~Remember I don't own Escaflowne or its characters!~
~This chapter deals with all the main characters. They must each face their
past individually, if they want to live through another step in their
adventure~
~Most of the characters past history (which have been vague within the
series) are somewhat explained in this chapter~
~Alright I've got another chapter here for all you regular readers! Hope
you enjoy this one!~
The Fate of Two Worlds
By Angel Wings
Chapter 18 ~ Where The Dead Warriors Roam
~ 'Spirit Trees' ~
Hitomi pulled away from her lover's arms had she sensed the Crusade
dropping altitude. Her emeralds eyes turned to sky and spotted the metal
ship containing hundred of souls lowering to the lake. It glowing lights
from inside looked like a thousand eyes and penetrated the darkness with
the thousands of spotlights that the Crusade's lights created. The
Crusade's descent brought up a rush of wind disturbing the trees and
rippling the surface of the water on the lake.
Van turned at the sudden motion of the water and also looked above them
spotting the sail ship. A smile played on the young angel's lips as he
spoke, "Do you think they came to chaperon?"
Laughter passed between the two of them as the ship continued towards the
pair of angels. As soon as metal landing gear pierced the earth stopping
the huge metal monster Hitomi frowned. Why was the ship stopping? If the
ship was landing here than that could only mean.......
The girl's brunette head turned slowly as Van continued to grin at the
ship. The emerald jewels within her head slowly traced the land surrounding
the mirror of water. In didn't take long for the seeress to spot the forest
laying just a few feet from the lake's edge. Darkness dwelled within the
depths between the trees. She could barely make out anything beyond the
border of the towering plants. A gray fog rolled across the forest floor
licking the roots of the trees in a ghostly manner. The fog only dwelled
within the confines of the forest and no where beyond. It only made the
place all the more suspicious.....
Hitomi stared at the woods and felt a sense of fear grip her soul. Feeling
her sense of sudden fear her beloved turned his head to look down at her,
but she was too busy looking at the woods for him to get a clear view of
her face. Following her gaze he spotted the dark trees and with a surprised
voice whispered, "The Spirit Trees......."
It had been over an hour since the Crusade had landed and now the group of
friends, along with several soldiers, stood at the edge of trees staring
into its depths. The two angels had long since flown to the soft dirt and
merged their wings into their backs. Both knew people were still edgy
around their kind and held no joy in scaring people. As the group stared at
the dark trail that ran through the trees it could be seen no one was eager
to entering the forest of the dead walkers. Unfortunately it was a task
that had to be completed and all knew it. Hitomi stood next to Van who had
retrieved his old red shirt with no sleeves. The two of them were at the
front of the group. Hitomi was biting her lower lip. The young seeress
stared into the shadows and wondered why they had to call upon the dead for
information. The passage had said quite bluntly that they needed to seek
out the dead for some sort of knowledge. What it was, she did not know.
Personally she felt she didn't need anymore information. Things were
becoming far too complex for them to handle. Deep down in her heart though,
Hitomi was ready for whatever was to come and she was determined to take
whatever came at her with full force.
The young girl angel turned her eyes towards the knight as he walked over
to her and her king. The knight obviously was just as excited about the
trek as much as the rest of them. His eyes kept glancing towards the trees
and his face held a small frown as he grew closer to the head of the group.
"I think we should bring some soldiers with us, Van" said the knight as he
stopped in front of the king.
The young royal nodded at this as he glanced towards the shadows and
whispered a reply, "I agree, but what if they learn to much? Should we
chance it?"
The blonde man eyebrows came together in thought, "We should take only a
minimal amount of guards then. It would be best if each woman had their own
personal guard. That should be enough since each of us can handle
ourselves."
The young king thought about his fiancé and nodded, "We should also have
one for Prince Chid."
A smug smile came on the face of the honorable knight, "I am his personal
guard and will have no problem of watching out for him."
Van glanced at Prince Chid who stood talking to Celena and Millerina. The
young king hated to treat the boy as a child although he ruled all of
Freid, but he was still a boy and no way of protecting himself. With a
small sigh the angel king nodded and turned to the group of soldiers that
were standing by. Carefully he began to pick out his best soldiers and
distributed them amongst the group.
The seeress stood closest to the woods as the soldiers began to be
dispatched among the people. She was studying the contents of the forest
wondering what could lay within its darkness. What would they find in
there? She knew there would be spirits of the dead, but was there anything
else. Quietly she let her senses flow through the branches as far as her
senses willed. She felt something.....she had never felt anything like
it......whatever it was it was extremely strong.....
The girl didn't even noticed the well decorated soldier as he came to stand
by her side. It was his cough that woke her from her thoughts and brought
her mind to realize a man stood beside her.
As she turned to look upon him the man got on one knee and bowed. This
action brought a faint blush to the girl's cheeks. She wasn't accustom to
such respectful treatment. The man wore a dark blue long sleeve shirt with
a with a light blue tunic similar to Allen's. Gold thread ran through the
material of the shirt creating a large emblem of the Crest of Fanelia on
the front of his tunic. Brown leather pants and black boots finished off
the outfit along with a colorful scarab that contained a well decorated
sword. His dark brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail wrapped in a
blue cloth. It was obvious that he was in the high ranks of the soldiers
from Fanelia.
The man closed his eyes as he continued to bow his head, "Seeress Hitomi, I
am to be your personal escort for the duration of this trek. My name is
General Resshi. It is a honor to serve as your guard and I promise upon my
life that I will protect you, milady."
Hitomi blush deepen at the words. No wonder Van hated this treatment. To
have people fling at your feet like this all the time must be unbearable.
There were probably hundreds of people who would love it if people did that
for them, but to Hitomi and her lover this was not something they desired.
"Please rise" the girl of brunette locks replied. It had been a request,
but to the soldier it was a command and he quickly did as he was told. As
he stood he held his chest forward as he looked at the woman. He looked
just like one of the men in the army who was waiting for a command from his
commander. Hitomi looked straight into the man's eyes, "I am honor to have
someone so loyal to serve as my guard, but know this..........I do not want
you die on my behalf."
"Milady" the soldier began, "I have dedicated my life to protecting people
and my duty now is to protect your life. I am not scared to give my life to
save yours."
"But I am" the young woman replied surprising the guard. The woman's eyes
held a special flame and her voice was set in courage, "I have lost
billions of lives because of me and I will not lose another on account of a
duty........I promise you this if you go into those woods you will leave
those woods along with me......"
The man stared at the woman shocked. He never met someone that had ever
cared for him. He had always been the lower class around the royals and
although this woman held no respected royal blood, for she held Draconian
blood that was despised, he saw her as a noble.
His brown eyes continued to study the woman. Her face held hard features as
she stared up at the man. As he looked into her eyes he could see a world
of pain and suffering. Within the reflection of her pupil images of war and
devastation played. Battles raged and war struck down in the mirror of her
eye. The deaths of hundreds of people formed in the reflection and soon
explosions erupted in the scene. The man shook his ahead as if awaking from
a dream. The images within her pupil slowly faded away, but Hitomi's face
was still set in hard features.
The man just continued to stare at the beautiful woman that had captured
his king's affection. Did he just see what he saw?..... Or perhaps it was a
dream?......Whatever it was it left the man speechless.
Hitomi features became soft as she realized she had somehow shared her
suffering with the man. She hadn't mean to, but her powers seemed to
intensify with emotions......especially painful ones..........She placed a
comforting hand on the general's shoulder, "Please understand what I'm
saying. Other might see you as a lower person, but you are living being and
I do not want to see you die....."
The soldier barely nodded still in shock. She had just about literally said
they were equals. He just couldn't get back his mind to work as he watched
the woman walked over to his king. As he watched the two talk he swore on
his family's grave that he would protect this woman at all costs. She had
gained something that was more precious than gold......his respect......
Hitomi and Van turned the group and the young king spoke, "Let's go......"
The wind whistle through the trees in an eerie melody as the fog licked the
invader's ankles. Darkness tried to envelope the group, but several
soldiers held torches keeping the shadows at bay. The branches of the tree
blocked out the sky bringing absolutely no light from the large moon.
Several small creatures of several shapes and sizes scurried amongst the
brush disturbed by these beings' presence. Few ever ventured into these
dark depths and no one had ever left such ghostly dwellings. Most got lost
within the forests confines or died from their own fear. Whatever the
reason for the people to be unable to return to the peaceful world beyond
this dark prison was unknown, but it sent such fear in the comrades of
those lost that the place became known as a forbidden land of spirits. No
one had entered beneath the cover of these trees for over 300 years and now
it seemed that the woods had more victims for its lair of death......
As the group walked through the darkness with only the light of the torches
held by the soldiers a figure lurked between the trees....the being was
swift and quiet.....so quiet that not even the cat~girl's sensitive ears
heard the being stalking the group.....The being ran through the shadows
and leaped from branch to branch stealthily....... It was waiting.....
waiting for the time to strike.....
Hitomi walked at the very head of the group with her personal guard and
lover flanking her. All though the seeress had no idea what to do the group
trusted her as the leader of the task. She had tried to refuse the
position, but the group urged her to take it until she finally did. Now as
she walked through the fog that was growing thicker and higher she wonder
why she had taken on such a difficult job.
The seeress stiffen a bit as she continued to walk when she felt the
awareness of another being nearby. It wasn't easy for her to detect the
person. Her senses could barely read the figure and it almost took all her
strength just to guess which direction the being was. Hitomi made sure to
continue walking straight with eyes forward. She didn't want whoever it was
to know she knew where it was. The being had to be quite powerful for
somehow she was masking herself within the shadows.
Van was completely unaware of the situation at hand. His powers were
extremely weak compared to Hitomi. He had little experience with using his
abilities and the being was masking itself so well that he couldn't even
sense it....
It wasn't long before Hitomi stopped in a small clearing causing the group
to halt behind her. Her emerald eyes scanned the trees looking for
something....anything.....If she was here to find the dead warriors then
why couldn't she find them? And who was the being lurking nearby?
Taking a step away from the group she awkwardly shouted into the shadows,
"Hello? Is anybody out there?"
Silence was the only answer that came from the darkness as the fog
continued to rise. The group was becoming edgy as the silence grew louder.
Allen stepped a little closer to Prince Chid while Millerina and Celena
held each other close. Dryden stood just behind his wife as a small
cat~girl clung to his shirt. Soldiers shook with fear as they stood amongst
the royals. The light from the torches played over the people's features
creating shadows among them. No one could move except Hitomi who took
several more steps towards the darkness.
Hitomi felt something...... She wasn't sure what, but she was positive that
she felt something and it was something vaguely familiar........ It wasn't
the being she felt lurking at the border of light......it was something
else.........Her emerald jewels grew wide as she saw a dark figure in the
fog. The gas was too thick to see properly and she couldn't tell who the
figure was, but she could tell she knew that being somehow....... Her
personal guard walked a little closer to her as he noticed the figure
approaching. All eyes turned towards the seeress and she squinted through
the fog. Unfortunately for the group the fog had thicken so much that the
people were slowly losing each other within its gas.
~Van~
The young king gasped as the gas of white mist surrounded his love and her
guard and hid them from his view. A sudden panic took over his soul as he
felt the sense of awareness he always felt from her go dead. It was like
she had just like she had never been there.....like she no longer
existed.......Van rushed towards the direction where his fiancé had once
yelling her name......
~Allen~
Allen watched in fear as his young king friend also disappeared into the
fog. They were losing each other! They had to stay together if they wanted
to live through this. The hansom knight turned toward his blonde son, but
saw only white gas. He had lost his son! A panic gripped over the man's
heart as he desperately searched for his child. Sadly all his blue eyes saw
was thickening fog. His soul was screaming for his only child worrying that
he had lost him forever. He refused to let his boy disappear in this
moment. He had yet to tell him of his true heritage! The knight swirled
towards what he thought would be the best direction to search and stared
into the white mist. The man began to yell for his son's name as he
stumbled through the thick white void......
~Millerina~
Millerina stumbled over another root as tears came to her eyes. She had
long lost her friend Celena and her loving husband within the white gas.
She had been so sure she had been holding Celena's pale arm before, but
somehow her arm had mystical vanished in her grasp. Her sunshine hair
flowed with the breeze that blew through the forest making the fog grow
thicker. Millerina was growing scared as she entered deeper into the realm
of thick fog......
~Chid~
A visible being began to walk closer to the blonde prince as he stared in
shock. He had been so sure that the figure had been the knight Allen when
the boy had gotten separated from his friends, but now as he looked at the
shadow he knew it was not his bodyguard. Slowly the lines of the figure
came together in a familiar shape. Only the blue eyes of the young blonde
prince saw this figure's face and he gasped as he realized who stood before
him.......
~Celena~
She thought she had died as she stared at the white world surrounding
her.... Where was everyone? Wasn't the queen just holding her arm? Where
had she gone?.....Celena bit her lip in fear. She was becoming quite
frighten and she wanted to call for her brother, but pride kept her mouth
shut. She didn't want to sound like a frighten child.....Her brother was
far too protective of her as it was......She didn't want to be alone either
though....... Although the dreams no longer haunted her sleep she still
remembered them vividly. One that she had feared most was being alone in
darkness while a being stalked her. This was almost exactly like it and it
placed terror into her heart. The wind whistle in her ears as she listen
for a familiar voice or call, but there was only one noise that sounded
over the whistle. That noise came from her own lips in a gasp as she saw a
dark form come towards her......
~Merle~
The cat~girl struck through the thick gas in no particular direction. Fear
was tearing away at her mind driving away her reason. She should have known
better than to run blindly into unknown areas. She was only growing more
lost. Claws dug into the hidden earth beneath the mist as she continue to
rush through the white film. Her furry ears swiveled continually in hope of
hearing a friendly voice. The a tail behind her swung back and forth
keeping her balance as she race through the wall of fog. She wasn't willing
to halt her race, but a lone figure standing in her path caused her to
think twice about stopping......
~Dryden~
The king swirled around in different directions in search of his wife.
Realization constricted his heart when he discovered he had lost everyone
within the fog. He couldn't even tell where the soldiers where. BLAST! Why
did have to lose everyone right now?! The king's face became set in angry
features just as a figure unaware by the king emerged from the depths of
the thick gas behind him......
One by one the group of friends had become separated and now where facing
something that would change their lives from that moment on. Each became
face with someone from their past....... Someone that now only existed in
their memories.....
~Hitomi~
The young seeress hadn't even noticed the fact that she had been separated
from the group and that her guard was no where to be seen. She was
completely focused on the being before her. The sense of awareness that she
got from the being was faint, but recognizable as a familiar person. Who
was it?
Her green eyes widen as she watch the angel appear from the white mist. The
man wore no shirt, but did wear a pair of gray pants with black boots. He
was rather tall and well built. His white bluish tint hair was cut short in
a spiky manner falling over his dark eyes. A tattoo of a purple tear drop
laid on his right cheek. The wings that appeared out of his back were now a
glowing white instead of the black ebony they had once been. Several stray
feathers floated through the air mystically.....The man was very familiar
to the girl now....
"Folken......." the girl of brown locks whispered as the man drew closer.
The fog fell away between them and created a funnel around them. An unknown
source of wind ran through the cell of clear air gently tugging at their
clothes and hair. They stood within their own area while the fog circled
around them blocking their view to the outside of the area. Hitomi barely
was aware of this change for her mind was whirling as she looked at her
lover's older brother.
The man stopped just a few feet in front of the beautiful woman and stared
down at her.
"It's been a long time since I have last seen you Lady Hitomi" the man of
white flowing hair spoke. His voice was different........It was almost
completely hollow and an echo seemed to form in the air from the sound of
his voice......
Hitomi nodded with a small smile, "Yes it has......It's good to see you,
Folken........ although I wish it were on better times......"
His eyes slid shut knowingly as he nodded, "Yes.....I know....."
The girl looked up into the man's face with warm eyes, "Please tell me what
I need to know, Folken....."
The man's eyes slid opened as he spoke in his rich voice that held a
background echo, "I am to warn you, Hitomi......."
Hitomi frowned at the words, "Warn me?"
He nodded making his locks of white hair bob, "Yes.....I must warn you that
once you reach the Mystic Valley Kusari will arrive."
"I will not let him scare me and keep me from my duties......I must go"
Hitomi answered in determined voice, "Queen Iris told me I must go to
heighten my powers. Although I have no idea why I need to do such."
"Hear me out" he interrupted her thoughts, "Once there you will take on a
great task, but on doing so you might have to make the ultimate
sacrifice......"
Her emerald eyes became full of worried and she pleaded to the dead man,
"Like what?"
His jaw clenched in anger. He was forbidden to tell her. More than anything
he wanted to help his brother's future wife, but his tongue would not work.
His duty was only to warn her of the consequences. To show her that she had
a choice although it might be the wrong one......
"I cannot say...." he growled angrily. His eyes held flames as the girl
looked into his eyes, "I am forbidden to speak of it....."
"Who forbids it?" Hitomi asked hotly, "I'm growing quite tired of being
given half answers. What is the propose of you warning me?"
Folken was surprised to see such fire within the woman before him. She had
always been strong will, but she had grown more determined since last he
saw her...
The man hung his head sadly as he realized this was going to be harder than
he thought it would be, "You have to confront Kusari and stop him, Hitomi,
but be careful for his mind is now sick and he has gone insane with
revenge. If you confront him you will be alone. My brother will not be able
to help you during that moment."
Her face turned to confusion. Why would Van not be able to help her? She
knew her love would never abandon her in the hour of her greatest trail.
Would he be hurt...... or killed? No, she would never believe that.
Hitomi teeth clenched together in anger as she glared at the man before
her. Never before had her anger ever gotten the best of her until now. All
she was getting from this encounter with Folken was more questions and
confusion. She wanted answers and no one would give her any!
"Please Folken I have to know....." she begged trying to lower her anger,
"What's is the task that lays in my future and what is going to happen to
Van?"
The man of older years looked down at the girl and proceeded to walk
backwards into the fog. He had to leave before his tongue grew loose and
spoke against the will of his master. The fog began to surge back into the
area disturbing both their sights. Hitomi desperately called out to the
disappearing form, "Wait! Folken!"
"You must confront Kusari, Hitomi" the man's voice echoed, "No one can stop
him, but you.....It won't be easy and you have two choices....I pray to
Joutei that you make the right decision....."
As the last of the fog swam into the funnel of air Hitomi struggled to
follow Folken. It was in vain for she had already lost the man with white
angel wings. She waved her arms a bit trying to fan away the infuriating
mist, but it only grew thicker. As she halted in the mist she called the
man's name one last time, "FOLKEN!......"
~Van~
He ran through the mist. He had lost his sense of direction a long time ago
and had no idea where he was going, but he was desperate to find his
beloved. He had vowed he would forever protect her and now he had lost her!
The blasted fog could have him, but he refused to let Hitomi go again.
A shadow formed within the fog before the young king and the boy of raven
locks called out his lover's name thinking it was her. He came to a halt
when he realized it wasn't his angel, but another woman. Her hair was set
in long dark curls that fell over her shoulders in a beautiful flow of
hair. She wore a long gown of glowing white with matching angel wings. Her
eyes of rose softly looked down at the man as she floated inches above the
unseen earth....
Soon the fog rushed away from the two beings and created a wall around
them. His fire eyes stared at the woman before him not willing to look away
for fear she would disappear at any moment. The king who was one of the
best diplomats and could speak the most memorable speeches could only
whisper one word at that moment, "Mother?......"
"My son...." the woman's voiced echoed through the confined room surrounded
by the white mist. Her hair fluttered in a gentle wind and few white
feathers floated from her wings to fall lazily to the ground. As soon as
the white glowing objects brushed against the ground they vanished from
their eyes, but neither really noticed.....
Van looked into his mother's eyes and a few tears slipped down his cheek,
"Mother.... what's going on?....."
His mother's eyes soften as she stared at her boy. She wished she had not
been the one to bring the information to her son. She hated to watch him
suffer and now.....when he had finally found his love again she was going
to give information that would tear apart his happiness.....
"My son I have important knowledge to give you" the mother whispered
scornfully.
The young king noticed the emotions within her words and became concern,
"What is it, mother?"
The woman blinked away her tears and forced herself to look her youngest
son in the eyes, "When the time comes for Hitomi to complete the task she
was chosen to do you will be unable to help her...."
"I won't be able to help her? Why?" the boy replied unable to believe he
wouldn't be there for his love's time of need. He had vowed to always be
there for her and now he was hearing he would not be there for the critical
time of her destiny.....It was unbelievable....
The woman bit her lower lip as she looked hard into her son's eyes. She
hated to hold back information from one of her love ones, "I am not allow
to say, but I can tell you this......the task she takes on is so great that
it must be completed at all costs, but she is the only one who can do it...
she will have to be willing to sacrifice everything to do it. Her life will
completely change once the task is complete. Know this......no one, but
your fiancé Hitomi can do this......she is the heir of Draconians and she
only holds the power to complete this.....You must not interfere......"
"You have to be insane!" the raven headed man retorted, "I've committed my
life to her and I vow I will be there no matter what happens!"
"You will go to her in the time of her challenge" the woman replied in
sorrow ignoring the boy's outburst, " but it will be far too late for you
to do anything.....respect what she does and all will be well....."
"Mother?...." he whispered still confused. Why was his world shattering
now?! He had found happiness, but was he destined to never have peace?.....
Suddenly the cloud of white mist surged around them disturbing the King's
eyesight. The boy automatically rubbed his eyes as the gas flew into his
rubies. When he reopened his eyes of burning flames his mother was gone....
~Allen~
"Allen, Knight of Schezard" called the voice. The blonde man knew that
voice well and would never had believed he heard it if he hadn't been
staring into the face of the speaker. His eyes widen at the sight of the
beautiful woman with long blonde hair before him. Wrapped in a dress of
glowing white she stood there with sad eyes.
"Allen" she repeated, "Hear me......for I have gone through much difficult
to stand before you here.....only dead warriors are allowed in this realm,
but with some help I have been able to stand before you...although it is
only for a short amount of time so I must be brief...."
"Marlene...." he whispered longingly. Never before had he felt such desire
for a hug from her. Oh, how he had missed her so. He had never truly fallen
in love with another person since his relationship with her. Yes, he had
searched for that love that would once again fill his heart, but it was in
vain. He thought he had discovered it when he met Millerina and Hitomi, but
it had never been the same love that he had held for the woman that stood
before him in the wisp of white fog right now.
"Listen, Allen" the woman commanded urgently as her voice echoed, "In the
hour of need your family will need you. Celena will be forced to face her
dark side and Chid will be cornered. You must protect them both if you want
them to survive through this trial. Though they must face their greatest
fears by themselves you must protect them.....You will know when it is time
to come to their aid......"
"I don't understand" the knight cried as his love already began to fade
away, "Please don't go, Marlene!"
"I must, my knight" she whispered softly into the mist, "Please protect our
son and your sister.....I believe you have the ability to do it....."
As soon as those last words left her ghost lips the mist surged into their
private chamber of gas and clouded the knight's vision once more. The wind
pulled at his blonde locks lifting them into the mist flowing like a river
of gold.
A sorrowful cry came from within the sea of white mist as the blonde fell
to his knees in tears.....
~Chid~
"But how can that be?" the boy prince cried as he stared up into the face
of his foster father, "How can Allen be my true father?"
"He is Chid....believe me when I tell you this....." the king begged the
young blonde prince, "Allen Shezard is your real father....."
Large crystal tears fell from the boy's eyes as he stared into the older
man's gentle face. He could barely believe his ears were actually hearing
this. He wouldn't even be considering the fact to be true if it had not
been told to him by his father......his foster father.......
He stared down at the ground as the tear rained down. He couldn't say he
was surprised. His mother had always spoken highly of the knight....even
more than her husband the king..... Chid's resemblance to his mother
probably was the only thing that kept people from knowing that the knight
was his true father. He had always been close to the knight ever since he
first met him and now he realized it was more than a friendship, but a bond
by blood....
As a tear fell to the ground and the earth soaked it up the prince wondered
why he was crying. Although the news was a shock he wasn't upset. Being the
son of well renowned knight was just as welcoming as being the son of a
king, especially when the knight was Allen. However, he realized it wasn't
that fact that brought tears to eyes, but the issue that no one had ever
told him the truth until now was what brought on the tears. Anyone would be
hurt when discovered such a secret was held from them by the ones that they
had trust most.
His blue eyes turned up to his foster father's holding sparkling tears,
"Why was I not told of this?" The boy's voice held a great deal of maturity
for his age. Sparks of pain ran through the words which the man noticed
easily.
The king had never wanted to keep such information from the boy. It had not
been easy to discover the truth for himself especially since he and the
knight had once been close comrades. It had been a fatal blow to his
fatherhood and it had been like a thorn in his side gnawing a reminder in
his soul that the child was never his own.... It had been a very difficult
life bringing up the child.....
"That I can not tell you...." the king replied sadly trying to forget the
old memories, "That is something only the knight can tell you....."
A ghost hand wiped away the tears running along his foster son's cheeks. A
sad smile came to both of their faces as they knew their time was short.
Neither wanted to leave the presence of their love one. It was hard enough
losing each other the first time, but Prince Chid sniffed back his tears
and pulled back his shoulders. Putting a smile on his face like he did in
the courts the boy nodded to the man who had raised him as a child. The
king smiled as a tear streamed down one of his cheeks. It was time.....
The fog swirled around the two males' bodies tingling the prince's pale
skin. Prince Chid broke his noble stance at that moment and rushed to hug
his foster father before he had a chance to leave, but as his arms came
together all he caught was white mist. Stumbling forward a little the boy
who life had just changed dramatically stared into space.....More tears
slipped down out of his eyes as he let his arms fall to his sides and
whispered, "Goodbye.......father......"
~Merle~
The cat~girl was running breakneck through the mist as she sailed through
the forest. She was determined not to stop until she found her friends and
continued to leap through the air of white. The sudden appearance of figure
caused her to cry out. She was already sailing into the air and was heading
towards the being. She was going to literally crash into the figure! You
can just imagine her surprise when she literally fell through the ghost
being. The cat tumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust. Picking up her
head from the dirt it had been shoved in she looked up into the face of
cat~man.
His hair was of a fire orange in a spiky design and his coat of fur was of
the same bronze coloration as Merle's. He wore a royal blue shirt with
black pants. The material was barely noticeably though for they were
covered by armor that was obviously second hand. A sword in a dark leather
scarab hung from his belt. He held mud brown eyes identical to the young
cat~girl. It was obvious he was related to the girl cat in some way....
perhaps he was from her clan....
She gasped at the sight of the other cat~being and tried to scrambled away
backwards, but those eyes.....those eyes pierced into her soul......Merle
knew those eyes from old memories so vague that they had never surfaced
into her mind until that moment.....
~Memory~
The imagery was extremely cloudy not allowing Merle to distinguish much.
She was barely able to see the white cloth that surrounded a small chamber
that she laid in. A large face appeared over the chamber of white. They
held the same eyes....
"My child......" a male voice whispered as a pair of cat arms reached into
the basket.
She couldn't remember much of the old memory and only caught bits and
pieces of it.
Flames.....she remembered flames......smoke....Was that smoke she smelt? It
was a blur of fire and smoke while two pairs of lavender eyes watched her.
What was happening?..... Who were these beings?.......
Soon the image of a dark being dressed in black was seen before her eyes.
He looked more like a dark shadow than a man. A gleaming blade shone
brightly in her sight as she stared at the shadowy form. The imagery became
dark as she realized someone had closed the small basket containing her.
Screams of a woman rang through the air. The voice was first in fear and
then in pain.....and then nothing.....no sound at all.....whoever had
screamed was now dead......A male voice howled a challenge, but the man was
soon silenced and another life was claimed.....
She was alone......alone in the darkness....She didn't know how long it had
been, but she started to hear the cries of a infant. The noise was
unbearable and Merle desperately pulled at her ears begging for the painful
cries to cease. That's when she suddenly discovered the cries were her own
screams.....She was a baby during this memory......
The thought was soon interrupted as the darkness fell away and a bright
light flooded her vision. The light was so bright that she could not see
past it. It was a wall that could not penetrated.....The only image she
could see through the sunlight was the gentle face of a young woman with
long dark curls. Her face was like a dream for the light was so bright that
it caused her features to glow.....Her smile was a gift from heavens as
Merle heard her cries begin to fade....
A voice sweet like honey spoke, "Don't worry little one.....I, Varia, will
take you as my daughter.....you will be part of my family......"
The light without warning swallowed the image of the woman and Merle was
brought back to reality.....
~End of Memory~
"Who....who are?...." the young cat~girl begged as she shook in fear not
knowing what to expect. He was from her old memory, but who was he.....
"My daughter, Merle....." the man cat of bronze fur replied, "Finally I
have the chance to speak to you....."
"Daughter?!" Merle yelped in total confusion, "What do you mean
daughter????"
The male cat's eyes filled with hurt as the girl recoiled from him. He had
waited so many years for this moment.....and now when it had come it seemed
it would not be what he expected.....
At the sight of his pain Merle relaxed for she felt pity for him. Her fur
felled down and her ears perked showing a sign of friendship. Although she
tried to warm up to the cat~man she couldn't help, but wonder if he was
truly her father.....
"Tell me please....." the young cat whispered, "Who are you?...."
His clothes began to swirl within the breeze that twirled in their chamber
as he began an old tale of his life, "I was your father many years ago.....
you were just a child......only a few weeks old when the dark man Issac
attacked our village...."
He looked into her eyes and she could see tears forming in his lavender
pools, "We knew we had to leave to escape the evil man's wrath, but we were
too slow.....We hid you in a small basket in hope you might not be
discovered and just be consider to be some of our personal items.....A
soldier killed your mother as soon as we exited our burning home....I soon
followed her fate....."
Merle just stared at the cat's face......still a little shock that she
finally knew the truth about her family.....The cat~man knelt in front of
her and placed a phantom paw on her shoulder, "Believe me when I say that I
am your father........We wish we could have been the ones to raise you, but
I am glad that such kind beings found you and took you into their home...."
Tears of sweet lavender fell onto Merle's bronze fur as she bowed her head.
It was so hard to finally hear the truth now......though she had always
doubted her parents would leave her to die in a burning village.....why had
she not been told by Lady Varia that her parents had been killed?....It
would have hurt, yes, but at least she would have known the truth......
The young cat~girl's face was lifted with a gentle ghost paw and she stared
into the eyes of her dead father.....His eyes held similar tears as he
smiled down upon his only child.....
"Please......" he whispered affectionately to his offspring, "Do not blame
your foster mother......she loved you and only kept the truth from you so
to relieve your pain......"
Merle's mouth gaped opened as she realized something suddenly, "How do you
know about my life 'after' your death?"
His bright fire orange hair shook as he lifted himself up into a standing
position, "Your mother and I have always watch over you from the
heavens....."
"The heavens....." she whispered into the gentle breeze that swam through
the room of free air.
The fog began to swirl around the young cat and her father. It ran over the
male cat's body and began swallowing his features. The girl was still in
shock and couldn't even move at the sudden motion of the white mist. The
wisps of gas spiraled around the cat~man allowing only his face to be
visible through it all. His fire orange hair lifted with the mysterious
wind as he stared through the fog at his daughter.
"We'll be watching over you, Merle....." the cat whispered, "Just look at
the stars and when you see a pair twinkle brightly that means were smiling
down at you....."
The gas swirled around his face and swallowed the last of his body as he
gave a finally goodbye, "I love you, Merle.......take care......"
The gas finally surrounded the cat~girl and enveloped her soul into the
last of mist. Tears swelled in her eyes a final time as she whispered,
"Daddy......"
~Celena~
The woman no longer felt fear......only a sense of peace as she stared into
a pair of wolf eyes......He held long blonde hair that fell loosely over
his broad shoulders. A long brown snout was warm as a gentle smile washed
over his wolf lips. A white long sleeve shirt and a pair of gray pants with
dark leather boots dressed his dead body. A bushy wolf tail swayed behind
him showing off his wolf-hood. His eyes of chocolate twinkled down at the
young woman.
"Jajuka....." the woman voice held a hint of joy within the word. Though
she barely remembered the wolf man she knew how kind and gentle he had
been. Vague memories plagued her mind of him and she often wished she could
see him face to face like this....like she was right now....
"My mistress, Celena....." the wolf spoke with a rich voice that echoed
through the confines of their private area. He got down on one knee and
bowed his head humbly. His sunshine hair cascaded over his shoulders like a
waterfall. His pools of chocolate slid shut as his ears flatten in respect.
Celena stared down at him a little surprised, "What do you mean 'mistress',
Jajuka?"
The wolf~man stood up and looked at the woman kindly. The woman beautiful
smile fell downwards in a playful frown, "We are friends, are we not?
Please no formalities.......what are you doing here? I thought you were
dead?"
His gaze fell towards the grow sadly, "I am dead......but I have been given
the blessing of wandering through this realm of warriors...."
"Blessing?" she asked a little confused. How could wandering around for
eternity be a blessing? It sounded more like a curse.....
The golden locks surrounding his head bounced as he nodded, "Yes, to be
here amongst warriors of greatness allows you forever learn and train as a
warrior......You can be taught from fellow warriors or the guardian. It is
a great honor to be in the presence of such distinguished beings."
The blonde woman frowned again, "Guardian? What guardian?"
Now it was Jajuka turn to frown in confusion, "The guardian that dwells
here........Did you not know of her?"
Her confused face was enough to tell him that her answer was yes. Fear
sparked in his eyes, "You must leave now, Lady Celena!"
"Wait, Jajuka!" Celena called as the mist began to swirl around them, "Why
should we leave?!"
His wolf eyes searched through the limited view of the fog as if looking
for someone....or something....., "All those who enter the Trees of Spirits
must get permission from the Guardian of the Forest to be allowed in.....if
you have not gone to her than her anger will be quite severe and she will
kill all who invade this realm.....If you leave now perhaps you will escape
her wrath!"
Aqua tears filled the woman eyes as she watched her dear friend disappear.
They hadn't even had a chance to talk.....and now she would never get that
chance again.....
"Jajuka!" Celena choked through her sobs, "Don't go! I didn't get a chance
to talk to you!"
The wolf drifted into the fog just as he howled one last time, "Do not
worry, my mistress! I will see you again.....I promise you that.....if it
be in death or in the living....I will see you again!"
With that Celena was left with her tears as she smiled at her fading
comrade.....
~Dryden~
The brunette man swirled around to search a different direction for his
wife, but came face to face with another man startling the poor king. The
man wore a dark gray cloak covering all his articles of clothing beneath
it. Though the cloak held a hood it was pulled back allowing the king to
see the man's face. This stranger held a white hair and beard with a hue of
brown coloring it. His face held many wrinkles around sky blue eyes.
Dryden's mouth gaped open at the sight of the man, "Leon!"
"Yes, Dryden...." the man voice was husky with age, "We meet again......"
The spectacles slid a little down the king's nose as he stared into the
eyes of his old teacher.
"I never imagined I'd see you again" muttered the brunette king, "What are
you doing here?"
The old man stared into the man's eyes searching his mind, "You have grown
since last I saw you......and I see you have married my daughter,
Millerina....." A bright smile fell upon the old man's wrinkled face while
a small blush fell on Dryden's.
"Uh....yes I have....." the man replied still in shock, "I still can't
believe I'm seeing my old teacher again....."
Leon nodded slowly, "Yes it is hard for me to believe, too.....I knew you
would one day be a great historian......you never could keep away from my
scrolls when you were little....."
"Yes" the king's voice spoke a little stronger as he regained his
composure, "You taught me well....I learned much from your teachings and
after you left I went in search of you......but I only found your
scrolls......" His voice filled with sadness, "I've kept them in your
memory....."
A laugh that was unmistakable to the king's ears as his old friend's rang
through the mist, "I'm not the least bit surprised....You always loved
them.......your father always wanted you to learn as much as possible to
become a good merchant, but when he sent you to me you got more than
enough......and then you kept wanting to learn more! I could never hold you
back from my scrolls!"
"It's a good thing, too" chuckled the king making his locks of hair dance,
"If it hadn't been for your scrolls we might not have even gotten this
far...."
The king's laughter stopped as the wheels began to turn in his head. His
eyes lifted to stare into the eyes of his old teacher, "Why did you leave
your family, Leon?"
The old man sighed heavily at the question as his eyes wearily closed, "I
was a man who was bound to my scrolls.....They told of my part in this
great prophecy and I had to follow my destiny....my wife didn't understand
why I followed such ancient 'nonsense' and forbade me to go.....I couldn't
hold back though and left for my destiny. In doing so I discovered the
seeress's grandmother and learned more than you'll ever know, Dryden....."
Dryden looked into the man's eyes curiously, "What did you learn?"
Leon sighed heavily. He knew that was to come next. Dryden was always
searching for more information. He forever searching and looking for more
knowledge that could fill his mind.
"That's confidential...." replied the old man sadly. He knew that Dryden
would have been extremely excited to learn what he knew, but his voice was
forbidden to speak of it for destiny at this moment was extremely fragile.
Dryden didn't expect to get an answer. He knew that asking such information
might change destiny itself if he learned too much, too soon....
They faced one another staring at each other as smile warmed their faces.
The two of them might have a great amount of age between them , but they
couldn't help, but see themselves as close friends. Slowly the mist began
to roll in around them and the two were forced to say a goodbye.
"I'm sorry we didn't have a lot more time to talk" replied the old man as
the mist began to envelope his body, "I only came to say that, Dryden, you
will be someone who will be an important asset to this group. Never think
you unimportant to your friends.....Be there for them...."
Dryden smiled as the mist surrounded him and he was once again lost within
the sea of white. He whispered silently to the long gone man as though he
were still there, "I will....."
The fog began to grow thin and slowly the group of friends were able to see
one another once more. Confused soldiers glanced among themselves realizing
the fog was lifting again. All of the friends didn't move for they were
still lost in thought from their previous encounters with long lost
friends....
The being that had lurked within the branches of the trees watching the
scenes below smiled when she saw the mist begin to settle. Carefully she
eyed each being in turn, studying them. Which was the leader?.....When
taking down a large group like this it was best to start with the
leader......Her eyes of silver fell upon a young brunette woman who wore
strange clothing. Whoever she was she was extremely different from the
rest. She had never seen such bazaar articles. Perhaps she was the
leader.....The being felt something within the air.....What was it?......
The woman smiled as she realized the weird woman was powerful enough to
sense her even through her shield.......Her eyes gleamed in the dark as she
focused herself on the woman.... she would be the first.....the others
would follow shortly......
Hitomi stood at the edge of the scattered group realizing that none of them
had strayed from the large clearing they had always been in. Her emerald
eyes swept over the group checking to see if her friends were alright. They
all seemed quite fine except for tears that twinkled within some of their
eyes, but her senses told her that the being was still there watching.....
A sudden noise caused Hitomi to turned her attention back to area that
stood before her. Emerald pools widen in surprise when they came to rest on
a beautiful woman. She wore a green shirt that held no sleeves decorated
with gold trimming that showed off her arm that rippled with smooth
muscles. Pants of similar design hugged her muscular legs while a pair of
mud brown knee length boots covered her feet. Gold gaudlents ran over her
wrists that held etched symbols over the metal. A small circlet of shining
gold crowned her head of dark brown locks that were pulled into a long
braid tied in a golden ribbon. There was one feature that caused everyone
in the clearing to gasp. Arching from the woman's back was a pair of pearl
white wings....
The woman hard silver eyes glared at the young seeress. Hitomi stumbled
backwards frightened by the woman's stare. The group of people were too
shocked by the appearance of this woman to move. The young seeress felt a
sudden wave of anger flow from this new comer and she knew she needed to be
wary of her. Hitomi shudder as the woman stepped towards the frighten girl.
"You have trespassed on sacred ground...." the woman growled angrily at the
group as she stared pointy at Hitomi.
"We apologize for our intrusion" replied the brunette girl trying to
relieve the woman's growing rage, "We only came--"
"ENOUGH!" the woman interrupted with a roar, "You have violated the law of
the forest!"
"Law of the forest?" Hitomi mumbled confused. The seeress's eyes grew wide
as she saw the woman pull out a startling object.
Clenched within her pale hand was a bow of magnificent design. It was made
of a brilliant silver metal while white gold designs ran over its surface.
A golden cord ran between the two points of the weapon glittering in the
light of their torches. It was an amazing weapon that showed great
craftsmanship.....
The woman's pale fingers pulled on the cord creating an arrow of white
light. The arrow shone menacing in the crook of the bow waiting for its
moment to attack. It bright light shone over the woman face creating
shadows over her features.
Carefully the woman pointed the arrow of light at the young seeress and
grinned, "All who trespass are destined to die from the light of my bow....
and I will start with you first......"
With that the woman's fingers released the white arrow letting it sail
straight towards the heart of the young seeress from the Mystic Moon.......
~Okay we've got a new character in this story. Maybe I'm making this story
too complex, but nothing good is ever simple!~
~This woman's identity will be revealed in the next chapter so keep an eye
out for updates!~
~The next chapter is promised to be out by late Monday or early Tuesday! I
promise I keep my updates to the date unless of something serious occurring
so don't worry it will be out by then!~
~Well, what did you think? Come on and tell me! Please R&R! I really want
to know!~
~Man! My chapters seem to be getting longer and longer! This one is just as
long as Chapter 17! I know you readers like that!:)~
~This chapter deals with all the main characters. They must each face their
past individually, if they want to live through another step in their
adventure~
~Most of the characters past history (which have been vague within the
series) are somewhat explained in this chapter~
~Alright I've got another chapter here for all you regular readers! Hope
you enjoy this one!~
The Fate of Two Worlds
By Angel Wings
Chapter 18 ~ Where The Dead Warriors Roam
~ 'Spirit Trees' ~
Hitomi pulled away from her lover's arms had she sensed the Crusade
dropping altitude. Her emeralds eyes turned to sky and spotted the metal
ship containing hundred of souls lowering to the lake. It glowing lights
from inside looked like a thousand eyes and penetrated the darkness with
the thousands of spotlights that the Crusade's lights created. The
Crusade's descent brought up a rush of wind disturbing the trees and
rippling the surface of the water on the lake.
Van turned at the sudden motion of the water and also looked above them
spotting the sail ship. A smile played on the young angel's lips as he
spoke, "Do you think they came to chaperon?"
Laughter passed between the two of them as the ship continued towards the
pair of angels. As soon as metal landing gear pierced the earth stopping
the huge metal monster Hitomi frowned. Why was the ship stopping? If the
ship was landing here than that could only mean.......
The girl's brunette head turned slowly as Van continued to grin at the
ship. The emerald jewels within her head slowly traced the land surrounding
the mirror of water. In didn't take long for the seeress to spot the forest
laying just a few feet from the lake's edge. Darkness dwelled within the
depths between the trees. She could barely make out anything beyond the
border of the towering plants. A gray fog rolled across the forest floor
licking the roots of the trees in a ghostly manner. The fog only dwelled
within the confines of the forest and no where beyond. It only made the
place all the more suspicious.....
Hitomi stared at the woods and felt a sense of fear grip her soul. Feeling
her sense of sudden fear her beloved turned his head to look down at her,
but she was too busy looking at the woods for him to get a clear view of
her face. Following her gaze he spotted the dark trees and with a surprised
voice whispered, "The Spirit Trees......."
It had been over an hour since the Crusade had landed and now the group of
friends, along with several soldiers, stood at the edge of trees staring
into its depths. The two angels had long since flown to the soft dirt and
merged their wings into their backs. Both knew people were still edgy
around their kind and held no joy in scaring people. As the group stared at
the dark trail that ran through the trees it could be seen no one was eager
to entering the forest of the dead walkers. Unfortunately it was a task
that had to be completed and all knew it. Hitomi stood next to Van who had
retrieved his old red shirt with no sleeves. The two of them were at the
front of the group. Hitomi was biting her lower lip. The young seeress
stared into the shadows and wondered why they had to call upon the dead for
information. The passage had said quite bluntly that they needed to seek
out the dead for some sort of knowledge. What it was, she did not know.
Personally she felt she didn't need anymore information. Things were
becoming far too complex for them to handle. Deep down in her heart though,
Hitomi was ready for whatever was to come and she was determined to take
whatever came at her with full force.
The young girl angel turned her eyes towards the knight as he walked over
to her and her king. The knight obviously was just as excited about the
trek as much as the rest of them. His eyes kept glancing towards the trees
and his face held a small frown as he grew closer to the head of the group.
"I think we should bring some soldiers with us, Van" said the knight as he
stopped in front of the king.
The young royal nodded at this as he glanced towards the shadows and
whispered a reply, "I agree, but what if they learn to much? Should we
chance it?"
The blonde man eyebrows came together in thought, "We should take only a
minimal amount of guards then. It would be best if each woman had their own
personal guard. That should be enough since each of us can handle
ourselves."
The young king thought about his fiancé and nodded, "We should also have
one for Prince Chid."
A smug smile came on the face of the honorable knight, "I am his personal
guard and will have no problem of watching out for him."
Van glanced at Prince Chid who stood talking to Celena and Millerina. The
young king hated to treat the boy as a child although he ruled all of
Freid, but he was still a boy and no way of protecting himself. With a
small sigh the angel king nodded and turned to the group of soldiers that
were standing by. Carefully he began to pick out his best soldiers and
distributed them amongst the group.
The seeress stood closest to the woods as the soldiers began to be
dispatched among the people. She was studying the contents of the forest
wondering what could lay within its darkness. What would they find in
there? She knew there would be spirits of the dead, but was there anything
else. Quietly she let her senses flow through the branches as far as her
senses willed. She felt something.....she had never felt anything like
it......whatever it was it was extremely strong.....
The girl didn't even noticed the well decorated soldier as he came to stand
by her side. It was his cough that woke her from her thoughts and brought
her mind to realize a man stood beside her.
As she turned to look upon him the man got on one knee and bowed. This
action brought a faint blush to the girl's cheeks. She wasn't accustom to
such respectful treatment. The man wore a dark blue long sleeve shirt with
a with a light blue tunic similar to Allen's. Gold thread ran through the
material of the shirt creating a large emblem of the Crest of Fanelia on
the front of his tunic. Brown leather pants and black boots finished off
the outfit along with a colorful scarab that contained a well decorated
sword. His dark brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail wrapped in a
blue cloth. It was obvious that he was in the high ranks of the soldiers
from Fanelia.
The man closed his eyes as he continued to bow his head, "Seeress Hitomi, I
am to be your personal escort for the duration of this trek. My name is
General Resshi. It is a honor to serve as your guard and I promise upon my
life that I will protect you, milady."
Hitomi blush deepen at the words. No wonder Van hated this treatment. To
have people fling at your feet like this all the time must be unbearable.
There were probably hundreds of people who would love it if people did that
for them, but to Hitomi and her lover this was not something they desired.
"Please rise" the girl of brunette locks replied. It had been a request,
but to the soldier it was a command and he quickly did as he was told. As
he stood he held his chest forward as he looked at the woman. He looked
just like one of the men in the army who was waiting for a command from his
commander. Hitomi looked straight into the man's eyes, "I am honor to have
someone so loyal to serve as my guard, but know this..........I do not want
you die on my behalf."
"Milady" the soldier began, "I have dedicated my life to protecting people
and my duty now is to protect your life. I am not scared to give my life to
save yours."
"But I am" the young woman replied surprising the guard. The woman's eyes
held a special flame and her voice was set in courage, "I have lost
billions of lives because of me and I will not lose another on account of a
duty........I promise you this if you go into those woods you will leave
those woods along with me......"
The man stared at the woman shocked. He never met someone that had ever
cared for him. He had always been the lower class around the royals and
although this woman held no respected royal blood, for she held Draconian
blood that was despised, he saw her as a noble.
His brown eyes continued to study the woman. Her face held hard features as
she stared up at the man. As he looked into her eyes he could see a world
of pain and suffering. Within the reflection of her pupil images of war and
devastation played. Battles raged and war struck down in the mirror of her
eye. The deaths of hundreds of people formed in the reflection and soon
explosions erupted in the scene. The man shook his ahead as if awaking from
a dream. The images within her pupil slowly faded away, but Hitomi's face
was still set in hard features.
The man just continued to stare at the beautiful woman that had captured
his king's affection. Did he just see what he saw?..... Or perhaps it was a
dream?......Whatever it was it left the man speechless.
Hitomi features became soft as she realized she had somehow shared her
suffering with the man. She hadn't mean to, but her powers seemed to
intensify with emotions......especially painful ones..........She placed a
comforting hand on the general's shoulder, "Please understand what I'm
saying. Other might see you as a lower person, but you are living being and
I do not want to see you die....."
The soldier barely nodded still in shock. She had just about literally said
they were equals. He just couldn't get back his mind to work as he watched
the woman walked over to his king. As he watched the two talk he swore on
his family's grave that he would protect this woman at all costs. She had
gained something that was more precious than gold......his respect......
Hitomi and Van turned the group and the young king spoke, "Let's go......"
The wind whistle through the trees in an eerie melody as the fog licked the
invader's ankles. Darkness tried to envelope the group, but several
soldiers held torches keeping the shadows at bay. The branches of the tree
blocked out the sky bringing absolutely no light from the large moon.
Several small creatures of several shapes and sizes scurried amongst the
brush disturbed by these beings' presence. Few ever ventured into these
dark depths and no one had ever left such ghostly dwellings. Most got lost
within the forests confines or died from their own fear. Whatever the
reason for the people to be unable to return to the peaceful world beyond
this dark prison was unknown, but it sent such fear in the comrades of
those lost that the place became known as a forbidden land of spirits. No
one had entered beneath the cover of these trees for over 300 years and now
it seemed that the woods had more victims for its lair of death......
As the group walked through the darkness with only the light of the torches
held by the soldiers a figure lurked between the trees....the being was
swift and quiet.....so quiet that not even the cat~girl's sensitive ears
heard the being stalking the group.....The being ran through the shadows
and leaped from branch to branch stealthily....... It was waiting.....
waiting for the time to strike.....
Hitomi walked at the very head of the group with her personal guard and
lover flanking her. All though the seeress had no idea what to do the group
trusted her as the leader of the task. She had tried to refuse the
position, but the group urged her to take it until she finally did. Now as
she walked through the fog that was growing thicker and higher she wonder
why she had taken on such a difficult job.
The seeress stiffen a bit as she continued to walk when she felt the
awareness of another being nearby. It wasn't easy for her to detect the
person. Her senses could barely read the figure and it almost took all her
strength just to guess which direction the being was. Hitomi made sure to
continue walking straight with eyes forward. She didn't want whoever it was
to know she knew where it was. The being had to be quite powerful for
somehow she was masking herself within the shadows.
Van was completely unaware of the situation at hand. His powers were
extremely weak compared to Hitomi. He had little experience with using his
abilities and the being was masking itself so well that he couldn't even
sense it....
It wasn't long before Hitomi stopped in a small clearing causing the group
to halt behind her. Her emerald eyes scanned the trees looking for
something....anything.....If she was here to find the dead warriors then
why couldn't she find them? And who was the being lurking nearby?
Taking a step away from the group she awkwardly shouted into the shadows,
"Hello? Is anybody out there?"
Silence was the only answer that came from the darkness as the fog
continued to rise. The group was becoming edgy as the silence grew louder.
Allen stepped a little closer to Prince Chid while Millerina and Celena
held each other close. Dryden stood just behind his wife as a small
cat~girl clung to his shirt. Soldiers shook with fear as they stood amongst
the royals. The light from the torches played over the people's features
creating shadows among them. No one could move except Hitomi who took
several more steps towards the darkness.
Hitomi felt something...... She wasn't sure what, but she was positive that
she felt something and it was something vaguely familiar........ It wasn't
the being she felt lurking at the border of light......it was something
else.........Her emerald jewels grew wide as she saw a dark figure in the
fog. The gas was too thick to see properly and she couldn't tell who the
figure was, but she could tell she knew that being somehow....... Her
personal guard walked a little closer to her as he noticed the figure
approaching. All eyes turned towards the seeress and she squinted through
the fog. Unfortunately for the group the fog had thicken so much that the
people were slowly losing each other within its gas.
~Van~
The young king gasped as the gas of white mist surrounded his love and her
guard and hid them from his view. A sudden panic took over his soul as he
felt the sense of awareness he always felt from her go dead. It was like
she had just like she had never been there.....like she no longer
existed.......Van rushed towards the direction where his fiancé had once
yelling her name......
~Allen~
Allen watched in fear as his young king friend also disappeared into the
fog. They were losing each other! They had to stay together if they wanted
to live through this. The hansom knight turned toward his blonde son, but
saw only white gas. He had lost his son! A panic gripped over the man's
heart as he desperately searched for his child. Sadly all his blue eyes saw
was thickening fog. His soul was screaming for his only child worrying that
he had lost him forever. He refused to let his boy disappear in this
moment. He had yet to tell him of his true heritage! The knight swirled
towards what he thought would be the best direction to search and stared
into the white mist. The man began to yell for his son's name as he
stumbled through the thick white void......
~Millerina~
Millerina stumbled over another root as tears came to her eyes. She had
long lost her friend Celena and her loving husband within the white gas.
She had been so sure she had been holding Celena's pale arm before, but
somehow her arm had mystical vanished in her grasp. Her sunshine hair
flowed with the breeze that blew through the forest making the fog grow
thicker. Millerina was growing scared as she entered deeper into the realm
of thick fog......
~Chid~
A visible being began to walk closer to the blonde prince as he stared in
shock. He had been so sure that the figure had been the knight Allen when
the boy had gotten separated from his friends, but now as he looked at the
shadow he knew it was not his bodyguard. Slowly the lines of the figure
came together in a familiar shape. Only the blue eyes of the young blonde
prince saw this figure's face and he gasped as he realized who stood before
him.......
~Celena~
She thought she had died as she stared at the white world surrounding
her.... Where was everyone? Wasn't the queen just holding her arm? Where
had she gone?.....Celena bit her lip in fear. She was becoming quite
frighten and she wanted to call for her brother, but pride kept her mouth
shut. She didn't want to sound like a frighten child.....Her brother was
far too protective of her as it was......She didn't want to be alone either
though....... Although the dreams no longer haunted her sleep she still
remembered them vividly. One that she had feared most was being alone in
darkness while a being stalked her. This was almost exactly like it and it
placed terror into her heart. The wind whistle in her ears as she listen
for a familiar voice or call, but there was only one noise that sounded
over the whistle. That noise came from her own lips in a gasp as she saw a
dark form come towards her......
~Merle~
The cat~girl struck through the thick gas in no particular direction. Fear
was tearing away at her mind driving away her reason. She should have known
better than to run blindly into unknown areas. She was only growing more
lost. Claws dug into the hidden earth beneath the mist as she continue to
rush through the white film. Her furry ears swiveled continually in hope of
hearing a friendly voice. The a tail behind her swung back and forth
keeping her balance as she race through the wall of fog. She wasn't willing
to halt her race, but a lone figure standing in her path caused her to
think twice about stopping......
~Dryden~
The king swirled around in different directions in search of his wife.
Realization constricted his heart when he discovered he had lost everyone
within the fog. He couldn't even tell where the soldiers where. BLAST! Why
did have to lose everyone right now?! The king's face became set in angry
features just as a figure unaware by the king emerged from the depths of
the thick gas behind him......
One by one the group of friends had become separated and now where facing
something that would change their lives from that moment on. Each became
face with someone from their past....... Someone that now only existed in
their memories.....
~Hitomi~
The young seeress hadn't even noticed the fact that she had been separated
from the group and that her guard was no where to be seen. She was
completely focused on the being before her. The sense of awareness that she
got from the being was faint, but recognizable as a familiar person. Who
was it?
Her green eyes widen as she watch the angel appear from the white mist. The
man wore no shirt, but did wear a pair of gray pants with black boots. He
was rather tall and well built. His white bluish tint hair was cut short in
a spiky manner falling over his dark eyes. A tattoo of a purple tear drop
laid on his right cheek. The wings that appeared out of his back were now a
glowing white instead of the black ebony they had once been. Several stray
feathers floated through the air mystically.....The man was very familiar
to the girl now....
"Folken......." the girl of brown locks whispered as the man drew closer.
The fog fell away between them and created a funnel around them. An unknown
source of wind ran through the cell of clear air gently tugging at their
clothes and hair. They stood within their own area while the fog circled
around them blocking their view to the outside of the area. Hitomi barely
was aware of this change for her mind was whirling as she looked at her
lover's older brother.
The man stopped just a few feet in front of the beautiful woman and stared
down at her.
"It's been a long time since I have last seen you Lady Hitomi" the man of
white flowing hair spoke. His voice was different........It was almost
completely hollow and an echo seemed to form in the air from the sound of
his voice......
Hitomi nodded with a small smile, "Yes it has......It's good to see you,
Folken........ although I wish it were on better times......"
His eyes slid shut knowingly as he nodded, "Yes.....I know....."
The girl looked up into the man's face with warm eyes, "Please tell me what
I need to know, Folken....."
The man's eyes slid opened as he spoke in his rich voice that held a
background echo, "I am to warn you, Hitomi......."
Hitomi frowned at the words, "Warn me?"
He nodded making his locks of white hair bob, "Yes.....I must warn you that
once you reach the Mystic Valley Kusari will arrive."
"I will not let him scare me and keep me from my duties......I must go"
Hitomi answered in determined voice, "Queen Iris told me I must go to
heighten my powers. Although I have no idea why I need to do such."
"Hear me out" he interrupted her thoughts, "Once there you will take on a
great task, but on doing so you might have to make the ultimate
sacrifice......"
Her emerald eyes became full of worried and she pleaded to the dead man,
"Like what?"
His jaw clenched in anger. He was forbidden to tell her. More than anything
he wanted to help his brother's future wife, but his tongue would not work.
His duty was only to warn her of the consequences. To show her that she had
a choice although it might be the wrong one......
"I cannot say...." he growled angrily. His eyes held flames as the girl
looked into his eyes, "I am forbidden to speak of it....."
"Who forbids it?" Hitomi asked hotly, "I'm growing quite tired of being
given half answers. What is the propose of you warning me?"
Folken was surprised to see such fire within the woman before him. She had
always been strong will, but she had grown more determined since last he
saw her...
The man hung his head sadly as he realized this was going to be harder than
he thought it would be, "You have to confront Kusari and stop him, Hitomi,
but be careful for his mind is now sick and he has gone insane with
revenge. If you confront him you will be alone. My brother will not be able
to help you during that moment."
Her face turned to confusion. Why would Van not be able to help her? She
knew her love would never abandon her in the hour of her greatest trail.
Would he be hurt...... or killed? No, she would never believe that.
Hitomi teeth clenched together in anger as she glared at the man before
her. Never before had her anger ever gotten the best of her until now. All
she was getting from this encounter with Folken was more questions and
confusion. She wanted answers and no one would give her any!
"Please Folken I have to know....." she begged trying to lower her anger,
"What's is the task that lays in my future and what is going to happen to
Van?"
The man of older years looked down at the girl and proceeded to walk
backwards into the fog. He had to leave before his tongue grew loose and
spoke against the will of his master. The fog began to surge back into the
area disturbing both their sights. Hitomi desperately called out to the
disappearing form, "Wait! Folken!"
"You must confront Kusari, Hitomi" the man's voice echoed, "No one can stop
him, but you.....It won't be easy and you have two choices....I pray to
Joutei that you make the right decision....."
As the last of the fog swam into the funnel of air Hitomi struggled to
follow Folken. It was in vain for she had already lost the man with white
angel wings. She waved her arms a bit trying to fan away the infuriating
mist, but it only grew thicker. As she halted in the mist she called the
man's name one last time, "FOLKEN!......"
~Van~
He ran through the mist. He had lost his sense of direction a long time ago
and had no idea where he was going, but he was desperate to find his
beloved. He had vowed he would forever protect her and now he had lost her!
The blasted fog could have him, but he refused to let Hitomi go again.
A shadow formed within the fog before the young king and the boy of raven
locks called out his lover's name thinking it was her. He came to a halt
when he realized it wasn't his angel, but another woman. Her hair was set
in long dark curls that fell over her shoulders in a beautiful flow of
hair. She wore a long gown of glowing white with matching angel wings. Her
eyes of rose softly looked down at the man as she floated inches above the
unseen earth....
Soon the fog rushed away from the two beings and created a wall around
them. His fire eyes stared at the woman before him not willing to look away
for fear she would disappear at any moment. The king who was one of the
best diplomats and could speak the most memorable speeches could only
whisper one word at that moment, "Mother?......"
"My son...." the woman's voiced echoed through the confined room surrounded
by the white mist. Her hair fluttered in a gentle wind and few white
feathers floated from her wings to fall lazily to the ground. As soon as
the white glowing objects brushed against the ground they vanished from
their eyes, but neither really noticed.....
Van looked into his mother's eyes and a few tears slipped down his cheek,
"Mother.... what's going on?....."
His mother's eyes soften as she stared at her boy. She wished she had not
been the one to bring the information to her son. She hated to watch him
suffer and now.....when he had finally found his love again she was going
to give information that would tear apart his happiness.....
"My son I have important knowledge to give you" the mother whispered
scornfully.
The young king noticed the emotions within her words and became concern,
"What is it, mother?"
The woman blinked away her tears and forced herself to look her youngest
son in the eyes, "When the time comes for Hitomi to complete the task she
was chosen to do you will be unable to help her...."
"I won't be able to help her? Why?" the boy replied unable to believe he
wouldn't be there for his love's time of need. He had vowed to always be
there for her and now he was hearing he would not be there for the critical
time of her destiny.....It was unbelievable....
The woman bit her lower lip as she looked hard into her son's eyes. She
hated to hold back information from one of her love ones, "I am not allow
to say, but I can tell you this......the task she takes on is so great that
it must be completed at all costs, but she is the only one who can do it...
she will have to be willing to sacrifice everything to do it. Her life will
completely change once the task is complete. Know this......no one, but
your fiancé Hitomi can do this......she is the heir of Draconians and she
only holds the power to complete this.....You must not interfere......"
"You have to be insane!" the raven headed man retorted, "I've committed my
life to her and I vow I will be there no matter what happens!"
"You will go to her in the time of her challenge" the woman replied in
sorrow ignoring the boy's outburst, " but it will be far too late for you
to do anything.....respect what she does and all will be well....."
"Mother?...." he whispered still confused. Why was his world shattering
now?! He had found happiness, but was he destined to never have peace?.....
Suddenly the cloud of white mist surged around them disturbing the King's
eyesight. The boy automatically rubbed his eyes as the gas flew into his
rubies. When he reopened his eyes of burning flames his mother was gone....
~Allen~
"Allen, Knight of Schezard" called the voice. The blonde man knew that
voice well and would never had believed he heard it if he hadn't been
staring into the face of the speaker. His eyes widen at the sight of the
beautiful woman with long blonde hair before him. Wrapped in a dress of
glowing white she stood there with sad eyes.
"Allen" she repeated, "Hear me......for I have gone through much difficult
to stand before you here.....only dead warriors are allowed in this realm,
but with some help I have been able to stand before you...although it is
only for a short amount of time so I must be brief...."
"Marlene...." he whispered longingly. Never before had he felt such desire
for a hug from her. Oh, how he had missed her so. He had never truly fallen
in love with another person since his relationship with her. Yes, he had
searched for that love that would once again fill his heart, but it was in
vain. He thought he had discovered it when he met Millerina and Hitomi, but
it had never been the same love that he had held for the woman that stood
before him in the wisp of white fog right now.
"Listen, Allen" the woman commanded urgently as her voice echoed, "In the
hour of need your family will need you. Celena will be forced to face her
dark side and Chid will be cornered. You must protect them both if you want
them to survive through this trial. Though they must face their greatest
fears by themselves you must protect them.....You will know when it is time
to come to their aid......"
"I don't understand" the knight cried as his love already began to fade
away, "Please don't go, Marlene!"
"I must, my knight" she whispered softly into the mist, "Please protect our
son and your sister.....I believe you have the ability to do it....."
As soon as those last words left her ghost lips the mist surged into their
private chamber of gas and clouded the knight's vision once more. The wind
pulled at his blonde locks lifting them into the mist flowing like a river
of gold.
A sorrowful cry came from within the sea of white mist as the blonde fell
to his knees in tears.....
~Chid~
"But how can that be?" the boy prince cried as he stared up into the face
of his foster father, "How can Allen be my true father?"
"He is Chid....believe me when I tell you this....." the king begged the
young blonde prince, "Allen Shezard is your real father....."
Large crystal tears fell from the boy's eyes as he stared into the older
man's gentle face. He could barely believe his ears were actually hearing
this. He wouldn't even be considering the fact to be true if it had not
been told to him by his father......his foster father.......
He stared down at the ground as the tear rained down. He couldn't say he
was surprised. His mother had always spoken highly of the knight....even
more than her husband the king..... Chid's resemblance to his mother
probably was the only thing that kept people from knowing that the knight
was his true father. He had always been close to the knight ever since he
first met him and now he realized it was more than a friendship, but a bond
by blood....
As a tear fell to the ground and the earth soaked it up the prince wondered
why he was crying. Although the news was a shock he wasn't upset. Being the
son of well renowned knight was just as welcoming as being the son of a
king, especially when the knight was Allen. However, he realized it wasn't
that fact that brought tears to eyes, but the issue that no one had ever
told him the truth until now was what brought on the tears. Anyone would be
hurt when discovered such a secret was held from them by the ones that they
had trust most.
His blue eyes turned up to his foster father's holding sparkling tears,
"Why was I not told of this?" The boy's voice held a great deal of maturity
for his age. Sparks of pain ran through the words which the man noticed
easily.
The king had never wanted to keep such information from the boy. It had not
been easy to discover the truth for himself especially since he and the
knight had once been close comrades. It had been a fatal blow to his
fatherhood and it had been like a thorn in his side gnawing a reminder in
his soul that the child was never his own.... It had been a very difficult
life bringing up the child.....
"That I can not tell you...." the king replied sadly trying to forget the
old memories, "That is something only the knight can tell you....."
A ghost hand wiped away the tears running along his foster son's cheeks. A
sad smile came to both of their faces as they knew their time was short.
Neither wanted to leave the presence of their love one. It was hard enough
losing each other the first time, but Prince Chid sniffed back his tears
and pulled back his shoulders. Putting a smile on his face like he did in
the courts the boy nodded to the man who had raised him as a child. The
king smiled as a tear streamed down one of his cheeks. It was time.....
The fog swirled around the two males' bodies tingling the prince's pale
skin. Prince Chid broke his noble stance at that moment and rushed to hug
his foster father before he had a chance to leave, but as his arms came
together all he caught was white mist. Stumbling forward a little the boy
who life had just changed dramatically stared into space.....More tears
slipped down out of his eyes as he let his arms fall to his sides and
whispered, "Goodbye.......father......"
~Merle~
The cat~girl was running breakneck through the mist as she sailed through
the forest. She was determined not to stop until she found her friends and
continued to leap through the air of white. The sudden appearance of figure
caused her to cry out. She was already sailing into the air and was heading
towards the being. She was going to literally crash into the figure! You
can just imagine her surprise when she literally fell through the ghost
being. The cat tumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust. Picking up her
head from the dirt it had been shoved in she looked up into the face of
cat~man.
His hair was of a fire orange in a spiky design and his coat of fur was of
the same bronze coloration as Merle's. He wore a royal blue shirt with
black pants. The material was barely noticeably though for they were
covered by armor that was obviously second hand. A sword in a dark leather
scarab hung from his belt. He held mud brown eyes identical to the young
cat~girl. It was obvious he was related to the girl cat in some way....
perhaps he was from her clan....
She gasped at the sight of the other cat~being and tried to scrambled away
backwards, but those eyes.....those eyes pierced into her soul......Merle
knew those eyes from old memories so vague that they had never surfaced
into her mind until that moment.....
~Memory~
The imagery was extremely cloudy not allowing Merle to distinguish much.
She was barely able to see the white cloth that surrounded a small chamber
that she laid in. A large face appeared over the chamber of white. They
held the same eyes....
"My child......" a male voice whispered as a pair of cat arms reached into
the basket.
She couldn't remember much of the old memory and only caught bits and
pieces of it.
Flames.....she remembered flames......smoke....Was that smoke she smelt? It
was a blur of fire and smoke while two pairs of lavender eyes watched her.
What was happening?..... Who were these beings?.......
Soon the image of a dark being dressed in black was seen before her eyes.
He looked more like a dark shadow than a man. A gleaming blade shone
brightly in her sight as she stared at the shadowy form. The imagery became
dark as she realized someone had closed the small basket containing her.
Screams of a woman rang through the air. The voice was first in fear and
then in pain.....and then nothing.....no sound at all.....whoever had
screamed was now dead......A male voice howled a challenge, but the man was
soon silenced and another life was claimed.....
She was alone......alone in the darkness....She didn't know how long it had
been, but she started to hear the cries of a infant. The noise was
unbearable and Merle desperately pulled at her ears begging for the painful
cries to cease. That's when she suddenly discovered the cries were her own
screams.....She was a baby during this memory......
The thought was soon interrupted as the darkness fell away and a bright
light flooded her vision. The light was so bright that she could not see
past it. It was a wall that could not penetrated.....The only image she
could see through the sunlight was the gentle face of a young woman with
long dark curls. Her face was like a dream for the light was so bright that
it caused her features to glow.....Her smile was a gift from heavens as
Merle heard her cries begin to fade....
A voice sweet like honey spoke, "Don't worry little one.....I, Varia, will
take you as my daughter.....you will be part of my family......"
The light without warning swallowed the image of the woman and Merle was
brought back to reality.....
~End of Memory~
"Who....who are?...." the young cat~girl begged as she shook in fear not
knowing what to expect. He was from her old memory, but who was he.....
"My daughter, Merle....." the man cat of bronze fur replied, "Finally I
have the chance to speak to you....."
"Daughter?!" Merle yelped in total confusion, "What do you mean
daughter????"
The male cat's eyes filled with hurt as the girl recoiled from him. He had
waited so many years for this moment.....and now when it had come it seemed
it would not be what he expected.....
At the sight of his pain Merle relaxed for she felt pity for him. Her fur
felled down and her ears perked showing a sign of friendship. Although she
tried to warm up to the cat~man she couldn't help, but wonder if he was
truly her father.....
"Tell me please....." the young cat whispered, "Who are you?...."
His clothes began to swirl within the breeze that twirled in their chamber
as he began an old tale of his life, "I was your father many years ago.....
you were just a child......only a few weeks old when the dark man Issac
attacked our village...."
He looked into her eyes and she could see tears forming in his lavender
pools, "We knew we had to leave to escape the evil man's wrath, but we were
too slow.....We hid you in a small basket in hope you might not be
discovered and just be consider to be some of our personal items.....A
soldier killed your mother as soon as we exited our burning home....I soon
followed her fate....."
Merle just stared at the cat's face......still a little shock that she
finally knew the truth about her family.....The cat~man knelt in front of
her and placed a phantom paw on her shoulder, "Believe me when I say that I
am your father........We wish we could have been the ones to raise you, but
I am glad that such kind beings found you and took you into their home...."
Tears of sweet lavender fell onto Merle's bronze fur as she bowed her head.
It was so hard to finally hear the truth now......though she had always
doubted her parents would leave her to die in a burning village.....why had
she not been told by Lady Varia that her parents had been killed?....It
would have hurt, yes, but at least she would have known the truth......
The young cat~girl's face was lifted with a gentle ghost paw and she stared
into the eyes of her dead father.....His eyes held similar tears as he
smiled down upon his only child.....
"Please......" he whispered affectionately to his offspring, "Do not blame
your foster mother......she loved you and only kept the truth from you so
to relieve your pain......"
Merle's mouth gaped opened as she realized something suddenly, "How do you
know about my life 'after' your death?"
His bright fire orange hair shook as he lifted himself up into a standing
position, "Your mother and I have always watch over you from the
heavens....."
"The heavens....." she whispered into the gentle breeze that swam through
the room of free air.
The fog began to swirl around the young cat and her father. It ran over the
male cat's body and began swallowing his features. The girl was still in
shock and couldn't even move at the sudden motion of the white mist. The
wisps of gas spiraled around the cat~man allowing only his face to be
visible through it all. His fire orange hair lifted with the mysterious
wind as he stared through the fog at his daughter.
"We'll be watching over you, Merle....." the cat whispered, "Just look at
the stars and when you see a pair twinkle brightly that means were smiling
down at you....."
The gas swirled around his face and swallowed the last of his body as he
gave a finally goodbye, "I love you, Merle.......take care......"
The gas finally surrounded the cat~girl and enveloped her soul into the
last of mist. Tears swelled in her eyes a final time as she whispered,
"Daddy......"
~Celena~
The woman no longer felt fear......only a sense of peace as she stared into
a pair of wolf eyes......He held long blonde hair that fell loosely over
his broad shoulders. A long brown snout was warm as a gentle smile washed
over his wolf lips. A white long sleeve shirt and a pair of gray pants with
dark leather boots dressed his dead body. A bushy wolf tail swayed behind
him showing off his wolf-hood. His eyes of chocolate twinkled down at the
young woman.
"Jajuka....." the woman voice held a hint of joy within the word. Though
she barely remembered the wolf man she knew how kind and gentle he had
been. Vague memories plagued her mind of him and she often wished she could
see him face to face like this....like she was right now....
"My mistress, Celena....." the wolf spoke with a rich voice that echoed
through the confines of their private area. He got down on one knee and
bowed his head humbly. His sunshine hair cascaded over his shoulders like a
waterfall. His pools of chocolate slid shut as his ears flatten in respect.
Celena stared down at him a little surprised, "What do you mean 'mistress',
Jajuka?"
The wolf~man stood up and looked at the woman kindly. The woman beautiful
smile fell downwards in a playful frown, "We are friends, are we not?
Please no formalities.......what are you doing here? I thought you were
dead?"
His gaze fell towards the grow sadly, "I am dead......but I have been given
the blessing of wandering through this realm of warriors...."
"Blessing?" she asked a little confused. How could wandering around for
eternity be a blessing? It sounded more like a curse.....
The golden locks surrounding his head bounced as he nodded, "Yes, to be
here amongst warriors of greatness allows you forever learn and train as a
warrior......You can be taught from fellow warriors or the guardian. It is
a great honor to be in the presence of such distinguished beings."
The blonde woman frowned again, "Guardian? What guardian?"
Now it was Jajuka turn to frown in confusion, "The guardian that dwells
here........Did you not know of her?"
Her confused face was enough to tell him that her answer was yes. Fear
sparked in his eyes, "You must leave now, Lady Celena!"
"Wait, Jajuka!" Celena called as the mist began to swirl around them, "Why
should we leave?!"
His wolf eyes searched through the limited view of the fog as if looking
for someone....or something....., "All those who enter the Trees of Spirits
must get permission from the Guardian of the Forest to be allowed in.....if
you have not gone to her than her anger will be quite severe and she will
kill all who invade this realm.....If you leave now perhaps you will escape
her wrath!"
Aqua tears filled the woman eyes as she watched her dear friend disappear.
They hadn't even had a chance to talk.....and now she would never get that
chance again.....
"Jajuka!" Celena choked through her sobs, "Don't go! I didn't get a chance
to talk to you!"
The wolf drifted into the fog just as he howled one last time, "Do not
worry, my mistress! I will see you again.....I promise you that.....if it
be in death or in the living....I will see you again!"
With that Celena was left with her tears as she smiled at her fading
comrade.....
~Dryden~
The brunette man swirled around to search a different direction for his
wife, but came face to face with another man startling the poor king. The
man wore a dark gray cloak covering all his articles of clothing beneath
it. Though the cloak held a hood it was pulled back allowing the king to
see the man's face. This stranger held a white hair and beard with a hue of
brown coloring it. His face held many wrinkles around sky blue eyes.
Dryden's mouth gaped open at the sight of the man, "Leon!"
"Yes, Dryden...." the man voice was husky with age, "We meet again......"
The spectacles slid a little down the king's nose as he stared into the
eyes of his old teacher.
"I never imagined I'd see you again" muttered the brunette king, "What are
you doing here?"
The old man stared into the man's eyes searching his mind, "You have grown
since last I saw you......and I see you have married my daughter,
Millerina....." A bright smile fell upon the old man's wrinkled face while
a small blush fell on Dryden's.
"Uh....yes I have....." the man replied still in shock, "I still can't
believe I'm seeing my old teacher again....."
Leon nodded slowly, "Yes it is hard for me to believe, too.....I knew you
would one day be a great historian......you never could keep away from my
scrolls when you were little....."
"Yes" the king's voice spoke a little stronger as he regained his
composure, "You taught me well....I learned much from your teachings and
after you left I went in search of you......but I only found your
scrolls......" His voice filled with sadness, "I've kept them in your
memory....."
A laugh that was unmistakable to the king's ears as his old friend's rang
through the mist, "I'm not the least bit surprised....You always loved
them.......your father always wanted you to learn as much as possible to
become a good merchant, but when he sent you to me you got more than
enough......and then you kept wanting to learn more! I could never hold you
back from my scrolls!"
"It's a good thing, too" chuckled the king making his locks of hair dance,
"If it hadn't been for your scrolls we might not have even gotten this
far...."
The king's laughter stopped as the wheels began to turn in his head. His
eyes lifted to stare into the eyes of his old teacher, "Why did you leave
your family, Leon?"
The old man sighed heavily at the question as his eyes wearily closed, "I
was a man who was bound to my scrolls.....They told of my part in this
great prophecy and I had to follow my destiny....my wife didn't understand
why I followed such ancient 'nonsense' and forbade me to go.....I couldn't
hold back though and left for my destiny. In doing so I discovered the
seeress's grandmother and learned more than you'll ever know, Dryden....."
Dryden looked into the man's eyes curiously, "What did you learn?"
Leon sighed heavily. He knew that was to come next. Dryden was always
searching for more information. He forever searching and looking for more
knowledge that could fill his mind.
"That's confidential...." replied the old man sadly. He knew that Dryden
would have been extremely excited to learn what he knew, but his voice was
forbidden to speak of it for destiny at this moment was extremely fragile.
Dryden didn't expect to get an answer. He knew that asking such information
might change destiny itself if he learned too much, too soon....
They faced one another staring at each other as smile warmed their faces.
The two of them might have a great amount of age between them , but they
couldn't help, but see themselves as close friends. Slowly the mist began
to roll in around them and the two were forced to say a goodbye.
"I'm sorry we didn't have a lot more time to talk" replied the old man as
the mist began to envelope his body, "I only came to say that, Dryden, you
will be someone who will be an important asset to this group. Never think
you unimportant to your friends.....Be there for them...."
Dryden smiled as the mist surrounded him and he was once again lost within
the sea of white. He whispered silently to the long gone man as though he
were still there, "I will....."
The fog began to grow thin and slowly the group of friends were able to see
one another once more. Confused soldiers glanced among themselves realizing
the fog was lifting again. All of the friends didn't move for they were
still lost in thought from their previous encounters with long lost
friends....
The being that had lurked within the branches of the trees watching the
scenes below smiled when she saw the mist begin to settle. Carefully she
eyed each being in turn, studying them. Which was the leader?.....When
taking down a large group like this it was best to start with the
leader......Her eyes of silver fell upon a young brunette woman who wore
strange clothing. Whoever she was she was extremely different from the
rest. She had never seen such bazaar articles. Perhaps she was the
leader.....The being felt something within the air.....What was it?......
The woman smiled as she realized the weird woman was powerful enough to
sense her even through her shield.......Her eyes gleamed in the dark as she
focused herself on the woman.... she would be the first.....the others
would follow shortly......
Hitomi stood at the edge of the scattered group realizing that none of them
had strayed from the large clearing they had always been in. Her emerald
eyes swept over the group checking to see if her friends were alright. They
all seemed quite fine except for tears that twinkled within some of their
eyes, but her senses told her that the being was still there watching.....
A sudden noise caused Hitomi to turned her attention back to area that
stood before her. Emerald pools widen in surprise when they came to rest on
a beautiful woman. She wore a green shirt that held no sleeves decorated
with gold trimming that showed off her arm that rippled with smooth
muscles. Pants of similar design hugged her muscular legs while a pair of
mud brown knee length boots covered her feet. Gold gaudlents ran over her
wrists that held etched symbols over the metal. A small circlet of shining
gold crowned her head of dark brown locks that were pulled into a long
braid tied in a golden ribbon. There was one feature that caused everyone
in the clearing to gasp. Arching from the woman's back was a pair of pearl
white wings....
The woman hard silver eyes glared at the young seeress. Hitomi stumbled
backwards frightened by the woman's stare. The group of people were too
shocked by the appearance of this woman to move. The young seeress felt a
sudden wave of anger flow from this new comer and she knew she needed to be
wary of her. Hitomi shudder as the woman stepped towards the frighten girl.
"You have trespassed on sacred ground...." the woman growled angrily at the
group as she stared pointy at Hitomi.
"We apologize for our intrusion" replied the brunette girl trying to
relieve the woman's growing rage, "We only came--"
"ENOUGH!" the woman interrupted with a roar, "You have violated the law of
the forest!"
"Law of the forest?" Hitomi mumbled confused. The seeress's eyes grew wide
as she saw the woman pull out a startling object.
Clenched within her pale hand was a bow of magnificent design. It was made
of a brilliant silver metal while white gold designs ran over its surface.
A golden cord ran between the two points of the weapon glittering in the
light of their torches. It was an amazing weapon that showed great
craftsmanship.....
The woman's pale fingers pulled on the cord creating an arrow of white
light. The arrow shone menacing in the crook of the bow waiting for its
moment to attack. It bright light shone over the woman face creating
shadows over her features.
Carefully the woman pointed the arrow of light at the young seeress and
grinned, "All who trespass are destined to die from the light of my bow....
and I will start with you first......"
With that the woman's fingers released the white arrow letting it sail
straight towards the heart of the young seeress from the Mystic Moon.......
~Okay we've got a new character in this story. Maybe I'm making this story
too complex, but nothing good is ever simple!~
~This woman's identity will be revealed in the next chapter so keep an eye
out for updates!~
~The next chapter is promised to be out by late Monday or early Tuesday! I
promise I keep my updates to the date unless of something serious occurring
so don't worry it will be out by then!~
~Well, what did you think? Come on and tell me! Please R&R! I really want
to know!~
~Man! My chapters seem to be getting longer and longer! This one is just as
long as Chapter 17! I know you readers like that!:)~
