A/N: I'm starting High School in the fall, and already it is tough. I have to get some reading and notes done this summer, so I have little to no time to type. So in other words, be patient…please?
Thank you for understanding…I hope.
~Raiegki Leviathan of the Grassrunners
~*~
A Feudal Fairy Tale II: Requiem of Ice Chapter Four: Run~*~
Tearing through the thick and heavy snow, Pura, the tiger cub with the bandicoot on his back, took his strides with the grace and beauty of a full-grown feline. Not a sound came out of either one's mouth as they traveled together in complete silence.
However, Coco's mind was just about anything but silent. She intended to come to the medieval period to have a good time. She wanted to learn how to measure a horse's horseshoe size with Koala Kong. She wanted to read some good literature with Tiny. She wanted to be entertained by Ripper Roo. She wanted to climb the rooftops of the town with Dingodile and gaze at the untouched night sky.
Alas, all that was brutally stolen from her. Depriving her of memories she never had the chance to create. She was as very much a part of this once glorious dying wasteland as much as it was very much a part of her. And that part of her was ripped from her soul, all at the amusement at the witch that shamed her very name.
And she was going to take that missing piece right back.
Soon enough, the rhythmic beat of Pura's paws in the cold, wet snow lulled her to sleep. Dreamless sleep, necessary respite to prepare for what dangers awaited them, as snow continued to fall.
~*~
Pura continued on, bending his head down to grab a mouthful of snow to quench his thirst every now and then. How a young tiger could carry an adolescent bandicoot and keep going without rest or slowdown is a great mystery. Still, those paws still beat the snow like a drum fit for a king as he kept his energy up without fail. Though unsure how long this journey would take, his unwavering stamina would keep him going.
Jump a rock, dodge a tree; this was done with swiftly and softly as to not disturb the passenger's slumber. The translucent castle on the horizon slowly grew larger and larger with each step. Ah, soon enough they would arrive. By sundown, if things go well.
~*~
Icy wind pricked at Coco's face, as Pura skidded on some ice and made a sharp turn. Jolted awake by the temperature and the sudden movement, she kept her arms locked around the tiger's neck and yawned. Icicles fell from a nearby tree as Pura blazed under its branches. Naturally, as time passes, the sun moves in the sky. Judging by its position, Coco figured it was about four o'clock. She realized it had been a great while since starting out, and surely, her tiger friend was exhausted.
She leaned over the tiger's ear and crooned softly to stop if he needed. Although hesitant at first, the cub's cross-country run eased to a trot, which came to a complete halt after the tiger's muscles had cooled down.
Dismounting her ride, Coco looked at the path that still was before them, when it dawned on her that the majority of the journey was over, and the houses of the town were now visible, though their images were faded as more snow fell and the wind picked up speed. Leafless trees surrounded them, and apparently, Coco and Pura were in a dead forest of some kind. A blizzard was coming, or perhaps the weather became worse the closer one got to the sorceress.
Whatever the reason, it was proving to be a problem. One cannot possibly rest in a storm; they would surely die if no shelter is found. So, side by side, they walked together slowly against the wind, searching desperately for a place to wait out the storm, although it appeared that none was within reach and the snow began to attack their eyes.
When all hope seemed to be lost, fate twisted, as they found the opening to a burrow partially buried in snow.
Immediately taking advantage of their good luck, Coco and Pura moved deep within the dark cave, unable to see in front of them.
Fumbling through the dark [1] seemed like such a ridiculous thing to do, so Coco took this as an opportunity to try her hand with magic. Somehow knowing what to do, Coco conjured up a small fireball, and used it as a torch to examine the surroundings. They looked awfully familiar to her, but she shrugged off this feeling of familiarity, she and her companion continued deeper.
Upon reaching the back of this seemingly artificial burrow, Coco suddenly realized why it seemed like she had been there before.
To put it simply, it was because she had been there before. This was the old home of the "dragon", she was once sent to slay. The memories of the friend she made here resurfaced, as they were both heartwarming and depressing, remembering how this friend of hers needed her help.
There was a small oil lamp on the ground, with just enough oil to last the night. Turning it on, Coco dismissed her flame and looked around in amazement.
Apparently, when the notorious thief Dingodile was still reaping havoc on the town, he hoarded all his loot in the very cave he ran to when exiled from there. In some ways, it was becoming clear why his story was twisted into the legend of a dragon. Crystals, relics, and gems littered the place, the only clear spot was in the middle of the piles, where Coco assumed was where the crook would sleep at night or day, whichever he preferred. She wondered why he kept the valuables after retirement, but who was she to question the half-breed's thinking?
The storm raged on outside the little sanctuary the two had found. Pura had settled down to sleep while Coco gazed wistfully outside as her heart was again warmed. Though they were not with her. Her loyal friends still managed to find ways to help her through the tough times.
Unable to sleep due to her earlier nap, she leaned against the tiger's body and waited for sleep to catch her, rather than her try to chase after it.
What would Crash say? What Aku Aku say? What would they say if they knew what she was doing? She chuckled lightly to herself, amused by the horror on both of their faces when they found out what little Coco was up to during her "vacation" in Medieval Australia. She decided, that providing she survived, the very first thing Coco would do is crawl into her warm, comfy bed, pull up the covers, and not get out for a couple of days. She was tiring greatly from this constantly chilly weather; though it was quite obvious that "chilly" was an understatement.
Her mind calmed by these peaceful thoughts, she was finally ensnared by the jaws of sleep and closed her eyes, as the beautiful treasures glistened all around her.
~*~
The next morning, the blizzard had subsided to the lazy snowdrift it was before. Waking before her four-legged friend, Coco fixed her hair and smoothed out her clothes and fur. She stretched her limbs, as they had become rather sluggish and stiff. A few minutes of movement quickly fixed that.
As she finished the last of her stretches, the tiger stirred and with eyes half closed, he too rose to greet the new day. Pura flexed his refreshed muscles and swished his tail back and forth. He yawned, and his eyes opened completely. Now fully awake, his usual spunk and enthusiasm returned as he waited for Coco to be ready to retire from this place.
Coco shut off the oil lamp, as it was no longer needed. Some natural sunlight was penetrating through the grey clouds and was seeping through the entrance of the burrow they had spent the night in.
Upon leaving, Coco once more admire the shining riches behind her, but she could not see them anymore, for they were in the darkness now. With one last lingering look, she stepped into the light.
~*~
End of Chapter Four
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[1] – Fumbling in the dark – a direct reference to one of the levels in the first Crash Bandicoot game.
~*~
A/N: Short chapter, I know, but I am very proud of it.
Why?
Because there is not a single word of dialogue in the entire chapter.
Often in my fanfictions, I often put a little too much dialogue and too little narration. So I decided to make an all-narration chapter to atone for that.
Next chapter is when the action begins to pick up. I promise.
~Raiegki Leviathan of the Grassrunners
~*~
Next Chapter – Chapter Five: Valor