To Protect the Past
Chapter 3: Blaze's POV
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The flames consume my very soul, in this world of sorrow
~This future I live in~
Ears perked as her head snapped to the right, purple eyes focused into the distance. A roar could be heard, echoing as though from a long distance. Her teeth clenched, while on her lap, a fist tightened in worry around a patched leather sack hanging in her hand.
Winds rushed by, bringing heat and dust into the air. This drew her attention to the shuffling of other creatures nearby and her head turned slightly to look behind her. A purple tail with a white tip flickered irritably, as white lips pressed together with annoyance. 'I haven't got time for this…'
~Is nothing more than a broken wasteland.~
Lifting her right hand with the sack, she carefully place it down in the only place of shade there was on the rooftop of the short building the anthro had stopped to take a short breather upon. Standing up, she brushed her light purple dress down, straightening it before turning fully to face the creatures behind her.
There was one unusual thing about this female. A ruby jewel was embedded upon her forehead, a powerful little thing. A focus point for all her energy and power, a dangerous but beautiful product of her only heritage that she had ever known.
~I do not come from this dimension~
Shifting her stance, the anthro brought one foot forward, shifted a hand back and pushed the other hand forward while partially curling the fingers. Fire ignited and curled up around that hand, as she tracked the creatures coming towards her. There were seemingly two of them at this point, but with the being made of fire more could appear at any time.
The one closest stopped suddenly, tilting its head to the side. Then it hunkered down, the fire of its body turning a deep red as it gave a guttural hiss at her form. Growling back, ears flattening, she allowed the fire in her hand to spread to the other hand as she tracked the second one circling round behind her position. She did not want them to get near that leather sack, not after it had taken her months to find the items inside of it!
~But I cannot leave~
Nothing moved for a long couple of seconds, then the creature in front blasted a large fire blast at her form. Striking upwards with a yell, she separated the streams of heat on either side of her, her own inner flames protecting the anthro from getting injured. Spinning around, the female struck out palm smacking into the head of the other creature with a cracking sound. A yelp came from it, with a breath she swiped with the side of her hand into the side of it's head and sent the creature stumbling off the edge of the building into the fires burning below.
~I have someone I must protect~
A cry came from her as a searing pain came up scorched nerves from her back. The first creature, using it's companions sudden usage as a distraction figure had sneaked up behind the female and attacked when she had least expected it.
~A teenager who should not have to fight~
One eye was shut tight in pain, as the other purple iris slid to the side and narrowed venomously on the critter who had just injured her. It swiped again at her, but she jumped curling into the air, circling once and landed, while facing the creature, glaring hatefully as blood dripped almost gently onto the concrete under her paws. One arm hung down, it was shaking slightly and when she curled her fingers into a fist the whole thing had a spasm. Basically the limb was useless.
~But does so to protect what's left of his home~
Lips curled upwards as she gave a silent snarl. Claws were bared, tail flicking furiously, ears flat, anger showing in every motion. Then it shifted, her mouth tilted into a smirk, tail calmed into a curve around her hip, ears perked as she calmed.
The fire apparition tilted its head, then darted forward screeching. It swiped for her, deadly claws inches away from purple tipped ears. It was only an instant, a brief moment, she watched it attack, gathered up all her power and in that moment extinguished the beast.
~It hurts my soul~
Panting she winced, hand hovering over her hanging arm. Focusing her fire she caused the skin to heat up enough to relax the muscles. At least it was numb now, huffing in annoyance she went back to the bag and opened it to rummage inside for some scrap fabric to fashion into a makeshift sling for herself.
~To see him cry~
Using her teeth, was able to tie a knot into the fabric and make a sling, then sliding it on smiled at how well it had seemed to work out as her numb arm settled into the material with ease. Striding up and down the rooftop, her arm moved easily with her walk, then she ran and found it stayed stable.
~When things become too much for him~
Nodding in satisfaction, the anthro turned back to the bag, walked over and closed it up. Well, once making sure everything inside was just as okay as the way she had left it. Then once satisfied, sealed up the bag and slung the rope around her left shoulder and down under her right arm. Tightening it to make sure it was secure, then she went over to the far side of the building and stepped up to the edge.
~And he breaks in turn~
Leaning over she stared down, eyes tracking the broken pathway of beams, girders, concrete pillars and roads she would take to get to the safe house. Calculating the route, she then nodded and then jumped off the edge, her tail flicking in the air.
~My heart is sorrowful~
Climbing up into the hole in the side of the building she leaned forward and pressed her hand on a panel on the side that was raised slightly. Light shone, it moved up and down reading her palm print, before it flashed brightly and went dark once more, then next to her a panel slid upwards revealing her current home.
~For the suffering he goes through~
Glancing outwards towards the eternally burning sky one more time, the purple eyed anthro finally walked into the cooler and dimmer building. Ears perked as the door closed mostly behind, closing most of the heat out and cooling the air slightly, this had been the best place they had found in a long time to rest and relax from the constant fears of burning out…literally.
~But I'll stay by his side~
Fingers brushed against the stone wall as her eyes scanned the floor as she walked further into the room. Then she spotted the curled figure on the broken and busted but usable mattress in the corner of the room. Furrowing her brow she strode over concerned. The female anthro was careful not to disturb his wrapped wounds, as she placed a hand on the figures head, the bandages were clearly carefully placed with love, with a gentle touch to go along with it. 'So you were here...'
~For he is my brother in mind~
"Silver…" She slid to her knees and reached forward with her hands. One gripped his shoulder as the other slid under his chin lifting his face up to her gaze. The cat anthro's voice was a quiet whisper of sorrow, she knew exactly who it was the white hedgehog was going to want to see when he opened those golden eyes of his, and not being able to do anything about it rankled deep inside of her.
Golden eyes slid open slowly, settling onto her own purple irises. Then a small smile curled onto his face as his eyes studied her with the same intensity as she had him. He looked awful truthfully, the normal white fur was a dull grey colour with pain and exhaustion, with a tinge of yellow showing he also felt nausea as well.
~He is younger than he looks~
"Blaze…" Sitting down next to him, she slid the bag off her shoulder and set it next to her. Then she carefully got Silver to rest his upper chest and head on her lap instead of the male sitting upright in pain. Running her fingers through his crest, she felt him take in a breath of contentment. A smile appeared on her face as the female ran fingers through the crest teasing out dead quills carefully.
~In mentality not age~
"He was here. He came. He rescued me." Now the smile was gone as she glared at the other wall on the other side of the cave. Holding back a growl as her ears went flat, her tail flickered in irritation as fingers of her free hand tightened into a fist around the rope of her bag. Her other hand she kept loose, still running it through his crest to keep him calm.
To take his mind off of him, she lifted the bag and dropped it onto his lap, a smirk on her lips.
~But that is disappearing~
"Blaze? What?" Wide golden eyes stared at her upside down, from his position were he was lying on her lap. Shock was written all over his face as he turned his attention to the bag, lifting it with one hand, the other untying it carefully. "What is it?"
"Surprise."
~As the flames consume all~
"Is this…?!" He reached into the bag, eyes wide with wonder. Ears perked high as he laughed, pulling out a half melted bar of chocolate. It was triple wrapped in foil, then in a special container to keep it at an even temperature to stop the food from melting. Not that is what it was only used for, the container could be used to keep any kind of food fresh that they took out on journeys across the Lava Wasteland. Each of them had such a container, as well as a water bottle with a purifier inside of it.
Such items were a necessity in such an inhospitable place this city, their home was.
~I follow him without question~
"Wow. So cool…" Silver's voice shook her out of her contemplation's, turning her attention back to the hedgehog, the cat anthro saw him take a bite out of the chocolate and another grin spread across his face. He broke a piece off and held it up to her with hopeful eyes and she couldn't say no to him. Taking it, the flavour was unlike anything Blaze had tasted in a long time. It really brought to light how different a piece of luxury chocolate like this was, and the bars of protein they usually scavenged, or the tins they usually grabbed day by day actually was.
So much was gone…
~Into the flames we fight~
Smiles and laughter were such a rarity nowadays, Silver's face usually was accompanied by a scowl or frown as he stared out over the flames, waiting out the appearance of the monster Iblis. Waiting for the battles he fought with the creature time after time. Fighting the monster back again and again to preserve just that bit of the city so they could survive another day, yet even so, supplies were dwindling. It was a struggle to find even the basics nowadays.
Silver had been protected from the worst of it all. But the cat anthro had seen the darkness of the world and it had stripped her of any innocence she had from a very young age, making the female grow up before her time. But Blaze could see Silver was loosing that side of himself and it grieved her, knowing that she couldn't stop it. She didn't want him to turn out like her.
~To fight for our future~
Blaze jumped as she felt his head land on her arm, looking down the anthro could see Silver had fallen asleep. He was curled partially within the torn blanket, hand grasping the material as he nuzzled into her abdomen. Her hand was resting on his head from were she had been running fingers from before through his crest. Though now she kept them still and just let them instead feel the aura of his power, which was seriously weak.
Her head shot up as the door opened and a figure strode into the room. They were cloaked, about 5ft and stopped suddenly just inside the room when they spotted the cat anthro's threatening fire aura.
Then she closed her eyes. Lips were pressed into a thin line, as she spoke in a tight voice towards the new figure.
~And to journey to the past~
"Hello…Guardian."
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End Chapter 3
