Ranger24: Now we pick up where we left off.
Chapter 10: Horror.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
When Naruto awoke he thought the sky had fallen on top of him. He put out his hand and touched the thin membrane that made up Cortana's wings. He banged on the side of her scales.
Naruto: Hey wake up!
Cortana yawned and lifted her wing up so he could crawl out. Now that it was morning Naruto recognized where he was. This was the same place where amongst a whole lot of noise he had found Cortana's egg. This raised a lot of questions in his head but then he reasoned that his memories probably had given her enough information to find it.
He grabbed a fallen branch and with a little work made an improvised crutch and hobbled over to a near by iced over stream. Using his knife he broke ice and splashed some water on his face then took a long drink.
He then hobbled back over to Cortana who was just lying there doing absoultely nothing. He sat down on the snow. He had to get back to the farm. There might still be time to warn Hohenheim.
Naruto: Will you take me back to the farm now?
Cortana: No.
Naruto: I know you don't want to but we have a debt to Hohenheim. He has cared for me and through me you.
Cortana snarled slightly.
Naruto: What will be said of us in the years to come? I can hear it now the story of the rider and his cowardly dragon. That we hid while my uncle was in danger? Your a dragon! Even a shade would fear you yet you hide like a frightened rabbit!
He meant to anger here and it worked. She stood up glaring at him.
Cortana: Blood will meet blood. I will fight. Because of debt owed. But into foolishness we fly.
Naruto ripped the sleeves off his shirt and wrapped them about his legs. It wasn't much but it might help protect him from the scales a little better. He climbed onto her back.
Naruto: Fly lower and faster. Time is of the essence.
Cortana: Hold on.
And with that she took of and shot down towards the valley, keeping close to the tree tops. Naruto gritted his teeth as the cold air hit him again but atleast since they were lower there wasn't as much force to it. Soon the farm came into sight.
Naruto: Land in the feilds Cortana!
She went straight into the barely feild which was buried under snow. As soon as she hit the ground Naruto scrambled off. His legs were bleeding again from the scabs. He looked up and saw to his horror utter devistation.
The house was gone. All that was left were bits of burnt wood and beri. The chimey was a pile of ruined bricks. The barn was a pile of flattened wood and burn timbers! The animals were gone either killed or frightened off. Naruto sank to his knees.
Cortana: Murders.
Naruto: We don't know that!
Naruto he shook angrily. He picked up a peice of wood which mostly collapsed into ash at his very touch. Cortana just gazed out over the destruction. Naruto made his way over to the road ignoring the pain in his legs. There he could see the foot prints of heavy boots. Suddenly his eyes seemed to grow bleary.
Naruto (Thinking): Am I going blind?
He touched his hands to his face and found tears on them. Cortana walked over to him.
Cortana: Sadness breds here.
Naruto whirled around anger all over him.
Naruto: Look at this!
He pointed to the ruined house and barn.
Naruto: This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't dragged me off! We could've warned Hohenheim! Its your fault he didn't get away!
He sank to his knees again.
Cortana: Take comfort Little one. All might not be lost. If I'm not mistaken there are only to sets of foot prints heading to the farm and the same leaving. And it looks like they came away with about the same weight as when the arrived.
Naruto glanced at the tracks again.
Naruto: Your right!
He ran for the farm.
Cortana: Yeah I'll just go check in the forest.
The moment he reached the large berie pile that was the house he started diging, ignoring the large amount of splinters he was taking. Suddenly there came a whezz from behind him! Naruto whirled around to see a burnt hand sticking out of a pile of rubble!
Naruto: Uncle!
He started tearing away at the bits of wood trying desperatly to get his uncle free! There was a marginally intact beam of wood however that with stood any attempt to move it. He heaved with all his might but to no avail!
Naruto: Cortana! Help!
In less than a minute she was there. Using her teeth like a crane she lifted the beam off Hohenheim! Naruto draged him out and Cortana let the beam fall to the ground. Naruto cursed under his breath.
Hohenheim was barley alive. His clothes were all but gone. His body was covered in bruises and signs of torture but worst of all were long, deep, and ragged burns! His breath was raspy and came with struggle.
Naruto: We have to get him to Tsunade!
Draging his uncle they left the house. As soon as they reached the road Naruto looked at Cortana.
Naruto: Can you lift us both?
Cortana: I must. But landing will be awkward.
Naruto: Hang on.
He grabbed a mostly intact board and some slighlty brunt rope. Cortana pocked holes in the board where Naruto looped the rope around her neck and placed Hohenheim on the board. As he did Hohenheim's hand fell open holding a peice of black colthe it was exactly like the robes that the strangers had been wearing. He stuffed it in his pocket the hopped onto Cortana's back
Naruto: Follow the road you'll have more room to land.
Cortana: I might be seen.
Naruto: It dosen't matter now!
Cortana lifted into the air and shot towards the village as she did however her wing strokes slowed and her tounge started to hang out her mouth. Finnaly she landed just under one and quarter mile from the village. Naruto rolled off her.
Cortana: Can't go on. Have to rest.
Naruto noodded, untieing Hohenheim's litter from around her neck.
Naruto: Find a safe place to hide I'll get him to town.
Cortana: Becareful.
And with that she made for the mountains. Naruto grabbed the ropes and pulled. His legs pained him with each step and wind blew in his face. Each step seemed harder than the last. He stumbled into the snow once but kept going. It was a battle between his will, his body, and the elements, a battle he refused to lose!
When he was nearly one half mile from the village he saw some one running towards him. It was Ranger. The left side of his head was scabbed from some injury. As he reached him Naruto felt himself fall forward into the snow and knew no more.
Ranger24: Oww the side of my face. I'll tell you about what happened in a chapter or two but until next time read and review!