Chapter 6 – Death on a Pale Horse
Gideon strode confidently through the halls of the complex, which he'd come to know as home. A look of supreme satisfaction was painted on his face, something that was rarely seen by those who knew him. A silver sheen could be seen around his waist, as the small metamorph Fyn took up his normal residence. Finally, he reached his destination and pushed the doors open before kneeling in the center of the circular room.
He didn't bring his face up to look around; he already knew who was there, and who was seated in the chairs resting aloft from him. The Council of Elders had summoned him before.
"You may look up, Gideon." He heard the soft voice of Elder Prime Capitus address him. Gideon did so, standing up and taking a look around at the Elders seated above him. As a quick review he silently recited their names in his head, so as not to forget them if he was questioned by any in particular. Elder Photos, Elder Philia, Elder Nominis, Elder Manus, Elder Quinue, Elder Prime Capitus, and of coarse his mentor Elder Vaulrik.
"What have you to report?" Elder Prime continued. Gideon clasped his hands behind his back proudly.
"The threat of the Silvite boy has been eliminated most honored Elder." He announced, his voice full of pride. Capitus nodded sadly.
"I had hoped it would not have ended in his destruction… but I suppose it is for the best. The one we have will suffice, will it not Elder Manus?"
Manus nodded gravely. "Yes, her power is sufficient to focus the moon's power, but she is fighting. I fear if she tried hard enough, she could get the moons themselves to turn on us."
Vaulrik snorted contemptuously. "Tell her that her son is dead. That should quiet her for a while."
Elder Prime nodded, and turned his attention back to Gideon.
"Tell me, what of the Rebel agent Celeste. Did you come into contact with her?"
Gideon shuffled nervously. "Yes, I saw her ship enter the atmosphere somewhere under the green moon I believe."
"You did not confront her?"
"No Elder, I did not see her before I found the boy."
Capitus sighed. "This may still be a threat."
"With all due respect Elder, how? We have the power of the Moons with us and all they have is outdated technology. They have courage, I'll give them that, but how can this one be a threat?" Vaulrik asked, folding his armed in front of him, waiting for the answer.
"Have you forgotten the Gigas? The green Gigas Grendel has not been destroyed. If this girl finds the green moon crystal, we might be destroyed before we get the chance to fully utilize the Silvite's power." Elder Prime's burning green eyes turned back to Gideon. "Gideon, I want to find her and bring her back, if possible. If not, you make do what must to make sure she doesn't escape…"
*****************************************
Ryne's body hurt. It felt like he'd been tied between two opposing ships and stretched beyond his limits, and had what was left of him trampled over by an elephant… and that was putting it lightly. Finally, Ryne opened his eyes to find himself encased in darkness. Am I dead?... was the first though to float through his head, No I hurt too much to be dead… Where am I?
Then Ryne remembered the violent pitching of the boat, the flames all around him, Jaycera's screams, the rising jungle, and plunging into darkness. Ryne moved… painfully. His hands searched the area around him, feeling the roughness of the unpolished wood surrounding him, encasing him. Finally, with all the strength he had left in him, he pushed. The wood moved slowly forward with the force until he saw a crack of light, piercing the darkness, and he could see. He shoved the wood out, letting the warm sunlight caress his face, and fell backward, exhausted.
He lay there for a moment motionless, trying to access his wounds. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he called upon the green moon above him, and whispered the word "Sacri", instantly feeling the energy coarse through his body, healing all of the minor injures he'd sustained. He got up and crawled out of his hole, the horror of the situation finally dawning on him.
He could see a hundred yard scar through the toppled trees, finally coming the rest just before the wreckage of their ship. The ship itself was no longer recognizable as such. The heaping pile of rubble beneath him looked like something faintly reminiscent of oatmeal.
Suddenly the wood underneath his feet shifted, and a small moan could be heard. Ryne, startled, took a step backward and began to dig through the rubble, unearthing a scuffed up and coughing Leos.
"Nice to see you're alive, Kid." He said between coughing fits, covering his mouth with badly burnt hands. "You seen Jay yet?"
"Jay!" Ryne had completely forgotten about her. Without thinking, he dropped down and started throwing pieces of the ruined ship out of the way, trying to dig around the spot where he had been, and he'd last seen her. Leos sat for a while, still dazed, but soon got to his feet to help, moving slowly and deliberately.
Finally, they found her. The force of the impact had thrown her body up against the front window with enough force to break the glass and leave a large body imprint in the inch thick glass. They lifted the large panel off of her, her face to the ground, breathing so shallow, Ryne wasn't sure if she was or not. Large cuts from the broken glass marred her body, leaving her backside blood soaked. Through the cuts in her clothing they could see that a large bruise covered most of her back, the purplish color coming through her pale skin.
Ryne lifted her body out of the rubble as gently as possible, cradling her as he would a child. Carefully he slid down the rubble, trying not to stumble and fall as he went, Leos trailing behind him.
"Is she… dead…?" Leos asked, his voice hardly above a whisper. Ryne watched her shallow breathing for a moment, and shook his head.
"Not yet." He said grimly.
Leos bit his lip, his face showing a look of determination. "Not ever. I won't let her die. She's all I have left."
"C'mon, we need to get this shirt off her and clean her cuts." Ryne said setting her down, her head resting in his lap.
"Why?" Leos asked, suspiciously.
"We can't let the blood dry to the shirt or it'll never come off again." Ryne said without skipping a beat. "Now go find some water to clean the wounds. I'll do what I can here."
*******************************
Jay screamed, her voice piercing the eerie silence that surrounded her. The sound though, was swallowed by the darkness, denying her the echo she'd hoped to achieve. She was afraid.
A figure became visible through the haze, not recognizable as of yet, but defiantly human. A blue aura seemed to surround him, lighting through the darkness, and Jay could finally see the familiar face. His wavy black hair, and shimmering blue eyes were just as fresh in her memories as they had been almost ten years ago.
"Dad?" She asked, almost timidly.
The figure of Halden Delasari reached out and touched her and laughed her father's warm laugh. "No little one… I am Death."
Jaycera recoiled from the cold touch, fighting the tears welling in her own blue eyes. "What are you doing here? Why do you look like my father?"
Death smiled again, the warm look no longer holding the appeal it once had. "Simple little one. I often take the form of someone comforting. It makes the transition easier."
"Transition into what?" Jay asked, fearing her answer.
"The after life, little one."
Jay closed her eyes, still fighting the tears. "So I'm… dead?"
"No, little one, not yet."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm here to wait. Your fate has not yet been decided."
*******************************
Gideon stood in the center of the launch room, waiting for Fynis to finish his transformation. He'd seen him do it many times, though it was still wondrous and new each time. The usually small metamorph had now grown to ten times his usual size, the silvery liquid metal the composed him seeming to flow outward, slowly taking ovoid shape that he seemed to enjoy. He was amazed that the scientists could do things like this, even though the technology had been available since the Silvite War.
He watched as the stealth engines formed and took their shape, indicating completion of the process. Gideon strode straight through the side of this ship, feeling the tingle of his mind joining to Fynis'.
It's about time Fynis, I think you slow down every time. Gideon teased.
I'm sorry sir, I shall try harder next time
It was a joke Fyn.
Ah, humor. Ha… ha
Fynis, don't even try anymore.
Agreed Gideon. What's our mission this time?
To find Celeste and Tylen.
Splendid, I would much like to catch up with Tylen.
No Fynis, our orders are to bring them in or take them out.
… I see sir. Where are we going to start?
Rixis.
No more was thought between the two of them. Gideon knew their orders had hurt Fyn, more than the elders would know. In fact, the Elders didn't even know metamorphs could develop a personality, being as none of them owned one and scientist never kept the long enough to let one develop. Metamorphs had been genetically engineered by the Silvites to be a sort of intelligent multi-tool, taking whatever form was required of them to take. With certain upgrades they could also gain the ability to expand beyond their normal limits and become the ultimate starship, having the ability to alter their shape and size at will.
Genetic Engineering had been the main cause if dissention between the Silvites of old. The Silvite War had lived in infamy among the colonists for millennia, since before the Rains of Destruction, and the creation of the six Gigas. It had been five thousand years ago, when the Silvites had been united and Soltis had prospered under the light of the Silver Moon.
No one was sure just when it had happened, but all knew that it had happened. The hierarchy of Silvites had researched for years in secret, never revealing themselves to their underlings, but even the best kept secrets can't remain secrets forever. They had unlocked the power of the Silver Moon itself by grafting the very energies of the moon itself into their genetic code, causing their bodies to create within them, the Silver Crystal, making their bodies ageless and finding their own personal fountain of youth.
It had been a secret from hundreds of years, but when what they now reviled as the "Common Silvites" noticed their lack of age throughout the years, suspicion arose causing great upheaval in their society. Neither knew who struck first. A bloody war had arisen, of which there was no victor. In the end, the revolutionists were banished to live their lives upon the Silver Moon, with nothing but life support and the occasional shipment of food.
Throughout the years they learned how to use the environment of the Silver Moon to their advantage. Moonstones were plentiful, needless to say, and once again, technology began to progress at a steady pace, while their hatred for the "Higher Silvites" grew.
Silently they waited, watching the great wars from above, watching the fall of Soltis, the rise of the Silver Shine, and the slow effort to rebuild. The Arcadians, whom they had been taught to hate all their lives, slowly began to gain respect in their eyes, as they watched them build and try to arise from the ashes, using the fallen moonstones to their advantage, while the "Higher Silvites" also watched from their perch in the Silver Shine. Oh, how they'd wanted to shoot that thing down, though there was no way they could do it. The power they now commanded was far greater than any attempt they could muster up, so they waited, watching for their chance, planning to reclaim their lost home…
We've reached Arcadia, Gideon. Shall I start a sensor sweep while we're still in the high altitude? Fynis asked, breaking Gideon's recounting of ancient history.
Yeah, she shouldn't be too hard to find if she's still got Tylen…
***********************************
Ryne stared up at the green moon above him through the large hole in the roof of the shelter he and Leos had started constructing. The soft glow of his hand shone down on the body of Jaycera, who had a contented, almost peaceful look on her face. He sighed and looked back at the moon, letting it's healing energies fill his body and gather at a focal point. Suddenly, the room was no longer filled with the familiar silver light, but green. Ryne stared at his hand in amazement. This had never happened before. The full aide of the Moons comes only when the need is great…
Ryne looked at Jay, her black curly hair gnarled in hopeless knots, framing her beautiful face. He knew what he had to do. Ryne strode over to the cot, which had survived the crash, and knelt beside it, brushing Jay's hair out of her face gently. Slowly, he placed his glowing hand onto her forehead.
Nothing happened at first, and Ryne wondered if he might have been wrong, but something inside of him still told him he was doing the right thing. Then he felt a slow trickle of energy leave him and dissipate into Jay's body. The trickle turned into a flow, and the flow into a torrent of the healing energies of the green moon. He watched, his breath staggering from the effort, as cuts mended themselves and though he couldn't see it, he could feel the lost blood from her bruises returning into repaired blood vessels.
Then it stopped all at once, leaving him tired and weak, the back of his hand dark, drained of it's energy. Ryne knew he should find a place to rest, but he didn't think he could move from his position at her bed. He was rewarded by Jay's deep blue eyes shining through the darkness, and her bare arms wrapping around his neck bringing him into a desperate embrace.
He held her trembling form in the darkness of the room, her tears soaking through his shirt, to his shoulder. He didn't know how long he sat there, holding her in the darkness, stroking her dirty hair, trying his best to comfort her. Several times she lifted her face to look him in the eye as if to say something, then breaking down once again, finally falling asleep in his arms.
Ryne shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to disturb her, but also not wanting to have Leos find them like this the next morning. Gently, he eased her head back down to her pillow and pulled the sheets up around her. He sat on the edge of the bed a while longer, watching her steady breathing, then got up and returned to his own ripped up mattress, about five feet from the fitfully sleeping Leos Delasari.
Ryne collapsed onto the heap of springs and fluff, ignoring the slight pain in his back from the exposed metal. Despite the fact that he was exhausted, he couldn't seem to be able to sleep, though twenty minutes of listening to the various animal calls, the wind rustling the foliage, and gazing at the stars above slowly lulled him into sleep…
*****************************
Jay woke with a start, half expecting to be darkness once again, her night with Ryne only a brief illusion. She could still feel the icy touch of death on her shoulder… Suddenly she was overcome by a huge mass of tattered clothing and squeezing muscles, removing all doubt that yes, she was alive.
"You're Alive!" She heard the mass that was her brother, exclaim.
"I am now, but not if you don't let go!" Jay gasped. Sheepishly, Leos let go of her and back off a couple of steps, his eyes watery with tears of joy.
"Sorry sis… I just though I'd almost lost you." He said, sniffling. Jay smiled weakly, her strength still sapped.
"You almost did, you big Lug." Jay reached out to her big brother and pulled him into an embrace. Cautiously, he put his arms around her fighting back tears once more. "Aw, nobody like's a crybaby, big brother. Sides… it'll take more than this to get rid of me."
Leos smiled, resuming his normal expression. "I'll try harder next time." Jay laughed and punched him softly on the shoulder.
"Where's Ryne?" She asked, suddenly remembering the white haired Silvite who'd saved her life. Leos shrugged.
"Still sleeping I guess. Why?"
Jay opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it and shut it. Leos would never understand. He knew nothing of the power of the moons, and would probably misread what had happened. Leos looked and her suspiciously and shrugged.
"Just try to get some sleep, Jay." He said, gently pushing her back down into the bed. Jay didn't fight it. Despite the fact that she was fully recovered, she was still exhausted though she didn't know why. Slowly she drifted back to sleep, dreading the dreams it would bring her…
Gideon strode confidently through the halls of the complex, which he'd come to know as home. A look of supreme satisfaction was painted on his face, something that was rarely seen by those who knew him. A silver sheen could be seen around his waist, as the small metamorph Fyn took up his normal residence. Finally, he reached his destination and pushed the doors open before kneeling in the center of the circular room.
He didn't bring his face up to look around; he already knew who was there, and who was seated in the chairs resting aloft from him. The Council of Elders had summoned him before.
"You may look up, Gideon." He heard the soft voice of Elder Prime Capitus address him. Gideon did so, standing up and taking a look around at the Elders seated above him. As a quick review he silently recited their names in his head, so as not to forget them if he was questioned by any in particular. Elder Photos, Elder Philia, Elder Nominis, Elder Manus, Elder Quinue, Elder Prime Capitus, and of coarse his mentor Elder Vaulrik.
"What have you to report?" Elder Prime continued. Gideon clasped his hands behind his back proudly.
"The threat of the Silvite boy has been eliminated most honored Elder." He announced, his voice full of pride. Capitus nodded sadly.
"I had hoped it would not have ended in his destruction… but I suppose it is for the best. The one we have will suffice, will it not Elder Manus?"
Manus nodded gravely. "Yes, her power is sufficient to focus the moon's power, but she is fighting. I fear if she tried hard enough, she could get the moons themselves to turn on us."
Vaulrik snorted contemptuously. "Tell her that her son is dead. That should quiet her for a while."
Elder Prime nodded, and turned his attention back to Gideon.
"Tell me, what of the Rebel agent Celeste. Did you come into contact with her?"
Gideon shuffled nervously. "Yes, I saw her ship enter the atmosphere somewhere under the green moon I believe."
"You did not confront her?"
"No Elder, I did not see her before I found the boy."
Capitus sighed. "This may still be a threat."
"With all due respect Elder, how? We have the power of the Moons with us and all they have is outdated technology. They have courage, I'll give them that, but how can this one be a threat?" Vaulrik asked, folding his armed in front of him, waiting for the answer.
"Have you forgotten the Gigas? The green Gigas Grendel has not been destroyed. If this girl finds the green moon crystal, we might be destroyed before we get the chance to fully utilize the Silvite's power." Elder Prime's burning green eyes turned back to Gideon. "Gideon, I want to find her and bring her back, if possible. If not, you make do what must to make sure she doesn't escape…"
*****************************************
Ryne's body hurt. It felt like he'd been tied between two opposing ships and stretched beyond his limits, and had what was left of him trampled over by an elephant… and that was putting it lightly. Finally, Ryne opened his eyes to find himself encased in darkness. Am I dead?... was the first though to float through his head, No I hurt too much to be dead… Where am I?
Then Ryne remembered the violent pitching of the boat, the flames all around him, Jaycera's screams, the rising jungle, and plunging into darkness. Ryne moved… painfully. His hands searched the area around him, feeling the roughness of the unpolished wood surrounding him, encasing him. Finally, with all the strength he had left in him, he pushed. The wood moved slowly forward with the force until he saw a crack of light, piercing the darkness, and he could see. He shoved the wood out, letting the warm sunlight caress his face, and fell backward, exhausted.
He lay there for a moment motionless, trying to access his wounds. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he called upon the green moon above him, and whispered the word "Sacri", instantly feeling the energy coarse through his body, healing all of the minor injures he'd sustained. He got up and crawled out of his hole, the horror of the situation finally dawning on him.
He could see a hundred yard scar through the toppled trees, finally coming the rest just before the wreckage of their ship. The ship itself was no longer recognizable as such. The heaping pile of rubble beneath him looked like something faintly reminiscent of oatmeal.
Suddenly the wood underneath his feet shifted, and a small moan could be heard. Ryne, startled, took a step backward and began to dig through the rubble, unearthing a scuffed up and coughing Leos.
"Nice to see you're alive, Kid." He said between coughing fits, covering his mouth with badly burnt hands. "You seen Jay yet?"
"Jay!" Ryne had completely forgotten about her. Without thinking, he dropped down and started throwing pieces of the ruined ship out of the way, trying to dig around the spot where he had been, and he'd last seen her. Leos sat for a while, still dazed, but soon got to his feet to help, moving slowly and deliberately.
Finally, they found her. The force of the impact had thrown her body up against the front window with enough force to break the glass and leave a large body imprint in the inch thick glass. They lifted the large panel off of her, her face to the ground, breathing so shallow, Ryne wasn't sure if she was or not. Large cuts from the broken glass marred her body, leaving her backside blood soaked. Through the cuts in her clothing they could see that a large bruise covered most of her back, the purplish color coming through her pale skin.
Ryne lifted her body out of the rubble as gently as possible, cradling her as he would a child. Carefully he slid down the rubble, trying not to stumble and fall as he went, Leos trailing behind him.
"Is she… dead…?" Leos asked, his voice hardly above a whisper. Ryne watched her shallow breathing for a moment, and shook his head.
"Not yet." He said grimly.
Leos bit his lip, his face showing a look of determination. "Not ever. I won't let her die. She's all I have left."
"C'mon, we need to get this shirt off her and clean her cuts." Ryne said setting her down, her head resting in his lap.
"Why?" Leos asked, suspiciously.
"We can't let the blood dry to the shirt or it'll never come off again." Ryne said without skipping a beat. "Now go find some water to clean the wounds. I'll do what I can here."
*******************************
Jay screamed, her voice piercing the eerie silence that surrounded her. The sound though, was swallowed by the darkness, denying her the echo she'd hoped to achieve. She was afraid.
A figure became visible through the haze, not recognizable as of yet, but defiantly human. A blue aura seemed to surround him, lighting through the darkness, and Jay could finally see the familiar face. His wavy black hair, and shimmering blue eyes were just as fresh in her memories as they had been almost ten years ago.
"Dad?" She asked, almost timidly.
The figure of Halden Delasari reached out and touched her and laughed her father's warm laugh. "No little one… I am Death."
Jaycera recoiled from the cold touch, fighting the tears welling in her own blue eyes. "What are you doing here? Why do you look like my father?"
Death smiled again, the warm look no longer holding the appeal it once had. "Simple little one. I often take the form of someone comforting. It makes the transition easier."
"Transition into what?" Jay asked, fearing her answer.
"The after life, little one."
Jay closed her eyes, still fighting the tears. "So I'm… dead?"
"No, little one, not yet."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm here to wait. Your fate has not yet been decided."
*******************************
Gideon stood in the center of the launch room, waiting for Fynis to finish his transformation. He'd seen him do it many times, though it was still wondrous and new each time. The usually small metamorph had now grown to ten times his usual size, the silvery liquid metal the composed him seeming to flow outward, slowly taking ovoid shape that he seemed to enjoy. He was amazed that the scientists could do things like this, even though the technology had been available since the Silvite War.
He watched as the stealth engines formed and took their shape, indicating completion of the process. Gideon strode straight through the side of this ship, feeling the tingle of his mind joining to Fynis'.
It's about time Fynis, I think you slow down every time. Gideon teased.
I'm sorry sir, I shall try harder next time
It was a joke Fyn.
Ah, humor. Ha… ha
Fynis, don't even try anymore.
Agreed Gideon. What's our mission this time?
To find Celeste and Tylen.
Splendid, I would much like to catch up with Tylen.
No Fynis, our orders are to bring them in or take them out.
… I see sir. Where are we going to start?
Rixis.
No more was thought between the two of them. Gideon knew their orders had hurt Fyn, more than the elders would know. In fact, the Elders didn't even know metamorphs could develop a personality, being as none of them owned one and scientist never kept the long enough to let one develop. Metamorphs had been genetically engineered by the Silvites to be a sort of intelligent multi-tool, taking whatever form was required of them to take. With certain upgrades they could also gain the ability to expand beyond their normal limits and become the ultimate starship, having the ability to alter their shape and size at will.
Genetic Engineering had been the main cause if dissention between the Silvites of old. The Silvite War had lived in infamy among the colonists for millennia, since before the Rains of Destruction, and the creation of the six Gigas. It had been five thousand years ago, when the Silvites had been united and Soltis had prospered under the light of the Silver Moon.
No one was sure just when it had happened, but all knew that it had happened. The hierarchy of Silvites had researched for years in secret, never revealing themselves to their underlings, but even the best kept secrets can't remain secrets forever. They had unlocked the power of the Silver Moon itself by grafting the very energies of the moon itself into their genetic code, causing their bodies to create within them, the Silver Crystal, making their bodies ageless and finding their own personal fountain of youth.
It had been a secret from hundreds of years, but when what they now reviled as the "Common Silvites" noticed their lack of age throughout the years, suspicion arose causing great upheaval in their society. Neither knew who struck first. A bloody war had arisen, of which there was no victor. In the end, the revolutionists were banished to live their lives upon the Silver Moon, with nothing but life support and the occasional shipment of food.
Throughout the years they learned how to use the environment of the Silver Moon to their advantage. Moonstones were plentiful, needless to say, and once again, technology began to progress at a steady pace, while their hatred for the "Higher Silvites" grew.
Silently they waited, watching the great wars from above, watching the fall of Soltis, the rise of the Silver Shine, and the slow effort to rebuild. The Arcadians, whom they had been taught to hate all their lives, slowly began to gain respect in their eyes, as they watched them build and try to arise from the ashes, using the fallen moonstones to their advantage, while the "Higher Silvites" also watched from their perch in the Silver Shine. Oh, how they'd wanted to shoot that thing down, though there was no way they could do it. The power they now commanded was far greater than any attempt they could muster up, so they waited, watching for their chance, planning to reclaim their lost home…
We've reached Arcadia, Gideon. Shall I start a sensor sweep while we're still in the high altitude? Fynis asked, breaking Gideon's recounting of ancient history.
Yeah, she shouldn't be too hard to find if she's still got Tylen…
***********************************
Ryne stared up at the green moon above him through the large hole in the roof of the shelter he and Leos had started constructing. The soft glow of his hand shone down on the body of Jaycera, who had a contented, almost peaceful look on her face. He sighed and looked back at the moon, letting it's healing energies fill his body and gather at a focal point. Suddenly, the room was no longer filled with the familiar silver light, but green. Ryne stared at his hand in amazement. This had never happened before. The full aide of the Moons comes only when the need is great…
Ryne looked at Jay, her black curly hair gnarled in hopeless knots, framing her beautiful face. He knew what he had to do. Ryne strode over to the cot, which had survived the crash, and knelt beside it, brushing Jay's hair out of her face gently. Slowly, he placed his glowing hand onto her forehead.
Nothing happened at first, and Ryne wondered if he might have been wrong, but something inside of him still told him he was doing the right thing. Then he felt a slow trickle of energy leave him and dissipate into Jay's body. The trickle turned into a flow, and the flow into a torrent of the healing energies of the green moon. He watched, his breath staggering from the effort, as cuts mended themselves and though he couldn't see it, he could feel the lost blood from her bruises returning into repaired blood vessels.
Then it stopped all at once, leaving him tired and weak, the back of his hand dark, drained of it's energy. Ryne knew he should find a place to rest, but he didn't think he could move from his position at her bed. He was rewarded by Jay's deep blue eyes shining through the darkness, and her bare arms wrapping around his neck bringing him into a desperate embrace.
He held her trembling form in the darkness of the room, her tears soaking through his shirt, to his shoulder. He didn't know how long he sat there, holding her in the darkness, stroking her dirty hair, trying his best to comfort her. Several times she lifted her face to look him in the eye as if to say something, then breaking down once again, finally falling asleep in his arms.
Ryne shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to disturb her, but also not wanting to have Leos find them like this the next morning. Gently, he eased her head back down to her pillow and pulled the sheets up around her. He sat on the edge of the bed a while longer, watching her steady breathing, then got up and returned to his own ripped up mattress, about five feet from the fitfully sleeping Leos Delasari.
Ryne collapsed onto the heap of springs and fluff, ignoring the slight pain in his back from the exposed metal. Despite the fact that he was exhausted, he couldn't seem to be able to sleep, though twenty minutes of listening to the various animal calls, the wind rustling the foliage, and gazing at the stars above slowly lulled him into sleep…
*****************************
Jay woke with a start, half expecting to be darkness once again, her night with Ryne only a brief illusion. She could still feel the icy touch of death on her shoulder… Suddenly she was overcome by a huge mass of tattered clothing and squeezing muscles, removing all doubt that yes, she was alive.
"You're Alive!" She heard the mass that was her brother, exclaim.
"I am now, but not if you don't let go!" Jay gasped. Sheepishly, Leos let go of her and back off a couple of steps, his eyes watery with tears of joy.
"Sorry sis… I just though I'd almost lost you." He said, sniffling. Jay smiled weakly, her strength still sapped.
"You almost did, you big Lug." Jay reached out to her big brother and pulled him into an embrace. Cautiously, he put his arms around her fighting back tears once more. "Aw, nobody like's a crybaby, big brother. Sides… it'll take more than this to get rid of me."
Leos smiled, resuming his normal expression. "I'll try harder next time." Jay laughed and punched him softly on the shoulder.
"Where's Ryne?" She asked, suddenly remembering the white haired Silvite who'd saved her life. Leos shrugged.
"Still sleeping I guess. Why?"
Jay opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it and shut it. Leos would never understand. He knew nothing of the power of the moons, and would probably misread what had happened. Leos looked and her suspiciously and shrugged.
"Just try to get some sleep, Jay." He said, gently pushing her back down into the bed. Jay didn't fight it. Despite the fact that she was fully recovered, she was still exhausted though she didn't know why. Slowly she drifted back to sleep, dreading the dreams it would bring her…