Raider had insisted that they land the moment he saw the earth. The unfortunate brute stumbled about, running deep into the woods.
"I'll…(mumble)….back!" she barely caught.
For a spirit that had a lot of pride, he was definitely taking a beating.
Chihiro only gave a slight grin before looking around. The forest was entirely covered with a very strange type of tree that she had never seen before and had a feeling was only to be found in her new realm. They had a dark red bark that was very smooth and star-shaped leaves with a pearl color much like her own scales.
Inspecting one of the trees up close, she noted that they were easily twice her length (in dragon form) tall. They were also spaced at least ten feet apart, more than enough room to walk through.
This is SOOO weird! Why aren't there any leaves on the ground, only short green grass?
The dragoness abruptly halted her train of thought as a fresh scent caught her nose. Frozen in place, her lungs pumped noisily, and her lip curled up to catch the scent for a better inspection.
Oooh! That smells so, bird-like?
Into full stealth mode, she lowered her body close to the ground and concentrated on a spot far in the flat woods. It took a few seconds, but her vision finally focused enough to present her with an image of a creature known only to her though popular folklore.
A griffon!
The enormous beast had the body of a lion, but head, wings, and legs of an eagle. A shiver went from her snout to her tail in excitement. Across from the strange being was Raider. He stood almost nose-to-nose with the winged beast, seeming to talk with it.
For all of two heartbeats, the griffon turned to look in her direction. She froze.
Her beloved friend seemed to be suddenly possessed by some terror. He silently leapt at the Griffon, snapping at its neck so fast that Chihiro would never have caught it as a human. The ogre wolf nailed its target, the griffon had been distracted by Chihiro's presence.
Raider was deathly silent as he clung on, but the bird-beast was trying to make a cry, only succeeding in whispered screeches.
"Roar!" Chihiro bellowed, trying to scream at him. Face-faulting, she tried again with her new communication skills, "Drop her Raider!"
The griffon was now tearing into the raven beast as best as she could while he held on and desperately used his own paws to try to block some of her swipes.
Chihiro found herself flying over the ground at a dangerously close level. But, seconds later, the winged-creature shuttered as Raider dropped her to the ground.
Mouth covered with bright fluid as the excess dripped to the ground, the ogre wolf panted heavily. Rather than a smooth coat and slightly raised tail, his mane was puffed out near his neck and along his spine, and tail curled over his back. The blood stained the bright grass a deep shade of red.
"You are a monster."
"So unlike you?" he spat with sarcasm.
Chihiro's growl filled the air.
"If I had not killed it," he began.
"She would be alive," the dragon finished.
It was the ogre wolf's turn to snarl.
"You would be dead! You have no idea how dangerous griffons are. I had been trying to get her to fly away, but you gave yourself away when you looked upon her!" anger filled the voice.
She huffed, puffing her chest out. But, I've never seen anything die like that! How can I look at you and not think "killer"?
The raven brute turned his back to the dragon, tail resuming its normal position.
"I need a bath."
Without question, she followed him deeper into the woods.
It was a long walk.
It took a very uneventful hour in the extremely creepy forest. Nothing changed. Uncannily spaced trees, green grass, more weird trees, etc, etc. There were no sounds, no broken branches decaying, not even a single bug was to been seen.
However, a tiny river eventually broke the clearing, filling her ears with its wonderful melody. Raider very cautiously approached, she could now see him straining to keep weight off his front right paw. His gaze flashed to her and he shifted his weight evenly.
"Yes?"
"Raider, let me see your paw…"
He looked ready to put up a fight, but she transformed into her human body. Guiding him into the river, she carefully helped wash his back and held his paw up. Tearing a small piece of the oddly real t-shirt she wore, she did her best to wrap his paw, hoping to cushion it.
"We should sleep," she suggested.
Retransforming, Chihiro gently tucked her canine friend in the crook of a powerful forelimb. Hoping along, she still managed to circle in one spot three times before laying down. Raider nestled next to her side, finding himself quickly coiled around as the dragoness attempted to keep him warm.
They slept quietly, both under the half-light of the moon.
Reviewer recognition! Ha, you thought there was more to this chapter: P
Here are my responses/praises for the people who are willing to admit that they read (and some even like!) my writing :)
Kitty00240:
thanks! I'm assuming that you enjoy fairy tales….LoL…I think
you gave me a compliment.
AmI#3?: I'm
writing about 2-3 chapters every Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday….it's
been less than a week and I've got about 9 chapters!
Princess of Animation:
-blush-, I really thought the poem stunk, thanks for the much-needed
reassurance
KiKi: I strive
to be original! I even try to avoid reading other fanfiction as to keep
from copying ideas…..I do plan on shocking everyone now and then
;)
Micrll: I highly
doubt I will stop writing anytime soon! Thanks for taking the
time to write a review, most people have no idea how uplifting they
are!
LadyRainStarDragon:
thanks again for the multiple reviews! Yours is the only fanfiction
I'm taking the time to read at the moment…..
Recognition for the 2 reviewers for "Haunted by You"
VanRulesFanelia:
some of what I write will be shocking/depressing, I try to write
things that are original and sad endings are sort of rare….
CagalliFan: ooo,
thanks! I hope you're reading my other FF
BTW: I think I look as forward to the reviews as some of the people do to my writing (at least, I hope!). Hehe.
