Hitomi and Nathen are still heading for the village,
but danger again changes Hitomi. The
dragon is taking her over and killing. Can Hitomi live with the knowledge?
Of course that is there to make you want to read
the chapter and I hope it does. Please read and review fanilia
The Crusade is traveling eastward still, but there
have been no sightings of the dragon or of the girl from the Mystic Moon. All this waiting is driving Van crazy. He is in the guymelth bay sitting on
Escaflowne, deep in thought. He takes
off the pendant, holds it out and sits staring at the stone, wondering where
Hitomi is now. Suddenly the pendant
starts to glow, a soft green color and swings to the east.
Van: "Please, Hitomi let it be Hitomi."
Night is coming to the forest; the sounds of the
night creatures are starting as the sunsets. Nathan enters the camp to the sight and sound of a crackling fire. Hitomi is sitting near the fire drying her
hair. She doesn't turn when he enters
she already knows it him.
Nathen studies her sitting there quietly by the
fire. She has to be a goddess; her
beauty is so compelling it draws him. No human or animal he has ever seen has the exquisite body and innocent
face that she possesses. "I better make
sure she keeps wearing that cloak, men would kill for her"
Hitomi looks over at Nathan and smiles.
Hitomi: "Tell me about your village. I have met cat folk before and I had the
impression there weren't very many of you. Two I met were warriors for Zieback, they died because of Dornkirk. The other is my friend, her name is Merle,
but I haven't seen her in three years, She was an orphan, found at a burnt out
cottage by the King of Fanilia, Lord Guald."
Nathen: "Her family must have been protectors. They are families that live out away from
the main villages, sometimes long distances. They protect the balance of the forests, watching out for the land and
the animals. In recent years though,
many have been driven out or worse by the greedy land poachers."
That sad expression overtakes Hitomi's face; Nathan
can tell she is again thinking of the men the first night. He has said the wrong thing, so he changes
the subject, hoping to bring back her smile.
Nathen: "You will love my village, it is on flat
open land partially surrounded by fields and forests on three sides, and the
mountains to the East."
Hitomi: "The Elders there are you sure they can
help me?"
Nathen: "They know of many things, of myths and
legends. Many have studied the history of not only our village, but many of the
peoples of Gaea. Here eat, tomorrow we
will be there."
Hitomi: "Thanks, Nathen, you are a good friend."
They eat the meal together, Nathen talking about
the days hunt, of his family and anything to keep Hitomi from becoming sad
again. The fire is dying down to embers
as the two settle in for the night.
It is very late the moons hang low in the night
sky. The sound of movement awakens Nathen. He looks over to see Hitomi. She
has risen and looks to be almost in a trance, staring out at the night
sky. She turns her head quickly as if
listening to something only she can hear.
Nathen: "Hitomi, Hitomi!
She doesn't answer, doesn't even seem to hear
him. Nathan watches as Hitomi is again
surrounded by the strange green glow, the same as he saw the night he first saw
her. She is changing again, becoming
the green dragon.
Goldie circles the fire chattering as the dragon
trumpets, extends its wings, and takes flight. In the distance near and far Nathan hears dragons. They are calling to the green dragon.
The village is alight with fires, some in the
center, others the ransacked huts of the villagers. A lone woman hides in the brush on the outskirts of the village
by the forest. The bandits landed hours
ago, killing anyone who opposed them. Now they are celebrating. Most
are drunk, but some are still up and dangerous. They had made the woman dance for them. When two began to fight, she ran and hid in the place she is
now. If she is found, they will kill
her, she is sure of it.
The men are coming closer to her hiding place
now. Even if she doesn't move, how can
they help not hear her heart beat? It
is so loud, it's almost deafening to her ears. She can wait there no longer. She jumps and starts to run again, only to be caught by one of the men.
Bandit 1: "I found her. Lets get back before we miss all the fun."
He grabs her roughly by the arm, pulling her back
toward the village. She starts to weep.
Bandit 1: "Be still woman you have kept me out here
long enough."
As they reenter the village with their captive the
surrounding countryside is suddenly filled with the sound of dragons
calling. Several of the men stop and
listen to the eerie sound. In the sky
above the village a dragon trumpets, flying down low, fire shooting from its
clawed hand. Both villagers and bandits
run. The bandits head for their levi
ship, in hopes the dragon will concentrate on the defenseless villagers.
The bandit holding the woman captive decides to
take her with. As they near the ship,
she screams harder, struggling to get free. The dragon lands, blocking the men's attempt for the ship. The bandit releasing the woman, but she is
to terrified to move.
Bandit 2: "Let's get it, a dragon that small should
be easy, and what a trophy."
He draws his sword, circling the beast. Several of the men with him, join him. All they need is an opening, and it will be
all over for the dragon.
Thinking he sees the opening, one of the men
attacks, charging from behind. He never
lands his blade being caught by the dragon's tail. He is knocked aside. The
other men charge, flames hit two as the dragon reacts. Another finds the mark, slicing into the
dragon's arm. He jumps back as the
dragon turns on him, but not fast enough. The dragon slashes thru his neck with its claws, severing the man's head
from his shoulders. His body stands a few
seconds longer, before joining the head on the ground.
There are only two attackers left, they brake off
attacking and run for the ship. One
looks back over his shoulder at the woman he is forced to leave behind.
The men reach the Levi ship as it starts raising
into the air. There is a flash of
blue/green fire from the dragon hitting the ship. Flame is engulfing the ship as explosions its hull. The ship crashes, the flames bright in the
night sky.
The dragon turns from the ship looking directly at
the woman. She stands there as is
rooted in place, waiting for her death. She gasps as the dragon looks at her, the eyes. The dragon raises its head, and trumpets,
extends its wings and takes flight back into the night sky. The woman looks up in amazement as a small
golden dragonet joins the green dragon diving and swooping around as they fly
off into the night.
Other villagers are coming out of hiding to join
her as she watches the dragons fly past the light of the moons.
Woman: "A dragonmere has saved out village tonight.
Villager: "Dragonmere's are only legend."
Woman: " No it was a dragonmere, its eyes were
human."
Nathen is sitting by the fire; the flames are
leaping brightly now. When Hitomi
changed and disappeared he built the fire up hoping she would return. Dawn is breaking and the sound of the
dragons is drawing to an end. Hearing a
sound Nathan turns to see Hitomi struggling to walk into camp. Goldie is circling her chirping in
concern. Hitomi is once again the
dragon woman. Nathen jumps up and
rushes to help her. As he approaches he
can see she is bleeding. Hitomi has
been wounded. Nathen scoops her up in
his arms taking her the last few yards to the campfire. He lays her down gently and goes to get
supplies to clean and dress the wound.
Nathen: "Hitomi, what happened, you are hurt. Who did this."
Hitomi is silent.
Nathen: "Speak to me please, Hitomi, please."
Again no answer, Nathen can see she is crying
silently, the tears staining her face. Nathen covers her gently with the blanket, being careful of her
arm. Here drink this, it's gar broth,
it will help your wound heal, and let you get some sleep. Hitomi sips the broth slowly and drifts to
sleep. Nathen cleans and bandages her
arm, while Goldie perches on a nearby branch, watching intently.
Nathen: "I wish you could me what happened to her. I don't like this at all."
Nathen is concerned that Hitomi may need him, but
he too must get some sleep. He lies
down next to her and after ordering Goldie to guard the camp, drifts off to
sleep.
