AN: Awwww…I love this chapter so much!
Khrystal, Zentanos © me
Hawking, Boudicia, Owen, Emmanuel, Stella, Jack © Raygirl
Rayman design © Ubisoft
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To Mend A Broken Soul
Chapter 5
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Hawking glanced away from the opening of the dank cave toward where Khrystal sat with her back to him, holding her hands close to the tiny fire they had started together. She looked over her shoulder and he quickly directed his eyes back to the rain spattering outside. After a while longer he could hear her getting up and soon felt her presence beside him.
"Why are you standing guard like this?" Khrystal asked. "You should warm up by the fire."
"This is…" he paused for a second, "Griffin territory."
He jumped when he suddenly felt her hand covering his. Startled, he looked up from they're hands and into Khrystal's face. He noticed for the first time that her eyes were a stormy gray. Realizing what she had done she quickly pulled away, but the concerned look did not leave her face.
"Can I ask you something?" She asked gently. He nodded and sat down on a damp rock, knowing already what she would ask him. "Will you tell me why you're afraid of Griffins?"
He sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair, shaking out the raindrops that still clung to it. "The place you were at today, it used to be very swampy. One day, after it had rained, I was walking and heard something near there. I went to look and found a baby griffin stuck in a mud hole. I helped it out, but it's mother must have thought that I was trying to hurt it, because she came and…" His voice died out as he relived the experience in his mind.
Khrystal sat down beside him, her hands resting in her lap. "Is that how…you got those scars?"
"Yes." He said softly, tracing the scar that ran across the back of one hand.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I didn't know. If I knew, I wouldn't have gone there. I should have figured it out. I should have recognized your feelings in that spot."
"Don't blame yourself for today. You didn't know because I didn't tell you." Hawking said, looking over at Khrystal. She sighed and looked back out at the rain. He let the silence fall comfortably over them both, and they listened to the soft chitter of the fire and the light pattering of the rain against the rock.
"So…where are you taking me?" Khrystal asked reluctantly, as if she did not want to shatter the peaceful moment with words.
"To the Sanctuary." Hawking replied. "It's a village deeper into the forest, where Emmanuel lives."
"At least I'll be able to thank him." Khrystal said. She seemed to want to say more, and Hawking waited until she spoke again. "I've never thanked you for saving me twice yet. Thank you."
Hawking shrugged and stood up, stretching slightly, then moved over to the fire to warm his hands. "It wasn't much."
"It was a lot." Khrystal said, looking up at him from where she still sat. "No one's cared much to rescue me. Only Zentanos."
"Can you tell me more about him?" Hawking asked, motioning for Khrystal to come over near the fire. She did so and they sat across from each other.
"Well…he was my teacher. I already told you that he took me in when I ran away." She remembered something and her face brightened slightly. "When I first came, I remember when I first went inside I thought it was so strange to be living in a tree." She laughed slightly.
Hawking smiled at her cheer, giving a soft chuckle. They talked for a while longer, recalling good memories together. After a while, the rain died down and they extinguished they're fire and set off again. The forest was fresh and new, the smell of rain thick in the air.
They didn't have to go much further before Hawking put a hand on Khrystal's shoulder to stop her. He stepped ahead of her, his head tilted back so he could look into the trees, and was greeted by a call.
"Who are you?" It was a young woman's voice.
"It's Hawking." He called up.
The voice changed from commanding to pleasantly surprised. "Hawking, haven't seen you in a while. Who's that you've got with you?"
"A friend, Emmanuel told me to bring her here. Her name is Khrystal." Hawking replied, his voice barely rising above talking level.
"Go on ahead, then." She said. "If anyone gives you trouble just tell them that Boudicia said it was all right. They'll listen."
"Thanks." He said, and then motioned for Khrystal to continue. They found a worn dirt path and followed it.
"You're familiar to the people here?" Khrystal asked, taking in the splendor of the tall, sturdy trees that rose gracefully into the sky. The rest of the forest was pretty, but this place seemed to take on a life of its own and as they came closer and closer to the village all around the foliage seemed to grow lusher by the minute.
"Well… after I was attacked by the griffin, Emmanuel took me here and healed me." Hawking explained. "Sometimes I come here for a visit."
"Why do you live in solitude?" Khrystal asked.
Hawking looked sideways at her, a small smile appearing on his face. "I could ask the same of you. Everyone has they're own reasons."
He watched as a light pink dusted over her cheeks and she looked at the array of multicolored flowers that they passed. They came to a large hill, where the path was muddy and slick. Carefully they began to ascend, once Hawking stumbled and found Khrystal's hand firmly on his shoulder, making sure he was steady before she let go and they continued the treacherous climb.
Khrystal gave a small gasp as they crested the hill. Down on the other side, nestled in the slope of the surrounding valley, was the Sanctuary. Houses were scattered about on the ground, but she could see some were built up in the trees and connected by walkways. To the far side she spotted a few dim caves that appeared to be blocked off by sturdy looking doors.
"Hawking, good to see you."
Khrystal jumped at the unfamiliar voice, looking wildly about until she spotted a young raymanian boy. Hawking nodded his hello to the young sentry and continued down into the Sanctuary, followed closely by Khrystal.
She appeared jumpy and nervous about the number of others that walked the streets. At one point they ran into Owen. Khrystal gave a soft sound of alarm, and edged closer to Hawking for reassurance. He smiled and looked up at the tall man. Owen swung his giant hammer up and propped it on his shoulders, looking down with kind eyes at the two.
"Hawking, wasn't expecting a visit. Is something wrong?" Owen asked in a voice that rumbled gently.
"Nothings wrong." Hawking said.
Owen peered interestedly at Khrystal, who peered interestedly at him. "Hello, who's this?"
"Khrystal." Hawking said, taking her by the shoulder and making her stand beside him rather than behind. "Khrystal, this is Owen, he's the blacksmith here."
"Nice to meet yeh." Owen said, taking Khrystal's hand, which seemed tiny next to his own great fire worn one.
"N-nice to meet you too." Khrystal said softly.
"Well, I've got to get back to work. You two sweethearts go see Emmanuel and tell him I said hi." Owen said, ignoring the shocked looks that he gained from both Hawking and Khrystal, and lumbered slowly away.
For a while the two stood looking at the ground, Khrystal's face a deeper red than before. Hawking scratched his neck and gave a small laugh, trying to throw away the tense moment. "Let's go, we're almost there."
He led her to Emmanuel's house, stopping at the door and knocking lightly. They stood and waited for a moment, then heard a woman's voice. "The door's open, come in Hawking."
Hawking opened the door and stepped inside, Khrystal beside him. He smiled when he saw Stella, sitting in her wheelchair facing the door. She smiled broadly at seeing Hawking, and then looked curiously towards Khrystal. "It's nice to see you, Hawking dear, but can you introduce me to your friend?"
"This is Khrystal." Hawking said. "Khrystal, this is Stella, Emmanuel's wife."
"Nice to meet you." Khrystal said, smiling and shook Stella's extended hand.
At that moment a small boy scampered into the room, carrying a toy plane. He spotted Hawking and waved, then noticed Khrystal. Suddenly shy he quickly hid behind his mother, peeking out from behind her chair.
"This is my son, Jack." Stella said, resting her hand on the back of Jack's head. "He's a bit shy, I'm afraid."
"It's ok." Khrystal said, a tender smile crossing her lips. She looked at him and gave a soft and gentle, hello.
Hawking found himself smiling at Khrystal as she and Stella began a conversation. Jack slipped out from behind his mother's wheelchair and came over to Hawking, tugging his hand so that he would lean down to his height.
"Is she staying here?" He whispered into the older boys ear. Hawking nodded, and Jack tugged his hand again, standing on his tiptoes. "Are you staying here?"
Hawking blanched at that. He didn't have much of a reason to stay in the Sanctuary. Now that Khrystal was safe, he could go back to his hut and return to his solitary ways.
The door opened, stopping Hawking from his thoughts and interrupting Khrystal and Stella from they're conversation. Jack ran over to his father who was standing in the doorway. Emmanuel hugged his son, then lifted him up and swung him onto his back.
"Hawking, Khrystal!" Emmanuel said in surprise. "Nice to see you! How are you feeling?" The last question was directed to Khrystal.
"Much better. And…uhm, thank you. Thank you very much." She said, bowing her head in gratitude.
Emmanuel waved it away. "It's quite all right. Just helping out when I can. So I assume you've met my wife and son?"
"Yes." Khrystal said, smiling widely.
Hawking couldn't stop himself from smiling too.
"Hawking you know where the vacant house is, right?" Emmanuel asked, stepping further into his home. He bent down and gave Stella a quick kiss on the cheek and swung Jack down and set him lightly on the floor. Hawking nodded and Emmanuel smiled. "Good. Khrystal can stay there."
"What?" Khrystal asked, surprised.
"Didn't you come here to stay?" Emmanuel asked, equally as surprised at her reaction.
"Well…I just thought Hawking wanted to show me this place." Khrystal said, looking over.
Hawking shrugged his shoulders shyly. "I'm sorry, I should have told you why I was bringing you here."
Khrystal paused to think for a moment. "I…I can stay for a little while, but I have to get back home."
"We can send a party to get your things if you tell us how to find your home." Emmanuel offered.
"No, its not that. It's my sister."
Hawking was surprised. "You have a sister? I thought you said your family was dead?"
"I said my parents were dead." Khrystal corrected softly. "I have a sister. I'm pretty sure she is all right for now, she's staying with her friend's family. But…I should go back home soon."
Hawking looked over at her, suddenly worried. What if something bad happened to her on the way back to her home?
"You're sister can come and live here too." Emmanuel offered. "But you should rest for a little while before going to get her."
"All right." Khrystal said.
"Hawking why don't you show Khrystal around?" Emmanuel asked, looking at the half-angel. Hawking nodded, motioning for Khrystal to follow him.
"Bye." Jack said, timidly waving. Hawking and Khrystal waved back, and then disappeared out the door.
"That's the girl you were telling me about?" Stella asked, looking up at her husband.
Emmanuel nodded and grinned. "She seems a whole lot better than before, though."
"I think staying with Hawking has done her some good." Stella mused, allowing Jack to clamber up into her lap.
Emmanuel peered out the window, watching as Hawking and Khrystal walked down the road. Hawking, at the moment, was pointing and explaining something to Khrystal, who was paying rapt attention. "I think being together has done them *both* some good."