BloodyCrystal: Heyla, folks! I hope you enjoy this chapter, because we've got our first glance at a little bit of gore. We even get to see the villain! Ooooooooh! How exciting!
In case anyone's wondering, Fire Fanatic was the only one to get the two characters correct! Go Fire Fanatic! You'll all find out who they are in this chapter, but I always think it's more fun to guess.
And before anyone mentions it: Yes, I am playing with people's ages. They don't tell you how old most of the characters are, so I'm making quite a bit of this up. Please don't yell at/kill/blame me for this; it's just to help the storyline. Okay? Thought so. If you have a problem, don't read this; no one is forcing you to.
On another note, I LOVE feed back, and it is always appreciated; even if it's just "good" or "update soon". So, please, just send a review my way. Thank you.
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing except the plot, the villain, Lani, the makeup of any and all governments in this fic, and any and all dreams/nightmares. Enjoy the chapter!
Ch. 1: Return
The man was tall. Not overly so, but he was tall enough to be properly intimidating. He liked it that way, so he never complained to any gods he might worship.
He stretched, languidly, and muscles rippled. Not prey, this man, but a predator. A dangerous predator, disguised in silk like a pretty scabbard hides a steel sword-blade.
He looked, casually, into the murky silver-white depths of the crystal sphere resting in front of him. He glared at the scene that met his fire-colored eyes. A scene that took place many hours ago, but a thoroughly annoying one. Now he understood.
So, that was how it was. They were helping each other. Well, he would fix that, and no mistake.
Soon, soon the two would learn exactly why he was called The Dream Master. And when they did, he would finally have the fear he so richly craved from them; the fear that they held would be enough for the revival, he knew it.
And, once the revival was over and the world bowed down before him, he would enjoy the prolonged torture of the only two who had ever escaped from his web. They would suffer for their daring, and suffer long. After all, he knew them so intimately that it would be only too easy to manipulate them.
Now that he thought about it, he knew them better than they knew themselves. It was a delicious twist of irony, especially considering that these were the only two to evade his grasp.
Until then, he could wait for an eternity, if only to have them at his feet, begging for the release of death.
He laughed then, cold and cruel laughter that penetrated the dreams-no, nightmares of his victims.
Eliwood shifted, ever so slightly, and glanced-for the third time in as many minutes-towards the tent entrance. Normally, he would've been a bit more relaxed, but Heath was late by three hours. That wasn't like the Wyvern Lord; especially when Lani couldn't sleep without him.
Speaking of the Tactician, Lani didn't look too good. She wasn't getting enough sleep anymore. Eliwood made a mental note to tell Heath that he was off patrol tomorrow; that way, Lani would finally be able to sleep in.
Satisfied with this answer, Eliwood turned his attention back to the tent flap.
His vigilance paid off five minutes later when a bedraggled, blood-specked, thoroughly soaked Wyvern Lord entered the tent, barely making it inside before he collapsed in a heap on the floor.
"Heath!" Lani screamed, dashing to the side of her comrade. "Heath, get up! Please, get up!" The Tactician started shaking him, screaming and sobbing.
"Lani, please, stop! You don't want to hurt Heath anymore," Lyn said, placing a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. Lani buried her face in Heath's jacket, muffling her sobs even as she stopped shaking him.
"What happened, Heath?" Eliwood murmured. "What happened?"
Warm, cloth sheets draped him. There was a little bit of light, but not much. There was also a presence, someone sitting nearby, holding his hand. Heath turned, slightly, to see Lani, sleeping by his bedside.
Heath smiled, ever so slightly, and brushed some of the girl's bangs away from her hair. Sure there was a vast difference in ages between them, but that was often hard to see; particularly when they were in a setting like this.
Heath sat up-slowly-and looked around. He was in his and Lani's quarters, which meant he had made it back to camp safely. Heath started to rise, but the door opened and Serra came in. "No, you do not!" the hot-tempered Bishop scolded. "You just woke up! You need to continue to take it easy! Understand, you stubborn, wyvern-riding twit?"
"Twit? Serra, how am I a twit?" he asked, frowning slightly. "And how is Hyperion?"
Serra rolled her eyes as if to say "men!", but answered quickly enough: "Your wyvern is resting-like you should be. He is perfectly all right; you were in much worse shape, I'll have you know! A lot of healing went into you, so be grateful-"
"Serra, please answer my first question," Heath sighed. He knew-from long experience-that if he didn't cut her off, she could-and possibly would-ramble for hours.
"Hmph!" the pink-haired healer huffed, sounding highly indignant. "If you absolutely must know, it's because of how much you worried Lani! She is already a frequent enough visitor for stress issues! She does not need you being late or injured to add to her workload, Wyvern Lord!"
Heath stared at Serra in shock. "And why didn't anyone see fit to tell me Lani's mental state?" he snarled, more than a little annoyed.
"Because if you people don't think her infallible, this whole group falls apart!" Serra roared back, throwing her arms upwards in a combination of disgust and exasperation. "Now be quiet! Lani needs her sleep, and so do you!" With that, she stalked out, managing to shut the door without so much as a squeak from the hinges.
Heath stared after her, wide-eyed with awe over Serra's control.
Shrugging, he lay back down, carefully pulling Lani in with him. He closed his eyes, and, like Serra had all but ordered, went to sleep.
BloodyCrystal: Well? You like? I hope so. I promise that later chapters will be longer. It's just that I'm in the middle of several school projects, and dance recitals are coming up, and the school lit. magazine-which I staff-is working overtime to meet a deadline. Sorry, but I'm really, REALLY trying. The next chapter should be up next week or the week after; promise.