Tears of Twilight.
Chapter 6.
Ryo woke the moment the sun's light filtered through his windows. A gentle breeze wafted his curtains, and the promise of a beautiful day filled the air. However as he sat up, he knew this wasn't to be a beautiful day. Cye and Kaye were still gone, and they had no choice but to go after them, and defeat the one who had captured him.
A frown came to his face. Kento had been so upset last night that he hadn't even been downstairs once during the night for his late bedtime snack. Come to think of it, Ryo had heard him beating the stuffing out of his pillow before succumbing to sleep. He forced himself out of bed and dressed. Grabbing his brush he ran it through the tangles of his thick black hair, thinking of how they were going to handle this rescue. They needed a plan to get into the Dynasty. This time they had no ancient, and who knew where Kayura was, or even Anubis's spirit.
He set his brush down on his dresser and glanced at White Blaze. The tiger was staring out the window of the balcony as if he were waiting for someone. Most likely, Kaye and Cye. He came up beside his faithful tiger and gently scratched the top of his head. The tiger did not rumble, nor make any movement at all. His tail twitched slightly, much like a cat's would when it wanted to be left alone.
"Don't worry, White Blaze," Ryo said as he, too, gazed outside. "We'll get them back." And he was certain of it too. He was the one who had wanted to bust into the Dynasty the first time when Sage, Kento, and Cye had been captured the first time, though Rowen had seemed reluctant to do so. In the end they had made a pretty good team, gathering help from Anubis, and the Jewel of Life, and finally Kayura herself.
Just then White Blaze's ears twitched and he suddenly leapt over the balcony. Ryo gasped a bit and jumped after him. What was that tiger up to now? He followed White Blaze to the edge of the yard and came to a sudden stop at the large white wolf that stood before them.
White Blaze walked up to the wolf and the two stood nose to nose, the wolf's head slightly higher than White Blaze's. Then White Blaze stepped back and seemed to bow slightly as he did so.
This shocked Ryo a little and he came closer, carefully holding his hand out to the wolf to smell. He didn't want to risk being bit. The wolf stared at him, its sapphire blue eyes seemed almost amused. This was another surprise to the bearer of Wildfire.
"I won't bite you, Wildfire."
Ryo about screamed as he jumped back several feet with wide eyes, and his arms held out in self defense. He stared at the wolf, open-mouthed. "D-did you just speak to me?!"
"I did, Wildfire," the wolf replied.
Ryo lowered his arms, slowly breathed in and out as he got over his shock. He came closer to the wolf again. This had to be a dream right? Wait, he'd seen stranger things. Okay, so the wolf could talk. There were other animals that could talk, right?
He took a deep breath as he stared at the wolf. "Okay, so why have you come here?" he asked. Would the wolf tell him? Or would he not answer the question at all. It was hard to say at the moment, but Ryo knew there had to be a reason behind it, whatever it was.
"I was sent here, Wildfire, along with the three Warriors."
Ryo gasped. "So, you're with Flash, Thunder, and Scorpio?" he cried out. The wolf nodded his head. There was something in his eyes that suggested pure business and yet worry. It was as if the wolf could sense something no one else could, and yet could do nothing about it. Ryo frowned deeply as he laid one hand on White Blaze's head.
"What's the matter?" he asked the wolf.
The wolf stared back at him, then raised his head and sniffed the air a few times, then looked back at Ryo. "Your friend, Kaye, she had her own tiger, a silver tiger named Lightning. He was her father, correct?"
Ryo faltered. He hadn't expected anyone else to know this, then again you don't come across a talking wolf too much. He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on this gigantic animal. "Y..yes," he replied, stuttering a little. "But how do you know?"
"How I know isn't of importance. I know he was killed, and I must bring him back. Kaye is going to need him."
"Wait a second!" Ryo cried out. "How do you about Kaye? Is she all right? What of Cye? How much do you know?!" He wanted answers and he wanted them now. The white wolf only stared at him as if debating whether or not to answer him. Finally he spoke in a firm voice.
"Your questions will be answered when I have brought Lightning back. I suggest you return to the other Ronins and the girl known as Mia, and tell them what I intend to do. Go quickly, Wildfire."
Ryo hesitated. Was this wolf really going to bring Lightning back? Could they even trust him? He looked down at White Blaze, but the tiger was already heading back to the manor. Seeing he had little choice, the bearer of Wildfire turned and headed back to the manor. Once there, he called for everyone to join him in the living room. Sage and Rowen sat next to each other on the couch, Kento sat on the floor, still holding a photo of Kaye, and now one of Cye in his other hand, and Mia sat on the reclining chair. All of them stared at Ryo as he stood in the center of the room, listening carefully to what he was saying. Needless to say they were all taken aback.
"Wait," Kento interrupted, "how on earth is this wolf going to bring Lightning back? He's dead! There's just no way!"
"I don't know, Kento, but he said he was going to do it," Ryo explained as he rubbed his temples. He had an oncoming headache and it seemed to be getting worse and worse with each passing moment.
Sage lifted his eyes, his arms folded neatly across his chest as he spoke, saying something that made Kento think a little. "We've seen a lot of strange things, monsters, mystical armors, which we ourselves own, different realms, dream walkers, and all sorts of powers. I mean look at White Blaze. His twin Black Blaze sacrificed himself to save him, now whenever Ryo creates the Inferno, White Blaze transforms into Black Blaze, wearing his own white armor to carry the Soul Swords of Fervor. It's highly possible this wolf Ryo was talking to can bring Lightning back."
Ryo nodded his head, and Mia asked, "Can we trust him though?"
"He said he was with Flash, Thunder, and Scorpio," Ryo mused softly. "And we, or at least I know they aren't evil. It's just a strong feeling I have."
"Then I suggest we talk to them about this wolf," Rowen said firmly as he got to his feet.
Thunder sighed heavily as he walked through the large living room area, his two main guards a few paces behind him. He had been trying to lose them all morning, but it seemed wherever he went, there they would be. He still couldn't understand the reason of why his father had to send them along. Still he knew he wasn't to question that. But he needed a break, and he would never get one with these two following him around.
Finally he turned and gave them both a stern look. "I'm going out to meditate for a while. I don't want you two following me. I need some privacy."
"But your highness," the taller of the two said, "we have orders to stay with you at all times!"
Thunder narrowed his eyes. "I don't care," he said calmly. "I said I need to be alone and that's final. Don't follow me, or I'll be forced to transform."
At this their eyes widen with fear and they backed away from him, keeping their eyes on him. They knew of his panther transformation, an event that happened when he was extremely angry. They nodded their heads and watched in shock silence as he turned and headed right outside to the back yard.
There Flash was busy waving a katana around in training as Scorpio leaned against the railing, watching her. The Scandinavian looked up when his best friend joined his side. "Finally decided to join us?" he teased.
Thunder shook his head. "I'm going to the woods. I need a break from the guards here, get some relaxation time before we start the battle."
Scorpio nodded and watched as he headed off the porch. Flash paused in her training and asked Thunder where he was going. When he had told her, she nodded, returned to her training, and he headed across the yard, going toward the woods which were about ten feet away from the house.
The tall figured stood high in the tree, watching the blond haired teenager make his way toward the woods. Was this the one? He looked over at the second figure who was hidden within the bushes to get his approval. When he saw the slight nod, Dais changed his voice into the sound of a young girl.
Thunder's eyes narrowed suddenly when he heard someone screaming for help. He immediately began to run as fast as he could, wanting to help whoever it was that in was trouble. He passed underneath Dais who watched him with a smirk under his face mask.
Jakada suddenly leapt out from behind Thunder, holding a tranquilizer dart between his fingers. He grabbed the Warrior tightly around the chest, pinning his arms at his sides. Thunder struggled violently, nearly dragging Jakada with him, but Jakada jammed the needle right into the back of his neck.
Thunder gasped a little. He could feel a warm substance flowing through his veins which seemed to be spreading rapidly throughout his body. His eyelids became heavy with fatigue and his body felt weakened, then suddenly, he fell over into Jakada's arms, completely motionless.
Dais hopped down from the tree as Jakada lifted Thunder over his shoulder. "Well, he was the easiest one to capture," he said casually.
Jakada cast him a glare as he summoned a gate back to the Dynasty. "It was only because I had to knock him out using a sedative. This Warrior is strong and was trained well. Just like all of them were. We must be careful at all times. Let's go." The two of them entered through the gates, and it disappeared behind them.
Cye was in a sound sleep where he hung from the gargoyles. He and Kaye had been up almost all night, just talking quietly, trying to keep their optimistic about their friends coming to save them. They had both been shocked by Talpa's revelation the night before, and in the end had gotten little sleep. Now with it so early in the morning, both were sound asleep, though not peacefully.
Kaye kept twitching and jerking, moaning no over and over in her sleep. Sweat poured down her face, but she did not awaken from that. Her nightmares held her captive and there seemed to be almost no way she could escape from it.
She had been dreaming of her father, the one she had thought was nothing more than just a Guardian tiger to her, like White Blaze was to Ryo and the other Ronins, but now, this was her father.. and her father was Talpa's ancestor, and Talpa was Cye's father.. and she was Cye's sister.. So where did she come in all of this? Would either of them turn evil from Talpa's influence? Or would Cye inherit Talpa's evil traits? So much confusion ran over and over in her dreams like one huge storm striking at the heart of the dam. And sooner or later that dam was going to break.
"Put him in here."
Kaye and Cye slowly awoke to the familiar voice and opened their eyes just in time to see Jakada entering their cell with a figure slumped over his shoulder. Dais stood behind him, and not far from him was Talpa himself.
"What's going on?" Cye demanded as he was now more awake. Curiously and yet appalled he watched as Jakada and Dais chained the unconscious figure in the gargoyle behind his and Kaye's.
Talpa looked up at Cye and smirked. "We have the final one we need for the prophecy."
"Wh..what?!" Kaye sputtered as she straightened out in her chains.
Jakada and Dais hopped down and landed perfectly on their feet as Talpa answered. "You heard me. We have captured all of you for the finalization of the prophecy. The boy Jakada and Dais captured is the key to all of this."
Cye and Kaye both glared at him angrily. "What do you mean?" Kaye demanded.
Talpa smirked at her as he walked over to her and looked directly at her. "You will soon see, Kaye of the Tiger. You will soon see." And with a laugh, he vanished along with Jakada and Dais.
Cye and Kaye looked at each other with a frown, then both tried to turn their heads to see the newcomer. They could hear him breathing quietly and wondered just how much damage he had sustained during the fight from Jakada and Dais.
"Hey," Kaye called softly to him. There was no response, and so she tried again. Still nothing. Glancing at Cye with a frown, she sighed. "Guess we'll have to wait until he wakes."
Cye nodded and shifted in his chains. At this point there wasn't nothing much they could do but wait. Wait and Hope.
The wolf stood alone out in the back yard of Mia's manor. The wind blew his thick white fur as he stood quietly and still as a statue. Few birds chirped overhead, but they did not disturb him. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Beneath his fur a soft pale blue light began to glow, increasing in intensity the more he concentrated on it.
The power from his crystal reached out and went into a spectrum of colors. They swirled together in a flash of different lights, but all the ends of those lights soon turned to an ice blue color.. At once, the body of Lightning appeared before the wolf. The tiger laid motionless on his side. The wolf wasn't done yet, though. He increased the power he was using, and sent those lights of powers into the body. Lightning's body jerked several times as this happened, but then as the last of the lights entered, it soon relaxed, breathing on its own, the heart pumping blood through the veins, the lungs taking in air, and the other organs functioning normally.
Lightning's eyes fluttered several times as Blaze watched him quietly. The crystal stopped glowing and was soon once again hidden beneath his fur. He stepped closer to the tiger, staring down at him. The tiger's eyes slowly opened and he raised his head, looking around in wonder. Startled, he stood up on all fours and turned his head. And he and the massive wolf just stared at one another.
Chapter 6.
Ryo woke the moment the sun's light filtered through his windows. A gentle breeze wafted his curtains, and the promise of a beautiful day filled the air. However as he sat up, he knew this wasn't to be a beautiful day. Cye and Kaye were still gone, and they had no choice but to go after them, and defeat the one who had captured him.
A frown came to his face. Kento had been so upset last night that he hadn't even been downstairs once during the night for his late bedtime snack. Come to think of it, Ryo had heard him beating the stuffing out of his pillow before succumbing to sleep. He forced himself out of bed and dressed. Grabbing his brush he ran it through the tangles of his thick black hair, thinking of how they were going to handle this rescue. They needed a plan to get into the Dynasty. This time they had no ancient, and who knew where Kayura was, or even Anubis's spirit.
He set his brush down on his dresser and glanced at White Blaze. The tiger was staring out the window of the balcony as if he were waiting for someone. Most likely, Kaye and Cye. He came up beside his faithful tiger and gently scratched the top of his head. The tiger did not rumble, nor make any movement at all. His tail twitched slightly, much like a cat's would when it wanted to be left alone.
"Don't worry, White Blaze," Ryo said as he, too, gazed outside. "We'll get them back." And he was certain of it too. He was the one who had wanted to bust into the Dynasty the first time when Sage, Kento, and Cye had been captured the first time, though Rowen had seemed reluctant to do so. In the end they had made a pretty good team, gathering help from Anubis, and the Jewel of Life, and finally Kayura herself.
Just then White Blaze's ears twitched and he suddenly leapt over the balcony. Ryo gasped a bit and jumped after him. What was that tiger up to now? He followed White Blaze to the edge of the yard and came to a sudden stop at the large white wolf that stood before them.
White Blaze walked up to the wolf and the two stood nose to nose, the wolf's head slightly higher than White Blaze's. Then White Blaze stepped back and seemed to bow slightly as he did so.
This shocked Ryo a little and he came closer, carefully holding his hand out to the wolf to smell. He didn't want to risk being bit. The wolf stared at him, its sapphire blue eyes seemed almost amused. This was another surprise to the bearer of Wildfire.
"I won't bite you, Wildfire."
Ryo about screamed as he jumped back several feet with wide eyes, and his arms held out in self defense. He stared at the wolf, open-mouthed. "D-did you just speak to me?!"
"I did, Wildfire," the wolf replied.
Ryo lowered his arms, slowly breathed in and out as he got over his shock. He came closer to the wolf again. This had to be a dream right? Wait, he'd seen stranger things. Okay, so the wolf could talk. There were other animals that could talk, right?
He took a deep breath as he stared at the wolf. "Okay, so why have you come here?" he asked. Would the wolf tell him? Or would he not answer the question at all. It was hard to say at the moment, but Ryo knew there had to be a reason behind it, whatever it was.
"I was sent here, Wildfire, along with the three Warriors."
Ryo gasped. "So, you're with Flash, Thunder, and Scorpio?" he cried out. The wolf nodded his head. There was something in his eyes that suggested pure business and yet worry. It was as if the wolf could sense something no one else could, and yet could do nothing about it. Ryo frowned deeply as he laid one hand on White Blaze's head.
"What's the matter?" he asked the wolf.
The wolf stared back at him, then raised his head and sniffed the air a few times, then looked back at Ryo. "Your friend, Kaye, she had her own tiger, a silver tiger named Lightning. He was her father, correct?"
Ryo faltered. He hadn't expected anyone else to know this, then again you don't come across a talking wolf too much. He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on this gigantic animal. "Y..yes," he replied, stuttering a little. "But how do you know?"
"How I know isn't of importance. I know he was killed, and I must bring him back. Kaye is going to need him."
"Wait a second!" Ryo cried out. "How do you about Kaye? Is she all right? What of Cye? How much do you know?!" He wanted answers and he wanted them now. The white wolf only stared at him as if debating whether or not to answer him. Finally he spoke in a firm voice.
"Your questions will be answered when I have brought Lightning back. I suggest you return to the other Ronins and the girl known as Mia, and tell them what I intend to do. Go quickly, Wildfire."
Ryo hesitated. Was this wolf really going to bring Lightning back? Could they even trust him? He looked down at White Blaze, but the tiger was already heading back to the manor. Seeing he had little choice, the bearer of Wildfire turned and headed back to the manor. Once there, he called for everyone to join him in the living room. Sage and Rowen sat next to each other on the couch, Kento sat on the floor, still holding a photo of Kaye, and now one of Cye in his other hand, and Mia sat on the reclining chair. All of them stared at Ryo as he stood in the center of the room, listening carefully to what he was saying. Needless to say they were all taken aback.
"Wait," Kento interrupted, "how on earth is this wolf going to bring Lightning back? He's dead! There's just no way!"
"I don't know, Kento, but he said he was going to do it," Ryo explained as he rubbed his temples. He had an oncoming headache and it seemed to be getting worse and worse with each passing moment.
Sage lifted his eyes, his arms folded neatly across his chest as he spoke, saying something that made Kento think a little. "We've seen a lot of strange things, monsters, mystical armors, which we ourselves own, different realms, dream walkers, and all sorts of powers. I mean look at White Blaze. His twin Black Blaze sacrificed himself to save him, now whenever Ryo creates the Inferno, White Blaze transforms into Black Blaze, wearing his own white armor to carry the Soul Swords of Fervor. It's highly possible this wolf Ryo was talking to can bring Lightning back."
Ryo nodded his head, and Mia asked, "Can we trust him though?"
"He said he was with Flash, Thunder, and Scorpio," Ryo mused softly. "And we, or at least I know they aren't evil. It's just a strong feeling I have."
"Then I suggest we talk to them about this wolf," Rowen said firmly as he got to his feet.
Thunder sighed heavily as he walked through the large living room area, his two main guards a few paces behind him. He had been trying to lose them all morning, but it seemed wherever he went, there they would be. He still couldn't understand the reason of why his father had to send them along. Still he knew he wasn't to question that. But he needed a break, and he would never get one with these two following him around.
Finally he turned and gave them both a stern look. "I'm going out to meditate for a while. I don't want you two following me. I need some privacy."
"But your highness," the taller of the two said, "we have orders to stay with you at all times!"
Thunder narrowed his eyes. "I don't care," he said calmly. "I said I need to be alone and that's final. Don't follow me, or I'll be forced to transform."
At this their eyes widen with fear and they backed away from him, keeping their eyes on him. They knew of his panther transformation, an event that happened when he was extremely angry. They nodded their heads and watched in shock silence as he turned and headed right outside to the back yard.
There Flash was busy waving a katana around in training as Scorpio leaned against the railing, watching her. The Scandinavian looked up when his best friend joined his side. "Finally decided to join us?" he teased.
Thunder shook his head. "I'm going to the woods. I need a break from the guards here, get some relaxation time before we start the battle."
Scorpio nodded and watched as he headed off the porch. Flash paused in her training and asked Thunder where he was going. When he had told her, she nodded, returned to her training, and he headed across the yard, going toward the woods which were about ten feet away from the house.
The tall figured stood high in the tree, watching the blond haired teenager make his way toward the woods. Was this the one? He looked over at the second figure who was hidden within the bushes to get his approval. When he saw the slight nod, Dais changed his voice into the sound of a young girl.
Thunder's eyes narrowed suddenly when he heard someone screaming for help. He immediately began to run as fast as he could, wanting to help whoever it was that in was trouble. He passed underneath Dais who watched him with a smirk under his face mask.
Jakada suddenly leapt out from behind Thunder, holding a tranquilizer dart between his fingers. He grabbed the Warrior tightly around the chest, pinning his arms at his sides. Thunder struggled violently, nearly dragging Jakada with him, but Jakada jammed the needle right into the back of his neck.
Thunder gasped a little. He could feel a warm substance flowing through his veins which seemed to be spreading rapidly throughout his body. His eyelids became heavy with fatigue and his body felt weakened, then suddenly, he fell over into Jakada's arms, completely motionless.
Dais hopped down from the tree as Jakada lifted Thunder over his shoulder. "Well, he was the easiest one to capture," he said casually.
Jakada cast him a glare as he summoned a gate back to the Dynasty. "It was only because I had to knock him out using a sedative. This Warrior is strong and was trained well. Just like all of them were. We must be careful at all times. Let's go." The two of them entered through the gates, and it disappeared behind them.
Cye was in a sound sleep where he hung from the gargoyles. He and Kaye had been up almost all night, just talking quietly, trying to keep their optimistic about their friends coming to save them. They had both been shocked by Talpa's revelation the night before, and in the end had gotten little sleep. Now with it so early in the morning, both were sound asleep, though not peacefully.
Kaye kept twitching and jerking, moaning no over and over in her sleep. Sweat poured down her face, but she did not awaken from that. Her nightmares held her captive and there seemed to be almost no way she could escape from it.
She had been dreaming of her father, the one she had thought was nothing more than just a Guardian tiger to her, like White Blaze was to Ryo and the other Ronins, but now, this was her father.. and her father was Talpa's ancestor, and Talpa was Cye's father.. and she was Cye's sister.. So where did she come in all of this? Would either of them turn evil from Talpa's influence? Or would Cye inherit Talpa's evil traits? So much confusion ran over and over in her dreams like one huge storm striking at the heart of the dam. And sooner or later that dam was going to break.
"Put him in here."
Kaye and Cye slowly awoke to the familiar voice and opened their eyes just in time to see Jakada entering their cell with a figure slumped over his shoulder. Dais stood behind him, and not far from him was Talpa himself.
"What's going on?" Cye demanded as he was now more awake. Curiously and yet appalled he watched as Jakada and Dais chained the unconscious figure in the gargoyle behind his and Kaye's.
Talpa looked up at Cye and smirked. "We have the final one we need for the prophecy."
"Wh..what?!" Kaye sputtered as she straightened out in her chains.
Jakada and Dais hopped down and landed perfectly on their feet as Talpa answered. "You heard me. We have captured all of you for the finalization of the prophecy. The boy Jakada and Dais captured is the key to all of this."
Cye and Kaye both glared at him angrily. "What do you mean?" Kaye demanded.
Talpa smirked at her as he walked over to her and looked directly at her. "You will soon see, Kaye of the Tiger. You will soon see." And with a laugh, he vanished along with Jakada and Dais.
Cye and Kaye looked at each other with a frown, then both tried to turn their heads to see the newcomer. They could hear him breathing quietly and wondered just how much damage he had sustained during the fight from Jakada and Dais.
"Hey," Kaye called softly to him. There was no response, and so she tried again. Still nothing. Glancing at Cye with a frown, she sighed. "Guess we'll have to wait until he wakes."
Cye nodded and shifted in his chains. At this point there wasn't nothing much they could do but wait. Wait and Hope.
The wolf stood alone out in the back yard of Mia's manor. The wind blew his thick white fur as he stood quietly and still as a statue. Few birds chirped overhead, but they did not disturb him. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Beneath his fur a soft pale blue light began to glow, increasing in intensity the more he concentrated on it.
The power from his crystal reached out and went into a spectrum of colors. They swirled together in a flash of different lights, but all the ends of those lights soon turned to an ice blue color.. At once, the body of Lightning appeared before the wolf. The tiger laid motionless on his side. The wolf wasn't done yet, though. He increased the power he was using, and sent those lights of powers into the body. Lightning's body jerked several times as this happened, but then as the last of the lights entered, it soon relaxed, breathing on its own, the heart pumping blood through the veins, the lungs taking in air, and the other organs functioning normally.
Lightning's eyes fluttered several times as Blaze watched him quietly. The crystal stopped glowing and was soon once again hidden beneath his fur. He stepped closer to the tiger, staring down at him. The tiger's eyes slowly opened and he raised his head, looking around in wonder. Startled, he stood up on all fours and turned his head. And he and the massive wolf just stared at one another.