Review Response:
Rubber Duck: Ack! You did it again! Again with the doubting! I think you know where this is going...
Mango Sam: Thanks much. I hate it when you can guess the ending of a story after reading just a few chapters, so I do my best to make mine somewhat original.
Galadriel: Wow, I upset an elfin queen...Sorry Galadie, but you knew it was coming, and now you know; it's best to prepare yourself for the worst. (Not to say that the worst will happen mind you).
Jadestar 123: Will getting a bigger part? That would have been nice, but the last chapter seemed to be the opportune moment for his death (Don't misunderstand me, I love Will, but...well, you know...It was necessary.)
OoOoOo
Devic (y) and Luke stood huddled together behind the rock on the moor, the gray hill that loomed above the thicket where the adults had disappeared. Less than half a day had passed, but the two boys were all ready anxious. Luke pointed a finger down towards the trees, "Look! Devic, look at all that fog!" A thick blanket of silver mist had appeared underneath the faded green of the trees, unmoved by the gusts of wind that howled across the land. Devic felt himself shiver and he sat down on the dead grass, Luke plopping down beside him. Luke turned to his older brother, "When are Mommy and Daddy coming back?"
Devic shrugged, "I dunno...They said they'd be back as soon as they could..."
"When's that?"
"I dunno!"
Luke's eyes filled up with tears from the harshness of Devic's tone and the ten year old muttered out a quick apology, "Sorry...Didn't mean to yell..."
"I wanna go home Devic...I don't like it here..."
"Neither do I, but they said to wait here or they wouldn't be able to find us again!"
Luke pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees, "Do you think they'll come back?"
Devic glanced over at the six year old, "Why wouldn't they?"
"I dunno..." He made a small noise of apprehension and then buried his face into Devic's sleeve. Devic gazed down at Luke, then leaned back against the rock, making sure that Luke was comfortable.
He himself had been wondering the same thing. Something felt wrong and there was a small humming in the back of his mind. He felt anxious, wanting desperately to follow, but not wanting to take the risks. He was full of nervous energy, and he began to draw in the dirt with his finger to take his mind off the situation. For now, they would stay where they were...
OoOoOo
Phi gasped for breath, leaning, half unconscious, up against the trunk of a large tree. She winced as pain shot over and over again through her body as she struggled to keep her eyes open even though her vision was blurry. She felt odd; she was in pain, and yet, at times, hardly felt it. "I wonder" she thought to herself, "is this what it feels like...to—"
"Die?" A voice had appeared behind her. Phi let out a sharp gasp and tried to turn her head around, the wound in her side keeping her from moving. It was Trycos. She heard him as he walked around the tree and crouched down to sit in front of her. He sighed, shaking his head, "Oh Phiona, what have you done to yourself now?"
She scowled and muttered, "Nothing that you couldn't have prevented..."
"I probably could have...But this is much more fun. How terrible, about young William...dead. Killed by that beast that wounded you. I was almost sure that Devic would crack then, and fall into the hopelessness of insanity. That would have been so very entertaining...Such a shame."
Phi tried to sit up, but began to cough. She covered her mouth with her hands and waited for the excruciating bouts to stop before she was able to mumble, "You monster..."
Trycos looked at her hands and grinned. They were splattered with blood, "My, my, my...That is not good. It seems like someone has a bit of internal bleeding..."
Phi winced, "Back off..."
"Or what? Will you hurt me? I doubt that very much. You can barely breathe..."
"I could...probably manage...to do something" Her voice was weak.
Trycos's grin widened, "Alexander will be so upset to find that you have died. Perhaps your death will also drive Devic mad. I hope so! It is amazing you know, how everything is turning out? Devic and Alex both get to see the people they care about most die, and everyone knows that it is the survivors who suffer the most, if they truly loved the one who perished. You should consider yourself lucky Phi..."
"I'm not...dead yet..."
"Really? You have gone awfully pale. I suspect it is because of all that blood you lost...Do you not remember? I can read minds, and I can feel that yours is slipping."
A slight tremor shot through Phi's body, "If I die...I'll come back...And see that you...suffer the way...you make so many others suffer!"
"Perhaps you will...But I doubt it. Now, as much as I would enjoy to sit here and watch you die, I have an old man to hunt down. If you would excuse me..." Trycos rose to his feet, his cloak brushing along the dried grass of the clearing, and disappeared back into the forest.
Phi listened to him go, and then closed her eyes, a pained expression on her face. Her hand moved slowly down to the wound in her side and she felt a warm liquid trickling down. The bleeding had started again...
Slowly her muscles relaxed, her face pale as snow, and she fell onto the ground, words, barely audible, floating from her lips as she hit the earth, "Alex...Tom..."
OoOoOo
Alex glanced behind him, into the darkness. He leaned in close and whispered into Devic's (o) ear, "Did you hear that?"
Devic shook his head and motioned for Alex to be quiet. He moved his sword so that is was held out in front of his body, and motioned with his head that they should move forward. Alex swallowed, a dark feeling seeping into the back of his mind. Suddenly, he felt the urge to go back to Phi, but he didn't know why. He shook his head, refocusing on the matter at hand. They needed to kill the hound.
Devic narrowed his eyes as they slunk closer to the light. Only a few more feet and they would be right at the edge of the doorway. He felt sweat dripping down his forehead and tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. From inside the next room came a deep breathing, like panting, followed every now and then with a soft cry or a growl. Alex closed his eyes, feeling his heartbeat pulse through his veins, his ears ringing. One more foot and they would be there...Six inches...one inch...
They jumped into the doorway, and a scowl set on Devic's lips. The beast was huge, and its claws and jowls...covered in blood, Will's blood. His breathing grew shaking as rage began to consume him and he watched, his hand clutched around the hilt of his sword. The dog turned its head slowly, its red eyes glowing unnaturally, its black fur shinning in the firelight. Alex glanced around; where was that light coming from? There was no fireplace, and no fire for that matter...Alex let out a small gasp, the light was coming from the hound itself. It was glowing from the inside, as if it was being consumed by flames.
Alex unknowingly took a step back, his heart pounding. This was no ordinary beast...it was not even an immortal!
The hound's gaze turned from Alex to Devic and it let out a low growl and stared him straight in the eyes. Devic refused to look away, bringing his blade into an attacking stance, "Alex! There is your sword, still lodged in his side. I will distract it, and you pull it out."
Alex nodded silently and slipped back up against the wall so that he could sneak around the dog. Devic took a step closer to the beast, his eyes glowing nearly as dangerously as the hounds, "I have no idea what you are, you beast, but now it is time for you to die." The hound shook its head and rose onto its feet, its teeth bared. Devic scoffed at it, "You do not frighten me..." The knight glanced back and saw Alex creeping towards the dog's side and he took a step closer, "What is the matter? Why do you not attack me? Is it perhaps that I frighten you?"
The beast let out a roar, then cried out in pain, jumping aside. Alex held up his sword triumphantly, "Got it!"
"Good, now let us get this over with! Alex, you take his left, and I will attack from the right."
The hound howled in anger and leapt at them, knocking Devic onto his knees. The knight swore and slashed out, catching the hound on his shoulder with the tip of his sword. The dog let out a scream and clawed at Devic, ripping his tunic. Devic rolled away and hurried to his feet, clutching his chest, and Alex rushed the beast, aiming for its throat.
The dog whirled on him and beat him away with his paw, sending him flying. Alex slammed onto the ground, the air knocked out of him. Devic helped him quickly to his feet, and just managed to bring his sword up to block the hound's teeth and the beast dove for Devic's throat. Devic swore, trying to keep his sword in between the dog's fangs and his neck, and Alex dashed around, found the place where he had pierced the beast's side, and swung his blade at it.
The hound let out a horrible cry and jumped off of Devic, who rose shakily to his feet. The beast turned towards Alex and stalked towards him, a small limp in his gait. Alex took a step back only to find that he had been backed into a corner. Devic scowled, "Alex, toss me the dagger!"
Alex reached to his belt, pulled out the knife Devic had given him earlier, and thew it across the room. Devic ran to pick it up. Alex held out his sword in front of him, and as the hound grew closer, concentrated on its throat. If he could get one could hit in, it would all be over. The dog let out a bark and leapt at Alex, then at the very last moment, ducked down just as Alex swung his sword and tackled him to the ground. Alex let out a cry as his sword went flying and the beast pinned him to the floor, one of its huge paws on either of his shoulders, its claws digging into his flesh.
Devic began to run towards the beast; there was no time to think up a plan. Suddenly, Devic lost his footing on a puddle of blood and tumbled down. He went hurtling straight for the beast, and only had time to fall to the ground to stop from running into it. Devic found himself directly under the beast's belly. The knight gazed up, took the dagger, and thrust it upward with all of his might. A stream of hot black fluid rushed from the dog's wound and it howled; its cry sounding like a mix between a woman's scream and a dying beast.
Alex sat up shakily and watched, wincing in pain, as the hound stumbled off of him and away from Devic, it's eyes rolling back into its head. As it began to waver, Alex reached out and grabbed Devic by his arm, hulling him out of the way as the beast fell onto its side, the whole room shaking as it hit the ground. Alex could feel his heart pounding in his chest and clutched Devic's arm despite the foul smelling slime he was covered in. Devic was gasping for breath. They had done it; they had killed it.
OoOoOo
Alex scrambled out of the building, through the rubble filled door they had made and hurried down into the clearing, wanting to get back to Phi as quickly as he could. Ever since he had gotten that weird feeling back in the hallway, he had felt the need to see if she was all right. Devic stumbled out behind him, holding his arm carefully, a fulfilled expression on his face. Alex jogged around the corner of the building, then froze, his face paling. Phi had collapsed on the ground.
Devic caught up with him, and when he saw what Alex was gazing at, his face fell, "Oh no..."
Alex broke away from his shock and sprinted towards Phi, Devic trying to keep pace with him, and fell onto his hands and knees when he reached her, "Phi?" He tucked a loose strand of hair out of her face. She was so pale. He glanced over and caught sight of a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, a puddle of blood underneath the wound on her side. He leaned in close, bending over her, listening for a breath. Tears pricked his eyes. She wasn't breathing. He rolled her over onto her back and put his head on her chest. No heartbeat. He gasped, tears now falling from his eyes. He looked up at Devic, "Devic...she's dead..." He turned his gaze back towards Phi and touched her cheek tenderly, his tears dropping onto her torn shirt, "She's dead..."
Devic dropped down beside Alex and stared at the ground. He didn't know what to say. He had cared about Phi so much, but his love did not even compete with what Alex felt for her. He had lost his cousin, his friend, but Alex had lost his love. He knew that nothing hurt a man more than a broken heart.
Alex bit his lip and inhaled shakily, resting his head on Phi's shoulder, his body trembling with rage, fear, sadness, Devic did not know. Alex leaned down and kissed Phi softy on her lips, then sat up, reached out and gathered her up in his arms. His mind had froze; nothing made sense any more. Devic glanced up at him and Alex muttered softly, "I'm going to put her next to Will..."
Devic nodded and watched silently as Alex stood up and walked slowly over to where he had laid Will's body, setting Phi down next to him.
Alex turned slowly to Devic, "Let's go find Trycos...I have something I need to talk with him about..."
Devic rose to his feet, "We both do..." Alex nodded and Devic walked over slowly and touched his shoulder gingerly, both of Alex's shoulders still bloodied from their encounter with the hound, "Come on...we should find him quickly so that we can get back to your children..."
Alex blinked, "Oh God, the kids..." He choked back a sob and ran his fingers through his hair, "What am I going to tell the kids..."
Devic saw tears reappearing in the man's eyes and his eyes softened a little, "Alex...we will think of something..." Alex nodded again and Devic dropped his hand, "Now, let's go find Trycos. We will make him pay for what he has done."
"Damned right he will..."
OoOoOo
AN: Sorry I took kinda a long time with this chapter... I had to figure out exactly what was going to happen in it first.
Rubber Duck: Ack! You did it again! Again with the doubting! I think you know where this is going...
Mango Sam: Thanks much. I hate it when you can guess the ending of a story after reading just a few chapters, so I do my best to make mine somewhat original.
Galadriel: Wow, I upset an elfin queen...Sorry Galadie, but you knew it was coming, and now you know; it's best to prepare yourself for the worst. (Not to say that the worst will happen mind you).
Jadestar 123: Will getting a bigger part? That would have been nice, but the last chapter seemed to be the opportune moment for his death (Don't misunderstand me, I love Will, but...well, you know...It was necessary.)
OoOoOo
Devic (y) and Luke stood huddled together behind the rock on the moor, the gray hill that loomed above the thicket where the adults had disappeared. Less than half a day had passed, but the two boys were all ready anxious. Luke pointed a finger down towards the trees, "Look! Devic, look at all that fog!" A thick blanket of silver mist had appeared underneath the faded green of the trees, unmoved by the gusts of wind that howled across the land. Devic felt himself shiver and he sat down on the dead grass, Luke plopping down beside him. Luke turned to his older brother, "When are Mommy and Daddy coming back?"
Devic shrugged, "I dunno...They said they'd be back as soon as they could..."
"When's that?"
"I dunno!"
Luke's eyes filled up with tears from the harshness of Devic's tone and the ten year old muttered out a quick apology, "Sorry...Didn't mean to yell..."
"I wanna go home Devic...I don't like it here..."
"Neither do I, but they said to wait here or they wouldn't be able to find us again!"
Luke pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees, "Do you think they'll come back?"
Devic glanced over at the six year old, "Why wouldn't they?"
"I dunno..." He made a small noise of apprehension and then buried his face into Devic's sleeve. Devic gazed down at Luke, then leaned back against the rock, making sure that Luke was comfortable.
He himself had been wondering the same thing. Something felt wrong and there was a small humming in the back of his mind. He felt anxious, wanting desperately to follow, but not wanting to take the risks. He was full of nervous energy, and he began to draw in the dirt with his finger to take his mind off the situation. For now, they would stay where they were...
OoOoOo
Phi gasped for breath, leaning, half unconscious, up against the trunk of a large tree. She winced as pain shot over and over again through her body as she struggled to keep her eyes open even though her vision was blurry. She felt odd; she was in pain, and yet, at times, hardly felt it. "I wonder" she thought to herself, "is this what it feels like...to—"
"Die?" A voice had appeared behind her. Phi let out a sharp gasp and tried to turn her head around, the wound in her side keeping her from moving. It was Trycos. She heard him as he walked around the tree and crouched down to sit in front of her. He sighed, shaking his head, "Oh Phiona, what have you done to yourself now?"
She scowled and muttered, "Nothing that you couldn't have prevented..."
"I probably could have...But this is much more fun. How terrible, about young William...dead. Killed by that beast that wounded you. I was almost sure that Devic would crack then, and fall into the hopelessness of insanity. That would have been so very entertaining...Such a shame."
Phi tried to sit up, but began to cough. She covered her mouth with her hands and waited for the excruciating bouts to stop before she was able to mumble, "You monster..."
Trycos looked at her hands and grinned. They were splattered with blood, "My, my, my...That is not good. It seems like someone has a bit of internal bleeding..."
Phi winced, "Back off..."
"Or what? Will you hurt me? I doubt that very much. You can barely breathe..."
"I could...probably manage...to do something" Her voice was weak.
Trycos's grin widened, "Alexander will be so upset to find that you have died. Perhaps your death will also drive Devic mad. I hope so! It is amazing you know, how everything is turning out? Devic and Alex both get to see the people they care about most die, and everyone knows that it is the survivors who suffer the most, if they truly loved the one who perished. You should consider yourself lucky Phi..."
"I'm not...dead yet..."
"Really? You have gone awfully pale. I suspect it is because of all that blood you lost...Do you not remember? I can read minds, and I can feel that yours is slipping."
A slight tremor shot through Phi's body, "If I die...I'll come back...And see that you...suffer the way...you make so many others suffer!"
"Perhaps you will...But I doubt it. Now, as much as I would enjoy to sit here and watch you die, I have an old man to hunt down. If you would excuse me..." Trycos rose to his feet, his cloak brushing along the dried grass of the clearing, and disappeared back into the forest.
Phi listened to him go, and then closed her eyes, a pained expression on her face. Her hand moved slowly down to the wound in her side and she felt a warm liquid trickling down. The bleeding had started again...
Slowly her muscles relaxed, her face pale as snow, and she fell onto the ground, words, barely audible, floating from her lips as she hit the earth, "Alex...Tom..."
OoOoOo
Alex glanced behind him, into the darkness. He leaned in close and whispered into Devic's (o) ear, "Did you hear that?"
Devic shook his head and motioned for Alex to be quiet. He moved his sword so that is was held out in front of his body, and motioned with his head that they should move forward. Alex swallowed, a dark feeling seeping into the back of his mind. Suddenly, he felt the urge to go back to Phi, but he didn't know why. He shook his head, refocusing on the matter at hand. They needed to kill the hound.
Devic narrowed his eyes as they slunk closer to the light. Only a few more feet and they would be right at the edge of the doorway. He felt sweat dripping down his forehead and tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. From inside the next room came a deep breathing, like panting, followed every now and then with a soft cry or a growl. Alex closed his eyes, feeling his heartbeat pulse through his veins, his ears ringing. One more foot and they would be there...Six inches...one inch...
They jumped into the doorway, and a scowl set on Devic's lips. The beast was huge, and its claws and jowls...covered in blood, Will's blood. His breathing grew shaking as rage began to consume him and he watched, his hand clutched around the hilt of his sword. The dog turned its head slowly, its red eyes glowing unnaturally, its black fur shinning in the firelight. Alex glanced around; where was that light coming from? There was no fireplace, and no fire for that matter...Alex let out a small gasp, the light was coming from the hound itself. It was glowing from the inside, as if it was being consumed by flames.
Alex unknowingly took a step back, his heart pounding. This was no ordinary beast...it was not even an immortal!
The hound's gaze turned from Alex to Devic and it let out a low growl and stared him straight in the eyes. Devic refused to look away, bringing his blade into an attacking stance, "Alex! There is your sword, still lodged in his side. I will distract it, and you pull it out."
Alex nodded silently and slipped back up against the wall so that he could sneak around the dog. Devic took a step closer to the beast, his eyes glowing nearly as dangerously as the hounds, "I have no idea what you are, you beast, but now it is time for you to die." The hound shook its head and rose onto its feet, its teeth bared. Devic scoffed at it, "You do not frighten me..." The knight glanced back and saw Alex creeping towards the dog's side and he took a step closer, "What is the matter? Why do you not attack me? Is it perhaps that I frighten you?"
The beast let out a roar, then cried out in pain, jumping aside. Alex held up his sword triumphantly, "Got it!"
"Good, now let us get this over with! Alex, you take his left, and I will attack from the right."
The hound howled in anger and leapt at them, knocking Devic onto his knees. The knight swore and slashed out, catching the hound on his shoulder with the tip of his sword. The dog let out a scream and clawed at Devic, ripping his tunic. Devic rolled away and hurried to his feet, clutching his chest, and Alex rushed the beast, aiming for its throat.
The dog whirled on him and beat him away with his paw, sending him flying. Alex slammed onto the ground, the air knocked out of him. Devic helped him quickly to his feet, and just managed to bring his sword up to block the hound's teeth and the beast dove for Devic's throat. Devic swore, trying to keep his sword in between the dog's fangs and his neck, and Alex dashed around, found the place where he had pierced the beast's side, and swung his blade at it.
The hound let out a horrible cry and jumped off of Devic, who rose shakily to his feet. The beast turned towards Alex and stalked towards him, a small limp in his gait. Alex took a step back only to find that he had been backed into a corner. Devic scowled, "Alex, toss me the dagger!"
Alex reached to his belt, pulled out the knife Devic had given him earlier, and thew it across the room. Devic ran to pick it up. Alex held out his sword in front of him, and as the hound grew closer, concentrated on its throat. If he could get one could hit in, it would all be over. The dog let out a bark and leapt at Alex, then at the very last moment, ducked down just as Alex swung his sword and tackled him to the ground. Alex let out a cry as his sword went flying and the beast pinned him to the floor, one of its huge paws on either of his shoulders, its claws digging into his flesh.
Devic began to run towards the beast; there was no time to think up a plan. Suddenly, Devic lost his footing on a puddle of blood and tumbled down. He went hurtling straight for the beast, and only had time to fall to the ground to stop from running into it. Devic found himself directly under the beast's belly. The knight gazed up, took the dagger, and thrust it upward with all of his might. A stream of hot black fluid rushed from the dog's wound and it howled; its cry sounding like a mix between a woman's scream and a dying beast.
Alex sat up shakily and watched, wincing in pain, as the hound stumbled off of him and away from Devic, it's eyes rolling back into its head. As it began to waver, Alex reached out and grabbed Devic by his arm, hulling him out of the way as the beast fell onto its side, the whole room shaking as it hit the ground. Alex could feel his heart pounding in his chest and clutched Devic's arm despite the foul smelling slime he was covered in. Devic was gasping for breath. They had done it; they had killed it.
OoOoOo
Alex scrambled out of the building, through the rubble filled door they had made and hurried down into the clearing, wanting to get back to Phi as quickly as he could. Ever since he had gotten that weird feeling back in the hallway, he had felt the need to see if she was all right. Devic stumbled out behind him, holding his arm carefully, a fulfilled expression on his face. Alex jogged around the corner of the building, then froze, his face paling. Phi had collapsed on the ground.
Devic caught up with him, and when he saw what Alex was gazing at, his face fell, "Oh no..."
Alex broke away from his shock and sprinted towards Phi, Devic trying to keep pace with him, and fell onto his hands and knees when he reached her, "Phi?" He tucked a loose strand of hair out of her face. She was so pale. He glanced over and caught sight of a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, a puddle of blood underneath the wound on her side. He leaned in close, bending over her, listening for a breath. Tears pricked his eyes. She wasn't breathing. He rolled her over onto her back and put his head on her chest. No heartbeat. He gasped, tears now falling from his eyes. He looked up at Devic, "Devic...she's dead..." He turned his gaze back towards Phi and touched her cheek tenderly, his tears dropping onto her torn shirt, "She's dead..."
Devic dropped down beside Alex and stared at the ground. He didn't know what to say. He had cared about Phi so much, but his love did not even compete with what Alex felt for her. He had lost his cousin, his friend, but Alex had lost his love. He knew that nothing hurt a man more than a broken heart.
Alex bit his lip and inhaled shakily, resting his head on Phi's shoulder, his body trembling with rage, fear, sadness, Devic did not know. Alex leaned down and kissed Phi softy on her lips, then sat up, reached out and gathered her up in his arms. His mind had froze; nothing made sense any more. Devic glanced up at him and Alex muttered softly, "I'm going to put her next to Will..."
Devic nodded and watched silently as Alex stood up and walked slowly over to where he had laid Will's body, setting Phi down next to him.
Alex turned slowly to Devic, "Let's go find Trycos...I have something I need to talk with him about..."
Devic rose to his feet, "We both do..." Alex nodded and Devic walked over slowly and touched his shoulder gingerly, both of Alex's shoulders still bloodied from their encounter with the hound, "Come on...we should find him quickly so that we can get back to your children..."
Alex blinked, "Oh God, the kids..." He choked back a sob and ran his fingers through his hair, "What am I going to tell the kids..."
Devic saw tears reappearing in the man's eyes and his eyes softened a little, "Alex...we will think of something..." Alex nodded again and Devic dropped his hand, "Now, let's go find Trycos. We will make him pay for what he has done."
"Damned right he will..."
OoOoOo
AN: Sorry I took kinda a long time with this chapter... I had to figure out exactly what was going to happen in it first.