Harsh panting filled the eerily quiet scene, and annoyed growls answered them.
„Be quiet, I told you. . . "
Agitated hissing.
"You can't tell me what to do and what not!"
"Shh. . . see for yourself.", came the answer, smoothly, amusedly, and the low rustling of dry leaves made the smaller person flinch. Large lavender eyes stared out of the bushes he and his 'protector' hid in, going even wider with shock. There, right in front of them, just outside the shadows in the moonlight, a tall person stood, perfectly still; a large sword glinting dangerously.
Malik wasn't sure if the person was male or female, for they stood in a half-profile to him, with chin-length brown hair, and fair skin. It must have been a woman, he assumed, because as the person moved, as soundlessly as a cat, he could make out large, with thick black lashes framed blue eyes in a feminine face, the soft mouth pursed in concentration, and, well. . . breasts. The boy blushed, and started to move backwards again, when arms wrapped tightly around his waist from behind; he knew better than to struggle, so he simply cast a death glare at Mariku's amusedly smirking face next to his.
"She will kill you if you are too loud. . . ", the older teen whispered smoothly, causing Malik to growl and pout and lean back into the muscled, warm chest. . . which didn't seem so bad, because it was absolutely freezing. Why they had left the warm cave anyways was beyond him.
Finally, when the woman left, shouting something into the night, Mariku pulled Malik back quickly, just as bright laughter answered the call. The taller blonde cursed under his breath, and pulled Malik along as he stepped in and out of shadows with catlike grace, the smaller not even managing to be quiet. Malik's heart beat in his throat; he was sure someone had to hear him! He heard Mariku give a relieved sigh though, and his steps slowed down until they stopped completely.
"We lost them."
"Who was that?"
Mariku looked at him strangely – it was beyond him that someone could not know them, it had been so obvious! But he remembered Malik wasn't from here, so he simply shrugged, trailing on hidden paths through the forest, holding Malik's hand tightly. "Teana, Sarrya's chosen one. The huntress Kura's that afraid of.", he smirked, chuckling at how his white-haired companion always freaked out when someone mentioned her.
"Why's he afraid of a girl?", Malik asked, frowning. . . he understood they were in another time period, and it shouldn't be usual for a man to cower from a woman. Mariku laughed, turning to face the boy.
"Because she kicked his ass more than once.", he explained, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
"Huh. . . ", Malik pondered if he should like her or be worried, when a twig cracking caught his attention, and he blinked around, trying to see through the thick shadows. Mariku growled, and before Malik could react, he was pressed tightly against a hard body which held him close protectively. "Damn, did you have to be that loud?!", he hissed, dark violet eyes narrowing as he glanced around.
"Ah, so now it's my fault?!", Malik snarled back, shoving himself away from the taller male, causing to tumble back and bump against something. . . something cold. . and scaly. . . and hissing!! Looking up slowly, his eyes widened as he stared into an amused, sharp face, a few feet above his own, which looked frighteningly snakelike, and watched him with curious, pupil less red eyes. "Uhm. . . "
Slim, cold, scaly black arms wrapped around his waist slowly, predatorily, and he was pulled closer to the creature, glancing around in horror; the face wasn't the only snakelike thing. Oh no, the thick, black scaled body was that of a snake too, about fifteen feet, and a cobra's collar sat where Malik assumed the neck was. . . and he squeaked as a greenish tongue slid out of a lipless mouth, touching his cheek before pulling back quickly.
"My, aren't you a pretty little mortal thing. . . ", it hissed, tasting Malik again, on the neck this time, causing the boy to whimper. "Where did you find that, Mariku. . .?"
Malik's head whipped around to settle his shocked gaze on the taller male, who's face was contorted in fury as it seemed, one large tanned hand resting on his belt. "Let him go this instant Varnas.", he growled, approaching them
"Nah, I don't think ssssso, he will make a verry niccce presssent for Veilna!", the thing hissed again, backing away, Malik reaching for Mariku whimpering. "You know it'sss time you pay the priccce for ussing the Lunen Foressst asss your hide-out."
"He is mine Varnas, I warn you just this once. . . he won't become a present to the Queen of Veildra." Still growling, Mariku whipped out a dagger, a rather large one, made of pure silver with strange runes on it, and the Veildra's eyes grew wider.
"Ssssarrya'ss ssacred dagger. . . "
"And I will slice you in a half if you don't let him go."
"You wouldn't do ssssomething sssso foolish.", the Veildra hissed, though unsure, and tasted Malik one last time before sending him tumbling, and the boy quickly attached himself to Mariku's side, trembling. A sadistic smirk settled on Mariku's handsome features.
"Well, I will slice you anyway, you're annoying me."
And he lifted the dagger, hesitating for a moment, before bringing it down forcefully, muscles rippling – and a bright silver-ish light erupted from it and parted one half of the Veildra's body from the other, Mariku sheathing the dagger satisfied, patting Malik's head.
"You know. . . you can let go now."
Malik shook his head, squeezing the breath out of Mariku. "Malik!"
"I'm scared!"
"Asssss you ssshould be. . . ", another hiss came, and Mariku snarled; they were surrounded. And merely a heartbeat later, Malik was ripped from him, the boy giving a shocked cry and once again reached for Mariku like a toddler taken away from his mother suddenly.
Mariku could hear the blood pounding in his ears as he still snarled and growled at the Veildras, about seven maybe, and barely could dodge an attack when one of them dashed forwards, forearm-long fangs glinting dangerously in the moonlight. The assassin backed away; he couldn't use the magic of the dagger too often, it needed time to reload its stocks, and unfortunately, Mariku wasn't the true heir of it either, so it took an extra amount of precious time. Over the roaring of his own bloodstream he still heard Malik's cries and whimpers, and whipped around only to see his frightened face under the mass of tangled blonde hair vanishing into the earth where the Veildra dragged him, one hand clawing desperately to the ground. Ohh, Bakura would kill him. . .
He hissed as fangs dug deeply into his shoulder, white sparks flashing before his eyes as he cried out when the venom started to blend neatly with his blood, travelling through his body quickly.
"Thissss isss the musssic of the night – enjoy it Mariku, you may never hear it again." Sarcasm was laced into the toneless voice as the Veildras stared down at the fallen figure of the man, cringing on the ground, his eyes wild as he clutched the wound with one hand, the dagger tightly in the other – he could only produce a small amount of destructive energy, and two or three creatures hissed angrily as limbs were cut off; and Mariku was sure, he had to get Malik back before he became numb. But where to search? The boy seemed too far gone already. . .
(Breathe)
Malik struggled violently as the Veildra dragged him along, secure in strong, muscular, and uncomfortably cold arms, claws digging into his tan flesh, never harsh enough to break the skin. The boy shuddered at the thought that those claws could be poisonous as well as the fangs that showed out of the smirking mouth of the snakelike creature. If they weren't, they could as well rip him apart, being almost as long as his palm and as thick as two of his fingers.
They took a turn, and Malik's mind became dizzy as even darker darkness engulfed them. . . was that even possible? It sure seemed like it to him. He figured they had to be a good twenty foot beneath the earth's surface, and he couldn't help but worry about Mariku; his older look-alike had fought desperately for him, and he had heard the pained scream just a minute ago, and it had sounded frighteningly like Mariku.
"Enjoying yoursssself?", came the amused hiss from above him, and Malik noticed he had stopped struggling as he was lost in thoughts, and started again viciously.
"No, I don't! Let me go you imbecile!", he snarled up, being rewarded with a split, cold, wet tongue on his neck, which left him shuddering in disgust.
"You tasssste of fright. . ."
"I'd rather not have some slimy icky critter lick me, thank you very much!"
"Well aren't you feissssssty."
Malik shuddered once again as the hiss became more of a purr, which left him wondering if those creatures could desire. . . he would've liked it better if they couldn't. Pouting, and crossing his arms as he did so, the cold arms slid tighter around his waist, claws now digging into the soft skin of his abdomen. He was determined not to let any fright show, because he had to admit, he was terrified, being alone with some demented snake-man thingy, without Mariku who could've protected him, and afraid something could have happened to Ryou.
Lavender eyes glaring harshly as they invaded light again, just a bit light, but nonetheless light, Malik looked around from beneath blonde bangs, because his eyes hurt, irritated from being in the dark for what felt like hours. A room was all Malik could see at the moment, a rather large one, filled with rather gentle golden light from torches on the walls, shuffling could be heard in the shadows where the light could not reach, and at the far end a golden throne stood high and mighty between piles of gold and gemstones. He could tell that it was a pretty sight, and he stared around in awe before glaring at the creature resting on the throne.
All he could make out as he blinked rapidly to stop his eyes from watering was that the Veildra was a bright dark green-scaled creature, glittering and sinister at the same time; probably from the transparent, coloured scarves draped around her long slender tail and breast, indicating clearly that she had to be female. Gold and silver alike adorned her claws, and neck, and wherever no scarf was apparent.
Malik thought she looked much like Isis when she dressed up for Kaiba.
Then again, his sister wasn't a vicious snake-creature thing that wanted his blood, even when she was on PMS she wasn't. Overdone make-up plastered on the face of the creature, and smaller Veildras gathered around her at her feet, bowing their heads respectfully. The Veildra holding Malik bowed as well, sending the boy crashing to the ground in front of the throne as it shoved him forwards.
"A present for me?"
Malik looked up from the ground stunned; the large creature's voice wasn't a hissing sound as the others' were, it was smooth and soft and predatory. . . gulp.
"Yessss, great Veilna. . . we found him in Mariku's company."
"Is that so. . look at me, boy."
He dared to look up, yelping as the Veilna's face was mere inches from his own, though she still sat on the throne. . . she had to be larger than he had thought at first.
"So you are the price they pay for using my forest against the sacred ones." She straightened, pulling Malik up as well with a cold, clawed hand on his upper arm. "A pity it is; I bet Mariku liked you a lot, from what I hear how viciously he fought." A cruel smirk appeared as she pulled Malik closer, forcing him onto his knees nearer to her throne again.
"He should be dead by now."
"What?!"
"You sssspeak when adressssed boy!", another creature hissed, swatting him with a large fan it held.
"Silence. You don't have to worry, child, I will have a use for you alright. . . bring me the assassin's body!"
Several creatures hissed and slithered away, and Malik felt more worried than ever. If Mariku was dead. . .
What was going to happen to him then?
Glee, sorry it took so long Replies!!
Chika of the high Mts: Thank you! And I will! Sooner or later. . .
BakaNeko-Chan: I will! violentnod It was far too few fluff in here yet!
Guardian Arrow: I'm glad you like!
Bakagami101: Yup, I will!
Lin McGregor: jumps along Thankies! There will be more scenes soon! At least Kura and Ry aren't separated yet. . . ;; I'm evil.
Anime Crazed: I can't believe too! XD Glad you like it.
Pork Steak/ W-chan!: Thankies sweetheart! cuddles I like them too, aren't they cute? And Ryou was just like a small kid, who has to touch everything! I wonder what'll happen now to them. . .
Loathed wolf spirit: Thanks! And, uh, you're welcome ;
Chibi B-channie: Yay! I enjoy making people squeal! XD With my fics that is. . . and I can promise you, they will become even more adorable later on!
Orangeaura868: I won't kill him. . . I just need his disease for the plot! He will be better soon I promise!
Jade Cade: XD Party! gives you one of the evil faeries have fun
Kristen89: If you can't wait, I'll hurry
Fluffylittledragon: Yay! It's alright, sometimes I'm speechless too. . . err, have fun with your fairy ;
EmmaRaikou: Thank you! bows
See ya next time and send me suggestions what I should do!