Mmmm... I forgot this last time...
Disclaimer: I own not the settings, but I do own the plot and most of the characters, but not all sigh maybe one day...
This chapter is dedicated to my first ever reviewer, Stormrider7! Yay! throws confetti and has a big party oh, and found it funny that your name is the almost the same as my email, hee hee!
Risi-chan: I'm happy to be back! Yay!
Annamoon: It's about time
Risi-chan: Here you go, Chapter Two!
Annamoon: Finally, took you long enough.
Risi-chan: whatever...
"She's gone! When did she leave? Did she say where she was going? Tell me quickly Lemonar, her life may depend on it!"
"She is on her way to the serpeinte and avian lands, I believe. She set out almost a full day and a half ago. She left a note saying she didn't want to be followed, but we believed that she wouldn't fight you if you were the one to go after her."
"Why do you think that? It has been four years since I have been here; training, trying to keep anything like our last 'adventure' from ever happening again. I ask again, why do you think this will work?" Nevonarjay asked, absently trailing his fingers over a scar that wrapped around one wrist like a bracelet. The ten three inch long vertical scars had been made by Annickra four years earlier when she had a very close brush with death. She had a mirror 'bracelet' carved into her right wrist as well.
"This is why!" I shouted, grabbing his wrist and pointedly showing the scars. "She wears these like a medal of bravery. She is not ashamed of them, even if she almost died getting them. She lives for battle and fighting as much as you and I live by breathing. She needs someone who won't lose his temper watching her back for her. She needs you. You have done the best job looking out for my little sister, better even than I have. Please, do this for me."
"I am gone then. Stay and rest. May your worries be put to rest for I will be watching over Annickra by tomorrow evening at the latest."
"Thank you, my friend." Lemonar shouted as Nevonarjay ran past him and out the door in his wolf form. With him gone, Lemonar put his worries to rest and went to sleep.
A day later found Nevonarjay caught up to Annickra. She had been traveling slowly, not wanting to risk getting lost. Instead of coming out and ordering her back though, Nevonarjay contented himself with following her. About four days later, they arrived at Wyvern's Court and the land of the avians and the serpeinte. He watched her change into her human form and begin wandering up to the gates. A set of guards stopped her. A few words were exchanged and a guard led her through the gates. He grudgingly stayed just inside the edge of the forest, waiting for her to return. Finally, almost a month later, he saw her amongst the guard of a young woman about a year younger than he was. So that was her plan, to become a member of the guard flight, more than likely. He shook his head. He followed them deep into the forest, following a well worn path. This must lead to the serpeinte palace or to Hawk's Keep! That must be the heir to both the avian and serpeinte thrones! The party left the woods and sure enough, there was Hawk's Keep. Then, the sound of fighting broke out! The group was being attacked by assassins, and almost at the front gates of the keep itself. This is bad. I can't do anything either, or I risk exposing both of us! He watched helplessly as the guard suddenly broke up, all but one going break neck speed towards the gates. One figure wheeled about and started hacking through the attackers. He watched in horror as the horse of the lone fighter went down, an arrow stuck deep within its side. He watched as the fighter leapt away from its dying beast and fought hand to hand. He could stand it no longer as the gates closed and the attackers began to close in on the fighter. He raced from his hiding place and ran to the fighter, jumping into the fray in his demi form as the fighter, Annickra, passed out from a number of wounds all over her body. He fought off the last attackers with his sword, protecting Annickra the whole time. He sheathed his sword, picked up the girl, and started running up to the gates as the last attacker lie dying.
"Hold on, Anni, hold on."
He got to the gates and was instantly surrounded by nervous guards.
"Let me through and get a doctor." Nevonarjay growled. "Can't you see that she was part of the guard!"
"W-we can't l-let you p-p-pass."
"Let them in," came a cool voice from behind the guards, "that is Nicka he has in his arms."
"But milady, he's a wolf!"
"And I am half cobra and half hawk. You are a black mamba, she is a crow, he's a raven, and he's a white viper. It doesn't matter she is one of ours and if he is helping her, he must be on our side too."
"But milady…"
"I said let them in. And go fetch Betsy."
"Yes my lady."
"Thank you." Nevonarjay half growled, his voice almost back to normal.
"I did it for Nicka. She was one of my best guards and my friend. Who are you anyway? I have never seen a wolf before and I didn't think that they were quite so nice as to go out of their way to save a member of the guard of a half blood princess." Nevonarjay snorted.
"You have too seen a wolf before, she's right here in my arms. I must agree with you, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to help otherwise."
"Oh, I see. Guards, please escort Mr.?"
"Nevonarjay."
"Please escort Mr. Nevonarjay and Nicka to a suite on the fourth floor please."
"Milady, you think it wise to let a wolf be alone with Nicka? She's sick and cannot defend herself."
"She's a wolf as well, Bruntus. Now show them a room."
"Yes milady. Right this way." Bruntus said gruffly. "If I see you put so much as a finger on her, I will kill you myself."
"A little late for that, don't you think?" Nevonarjay said, shifting the girl in his arms. Bruntus turned a bright shade of red but managed to control himself until the reached the suite.
"Here, don't hurt the girl, I will be standing outside the door so I'll hear it if you do anything funny." Nevonarjay nodded sharply and walked in, setting his friend, Annickra, on the bed. Then, he began desperately searching for any sign of what had hurt her badly enough to make her pass out. He found numerous small cuts and scratches, nothing that would have had this effect on her though. He found a deep cut running up the outside of her thigh. He quickly pulled some of the ripped material of her pants aside and set about cleaning and healing the wound. He then spread his power throughout her body and healed all of the wounds he could find. When he finally broke his concentration, he realized that Annickra was still unconscious and that there was someone in the room with them. He spun around and drew a knife in the same movement.
"Step down, wolf-boy. Let me work on her for a little while. Besides, you need to rest too after all of that work you did, you tired yourself out."
"I'm fine." He managed to protest as the world around him started spinning. He gasped and caught hold of the edge of the bed as his knife clattered to the ground and the world turned black.
"Tsk tsk. That boy needs to learn his limits, he'll never be any good if he over extends his abilities. Oh well, he did a pretty good job though. Guards!"
"Yes milady?"
"Take the wolf boy and put him on that couch over there and shut the doors. That will be all. And no, he didn't attack me; he simply over exerted himself trying to save his lady friend here."
"Yes milady." The guards replied, smiling at the form of the once formidable wolf now laying half sprawled over the foot of the bed. They did as the old crow asked and put Nevonarjay on the couch, closed the doors, and let the old crow work in peace.
Risi- chan: yay! end of chapter two!
Annamoon: that was too short.
Risi-chan: wah! shut up! it's not my fault that it was a good place to stop.
Annamoon: whatever
Risi-chan: maybe if i was tempted with reviews, i might update faster. I have the story typed and ready to go for probably at least 7 more chapters. They are just being held captive till the review number says at least 5.
annamoon:yea, like anybody would help you
Risi-chan: of course they will, the one who gives me the fifth review will get the next chapter dedicated to them, so...
Risi-chan and annamoon: REVIEW! please
