Chapter 4: A New Threat

Nina

I slowly awoke from my light sleep and rubbed my tired eyes then looked down at the still sleeping Ryu. I was relieved to see that he was at least sleeping but I still felt so helpless right now. I wanted to help him so much, to ease his pain a little, but I couldn't. All I could was pray that he would make it long enough for us to get him proper treatment for his wounds.

I looked over to the other who were starting to wake up as well and soon began to get ready to leave. Cray as usual was the first to get things going and after a little checking on our surroundings he walked over to me and looked down at Ryu. I could tell he was still concerned but not as worried now since he could see that Ryu was sleeping now.

He looked to the others and nodded as they picked up the things they had and Cray bent down and slowly lifted Ryu into his arms. At that moment I felt like Ryu was being taken away from me so I immediately stood up to stand beside Cray. At least this way I was closer to Ryu, even if I couldn't hold him right now. His safety right now was what mattered most to me.

After a moment we started off in the direction towards Berleim and I could only hope we got there soon. I was getting worried the longer we took and I felt that Ryu was getting worser.

"You got to hold on just a little bit longer Ryu, please just hold on."

I winced a little feeling my ankle was still sore but I pushed the pain away not really concerned with this minor pain right now. I had to push on for Ryu, I couldn't let this little pain stop me from helping him.

Cray

As we walked I looked down at Ryu's sleeping form and sighed a little still finding this hard to believe. Ryu looked horrible; it was unbelievable. How could someone with so much power and talent be toppled so easily. Ryu was proclaimed an incomplete god and now here we are, carrying a now vulnerable god to get proper medical attention because he saw fit to give his life for a mortal princess.

I guess being incomplete alters your decisions. I bet if he was complete he probably wouldn't think the same way. I looked down at him again then had brief visions of everything he's done for us.

"What am I thinking?" I shook my head a little then smiled some. This is Ryu here, the boy who defended all of us even when it wasn't his place too. He always defended us and I know now that even if he was complete he would always be Ryu, the Ryu we came to know as a true friend and companion.

I looked around again and sighed a little again knowing it would still be a few hours before we reached this town. Personally I knew nothing about it except the name. I could only hope we were still going in the right direction. I looked back at the others briefly who were on guard with weapons drawn and I could tell they were a little nervous; even Ursula.

There was something about this forest that none of us liked and I felt we might be in trouble if we didn't get out soon. And I could only hope that Nina will not give up on Ryu, I sure wont.

Ryu

I was still very weak but my senses were still strong and I was doing my best to benefit the others even if I couldn't provide battle assistance; at least I can provide the sense to detect where to avoid going. I could only hope that my voice worked enough for me to get the words out and that I can sense everything in time to warn them.

I used what little energy I had left to heighten my senses enough to expand my range. I couldn't detect anything yet but I stayed on the alert while they moved on and carrying me. Then I noticed something faint coming from the east and coming straight towards us. I felt fear rise up in me as I tried my hardest to get the words out but nothing left my lifts or throat.

"No I have to warn them....get out of here.....RUN!"

I tried again, but this time I started to move my body a little though just doing that was painful enough but I have to warn them; no matter what it took. I managed to open my eyes just enough to see Nina eyes soft chestnut eyes staring down into mine. I felt like she was reading my mind as she suddenly looked up to Cray and screamed for all of us to run. Could she really understand me that well?

I felt Cray and the others take off in a quick sprint with Nina staying right beside me as they ran and soon enough the sounds of another persons foot steps filled my sensitive ears and the aura I felt made me tremble; it was almost, pure evil. This wasn't good and I was powerless to prevent this being from coming after them. I could only pray now that they got a safe distance from this being.

"Hurry hurry you've got to make it you guys.....he's coming!"

Nina

I knew Ryu was sensing something and in his state he couldn't act to tell us. I didn't know what was coming but I can feel Ryu's hand grip mine a little tighter and I could also feel it trembling. Ryu was trembling? Can this thing that is now chasing us really be that powerful?

"No it can't be....Ryu is a god...who...who could this thing be....is it a god too!?"

I couldn't think straight now; all I knew is that whatever it was, it had to be powerful if Ryu was trembling this badly. And in his state; without him, we don't stand a chance if its really that powerful. We had to get away fast and hopefully we could lose whatever was following us.

I looked back briefly wondering if I could possibly see our pursuer but I could only see the trees that we passed. I looked forward quickly remembering the mistake I made that got Ryu in this condition and I didn't want to make it again. Especially when there's this much at stake now.

Then I stopped dead in my tracks as I felt a searing pain run from the top of my right shoulder to course through my entire body causing me to drop to my knees as the pain faded away to a sting. I looked up a little and witnessed in horror that everyone had received similar feelings but in different areas of there body but all of which had caused them to stop. I looked to Cray and saw Ryu was not in his arms. I started to panic now but then looked a few further beyond Cray and saw him sprawled out on his stomach still unmoving but still lightly trembling showing he was still conscious.

I looked around again frantically to find who did this but I couldn't find the source. I looked back to Ryu then my eyes widened when I saw a dark shadow looming over him.

As I slowly looked up I could feel my heart almost stop as I saw what it was. It resembled Ryu when he was a hybrid but the coloring was black and its eyes where crimson red. I felt my body go numb and I couldn't will it to move now. As I stared at it I soon realized what its intentions were.

I looked back down to Ryu trying to will myself to move knowing if I couldn't it would leave Ryu in grave danger. But a moment later I felt my heart stop for an instant as the dark hybrid I had seen a few moments ago, now had its left knee jammed into Ryu's causing the ground beneath him to rupture and cave in from the force. I could feel my ears sting when in the same instant of the impact, I saw Ryu's neck arch and his eyes and mouth open wide as a loud cry left his lips.

His hands curved into the ground a little as his cry was silenced when a small gush of blood consumed his voice as it spurted from his lips. I could only watch the horrifying scene until his head fell to the ground, angled to the left and I could see a hollow gaze within his eyes as his body spasmed slightly.

I could feel tears well up in my eyes as I looked up to the black figure once again who merely smirked and slowly stood up showing he looked like a dark version of Ryu as a hybrid. I couldn't tear my eyes from him now and heart felt like it had crumbled from the realization that I had failed Ryu again.

My eyes closed slowly as I looked down with the tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't believe what had happened and I felt powerless now.

I looked up again to see the dark figure was gone and the feeling returning to my body. The second I could feel my legs again I got to my feet and ran to Ryu as quickly as possible, but I stopped a few meters away as I felt that same ache at my heart again.

Ryu's back was pressed in where the monsters knee had claimed him. I dropped to my knees and slowly moved my hand out to touch him feeling that it was all over, but when before I could I noticed a slight movement from his head. His left arm soon twitched along with his right leg.

Realizing this quickly I felt new hope rise in my heart but I couldn't sit waste time now. I had to find another way to help him. But how...what could I do?

I looked to the others who were also starting to come to again and I could feel the tears streaking down my cheeks again as I looked to Cray. I could only say one word before my voice finally gave up to my heart ache.

"H..Help.."

Chapter 5 Coming soon...