I uploaded a crapload of Aurikku art on my website, including the new "Plotless Aurikku fluff comic". Do go see, link at bottom.
Feedback is so nice. Yesh. Spaz write more.
Chapter 18 Silver Feather
"I /hate/ chocobos..." whined Rikku to herself. They were big, smelly, scary and apparently didn't like her. That much was obvious, considering a whole flock decided it would be just peachy to run the small Al Bhed over, their huge feet coming perilously close to squashing her. Dust settled over her, as her huge eyes seemed to pop from her face, shock written all over her expression. She pouted as the party laughed, even Auron chuckling at her misfortune.
Grumbling, she hauled herself to her feet, yellow feathers falling from her shoulders, causing the party to laugh even more. She sighed, taking the laughter. If she could bring them a momentary calm from the dreary thoughts of what was to come, then she would let them.
She started towards the next rise of the following hill. Gods, that had been somewhat embarrassing. Dusting herself off, she glanced to the bright blue sky above. They'd been lucky so far, only a few minor scrimmages with fiends. They'd left early that morning, the sun's rays pelting the party earlier than usual. Rikku had awoken facing the golden rays, while Auron, lucky bastard, had his face nuzzled behind her neck, hidden from the annoying light. Rikku realized that was the first time the guardian had not woken with the sun.
Rikku's green eyes scanned the terrain, not even aware of the large Nidhogg looming over the next crest. It wasn't until she saw the shadow that she realized something was wrong.
A flash of red, a roar. Rikku's reflexes acted faster than her brain, shielding arm up and ready as the large red-scaled fiend blasted her with fire. She was knocked back, hitting the grass silently. Another flash of red, this time a scarlet robe stepping in front of her, a tail of shining metal glinting in the sunlight. She dragged herself and stood beside the sentinel as they fought.
Unfortunately, this drew attention to several other fiends in the area, soon creating a barrier between the two unsent and the others. Rikku whipped around, Yunie? There she was, protected by Tidus and Lulu. Satisfied that she was safe, she turned back to her own battle.
Auron's blade gracefully cut the beast, swooping low, then arcing into the fiend, finding air again as it cleared the body, blood running down it's length. Rikku decided they would have no problem defeating the monster until she saw a second shadow loom behind them. Oh, cred!!!
A long, pointed, gleaming horn made it's way with surprising speed towards the distracted Auron. Rikku hissed, quickly pondering her options. No way she could stop the momentum of the Grendel, it was far too large. So she raced, smashing into Auron's side just as the large saber passed over their heads, it's tip catching one of her arms. She shrieked, wincing in pain as the slender arm snapped back, returning to her side. She looked up in time to see a large paw falling to crush her. Rikku closed her eyes.
Auron had hit the ground hard. Caught off guard, as his attention was to the fiend in front, he had been unaware of the massive blue Grendal behind him. He whipped around at Rikku's shrill cry, only to see her impending doom at the massive paw of the beast. A surge of some unknown emotion coursed through his body, and he quickly lifted his sword. As time became the deadliest of enemies, he actually knelt with the girl, his own life now hung in the balance. He placed his sword into the earth, the tip facing upwards.
The weight of the limb came crashing down upon his blade, the poison tipped claws mere inches above his face. The beast howled, it's blood flowing down the sword like a waterfall. It's impaled paw trembled, grazing Auron's forehead. He grunted, struggling to hold his grip on his wavering weapon.
It seemed like an eternity, waiting, praying. At last, the beast pulled away, assaulted by Lulu's firaga. Unfortunately, it took Auron's sword with it, the metal imbedded in it's limb. The man blinked rapidly, a trickle of blood stemming off at his eyelid and impairing his vision. A trembling ebon-gloved hand wiped it away.
Below, Rikku moaned in pain. Auron looked towards the battle, ignoring the strange ache whispering to his body. Yuna, Tidus and Lulu were now battling the fiend. The seemed to be handling themselves well, and he didn't have a weapon anyway. He looked down, to the twitching Al Bhed.
She cradled her arm fiercely, her eyes jammed shut. He reached to her, examining the arm. She almost howled at the pain his hand was sending through her being.
"It's broken," Auron whispered hoarsely, his voice rough and low.
"No Shit!" She cried, tears blurring her vision. Auron released a shaky sigh, searching his inner shirt for some kind of potion. All he had was a high potion, and released it's magic upon the girl. It might not heal the wound, but it would ease the pain. Her cries were reduced to whimpers as she clutched the material of his pants tightly.
As for his own condition, Auron felt... lightheaded. Shaky, even. What was wrong with him? He took an uneven breath into his lungs, awaiting the outcome of the battle raging without them.
The fight took a good twenty minutes. In the end, the party prevailed. In that twenty minutes, Auron's health had deteriorated rapidly, though he held it inside. Yuna came to them, kneeling beside her fallen guardians.
"Can I help?" she asked solemnly.
"Her... her arm, it is broken," Auron rasped, even he shocked at the tone of his wavering voice. Nodding, Yuna began to whisper, casting cura on the twitching girl before her. Rikku sighed in relief, nuzzling her face into Auron's thigh. Auron nodded to his summoner. He was taken back when he felt Yuna's smooth hand touch his forehead. He froze, not looking up. Rikku could care less, her face buried somewhere in his cloak.
Yuna's hand grazed his head, down his sweating face, through his stubble until it rested upon his neck, feeling the ragged pulse that throbbed there.
"You have been poisoned," she said softly, removing her hand from within his collar. "I... I need some time to rest, to regain my magic. I can take some of it away, but you will be fevered..." Auron's paralysis faded as he nodded. She whispered faintly again, a small light filling the man's vision. A few moments later, his breathing returned to something normal, but he still felt lightheaded. He hissed to himself. He simply despised being sick or wounded.
"Come," Yuna called to the others. "Let us rest early tonight." Wakka and Tidus brought up the rear, following the summoner to a small alcove in the canyon wall. Auron struggled to stand upright, almost embarrassed when he swayed. Rikku was there suddenly, her newly healed arm enwrapping his waist. They walked silently towards the edge of the plain when Rikku noticed that the silver feather from the night before was still tucked in his collar. Pausing, she stood on her toes, reaching inside his cloak, removing the beautiful object. Despite his condition, Auron chuckled.
"I wondered what that was," he whispered as she tucked it in her pouch. They slowly made their way to the camp.
****eeee. Kinda short, but I really need to go to bed. I am actually considering illustrating the next chapter, as it will be a little romantic. Not lemon. Spaz does not want to do a lemon, ok? Eesh. For those of you who are wondering, Rikku /does/ know he is unsent, like he tells her in chap 8 or nine. 8 I think.
Oh yea, the pics and comic. Under my site, check the updates. They are there.
[1]http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net
-Spazkit
References
1. http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net/
Feedback is so nice. Yesh. Spaz write more.
Chapter 18 Silver Feather
"I /hate/ chocobos..." whined Rikku to herself. They were big, smelly, scary and apparently didn't like her. That much was obvious, considering a whole flock decided it would be just peachy to run the small Al Bhed over, their huge feet coming perilously close to squashing her. Dust settled over her, as her huge eyes seemed to pop from her face, shock written all over her expression. She pouted as the party laughed, even Auron chuckling at her misfortune.
Grumbling, she hauled herself to her feet, yellow feathers falling from her shoulders, causing the party to laugh even more. She sighed, taking the laughter. If she could bring them a momentary calm from the dreary thoughts of what was to come, then she would let them.
She started towards the next rise of the following hill. Gods, that had been somewhat embarrassing. Dusting herself off, she glanced to the bright blue sky above. They'd been lucky so far, only a few minor scrimmages with fiends. They'd left early that morning, the sun's rays pelting the party earlier than usual. Rikku had awoken facing the golden rays, while Auron, lucky bastard, had his face nuzzled behind her neck, hidden from the annoying light. Rikku realized that was the first time the guardian had not woken with the sun.
Rikku's green eyes scanned the terrain, not even aware of the large Nidhogg looming over the next crest. It wasn't until she saw the shadow that she realized something was wrong.
A flash of red, a roar. Rikku's reflexes acted faster than her brain, shielding arm up and ready as the large red-scaled fiend blasted her with fire. She was knocked back, hitting the grass silently. Another flash of red, this time a scarlet robe stepping in front of her, a tail of shining metal glinting in the sunlight. She dragged herself and stood beside the sentinel as they fought.
Unfortunately, this drew attention to several other fiends in the area, soon creating a barrier between the two unsent and the others. Rikku whipped around, Yunie? There she was, protected by Tidus and Lulu. Satisfied that she was safe, she turned back to her own battle.
Auron's blade gracefully cut the beast, swooping low, then arcing into the fiend, finding air again as it cleared the body, blood running down it's length. Rikku decided they would have no problem defeating the monster until she saw a second shadow loom behind them. Oh, cred!!!
A long, pointed, gleaming horn made it's way with surprising speed towards the distracted Auron. Rikku hissed, quickly pondering her options. No way she could stop the momentum of the Grendel, it was far too large. So she raced, smashing into Auron's side just as the large saber passed over their heads, it's tip catching one of her arms. She shrieked, wincing in pain as the slender arm snapped back, returning to her side. She looked up in time to see a large paw falling to crush her. Rikku closed her eyes.
Auron had hit the ground hard. Caught off guard, as his attention was to the fiend in front, he had been unaware of the massive blue Grendal behind him. He whipped around at Rikku's shrill cry, only to see her impending doom at the massive paw of the beast. A surge of some unknown emotion coursed through his body, and he quickly lifted his sword. As time became the deadliest of enemies, he actually knelt with the girl, his own life now hung in the balance. He placed his sword into the earth, the tip facing upwards.
The weight of the limb came crashing down upon his blade, the poison tipped claws mere inches above his face. The beast howled, it's blood flowing down the sword like a waterfall. It's impaled paw trembled, grazing Auron's forehead. He grunted, struggling to hold his grip on his wavering weapon.
It seemed like an eternity, waiting, praying. At last, the beast pulled away, assaulted by Lulu's firaga. Unfortunately, it took Auron's sword with it, the metal imbedded in it's limb. The man blinked rapidly, a trickle of blood stemming off at his eyelid and impairing his vision. A trembling ebon-gloved hand wiped it away.
Below, Rikku moaned in pain. Auron looked towards the battle, ignoring the strange ache whispering to his body. Yuna, Tidus and Lulu were now battling the fiend. The seemed to be handling themselves well, and he didn't have a weapon anyway. He looked down, to the twitching Al Bhed.
She cradled her arm fiercely, her eyes jammed shut. He reached to her, examining the arm. She almost howled at the pain his hand was sending through her being.
"It's broken," Auron whispered hoarsely, his voice rough and low.
"No Shit!" She cried, tears blurring her vision. Auron released a shaky sigh, searching his inner shirt for some kind of potion. All he had was a high potion, and released it's magic upon the girl. It might not heal the wound, but it would ease the pain. Her cries were reduced to whimpers as she clutched the material of his pants tightly.
As for his own condition, Auron felt... lightheaded. Shaky, even. What was wrong with him? He took an uneven breath into his lungs, awaiting the outcome of the battle raging without them.
The fight took a good twenty minutes. In the end, the party prevailed. In that twenty minutes, Auron's health had deteriorated rapidly, though he held it inside. Yuna came to them, kneeling beside her fallen guardians.
"Can I help?" she asked solemnly.
"Her... her arm, it is broken," Auron rasped, even he shocked at the tone of his wavering voice. Nodding, Yuna began to whisper, casting cura on the twitching girl before her. Rikku sighed in relief, nuzzling her face into Auron's thigh. Auron nodded to his summoner. He was taken back when he felt Yuna's smooth hand touch his forehead. He froze, not looking up. Rikku could care less, her face buried somewhere in his cloak.
Yuna's hand grazed his head, down his sweating face, through his stubble until it rested upon his neck, feeling the ragged pulse that throbbed there.
"You have been poisoned," she said softly, removing her hand from within his collar. "I... I need some time to rest, to regain my magic. I can take some of it away, but you will be fevered..." Auron's paralysis faded as he nodded. She whispered faintly again, a small light filling the man's vision. A few moments later, his breathing returned to something normal, but he still felt lightheaded. He hissed to himself. He simply despised being sick or wounded.
"Come," Yuna called to the others. "Let us rest early tonight." Wakka and Tidus brought up the rear, following the summoner to a small alcove in the canyon wall. Auron struggled to stand upright, almost embarrassed when he swayed. Rikku was there suddenly, her newly healed arm enwrapping his waist. They walked silently towards the edge of the plain when Rikku noticed that the silver feather from the night before was still tucked in his collar. Pausing, she stood on her toes, reaching inside his cloak, removing the beautiful object. Despite his condition, Auron chuckled.
"I wondered what that was," he whispered as she tucked it in her pouch. They slowly made their way to the camp.
****eeee. Kinda short, but I really need to go to bed. I am actually considering illustrating the next chapter, as it will be a little romantic. Not lemon. Spaz does not want to do a lemon, ok? Eesh. For those of you who are wondering, Rikku /does/ know he is unsent, like he tells her in chap 8 or nine. 8 I think.
Oh yea, the pics and comic. Under my site, check the updates. They are there.
[1]http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net
-Spazkit
References
1. http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net/