On Sapphire Wings

Chapter 15

"Don't expect me to cry Don't expect me to lie Don't expect me to die for you…"

Lloyd's lips parted in a muted sigh as the claws moved towards him. They moved with lightning speed, but seemed slowed somehow as he watched them move towards him. He tried to move, tried to run somehow, but his instincts failed him, and all he could do was watch as imminent agony sailed towards him, moving like silvery liquid towards his helpless form.

The feeling was wet and blunted. The pain streaked through him like a cold breeze. Blood splattered up and drenched his face, sticking his bangs to his face and filling his mouth with the salty, metallic taste.

He doubled over and hit the dirty earth hard. He could see the blood running in a small stream away from him, staining the shadowy dirt with crimson liquid.

He looked up weakly. Artewa was there, and she was screaming, but no sound seemed to be coming from her mouth. It wasn't like absolute quiet, nor like she was failing to speak, it was more like the noise of her voice was muffled by the sound of a strange, loud silence that had submerged Lloyd. He blinked, blinked twice, and suddenly the sound was back.

But it was faraway. Distant.

It wasn't until later that Lloyd realized the demon had poisoned claws, and at that moment, there was only a fluffy kind of confusion all around him. At first he fought to hear and think straight, but suddenly, he didn't want to. He just wanted to sleep.

The darkness looked very inviting. His consciousness reached out to it, and it pulled him into its embrace.

Dart watched as Rose looked at the sky. God, how many times had she simply stood there, watching the heavens, with a million thoughts flashing in front of her eyes? Even in this different body, the look in her eyes was so familiar that Dart nearly forgot about all that had happened lately.

She was planning, and Dart respected her judgement, so he waited. Finally, she said, "We should patrol around."

At first, the words were so sudden that their meaning escaped him.

"What?"

She smiled humourlessly. "If the attacks were on Rouge, that means that Kyris isn't just going after large cities. He wants us, probably because he knows we're a threat. I suggest that we go somewhere out of the way, perhaps to the Valley of Corrupted Gravity." She looked up again, silent a moment, then nodded. "Actually, the valley's high magical field may mess up his offensive spells. It would be a good place to track him down and remove him."

Dart nodded. "Yeah, the sooner we deal with him, the better."

"We should go to Donau, get some supplies, then get as far from humanity as we can."

They spent that night in the canyon, and woke up sore and uncomfortable. However, with hardly a complaint they packed up and began walking for Donau.

By noon they reached the flower city.

It had been a long time since Dart had last seen the city. Once they'd removed the bandits from it, they'd had to move on, and Dart had never had a chance to really relax and enjoy the cities pleasures. But looking upon it now, he realized that it was a place of most peoples fantasies. He knew he should be worried, but he couldn't help feeling peaceful.

The blossoms off the trees were just beginning to fall off, and they flew through the sky on a soft, warm wind as Dart stepped through a ivy-garbed arch into the little town. Birds called through the trees and insects flitted around, busy in their own little worlds.

"Beautiful." Rose muttered absently.

Albert nodded. "This has always been one of my more preferred towns. I've never really taken much time here since we removed the bandits."

Dart nodded, and they were silent a second, then he grinned.

"I'm sure we have enough time to relax awhile." He inclined his head towards the bar.

Albert groaned, but he was smiling.

"I think we could manage that – strictly to converse with the people of my kingdom, of course."

Meru grinned, and ran to the bar. "Last one there's a sober-head!"

It was a surprisingly full place, mostly because it was nearly dinner time and the bar was notorious for good meals. And alcohol.

Almost thirty people, mostly worn old travelers, were gathered in the center, and there appeared to be something happening. Dart raised an eyebrow and peered through the crowd. Someone was talking quite loudly, and the assembled audience was laughing. The voice was familiar.

The red dragoon gritted his teeth and began to push people aside. He heard Albert shout something at him, but he ignored it. He reached the center of the crowd, and his fear was confirmed.

Kianako was sprawled over a chair, grinning and talking merrily with a pint of alcohol in his hands. The look on his face was so careless and drunkenly happy and Dart rushed him and tackled him to the floor, pinning him down by his neck.

There was a moment of stillness.

Then everybody was moving. The bar patrons were either trying to rush forward to help the wingly, or get away. Dart's companions were fighting in the crowd. Under Dart's strength and weight, Kian was squirming like an injured animal.

Dart braced his grip and shouted, "Where's Wink?"

"I…ahhh…"

"Where?"

"She…" Kian coughed, a liquid sound. "At Rouge…Lloyd…getoffme…"

"Dart!" Albert barked from behind Dart's ear. "Let him talk."

Dart gave his best glare, and loosened his grip slightly.

"I cannot, uuuuum, understand..?"

They paused, and then Albert shouted.

"Meru get up here!"

She obliged, running up and crouching beside him. Over her pale face of permenant lightheartedness, her red eyes were glowing with a dark red anger that spoke words.

"How'd you find me?" Kianako asked softly. His voice was halfway mocking and halfway afraid.

Meru wanted to change that statistic. She smacked him across the face hard enough to draw blood, and snarled, "None of your business, you bastard! Where are they?"

"Uuuuum. Will you let me go?"

She laughed, and leaned forward over his pinned form. Looking deep into his eyes with a dark, amused look, she said, "Spew it or I'll kill you!"

"I…"

"SPILL IT!"

He reconsidered.

"…Rouge was blown. They killed every goddamn person there."

"Who did?"

"Don't know. They used fire."

Meru paused a moment. Then, understanding his meaning, asked, "Not…"

"No, it was fire. Nothing else. We were gonna investigate it, but Kyris got Wink, and Lloyd and Artewa went after him."

"And you left them there?"

"They told me to find you!"

"Sure they did." She sniffed. "So where are they now?"

"In Rouge! In a cave somewheres."

"Shit. Haschel and Kongol?"

"Never found them."

"Shit shit shit."

"Don't let these freakin guys hurt me."

Meru looked at him, and a bolt of anger shot through her. She wanted to murder him, helpless on the floor. Instead, she said. "I'm not making you a goddamn promise, you freakin deserter. Just pray to God that we're feeling generous tomorrow."

***

A/N: HURRAY! Finished! **dances** Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished Finished!

Can't believe I finally got that done. God, that was the hardest chapter to do and I don't know why. Oh well. I think it's a let-down, but you be the judge.

FINISHED!