Ranma the Patryn
Disclaimer: Death's Gate Cycle is the creation of Margaret Weis and
Tracy Hickman. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not either
one of them, so this is not mine. I write about it, yes, but
I won't get a dime out of this. (I might get stoned by
DGC fans, but that's it.) Furthermore, Ranma is also not
of my property. Rather, it falls into the possession of the
Richest woman in Japan: Rumiko Takahashi. Not me.
- PEACE!
Chapter 2 - Wild Horses
by Wanderer D (wandererd@hotmail.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first Rune to be tattooed into a Patryn's skin is the Heart Rune.
Not only will it be the origin of the next runes, but also the source
of their power. The Heart-Rune is the real name of the Patryn, and, if
you have the name, the real name, you can work magic with it.
Upon birth, the first action taken by the Patryn parents, regardless
of the moment, pain, rush or moment of expectant peace is to inscribe
this Rune.
Ranma was a special case. He was not a mench -human, elf or dwarf-,
according to Haplo and those who knew these people. He was a Patryn.
And yet, he wasn't. He also was a Sartan. And again, he wasn't.
And stranger still... he wasn't a half-breed like Vasu. Ranma was
an enigma to all. He had potential. Not much, as a full blooded Patryn
or Sartan would have, but there it was.
"The Wave corrects itself." Vasu declared. The stout man was standing
in a podium, next to Balthazar, addressing the Patryn and Sartan that
had decided to gather there.
"And thus, another life has fallen into our hands." The Patryn
continued. "One who is like us and like a mench. One who offers a
vision into a possible future."
"Today we will name this child. He will be reborn a Patryn." Balthazar
announced. "And raised as a Sartan."
Rue glared from where she stood, next to her parents, at Ranma, who
waited nervously behind Vasu and Balthazar.
She knew she shouldn't be acting like this. After all, it wasn't Ranma's
fault that HE had lived alone in the Labyrinth and survive. HE hadn't
had any choice but to fight Snogs, Dragons, Chaodin, Wolfen and the rest
of the Labyrinth's creatures and traps. It wasn't HIS fault that she
had lived with a large group of Patryns, who had not only taught her
how to survive if she went alone, but had also taught her magic. HE
hadn't had ANY magic at all...
Rue sighed. She could've done well enough too... She then noticed someone
standing close to her. It was a young boy. He had black hair, a pointed
nose, like the beak of a Griffon, and he was Sartan.
And he was about her age too! Ten or eleven gates at the most.
He was staring at the two leaders and listening to every word they said.
Thinking this was a good idea, Rue turned around and listened politely,
gazing back to the only Sartan of that age she had met. Looking about,
she noted Alfred trying to control his two kids. She smiled at the sight
and forgot her anger for a moment.
"Come forth, Ranma." Balthazar instructed.
The young boy stepped forward as instructed. He knew there wasn't much to
fear. Today, he would be tattooed over his heart by his new mother; Usha.
Ranma forgot for a moment he was standing in front of a large group of
people and smiled inwardly. He didn't remember much of his real mother,
having spent most of his life training with Genma.
He snapped back as Vasu addressed him, (and the crowd). "Ranma, take of
your shirt." He ordered.
Ranma complied. Everyone was surprised at the young boy's physique,
and some were alarmed at the quantity of wounds he had.
Usha walked up with a small bottle of black ink. Tracing a rune over
it she proceeded to use a small paintbrush to tattoo the Heart Rune.
Balthazar stepped forward to explain. "Reflecting our hope, that our
people can become one, Sartan and Patryn living together in peace,
we have chosen Ranma's name to be the Sartan word: Ixar."
Rue didn't know what that meant. A movement caught her eye and she
noticed the Sartan boy nodding.
Haplo crouched next to her. "Ixar means 'Peace' in Sartan." He
whispered to her ear.
A commotion erupted in the back of the crowd.
"Preposterous!" a Sartan shouted. Pushing Patryn and Sartan alike to
the side, Ramu and two of his followers stepped in front of the podium.
"This..." Ramu sputtered. "This ABERRATION you dared bring here," he
said pointing accusingly at Alfred and Haplo. "against all logic, you
have decided to take care of IT and contaminate the pure Sartan blood
that runs in our veins! Bad enough that we have to share this place
with Patryn, now we will have MENCH using OUR magic and that of our
enemies!"
Vasu shared a look with Balthazar, which was noticed by the ever
observant Rue. Things were not looking good. Already Patryns that
didn't have much time here were eyeing suspiciously at the Sartans.
Vasu was about to answer when Ranma interrupted.
The small child, his one and only rune glowing lightly over his heart,
jumped down and stared defiantly at Ramu. Rue had to give it to him,
she could feel Ramu's power, as she was sure Ranma could, and SHE
wouldn't have faced of with him.
Of course, she reminded herself bitterly, SHE was not HIM.
"This is enough!" Ranma shouted, letting everyone hear him. "As I've
been told, the Labyrinth is trying to destroy you all, and when I
can believe that we can all live in peace and fight it together you
come here and start a fight! I may not be one of you, but I am a Martial
Artist, and I have to defend those weaker than myself!" Ranma pointed
at Jorel. "He told me that you Sartan were supposedly the protectors!
and all I see-"
Ramu interrupted him. "Do not dare talk back to me, mench, you have
no right whatsoever. In fact, I will teach you a lesson myse-"
"Father!" The boy Rue had seen shouted, pulling the powerful Sartan's
cloth with his hands. "Listen to him! Listen to them!" He demanded
gesturing at Vasu and Balthazar. "Father, this is not the time for
quarrels!"
"Aghathar!" Ramu roared grabbing his son's arm with all his strength,
ignoring the youngster's discomfort. "What did I tell you?! I warned
you about coming here!" Ignoring Haplo's, Marit's, Alfred's, Vasu's and
Balthazar's amused grins, he pulled his son away, heading to the Sartan
warship.
***
Ranma stood in the small room with Usha as she drilled him again
through the runes he would be using later on.
It had been two days since he had received his Heart-Rune, and he was
starting to get the hang of it.
Still, he would rather be outside training than here learning runes.
Ranma had endeared himself to the Patryn guards. Shortly after being
named, he had gone to one of the drills they did early in the morning,
and had joined them through the exercises. He had performed remarkably
well, even without the Runes that enhanced his strength and stamina,
the kid had handled himself well enough, and soon had joined them
every morning since.
"Ranma!" Usha snapped and hit him upside the head. "Trace the Rune
Structure I just explained to you!"
"Ouch!" Ranma complained, but did as ordered. He didn't resent the
attitude Usha took while teaching him. The day he had began his
training she had treated him so. He had overheard Jorel talking to her
that night, asking her to take it easier.
He had heard her answer. That's the way it was taught, if you didn't
learn it, you died in the Labyrinth. They had talked more, but Ranma
had heard enough. He would make her proud.
***
Ranma stared at Rue. He knew her, of course. Haplo had introduced her,
his wife and Alfred's two kids to him once, when Jorel and Usha had
taken him to 'socialize' or something.
What he didn't know was what she was doing in the Rescuer/Guard
training grounds.
"I heard you were coming here to train with the guards in the
mornings." she said.
Ranma nodded.
"Well, I'll do it too!" She said defiantly.
Ranma smiled. "Great!" he grabbed her hand and ran to the drills,
where everyone was gathering. "This'll be more fun! Let's see who
can keep up with the captain!"
Rue glared at him. Already Ranma had four structures tattooed in his
chest, not nearly as many as she had, but he had been able to pull
this off! She would prove HIM she was the best.
Everyone gathered up, waiting for the captain to arrive. Mostly
Patryns, the guard and rescuers did have a certain amount of young
Sartan, most of which trained with their own, in this group there
were three. They had shown the others they were as capable in magic
and fighting as most Patryns (excluding the Runners).
Rue glared at them as she stood in line next to Ranma. Here she
would have to measure not only to Ranma, but to keep Patryn honor
high, she would have to do better than them.
Ranma elbowed her. "Here comes the captain, stand ready!"
Rue looked up at the captain and almost fell down from the surprise.
"Rue?" Marit asked. "What are you doing here?"
***
Five hours after training began, Ranma stumbled to the soft grass
of the Nexus garden and let himself fall to the ground.
Right behind him, his new friend, Rue, dragged herself next to him.
Both were panting and sweating. Marit had not touched her heart just
because her daughter was a trainee, rather, it seemed to many that
she made it harder than before.
None of the trainees were Runners. They didn't know what it was like
to fight every inch of the way, for many gates to reach the end of the
Labyrinth. Haplo and Marit, arguably two of the stronger Runners had
almost died and owed their lives to someone much more powerful, who
had gone into the Labyrinth once and again to save Patryns.
Marit didn't want Rue to die. If she came here to train... she would
be the best.
"That... was... tough..." Rue groaned, not bothering to look up.
Ranma nodded, ignoring the fact that she couldn't see him. That
HAD been tough. He was impressed with Rue's skills. He was better, of
course, but she had been quite impressive.
He then saw something.
"Hey... Rue," he said, shaking her shoulder.
A muffled sound was her answer. Taking that as a 'what', Ranma
continued. "Who's that kid?"
"What kid?" Rue asked looking up and spitting grass. She followed
Ranma's line of sight. "That's Aghathar. Ramu's son."
Ranma was again on his feet. "Let's talk to him!" he said, pulling
Rue's hand.
She hurt everywhere, but she complied. What harm could it do, anyway?
***
10 years later...
Ranma waited, crouched over a branch. He moved a few of the leaves that
offered him protection, but also didn't allow him to see all too clearly.
He looked down to his right, where Rena waited patiently next to
Aghathar.
Rena was looking at him, while Aghathar stood watch, ready to cast
his powerful magic at whatever may approach.
Ranma made a signal with his hand. Pressing his fingers together, he
let the thumb apart and made biting movements with his impromptu dog,
then, he spread his left hands fingers and did a small V sign with his
right hand.
Rena nodded from below. She turned and whispered the message to Aghathar,
then repeated it to someone to his left.
He couldn't see them, but he knew Rue and Hugh had received the
information he had provided. Seven Wolfen, coming their way.
Ranma prepared himself. He was the leader of his group of Rescuers,
despite being the less powerful.
Rena and Hugh, Alfred's daughter and son were very powerful in their
magic. Although Hugh was more like him... he was a fighter.
Aghathar had inherited his grandfather's latent power. He would be as
powerful as Samah, the man who had sundered the world.
And Rue... Rue could out magic him in less that it took to blink. Yet,
none of them could fight like he did.
Ranma smiled. His group was one of the best, and all of them were very
young. Rue, Aghathar and himself were twenty years old, while Hugh and
Rena were fifteen. He still remembered the day the two seven-year-olds
had joined the drills. Marit had almost fainted.
Now, while they were not allowed to act by themselves, they would
accompany another group of Rescuers as guards and scouts. Right now,
they were back up to another Rescuer group, and it seemed they had
prepared their ambush at the right moment.
This group of Wolfen wouldn't do much harm to the large group of
Patryns but if they found the others, their howls would warn any other
Wolfen around their location.
As the Alpha of the pack sniffed around, Ranma prepared to jump.
The sudden howl stopped him.
The Wolfen stopped their advance and turned around, looking eastward,
and answered the call, starting to run there.
Ranma thought quickly. This could mean anything. The Wolfen could've
found a group of Tiger-men. (Ranma shuddered involuntarily at this) Or
they could've found another group of Patryns!
Reaching his decision, Ranma jumped down.
"We have to follow them!" He whispered harshly to Aghathar and Rena.
"Ranma, they left! We should warn the others about this!" the Sartan
argued. Rena nodded.
Rue and Hugh ran towards them. "What are we going to do?" Hugh asked.
"Ranma thinks we should follow them to see what they're up to, Aghathar
and I think it's best to inform the other Rescuers."
"There's no time!" Rue answered, siding with Ranma. "We might lose them!"
"Good riddance, then!" Aghathar muttered.
Everyone turned to Hugh. The last vote was his. He knew no one would
think him a coward if he voted to go back. This was no game.
But, there was someone he had to live up to. What would Hugh the Hand,
his namesake, do?
The teenager thought for barely a second. He would go. An assassin
doesn't take chances.
"I say we go." Hugh stated.
The others nodded. Rena a little nervously, but Aghathar's hand pressed
her shoulder. She looked up at the older boy, who nodded encouragingly.
She smiled back and followed Ranma's lead.
***
The Wolfen led them to a small mountain. When they reached the top,
they all fell on their stomachs, and gazed in horror at the scene
before them.
A huge trench had been dug into the earth, as the great mass of a
green dragon of Pryan had crash landed in a small valley, which they
overlooked.
The dragon had tried to rise and crawl, as evidenced by the trail of
blood that followed it to where it lay, surrounded by a group of about
thirty Wolfen carrying spears that jabbed at it cruelly and gloated
of their victory.
"Ranma!" Rena said desperately, clutching his arm. "We have to save him!"
"Right." Ranma nodded. He stood up and took out a rune-empowered sword.
Hugh and Rue followed his lead. "Aghathar, you and Rena trap as many
Wolfen as you can. I fight." he said turning to Hugh and Rue, who opened
her mouth to argue. "Don't start!" he growled. "We all know you two can
fight, but I will need your firepower to take care of those that don't
follow me or fall in our spells."
"You always have all the fun." Hugh muttered. Everyone tried to ignore
his sigh of relief.
As Ranma was about to charge, Rue grabbed his hand. Spinning him around,
she brought her lips to his.
Aghathar sighed and looked the other way, stealing a glance at Rena.
Hugh noticed this and glared at the other Sartan, who flinched, turned
red and looked another way.
Rue interrupted her kiss as suddenly as she had started it. "Survive and
there might be more from where that came from." She said as she smacked
him on the back.
Ranma shook his head to clear it. He then started running towards the
Wolfen, followed by Rue and Hugh.
As he shouted a challenge to the surprised Wolf-creatures, he could
hear Rena and Aghathar sing their spells.
The Wolfen growled in defiance, grabbing their weapons and running to
the challenge.
All sounds disappeared as Ranma avoided the point of a lance. They
returned momentarily as he grabbed it and drove the sword into and up
the Wolfen warrior, the only sounds he heard was the splotch of blood
and the crunching of bones as the magically enhanced weapon practically
tore his enemy in two.
He barely noticed one of the Wolfen starting its own spell when its
lance turned into snakes that crawled back and attacked it.
He ignored it, as another burst into flames next to him. A thrown lance
embedded itself between his feet as he slashed at another enemy.
Jumping to the side, Ranma delivered a swift Axe-kick to another,
breaking it's neck. A swift turn and yet another enemy felt the edge
of his sword, this one losing an arm.
To his side, he could make out Hugh, as he created a wall of flames
between the Wolfen and the dragon. Hugh was facing three.
But, where was Rue? Stopping for a moment, he looked around, and saw
her. She had used her magic to trap many Wolfen in vines and was
putting her dagger to good use.
Ranma turned in time to stumble back as something heavy scratched
his head.
A red wall suddenly blinded his left eye, and he understood.
There were a few places where no runes covered a Patryn's body. The
undersides of the feet and hands, and most importantly, the head.
The Wolfen, long-time enemies of the Patryn knew this, and had
attacked him in his weak point.
Ranma ignored the pounding on his head and the aching in his eye,
and rushed to meet the last Wolfen.
Rage invaded him. He had almost lost his life. This one would pay.
Ranma threw his sword aside. The Wolfen, sensing an easy victory,
jumped at him.
Rue and the others watched in amazement something they should've
gotten used to.
Ranma side-stepped the Wolfen, driving his elbow to the beast's
back. The hadn't reached the ground when Ranma had crashed his fist
into it's stomach.
The Wolfen's eyes bulged out almost comically as it spit out blood.
Ranma followed with a round-house kick, and had the pleasure of
feeling and hearing his enemy's ribs crack under the pressure.
The last Wolfen fell. And all was silent but for the ragged breaths
of the dragon.
***
Rena was the first to reach the dragon's side. She knelt next to it's
enormous head.
"It's all right," she whispered. "we have taken care of the Wolfen."
"How... how did they manage to hurt you so bad?" Rue asked.
"It..." the dragon gasped. Aghathar looked from the wounds to Ranma
and shook his head. The dragon would die.
"IT wasn't... Wolfen." The dragon growled painfully. "Dragon... took...
Patryn and Sartan scouts..."
"What?!" Ranma asked walking closer to the dragon.
"...Ixar..." the dragon said, looking at Ranma, who nodded, frowning.
"... you have to help... scouts." the dragon continued, and coughed
blood.
"Don't talk." Rena said softly.
Ranma could swear the dragon smiled slightly. "It's too late for me..."
he said. "Take your group... and Rescue my comrades..."
The dragon couldn't talk any more. HE just looked at Ranma awaiting
his answer.
Ranma nodded. "Yes. We'll do it."
Closing his eyes painfully, the dragon died.
***
End Chapter 2
***
Well, this is chapter two.
Next: Chapter 3 - Kara'thrar
As usual, I'm open to all comments and educated suggestions, there's
my mail up there at the beginning of the chapter. :) Try and be
constructive.
-D
Disclaimer: Death's Gate Cycle is the creation of Margaret Weis and
Tracy Hickman. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not either
one of them, so this is not mine. I write about it, yes, but
I won't get a dime out of this. (I might get stoned by
DGC fans, but that's it.) Furthermore, Ranma is also not
of my property. Rather, it falls into the possession of the
Richest woman in Japan: Rumiko Takahashi. Not me.
- PEACE!
Chapter 2 - Wild Horses
by Wanderer D (wandererd@hotmail.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first Rune to be tattooed into a Patryn's skin is the Heart Rune.
Not only will it be the origin of the next runes, but also the source
of their power. The Heart-Rune is the real name of the Patryn, and, if
you have the name, the real name, you can work magic with it.
Upon birth, the first action taken by the Patryn parents, regardless
of the moment, pain, rush or moment of expectant peace is to inscribe
this Rune.
Ranma was a special case. He was not a mench -human, elf or dwarf-,
according to Haplo and those who knew these people. He was a Patryn.
And yet, he wasn't. He also was a Sartan. And again, he wasn't.
And stranger still... he wasn't a half-breed like Vasu. Ranma was
an enigma to all. He had potential. Not much, as a full blooded Patryn
or Sartan would have, but there it was.
"The Wave corrects itself." Vasu declared. The stout man was standing
in a podium, next to Balthazar, addressing the Patryn and Sartan that
had decided to gather there.
"And thus, another life has fallen into our hands." The Patryn
continued. "One who is like us and like a mench. One who offers a
vision into a possible future."
"Today we will name this child. He will be reborn a Patryn." Balthazar
announced. "And raised as a Sartan."
Rue glared from where she stood, next to her parents, at Ranma, who
waited nervously behind Vasu and Balthazar.
She knew she shouldn't be acting like this. After all, it wasn't Ranma's
fault that HE had lived alone in the Labyrinth and survive. HE hadn't
had any choice but to fight Snogs, Dragons, Chaodin, Wolfen and the rest
of the Labyrinth's creatures and traps. It wasn't HIS fault that she
had lived with a large group of Patryns, who had not only taught her
how to survive if she went alone, but had also taught her magic. HE
hadn't had ANY magic at all...
Rue sighed. She could've done well enough too... She then noticed someone
standing close to her. It was a young boy. He had black hair, a pointed
nose, like the beak of a Griffon, and he was Sartan.
And he was about her age too! Ten or eleven gates at the most.
He was staring at the two leaders and listening to every word they said.
Thinking this was a good idea, Rue turned around and listened politely,
gazing back to the only Sartan of that age she had met. Looking about,
she noted Alfred trying to control his two kids. She smiled at the sight
and forgot her anger for a moment.
"Come forth, Ranma." Balthazar instructed.
The young boy stepped forward as instructed. He knew there wasn't much to
fear. Today, he would be tattooed over his heart by his new mother; Usha.
Ranma forgot for a moment he was standing in front of a large group of
people and smiled inwardly. He didn't remember much of his real mother,
having spent most of his life training with Genma.
He snapped back as Vasu addressed him, (and the crowd). "Ranma, take of
your shirt." He ordered.
Ranma complied. Everyone was surprised at the young boy's physique,
and some were alarmed at the quantity of wounds he had.
Usha walked up with a small bottle of black ink. Tracing a rune over
it she proceeded to use a small paintbrush to tattoo the Heart Rune.
Balthazar stepped forward to explain. "Reflecting our hope, that our
people can become one, Sartan and Patryn living together in peace,
we have chosen Ranma's name to be the Sartan word: Ixar."
Rue didn't know what that meant. A movement caught her eye and she
noticed the Sartan boy nodding.
Haplo crouched next to her. "Ixar means 'Peace' in Sartan." He
whispered to her ear.
A commotion erupted in the back of the crowd.
"Preposterous!" a Sartan shouted. Pushing Patryn and Sartan alike to
the side, Ramu and two of his followers stepped in front of the podium.
"This..." Ramu sputtered. "This ABERRATION you dared bring here," he
said pointing accusingly at Alfred and Haplo. "against all logic, you
have decided to take care of IT and contaminate the pure Sartan blood
that runs in our veins! Bad enough that we have to share this place
with Patryn, now we will have MENCH using OUR magic and that of our
enemies!"
Vasu shared a look with Balthazar, which was noticed by the ever
observant Rue. Things were not looking good. Already Patryns that
didn't have much time here were eyeing suspiciously at the Sartans.
Vasu was about to answer when Ranma interrupted.
The small child, his one and only rune glowing lightly over his heart,
jumped down and stared defiantly at Ramu. Rue had to give it to him,
she could feel Ramu's power, as she was sure Ranma could, and SHE
wouldn't have faced of with him.
Of course, she reminded herself bitterly, SHE was not HIM.
"This is enough!" Ranma shouted, letting everyone hear him. "As I've
been told, the Labyrinth is trying to destroy you all, and when I
can believe that we can all live in peace and fight it together you
come here and start a fight! I may not be one of you, but I am a Martial
Artist, and I have to defend those weaker than myself!" Ranma pointed
at Jorel. "He told me that you Sartan were supposedly the protectors!
and all I see-"
Ramu interrupted him. "Do not dare talk back to me, mench, you have
no right whatsoever. In fact, I will teach you a lesson myse-"
"Father!" The boy Rue had seen shouted, pulling the powerful Sartan's
cloth with his hands. "Listen to him! Listen to them!" He demanded
gesturing at Vasu and Balthazar. "Father, this is not the time for
quarrels!"
"Aghathar!" Ramu roared grabbing his son's arm with all his strength,
ignoring the youngster's discomfort. "What did I tell you?! I warned
you about coming here!" Ignoring Haplo's, Marit's, Alfred's, Vasu's and
Balthazar's amused grins, he pulled his son away, heading to the Sartan
warship.
***
Ranma stood in the small room with Usha as she drilled him again
through the runes he would be using later on.
It had been two days since he had received his Heart-Rune, and he was
starting to get the hang of it.
Still, he would rather be outside training than here learning runes.
Ranma had endeared himself to the Patryn guards. Shortly after being
named, he had gone to one of the drills they did early in the morning,
and had joined them through the exercises. He had performed remarkably
well, even without the Runes that enhanced his strength and stamina,
the kid had handled himself well enough, and soon had joined them
every morning since.
"Ranma!" Usha snapped and hit him upside the head. "Trace the Rune
Structure I just explained to you!"
"Ouch!" Ranma complained, but did as ordered. He didn't resent the
attitude Usha took while teaching him. The day he had began his
training she had treated him so. He had overheard Jorel talking to her
that night, asking her to take it easier.
He had heard her answer. That's the way it was taught, if you didn't
learn it, you died in the Labyrinth. They had talked more, but Ranma
had heard enough. He would make her proud.
***
Ranma stared at Rue. He knew her, of course. Haplo had introduced her,
his wife and Alfred's two kids to him once, when Jorel and Usha had
taken him to 'socialize' or something.
What he didn't know was what she was doing in the Rescuer/Guard
training grounds.
"I heard you were coming here to train with the guards in the
mornings." she said.
Ranma nodded.
"Well, I'll do it too!" She said defiantly.
Ranma smiled. "Great!" he grabbed her hand and ran to the drills,
where everyone was gathering. "This'll be more fun! Let's see who
can keep up with the captain!"
Rue glared at him. Already Ranma had four structures tattooed in his
chest, not nearly as many as she had, but he had been able to pull
this off! She would prove HIM she was the best.
Everyone gathered up, waiting for the captain to arrive. Mostly
Patryns, the guard and rescuers did have a certain amount of young
Sartan, most of which trained with their own, in this group there
were three. They had shown the others they were as capable in magic
and fighting as most Patryns (excluding the Runners).
Rue glared at them as she stood in line next to Ranma. Here she
would have to measure not only to Ranma, but to keep Patryn honor
high, she would have to do better than them.
Ranma elbowed her. "Here comes the captain, stand ready!"
Rue looked up at the captain and almost fell down from the surprise.
"Rue?" Marit asked. "What are you doing here?"
***
Five hours after training began, Ranma stumbled to the soft grass
of the Nexus garden and let himself fall to the ground.
Right behind him, his new friend, Rue, dragged herself next to him.
Both were panting and sweating. Marit had not touched her heart just
because her daughter was a trainee, rather, it seemed to many that
she made it harder than before.
None of the trainees were Runners. They didn't know what it was like
to fight every inch of the way, for many gates to reach the end of the
Labyrinth. Haplo and Marit, arguably two of the stronger Runners had
almost died and owed their lives to someone much more powerful, who
had gone into the Labyrinth once and again to save Patryns.
Marit didn't want Rue to die. If she came here to train... she would
be the best.
"That... was... tough..." Rue groaned, not bothering to look up.
Ranma nodded, ignoring the fact that she couldn't see him. That
HAD been tough. He was impressed with Rue's skills. He was better, of
course, but she had been quite impressive.
He then saw something.
"Hey... Rue," he said, shaking her shoulder.
A muffled sound was her answer. Taking that as a 'what', Ranma
continued. "Who's that kid?"
"What kid?" Rue asked looking up and spitting grass. She followed
Ranma's line of sight. "That's Aghathar. Ramu's son."
Ranma was again on his feet. "Let's talk to him!" he said, pulling
Rue's hand.
She hurt everywhere, but she complied. What harm could it do, anyway?
***
10 years later...
Ranma waited, crouched over a branch. He moved a few of the leaves that
offered him protection, but also didn't allow him to see all too clearly.
He looked down to his right, where Rena waited patiently next to
Aghathar.
Rena was looking at him, while Aghathar stood watch, ready to cast
his powerful magic at whatever may approach.
Ranma made a signal with his hand. Pressing his fingers together, he
let the thumb apart and made biting movements with his impromptu dog,
then, he spread his left hands fingers and did a small V sign with his
right hand.
Rena nodded from below. She turned and whispered the message to Aghathar,
then repeated it to someone to his left.
He couldn't see them, but he knew Rue and Hugh had received the
information he had provided. Seven Wolfen, coming their way.
Ranma prepared himself. He was the leader of his group of Rescuers,
despite being the less powerful.
Rena and Hugh, Alfred's daughter and son were very powerful in their
magic. Although Hugh was more like him... he was a fighter.
Aghathar had inherited his grandfather's latent power. He would be as
powerful as Samah, the man who had sundered the world.
And Rue... Rue could out magic him in less that it took to blink. Yet,
none of them could fight like he did.
Ranma smiled. His group was one of the best, and all of them were very
young. Rue, Aghathar and himself were twenty years old, while Hugh and
Rena were fifteen. He still remembered the day the two seven-year-olds
had joined the drills. Marit had almost fainted.
Now, while they were not allowed to act by themselves, they would
accompany another group of Rescuers as guards and scouts. Right now,
they were back up to another Rescuer group, and it seemed they had
prepared their ambush at the right moment.
This group of Wolfen wouldn't do much harm to the large group of
Patryns but if they found the others, their howls would warn any other
Wolfen around their location.
As the Alpha of the pack sniffed around, Ranma prepared to jump.
The sudden howl stopped him.
The Wolfen stopped their advance and turned around, looking eastward,
and answered the call, starting to run there.
Ranma thought quickly. This could mean anything. The Wolfen could've
found a group of Tiger-men. (Ranma shuddered involuntarily at this) Or
they could've found another group of Patryns!
Reaching his decision, Ranma jumped down.
"We have to follow them!" He whispered harshly to Aghathar and Rena.
"Ranma, they left! We should warn the others about this!" the Sartan
argued. Rena nodded.
Rue and Hugh ran towards them. "What are we going to do?" Hugh asked.
"Ranma thinks we should follow them to see what they're up to, Aghathar
and I think it's best to inform the other Rescuers."
"There's no time!" Rue answered, siding with Ranma. "We might lose them!"
"Good riddance, then!" Aghathar muttered.
Everyone turned to Hugh. The last vote was his. He knew no one would
think him a coward if he voted to go back. This was no game.
But, there was someone he had to live up to. What would Hugh the Hand,
his namesake, do?
The teenager thought for barely a second. He would go. An assassin
doesn't take chances.
"I say we go." Hugh stated.
The others nodded. Rena a little nervously, but Aghathar's hand pressed
her shoulder. She looked up at the older boy, who nodded encouragingly.
She smiled back and followed Ranma's lead.
***
The Wolfen led them to a small mountain. When they reached the top,
they all fell on their stomachs, and gazed in horror at the scene
before them.
A huge trench had been dug into the earth, as the great mass of a
green dragon of Pryan had crash landed in a small valley, which they
overlooked.
The dragon had tried to rise and crawl, as evidenced by the trail of
blood that followed it to where it lay, surrounded by a group of about
thirty Wolfen carrying spears that jabbed at it cruelly and gloated
of their victory.
"Ranma!" Rena said desperately, clutching his arm. "We have to save him!"
"Right." Ranma nodded. He stood up and took out a rune-empowered sword.
Hugh and Rue followed his lead. "Aghathar, you and Rena trap as many
Wolfen as you can. I fight." he said turning to Hugh and Rue, who opened
her mouth to argue. "Don't start!" he growled. "We all know you two can
fight, but I will need your firepower to take care of those that don't
follow me or fall in our spells."
"You always have all the fun." Hugh muttered. Everyone tried to ignore
his sigh of relief.
As Ranma was about to charge, Rue grabbed his hand. Spinning him around,
she brought her lips to his.
Aghathar sighed and looked the other way, stealing a glance at Rena.
Hugh noticed this and glared at the other Sartan, who flinched, turned
red and looked another way.
Rue interrupted her kiss as suddenly as she had started it. "Survive and
there might be more from where that came from." She said as she smacked
him on the back.
Ranma shook his head to clear it. He then started running towards the
Wolfen, followed by Rue and Hugh.
As he shouted a challenge to the surprised Wolf-creatures, he could
hear Rena and Aghathar sing their spells.
The Wolfen growled in defiance, grabbing their weapons and running to
the challenge.
All sounds disappeared as Ranma avoided the point of a lance. They
returned momentarily as he grabbed it and drove the sword into and up
the Wolfen warrior, the only sounds he heard was the splotch of blood
and the crunching of bones as the magically enhanced weapon practically
tore his enemy in two.
He barely noticed one of the Wolfen starting its own spell when its
lance turned into snakes that crawled back and attacked it.
He ignored it, as another burst into flames next to him. A thrown lance
embedded itself between his feet as he slashed at another enemy.
Jumping to the side, Ranma delivered a swift Axe-kick to another,
breaking it's neck. A swift turn and yet another enemy felt the edge
of his sword, this one losing an arm.
To his side, he could make out Hugh, as he created a wall of flames
between the Wolfen and the dragon. Hugh was facing three.
But, where was Rue? Stopping for a moment, he looked around, and saw
her. She had used her magic to trap many Wolfen in vines and was
putting her dagger to good use.
Ranma turned in time to stumble back as something heavy scratched
his head.
A red wall suddenly blinded his left eye, and he understood.
There were a few places where no runes covered a Patryn's body. The
undersides of the feet and hands, and most importantly, the head.
The Wolfen, long-time enemies of the Patryn knew this, and had
attacked him in his weak point.
Ranma ignored the pounding on his head and the aching in his eye,
and rushed to meet the last Wolfen.
Rage invaded him. He had almost lost his life. This one would pay.
Ranma threw his sword aside. The Wolfen, sensing an easy victory,
jumped at him.
Rue and the others watched in amazement something they should've
gotten used to.
Ranma side-stepped the Wolfen, driving his elbow to the beast's
back. The hadn't reached the ground when Ranma had crashed his fist
into it's stomach.
The Wolfen's eyes bulged out almost comically as it spit out blood.
Ranma followed with a round-house kick, and had the pleasure of
feeling and hearing his enemy's ribs crack under the pressure.
The last Wolfen fell. And all was silent but for the ragged breaths
of the dragon.
***
Rena was the first to reach the dragon's side. She knelt next to it's
enormous head.
"It's all right," she whispered. "we have taken care of the Wolfen."
"How... how did they manage to hurt you so bad?" Rue asked.
"It..." the dragon gasped. Aghathar looked from the wounds to Ranma
and shook his head. The dragon would die.
"IT wasn't... Wolfen." The dragon growled painfully. "Dragon... took...
Patryn and Sartan scouts..."
"What?!" Ranma asked walking closer to the dragon.
"...Ixar..." the dragon said, looking at Ranma, who nodded, frowning.
"... you have to help... scouts." the dragon continued, and coughed
blood.
"Don't talk." Rena said softly.
Ranma could swear the dragon smiled slightly. "It's too late for me..."
he said. "Take your group... and Rescue my comrades..."
The dragon couldn't talk any more. HE just looked at Ranma awaiting
his answer.
Ranma nodded. "Yes. We'll do it."
Closing his eyes painfully, the dragon died.
***
End Chapter 2
***
Well, this is chapter two.
Next: Chapter 3 - Kara'thrar
As usual, I'm open to all comments and educated suggestions, there's
my mail up there at the beginning of the chapter. :) Try and be
constructive.
-D