Chapter 42
So I want to try something new with this story before I get stuck and give up. But I'm so appreciative of my followers and reviewers. I just feel in a bit of a slump and I need some input. Thanks for continuing to follow this story.
I don't own Fire Emblem
Ikyna pressed herself against the cold hard stone, its coarse texture irritated her skin but she ignored that. Her comfort wasn't important. Seeing her fellow mercenaries among enemies was, however. Her index finger curled around her bowstring instinctively, letting her mind focus on how to break through the cage of Daein grunts.
They were a dingy group of fighters. A tattered and battered force of mean and nasty looking thugs. With ripped and stained clothes their scarred and grungy faces only added to their desperate feel. One could surmise that this group had gotten the short end of the stick in the war from the haggardly condition.
With no powerful Daein general to lead them, they'd resorted to dirty tricks. Ikyna strained to get a full view of the open sitting room before her. The Daeins were clumped tightly together, woven behind their human shields. They didn't have a large force but Ikyna noticed multiple doors that would lead to other chambers. They were probably locked and they'd need a person skilled with their hands to pick the locks.
Ikyna looked for the crop of Sothe's leafy hair, knowing that he could pick almost any lock. He was nowhere to be found, but the young man had a way of slipping in and out of the crowds unnoticed. He was definitely out there biding his time for the perfect moment to strike. What came after finding him would be the hard part. No doubt lurking behind those closed doors were more Daein mercenaries waiting in ambush with priests for protection.
The female archer unconscientiously snarled at the countries despicable habits as she searched for an opening in the enemy ranks. While she looking for her best course of action a small pebble struck her in her temple and she jerked toward the source. Her bow sang softly as she turned sharply and tightened the string, ready to kill whomever or whatever had struck her.
As quickly as she reacted she realized what had struck her, or actually whom. Glaring venomously, but resisting the urge to vocalize her displeasure, Ikyna looked at Shinon who was hiding behind a column. He'd thrown the pebble to gain her attention. Ikyna wondered how he'd gotten separated from the group, but then figured that it was his nature to not stay with the group when Ike was in charge.
He was only begrudgingly following orders. However, Shinon wasn't alone, below him Rolf peaked his head out, a nervous and smile on his youthful face. Ikyna wasn't thrilled that the young and impressionable Rolf had taken such an interest in the brooding archer, but both of them being nearby would prove to be advantages. Ikyna signaled back to Shinon, signing that they had to cut through the ranks. Shinon spoke to Rolf from the corner of his mouth and sent the boy off without a word.
Ikyna couldn't guess where he was going, probably on to another vantage point. Shinon's sharp angular eyes flicked toward the enemy. He pointed at Ikyna then at one of the soldiers who had his sword angled against the neck of a whimpering priest. He directed her attention to the Daein's exposed hand then at himself before making a grim slicing motion over his own neck.
The instructions were clear. Ikyna was to injure the soldier so that he'd release the priest and Shinon would deliver the finishing strike. At that point chaos would break loose and their hidden positions would be revealed. Hopefully, Ike and the other mercenaries would be able to capitalize on the opening the two of them would make.
Before Ikyna could make her shot Shinon caught her attention once more. Slowly he mouthed something to her and she squinted while shaking her head in slight confusion as she tried to process what looked like 'doe mist'. With her brow furrowed she mouthed back, "What?"
The scarlet archer rolled his eyes before repeating himself, slowly, until Ikyna could grasp his meaning. "Don't miss." His mocking lips read. Ikyna's glare received a gratified smile from Shinon. Then it was Ikyna's turn to roll her eyes, she turned away in a huff and set her sights on a vulnerable patch of skin. Pushing aside her annoyance she took a deep steadying breath.
Rolling into the open, catching enough of a glimpse to set her mark, Ikyna fired her arrow. She kept her tumble until she made her way to cover behind a nearby pillar. Breathing heavily, adrenalin coursing through her veins, Ikyna heard the soldier shout and shortly after, the whizzing of Shinon's arrow following.
Then there was an outcry from the army. Battle cries and the whine of metal as the fight commenced. Ike was shouting to the men to push forward, his voice rough and heavy with exertion. Ikyna peeked around the pillar, already pulling another arrow from her quiver. The death of the man Shinon had killed opened the middle of the room, giving way for the advancing Crimean army and Laguz warriors.
"Quit gawking, if you have time for that then perhaps you should work on your aim." Shinon quipped as he raced past her like a blur of crimson hair.
Ikyna simpered at the comment, "What are you talking about?" she said as she fired another shot at a Daein soldier charging toward Boyd. She clipped the hand holding his sword and sent it skidding across the stone floor. Boyd pounced on the opening, pushing the priest out of the way before slashing the enemy across the chest with his iron axe.
Ikyna looked over at Shinon smugly, "My aim is fine."
"Tell that to the priest you cut earlier." He said before diverting his course and heading away from Ikyna.
Before she could make any clever retort Shinon was jumping off the side of a marble column and firing three shots in the air that pinned three enemies to the ground. Quickly they were swallowed up by Maurim and Mordecai. The roars and growls drowned out the sound of the deaths and the panicked screams of the terrified priests.
Mist was shouting over the fighting, her young voice clear and commanding as she directed the fleeing priests to safety. She was riding her horse, passing priests who fled to the welcoming arms of Crimean reinforcement, her psychic wand in hand.
The orb shone aqua and Mist skillfully steered her horse out of danger away from a charging warrior. He was dragging a white clothed healer behind him, shouting, almost growling, as he swung to no avail.
"Ikyna look out!" Barely catching the end of her name, Ikyna turned in time to the wicked edge of a wyvern slayer coming toward her.
She brought her bow up in time, gritting her teeth against the weight of the warrior's strength. She used the sleek arm of the bow to slide out from under his strike, spinning out of danger and grabbing her knife with her free hand. She tried to retaliate but the Daein was quick to shield himself behind a quivering priest.
The fear in the defenseless man's face was obvious. His eyes were watering and snot was dribbling down his nose as he whimpered. Murmuring incoherently. Ikyna thought she heard some small plea to the goddess. The thought almost offended her, the goddess wasn't the one being hacked at by a mad man, she was.
Her right shoulder was nicked as she weaved just barely out of reach, still having a difficult time making any real progress with the soldier. She wasn't able to get any good hits in from close range, and she was starting to lose. Every time she went to for a hit the priest was shoved in her face like a fleshy scared shield and she had to pull her strike before scrambling to avoid her own death.
Ikyna suspected that the situation would only get worse, she was right. As she neared the wall the Daein shoved the priest at her. Sending him flying and crying into her arms. They both toppled to the ground, Ikyna's bow skidding out of reach and she groaned against the weight of the priest. He was still blubbering in her ear, not enough sense to move, as Ikyna looked up in horror.
The Daein was above her holding his sword rearing back to plunge the end into them and kill both the priest and the archer. Ikyna shuddered, still struggling to move the priest in time, cursing to no avail. Her eyes widened in panic and she froze, not seeing her escape.
The thug felt the same. A victories gleam flickered across his face as he shouted and brought the sword down with a groan. Ikyna closed her eyes and braced for the pain but felt nothing. Instead she heard a quick gasp of pain and a loud groan. Slowly, nervously, she opened her eyes and saw her enemy looking down at her, more shocked than she was.
An arrow was protruding from his neck, its end swaying slightly and stained with his blood. The sword fell from his grasp and he fell to the ground, his eyes still wide in shock even in his death. Ikyna turned her head and saw Rolf watching in a stairway, another shy smile on his face as he offered the twin a meek thumbs up. She flashed him one back in gratitude, thankful that he had made his perch somewhere close to her. The boys aim was getting deadlier each fight.
Above her the priest was still whimpering, bubbling and gurgling as he clung to her. The wave of relief washed over Ikyna and was replaced with annoyance. The healer was heavy and loud in her ear, and she was positive that he had drooled on her.
"Ikyna are you alright?" It was Ike calling her.
She looked over the weeping man's shoulder and saw her brother push a priest to the ground before dispatching a Daein fighter with a clean slice to his belly. He ran over to his sister, the man in white cloth following close behind him. "Are you alright Ikyna?" he asked again, not at a loss for breath despite the exertion of the fight.
Ikyna let her head fall against the stone floor, "I'm fine, just get him off of me please."
"Allow me." Said the other Daein priest. His voice was rattling, clearly shaken from his near death experience. He put a hand on his comrade's shoulder, speaking smoothly and coaxing him away from Ikyna. After initial reluctance the priest rose and sprang into his friend's arms, wailing into the white robes.
Ike looked at the crying man uncomfortably before catching the eye of the man he'd saved. He motioned toward the rear of the battle, "Please get to safety."
Still shaken he nodded stiffly and helped his friend out of the middle of the battle. Ike then extended his arm to Ikyna, she took it with a wince and then found her dislodged bow. "You alright?"
"I'm fine, but this is a nightmare."
"Isn't all war?"
"Yes, but it is especially when you're fighting with a group of men with human shields."
A fire tome burst in the background, sending a barrage of rocks to litter the keep. The twins ducked and sought shelter from the fray. Men were still shouting and Laguz were bellowing behind them. "These priests are making things more difficult." Ike said grimly.
The nose of the battle began to rise and Ikyna had to shout to be heard, "I need to find a better place to shoot from, I can try to separate the Daeins from the priests that way."
Ike agreed, turning his head on a swivel as chunks of wall fell prey to hand axes and tomes. "It would be easier than shoving them all aside. But are you sure you can?"
Ikyna arched an eyebrow at her brother. He shrugged, "You clipped one of the priests from earlier."
"I did?" she said in shock.
Her brother saw the horror and quickly responded to assuage her, "He's fine, Rhys healed him, what about you? That's not like you to make that mistake."
Ikyna sighed bitterly, "My hands a bit stiff." She retorted.
Ike knew better than to press the matter. Her formerly injured hand was still a hot topic. He thought he'd change it quickly. Fighting in the war was dangerous enough, but getting into it with Ikyna was a battle he didn't want to take on at any time.
He took a look at the battlefield. Titania and Oscar were pushing back a team of three fighters. Their horses proved effective in driving the men and hostages apart. Lethe and Mordecai were cornering another group as Tormod finished them off with a low flame.
"We need to get back in there."
Ikyna nodded, trying to calm her mild irritation as she realized what Shinon's initial dig was about.
"Where's Yakuzo?" Ike asked, getting a firmer grip on his sword.
"With Cash looking for Pila."
Ike turned to his sister sharply in surprise, "What are they doing here?"
Ikyna shrugged and readied her knives, her pride too wounded to shoot for the rest of the fight. "I didn't get around to asking. Where's Aeyori?"
Then it was Ike's turn to look uncomfortable, "I don't know, Soren took her off somewhere."
Ikyna looked at her brother peculiarly, study the barely concealed concern on his face. The Goldoan and the sage weren't exactly friends, she couldn't imagine that anything good could come from them fighting together. "I guess we both have people we need to find." She said and jumped back into the fray.
Down the hall from the twins Soren and Aeyori were caught behind enemy fire. A fire mage and a grunt with a hand axe had them pinned in room. They could peak just beyond the door to see the menacing smiles of the desperate men. They'd abandoned their priests, finding that they were more of a hindrance than a help.
Aeyori tried to aim but the hand axe was sending chunks of stone onto her face and body, cutting her skin like tiny blades. Soren was having a similar problem as plumes of crimson flames blocked his view. He shouted over the hiss of a dissipating fire tome, "I'd like to know exactly what you're doing Aeyori." He clipped.
Without answering him right away she looked at the malice in his eyes. She knew what she was getting into when she separated from Ike to fight with him. But he had her under his thumb and she'd rather not have Ike see that part of her. "I'm trying to figure a way out of this situation." She yelled back.
"Figure it out? You don't have to be a strategist to know the best course of action."
It was true, Aeyori had a definite trump card. As a dragon she was resistant to most tomes and the axe would do little to harm her hardened scales. Though that wasn't the reason why she was hesitating. Fighting them wouldn't be the tough part; what came after would be. Aeyori couldn't guarantee that once she changed she'd be able to control herself. She hadn't been able to with Ena the last thing she wanted to do was go on a rampage and hurt her fellow mercenaries.
Soren wouldn't sympathize with her. His expression flattened, "If you're worried that you may lose your senses like you did with the Goldoan in the Daein keep, I'll make sure you don't. I've gotten rather good with lightning tomes. Though I won't kill you, just incapacitate you."
Aeyori shuddered, his cold and tactical manner made him valuable as a strategist, but it chilled her to the bone. He was watching her with his calculating eyes, viewing her a means to an end, of that she was sure.
Closing her eyes she struggled with her own doubts and fears. Did she dread losing herself our being judged by Ike? "Please don't take your time, our Daein friends won't be as generous."
She kicked the back of the wall, angry with herself and the situation. Closing her eyes tightly she slowly summoned her Laguz side. Her blood began to pump faster her breathing increased and a primal growl rumbled through her teeth as they sharpened into long fangs. She knew soon the rush of her animal instincts would kick in though she hoped that her sanity would stay.
"Aeyori! Soren!" The clear ringing of Ike's voice stopped Aeyori in the middle of her transformation. She looked to Soren, blinking away the tent of her reptilian eyesight, and shuddered. He looked back, curiously.
"By the goddess answer if you're alright." Ike said again.
Aeyori looked out the room and smiled in a surge of relief. Ike was standing over the beaten corpses of the mage and fighter. He had a few bruises on his face and he was breathing hard, but he was still better off than the Daeins. "We're here." She said as she ran up to him, "How did you get the soldiers?"
Ike wiped a line of sweat from his forehead, "They were so focused on firing at you I was able to get the jump on them."
"Thank goodness; you came just in time."
The commander wore his typical scowl, masking his worry, "This time I did. Why didn't you change into a dragon?"
"Yes, why indeed?" Soren said, slowly leaving the room. There was a challenge in his voice as he raised one eyebrow and approached Ike. "It seems Goldoans like to test fate. I believe your comrade Ena shared a similar pattern of recklessness."
"She's not my comrade." Aeyori said tightly at the implication.
"Isn't she? Well no matter. Though next time, risk your life and not mine. Unlike a Goldoan who doesn't fight as a dragon, I haven't outlived my usefulness yet."
"Soren." Ike seethed
Soren looked back dispassionately before flipping his long robe and walking away without a word. He wasn't trying to fight with Ike but he had effectively insulted Aeyori. Ike moved to continue his conversation with Soren but Aeyori held him by his elbow and shook her head.
Ike sighed, "Why did you go off fighting with Soren anyway?"
Aeyori looked sheepishly, "I thought we could bond a little." She ended the sentence with an unsure shrug.
"Perhaps you should try bonding over dinner, not war."
The Goldan smiled weakly, "Yes, perhaps."
Further down the hall Ikyna was chasing after Sothe as he nimbly jumped over fallen debris. He'd appeared like a ghost in the middle of the fight as Ikyna had predicted. Almost excitedly, he reported that he'd found Yakuzo and Cash on the other side of the temple. They were stuck waiting by a locked door.
Behind it, Cash insisted that his sister was waiting. Sothe had confidently claimed that he could easily pick the lock but Yakuzo insisted that Ikyna be found first. If there were any Daein forces behind that door, he didn't want to face them alone with three children.
Finally the two mercenaries arrived. Yakuzo was already arched and ready to pounce in his Laguz form. A threatening growl was rumbling past his fangs as he held his snout just below the slit of the door.
"Yakuzo!" she called, "Is she in there?"
"I can pick up her scent in there."
"I know this is where they are holding her." Cash interjected
Ikyna groaned, "You'll have to explain how the two of you got caught in this mess in the first place at some point."
Cash flushed, "When we're safe I promise I will Miss Ikyna."
She nodded back, satisfied with his answer and gave Sothe the signal to get to work. A sly grin spread across lips as he pulled out a thin short knife. He blew on its blade, a ritual for good luck, and began his detailed work.
Ikyna pulled an arrow from her quiver, "Are there any other soldiers in there." She said, trying to keep her voice level. It was hard, the danger of collateral damage was very real, as was her worry.
Yakuzo looked unsure, "I can smell other Beorc, but I'm not sure how many."
The tumbles in the locks groaned and clicked at the turn of Sothe's knife. With a final tick Sothe made a small sound of elation, "Got it." He said triumphantly.
"Great, now get out of the way kid." Yakuzo said through his bared teeth.
Sothe scowled, "I'm not a kid and I can help you fight."
"I was asking for your help, that's why I told you to get out of the way."
The young thief opened his mouth to respond, not willing to take such a hit to his pride, but Ikyna was done with the bickering. "Cut it out you two. Pila is stuck in there, we don't have time for this."
Both mercenaries reluctantly complied and focused on fighting together. Ikyna motioned for Cash to stand back from the fight she felt would happen. She was thankful that he didn't fight her on her suggestion. Without any protest he moved from the door and out of range of any oncoming fire.
Ikyna took another deep breath and held both knives in her hand. "On three." She said and Yakuzo and Sothe nodded.
"1,2,3!"Ikyna pushed the door open and the three mercenaries charged in.
Fortunately Cash was right, his sister was in the room as he had predicted, but as Yakuzo had thought, there was a Daein soldier as well. Only one, but he was going to be a problem. He'd found the perfect human shield; not a priest but a little girl.
Pila's eyes were wide, there was a brief moment when she looked relieved as she recognized Ikyna but it was stopped when the soldier wrapped his arm around her neck and pointed his knife at the intruding mercenaries.
The three had to halt in their tracks then slowly circle the man as his eyes darted from Laguz, to Sothe, to archer. He was more nervous than dangerous as he found himself surrounded. "Let her go bastard!" Yakuzo hissed.
His words only shook the Daein further. His arm tightened around Pila in panicked response. "Stay away from me, or I'll kill this little girl."
"Pila!" After hearing the commotion Cash ran into the room, he looked at his captive sister in horror. "Pila!" he called again, his voice peaked and he moved toward her.
Sothe grabbed the younger boy, shielding him from the sight of his sister of the dangerous situation. But he couldn't stop Cash from vocalizing his concern, "Pila, let my sister go you monster, let her go!"
The urgency in Cash's voice only spiked the soldier's unease. He pointed the knife again, his hand was shaking. Ikyna tried to take control of the situation. The last thing she wanted to do was set the man off and endanger the girl even more.
He was on edge and volatile and Pila was under his knife. "You don't have to do this." She said trying to calm him, wracking her brain about a way out of the situation. He was wide eyed and dangerous and Ikyna wasn't feeling too happy herself.
But no matter how much she hated that scum, she couldn't show that. With every ounce of self-control she could muster, she kept her voice level, "Just take it easy." She drawled, her hands were up at her sides in compliance. Steadily she took small steps toward the grungy soldier and Pila.
But the man was far too suspicious, "Don't you dare!" he shrieked. His eyes danced around with insanity and frothy spit flew from his mouth as he shouted, "One more step and its over for this little girl!"
Ikyna froze, biting her lip in rage, but complying to the desperate man none the less. She felt her ribs tightening in tense frustration and every muscle in her body constricted to hold her composure. Yakuzo was less willing to comply. Baring his fangs once more he roared indignantly, "Harm one hair on that little girl and I swear on whatever deity you pray to, I will tear your throat out!"
The threat only made the Daein more hostile. He jumped back with a panicked whimper and put the pointed edge of the knife to Pilas cheek. Her full cheeks gave way to a thin trail of blood that fell like a line of tears. "You'll do no such thing." He said manically.
"You're right we won't." Ikyna immediately chimed in, noticing a desperate note to her own voice. She wanted to lunge forward and knock the man senseless, but they were too far away for her to make it there in time. He'd cut Pila up before she could even move to shoot her arrows. All she could focus on was placating the soldier.
Yakuzo turned to her tightly in irritation but she repeated herself, "We won't hurt you. Just let the girl go, and we'll let you free. I promise." She said with a tremor in her voice.
The corner of her eye caught Yakuzo glaring at her but he followed her lead and took a step back though the shackles of his fur were still raised at attention. "You promise!?" the Daein spat out incredulously, "A lot of good your promises are! It's all you Crimeans fault. You should have just let Daein win, then we wouldn't have to be in stupid war!" he looked at the mercenaries accusingly, "I never wanted to fight! But now I'm stuck here risking my life in this tattered army because of you!"
He looked wild and crazed as furious tears welled in his eyes and he began to perspire. The situation was starting to get worse instead of better. Waving his knife around in his rage could nick Pila all the same whether he meant to or not. "Maybe you're right." She practically, "This war is awful and maybe you got the short end of the stick."
"Maybe?! Look at me!" he was openly crying, "I just wanted to stay on my farm, not get thrown into this mess! And I'll not be staying here a minute longer to die at the hand of a worthless Crimean or a filthy sub-human!"
A dangerous rumble rolled from Yakuzo's closed maw. Ikyna put her hand out to stop the cat from pouncing out of spite. He waited, but seethed silently next to her. "Fine, we'll let you go, just give us Pila first."
The Daein scoffed, "You think I'm a fool?" he pointed his knife at the group, "No, you'll let me go first and I'll release the girl when I'm good and on my way out of this mess."
"That's not fair," Ikyna spoke evenly, "How can we trust that you'll let her go?"
He sneered and wiped his face that was moist with his tears and sweat, "War ain't fair is it? But you don't have a choice. We do this my way or we'll see how long this child lasts without a head."
There was no use reasoning with the man. Daein was never a very reasonable land and this beaten and desperate soldier would be no exception. Ikyna looked at Pila, her big round brown eyes were flickering in fear but she was holding herself together. Strong little girl that she was, Ikyna didn't want to betray her trust. "Fine." She said at last and put her knives and bow to the ground.
A brief flash of relief crossed the man's face, "But," Ikyna began darkly, "If you go back on this deal I promise I will hunt you down and make every living day of your life such misery, that you will beg for the days when you were fighting in this war."
Whatever thoughts went through his mind the Daein was convinced of Ikyna's threat. He swallowed a lump in his throat, tried for contrite, but could only must fear. Yakuzo hissed next to her, "Are you crazy? We can't trust him."
Ikyna held both her hands up, "We don't have a choice. He will kill Pila if we keep him here." She started to move to the side and clear a path. Yakuzo begrudgingly followed her lead, "He may still do that even if we let him go." He retorted harshly.
Of course Ikyna knew that was a chance but she hoped that the Daein was just a tired coward who wouldn't risk her vengeance and would let Pila go. He seemed more selfish than violent. Killing Pila wouldn't be advantages for him. This was what Ikyna hoped he would reason.
Sothe followed suit, still holding Cash back by the crook of his arm. Cash looked violently angry as he glared at the man who held his sister captive. His face was contorted with pain and rage but he didn't move to lunge at the man who passed them, a mixture a fear and triumph as he held the blade to Pila's throat.
He turned his back to the open door as he eased his way out of it, still watching the mercenaries suspiciously. They watched with barely veiled anger. "If he gets down the hall before letting her go, we're in trouble." Sothe whispered, never taking his eyes off of Pila.
It was true, they couldn't chase after him for fear for Pila's life, but losing sight of him wasn't a better alternative. As the man and captive neared the entry way a tense air consumed the group. Yakuzo broke it by lifting his head sharply, ears turning.
"What?" Ikyna whispered.
"I hear hoof beats."
"Hoof beats?"
"Maybe all you Crimeans aren't a bunch of lying hicks." The Daein said roughly. He drew Ikyna's attention again though Yakuzo was still distracted by the distant sounds. "Maybe we aren't, now return the favor and let her go."
He sneered, suddenly a little more confident. Ikyna feared that he'd take Pila with him just to spite her. "Just this once." He said and dropped Pila to the ground.
Cash went to run to her but Sothe held him still. He was waiting for the Daein to leave; he was still suspicious of the enemy soldier's true motives. "Have fun with your stupid war." He added as he spat toward them in disgust, "If I never see a damned Crimean again-"
His words were cut off by the sound of a horse neighing loudly, "Look out!" Mist shouted from beyond the doorway. The Daein turned sharply in surprise and shouted in horror as a pale green wind slammed into him with a high whistling whine.
He was pushed violently out of sight and Pila tumbled forward. "What in the world?" Ikyna said in shock.
Yakuzo was jogging ahead of her, "Hoof beats." Was his simple response.
Mist appeared soon after, sliding off of her mare with her sonic sword still in hand. That's what had made the blast that swept the Daein man away. She knelt by Pila and was joined quickly by Cash. After the Dain was blown out of sight he'd broken out of Sothe's grasp and ran to his sister.
"Pila are you okay!" he said hysterically as he pulled her into his embrace. She buried herself into her brother's small chest and gave little nod. He, along with the rest of the mercenaries, sighed in relief. "What in the world happened here?" Mist asked as she fished out her heal wand and surveyed the little girl.
"What happened was you really saved us Mist." Ikyna said with a small grin, "That could have gone a lot worse."
Mist smiled in return and began blotting Pila's bleeding cheek. Though that was done with some difficulty. He brother held her as if he would never let her go. Yakuzo shifted from his feline form and Ikyna collected her discarded weapon.
She glanced toward the Daein, he was smashed into the rubble on the far wall. He didn't move and Ikyna couldn't help but think, 'good riddance.'
"How are things in the battle?"
Mist was partially distracted with mixing a concoction of herbs to rub on Pila's face, but she responded, "Mostly done, I was looking for any stragglers when I saw that man with a knife." She looked up at her older sister, "What happened here?"
Ikyna rubbed the back of her head, "It's kind of a long story, but the most important part is that you saved the day."
The young brunette rolled her eyes with a smile, "Well, we should get here to Rhys, the only staff I have is this heal one and it won't be quite enough."
"Well I'm not dying to stay here any longer." Ikyna said with an ironic grin.
The group began to slowly make their way back to the main force but stopped at the low rumble of debris pattering against the stone ground. They looked behind and saw the Daein man stand from the rubble. His face was cut and bloodied and he stood shakily, battered and furious.
The mercenaries tensed, pausing to see what the unstable man would do. "Damn you Crimean dogs, may the goddess repay you and more!" he roared.
His hand raised quickly, the knife still in his hand, "Die!"
Ikyna responded as fast as she could, pulling an arrow from her quiver and hoping that her aim would be true. The man flicked his wrist sending his blade hurling toward the group just as Ikyna sent her arrow in return. It made its mark first and Yakuzo pushed Ikyna down as the blade whizzed over her head.
She groaned against the hard ground and heard the Daein howl in pain as he too fell. Ikyna saw him lying on the ground, a slow pool of fresh blood began to collect around his shoulder. Ikyna sighed, letting her racing heart calm before she looked at Yakuzo. "Are you alright?" he breathed
She nodded, "This is the second time someone has fallen on me today."
Her sardonic tone made Yakuzo chuckle, "But did they save your life?"
"No, but they weren't quite as heavy. You are deceptively bulky for someone your size." She said flatly.
"I'm normal sized for a cat!" he quipped, still sensitive about his short stature.
Ikyna rolled her eyes, "Well your normal size is crushing my lungs, get off of me."
Yakuzo murmured bitterly but complied. He stood, brushed his pants and offered Ikyna his hand. "It's a rather thankless job protecting you."
She smirked and went to pull one of his ears. "Pila? Pila?" Cash's concerned voice pulled the Laguz and archer from their banter. Ikyna turned to Cash and saw him cradling his sister. She was slumped in his arms and Mist was hovering over the girl, fear painted across her face.
Ikyna's brain couldn't process what her eyes were seeing at first. She didn't understand the panic at least not until she looked closer. Though Yakuzo had pushed her down in time, saving her from a possible fatal blow, the knife had kept moving along its path. Ikyna hadn't thought to pay attention to where the knife had landed. She wished she would have.
It had missed her, but found another warm body to pierce. Bundled in Cash's arms was Pila; lodged deep in her back was the knife. "Pila!? Pila?!"
Please send any ideas or suggestions guys, I would love the input. Next of is my Tibarn fanfic
-PG
