With a mighty
roar, their stalker came crashing out of the woods, and straight towards
them. Syaoran immediately took up his place to guard Sakura. Tamaya stood
beside him holding her branch determinedly, waiting for the inevitable.
The giant raptor made a mighty leap clawed toes extended, mouth open ready
to rip their limbs to pieces...Syaoran could almost see the pleasure in
its eyes, clouded by the hormone to kill...
WHAM!
Syaoran opened
his eyes, which had shut automatically at the sound of impact. But, he
felt no claws digging into his back, or the sound of his own muscles being
torn out...or Sakura screaming for that matter. He heard a great deal of
grunting, and a roar of pain, as a strange woman tackled the raptor. Getting
up, Syaoran found his savior to be in a little trouble herself, the reptile
had cornered her. With a heave of his staff, he slammed it into the raptor's
side. There was another roar of pain, and it whirled around in a fury of
claws. He backed off as it raced towards him, only to trip and fall in
a heap. Tamaya had grabbed the reptile's tale and was sitting on top of
its body, precariously close to being snapped up. It lashed out from under
her managing to rake its teeth across her arm. She ignored the wounds,
and Syaoran immediately lifted his staff to brain the animal.
But, as he looked
down, watching it close its maw, he saw something that horrified him. His
own hazy reflection in its glassy eyes, with his staff raised high, and
the hatred those eyes bore towards him. It growled in acceptance of its
fate, but Syaoran lowered the staff of gold, heaving from his fear and
anger. He watched the creature glare at him, as if mocking his very action.
Then slowly, those reptilian lips pursed, and out of its throat, a deep
croaking voice hissed.
" Kill me," The
voice was hoarse and rasping, as if its tongue were sandpaper, and its
larynx was choked.
" No," Syaoran
strove to control the tremble in his voice.
" You, are a
fool. If I were in your place, I would murder you and devour your organs
to nourish me..."
" Well, you are
not in my place. I am. And I choose to let you live."
" Pitiful, stomachless
creature. Can't you stand the sight of my dead corpse? Or would its stench
overwhelm you?!!"
" My heart hungers
for your demise, but I ignore it. I am still human. I will not harm you."
Tamaya was suddenly
thrown free of the beast. It lurched to its feet, and limped steadily towards
Syaoran, who stood his ground. Sakura tried to rush to his side, but Tamaya
grabbed her arms as she got up from where she'd been tossed. Sakura's face
streaked with tears, as she cried out for Syaoran to run. The Saurian's
mouth twisted upward in a hideous reptile grin, or maybe it was a scowl,
Syaoran couldn't tell in the dim light.
" You should listen
to your friend. Run! Run from me, like the spineless cowards you are!"
" I am no coward."
Syaoran hissed back.
" Then you are
a fool. You and all your kind."
" That's not
true."
The Saurian turned
in Sakura's direction. She closed her mouth firmly, if Syaoran was going
to brave this beast, then so would she. It strode towards her.
" You are weak.
Pathetic. Do you see this?!!" It flicked a claw centimeters from her nose.
She could feel the wind of it. " With one nick, I could rip your throat
out of its place."
It stroked the
claw across her neck, leaving a line of red from her cheek down, a mark
to prove his point. Syaoran growled, and moved closer.
" But, I see someone's
already beaten me to it." The Saurian inspected the scar on her throat,
ignoring Syaoran's threatening stance. " You must have been quite a brave
one, to survive an attack like this."
Tamaya was helping
the other woman, their savior who'd been cornered before. The woman spoke,
addressing the raptor.
" Gheran. Back
off. There is no need to murder these people."
" YOU!"
Gheran whirled
around threateningly, and stalked towards the woman.
" It is because
of you that I did not succeed."
" Which is good
for you. Had you accomplished what you'd intended, you would become no
better then the man who'd done THIS to you." Her hand waved at his grafts.
Gheran growled,
frustrated, and roared. Sakura's face was pale, and her eyes suddenly fluttered
as she collapsed in a faint. Syaoran caught her before she hurt herself,
and picked her up. It'd been quite a fright, traumatic for her. Gharen
murmurred.
" She is braver
then most who come in here, I have to give her that. And strong. She has
survived a wound, that I would normally use to kill a beast. She has much
potential."
" That was no
attack wound." The woman whispered. " She received it from Marckas."
" How did you
know?" Syaoran asked.
" You think you're
the only ones to be sent to this Dark region?"
" You're one
of them," Syaoran gasped," one of the people before that was sent to get
the Staff."
" That's right."
She pushed the sleeve of her tunic down so Syaoran could see the brand
on her shoulder.
Gheran's face
became calm.
" Peliopes has
shown you her mark. If she trusts you, then I will stand behind her decision.
I warn you though. Doublecross me, and I won't make the same mistake twice."
Syaoran nodded
in gratitude at Gharen, who only moments before, had been a beast ready
to annihilate them. Gharen returned the gesture, and motioned towards Tamaya.
" Your wound can
be treated by our doctor."
" Thank you."
" Follow, Peliopes.
She will lead you to our camp."
With that, Gharen
parted company, returning to stalk the forests. Peliopes motioned and they
followed after.
