A Cold Heart
Chapter 5 : Tears Of Ice
Tohru awoke to the door once again slamming as someone walked into the tavern, the loud click of boots running up the stairs. Uo, burst into the room, her clothes and hair drenched with blood. " Uo, what happened?" asked Tohru, jumping alittle at her friend's apearance. Uo fell to her knees infront of Tohru, her head bowed, so to hide her tears." She's gone,Tohru." said Uo, lefting her dark blue eyes to look at her. Tohru looked at her friend, her eyes confused. Alex walked in, his eyes sad, as he lay his head on Tohru's lap. " I don't understand, how could she be gone?" asked Tohru, her eyes brimming with tears. Uo pulled a chain from her pocket, gently placing the item on the bed.
Tohru silently held, her hand trembling. " She can't be dead." Tohru whispered, lamely, as the tear ran down her cheeks. The chain that Tohru held in her hand, was her mother's battle charm, it's pendant tarnished and it's golden chain broken. A howl of ecstasy broke forth from Alex's throat, his furry face holding the emotion of a human.Tohru petted the wolf's head, her own sobs chorusing with his howl. " How will I make it without mama?" asked Tohru, clenching her hand, holding the tarnished necklace tightly.
Uo looked up at her friend, her tears drawing pale lines on her blood crested face. " He'll be looking for you," said Uo, anger building in her voice," you will need to flee." Tohru shook her head, her long brown hair swaying with each shake of her head. " No, I cannot leave, the gaurds at the gates will never let me pass." said Tohru, trying to wipe away her tears. Uo looked at her, her eyes darkening. " They cannot see you in the dark, they we're not as they used to be." said Uo, quickly standing to her feet. Crossing the room to Tohru's chest of clothes, she looked around the room, her sharp eyes scanning the small area. " You will need Hana to make you new clothes, and then we will have to find a to lodge at which to stay, if only the elves would come out of hiding." said Uo, opening the large trunk.
Tohru crossed the room, kneeling next to the young warrior girl. " Uo, why must I leave ?" asked Tohru, as Uo looked through her clothes. Uo paused, holding a sturdy skirt. Uo looked at her friend, her eyes giving no emotion. " Because, Tohru, Acheron knows who you are, he knows he can slaughter you in your sleep, he knows that no can protect you here." explained Uo, placing her bloody hand on Tohru's pale cheek. Tohru looked at her friend, her eyes showing sadness and fear. " I can't Uo, I'm not strong, like you or mother, I can't fight, I can't do anything right." said Tohru, throwing her arms around Uo's neck. Uo stroked Tohru's head, rocking the younger girl as she cried. " You have to be strong, Tohru of the Rai, for your mother, for this place, you must escape." said Uo, her voice breaking. Tohru nodded her head, her bangs covering her brown eyes.
" Besides, you must find the hidden and expose it to the light." came a masculine voice from behind them. Turning around quickly, Uo drew her sword, ready to fight. A man stood behind them, his hair hair as black as the night, his eyes icy blue, his skin pale as the waxing moon. " Who are you ?" asked Uo, holding her sword ready. The man looked at his eyes expressing sadness and regret. " My name is Alexander of the Rinji, protector and mentor to Tohru of the Rai, friend and companion to Kyoko of the Kita." said Alexander, bowing his head to Tohru.