Just to clear things up, Kerenina is the woman who is pregnant. The reason her name was mentioned so late was because I hadn't decided on what to call her yet. I hope that answers your question about that. I think I'll be calling this series the Dark Moon Saga, I won't change the title or anything, that's just what I'll be calling it in my head. If any of you care. Anyways please review.


Falling Moon


Morning had come with a soft resplendence that flowed across the emerald crowns of the forest and dipped between the leafed branches. The fire had burned down to ashes and the blonde sentry had long since drifted off into sleep, his shoulder's slumped and head bowed over his crossed arms. He muttered something in his sleep and then fell over without waking up.

"Gourry, how could you fall asleep," a shrill voice demanded angrily moments before the aforementioned individual found himself being pummeled within an inch of his life. Their companions, and the woman they had agreed to guard, woke up to the sound of flesh impacting flesh.

"What are you two doing?" Zelgadis demanded of Lina and the swordsman. Gourry emitted a weak groan as the sorceress walked away from him with a satisfied smirk.

"Found him asleep at his post," she informed them, stretching her tired body.

"Mister Gourry, that was very irresponsible of you," the princess admonished him.

"It's alright, nothing happened," Kerenina inserted in a placating tone. She smiled with genuine sweetness, the combatants reluctantly relented. Her smiled wavered and her face paled. With a mumbled apology she stumbled off into the woods.

"Hey wait, it's dangerous," Gourry called making an attempt to follow her.

"Just leave her alone. It's just a bit of morning sickness," Lina told him as she grasped his long hair firmly.

"What's that?" he asked.

"It's a female thing," she answered vaguely, a slight blush creeping across her cheeks. She hated discussing feminine problems with him, he never got it.

"Why don't you do it?"

"It's a pregnant female thing," she clarified before slamming her elbow into her stomach.

Kerenina reentered, a dull flush staining her pale cheeks, she glanced around in embarrassment, noted Lina beating up Gourry, and made her way to fireside. Zelgadis had stirred up the embers and a decent sized blaze boiled water for his coffee while Amelia cooked a large breakfast.

"Would you like some bacon and eggs?" she asked the woman kindly. The woman shook her vehemently, a look of nausea passed across her face.

"Just some bread or toast," she replied softly.

"Here you go," Amelia said handing the woman a few slices of bread, wisely deciding that butter wouldn't be appreciated. The woman inclined her head in gratitude as she munched on the bread more or less contentedly.

* * * *

The dark cloak of dusk settled across the land, shattering the golden security of day with frigid fingers. A deceptively fresh scent permeated air, menacing rain and violent gales. The five travelers cast apprehensive glares at the offending clouds and discussed where to spend the night.

"It's okay, we don't have to stop now," the woman told them, her smile slightly strained. "I told you that you can just continue on your journey like nothing's changed."

Lina shook her head; "It doesn't matter. It'd be best to set up camp now and then wait for the rain then to set up camp while it rains."

"So how pregnant are you?" Gourry asked out of the blue, innocent curiosity on his face. The sorceress muttered his name lowly and then rammed her fist into his head.

"Don't ask her that, it's not polite," she hissed.

"It's okay," Kerenina assured them with a smile. "I'm almost nine months into it."

They stared at her in shock, except for Gourry, as the implications set in.

"You shouldn't be travelling if your pregnant, never mind being nine months," Amelia cried, her voice emphasized by a peal of thunder.

"You could endanger the baby," Zelgadis added.

"I know," the woman replied, looking away. "But I have to keep going. If I don't they'll get me."

"Those shadow things?" She nodded solemnly, green eyes troubled. The companions hadn't gotten a clear view of the beings that had attacked her, but what they had seen sent shivers of fear down their spines. There was something so unnatural in the liquid movements of those creatures, serpentine and cat-like, flowing around each other in a hypnotizing pattern. It seemed as though they had no substance, were not corporeal, but the small gouges in their victim's flesh proved otherwise.

Without warning a deluge of water fell full upon them, in an instant they were completely soaked. An assortment of curses greeted this new development as the group scrambled about to create a makeshift camp.

They huddled close together under the cover of a single tent that they had managed to construct. Their damp bodies pressed together seeing as how the girls were adamantly against removing any article of clothing save boots, socks and gloves. The men had grumbled some, stating that they would dry off sooner if they weren't wearing damp clothes, a few glares and the threat of a fireball soon had the issue resolved.

"If we hadn't stood around chatting..." the chimera grumbled as he shifted position, jabbing Lina in the back with his elbow more or less accidentally.

"Stop griping Zel, you were as much..." her voice trailed off as some disturbance outside caught her attention. Garnet eyes narrowed as a bolt of lighting ripped across the sky, thunder followed swiftly on its heels. For a moment she could have sworn she saw something other than bushes moving out there.

"Something's there," she whispered harshly, catching everyone's attention.

"Them?" Gourry asked, hand coming to rest at the hilt of his sword. A small mewling noise came from Kerenina as she began to shake.

"Everyone be quiet," Zelgadis hissed as he strained to hear above the pounding of the rain. The companions fell into uneasy silence, those that could fight tensed up, aware that it was nearly impossible to fight in such close quarters. The pregnant woman began to sob softly, the sound drowned out by the downpour.

Another snake of lighting shot across the sky and another resounding peal of thunder sounded, and suddenly the wind flung the stinging bullets of water into their faces. A scream resounded as the shocked travelers found the tent in shreds around them.

Gourry cried out as one of the shadow beings clamped its burning jaws around his forearm. The thing worried his arm viciously, razor teeth scrapping across bone. The swordsman bellowed and brought his fist down in the general area of the head. It let go and staggered back with liquid grace, something like a quavering voice echoing from some aperture. He didn't wait a moment longer and brought his sword into the game. With a few slices the thing had been reduced to steaming black ichor.

Before he could rush to help the others three more jumped him. With every he felled another came to continue the attack.

* * * *

"Fireball," Lina cried, a blast of burning flames sizzled through the air and immolated a group of the living shadows. Spinning around she cast a flare arrow and dispatched another, dark bits of tissue and something stickier splattered across her face, mixing with the rain.

From the corner of her eye she could see Zel and Amelia blasting away all those that tried to approach their charge. She noted that the woman had several deep lacerations on her arms and one on her rotund stomach. A flicker of fear lanced through her as she thought of the baby.

What the hell was going on? She wondered as she cast several more spells. There were so many, and there didn't seem to be any end to them. The largest concentration seemed to be going after Zel and Amelia, seeking the woman they guarded. What was so important about her?

Lina issued a pained yelp as one of the shadows latched onto the meat in her calf. It seemed to laugh softly as she fell to the ground. Another came raked its claws across her face, saffron eyes glowing with malicious delight. What were they?

* * * *


Thanks for reading, please review and I'll try to get out the next real soon.