going to be satisfied till he gets that horn from that wolf. He couldn't come back and face his family knowing how he failed. He's sure Riku wouldn't have ran...or Ven. They're so much stronger and...they completed their missions.
Sora isn't going to give up. He's prepared this time.
Sora takes off running back towards the home, grabbing his sword's to be ready to draw them. When he gets to the cabin, he considers if he should just bust in the front door. Sora looks around the cabin and he finds there's a door in the back too.
He opens it quietly, getting on his hands and knees to crawl. He can still smell the unicorn's blood. Sora feels a bead of sweat fall down his cheek as he moves deeper into this home. He can hear the wolf in the kitchen. Sora holds his breath when he sees he has to crawl from an open area to another room. The wolf could see him if he's not careful.
Sora crawls slowly against, looking at the wolf as he does. He doesn't notice him and he's able to get into the other room.
Sora frowns when he fines the unicorn's body. Her neck has been cut open more, hanging from the ceiling with her legs tied with rope. The blood is draining into a large bucket.
Sora feels a bit faint but he forces himself to get closer. His hope is shattered when he sees the horn is no longer on her head.
"Looking for this?"
Everything freezes. Sora slowly turns around, his heart in his throat. The werewolf is staring him down from the doorway, holding the horn in his hand. Those eyes are black, those sharp nails can be seen easily.
"Y-Yes." Sora draws his swords. He can do this. This is the test. He needs to be brave.
"You're going to die here Occisor child!." The wolf snarls. Sora lets out a battle cry and charges the wolf. He swings his swords with all his might but the wolf is easily able to block his attacks with his claws. Sora opens his mouth to scream but no sound comes out when the wolf pounces on him.
Sora is knocked down. His breath catches in his throat when he feels the wolf's teeth pressed against his neck. Is this the end? Was the werewolf so easily able to defeat him? This would be the time to call for help but...The wolf has his hands pinned to the ground. Sora can't move.
"Why...did you lie?" The wolf's growling stops as he pulls his mouth from Sora's throat. Those brown eyes are staring him down intensely. He sniffs his face. "I was about to kill you...You don't smell of a Occisor or a human." He sniffs again. "You smell like me...are you perhaps a lost werewolf cub?"
"No! I am an Occisor!" Sora shakes his head, trying to get out of the wolf's grasp. He doesn't let go.
"...You do have weapons like an Occisor...but..." The wolf tilts his head. "Have the Occisor's mistaken you as one of them?"
"I am one of them!" Sora doesn't like what this wolf is saying. "just because I don't smell like one doesn't mean anything!"
"Then where are the other Occisor? I was expecting you to call for back up. Occisor always travel in pairs if not packs."
"I...This is a test so...I want to pass it. Without any help. I don't want to disappoint them."
"Well they let you out too early. You're too weak to go out as you are." The wolf's eyebrows furrow as he sniffs him again. "...Now that I smell you better, all I can smell is my scent on you."
"I'm not too weak! You're just super strong mister!" Sora struggles against him. The wolf finally lets him go and he can sit up.
"...Look i'm not giving you this horn. Find another one. This is my kill. The unicorn's horn has many vitamins that are good for me. Go and find your own."
Sora glares at the wolf before he frowns. He looks at the unicorn. Will he find another nice one like this one? Or will he have to fight one? He doesn't want to hurt a unicorn...
"What is with that face?"
"...It makes me upset seeing the unicorn like this. She was so nice..."
"Weren't you going to kill that unicorn if I hadn't beaten you to it?"
"No! She was going to give me her horn...I don't want to fight a unicorn..." Sora touches the unicorn's head, as if to give her comfort in her death.
"There's plenty of horns that are just on the ground. You can find them if you look well enough."
"Really?!" Sora looks at the wolf with big eyes. He blinks before he nods his head slowly.
"Then i'll go look for them! Bye wolf-"
"You should call for-" the wolf stops when Sora is already out of the home. "...back up." His eyebrows furrow. "That kid is going to get himself killed." The wolf starts to walk towards the kitchen only to stop.
He sighs.
"...It's been kind of awhile." Ven mumbles, fiddling with his fingers. He's been glancing anxiously towards the clock.
"Yeah." Roxas frowns.
"If Sora was in trouble he would have pressed on the reckless."Riku says but he's been glancing at the clock, his leg bouncing.
"Terra are you sure Sora hasn't called for help?" Ven looks to the older man.
"I"m sure. I've been watching it carefully Ven." Terra watches as Ven looks down, his fidgeting getting worse.
"Maybe we should just sneak in and watch him, just to make sure he's okay."Ven looks around at his brothers. None of them disagree with him. They look at Terra eagerly.
"...No. If we don't hear from Sora soon, we'll go to get him."
This seems to calm them down for now.
"Ouch." Sora winces, touching his chest that is bleeding. He didn't notice but it looks like the wolf was able to cut him good on his chest. Sora was probably too busy panicking to feel the pain.
Sora can't stop now. He's so close. So filled with determination he looks through the pain for a horn.
It takes Sora awhile but just like the wolf said, he finds a horn just laying on the ground. "I found you!" Sora's chest tightens as he grabs the horn, squeezing it in his hand to make sure it's real.
"Child." Sora turns around, his eyes widening. There's a herd of unicorns, all looking at him with those beautiful eyes. "Why do you smell of blood from our brethren?"
"Huh?" Sora feels his heart race when those eyes start to change to dark red.
"Murderer." They say in unison.
"N-No I didn't kill-" They all charge him. Sora grabs his swords to fight but it's no use. There's too many of them. Sora has to call them for help. He reaches for his neck-less to tell his family that he's done with the mission-
Just when the unicorns are getting on him, something jumps in front of him and growls. All the unicorns struggle to stop. When the man once again growls at them, they turn and run away.
"Mister Wolf..." Sora stares at this man with wide eyes. "You saved me."
"Only because of your scent..." He mumbles. "You smell as if you're my child."
"I really smell like a werewolf?" Sora blinks, sniffing himself. He can't really smell anything. He guesses he does smell the wolf. "Why did all the unicorns run away? Are you that strong?"
"They probably thought there was more of me. Werewolves are usually in packs." The wolf averts his gaze before he looks back at Sora. "...The name isn't mister wolf. It's Leon."
"Leon...nice to meet you." Sora smiles at him. Leon stares at him for a moment before he sighs.
"Look Sora was it? Look after yourself. It's a dangerous world out there. Next time there might not be someone like me to help you out." Leon gives him a lingering look before he runs into the forest.
"...I know that." Sora glares down at his swords. He doesn't feel like he won the test. He had to rely on someone else. If the wolf wasn't here, Sora would have had to call for help.
Sora takes a deep breath before he grabs the necklaces. "...I'm done." He says quietly. A portal opens next to him and pulls him in. Sora curls into a ball, holding the horn close to his chest.
Sora doesn't feel like a winner.
"Sora you did it!" Ven cheers, throwing his arms in the air as Sora comes through the portal that leads inside his home. All his brothers are looking at him with excitement. The light in their eyes fades quickly when they see Sora's face...or maybe the state he's in. "Sora, you're hurt!"
"Claw marks...that wasn't from a unicorn." Riku's eyebrows furrow before he glares at Sora. "You were suppose to call for help if you needed it!"
"I...I didn't need it." Sora averts his gaze.
"It sure looks like you did." Axel grunts.
"What creature did that to you?" Terra questions, his face looking more stern than Sora likes.
"...A werewolf."
All his brothers' faces get pale.
"A werewolf?!"
"Sora, you should have called for help! You could have died!" Ven panics.
"Werewolves are very strong Sora. We never face one alone!"
"Let's hunt down this wolf." Riku looks at Terra.
"No!" Sora shakes his head. "He's a nice wolf! He didn't kill me and...he's the reason I got this horn."
"The wolf helped you?" Terra raises his eyebrow. "Why?"
"I don't know...but he saved my life. That's why...I don't deserve to pass." Sora holds out the horn for Terra to take. He bows his head. "I'm sorry I disappointed you all and made you worry."
"Sora..." Ven takes a step forward to comfort him but Terra stops him.
"I never said how to get the horn. You brought the horn back. You passed. There's nothing you can say that would make me think other wise. Sora, you faced a werewolf and survived. You somehow befriended a werewolf. That's amazing in itself. I must warn you about werewolves though..." Terra grabs Sora's shoulders. "They are creatures that are part man and wolf. They have some humanity in them but they can completely lose it and slaughter even the ones they love. If you come across a werewolf like that again, always call for help. We could have lost you today."
"...I know." Sora's shoulder slump. He blinks when Terra ruffles his hair.
"Aqua will get you cleaned up...after that we have some cake for us to eat. We need to celebrate your first victory." Terra hands him a pink crystal. "Welcome Sora. You now can go on missions with your brothers."
Sora's eyes tremble as he holds the pink crystal close to his chest...knowing what it means. He smiles then, feeling close to tearing up. "...Cake sounds pretty good."
"Hell yeah it does!" Axel cheers.
"I'll take you to Aqua, Sora." Ven grabs his hand, smiling at him softly. "Congratulations...but remember..." He leads his head against Sora's. "I'm always here. Don't ever be afraid to call for help."
"I know Ven..." Sora nuzzles his head back, feeling that warmth again. Ven leads him out of the room, Sora not aware of all his other brothers staring at him intently.
Some with awe and confusion. Another with curiosity...and yet another with a glare...a growing darkness in his eyes.
"I'll probably go to sleep for a couple of days right?" Sora mumbles as he gets in bed at night. Ven is sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at him with those big blue eyes.
"Yeah. To heal." Ven smiles, moving some hair out of Sora's face. "It won't be long. When you get up I'll probably still be here. I think we're all taking a break till you're healed...then Terra will set us all up with missions."
"Wow...I wonder what my first mission will be like..." Sora yawns.
"Hey Sora...how did you find that unicorn horn?...Did you kill a unicorn?"
"No. I couldn't...I found it laying on the ground. Well at first I found this unicorn and..." Sora tells the story of what happened to him after he was sucked into the portal. Ven listens with wide, childlike eyes. With such astonishment and worry as if it was happening just now.
"Jeez Sora, you had a lot happening! That werewolf must be strange. Of course you're going to smell like him if he was all over you. There has to be reason he's not in a pack."
"He seemed nice though. I think he was just confused about what I was." Sora rubs the back of his head.
"Still that's pretty amazing he helped you. Only you Sora." Ven's blue eyes shine brightly, looking at him with fascination. "You befriended both a unicorn and a werewolf!"
"Yeah...it made me upset seeing the unicorn die. She was so nice. If she didn't say she would have given me the horn, I don't think I could have hurt her. She wasn't bad...we only kill monsters right?" Sora looks at Ven. The other boy freezes, it was only a moment but Sora felt the prickling of panic from Ven but then it's gone.
He smiles gently. "Yeah...only monsters."
"I mean...I know vampires are bad but...unicorns aren't right?"
"Well they can be. Unicorns can turn hostile. It just depends."
"...You know Ven, I wish Terra would have told me that the unicorn horns are easy to fine...what if I had killed that unicorn for her horn? When I could have just found it? I guess that was a part of the test right? I should have looked more and figured out another way to do it. If I had killed the unicorn, wouldn't I have failed?" Sora looks at Ven hopefully.
Ven slowly shakes his head. "You wouldn't have failed...the test was to get a horn...just like Terra said he didn't say how." Ven cups Sora's cheeks when his eyebrows started to furrow. "But you found your own way to get the horn, Sora. You tried to save an innocent life. To me, that makes you the most amazing person I know."
"Really?" Sora's chest tightens at the way Ven is looking at him. He feels that warmth again and it's overpowering.
"Mm hm. What's even more amazing is that you had the choice. With Riku he didn't even see a dragon, he didn't even see his target. But you did. And you found a way around hurting them. Sora...I really think you're the best." Ven's cheeks get flushed after saying this but he's looking at him so earnestly that Sora feels himself get a little hot in the face.
"W-Wow I don't know what to say." Sora chuckles, feeling flustered. "I'm not that great...I'm a lot weaker than all of you...I'm not even sure if I would have been able to beat that unicorn if I wanted to. You guys are the amazing ones-"
"No." Ven shakes his head. "Strength means nothing to me. That's something that can be gained through time...Your heart is what makes you the best. Its' that same spirit that has made things more homely around here. Roxas is much happier now that you're here and we're closer. Axel has been more open and Riku...even he has been around more and seems to be caring more about good of the family...Even if he does things I don't like. It's all because of you Sora."
"I don't think it's all because of me Ven. You guys were a family before I came! You just needed a little extra help." Sora smiles.
"A lot of help." Ven grunts. He slowly lets go of Sora's face.
"Where's everyone else? They've been down their awhile." Sora rubs his eyes again, another yawn coming.
"Yeah. Terra and Aqua are probably discussing some stuff. I have no idea what the others are doing. You shouldn't worry about that Sora. It's okay to rest now."
"Okay..." Sora lets himself lay down. He closes his eyes, feeling Ven's fingers moving through his hair. He's starting to feel the creeping darkness. His body feels so heavy now... "Night Ven."
"Good night Sora." Sora feels his lips on his forehead before sleep takes him.
The soft smile Ven has falls slowly as he watches Sora sleep. He looks so innocent, so vulnerable, so beautiful. With those long black eyelashes, and rosy cheeks. It makes it hard for Ven to look at him.
"I don't think I ever would want you to think I'm a monster. I think...that would just break my heart." Ven feels that his gaze has lingered long enough on Sora. He stands up and starts to walk towards the door. He glances back at Sora one last time. "...We kill monsters, we're not monsters." Ven says this quietly to himself.
Sora has taught him a lot from his actions during his test. Ven will hold it close to his heart.
Till next time! Thanks for the support!