Andraia's voice from the cooking area of the tree-hut brought her out of her brooding. "Sister, come, breakfast is served." Nina looked at her hands, which she had folded onto her lap then slowly, got up, and dried her tears, to make sure that the Azonian woman could not see she had been crying. Slowly she walked over, entered the small archway and took a seat across from Andraia who handed her a bowel with something that looked like a soup. Nina loked at it a bit curiously, which caused Andraia to laugh, "come now, its not going to kill you, it'll make you strong and health, and should add some extra muscle onto that small frame of yours, please, eat heartily!" with that, she took her own bowel which she had put in front of her and began to eat rather quickly...and noisily. Nina watched her eat, then slowly put some of the soup to her lips and tasted it. It seemed to be somewhat salty, yet altohgether alright, so she slowly ate, trying not to spill any.
Once breakfast had been finished, Andraia cleared the bowels and sat down in front of Nina, crossing her legs. Nina looked back at her blankly, unable to bring herself to say anything to the woman who wanted her friends deaths. Finally Andraia spoke, "Come sister, cheer up, you should not mourne for those who have injustly wronged you. Their blood being spilt today will free you, and yopu shall become one of us, not just in name but in bond as well! This should be a jouyous moment for you."
Nina looked at her, then said quietly, "no...you're wrong...I...I don't want them to die! Please, listen, we're not Imperials! In fact, we're hunted BY Imperials!" "Hunted?" Andraia hesitated for a second, then shook her head and laughed, "No, I think not, another trick you are trying to make me free them. if you were being hunted you would be trying to flee from the Imperials, and stay away from their main town, when in fact you were heading FOR it!" She then narrowed her eyes at Nina, "now, speak of this no more! They die...my mind has been made up. You can either join us...or if you truely wish it, die with them." Nina, staring into her eyes, saw it again. the anger, and hatred that flashed in front of her as she spoke those words. She and Ryu were much alike, they both had the same fierce hatred of those that had wronged them, and they would go to great lengths to make them suffer in any way possible. Closing her eyes, she turned, and walked through the arch-way and out of the house, defeated.
The day passed rather quickly, and soon, the sun had met the horizon as was beginning to head off to its fiery bed. Its fading light shone across the tre tops in magnificent splendor of red, orange and yellow. However, Ryu and Kray had little time to admire the scenery for they had been brought out from their cells and brought back up and were now kneeling with their hands bound behind their back before the raven haired woman whom had been among those who had attacked them the two days ago. She was now drssed in an ornate set of cloathing, that was deep green, and trailed around her shapely figure like a snake coiling up around a tree. On her head sat the same golden band. However, this time the only weapon she carried was a rather large cerimonial dagger that she now held in her hand, as she glared down at them. Suddenly, Ryu felt a heavy thump across his back and he gritted his teeth as he doubled over again. "Do not look, Imperial scum!" a unknown voice growled. He tried to open his mouth to reply back, but was again met with aqnother heavy THUMP across the back, and more pain.
"So, how you holding out?" Kray grinned through the pain as he lay there, head down as well as he recieved the same treatment.
"Ok, I think." Ryu managed to grin back, despite more beatings he was now receiving for talking.
"thats great." Kray laughed a bit dryly as a particularly harsh blow landed across his collarbone.
Ryu managed to turn his head to avoid some more blows, and loked around. The woman, in front of them, obviously these peoples Queen stood silently, a slight smirk on her face as she watched the two men getting beaten. "Good." he smirked slightly, then winced as another heavier blow smashed into his ribs, nearly taking away his breath. "Don't see Nina...where is she?"
"Hell if I know, I'm not exactly in the position to look right now." Kray joked as another blow hit him, harder this time.
"Haven't lost your sense of humour, even in a situation like this." Ryu chuckled as he curled up some more from his keeling position to protect himself as best he could from the next blow that came in. As this was going on, he could feel his anger rising, boiling within him, as with each blow he got angrier and angrier, his eyes sliding into the all too familiar dragon-slits. He was angry for letting them get the best of them, angry for the beating, and especially angry for the fact that he seemed to have lost Nina.
Kray could see his friend, and his anger, and attempted to call out to him, but it seemed to fall upon deaf ears. He knew that if ryu were to transform, especially after all this pent up anger came boiling to the surface again, nobody would be safe. He winced as another blow landed then growled, "Stop it!" He could feel his own anger at the injustices growing and he felt something inside of him snap. Suddenly with a howl, and before anyone could act, his muscles bulged and the ropes binding him snapped and fell to the ground. His hand shot up at blinding speed, caught the one guards spear end and then as he clenched his fist, snapped it into two. He brought himself to his feet, battered and bruised, yet amazingly able to stand, his body larger then before. Growling at the Queen, eyes flashing with anger, he snarled, "let us go! We've done nothing wrong to you!"
Andraia narrowed her eyes as the large were-tiger adressed her. She had never seen anything like this befpre, but whatever had happened to him caused her to shudder and for fear to well up. However, swallowing it, she then snarled back, "you must die for your crimes Imperial scum! My warriors, kill him!"
The Azonian warriors did not budge. They just stood there, eyes wide with fear, as for what Kray had become was truely ferocious looking. His tail had elongated, his muscles more prominent and well defined, and his teeth and claws had grown to long, and wicked looking lengths. His eyes blazed with fury, and it seemed almost unearthly how he moved.
Ryu, who was given a break from his beatings, took the time to look Kray over and as his eyes returned to normal joked, "jee Kray didn't know you had it in you."
The hulking form of kray grinend and turned, giving him a thumbs up. He then walked over and broke Ryu free of his ropes, saying, "I didn't quite know I had it in me as well."
Ryu only smirked and replied half jokinly, yet half serious, "just remind me not to get on your bad side again."
Andraia stood seething as her troops refused to budge. She was dumbfounded, some...THING had caused her own fierce warriors to freeze where they stood, from fear none the less. Scowling she then drew the knife at her hip and snarled, "fine, if I can't rely on my own warriors i'll have to kill them myself!" Snarling she dashed forward directly at the blue haired man, who, while talking with the giant Tiger had his back to her. "DIE Imperial scum!" she growled as she slashed at him.
The blue haired one howveer sememd one step ahead of her and had turned, dodging the slash with suprising ease. He then countered with a quick fist to her gut. Staggered, Andraia dropped back, clutching her stomach, her eyes narrowiung more as she replied, "how DARE you!"
Ryu stepped back and held up his hands, defensively as he replied, "hey lady, you attacked me!"
"And I'll attack you again, scum!" Andraia replied as she lunged at him again. Again he was too fast for her, as he grabbed her by her shoulders, brought a leg into her and flipped her onto the ground. Falling with a heavy THUD onto her back, she let out a grunt, but then quickly got to her feet again, her eyes blazing with battle fury as she screamed, "Die damn you!!!"
Ryu groaned slightly as he could feel his injuries from the beating but smirked slightly, despite himself, replying, "I have no intention of dying, at least not yet." With that he went on the offensive, growling as he lept forward. The womans eyes went wide and she tried to defend herself, but he was too fast. His punch connected with the side of her face and she staggered back, then fell to a leg, the knife drpping to the wood floor. Walking over to it, Ryu picked it up and pointed it at her, the smirk still on his face, "it looks like I win."
"Go to hell Imperial scum." Andraia spat at his feet as she stood looking up at him. She knew she had been beaten, and it hurt her, deep inside.
Hearing this Ryu blinked then sighed, replying, "look, if I was an Imperial, I would have killed you by now...I wouldn't have held back." he laughed a bit and then kneeled, taking her hand into his, and placing the knife into it said with a smile on his face as he ade eye contact with her ferocious glare of steel, "we're not your enemies. Please, believe me."
Andraia, hesitated for a moment as his eyes made contact with her own. However as she did so, she found a sense of peace start to come over her. His eyes, seemed so unearthly, yet so human at the same time. She could see the pain, anger, sorrows and joys they had experienced, much like her own. She felt drawn toward him, in a strange sort of way one is drawn to one they believe is a soul mate or kindred spirit. Staring deep into those eyes her own fierce ones softened and she suddenly found herself wrapping her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his chest and crying softly as she murmured "I'm sorry" over and over. Ryu hesitated for a moment, but then hugged her and mumurmed, "it'll be alright."
After a few seconds (it seemed like minutes to her) Andraia coughed and let go of Ryu, blushing a bit before composing herself and standing, saying as formally as she could muster, "Well, outsider...you have bested me in honourable battle, and I am impressed. Since you fought with bravery and honour, I shall spare your life." Closing her eyes she added, "I am apologetic for...the misunderstanding." She then turned and adressed the women present, "from hear on out, these men shall be my guests, treat them with the same respect you would me." She then turned, and motioned for them to follow her. As Ryu and Kray did, a silence fell among the warriors gathered and they watched Ryu and Kray walk off with what can only be described as great awe. Some even pointed at Ryu and giggled, admiring how he walked despite the heavy bruising. Ryu could have sworn one of them said something about making him into a husband, and at this Kray only laughed, and smirked at Ryu who stared blankly at him and said, "what?!?"
As the small group approached Andraias hut, where they were told they would be staying, Ryu smiled and ran forward, an overjoyed look on his face. Out of the hut Nina came racing and both met mid run, embracing heavily, both with great relief the other was safe. Kray could tell Nina had tears in her eyes, and as both again hugged, then kissed, said to Andraia as politely as he could, "Majesty, i think you best give those two a hut of their own tonight..if its not too much to ask."
Andraia turned and looked at Kray said firmly, "call me Andraia I have no need for formal titles, and yes...I agree..." she then turned back to watch Ryu and Nina, folding her arms as her lips tightened.
Kray nodded then replied, "well since it seems introductions are necessary My name's Kray, and thats Ryu and Nina." He then smirked as he saw her lips tighten at the sight of Ryu and Ninas affections saying rather smugly, "something wrong Andraia?"
"None of your buisness." Came the curt reply as the Azonian Queen turned and walked into her hut.
"I think someones jealous." Kray joked to himself as he walked over and joined Nina and Ryu for their happy reuinion of friends. Behind them, the sun had set and for once during the long and eventful day the jungle seemed at peace, content with the way things had turned out.