Dragon Burn.
By Amanda Wardropper
Dragon Cry.
Chapter 14 - courtyard of the Atlantians.
Jason gazed up into the sky. The pillar of light seemed to rise forever. He sheilded his eyes with a hand, trying to spot the two Draconians. He nursed his jaw in the palm of his other hand, when Van was really angry he could pack a blow that would make a dragon topple over. He wasn't very pleased at being on the recieving end of his blow, but he guessed he deserved it. Still, it looked like he didn't take it out on Hitomi, not that he could.
Van and Hitomi stood erect, on the mass of fire that was the dragon God and Escaflowne. *We go!* Rangerath screamed. The flames around them billowed up and spread, creating a mass shape that eventually formed the rough shape of a red Dragon. Their senses were once again returned to the empty place of the dragons mind, only now it was filled with the vision of what the dragon saw. Their physical bodies were engulfed in the huge, rippling mass of the inferno.
In the world, that was not a world, they looked at each other and then at the scene the dragon saw. Another dragon stared back at them from afar, *My alter ego, Holith.* The red dragon growled. *Knight of Dragons, seer him!* A vision of Rangerath's great head swung round to face him, a snarling gulf of red scales. It's murky yellow horns stuck out from it's skull and twisted beyond. Van nodded slowly, *Then release your spirit!* Rangerath commanded. Hitomi felt a low thud in her chest, not painful and not at all pleasant. It felt like something had been taken out of her. Her very being, her soul. Then, she didn't see what the dragon saw, but what she saw infront of her. The forests below looked like tiny, still life ants. She looked down at her hands, examining them closely. They were not human flesh. They were a liquid inferno of red fire, swirling and ever changing, but staying in the same shape. She glanced around her, she wasn't alone, Van stood next to her. It wasn't Van, as in the human meaning, but a flame, a fire spirit. His wings billowed out from his back, bright red and ever changing with the mass of liquid fury. His broad shoulders pushed back and his wide chest puffed out. Behind them, the great fire spirit glowered at his foe. The green dragon charged ever closer to them.
From the corner of his eyes, he watched her feminine shape, excentuated by the rippling, boiling liquid fire. A good spirit, come to deny his world from the evil that longed for it. Like an angel's, her graceful wings flowed out from between her shoulder blades, an ignited spark of fury, waiting to be unleashed. Like a Good Spirit, her body was arched, arms held out at her sides, following the curve of her wings, denying all her sacred temple, by birthright. He drew his gaze, unwillingly, away from her and explored his new found vision. Rangerath was behind them, staring out at the forests. Infront, in the far distance, the green fire of Holith burned brightly. He glanced back at the vision of beauty, the good spirit at his side. Her gaze met his and in that moment, all time was lost, slowed to an unmoving picture. An angel come to rescue him.
*We must attack, Knight of Dragons, so we may gain advantage!* He snapped out of his daydreaming at the strict command. In a quick reaction to it, he drew his sword and held a fighting stance. A second later he realized that he was holding thin air. He glanced at his sword held in his hands. It was not there. *It is not part of your soul, your inner spirit. It is just a tool.* Great! He was up against a dragon, without a sword! How was he going to pull this off?
In the, not so far off, distance, Holith bellowed his challenge *My master wants your head on a silver plater, Knight of Dragons! And the Star Wanderer's!* It's gravely voice reached them.
Van growled, nobody was going to have his head, or Hitomi's. Not realizing it, he launched forward. His hand curled into a balled fist just behind and to the side of his head. He beat down his massive wings, sending hot sparks into the forests. They extinguished before they hit the floor.
A vision of an angel. On wings of fire.
He let out a powerful war cry, in his judgement this dragon threatend, not only his life, but hers aswell. The warrior must always have a purpose, a reason to fight.
On wings of fire.
As his form moved closer to the green, swirling mass of fire, his fist started forward.
On wings of fire.
He screamed in rage as a red shape darted past him and took out his foe. Rangerath hurtled it's weight into Holith. The two dragons, wings unfurled to their maximum peak, charged at each other, time and time again, in fatal head butts.
Knee raised in mid stride, flowing forward at an alarming rate, fist moving ever faster, forward, Van caught the head of Holith full on. The dragon reared and cried in pain. I am the Knight of Dragons, bow down to me!Then I swear no mercy! She asked herself. If she did not want to fight, why was she here, in the heat of battle?
*You are here to put an end to us, when the time is right.*
*Very likely.* Would this be their last battle? Would she die away from home, away from everything she had learned and cherished? Would she die away from his arms, and not tell him how much he meant to her? With cold determination she swore an oath, infront of the good spirits, praying them to watch over them, I will prevail from this battle, with Van and Rangerath by my side, the only one who shall perish, is Holith! She caught herself, what was she doing? How could she wish another creature to die?
Holith screamed his defiance as it hurtled forward, heading in a head rush straight for Van.
Van brought his knee into the soft under belly of the great beast. Before he could divert it, Holith's fore claw came for his face. In a blinding shot of pain the claw tip connected with his cheek. White hot pain seared through him. In a reflex he struck the dragon once more. *Move Knight of Dragons!* Rangerath cried. Glancing to his companion, Van lept to the side of the fury of flames that sped past him and crashed head long into Holith.
Van thrust his hands forward as he drifted, on his wings, to the side. In a bout of anger he released he soul's intent. A fire ball, bigger than any of them, grew and spat out. The air vibrated with the thunder that began. The storm had reached them.
Joining the flames of the dragon god, Van's attack engulfed Holith. He thought it was all over, until he realized that destiny has a funny nack of making you think you've won, when, infact, you're no closer.
As the flames dissapated, green Holith rose. Snarling with a fierce grin, of which Van did not like the looks of, it turned it's body to what it sought.
*You are strong, Knight of Dragons, but how long will you last with no purpose?* With that, Holith brought it's wings down and launched itself at Hitomi.
Hitomi saw the fire coming at her. She thrust a hand, outstretched, forward, in a hopeless attempt to ward off the ongoing attack. A strange radiance shot forth, from her palm. It covered Holith in it's aura. The dragon stumbled and cried out. Unfortunatly, it's forward motion drove it onwards, until it struck out with both of it's front claws. Only one set caught Hitomi, on the shoulder, but as it surged past her, it's massive tail crashed into her. She could hear the bone crushing sound of the impact, the sound of several ribs being broken. She shrieked at the pain, clutching at her side.
Hitomi!You son of a ...Now, Rangerath!
*You are the Star Wanderer, you are the one with the power, I do not know*
The Star Wanderer's were named for the job that they performed, wandering the stars, freeing their powers on worthy foes, the power of the stars. The celestial prison. A power which cubed the enemy and emprisoned them in a box, for all time. A box in the stars, an alternative universe. That was all Rangerath knew, not how it was brought forth.
She gasped as Holith struck Van, with a clawed fist. The strike drew blood, or, in this case, fire. The pain in her side was wearing thin on her patience. The deep gashes in her arms and legs throbbed furiously. Van was in no better shape. Yet more broken ribs and deep gashes. Rangerath and Holith seemed to be the best off, with only minor injuries and gashes in their wings. But green Holith was at a disadvantage. In a daze of fury, Van had sliced through a wing. Tearing it's ligements and braking the joint.
The voices of the Good Spirits, watching over them from the start gave forth their demands. *The celestial prison, Star Wanderer. Use the radiance within.*
Panting for breath she flung her arms in the air, pleading to the stars for strength. Along with her voice, countless numbers of good Spirit's joined in the ancient chant, of the mystical power. Of the Star Wanderer.
From the heavens above came the glowing radiance. It plunged to the ground, spreading around the four warriors. Holith screamed defiance as the light concerntrated on it. Writhing in anger it spowted out a huge gush of flame. The light came crashing down around him, engulfing him, crushing him. *We have weakened him! The celestial bodies can now control him!* Rangerath told them. The radiance of the stars burned out, taking with it the god of Forest Dragons, green Holith.
*You can now return your spirits my children. Thank you. The Gods are pleased that you have managed to banish Holith and free my eternal ghost. I can now be guided to the light.* The holy place of the Gods.
In a blinding flash of light they were returned to their bodies. The great pillar of light around them dissapated and vanished. The fire around Escaflowne extinguished.
Hitomi was exhausted and barely able to keep herself upright. To her horror, all wounds she had recieved were now emblazoned onto her skin, as real as if she had actually fought using her physical presence. Standing on her feet she began to sway. The pain was too much, the exhaustion of taxing herself and her powers took it's tole. She slipped into unconciousness and fell from the arms of the white beast. Her feathers broke away from her wings in a turmoil of whirlwind.
It took a few moments for Van to realize that he was back in a physical state, and that his wounds were sapping strength from him. He clutched at his side. His jaw throbbed, along with the deep gashes that ran the length of his back and chest. He caught sight of feathers, floating aimlessly in the night sky. Compared to the brightness of the pillar of light, the night sky was pitch black. As his eyes got accustomed to the darkness he caught a glimpse of white. Immediatly, his eyes locked on. Hitomi, she was falling. In a split second he raced after her. Why is it always when I'm hurt badly, that she chooses to faint? He thought. Wasn't it enough that he was almost dead himself?
He cried out in anger, at himself. Too late, she hit the floor of the cobbled courtyard. "No!" He landed carelessly and ran without heed of his own injuries. He skidded to a hault next to her and, practically, dived to his knees. Jason was there, he held her wrist in between his fingers and thumb. She still clutched the remminents of her shirt. He looked at Van when he came to a stop beside them. His eyes held the note of destress. Slowly he shook his head, not quite believing what had just happened. "Fool!" Van screamed. He forcefully pushed Jason away. The young knight skidded across the floor a ways, legs splayed, hands at his sides balancing him, and a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Van gazed down at her. Her head lay to one side, her eyes shut tight, no sign of life. "No!" he whispered in anguish. A little louder he repeated his defiance, "No, not after all this!" Why now? Without another moments thought he bent to the task at hand, reviving Hitomi. Somebody grabbed his hands. His head jerked to them, a vision of rage. Someone was going to be ripped apart for denying him the, possibly, only chance at saving the Star Wanderer. Mistress Hilcha, head cook at the castle, stared back at him. She was a brave woman, crossing him like this. She wasn't the person to faint or flaunt infront of a man. She was the boss woman at the kitchens. "Lord Van, this is indecent!"
"What do you mean! This woman is going to be lost forever if I don't do something!" He shouted back, at equal volume.
"But it's indecent. For a king like yourself to treat commoners like her, I mean, to save her, you would ... have .. to ..." She gestured to Hitomi.
Fire raged through his eyes. This woman better move herself before he took that anger out on her. "Remove your hands!" He warned, in a low growl.
She backed away, doing as he said.
"If you want to live, I dearly suggest you shut up and back away!" She did so. The look he gave her said it all. She was a brave woman, but no one would cross the king in such a foul mood as he was in, let alone provoke it.
Turning away from her he faced his task. Without further adue, he recalled the brief lesson princess Millerna had given him, coincidentally, it was to save Hitomi's life. He sighed inwardly, What on Earth am I going to do with you, Hitomi? Haven't you caused me enough sleepless nights already?
He layed his hands just bellow her collar bone, between her rib cage. He began focusing on his own heart beat, ignoring the pain. He pushed down on her, keeping in time with his own heart beat. "Lord Van, sir, it's indecent!" Hilcha screamed, "Let one of the medics do it!" She added to herself, "One of the women."
Seeming to get no where, fast, tears stung his eyes. "No, Hitomi, don't leave me, I need you more than anything!" He whispered. Encouraging her to breath once more. Furiously, he ran through the lesson Millerna had given, he was doing everything right, why was it not working? Sweat and tears dripped from his nose.
*The Star wanderer!* Rangerath called, from the place of holy spirits. *She cannot pass the vail! She mustn't!* He finally got to the final part of the lesson and spotted something he was missing, which was vital. The breath of life. He stopped pushing down on her chest and held her nose closed with a hand. The other he used to force her lips open. He took a deep breath, it hurt his broken ribs, and covered her lips with his. In cold determination he forced his breath into her. Then, quickly, he returned to pounding her chest. *This will not work.* Rangerath whined. He surrendered, *You are my masters, I will not let one die, because of me. I will give up my place with the Gods to help you.* Van didn't know what that meant, he didn't care.
Up on it's vigilant height, Escaflowne watched over the scene unfolding. Rangerath's spirit entered it. The energist in it's claws began glowing, then pulsed with Van's heart beat.
Jason heard a low keen. He looked to where it was coming from. Escaflowne reared and bellowed a sad note. It's energist pulsed as metal cracked and shaped into scales. The crunching of bones, shaping themselves to a modified shape. The visor lit with a viscious red. Eyes stared back at him. Wings unfurled and membrane replaced the fabrics. The energist sunk into the dragons chest, it pulsed so brightly, that you could still vaguely see it.
*I am here! We will save her, Van.* The white dragon behind him bellowed a challenge to those around him. No one heard his words but Van. Tears coarsed down his cheek, it was hopeless. Five minutes had passed. *It is never hopeless. I can help.* The energist glowed brighter. Van's wings pulsed a bright white, giving the illusion of growing bigger. *You can do this.*
"I will!" He repeated the process several times more before he caught the all important sign he was looking for. Her chest rose of it's own accord and the pendant on her neck began pulsing strongly in time with his wings. A second later, she curled up in a ball, to the side facing him and began a coughing fit. *She lives!*
Van stroked her back, urging her to breath more normally. He grinned to himself, he could almost weep for joy. "It's OK, Hitomi. I'm here." He managed to get out between the pain and his ragged breathing.
She clutched her side as her coughing fit raged on. Her broken ribs made it hard to breath properly. His hand on her back and his comforting whispers, made the pain bearable and gave her the will to stop coughing.
Astonished whispers broke out in the crowd, the king had just saved the life of a young girl. By indecent means, but nontheless, saved her.
Medics surged through the mass of people to tend to him.
As her fit of coughing calmed she glanced up at her rescuer. Somewhere, deep inside, she recognised his voice, but she just wanted to make sure it was him. The angel wings confirmed it. Van.
Losing strength, fast, Van pulled in his wings. The feathers floated off with more pain than usual. Medics came into view. They crowded around him. "No! Her first! Tend Hitomi first!" They argued the fact that he was badly injured. "No! She is worse!"
*See, you can do it.* Van turned to the voice. He frowned, it was in his head. *That's right, blood partner.* Another glance caught the white dragon on the wall. *Who are you?Escaflowne is a guymeluf.I know! But how do you know what she said?The same heart beat?
By Amanda Wardropper
Dragon Cry.
Chapter 14 - courtyard of the Atlantians.
Jason gazed up into the sky. The pillar of light seemed to rise forever. He sheilded his eyes with a hand, trying to spot the two Draconians. He nursed his jaw in the palm of his other hand, when Van was really angry he could pack a blow that would make a dragon topple over. He wasn't very pleased at being on the recieving end of his blow, but he guessed he deserved it. Still, it looked like he didn't take it out on Hitomi, not that he could.
Van and Hitomi stood erect, on the mass of fire that was the dragon God and Escaflowne. *We go!* Rangerath screamed. The flames around them billowed up and spread, creating a mass shape that eventually formed the rough shape of a red Dragon. Their senses were once again returned to the empty place of the dragons mind, only now it was filled with the vision of what the dragon saw. Their physical bodies were engulfed in the huge, rippling mass of the inferno.
In the world, that was not a world, they looked at each other and then at the scene the dragon saw. Another dragon stared back at them from afar, *My alter ego, Holith.* The red dragon growled. *Knight of Dragons, seer him!* A vision of Rangerath's great head swung round to face him, a snarling gulf of red scales. It's murky yellow horns stuck out from it's skull and twisted beyond. Van nodded slowly, *Then release your spirit!* Rangerath commanded. Hitomi felt a low thud in her chest, not painful and not at all pleasant. It felt like something had been taken out of her. Her very being, her soul. Then, she didn't see what the dragon saw, but what she saw infront of her. The forests below looked like tiny, still life ants. She looked down at her hands, examining them closely. They were not human flesh. They were a liquid inferno of red fire, swirling and ever changing, but staying in the same shape. She glanced around her, she wasn't alone, Van stood next to her. It wasn't Van, as in the human meaning, but a flame, a fire spirit. His wings billowed out from his back, bright red and ever changing with the mass of liquid fury. His broad shoulders pushed back and his wide chest puffed out. Behind them, the great fire spirit glowered at his foe. The green dragon charged ever closer to them.
From the corner of his eyes, he watched her feminine shape, excentuated by the rippling, boiling liquid fire. A good spirit, come to deny his world from the evil that longed for it. Like an angel's, her graceful wings flowed out from between her shoulder blades, an ignited spark of fury, waiting to be unleashed. Like a Good Spirit, her body was arched, arms held out at her sides, following the curve of her wings, denying all her sacred temple, by birthright. He drew his gaze, unwillingly, away from her and explored his new found vision. Rangerath was behind them, staring out at the forests. Infront, in the far distance, the green fire of Holith burned brightly. He glanced back at the vision of beauty, the good spirit at his side. Her gaze met his and in that moment, all time was lost, slowed to an unmoving picture. An angel come to rescue him.
*We must attack, Knight of Dragons, so we may gain advantage!* He snapped out of his daydreaming at the strict command. In a quick reaction to it, he drew his sword and held a fighting stance. A second later he realized that he was holding thin air. He glanced at his sword held in his hands. It was not there. *It is not part of your soul, your inner spirit. It is just a tool.* Great! He was up against a dragon, without a sword! How was he going to pull this off?
In the, not so far off, distance, Holith bellowed his challenge *My master wants your head on a silver plater, Knight of Dragons! And the Star Wanderer's!* It's gravely voice reached them.
Van growled, nobody was going to have his head, or Hitomi's. Not realizing it, he launched forward. His hand curled into a balled fist just behind and to the side of his head. He beat down his massive wings, sending hot sparks into the forests. They extinguished before they hit the floor.
A vision of an angel. On wings of fire.
He let out a powerful war cry, in his judgement this dragon threatend, not only his life, but hers aswell. The warrior must always have a purpose, a reason to fight.
On wings of fire.
As his form moved closer to the green, swirling mass of fire, his fist started forward.
On wings of fire.
He screamed in rage as a red shape darted past him and took out his foe. Rangerath hurtled it's weight into Holith. The two dragons, wings unfurled to their maximum peak, charged at each other, time and time again, in fatal head butts.
Knee raised in mid stride, flowing forward at an alarming rate, fist moving ever faster, forward, Van caught the head of Holith full on. The dragon reared and cried in pain. I am the Knight of Dragons, bow down to me!Then I swear no mercy! She asked herself. If she did not want to fight, why was she here, in the heat of battle?
*You are here to put an end to us, when the time is right.*
*Very likely.* Would this be their last battle? Would she die away from home, away from everything she had learned and cherished? Would she die away from his arms, and not tell him how much he meant to her? With cold determination she swore an oath, infront of the good spirits, praying them to watch over them, I will prevail from this battle, with Van and Rangerath by my side, the only one who shall perish, is Holith! She caught herself, what was she doing? How could she wish another creature to die?
Holith screamed his defiance as it hurtled forward, heading in a head rush straight for Van.
Van brought his knee into the soft under belly of the great beast. Before he could divert it, Holith's fore claw came for his face. In a blinding shot of pain the claw tip connected with his cheek. White hot pain seared through him. In a reflex he struck the dragon once more. *Move Knight of Dragons!* Rangerath cried. Glancing to his companion, Van lept to the side of the fury of flames that sped past him and crashed head long into Holith.
Van thrust his hands forward as he drifted, on his wings, to the side. In a bout of anger he released he soul's intent. A fire ball, bigger than any of them, grew and spat out. The air vibrated with the thunder that began. The storm had reached them.
Joining the flames of the dragon god, Van's attack engulfed Holith. He thought it was all over, until he realized that destiny has a funny nack of making you think you've won, when, infact, you're no closer.
As the flames dissapated, green Holith rose. Snarling with a fierce grin, of which Van did not like the looks of, it turned it's body to what it sought.
*You are strong, Knight of Dragons, but how long will you last with no purpose?* With that, Holith brought it's wings down and launched itself at Hitomi.
Hitomi saw the fire coming at her. She thrust a hand, outstretched, forward, in a hopeless attempt to ward off the ongoing attack. A strange radiance shot forth, from her palm. It covered Holith in it's aura. The dragon stumbled and cried out. Unfortunatly, it's forward motion drove it onwards, until it struck out with both of it's front claws. Only one set caught Hitomi, on the shoulder, but as it surged past her, it's massive tail crashed into her. She could hear the bone crushing sound of the impact, the sound of several ribs being broken. She shrieked at the pain, clutching at her side.
Hitomi!You son of a ...Now, Rangerath!
*You are the Star Wanderer, you are the one with the power, I do not know*
The Star Wanderer's were named for the job that they performed, wandering the stars, freeing their powers on worthy foes, the power of the stars. The celestial prison. A power which cubed the enemy and emprisoned them in a box, for all time. A box in the stars, an alternative universe. That was all Rangerath knew, not how it was brought forth.
She gasped as Holith struck Van, with a clawed fist. The strike drew blood, or, in this case, fire. The pain in her side was wearing thin on her patience. The deep gashes in her arms and legs throbbed furiously. Van was in no better shape. Yet more broken ribs and deep gashes. Rangerath and Holith seemed to be the best off, with only minor injuries and gashes in their wings. But green Holith was at a disadvantage. In a daze of fury, Van had sliced through a wing. Tearing it's ligements and braking the joint.
The voices of the Good Spirits, watching over them from the start gave forth their demands. *The celestial prison, Star Wanderer. Use the radiance within.*
Panting for breath she flung her arms in the air, pleading to the stars for strength. Along with her voice, countless numbers of good Spirit's joined in the ancient chant, of the mystical power. Of the Star Wanderer.
From the heavens above came the glowing radiance. It plunged to the ground, spreading around the four warriors. Holith screamed defiance as the light concerntrated on it. Writhing in anger it spowted out a huge gush of flame. The light came crashing down around him, engulfing him, crushing him. *We have weakened him! The celestial bodies can now control him!* Rangerath told them. The radiance of the stars burned out, taking with it the god of Forest Dragons, green Holith.
*You can now return your spirits my children. Thank you. The Gods are pleased that you have managed to banish Holith and free my eternal ghost. I can now be guided to the light.* The holy place of the Gods.
In a blinding flash of light they were returned to their bodies. The great pillar of light around them dissapated and vanished. The fire around Escaflowne extinguished.
Hitomi was exhausted and barely able to keep herself upright. To her horror, all wounds she had recieved were now emblazoned onto her skin, as real as if she had actually fought using her physical presence. Standing on her feet she began to sway. The pain was too much, the exhaustion of taxing herself and her powers took it's tole. She slipped into unconciousness and fell from the arms of the white beast. Her feathers broke away from her wings in a turmoil of whirlwind.
It took a few moments for Van to realize that he was back in a physical state, and that his wounds were sapping strength from him. He clutched at his side. His jaw throbbed, along with the deep gashes that ran the length of his back and chest. He caught sight of feathers, floating aimlessly in the night sky. Compared to the brightness of the pillar of light, the night sky was pitch black. As his eyes got accustomed to the darkness he caught a glimpse of white. Immediatly, his eyes locked on. Hitomi, she was falling. In a split second he raced after her. Why is it always when I'm hurt badly, that she chooses to faint? He thought. Wasn't it enough that he was almost dead himself?
He cried out in anger, at himself. Too late, she hit the floor of the cobbled courtyard. "No!" He landed carelessly and ran without heed of his own injuries. He skidded to a hault next to her and, practically, dived to his knees. Jason was there, he held her wrist in between his fingers and thumb. She still clutched the remminents of her shirt. He looked at Van when he came to a stop beside them. His eyes held the note of destress. Slowly he shook his head, not quite believing what had just happened. "Fool!" Van screamed. He forcefully pushed Jason away. The young knight skidded across the floor a ways, legs splayed, hands at his sides balancing him, and a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Van gazed down at her. Her head lay to one side, her eyes shut tight, no sign of life. "No!" he whispered in anguish. A little louder he repeated his defiance, "No, not after all this!" Why now? Without another moments thought he bent to the task at hand, reviving Hitomi. Somebody grabbed his hands. His head jerked to them, a vision of rage. Someone was going to be ripped apart for denying him the, possibly, only chance at saving the Star Wanderer. Mistress Hilcha, head cook at the castle, stared back at him. She was a brave woman, crossing him like this. She wasn't the person to faint or flaunt infront of a man. She was the boss woman at the kitchens. "Lord Van, this is indecent!"
"What do you mean! This woman is going to be lost forever if I don't do something!" He shouted back, at equal volume.
"But it's indecent. For a king like yourself to treat commoners like her, I mean, to save her, you would ... have .. to ..." She gestured to Hitomi.
Fire raged through his eyes. This woman better move herself before he took that anger out on her. "Remove your hands!" He warned, in a low growl.
She backed away, doing as he said.
"If you want to live, I dearly suggest you shut up and back away!" She did so. The look he gave her said it all. She was a brave woman, but no one would cross the king in such a foul mood as he was in, let alone provoke it.
Turning away from her he faced his task. Without further adue, he recalled the brief lesson princess Millerna had given him, coincidentally, it was to save Hitomi's life. He sighed inwardly, What on Earth am I going to do with you, Hitomi? Haven't you caused me enough sleepless nights already?
He layed his hands just bellow her collar bone, between her rib cage. He began focusing on his own heart beat, ignoring the pain. He pushed down on her, keeping in time with his own heart beat. "Lord Van, sir, it's indecent!" Hilcha screamed, "Let one of the medics do it!" She added to herself, "One of the women."
Seeming to get no where, fast, tears stung his eyes. "No, Hitomi, don't leave me, I need you more than anything!" He whispered. Encouraging her to breath once more. Furiously, he ran through the lesson Millerna had given, he was doing everything right, why was it not working? Sweat and tears dripped from his nose.
*The Star wanderer!* Rangerath called, from the place of holy spirits. *She cannot pass the vail! She mustn't!* He finally got to the final part of the lesson and spotted something he was missing, which was vital. The breath of life. He stopped pushing down on her chest and held her nose closed with a hand. The other he used to force her lips open. He took a deep breath, it hurt his broken ribs, and covered her lips with his. In cold determination he forced his breath into her. Then, quickly, he returned to pounding her chest. *This will not work.* Rangerath whined. He surrendered, *You are my masters, I will not let one die, because of me. I will give up my place with the Gods to help you.* Van didn't know what that meant, he didn't care.
Up on it's vigilant height, Escaflowne watched over the scene unfolding. Rangerath's spirit entered it. The energist in it's claws began glowing, then pulsed with Van's heart beat.
Jason heard a low keen. He looked to where it was coming from. Escaflowne reared and bellowed a sad note. It's energist pulsed as metal cracked and shaped into scales. The crunching of bones, shaping themselves to a modified shape. The visor lit with a viscious red. Eyes stared back at him. Wings unfurled and membrane replaced the fabrics. The energist sunk into the dragons chest, it pulsed so brightly, that you could still vaguely see it.
*I am here! We will save her, Van.* The white dragon behind him bellowed a challenge to those around him. No one heard his words but Van. Tears coarsed down his cheek, it was hopeless. Five minutes had passed. *It is never hopeless. I can help.* The energist glowed brighter. Van's wings pulsed a bright white, giving the illusion of growing bigger. *You can do this.*
"I will!" He repeated the process several times more before he caught the all important sign he was looking for. Her chest rose of it's own accord and the pendant on her neck began pulsing strongly in time with his wings. A second later, she curled up in a ball, to the side facing him and began a coughing fit. *She lives!*
Van stroked her back, urging her to breath more normally. He grinned to himself, he could almost weep for joy. "It's OK, Hitomi. I'm here." He managed to get out between the pain and his ragged breathing.
She clutched her side as her coughing fit raged on. Her broken ribs made it hard to breath properly. His hand on her back and his comforting whispers, made the pain bearable and gave her the will to stop coughing.
Astonished whispers broke out in the crowd, the king had just saved the life of a young girl. By indecent means, but nontheless, saved her.
Medics surged through the mass of people to tend to him.
As her fit of coughing calmed she glanced up at her rescuer. Somewhere, deep inside, she recognised his voice, but she just wanted to make sure it was him. The angel wings confirmed it. Van.
Losing strength, fast, Van pulled in his wings. The feathers floated off with more pain than usual. Medics came into view. They crowded around him. "No! Her first! Tend Hitomi first!" They argued the fact that he was badly injured. "No! She is worse!"
*See, you can do it.* Van turned to the voice. He frowned, it was in his head. *That's right, blood partner.* Another glance caught the white dragon on the wall. *Who are you?Escaflowne is a guymeluf.I know! But how do you know what she said?The same heart beat?