Chapter 11

I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry at first but it started to focus. I saw the bottom of a top bunk bed. Where was I ? I couldn't believe I was alive. The last thing I could remember was the sheer pain. I remembered being stripped down and beaten. I remember hearing Silverbolt crying out as he watched me beaten and battered. I remember ....him. Whoever he was. He had such a familiar and pleasant smell to him. I remember for an instant feeling safe in those arms. I shook my head and blinked a few times to get out of my daze. What was I thinking?!

I sat up. I wasn't naked anymore. I was in what seemed to be a seamless white gown. It was so light and comfortable. The material was made of some exotic silk. I looked around. From the window I saw trees, lots of trees. I was in house in the forest no doubt. I looked at where my wounds were. They were cleaned and bandaged neatly. They were nearly healed. Just how long had I been out to be this healed. These were some deep wounds to begin with. I stood up, my legs felt really shaking. They almost felt like jello as if I hadn't walked in days. I sat back down. I wandered if I should call out to see if there was anyone in the house. I decided to stay there until someone came to check up on me.

I didn't wait long. The wooden door opened and Silverbolt came in. "You're awake!" he gleed with awe and excitement.

"How long was I out?" I questioned.

"About six days," he replied. "Except for the times you slept walked."

"I do not sleep walk," I protested.

"Now you do," he grinned.

"Where are we, where are the other, and who saved us?"

"Whoa, one question at a time, M'Lady," he replied. "We're in a house in the woods. The others are find. I told them to enjoy the rest of their time of and that I will take care of you. Our hero, hasn't given me his name, yet. He is very trustworthy though. He helped clean and tend to you with such care. He told me to get him as soon as you awakened. Would you like to see him now?"

I nodded. I wanted to thank whoever this was. I owed him my life.

"Then I will fetch him," Silverbolt smiled. "He seems to be fond of you M'Lady. I don't blame him though. You make yourself comfortable until I return with him." He left me there.

I got to my feet and walked around a little to try and get the feeling within them again. I was being kept in a simple room. Simple curtains, simple sheets, simple furniture. All looked as if it was all made by hand. It was all simply let elegant at the same time. The room had a full length mirror in it. I stood before it looking at myself. It was certainly different for me to be in white. I didn't seem so dark and dreary. I didn't look like one of those warrior princesses that could kill you in a heart beat. I looked...elegant. I looked like I was strait from a fantasy world of knights and fair ladies. I smiled at my reflection noticing a different beauty than I was before. It was satisfying.

"Glad to see you're awake," a voice said.

I spun around only to see his golden canine eyes. I didn't know whether to be filled with joy are anger. He was the one.

"Copper," I said, in a horse whisper. "I should've known it was you."

"It's just like you," he grinned. "I save your life and I don't even get a thank you. I guess that's as close you can get."

I bite my bottom lip and folded my arms across my chest. I felt myself become flushed with embarrassment and a hence of anger. "You're a freak?"

"I prefer the term shape shifter."

"That's not the point," I snapped.

"Then what is?" he questioned.

"You...you were in utter shock with me earlier, yet you and I are the same," I said. "You accused me of something you were, and you left me in total confusion why, how....what if? You put a deep wound in me that made me let my guard down."

"So it's my fault Visser Three caught you?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Yes," I snapped.

"Well, to my knowledge you should've killed him months ago and you never did," he replied. "He got the upper hand on Trium's perfect warrior twice."

"You don't know the half of it!" I yelled. "Don't make assumptions you don't know about Copper Ookami! You have no right to judge."

"Then who does? God?"

I snorted at him. "How dare you...."

"What do you have against God?"

I snorted again. "My relations with that being is none of your concern, wolf."

He folded his arms across his chest and grinned. I had never seen him so cocky before. He changed after all, and he was enjoying every minute of this. I narrowed my dead eyes at him he was pushing me. If I wasn't still recovering I swear I'd....

"Don't get so defensive, Rip," he said. "Maybe you haven't changed all that much. You are right though. I had no right to judge, especially my own mirror image."

"Mirror image?" I questioned. "Ha! Please, Copper, I'm much more better looking than you."

He gave a hardy canine laugh. "Oh you think?" He flexed his body. "I don't know if you notice, Sindel, but I have been working out these past few years."

"And have you noticed that I happened to take my shape as well."

"Oh, I noticed," he grinned. "I had to give you a bath while you were conked out, remember?"

Oh, he had pushed me to far. I swung my still swore hand to slap him. He caught it in mid-air, however. "Don't get so defensive, Rip Raptor," he said in a more pleasant voice. "Don't worry, I'm not a pervert. I wouldn't dare touch you, Rip. All I cared about at those moments were making sure you stayed alive. There was no way in the hell I was going to let my best friend die on me. I lost her once, it wasn't going to happen again." He left my hand go gently. I just stared at him a few moments. He gave a warm smile. I smiled back.

"Arigatou, Copper," I said in a manner I had never before talked to him before. It was as if I was talking to a whole different person with the same soul, but only viewed differently. Then the urge was to great and I through my arms around his neck and hugged him. I hugged him firm and long. I held back every urge not to cry. I couldn't show how weak I was, especially in front of him.

Then again....he already saw me weak. He saw me at my lowest. He saw my humility and shame. Every part of it he saw. There was nothing to hide from my best friend.

I cried.

He did not hesitate to hug my humiliated personage back. He smelled so good.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Copper and I parted with haste. I whipped the salty tears from my eyes. "Uh, no, don't worry about it Silvy." I grinned. I never felt so embarrassed in my life. I mean none of the crew has ever sense me get emotional. Especially with someone else.

He chuckled. "At any case, I'll take my leave," he replied. "Would you like me to inform the others that you are awake and well?"

"Umm, sure, okay."

He gave a bow to his head. I watched as he went outside with his wings out stretching, and then taking to the sky.

"Hmm, he's a little strange," Copper complied. "A cool guy though."

"Strange?" I questioned. "What gave you that idea?"

"He's as if he's living in the times of knights, princesses, and dragons," he replied.

"Awww, I find the chivalry kind quite romantic and generous. You should learn from his example."

"Oh, what's this?" he joked. "Is Sindel Rip Raptor having second thoughts about the opposite sex?"

I have a long, hardy, and amused laugh. "Don't be presupposes. Men only get in the way of a great fighter. Warriors cannot break their concentration over a pretty face. Remember that, wolf." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Distraction means death. Don't be a fool for emotions."

He looked at me blankly at first and then with a sore face. "Then what is there to fight for?"
"Excuse me?"

"What's all the fighting worth for when you're just fighting?" he questioned. "Why fight when there is no heart to fight for? What's it worth if you have nothing to fight for?"

"Fight for yourself," I replied. "Fight for your soul. Fight for you heart. Fight for your glory."

"What glory does war bring you?" He was getting serious again.

"Do you wish for me to stop, Copper Ookami?" I questioned. "Do you want me to force myself to stop the only thing this poor soul knows. A warrior fights war because it is thy know. To fight is a warrior's life and pride. To fight is the passion and pain that runs through a warrior's blood. It is an unstoppable force which hurts so much, yet is something one like me cannot live without."

He started to start to argue.

"You wouldn't understand," I cut him off. "I don't expect you to understand. I was forced into war at the age of 12. For four years I have known this life. I was forced to learn how to survive, to defend myself, and to kill. Go back to my old life? How can one ask someone like me that. Once you have blood stained on your hands there is no use in going back. That stain never fades, my friend. Once you've tasted the tragedy of war there is no normality left for you."