He showed no dithering as he twined his staff around and in less then a blink of an eye,had the crooked front aimed at none other the Huntman's.Reign was breathing heavily and looking more pumped then she had ever seen him.Maybe it was like the thrill of taking on the only one stronger then he that was motivating or perhaps he was angered over the fact that he had come upon her in one of the worsened shapes she had ever been exposed to.But of course she wasn't going to go overboard with thinking he'd changed and yet in the very depths of her soul she prayed that he had,maybe just enough to leave her alone after he had dealt with his rival.
"A turn of the tables?"The Huntsman inquired him,his voice relaxed in the heat of the moment as he merely folded his arms over his chest and began clucking his tounge a couple of times impatiently."My boy,that's the oldest trick in the book.Believe it or not,you were the one I was expecting this out of more then anything.Yes,hard to grasp.But it's all very true."
"Did you kill m-"he cut off abruptly and gave her a quick look from the corner of his eye,then turned back to the Huntsman."Answer me one thing,I want the truth and nothing but the truth.Do you understand me?"
The older man aduited him and then spoke lightly."I suppose so."
Cole backed just a bit,his vim unwavered by his uncle's casualness."Then in that case,I'll cut right to the point,"he replied a little more easily and in a squish the staff was on her again,as she heard him demand firmly."This one dragon here...I must know before anything else,are we both kinned?"
Dead silence fell over them all,as the air started to feel murky and stale,in which it made it hard for Wendy to make them out now that a sheet of fog was descending upon them.Her neck felt warm and stiff to her in the growing humidity and she was sure by now it would rain soon,still in the wake of two great forces,she kept herself quiet and still as she awaited an answer from the Huntsman;an answer she wanted so badly confirmed.
"Yes."He finally replied univocally and she could hear his old worn grey boots stepping up under the semi-dry grass,as she was now lost in the moment of taking in the earth around her,shielded off from the two there was nothing more to do then appreciate and hope."It is very much so that this dragon is kinned to you,"she heard him tell her brother in a more dark and lower voice,though her eyes were starting to get bothered by the fog that was inspissating,she could still hear the final cruelness surfacing from their uncle's words."No matter where you go,Regin.No matter how many times you try to avoid it...the legacy of what you're mother has done and what I knew you might do some day will live on.You were so much more then she is,it served her right when she was slain...it was a loss but a loss that made me realise..you were the perfect tool heir-wise in her place.But I expected there it was possible you'd turn on me,I always did.Still,I kept you in line as best I could...pushing you as hard as I saw fit."
There was a pause in which case Wendy had to strain an ear stalk so that she could pick up the next thing said."You think you have a hold on my life?"his voice dropped to a sinister and almost frightening level."After you have lied to me my entire life about who know's what else...you expect me to even consider you a threat?Are you underestimating me,Master?"
Her whole self started to quake as she sensed two people behind her and she somehow came to the conclusion that there had been more then one of the Huntsclan members who attacked her.It made perfect sense,no one besides Cole had the reflexes to move that fast and yet it only made her feel more nervous on the outcome of her survival.By now her neck felt like lead and sweet energy was sapping from her it felt like everytime she blinked,the way she figured she only had two options before her.She could either let them slay her in the midst of her harrowed state or she could try to fight back,it was clear all her brother's attention was on the Huntsman,although she felt he could take them all on if he knew but that was it...he didn't know and she had to do something.
Despite her resolve to try and attack,her sufferance was growing immensely,making her bawl inside.What was she doing?She was already beatened down and once again was staring a bitter ending in the face.That was when she heard the sounds of the two grunting and the commotion of swift blows being exchanged,as that was commencing,she heard and sensed the two male figures begin to move around her and without warning,she launched out her front claws and her tail.
"What in the-?"
"Holy cow!"
Wendy had to keep her eyes sewn shut to palliate the rigidifying pain that seemed to be lowered just for the moment but it didn't affect her as she very forunately managed to get a hold on them,her slightly trembling but still strong claws gripped both of the Huntsmember's legs and her tail was securely wrapped around the other's waist.With a great amount of will and endurance in that one instant,she swiped both upwards and in one bold move,smashed both of them together over her own body and then with a flop she went down.A few moments passed and she couldn't feel a thing but her she could hear herself heaving and the next thing she felt was her sore rib cage,all she could do to stop the hurt was to like very straight.
"Miserable,old fool!"Cole vociferated through the blinding sheet of ashy white and then a few loud crashs followed."Try to lie to my face now!"
The sharpness of her wounding was starting to surface once more and the hardening was dissolving,as she released her hold on the two limp bodies and began to drag herself into a more curled position.But just when she thought she was going to perish,she felt a guy's squared and coarse hands on her neck.Expecting to be harmed,she almost reached up and flamed the person but recieved a touch on the middle of her snout to impede her from moving her head.So sucking in her breath,she waited in wondering and to her surprise heard what sounded like the spliting sound of shirt fabric being ripped and the next thing she then felt the same hands from before slide fingers under her bottom jawlines and lift her head up onto what felt like someone's lap.She was bewildered at this point and the only thing that kept her from talking was the ever welling pain through out her body but finally,she felt something else...something that felt light and sort of stretchy was being wrapped around her neck,tightly but not too tight and she would have thought it was a scarf had it not felt like spandex.
"Cole..."she inhaled faintly,gratefulness flashing in her shining blue eyes at the sight of him ending the dressing he had completed applying and was now perfecting a small,fine knot at the top side of her neck."You won."
"Don't try moving anything,especially you're head.The more you do is the reason it would be prevented from healing."He explained to her as he put the finishing touchings on and gently setting her head back down onto the arid ground,continued on matter-of-factly as a small,spritzling of rain fell from the blackened heavens above."Now,"his words were low and very diligent,as he got up from having his legs tucked under him and taking a good leap over her,proceeded to take a hold over her under her arms to pull her into the forest."Hold perfectly still,I need to get you out of this or it could make it worse.Remember,Dragon,not an inch of movement."
Not knowing how to respond to his sudden interest in her well-being she simply allowed him to move her over into some nearby undergrowth,the rain was starting to fall more heavily and was refreshingly cool on her weakening body,making her somewhat daze and even more slack in his arms as he finally got her under some pine trees that were sagging some as the rain was collecting on their branches and the misty atmosphere was starting to part as a full white globe of moon shone down on them.Though when he finally succeded,she could feel him panting after his extertion to move her full bulkiness of still while she was rather thin and shapely her whole self with the addition of wings and a tail correlated with his own fatigue had tooken a toll on him and had worn him out.
But despite it,she watched with some worry for his own health starting to arouse as he dug around in one of his pockets and bringing out a small glass bottle that appeared transparent in the radiance of the moon and uncorking it with a silver tool he had also brought,held still when he came up and looked as though he was dipping it towards her mouth.Everything seem blurred and unfocused to her but she could still distinguish shapes and some details,even as she tried to concentrate hard on the object.
"I'm opening you're mouth,"he told her steadily but there was a catch in it as he raised open her upper mouth and she could just make out a deep green liquid being guzzled down and suddenly her tounge felt on fire."It's going to have a bit of stinging quality but it shouldn't last very long."
"Ugh...that stuff's nasty."Wendy complained in irratation,cringing as it's contents were completely emptied and as the burningness subsided from her a wave of nausea hit."Jeez,Cole,why does it taste so bitter?"
A few moments passed as he considered something over and for the first time from when she had met him,a very small and a partially natural chortle escaped his lips."Well,Dragon,if it was sweet then it wouldn't be vital to you're recovery,"he paused for a moment and then very akwardly ebbed some until he was sitting a few feet away,with his back up against a rock and looking out into the now mighty torrent."It's only to help relax you're muscles,maybe stop some of the swelling until you can get actual help for it but you should be fine,it didn't appear that deeply inflicted."
The two were fell into an unsettling silence,both not knowing how to react now that they had done what they had done.For Wendy,it was total lack of listening to her probably panicking father and for Cole,it was knowing now that he was a recreant like his mother.Both were in trouble beyond their wildest dreams but no one seemed in deeper confusion then the one who had spent his whole life living a lie and still wasn't all that sure he did believe everything he was told...but when he was around this admittabley felictious dragon,he felt a connection to her that was even stronger now that he was accepting to it...for all she had done was try and help him,she was the first person who had ever shown him that life was more then just training and being hardcore all the time,she was the only one he trusted.
"You didn't have to save me,"He heard her comment from where she laid very motionlessly over to the side,her tone was unruffled but held a bit of concern in it."I know you think I was trying to change you all this time but I only wanted to help."she grinned a little shyly when he turned to her and could just make her out as the now more or less concealed moon emitted a strip of light onto her and it seemed a little odd when the beam hit just on her spine and seemed to blend perfectly,causing a graceful silhouette to form."I know I can get a little in over my head but finding out you were still alive was one of the most exciting things I'd ever discovered.Don't get me wrong,my top ambition was to get to you and yet the adventure was something cool too.Even if didn't work out as planned,I'd do it all over."
He frowned at her questioningly,not sure if she was serious."Honestly?"
"Well..."she grinned slightly,pursing her lower lip."Maybe not everything."
Just looking at her now caused a stab of compunction for ever wanting to slay her and he quickly turned away to face the now clear and widening meadow where three bodies had been but had vanished,he very precisely knew for a fact what he had nearly done to the Huntsman and knew that number's 88 and 89 had taken him away but that of course didn't get to him as he still found channeling out benignancy for any of his opponets without difficulty.Still,he needed to see if his supposed curse was factual,he didn't deny that it was possible but he needed to be sure and he knew there was only one way to go about doing it.He would have to fomulate some kind of plan and go into hiding to test the waters to see if he could have his own independance.But it would have to be far from those who knew him and the last thing he wanted to do was cause more trouble...I swear,he thought to himself with all the composure and all the sapience he could muster.I swear that if I can defeat my worse enemy and come out on top,I'll give this life I've lead up and start over with whatever I have left...I'll take whatever I have to work with over all this damn restrainment and deception I've been put through.No one is my keeper now and no one ever will be again,I'm far above him
Taking in a long,decisive breath,Cole rose to his feet and tilted over a bit as he took a moment to gather his bearings."Um,listen,I need to tell you something,"he said toher,weariness present in the way he stood but he talked as though this were the first time he felt longing."It's been an interesting trip with meeting you and everything.But I think it's time I move on...you know,try to find something new to do with my life."
"Are you sure?"she asked him a little dubiously."You don't have to leave."
She watched him as he held his head up to the take in the sky and saw when she averted her eyes up in it's direction,that a tiny cluster of silver starlings had formed just underneath the moon and sighed but when she turned back to him she noticed something that almost made her gasp.His sleeve arm was completely ripped off and she saw how unusually long his dragon birthmark was but what made her blink twice was when she saw it turn a deep shade of purple all the way from where it's head started at his palm to where it curled around up to about his elbow with it's tail.She folded back her ears and tried to tried to lift herself up but she finally saw him cast her over a lingering look and shake his head at her attempt,signalling it was still too soon to begin trying to move about.
"Don't."he reminded her quietly and she could see how weary he actually appeared,if anything he looked even less threatening with a grogginess to him and part of his golden,ebony tipped hair plastered wet onto one side of his forehead."I've made up my mind and that's all there is to it but you need to stay still until morning,in other words,don't try following me."
Wendy moaned a little as a prickling sensation overcame her but she only ignored it,as she asked him dodgily."Where are you going to go then?"
"I'm not sure yet."Cole replied,noncommittal."But I do have a few places I have in mind...just remember to get plenty of rest."he told her and finally with his back turned to her,he started to walk out onto the green and very heavily moistened grass but after a few seconds he paused and turned to give her another look over his shoulder,telling her informatively."By the way,that drink I gave you also had some nontoxic sleeping balsam in it to put you out for about seven to eight hours.It was only a small essence of it though,drinking purely of the stuff might have put you in a coma."
Great,another Huntsclan method.She thought sarcastically but smiled as she knew she could do no more."So,since you're off on you're own as of right now,is there a chance that we'll ever cross paths again?"
His expression which had been wooden,lightened slightly as he picked up an unintentionally left behind staff and told her before he began his unclear but still determined peregrination."Perhaps.I guess until that time occurs you'll have to continue you're holy crusade on some other poor,random soul...just hope the next time you have a third string."
"Good-bye,Cole."She told him somnolently and just before she sank out of her consciousnes,she heard him bid her farewell but he addressed her by a name he had never called her before,a name she hadn't expected.
"Good-bye,Wendy."
A/N:Has Cole really set his sights for the line of good?Maybe.Will Wendy learn to think before she acts?Hmm.Is this the end?Heck no.It's just the beginning of things to come.Will update when I can.
LP