Chihiro had cried the last of her tears only a minute after Bade's passing. The boy had a peaceful expression; though the girl wasn't sure she wanted to see the rest of him beneath the paw of Haku. Reaching her own deadly talons which shone with the teal from the mermaids polishing, she wanted to cradle Bade.
But, Haku began to growl.
"Haku, please, let me hold him. I'd like to bury him some place proper…"
The black dragon only snarled, his muzzle moved to within inches of the dragoness.
"I mean it Haku. I knew what had to be done, but…." She paused as his growling increased. "Then what do you plan to do?"
"Eat him," he half growled and half spoke, picking up the boy.
Without even thinking, Chihiro leapt forward, claws extended towards the paw that grasped her brother. Somewhat surprised, Haku dropped the body to the dirt and slashed at the dragoness that was tearing his limb.
She hissed in pain, dropping to the dirt to cover the boy with her own body. She felt a long tear across her cheek beginning to spill precious drops.
Haku growled once more, looking down at her. She half-whimpered.
"Fine. Do what you wish with it, but do it quick," he barked.
She scrambled up, cradling Bade with her forepaws, "I'm going to bury him."
"I don't care what you do," he spat. "Just hurry up already."
She nodded, picking the boy up by the neck of his shirt with her fangs, and began her trek an enormous tree she had seen a little under a half mile away.
Within an hour, Chihiro trudged back to Haku's side. The dark dragon was lying on the ground, unmoving; both of his ears were trained solely on the mountain. The dragoness was surprised he noticed her there.
"I want to you run to the water Chihiro," he whispered harshly, never losing his focus.
"But…."
"Now!" he roared.
No! I won't be ordered around by him anymore! She thought, opening her jaws to argue, but her tongue refused to move when the dark dragon turned his gaze to meet her.
His eyes were solid black with thin teal irises.
She bolted, more frightened then she had ever been in her entire life. Why! What's he going to do? A frustrated roar broke out from behind her seconds later, and she could sense his fast approach. With a quick glance behind her, she could see him within fifty yards. Waiting a few seconds, she watched him prepare to spring, and threw her weight to make an almost ninety degree turn. Her reward was a loud thump as he smacked into the ground, the space she had occupied moments before.
I can't outrun him forever, and that trick won't work so well again, if at all!
The water was too far away.
The pearly-scaled beast stopped, turning around and watched her black companion.
He growled, picking himself up and shook like a wet dog. Dust rose in a great cloud around him. As if having forgotten something important and suddenly realizing it, he snapped his head towards Chihiro.
"What's wrong Haku?" she asked softly.
Two enormous griffons, both a dark green in color, flew over her head from behind and tackled Haku. Chihiro was having a hard time seeing who was clawing who, but she ran forward and grabbed the back neck of the griffon with the less puffy mane, tossing the massive beast that was at least a third of her size away. The second griffon stopped his assault on Haku, leaping up to claw at the top of Chihiro's neck.
The dragoness roared, falling to her side at the impact and tried to use her short limbs to knock the mythical beast away. But, it only moved to her shoulder, making a deep gash as she rolled over and attempted to allow her neck the freedom to move.
A black flash appeared, plowing the bird-lion creature off of her and running after the fleeing pair.
He stopped soon after, and turned to face Chihiro.
His teal eyes didn't have the wise air she was use to, the confidence that seemed to always radiate from him. Now, he cocked his head to the side before walking over calmly to her.
She was still frightened, and braced herself for another run.
He paused, lowering his head and tail before closing the gap between them. And close he did! Haku touched noses with her, sniffing deeply before moving to sniff the rest of her.
"What are you doing Haku?"
Seemingly ignoring her question, the brute simply made a small purr-like noise before lying down in a horseshoe shape near her, nudging her to do the same. When she finally did, he wrapped around, outside of her. He began to purr deeply, gently licking her shoulder where the griffon had made a gash.
The noise he was making and the vibrations from it were soothing as massaged her pain away.
"Goodnight….Haku."
Slightly Haunted : I hoped I've satisfied at least some of you...I keep thinking of different ways that I could close this story, but I definitely don't want it to be too abrupt. Comments/ideas/suggestions are all welcome. I love e-mail ;)
