Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Soul Calibur


Chapter Six: True Emotions

Siegfried was running blindly through the forest of spirits. He felt like something was chasing him, or maybe even someone. He kept running until he came to a dead end. Trees, very close together, blocked him from going any further. He turned around and saw that trees blocked him from going that way as well. Siegfried looked all around him for a way out but only saw trees that were planted close together. He was trapped like a caged animal. He looked up at the sky. Clouds parted and the full moon was overhead. There were no stars in the sky and the air felt heavy. Everything, except for being trapped by trees, was just like the dream he had just a few nights ago.

Then, the trees in front of him parted. Siegfried saw this as the perfect escape for him. He tried to dash for the newly made exit but his legs wouldn't move from the ground. He tried to lift up a leg but it still wouldn't move. He felt as if his feet were glued to the ground. Then, he heard footsteps. He looked up at the opening. Something was coming.

A nine-tailed fox, wearing a beautiful head dress of feathers, gold and jewels was making its way to the circle. Siegfried looked into the red eyes of the beast. That's when he realized who this creature was. It was the beast who frightened the two shady people and took their baby.

"Greetings," The fox said warmly. The fox's voice proved that the creature was female. "I've been expecting you, Siegfried Schuttfen."

Siegfried glared at the fox. "How do you know my name?" He said through gritted teeth.

"I know many things," The fox said as she went to lay down on the forest floor. "I know your name. Your age. Your parents. The creatures who have entered my forest an-"

"Your forest?" Siegfried repeated, cutting the white fox. He looked at the nine-tailed beast with a brow raised. "Who are you?"

"My name is Keita," The fox answered, lifting her head.. "Queen of Alana, or as you humans call it the Forest of Spirits."

"Queen? When you robbed those people of their child you didn't seem much like a queen!" Siegfried shot back.

Keita didn't seemed to be offended by Siegfried's words. Instead, her red eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Young human," She said calmly. "That child grew up to be a wonderful warrior. Do you know her?"

Siegfried hesitated and thought about it for a moment. The only human, or seemed human, he met so far was Ookami. "No...I don't think so."

Keita let out a laugh. Siegfried noticed that she and the forest were beginning to fade away.

"Keita!" He yelled as she began to disappear.

"Don't worry, Siegfried. We'll meet again soon." Keita answered, as if she had no idea that she was disappearing.

Siegfried wanted to run, wanted to save the Forest Queen, but his feet were still stuck to the ground. He shouted Keita's name one last time. The forest and the fox had now vanished and Siegfried was left floating in a black abyss. There was no forest. No Keita. Just him.

Then, he heard a evil laugh that sounded familiar. It sounded like the commander of the Mordivale army, Fendrel.

"Fendrel? Is that you?" Siegfried called out. But there was no answer, just the continued evil laughter.

The scent of blooded came to his nose. Siegfried covered his nose but couldn't see any blood.

Siegfried's eyes flew open and he found that he was back in the safety of the cavern. Siegfried took a sigh of relief.

What was up with that dream. Why was he talking to the queen of the forest and then he found himself in a dark abyss that reeked of blood?

The young knight sat up and rubbed his head with his right hand. That was unusual. The right hand was supposed to be on the shackle but it was off. He searched through the hay, looking for the shackled, but he couldn't find it.

"Weird without it on, huh?" A voice called out. Siegfried turned around and saw Delano poking his head out of his den.

Siegfried stood up and staggered over to the dark horse.

"Ookami took it off last night," Delano explained. "She felt like you didn't need to be on a leash if someone was here."

Siegfried looked at his wrist. He was thinking of Ookami. Her long red hair. Her red eyes. Her sweet scent...

"Do you mind helping me sort some herbs?" Delano asked, breaking Siegfried out of his thought.

Siegfried simply nodded. The horse, who was colored black but had a red tint to the fur, turned around and walked into his den. Siegfried followed the horse into his den.

Delano's den let off a scent that was almost heavenly. While the horse just slept on moss and leaves, Delano had a large bookshelf in his room. Shelves were covered with jars and boxes that Siegfried suggested that they were filled with herbs.

Delano went over to his bed and flopped down onto it. "Curse these old bones of mine...." Delano growled. He looked up at Siegfried with his deep brown eyes. "Alright, I want you to get some little leaf root and peppermint extract. It'll say which is which on the container."

Siegfried nodded and looked through the shelves. He found the peppermint extract in a jar.

"Good...I want you to pull out two leaves from there, place them on one of those canopy leaves and bring it to me."

Siegfried un did the top of the jar. As he opened it, the strong scent of peppermint flooded his nostrils and he sneezed. He covered his nose with his free hand and took out two leaves. He closed the container and placed it back onto the shelf. A large green leaf was on a wooden chair and Siegfried thought that was the canopy leaf Delano needed. He went over, picked up the giant leaf and brought it over to Delano. He set the canopy leaf in front of the elderly horse and then put the two peppermint leaves onto the giant leaf.

"Thank you," Delano said as he bowed his head gratefully.

"Hey Delano," Siegfried said as he went back over to the shelf."Do you where everyone else is?"

"They all are hunting," Delano answered as he was chewing up one of the leaves.

"Oh..." Siegfried answered as he searched through the containers for the little leaf root.

"Do you care about Mistress Ookami?" Delano asked expectantly as he began chewing the next leaf.

Siegfried turned his head to looked at the dark horse, almost knocking off some of the jars. His face had a shocked expression.

"What?!"

"Do you care about Mistress Ookami?" Delano repeated looking deep into Siegfried's green eyes.

Siegfried remained quiet. Of course he cared about Ookami. But even he knew there were boundaries between them. She was a spirit dweller and he was a human. The laws of nature say that they could never have a life with each other. When he would die, she would still be alive. Beside, he was sure that she doesn't like him as much as he like her.

But....was Siegfried willing to break the laws and tell Ookami how much he cared about her?

"You do care about her...." Delano said quietly.

"Did you just read my thoughts?" Siegfried asked.

"Yes, a little bit. But I can tell easily. You are taking a long time just to answer."

Siegfried looked at the ground. Delano was right. Maybe he did care too much about her.

"I saw go for it, boy," Delano said out of no where.

"What?"

"Go after her. Ookami probably feels the same about you too."

Siegfried smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Delano."

"No problem. Now get that little leaf root before the paste dries out."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ookami was sitting on Teranika's back as they ventured through the forest. Morag and Kallias were flying in the air and Sappho leapt from tree to tree.

"Do you think Siegfried will be alright without the shackle on?" Ookami asked Teranika.

"I'm sure he will be," Teranika answered cheerfully. "He's a strong boy."

After her talk with Siegfried, Teranika seemed to be a lot more cheerful. Ookami was happy at how Siegfried was able to break through her isolating wall and get to see the true Teranika.

Suddenly, Ookami felt light-headed. She placed a hand on her head. Sappho noticed Ookami's sudden change in behavior and jumped to the ground.

"Teranika, please stop," Sappho said. "Ookami doesn't look so good."

Teranika stopped and laid down on the ground. That's when Ookami began coughing violently. Kallias and Morag landed and went over to Teranika.

"What? She was just fine a little while ago," Teranika said, cinfusion in her red eyes.

"Not this again," Kallias said shaking her head. "Someone! Get some water!"

Sappho and Morag nodded and ran away. Teranika and Kallias stayed with Ookami, as she continued to cough and gasp violently.

Now...a force, much darker and much more devasting than the war, taking its grasp on the she warrior.