Chapter 8: A Friend in Need

(Jonathon's P.O.V.)

Where the hell am I this time...?

My head throbbed painfully as I felt myself slowly coming back to my senses, and while my body adjusted, I did my best to learn where I was and who my captors were. As much as I could tell, I was in a forest, and it was either night time or the bag that was currently over my head was too thick to discern light through. My hands felt like they were tied around a post or something similar, and I felt various areas of pain all around my body; specifically in my head and shoulder areas.

There wasn't any sound around me, yet I made not a sound or movement as I tried to feign the illusion of still being unconscious, just how they had trained us to act in special operations school, during the captive course. While my body continued the process of waking up and I myself did my best to discern my surroundings, I knew it was most likely only a matter of time before whoever was holding me returned, yet as I did my best to listen to anything around me, a new thought popped into my mind.

What is my current mission?

Thinking back to whatever my mission was could possibly lead to clues to where I was and who were my captors, yet as I thought back, I felt a sharp pain shoot through the base of my skull. Whoever had captured me had struck particularly hard, yet that sharp pain had indeed brought an answer to my confused mindset.

My mission was to find Eric Elexion, a fellow soldier who was sent to another world somehow through a strange wormhole. But where was I last?

Focusing on that last question as much as I could, I felt a irritating throb slowly starting to make itself known throughout my entire head, and the feeling was leaving a dull ache all around my skull, yet it was important I learn these facts. Yet when I took a deep breath in, I felt something rectangular pressing against my chest, and as I began to question what was pressing against my chest, I felt another bolt of icy hot pain spear through my temples.

We had left Riverside earlier today and we were at camp, and something set off the motion tracking alarms. Moments afterwards something came out of the forest and attacked us.

Letting out a groan of pain as white light popped up around what vision I had, I rolled as much as I could to the side while the pain in my head slowly subsided. The pain abated gradually, but it didn't entirely leave me, yet the new memory brought clarity along with the cringe worthy sensations flooding across my forehead. Yet then another memory flared, as if triggered by the brief memory of the attack.

Balls of fire came at me and the Humvee, but I dodged the one sent at me. The fifty cal had started to shoot, but I remember his cries of pain as the follow up fireball splashed across his chest and parts of his face. My other men were being pelted by shards of ice, but none of them were injured as badly as the man I had ordered to man the fifty cal...

As the pain shot through my head again, I felt sick to my stomach for various reasons, but as I thought back to what happened to the man who got burned, literally, I felt my teeth ground together as I growled beneath my breath, "Fuckers... I will make them pay..."

-Two Hours Ago-

(Eric's P.O.V.)

Feeling a smile plaster itself across my lips as I walked into the inn, I looked over and saw the owner sitting behind his counter with what looked like a leather bound book. Yet once I was through the doorway, he looked up and I saw recognition dawn in his eyes as a smile spread across his lips as well. He stood up while setting his book down behind the counter, and he said, "Eric, nice to see you again!"

I felt my smile drop just a fraction, but I kept it while internally I felt a bit of suspicion worm its way into my chest. I couldn't recall giving many people my name, and if I could trust my memory, there were only one or two other people that knew seven other people that knew my name beside Sakido, and they were all traveling towards St. Curtis last time Sakido and I had talked with them. Giving him the best smile I could, I offered him my own greeting, "Hey... nice to see you again too. If you don't mind my asking, where did you learn my name?"

His smile only seemed to widen, and he leaned against his counter as he said, "Some men that wore the same clothing as you used to came into town last night, and I got to talk to the man in charge. His name was Jonathon, and I believe he said he was looking for you."

"Jonathon...? About five ten, light colored skin...?" When the innkeeper nodded to my question, I felt my mind draw a blank as that actually was quite surprising. That meant that friendly armed forces were now in Fragaria, and it would seem their mission was to locate me, and presumably take me back to Earth. So Jonathon is leading the rescue mission of an undefined amount of men, and if he is here in Fragaria, then he shouldn't be too hard to locate. Command definitely gave him vehicles to speed up his search, and if he is here, I can at least expect another squad of men to be with him...

"They left here only a few hours ago, and I believe they left on the eastern bridge. I don't know how far those metal wagons they have could've gone, but I don't believe they would've kept going through the night..."

Glancing up at him, I felt a bit more gratitude for someone other than Sakido in a long while, and I was more than ready to leave and go find my longtime friend. Yet Sakido was outside and needing rest more than anything else. Her wing was still sprained, and while she could fly, I didn't want her flying until her wing felt one hundred percent. I just hope Johnny boy has a heavy vehicle, that way I know he will be moving slow enough to catch up to...

Nodding my head, I instead unslung my backpack and said, "Thanks, the information is welcome, but I think I will be renting a room for tonight."

...

Placing the backpack full of spare magazines and pistols down onto the desk in the room, I let out a tired sigh as I looked over at Sakido and saw she was already lying on the bed with a happy smile over her muzzle. Feeling a smile of my own begin to spread across my lips, I shook my head with a soft chuckle and turned back to my task at hand. Let me clean these things and I will join you shortly my love.

I heard Sakido laugh quietly from the bed, and as silence slowly began to claim the room again, I felt her thoughts slowly permeating my mind. She was envisioning me setting pistols down on the table, standing up, and simply going to the bed right away. I felt a grin growing across my lips, and I almost felt compelled enough to do exactly what she wanted. Instead, I looked over my shoulder and saw her grinning in my direction.

Turning back to the desk in front of me, I didn't want to do this, but it was something I had been putting off since cleaning weapons in a field somewhere isn't exactly ideal. We would be here for a week, and that was a weeks' worth of time of R & R. I didn't need to finish them all tonight... beside, this would be the first time I could sleep with my beloved demoness in an actual bed for a while.

Pushing away from the desk, I stood up and made my way to the bed in defeat, but also in anticipation to sleeping on something comfortable after a while. Then there was my mate as well, and she was smiling wider and wider the closer I got to her...

Yet as her ears twitched, I stopped as I heard a sound I knew all too well as distant gunfire. I felt all heat draining from my face as I looked to the open window. I stood there as I looked towards the window, yet as I did, I knew something was wrong with Jonathon's group. Streaks of light ripped through the darkening sky in fiery bursts, and through the trees in the distance I could see flashes of light.

"Sakido, you stay here, I need to go help them!"

I turned around and began to make my way towards my gear, but I heard the sound of a bed creaking, and just as I looked over my shoulder, Sakido wrapped her hands around my shoulders and held me still. Her glare and powerful grip prevented me from attempting to break away, and then she said, "Every time we separate, you get hurt. There isn't anything you can do to stop me from going with you Eric, and if you try to stop me, I will tie you to the bed with your cloak, and then I will go by myself."

Knowing there really was no way for me to prevent her from coming with me, I felt myself scowl as I looked into her eyes. I saw the resolve in her gaze, and the undeniable concern deep down. My scowl lessened until it was but a mere frown, and as I thought of everything I could that we would possibly face, I knew we could both handle anything that this world could throw at us by this point. Yet while I knew that was true, I had to give Sakido some new information.

"Sakido, if you come with me, I need you hang back and let me be the one that gets close to Jonathon's group. If Jonathon is here, then that means that group of soldiers that is with him are of the same skill level as him. Just how I was a better soldier than the rebels we fought, so are they... if they mistake you as an enemy, they might shoot to kill; and they won't miss..."

Her grip only tightened on my shoulders while she looked at me more firmly, and she leaned in closer and said, "All the more reason for me to come with you." She took one of her hands away from my shoulders and placed it on the underside of my jaw, where she tilted my head up and then to the side. She grimaced as she let my chin go, and she said, "Your appearance has changed since we first met Eric... they may only see a median man carrying a weapon just like theirs, and then perceive you as a threat..."

I felt myself grimace as I knew what she said was a fact. They may have a different rule of engagement since this is in another world...

Letting a sigh leave through my teeth, I felt the frustration I was trying to hide slowly slipping into our mental link, but I simply shrugged as I nodded in agreement. Looking towards the window, I saw more gunfire lighting up the dark sky. "Alright... we need to hurry though... I promise I won't take any unnecessary risks..."

-Present-

Stalking through the forest while in my demon form had become an advantage for me I was happy to use, along with it being much more useful as I was able to see better and hear things much more clearly. The fact that it was nighttime and my fur was black only added to that advantage, and the only thing I heard during my light jogging through the forest was my breathing, and my cloak billowing in the light breeze created by my running.

I felt a smirk crossing my muzzle as I knew anyone that happened to see me would only see a tall figure in a dark cloak with glowing blue eyes. Sakido and I may have different versions of the grim reaper, but I was pretty sure I would make any of the men, Johnny boy included, crap themselves if they caught sight of me.

The gunfire had stopped once Sakido and I had reached the outer edges of the forest, yet the dead silence was just as bad... it left a tense feeling in my gut and an icy chill in my chest. The feeling made me clench my weapon tighter, and I increased my pace as it felt more like something bad was about to happen. I still had yet to find the military group, and the only direction I knew they were in was ahead of me due to the slight haze of smoke I could see rising through the tops of the trees as I ran.

You asleep yet darlin'?

Although this task was something I needed to remain focused on and I was feeling tense the closer I got to the source of the fire, I felt a smirk cross my lips as I thought about Sakido napping. I felt a brief flash of agitation through our link, and she let me chuckle before she sent me her own thoughts. 'If I dared to nap, I wouldn't have let you out of my sight...

Making my way closer to my destination, I felt Sakido's emotion shifting more to worry, and I knew why without having her ask. No need to worry, I'm finally getting closer...

That only makes me worry all the more. I could only imagine Sakido huffing and crossing her arms after that statement, and I found myself grinning widely...

I was ready to continue our internal conversation, yet just as I was preparing my comeback, I felt an icy chill as I heard a cackle that sent chills up my spine. Jumping behind a tree I was about to pass, I heard a masculine and cracking voice speaking just around the tree I was hiding behind. I made sure to leave my mind open to Sakido as I listened to the speaker, "Well now median man, it seems like it is your lucky day. You will experience hells best right here in Meddius..."

As the cackling laugh sounded again, I heard someone grunting, and I took that chance to slowly and carefully lean around the tree. I made sure to reach up and pull my hood down to try and conceal my eyes and the glow I knew accompanied all demon eyes. Yet when I was looking around the tree, I saw a bird like demon with red fur dragging a man behind him, except this 'median' man wore a green cameo that was ripped and tattered in a few places. It seems I found who attacked Jonathon's group instead...

As they disappeared around a few trees, I looked around this portion of the camp and had my eyes drawn to something else I had just as much amnesty for...

'Is it other median men?'

As I slowly left the safety of the forest, I made my way towards the bound angel with my rifle raised at a ready, yet as I did, I corrected Sakido. Not angels... demons. At least one is a fire demon, but I don't know the exact amount of how many. There is also an angel here... green robe, but red weapons... don't angels use the same color weapons as what they wear?

Stopping by the angel's side, I saw it appeared to have a few cuts along its face, as well as there being a large gash under its tunic near its right arm. Bringing my rifle closer, I brought the muzzle near the bandana keeping the angels eyes covered, and when the cold steel touched its skin, I saw him visibly tense. Yet once the bandana was off his head, I saw him blink a few times before I saw shock and fear appear across his face.

'No... if the angels tunic is a different color than their weapons, then that means there is another angel somewhere in the demons camp.'

Looking into the angels eyes seemed to only frighten him some more, so I leaned back a bit as I asked, "Where is the other angel?"

The angel for his part seemed to shrink in upon himself some more, and he seemed to try to get away from me as he did so. It would seem this angel is petrified of me...

Grunting as I instead turned a head towards where the demon had went with the soldier in tow, I needed to get this information now or not at all... yet I wouldn't feel right leaving these angels at the hands of demons with the history they seemed to hold with each other. Shaking my head, I stood up and readied my rifle, yet just as I began to make my way towards the area I was needed, Sakido chose that time to surprise me.

'Eric...' the equivalent to a mental sigh came from her end of the link before she continued, 'free the angel...'

I felt myself stumble as I came to a stop a foot from the angel. What!?

'Set the angel free Eric...'

Once I confirmed what she asked me to do, I felt my throat swallow as I looked over my shoulder at the angel that was now looking back at me in confusion. Sakido, my lovely mate, a demon... was asking me to help an angel... the same kind of creature that had wronged us both in the past. I wanted nothing more than to turn my back and ignore the request, but I had to know the reasoning behind it. Why Sakido...? The first time we met some angels, they wronged us without any reason... so why help one now?

Walking back until I was in front of the angel, I saw him shrink away from me again, but this time I gripped the top of my hood and pulled it back; thus exposing my face so he wasn't only staring into my glowing blue eyes. The fear seemed to lessen a bit in his eyes, but not by much as we kept staring into the others eyes. I saw fear, agitation, pain, and distrust... everything I had felt when Sakido had been in danger when an angel held a sword at her throat. He seemed to swallow, before he said, "I d-don't know... the demons s-separated us when the h-heard us talking."

I leaned back a bit, and I gripped my rifle tighter, something that didn't go unnoticed, but before I could say anything, Sakido answered my question with her thoughts. 'If we leave the angels here with the demons, they will kill them... slowly. It wouldn't be right to let them suffer a death like that. You have shown me that looks are different than who we are as living beings. It's one of the reasons why I love you so.

Feeling a smile stretch across my lips, I nodded despite Sakido not being able to see it, and I looked towards the angel with a new acceptance, before I said, "Today is your lucky day... I'm going to cut you loose, but don't follow me..." Reaching into my cloak, I grabbed my knife and took it out, yet when the angel saw it; he still seemed to grow fearful. Letting out an impatient sigh, I set my rifle on the ground, grabbed and held his hands tightly, slid the blade between his palms, and as flinched, I jerked the knife up and severed the ropes that bound his wrists. Standing back up with my assault rifle, I backed away and nudged the red angel weapons closer to him so he could cut the ropes binding his legs and ankles together. Done...

'Thank you Eric...'

Making my way towards the trees, I raised my hand up and flipped the hood back up and covered my head. My face was once more basked in shadows, and the moonlight just lightly illuminated the end of my muzzle. Raising the rifle to my shoulder as I went, I took light but quick steps while I went along. I heard a ruckus around some trees, and then the sound of laughter. Next I heard the same scratchy voice of the fire demon from before, "So you can see you have no chance of escape, your weapon can roast away in the flames... don't worry, you will join it soon enough..."

There was more laughter, and I made my way towards it as I felt my ears swivel beneath the cloak. I took in a cold breath of air as I briskly walked in a crouched position, and before I went around the trees, I kneeled in the grass and listened as much as I could to take into account what was around the tree. It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to know there were four demons, a fire large enough that it was crackling in the night air, and the sound of scuffling on the ground. Slowly easing my way out from behind the tree, I saw that indeed there were four demons, and next to the fire was the human soldier and the MIA angel.

Yet as I store at the human, I felt my mind draw blank as I instantly recognized the face...the face that was looking up at its captors in anger and defiance. As I looked however, I saw bruising on his face from where he must've been punched, and his shirt was ripped enough to reveal his ballistic armor. Making my way from behind the tree, he must've seen my movement from the corner of his eye or even the pale glow of the moons reflecting from the metal of my rifle. Either way though, I saw his eyes widen as he looked towards me, and I couldn't help but whisper, "Jonathon..."

Of all the men that had to get captured, he was the only one I hadn't been expecting to be captured. I thought I had taught him better...

Yet I soon looked at his captors and felt a chill run through my body as I saw two of the demons were hulking monsters from how big they were, yet the two smaller demons looked like they would be able to avoid most physical attacks with ease. Sakido, please get here, I may need some help...

Jonathon's hands weren't bound how the angels had been, and he seemed to just be lying there, though I did see him clutching his side tightly. His eyes were still riveted on me, and I knew I had to act as the larger demons seemed to now be reaching towards him.

Moving into the clearing as I stood up and took aim at the smaller demons first, I must've stepped on a twig or something as the bird like demon snapped his head towards me, and I saw surprise and anger flash across his beak as I opened fire. The other demons instantly dove towards nearby trees or in one case, jumped back and hit the ground. The one that hit the ground caused a slab of Earth to rise around him, yet as soon as they scattered, I turned the rifle and tossed it towards Jonathon. He snapped out of his daze and caught the rifle, yet I reached into the fire and took the pistol from the flames that were licking at the steel.

Stepping through the flames, I reached down and picked up the angel, who was bound, and raised the pistol and fired towards one of the demons sticking its head from behind the tree. I looked over to see the Earth demon that had took shelter behind a tree jump out of his cover, yet the moment I went to fire at it, the pistol in my hands clicked empty.

The sound of automatic fire filled the air as Jonathon finally started to put it into use, and the demons chest began to sprout red blotches as it stumbled back. Looking over as one of the smaller demons ran from cover and towards us, I took this chance to throw the useless firearm at the demon, only to see it deflected easily. Creating a fireball in my hand, I threw it at the demon, only for the demon to literally reach out in front of it and slap the fire aside into a thin haze. Sakido, some help please!

Quickly, and unfortunately for the angel, I turned and tossed her towards the edge of the small clearing and away from the fighting, yet when I turned around, I heard Jonathon's weapon click empty, and I knew our fight was about to become very one sided. He had since risen to his knees, but the other fire demon was going to be upon him unless I did something.

Jumping forward and creating twin fireballs using my hands as the source, I decided I could at least use them to boost the effects of close combat as I tackled the demon to the ground. What I hadn't anticipated was for a slab of stone to shoot from the ground and bash into my side.

I felt a dull pain spike through my side, yet just as I did, Sakido growled... yet out loud. There was a gust of wind, and I looked over to see Sakido standing near Jonathon, who was now looking up in fear. In her hands were sparkling balls of lightning, and as she threw her hands against the ground and away from her, I saw the ground sparking as it surged towards the stunned demons. They each got a dose of Sakido's infamous shocking surge, and I saw small sparks of residual lightning zipping over their fur. The fire demon closest to us had avoided the initial surge, and I saw his eyes were wide in fear as his beak hung open. "Syndel's flaming fists...!"

Before I had a chance to get up and attack him, he got up and bolted as fast as he could in the opposite direction, and while I saw the others doing the same as soon as they were able to, I couldn't understand why.

Letting out a tired sigh, I looked towards Sakido and felt a grin stretching across my muzzle. I knew it wasn't visible as my cloak was luckily still covering me, but when she looked towards me, I saw a visible scowl across her features as she said angrily, "What was that about not taking unnecessary risks...?"

Getting to my feet with a sigh, I saw Jonathon jump to his feet and raise the assault rifle towards me, his face was a mask of neutrality, but as I chuckled, I opened my muzzle to say something... only to hear the sounds of clicking bolts sounding from behind Sakido. "Don't make any sudden movements or we will blow your fucking heads off!"

The forest suddenly seemed alive as soldiers seemed to stream out of its recesses; some seeming out of breath as if they had just ran here. I saw nearly a dozen rifles aimed at Sakido and myself, and as they moved closer into the small clearing, I saw one of the men, presumably the medic, rush towards Jonathon. Yet as he did, Jonathon held up his fist in a clenched signal, and when the medic halted at his side, I felt a bit curious. Sakido... don't make any sudden movements unless they say so. These men are jumpy... trigger happy if they get the chance.

Jonathon looked down at the assault rifle in his hands, yet when he looked back at me, he asked, "Who are you...?"

Slowly reaching my hands up, I saw a few of the men tense, but I went slowly as I reached for my hood. I slowly peeled it back to reveal my face, and I saw a few of the men flinch when I grinned, but I said, "I am a friend..."

He scowled at me, before he asked, "Why did you help me when you are the same damn thing as those that you chased away?"

I felt a wide smile spread across my muzzle, and as I began to focus on my human form, I said, "Because you did the same for me back in Africa." As soon as I finished, my muzzle was replaced by a nose, my fur by skin, and the angry faces of the men by shock and surprise. Jonathon's expression was by far the most surprised, and his jaw appeared clenched as he store at me with a disbelieving gaze. Chuckling, I gestured by pointing at the men and asked, "Now, can you do me a favor and have them lower there weapons...?"