The Hunt: Part 2 The Hunt: Part 2
-ZibbelCoot

Disclaimer:
All Escaflowne characters, places and such are ©1996, ©1998, ©1999 TV Tokyo, Sunrise. English adaptation ©1998 AnimeVillage.com and the dub version they tried to pass off as anime belongs to Fox I guess. However, Zorya Pele and Syrun are my characters and I'd appreciate it if you ask me before using them. Also the song "Syrun" is also mine so please don't use it without asking!

Author's notes:
Same as last time, happens 2 1/2 years after Escaflowne: A Girl in Gaea.
The dragonslayer Balen is my creation but unless he becomes crucial to the plot later you can use him if you want. He's basically just a name given to a face. Oh and whole sentences in italics are thoughts. Just thought I'd mention it.


Hitomi's shoulders tremored violently, even through the thick blanket she was given. People were all around her, trying to understand what had happened. Had Zorya lit the fire and killed herself? Had Zorya tripped by accident and the fire consumed her unconscious body? Hitomi what happened?
Their words and false pity meant nothing to her now. All Hitomi Kanzaki was sure of was that she had rejected her last chance, the chance she had been dreaming of, wishing for... The chance to return to the person and place that gave her hope. She felt her mind slipping away, curling in on itself. She was so tired now.
She wanted nothing more now than to rest, to sleep away and forget all about this. It didn't matter to her anyway. Her hope was gone now. It had taken someone instead of her. A fresh batch of tears fell down her cheeks and a fellow student embraced her. "Shh, Hitomi it will be okay. I'm sure Zorya didn't..."
Yukari's words were lost to Hitomi, the winged goddess of Gaea. For without hope, could she dare to live? More sirens blasted in the air and more people crowd into the courtyard. With each extra person Hitomi felt her strength sapped away. Its useless. Can't they see its useless?! There's no point to it, no point to anything!


Zorya held onto the horse's reins weakly. Her fingers had cramped up and were barely able to hold onto the tough leather. Wearily, Zorya ducked her head down, allowing her eyes to close for a few seconds. How long had she been riding this thing? An hour? Two? A day? A dark sky gave her no answers, and added to her questions.
Her tired grey green eyes opened and glanced upwards at the darkness around her. Trees and shrubbery blurred by as the horse continued forward, his legs never missing a stride. "I should call you super horse," she yawned. Still the double moons bothered her. She still wasn't sure if it was just a dream. One thing was certain: She never remembered any of her dreams being this detailed. And the closer moon it looked as if asteroids and meteorites had fallen in a pattern to form the shape of an eye.
She shuddered as a gust of cool wind went against the pair. The horse slowed for a moment and then readjusted his stride. Just where are you taking me? Home? Are you taking me home? Her eyes ached to be closed once more, if even for just another second. She yawned again, trying to fight off the sleep that her bruised body craved.
Zorya was not a soldier however, her body not fit for the hardships of a battle; even if it was merely a battle against sleep. Her lids drooped down in time with the horse's strides, until finally she rested her blood stained hair and cheek against the horse's unarmored neck. A silky mane ticked her cheek briefly but she took no notice of it. The soft rhythm of hooves against firmly packed dirt and grass lulled her to sleep. Her fingers slowly uncurled, the only thing keeping her from falling now was the horse itself.
Luckily for Zorya the horse had been trained from a foal to be a horse of war. It was trained to preserve its rider at all costs. Certainly he had shown weakness at not waiting for his thrown rider but that could be overlooked. No doubt he knew the person upon his back was far too light, pulled on the reins too much and too small to be his own rider. A quick snort sent up a small cloud of water vapor. He could smell his rider now though, and he was close by.

Dilandau gave his substitute mount another kick. He could've sworn he'd just heard a twig snap from up ahead. From behind him a slayer shouted something about taking a more direct route. "Baka! I'm in charge and we are not leaving," he called back over his shoulder, a grin on his face. Not before I repay you for your kindness. A low chuckle rippled through the air, slowing the slayers behind him. This will be an interesting hunt indeed.
The splash of water against rocks and the sounds of rock hitting rock made Dilandau sit up in his seat. Had they caught up to her so quickly? Not a very good rider are you thief... He motioned with his hand to his followers, urging them to be quiet. An ambush would be so much more fun than simply slaughtering her on the spot. After all who wouldn't be intimidated or, fearful of his dragonslayers? A prideful smile overtook his face as his lips contorted and released a high pitched whistle.

Zorya awoke with the start as water splashed her legs. Her mind disoriented and clinging to the last bits of sleep, Zorya fumbled in the saddle's seat. The horse shifted, trying to adjust to her but its actions merely countered her own, which nearly threw her into the stream. Instinctively, Zorya dug her knees into the beast's sides. It really wasn't all that different from riding a horse. Well aside form the fact it wasn't one.
A small frown pulled her lips downward as she steered the beast out of the stream. She blinked furiously and looked around, clearing the last remnants of sleep from her clear eyes. Her dreams had woken her up, not the cold water that had drenched her socks. She'd dreamed about that battle... the blood... the fire... Worst of all she could hear that soldier threatening her, cursing her. Even now, wide awake she could almost hear the curses that deranged psycho had screamed at her in the dream.
Her face blanked as a thought suddenly overcame her mind. She gripped the reins tighter and leaned forward slightly to get a better look at the beast's profile. "Don't tell me you were his?" she murmured to the speedy beast. Her words were undermined however by a high sweet bird's call.
The beast skipped a beat, its stride radically altered. She could feel its muscles tightening beneath her, as if it were going to- The animal rose up from under her, a good three feet; Zorya held on for dear life. She'd heard stories of being thrown form an animal, the end result was usually none too pleasant.
Without warning there was suddenly no beast under her. With a stifled scream, Zorya fell to the ground. Was that a whistle she'd heard only second before and not a bird? No, he'd said they had to retreat... Unless she was retreating in the same direction they were. Pain permeated every nerve ending in her body as the ground connected with her. The air swept out of her lungs and for a few minutes she just laid there, aware of the dangerous hooves too close to her prone body.
It wasn't like she couldn't move, she was trying, and her body just wasn't responding. After what seemed like an eternity her vision unblurred and air filled her lungs. She would've gone insane if it had lasted just a moment longer! With a groan, Zorya pushed up with her hands, feeling the already forming bruises. No doubt her whole body would be covered in them by the end of the night. "If I live that long," she groaned lightly.
"Where did she-"
"It doesn't matter, she was riding that, and that means she's gotta be..."
"The princess! Get her!"
Zorya barely had time to even say a word when rough hands covered her mouth and picked her up. Not again! I'm not the freaking princess, haven't you learned that by now? Gloves covered the hand on her mouth, otherwise she would've bit him and been done with it. The sounds of hooves colliding with dirt silenced the forest quickly, the man who held her tensed.
"They're not going to let us get away with her, she's too important..." More hushed whispers she couldn't make out followed that statement.
"We'll show those dragonslayers," the man behind her grunted low in her ear. "Starting with you." The words seemed to increase her sensitivity to touch, she could feel how rough the leather of his gloves were now, along with the dried blood cake on her face, blood dried on her clothes and the clumps of hair matted to her head. I'm going to die looking like a pile of shit. Why the hell am I thinking about this now! He's going to-

"Gatty, Latro fan out to the left. Viole, Korent fan out to the right," Dilandau spoke in low tones, preventing anyone from hearing them. He'd seen the girl go down ahead of them, his whistle always managed to do that to his new mount. Funny how he had just remembered it now. They'd found the beast scarcely a minute ago but no sign of the thief was to be found.
"Dilandau-sama, the king wants to meet with us, shouldn't we return? The thief was thrown and-"
Dilandau turned on his recaptured mount, his dark red eyes aflame. "Return? I think we have something to teach to a certain someone about dragonslayers." Shesta gulped nervously, and bowed his head on his mount.
"Of course Dilandau-sama." Content for the moment, Dilandau turned away and scanned the forest. There was something wrong here, he couldn't hear her and he should be able to. What's wrong with this? Where are all the animals sounds? Where indeed... He pulled back on the reins, his horse stamped its feet impatiently, wanting to get away from the forest.
"No sign of her, Lord Dilandau," Korent reported, his own beast stamping its feet. Dilandau's frown deepened, his crimson eyes straining for the thing out of place. Something... but what is it?
The slightest sound alerted him to the fact they were not alone. Dilandau swiveled on his mount, sending it rearing upwards. "It's an ambush!"

The king let out a weak cough from his high throne. Three of his advisors stood before him, and for a moment he questioned why they were even there. He had called for two of them, that much was true, but then the third had run in shouting that the troops had to be recalled. "Why did I just recall the dragonslayers and my troops?"
"Well sire, it is for the best. The battle we were informed went to our disadvantage-"
"How is it you were informed before myself?" his dark eyes narrowing at the three. One of them began to fidget, before the tallest stepped forward.
"Are we not your advisors majesty? We make it our duty to know everything that may have an impact on you and this kingdom." Well put. Yes, with everything going on, the fall of the black dragon clan... The disarmament of the Abaharaki. All so soon and sudden. And now the Hiwero attacking us. The king opened his mouth to speak but a courtier rushed in, out of breath. His three advisors turned away from him, about to berate the servant about interruptions.
The king let out a weary sigh that no one in the throne room bothered to catch. Sometimes the advisors were a little too over protective of him. "What is it Feren?"
The servant cast a smug look at his advisors before he pushed passed them and stood before the king. "Sire, something horrible has happened."
"What?"
"The princess milord, she's disappeared." A gasp escaped the king before he could suppress it. What is the matter with you? You couldn't listen to me could you! "The guards have searched the castle grounds and-"
"Sire, perhaps now would be a good time to inform your retreating troops. They can easily sweep on their return here. In three days I doubt she'll get by them," one advisor spoke up.
"You are right Paruchi. Feren, go alert the guards that they are to continue searching." His eyes then went to he three advisors. "Please alert the troops."
"What of the dragonslayers?" Garufo spoke up. The king and Feren watched him in silence, even as his other advisors watched their companion with suspicion. "If anyone may find her milord, I assure you they shall," he added quickly.

Dilandau evaded the next attacker easily. Their would be ambushers were tired, hungry. His red eyes narrowed as he ended another's life. They're stragglers from the battle and that means- He turned swiftly, stalking off towards the woods. No doubt they caught that thief by surprise. Dilandau did not care if he found a body alive or dead. Preferably she would still be alive so he could kill her.
The slight rustling of leaves made im stop and turn ever so slightly in the direction of the sound. A bound thief was sitting at the base of the trees, her hands tied behind her and her body tied to the tree. Red eyes lit up with joy. He'd have his fun after all. Dilandau's sword raised, a smile forming on his face.
The girl merely sat there, her eyes not really seeing him. That annoyed him, he wanted to see the fear, the hate the agony in those eyes. He brought the sword halfway down when she suddenly moved.
"Look out!" Dilandau turned to the right, realizing he'd let his guard down. A soldier jumped at him, a dagger in each hand. He smirked. Does he think a dagger can out reach my blade? A quick swipe was all Dilandau did, his sword's edge rich with red. He failed to see the man's hold on the daggers loosen. One flew passed him, and embedded itself in a thick tree trunk. Dilandau looked behind him, his prey fleeing once more.
All this running, is it necessary prey? You're just going to fall to me no matter what. his eyes barely registered the attacker's dagger holding up one end of frayed rope. All that mattered was showing the thief his gratitude. Lucky for her, his sword was feeling very amiable right now.

"Garufo! We needed this opportunity, why the hell did you tell the king to bring back those obtrusive dragonslayers and and troops? And why search for the princess? One less person for us to take care of-"
"Syrun found her. But the dragonslayers tried to kill her and if they're under orders to bring back the princess-"
"Who they've never seen before-"
"They'll hand us the goddess and we won't need to lift a finger." Garufo allowed himself a smug smile for a moment a is equals pondered what he just said.
"We should begin preparations then. Paruchi, when is the next time we can perform the sacrifice?"
"Winter solstice, when the moons are at opposite ends of the sky," Paruchi recited from memory. The apparent leader nodded his head, and with a swish of his cloak was off to begin.

Zorya pulled her hands apart, loosening the rope that held them. The coarse rope bit into her wrist but that didn't matter. The sounds of the ambush died down, and for a moment silence filled the air.
She heard leaves pushed aside, twigs broken in half; all behind her. Somehow she had a feeling that guy wouldn't care whether or not she'd just saved his life again. Sure enough she hazarded a glance over her shoulder and saw a red shape moving in the greenery, never in the same place twice. Oh no, think! Where can I get another horse thing? The clearing! Damn it move faster legs!
She pumped her legs her head barely missing a low hanging tree branch. Her feet had barely touched upon grass and packed dirt when something struck her from behind. She fell forward, and skid on the hard surface for a bit before looking up. The warrior stood there, a cocky smile on his face, his sword balancing on one shoulder as if this happened to him everyday.
"IT ends here thief," he cackled and took the blade off his shoulder. Zorya moved her feet, and gained a few inches on the ground between them.
"I-I saved your life! you can't kill me!" she protested, trying to move faster. All around her boys in muted blue armor stood by, neither assisting nor inhibiting the one in red.
"Of course I can. I'm the general of the Black Dragon Dragonslayers. I can kill whomever I please." That frightening laugh again, and Zorya swallowed the forming lump in her throat. She'd gotten this far, she couldn't just die now... could she?
The sword raised just a bit more, Zorya missed the movement at the end of the clearing. A tiny bird had swooped down at neck breaking speed and perched on one dragonslayer's arm.

Galese grabbed at her bag once more, pulling it over the closely packed bushes. "Marry me off to some nobody! Ha! Who does he think I am? His daughter?!" she grumbled, another thorny branch pulling at her clothes.
It was bad enough that he had let those men into their country no questions asked, but when he had let them become his advisors?! "Mother and father never would've agreed to that," she grumbled again, this time pulling the bag onto soft dirt, clear of all of nature's impeding elements.
She stopped for a moment, collapsing onto the soft dirt. Idly, she looked up through the thick forest's canopy, a few stars lazily peeking out from the cover of night. I wonder how long it will take them to figure out I'm gone.
A soft rustling, followed by a rather loud thump answered her question. Rolling her eyes, Galese turned to look at the sound's source. Whispered curses were being spewed back and forth now, accompanied by three castle guards walking into her line of sight.
"Princess Galese, we have orders to bring you back."
"What makes you think you can command me, hm?" she replied sweetly and pretended to be interested in her nails.
"I think it would be wise for you to come with us. The dragonslayers could find you and then-"
"Don't be silly, they're fighting that frivolous war," she scorned them her eyes not moving from her dirt encrusted hands.
"They've been recalled at the request of the king and advisors-"
"Really?! I mean, i suppose I'll just have to obey the king's wishes then." Her eyes went from her nails to the three men. "I'm sure you'll be gentlemen and take care of my bag."
She stood up and without another word began walking back to the castle, leaving three men to carry her impossibly heavy bag back. Honestly, as if I would let them lead me back. They probably don't even know where the castle is.

"Dilandau-sama! I've a message from the king!" Cial shouted from the clearing's edge. Dilandau did not make the mistake of letting the girl out of his vision this time.
"What is it now? Retreat from the dead bandits?" he sneered, his sword ready to strike just once more-
"The princess is missing. We are to return her to the palace at once."
Dilandau blinked. That was the only reactions his dragonslayers could see at the message. The girl was still on the ground, an easy target for his sword. "My fun always gets ruined," he muttered darkly, sheathing the sword. The girl seemed to relax and breathed a sigh of relief. "Korent get the spare, Latro tie her up. Royal blood can't be spilled." Unless its white dragon blood-
"B-but Lord Dilandau-" Gatty started. Dilandau did not wait to hear the rest, he simply walked over to Gatty and slapped him across the face.
"She is to be treated as a prisoner. Do you question my orders Gatty?"
"No, just that the King may be displeased when he hears-" Another slap shut Gatty up.
"Now then that we've all agreed with my orders, Korent get her on the horse and watch it like a grifenir." The dark haired boy nodded and walked over to Latro with the horse's reins in his hand.
Shesta rode next to him, his blue eyes full of concern. "Lord Dilandau?"
"She's not the princess Shesta. She's not of Gaea." His frown broke into a wild grin, one that scared his subordinate. "But the castle has much more torturous things than we do. Why kill her for thievery when she can be killed for impersonating a royal personage?" The deep chuckle that accompanied that statement was enough for Shesta to slow his horse and rejoin his fellow dragonslayers. Good. I get to have my fun after all. He just barely looked back over his shoulder, his red eyes catching a glimpse of her slumping body, limp on the horse that carried her. This hunt had taken quite a turn hasn't it thief? No matter, you will still die at my hand.

Zorya didn't know what was worse the fact that she was still covered in blood, or the fact that she'd been riding the horse thing for almost a day straight. They wouldn't even let her hold the reins! The one with long brown hair was leading her horse and often not into a bramble or something else to hit her.
She was nothing less than thoroughly disgusted. I had to be an idiot didn't I? Oh let's see maybe I'll just wish for excitement and get thrown into another world. Why can't I go home fire? Hm? Doesn't the process work in reverse?
She looked up, and saw the boy holding her reins was staring at her. "Its not polite to stare," she managed to get out.
"You're not her."
"Well give the man a prize. I thought this planet was full of blood crazed savages but you show intelligence," her tone sarcastic as the horse plodded along.
"You'll die now."
"Yea, just like the fire and the battle. I'll believe it when it happens-"
"Korent, fraternizing with the prisoner. You should know better. Move to the back lines, Shesta you watch it now."
"It?!" she growled under her breath. Korent the reins to a blond haired boy, who gave her a stare just like Korent. "Let me guess, you don't think I'm the princess either."
"Well-"
"When are we stopping next?" she asked lowering her head. She needed to get off the horse and move. And worse than that she really needed to relieve herself.
"When we arrive at Celet."
"And how long will that be?"
"Shesta! Are you all incompetents? Do I kill her now and tell the king it was because of you?" the silver haired soldier barked at them. The blond visibly shrunk back in the saddle, his hold loosening on the reins for a moment. He however straightened and pulled on them sending her horse forward.
"I'm sorry Dilandau-sama it won't happen again." 'Dilandau' was obviously the red clad soldier's name and Zorya decided that with that look on his face, perhaps now was not the best time to ask to stop.

Zorya's legs threatened to give out with every step she took. The chestnut brown haired one pulled on her wrists again, almost sending her to the ground. "Hey! Stop it," she nearly shouted after regaining her balance.
He slapped her across the face, causing her to fall backwards and into another dragonslayer. "Latro! Lord Dilandau does not-"
"What don't I want Korent?"
"He slapped her sir." Zorya stood up, the bruise still bright red on her cheek. Crimson eyes caught her own and then looked at her cheek. His gloved hand even went to her chin turning her head this way and that.
"Was there good reason?" he asked casually as if slapping her were all right!
"He tripped me! Or he tried to," she responded bitterly. The chestnut haired boy merely grinned.
"She lies Lord Dilandau."
"No, I saw it Lord Dilandau. He did and then he slapped her," a blond spoke up. his pale blond hair a bit messy and almost falling into his eyes.
"Korent?" The hand pulled her chin downwards until she was forced to look into his scarlet eyes.
"Gatty is correct." With no warning Dilandau whirled around, slapping Latro across the face.
"If she is the princess you were not to touch her! And if she is not, she is mine to punish on accounts of thievery and impersonation," he growled at the boy in blue armor.
"Y-yes Lord Dilandau."
"Shesta, take them to the barracks. I'll bring her to the king myself." He then roughly took hold of her still bound wrists, and hauled her in the direction of the what she guessed was the throne room.

Latro glared at the other two dragonslayers. "You traitors!" he hissed. Out of the corner of his eye he could see their master leading the prisoner into the thrown room.
"You're looking for trouble Latro," Korent responded before turning and following their second in command.
"He's right. That wasn't part of Lord Dilandau's orders," Gatty added. Latro fumed silently as he brought up the rear of the dragonslayers. Why should they care?! She's not the princess and Lord Dilandau's going to kill her anyway.

Zorya remained standing and looked around. For a castle throne room there weren't that many people there. A man sat upon a throne with four men standing before him. A maid there, another servant there. Zorya was a bit disappointed.
A pain at her arm, caused her on reflex to look at the boy holding her arm. At first she had thought he was a man, especially after seeing him in battle and the ambush. However now, after she looked back on things she thought he was nothing more than a boy. He acted so childish, wanting everything his way and got everything he wanted.
He pulled her closer to the throne at which point he remained standing. The man on the throne was preoccupied by the four en already before him. she took the pause to look around again. There were tapestries on the wall, depicting significant events in the country's history no doubt. The newest, or she assumed was the newest, caught her eye. There were two blockish shapes attacking each other, one the color of light and the other... The color of fire. Did fire bring them war? And what are those dragons doing there?
A black dragon roared at the white thing, whereas a white dragon roared at the fiery shape. But above them all... A figure floated above the calamity, white wings upon their back. An angel? "...insolent wretch," dilandau muttered and pulled on her arm again, nearly causing her to stumble.
The four men had moved aside and she now got to see the king. Weary dark eyes rested in deep sockets. His skin looked unnaturally pale, with dark rings just beginning to show from beneath his eyes. Black hair hung limply from his scalp, while the crown remained the only regal looking thing about him.
"We found her, and thought she could be the princess." Zorya did not miss how he failed to address the king with his title; no doubt the room's other occupants caught it as well.
"She isn't," he said wearily. "Though, she bears a striking resemblance to-"
"Then I'll have her executed at dawn if you," he paused as if wishing not to say the next word, "permit it."
"On what grounds?" The king was sitting up, watching her with those dark eyes. Something about him bothered her, and Zorya couldn't be sure what exactly it was.
"Thievery, and royal impersonation. She passed herself off as the princess in battle to ensure her life-"
"That isn't true your highness they assumed," Zorya spoke up, hoping that perhaps the king would spare her life.
"In your place thief!" A sickening slap accompanied those words and Zorya felt her cheek sting and blood rush to her face. She opened her mouth to reply when a door opened from a chamber leading to the throne room.
A girl just her age walked out accompanied by three guards. "Just what is all this racket uncle? I arrive to find you've thrown everything into chaos again."
"I have business Galese," he replied, taking those dark eyes off Zorya.
"Do you and who is," the girl turned and walked towards them. Her dark eyes rested on the soldier beside her and she stopped, no more than three feet from them. "this? A dragonslayer? You called in a dragonslayer to find me?" She turned her head to look at the king. Unexpectedly she turned back and finally looked at Zorya. "And who are you-"
Both girls gasped at almost the same time. Zorya was looking at a face so similar to her own they could almost be identical. The girl's eyes were darker than her own, and the hair was a raven black. There the differences end. From a distance no doubt even the king wouldn't tell them apart; especially with Zorya's hair still covered in blood and black soot.
"My face," Zorya whispered as if to assure herself she hadn't fallen asleep and was in some dream.
"My... voice," the princess choked out, a hand going to her throat.