pt. VIII
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"No way, no, uh uh, You're crazy.. I am NOT getting on that thing!" Duo took another step back from the black horse that was slowly coming closer to him.
"Then you can walk," Heero muttered darkly as he carefully steered the brown mare he was sitting on towards the gate. Trowa was next to him, atop a white steed, then Wu Fei who was on a large grey pony.
"Uhh.. Walk? Nah, but.. Can't I have a black mustang instead?" Duo looked at him pitifully.
Wu Fei rolled his eyes. "Just stop complaining and hurry up Maxwell!"
Sighing miserably, Duo slowly eyed the horse as he jumped towards the saddle. It wasn't that he was afraid of the horse, Shinigami was never afraid, but considering he'd never seen a horse in his life, he was allowed to be just slightly intimidated.
The horse stood still, allowing Duo to test his balance. Before he had a chance to say anything though, it instantly bolted off. Heero, Trowa, and Wu Fei followed.
Anne watched from the castle gate, gently fingering a necklace in her hand. She bowed her head, wishing them as much luck as she possibly could.
The darkness was very slowly descending over the horizon, making it harder and harder for the 4 riders to see. Duo and his black stallion had become almost completely invisible to the other's eyes while Wu Fei's horse had begun to stumble around.
"Hey, guys, we should stop now.. before we get split up," Duo announced loudly.
"Maybe." Heero replied calmly. "Find a clearing."
"Yes sir!" Duo answered, now feeling almost cheerful. They approached a very small circle of trees where the group slid off their mounts and stretched out.
"Duo go get some wood for fire.." Heero ordered.
Duo nodded and sprinted off. Trowa searched the small area then set a small blanket against the most comfortable spot he could find. Wu Fei and Heero set down small but thick blanets as well and began sorting through their bags to find something edible.
Duo came back a second later, holding a small batch of sticks and leaves. He dropped them in the center, then fell back against a rock rubbing his hands.
After waiting another second he looked around and pouted softly. "No thanks?"
Heero grunted and scooted over to the fire, very slowly slamming two thick stones against each other. However, no smoke rose, making Heero more annoyed.
"Just light up already," Wu Fei huffed annoyedly.
Then all of a sudden, a bright flame exploded from the wood. Heero jumped back, looking less-than-surprised. Accepting the strange event as just luck, he relaxed against his blanket.
Wu Fei drew back, his face shocked. Very slowly he reached his hand out towards the fire, watching as it slowly began to curl around his fingers as if alive.
Then he drew back, noticing no one had seen his feat. The others were too wrapped up in either eating or sleeping to care.
Deciding to ignore the fire, he decided to instead search through his own bag to find some type of thing to eat.
It had become very late.. all the others were sound asleep. However, Heero had been awake for some hours staring up at the sky.
There was a small, rhythmic throb to the right; the sound of water crashing against a beach. Something was calling him back there, and for some reason he was beginning to consider returning.
Heero stared vacantly towards the sea, remembering the boat was still waiting for him. The fire crackled lazily as the others slept around it.
Carefully pulling up his pack, Heero pulled his coat back on him and stood up. The others would be fine, but he had his own agendas.
"Where are you leaving to?" Trowa murmured, one green eye open.
"You don't need me here," Heero answered, knowing Trowa wouldn't argue. "Not yet."
Trowa closed his eyes again and his head dropped back against the small blanket. Heero walked towards the seashore, wondering if there was enough light to sneak in..
There was a sudden yell of excitement and they all ran onboard, waving and cheering and making enough noise to alert anyone within a mile radius.
Heero began to doubt his decision to come back.
"Can't believe Heero left.. jerk.." Duo muttered softly. "We need all the help we can get right now!"
"I think Heero knows what he's doing," Trowa replied calmly. "His objective is different from ours."
"What is our objective anyway?"
"To stop the war," Wu Fei answered, looking somewhat grim. "And go home.."
Home.. Duo thought to himself. The truth was home had seemed more like a distant dream for the past week, in fact it had seemed oddly natural for them to be here.
"We should keep heading south," Trowa interrupted Duo's reverie. "Until something comes up."
"Good plan," Duo answered with a slight hint of nervous humor. "What if it's some type of homicidal monster?"
"Then we'll deal with it," Trowa answered passively. "Like we always do."
"That's so reassuring from Mister-Run-Out-Of-Bullets."
Trowa stared at him momentariily. Duo had become very somber, which was just slightly disturbing. Even Trowa had figured out Duo was at his most dangerous when he was serious.
They continued heading down the path, seeing a very deep thick forest in the distance.
Quatre began to slowly revive again, still wincing slightly as he moved.
He was sitting in a very small yet spacious bedroom, a small patch around his side wound. On the bed that he'd occupied, there was a new set of clothes which looked rather comfortable.
There was a strange relaxed feeling in the room, but Quatre refused to let his guard down. Something, felt bad about this place.. like a snake waiting to attack.
He walked numbly towards the window, looking at the scenery.
It was dark.. a deep, cloudlike smog surrounded the areas. What he could make out were several towers, swarming with dark figures.
"So you're up, I was wondering how long it would take." Elaina's voice rang through the room. "Welcome to my castle." she was still dressed in her warlord armor, her long firey hair tied back in a knot. "Impressed?"
"Not really.." Quatre replied, his voice still polite.
"You'll grow to like it, I'm sure.." she came forward, smiling dangerously. "After a little while it tends to grow on you."
Quatre took a step back, not liking the smothering feeling she conveyed. A faint greenish blue tint appeared in his eyes and he felt his hands clench into fists.
"There's no reason to act so hostile," she stepped back and stared at the window pensively. "Soon the rest of this land shall look like this," she stared momentarily at him, noticing the faint change of color in his eyes. "With your help of course.."
"Never," he answered calmly, unaware of the changes in his eyes and the glowing energy from his fist. "You'd have to kill me first.."
"I could do that too, but.." Elaina smirked. "It would be much more fun with your friends.." a bright orange fire danced in her eyes.
All of a sudden Quare's hand shot out as a bright bolt of light headed straight for her. She held up her hand, a black shield suddenly blocking the shot. With a quick jerk of her hand, a sudden force entered the room and headed straight for her opponent. Quatre held his hands out again, taking the force head on. His hair blew back as the force became nothing more than a maddened wind.
His hand dropped wearily to his side as the turmoil in his eyes began to calm. The greenish blue waves left his pupils, retreating back into the peaceful blue. The reddened flames which had taken over her gaze very slowly became snuffed out.
"Not yet.." they both murmured at the same time. "Not yet."
Quatre dropped weakly to his knees, his face covered in beads of sweat. Elaina smirked and left the room, locking the door behind her.
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Okay, I'm sorry, as I said this was really rushed and I was at a slight loss of ideas.. I don't know when I'll get the next part out but I'll try my best!!
Once again, thanks to everyone who reviews. It makes writing a lot more enjoyable when you know others are enjoying reading it! :-)