Ok, for those of you that didn't catch on, Devil's Paintbrush is a type of
flower. A weed, really. It's red, with a yellowish tint. Some of them can
be orange. I'll find a picture and post it on my site sometime today, if I
remember. Alright, I have to get this fic finished before my 'friend'
steals all my ideas. I'm going to have to watch what I tell her…
Disclaimer, I don't own it so don't sue. Leave me alone.
Alright, on with things.
Oh yeah, this is the chapter about what happens with Duo and Heero, so you can guess about what's going on. Don't expect too much though, the rating of this fic is staying at pg13. ok, now we can go on with things.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 21
The Cure
Duo and Heero rode through the forest towards the mountains. Both wore grim expressions on their faces. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
However, oblivious to the oncoming danger, the two rode on, one thought on their minds. They needed to get the cure for Quatre. Wufei had told them that a clan close to theirs had someone who could help them. They could only hope it was true. And that they didn't get lost.
"How long do we have?" Heero asked. It was the first effort at conversation either of them had made. Duo was a little surprised the effort had come from the normally silent hand, but he got over it and shook himself from his thoughts.
"About a week. It should only take 5 days to make it to the clan and back." Duo replied.
"What's wrong with Quatre?"
"He's had a spell put on him that could eat up his fire magic, if we don't get the cure on time. I wish I'd a thought to grab some of the herbs when I was in the mountains earlier this year, but the thought didn't jump into my head that I'd need them."
Heero nodded, and they continued in silence for a few more minutes. Heero was riding Trowa's chocolate brown horse, and Duo had chosen Shadowswift. They were the two best horses the king had had to offer, and they were good mounts.
Duo sighed heavily. The silence was thickening the air around them, and it was creeping him out. But, it seemed the silence was good for one thing as a branch snapped in the woods, and both of the riders heard it.
"What do you think that was?" Duo asked.
"Most likely an animal." Heero replied, eyes searching the woods in the direction of the sound.
Both listened for a few moments, waiting for another sound, but nothing else came. The only noise was their heavy breathing and the sound of the horses hooves on the packed soil of the path.
"I don't think that was an animal. I can usually sense living forms." Duo said quietly. "Maybe we should go a little faster."
Heero nodded, and they both urged their horses forwards at a faster trot.
_clip clop clip clop clip clop_
The two riders bounced unsteadily in the saddles at first, but soon adjusted to the new speed.
***
It was Duo who felt it first. A chill creeping up his spine like someone was watching them from behind. An evil something. "Heero…"
The short haired youth nodded. "Yeah, I feel it too."
"What do we do?"
Heero shook his head. He had no idea. He was amazed at how Duo could be so calm one minute, and so utterly hopeless and dependant the next. "It's behind us."
"Yeah, by about 50 feet I think. It's not friendly, I can tell." Duo's violet eyes expressed worry and fear at the same time. The two were once again oblivious to the danger surrounding them.
*~*
Wufei found himself with Nataku outside the castle walls with Aria, searching the ground for the precious flower. "You could help me look you know." The girl snapped. Wufei had done nothing but complain the whole time they'd been outside the castle walls. Ranting about danger and 'not safe'.
"I mean, we're in no danger. We're two of the most powerful people in this community, and nothing's going to stop us."
"How do you know?" Wufei asked, his voice accusing. "How can you be so sure that they attack won't come sooner than you think. We could be in danger. But I don't think…" His voice trailed off as he listened to something that Aria apparently couldn't hear.
"What is it?" The girl asked, standing up. Then she heard it too. A whisper in the wind…
/…angel and animal…shadows…unaware…danger…/
Aria's eyes narrowed. "I thought I told him…"
"Told who what?" Wufei asked.
Aria ignored the question and thrust some flowers at Wufei. "Go in and boil these in water, I'll be back in about an hour." And with that, she headed off around the corner.
Wufei quirked an eyebrow. "But I thought…" sighing, he turned to Nataku. "Follow her." He ordered. "I want to know what she's up to."
"Croik!"
"I don't care if she can sense you. Just go."
"Croik…"
*~*
Duo and Heero had picked up speed once again, but neither of them dared to turn around to see what was following them. The feeling in the pits of their stomachs was growing steadily, and they would easily agree that it was not a nice feeling.
"Maybe we should go faster." Duo suggested.
"We don't know what it is."
"I know we don't know, but we can't just look at it. What if it's waiting for us to do just that?"
Heero shrugged. "We're on our own Duo. We have to do something."
Duo sat, deep in thought for a few moments. "I think we should turn around."
Heero nodded. "Agreed."
"Ok, you turn first and tell me what you see."
Heero rolled his Prussian blue eyes. A slight breeze ruffled his hair. Had he been a weather mage, he would have heard the warning that it whispered in his ear.
*~*
Aria rounded the corner of the castle walls, and looked around to see if she was being watched. She could feel Nataku around the corner. She was sure Wufei would send her to watch where she was going. Sighing, she decided she didn't have very much time.
Sitting cross legged on the ground, she placed her hands on her knees, and closed her eyes. Within moments, Nataku wouldn't be able to follow her anymore. For the sole reason that she was gone.
*~*
Heero turned his head slowly, a simple movement that, if avoided, could stop the danger that surrounded them. However, he didn't know what was behind him, so he turned. His eyes met those of the thing behind him, freezing his insides, and stopping his breath.
He found himself unable to pull away from the beast, it's blackness creating no form, it's feet silent on the ground below, it's breath wheezing from lack of food.
What does it eat, you ask? Let me tell you, you don't want to know.
"What is it Heero?"
The animal mage pulled his eyes from the monster with great difficulty and managed to utter a single word before losing consciousness. "run…"
*~*
Aria's spell landed her in the forest, about 50 feet behind the monster following the two mounted mages. The girl's eyes narrowed once again as she watched Heero break eye contact with the beast, and slump forward on his horse. Duo's powers were supporting him, keeping the animal mage from falling to the ground, but Aria could tell that Duo was trying to pick up speed as well.
"Amateurs." She muttered, before placing her fingers in her mouth and blowing a sharp whistle through the silent air.
This seemed to make Duo want to go faster, but it did halt the progress of the black monster.
The beast turned slowly, to face Aria. It stopped walking, it's breath wheezing more and more as it got excited about it's next meal.
Aria scowled, braced herself for impact and waited.
The shadow lunged, and was upon her within seconds. It's blackness enveloping her and taking her breath from her lungs.
The mage's hands worked their magic, however, as they were trained to do that type of thing when it was absolutely necessary. Soon the shadow was no more, and Aria rose to her feet.
Seeing that Duo had stopped, she called out to him. "Don't stop, and don't look back. Just keep riding, and go quickly. Try to get Heero to wake up."
The only response she got from the braided boy was a nod that she just barely picked up. He turned, and continued. Aria could feel his healing spells taking place as the two galloped on. When they were out of sight, she turned off the path and headed into the woods.
"Zahra, get out here." She called. Her voice both demanding and menacing. She could feel the dark mage somewhere, though it was hard to pick her out among the leaves and branches.
Finally, she picked up an easier sent, and followed the winds to the girl's hiding place. Whispering a few words, the mage became visible.
"I do not want you to interfere with my doings." Aria growled. "It's not your place or right. Go back to wherever you came from until you're needed."
Zahra smirked. "Fine. I'll tell the lord that you've been disobeying him, helping these two to get herbs to heal the fire."
It was Aria's turn to smirk. She'd had a backup plan for this. "I'm getting them out of the way. I can't kill the fire and get away with it when they're around. The two of them are too powerful. I'm sending them into the mountains, giving myself a week to get organized and planned. Now please stay out of my affairs."
Zahra glared at Aria until she disappeared again, obviously heading back to the castle. Huffing, and burning with jealousy, Zahra patted the kitten on her shoulder. "You go and spy on her for me Kearney (an-name of the kitten, remember?) I want to make sure she's not betraying us. The lord wouldn't appreciate that."
"mew." The kitten responded, jumping off of Zahra's shoulder and growing before it reached the ground. A cougar replaced the tiny kitten, its dangerous white fangs glowing darkly. It glanced one more time at its owner, and then took off into the forest, heading for the castle.
*~*
What neither mage realized was that they had had an audience. And with a small, worried "croik" it flew away from the now deserted clearing, dreading what it had to tell its master when it got back to the castle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That's chapter 21. Please let me know what you think! Reviews have and will be appreciated!!!
If I've made any reference mistakes, please let me know. I'm starting to go back to the beginning of the fic, which means it's going to end soon, right? I certainly hope so. I think there are 4 or 5 more chapters. I hope nobody minds, or stops reading now.
Thanks again for reading!!
Aria
Disclaimer, I don't own it so don't sue. Leave me alone.
Alright, on with things.
Oh yeah, this is the chapter about what happens with Duo and Heero, so you can guess about what's going on. Don't expect too much though, the rating of this fic is staying at pg13. ok, now we can go on with things.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 21
The Cure
Duo and Heero rode through the forest towards the mountains. Both wore grim expressions on their faces. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
However, oblivious to the oncoming danger, the two rode on, one thought on their minds. They needed to get the cure for Quatre. Wufei had told them that a clan close to theirs had someone who could help them. They could only hope it was true. And that they didn't get lost.
"How long do we have?" Heero asked. It was the first effort at conversation either of them had made. Duo was a little surprised the effort had come from the normally silent hand, but he got over it and shook himself from his thoughts.
"About a week. It should only take 5 days to make it to the clan and back." Duo replied.
"What's wrong with Quatre?"
"He's had a spell put on him that could eat up his fire magic, if we don't get the cure on time. I wish I'd a thought to grab some of the herbs when I was in the mountains earlier this year, but the thought didn't jump into my head that I'd need them."
Heero nodded, and they continued in silence for a few more minutes. Heero was riding Trowa's chocolate brown horse, and Duo had chosen Shadowswift. They were the two best horses the king had had to offer, and they were good mounts.
Duo sighed heavily. The silence was thickening the air around them, and it was creeping him out. But, it seemed the silence was good for one thing as a branch snapped in the woods, and both of the riders heard it.
"What do you think that was?" Duo asked.
"Most likely an animal." Heero replied, eyes searching the woods in the direction of the sound.
Both listened for a few moments, waiting for another sound, but nothing else came. The only noise was their heavy breathing and the sound of the horses hooves on the packed soil of the path.
"I don't think that was an animal. I can usually sense living forms." Duo said quietly. "Maybe we should go a little faster."
Heero nodded, and they both urged their horses forwards at a faster trot.
_clip clop clip clop clip clop_
The two riders bounced unsteadily in the saddles at first, but soon adjusted to the new speed.
***
It was Duo who felt it first. A chill creeping up his spine like someone was watching them from behind. An evil something. "Heero…"
The short haired youth nodded. "Yeah, I feel it too."
"What do we do?"
Heero shook his head. He had no idea. He was amazed at how Duo could be so calm one minute, and so utterly hopeless and dependant the next. "It's behind us."
"Yeah, by about 50 feet I think. It's not friendly, I can tell." Duo's violet eyes expressed worry and fear at the same time. The two were once again oblivious to the danger surrounding them.
*~*
Wufei found himself with Nataku outside the castle walls with Aria, searching the ground for the precious flower. "You could help me look you know." The girl snapped. Wufei had done nothing but complain the whole time they'd been outside the castle walls. Ranting about danger and 'not safe'.
"I mean, we're in no danger. We're two of the most powerful people in this community, and nothing's going to stop us."
"How do you know?" Wufei asked, his voice accusing. "How can you be so sure that they attack won't come sooner than you think. We could be in danger. But I don't think…" His voice trailed off as he listened to something that Aria apparently couldn't hear.
"What is it?" The girl asked, standing up. Then she heard it too. A whisper in the wind…
/…angel and animal…shadows…unaware…danger…/
Aria's eyes narrowed. "I thought I told him…"
"Told who what?" Wufei asked.
Aria ignored the question and thrust some flowers at Wufei. "Go in and boil these in water, I'll be back in about an hour." And with that, she headed off around the corner.
Wufei quirked an eyebrow. "But I thought…" sighing, he turned to Nataku. "Follow her." He ordered. "I want to know what she's up to."
"Croik!"
"I don't care if she can sense you. Just go."
"Croik…"
*~*
Duo and Heero had picked up speed once again, but neither of them dared to turn around to see what was following them. The feeling in the pits of their stomachs was growing steadily, and they would easily agree that it was not a nice feeling.
"Maybe we should go faster." Duo suggested.
"We don't know what it is."
"I know we don't know, but we can't just look at it. What if it's waiting for us to do just that?"
Heero shrugged. "We're on our own Duo. We have to do something."
Duo sat, deep in thought for a few moments. "I think we should turn around."
Heero nodded. "Agreed."
"Ok, you turn first and tell me what you see."
Heero rolled his Prussian blue eyes. A slight breeze ruffled his hair. Had he been a weather mage, he would have heard the warning that it whispered in his ear.
*~*
Aria rounded the corner of the castle walls, and looked around to see if she was being watched. She could feel Nataku around the corner. She was sure Wufei would send her to watch where she was going. Sighing, she decided she didn't have very much time.
Sitting cross legged on the ground, she placed her hands on her knees, and closed her eyes. Within moments, Nataku wouldn't be able to follow her anymore. For the sole reason that she was gone.
*~*
Heero turned his head slowly, a simple movement that, if avoided, could stop the danger that surrounded them. However, he didn't know what was behind him, so he turned. His eyes met those of the thing behind him, freezing his insides, and stopping his breath.
He found himself unable to pull away from the beast, it's blackness creating no form, it's feet silent on the ground below, it's breath wheezing from lack of food.
What does it eat, you ask? Let me tell you, you don't want to know.
"What is it Heero?"
The animal mage pulled his eyes from the monster with great difficulty and managed to utter a single word before losing consciousness. "run…"
*~*
Aria's spell landed her in the forest, about 50 feet behind the monster following the two mounted mages. The girl's eyes narrowed once again as she watched Heero break eye contact with the beast, and slump forward on his horse. Duo's powers were supporting him, keeping the animal mage from falling to the ground, but Aria could tell that Duo was trying to pick up speed as well.
"Amateurs." She muttered, before placing her fingers in her mouth and blowing a sharp whistle through the silent air.
This seemed to make Duo want to go faster, but it did halt the progress of the black monster.
The beast turned slowly, to face Aria. It stopped walking, it's breath wheezing more and more as it got excited about it's next meal.
Aria scowled, braced herself for impact and waited.
The shadow lunged, and was upon her within seconds. It's blackness enveloping her and taking her breath from her lungs.
The mage's hands worked their magic, however, as they were trained to do that type of thing when it was absolutely necessary. Soon the shadow was no more, and Aria rose to her feet.
Seeing that Duo had stopped, she called out to him. "Don't stop, and don't look back. Just keep riding, and go quickly. Try to get Heero to wake up."
The only response she got from the braided boy was a nod that she just barely picked up. He turned, and continued. Aria could feel his healing spells taking place as the two galloped on. When they were out of sight, she turned off the path and headed into the woods.
"Zahra, get out here." She called. Her voice both demanding and menacing. She could feel the dark mage somewhere, though it was hard to pick her out among the leaves and branches.
Finally, she picked up an easier sent, and followed the winds to the girl's hiding place. Whispering a few words, the mage became visible.
"I do not want you to interfere with my doings." Aria growled. "It's not your place or right. Go back to wherever you came from until you're needed."
Zahra smirked. "Fine. I'll tell the lord that you've been disobeying him, helping these two to get herbs to heal the fire."
It was Aria's turn to smirk. She'd had a backup plan for this. "I'm getting them out of the way. I can't kill the fire and get away with it when they're around. The two of them are too powerful. I'm sending them into the mountains, giving myself a week to get organized and planned. Now please stay out of my affairs."
Zahra glared at Aria until she disappeared again, obviously heading back to the castle. Huffing, and burning with jealousy, Zahra patted the kitten on her shoulder. "You go and spy on her for me Kearney (an-name of the kitten, remember?) I want to make sure she's not betraying us. The lord wouldn't appreciate that."
"mew." The kitten responded, jumping off of Zahra's shoulder and growing before it reached the ground. A cougar replaced the tiny kitten, its dangerous white fangs glowing darkly. It glanced one more time at its owner, and then took off into the forest, heading for the castle.
*~*
What neither mage realized was that they had had an audience. And with a small, worried "croik" it flew away from the now deserted clearing, dreading what it had to tell its master when it got back to the castle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That's chapter 21. Please let me know what you think! Reviews have and will be appreciated!!!
If I've made any reference mistakes, please let me know. I'm starting to go back to the beginning of the fic, which means it's going to end soon, right? I certainly hope so. I think there are 4 or 5 more chapters. I hope nobody minds, or stops reading now.
Thanks again for reading!!
Aria
