whiteshade of blackness 'gaku june 15, 2006
6 solo
...perfect-rounded eyes glinted in the darkness, reflecting no light in the musty cold totally dark chamber, but gleamed with an alien shimmers from behind the spectacles. The child swallowed the urge to swallow nervously, the cold running along his vertebrae was almost unbearable, but determinedly kept his face impassive, knowing there will be a painfull reward if the child didn't fulfill what was desired of him.
"you know why you're here, aren't you...?" the soft oldman's voice was colder then the ice "...to make you perfect...!"
And he clamped his mouth as tight as possible so his teeth won't rattle in fear, feeling his-self slipping away with every moment, the cold-burning feelings in his body magnified in dreadfull force, and the child roared an unheard anguish in agony. Whisps of blacksmoke coiling around his infant body...
The loud roars and growls from the wolves around him reverberating in his hypersensitive eardrums, pounding his pain-filled brain and bones, his heart hammering like thunders that surged the cold-burning electrity of a storm to his whole body. His narrowed eyes darkened a little...
The wolves strangely didn't make more advantage of their sieging position, but they're in a much nastier frenzy than the wolfhounds in the Castile's underground stables. About 20 or more of them were circling and raging around him and his human below his low-crouched body. The Air felt like a thick mud filling his lungs, and he couldn't for the life of him took any comfort from every breath he barely could have, much less found them revitalize his wretched body... his eyes darkened more...
As a sudden outburst of freezing surge wrecked his nervous system flooding from his spinal cord, he arched his back and widened his eyes in dreadful awareness that he's losing his-self again. His pityful breath stopped abruptly. After a few seconds in eternal agony, his body slumped forward with bowed head. Howmuch breath ever held in his lungs escaped his slackened mouth slowly.
The wolves stilled suddenly.
His mind stopped suddenly.
The world gone mute and Time frozen suddenly...
A whizzing sounded from a distance, and suddenly the ground behind the crouching boy and the confining flock of wolves exploded.
The wolves jumped in surprise and moved as one to the opposite of where the attack came from, standing in alert close in front of the boy.
A neighing camel stopped abruptly a few distance behind him. Howard choked a little as his relieved lungs deciding to let out an explosive sigh and wheezed in a much needed air that he'd unconsciously held during the rapid hunt at the same time. In the end he just slumped forward and coughed in a tight fit.
His striped-camel's ruminating with a lazy feature...then grinned...
Several wolves let out curious and defensive rumbling noises. Instinctively knowing that this was not of the common-humans they'd acquainted to.
The old Charms straightened his back and wiped his watery eyes, breathless, but undeniably extaticly satisfied with himself. Although the situation in front of him somewhat needed improvement. He grinned...
"...'allo...!" he tried, rasping by the dried throat. Cleared his throat, then tried again "..Hallo... friends of the Wilds..!" he grinned wider showing his teeth, his hard deep breaths sounded like a donkey's through the clenched teeth. A few wolves gruffed.
"Oh, never mind me, I'm just an old Charms retrieving my royal-human back.. If you don't mind..." he continued sending waves of friendly comforts. The wolves chaffed, not making anykind of movement, assessing the odd-human on the hump of a weird-colored-ever-chewing animal.
"...Ahem..!" Howard grinned again "So...How's the day so far...?"
His camel gave a strange braying noise almost like graveled-throat coughing or hummed-laughing... and continued chewing... Howard blinked with a grin plastered like a wallpaper. Okay, so that was lame...!!
At the sounds of horses galloped towards their spot, the wolves pricked their two-ears again and started to growl, glowered in suspicions on the odd-human and the coming allies. Howard blinked again, his camel plastered a chewing-grin...
The general and his men, escorted by two Charms at their sides slowed their pace in relief, then stopped a few paces behind the old-Charms's camel in several sedate steps, realizing there's a situation occuring in front of them.
"...Howard..?" Odin whispered cautiously under his breath, knowing the old-Charms could hear it in the Air. The flock of wild-wolves begin their frenzied roars and growls again, acknowledging the armored-humans and their weapons, spreading out their position to a crescent-like in front and half-around the boy and the human under him.
Howard chuckled dubiously "Oh, everything's alright..! I was just trying to convince the Wild-friends here that we mean no harm to either of them for more than 15 minutes before you came...!" he said through a clenched-teeth grin. At the background he heard an audible sorry from the man, who slowly get off of his black horse and walked to the old-Charms' side with both hands open in a supposedly yielding gesture.
The general nodded to the wolves once, while assessing their physical appearances. These wolves have a pair of ears and single tails, with two pairs of upper cuspids, and reddish-brown long coats. They're mostly resembled the golden beast, except for the four-nails in their front claws, and the fluffy-band around their necks were of white color in contrast with their coats. But none of them have the triangular horns like the golden beast's.
You're quite late...!! an echo of a male's voice greeted them from the far limb of the tree above the boy. The men's eyes instantly locked to the source of the voice. The big golden beast was stretched lounging on his stomach with half-lidded lazy eyes trained at them.
If those beasts decided to have early supper, your royal-human would've had no remains by now...! the echo admonished them levelly. The beast didn't seem to speak, the echo was as if coming from inside of it. The flock of wolves' growls silenced instantly at the beast's echo of voice.
"Greetings to you, Golden Leader..!" Odin said in level tone, with a slow deep nod.
The beast's lips quirked at one end What makes you think I'm their leader..?!
The general lifted one brow, it was kind of obvious by their attitude, wasn't it..?
An animal breathy chuckle, which was something sounded like a series of breathy snorts, and the beast licked its blueish-tongue out to the side of its mouth. ...Hmmmmm... yesss, a little too obvious, isn't it..?!
We're heading south..! the beast said cuttingly ..And, we're kinda delayed here by your land for about... nine weeks..?! it lifted its brow in question for the human's time-dividing system' term.
Odin nodded, both as confirmation and in understanding as to what the beast's words reffered to.
He trained his eyes down to the boy's crouching figure, his bowed head was hidden by his slumped posture "The boy's your-..." As if on cue, the wolves roared and barked like mad beasts from hell at the mention of the boy. Odin lifted both his brows in mild surprise and amusement, otherwise his level face didn't change the slightest. Up on the far limb of the giant tree, the big beast gave an animal chuckle again, sounded amused as well. The wolves silenced again to low breathy growls.
That was loosely translated as : leave your unclawed foot here -since you don't have no tail..!- , you untailed skinny-unmaned cocky dominating greasy apes -skinny as in showing too much of skin..! and cocky meant not anything reffering to a male chicken..!! ...although I think there's something got to do with it, hummm..or not?? Your languange and terms, anyway...- you'll be sorry before we even bite your plopping-fat-asses off your rattling bones... and yada-yada-yada too much growling and slobbery there...and... the beast roared ..just for effect.., then chuckled a little.
Odin blinked once "...what ?!"
Howard chuckled breathily, he liked this beast, quite sounded like Lady Dee' (on private) smart-ass attitude, and that also it have the tendency to stray-topic-ing. Behind him a low incredulous murmur of '..greasy..?!' came from the guards direction, and 'plopping..?!' came from the Charms'. Yep, the guards used oil to polished their armors, and the Charms were ofcourse pretty convident that they DO NOT make any sound on their summon-creatures backs, but some Wilds could hear them even before in sight-distance much to their disbeliefs.
...but I could be wrong... we don't speak in languages here...so translating to your words was something tricky...Oh, but the main idea's quite in there !! the beast cocked his head to one side and nodded as if satisfied with itself.
you on the other hand... it casted its gaze straight to the general's eyes. ..should try to learn to hide your minds !! We could smell them far before sight-range, you know..?! With all those worries and anxiety poluting the air...!
The general stared impassively, and lowered his hands.
Oh, and we DO have quite faaaaaaarrrrhh sight-range, don't we, Pack..?! the wolves started roaring their confirmations but shorlty ebbed.
"We really don't mean any harm !" Odin said levelly.
No,...but they DID..!! the beast counterred flatly with narrowed eyes. Odin knew who the beast reffered to as they, and what they'd done to the boy, and he felt anger welled up as he couldn't have done something to stop the mistreatments from the cruel men from happening, nor he had any knowledge about it.
Sorry is too-late, you know... the beast said silently. We're not creatures of prejudice, at least I teach them not to...Yet prejudice come from YOUR kind !! and flicked its head as if a shrugging gesture for human.
It snorted softly We could be vengefull more than what you could think of if we chose to...! Unlike your barely-united hierarchy, we are living as One..!!
Howard smirked sad-cynically, pack of Wilds would sacrifice theirselves as one-live for their members, how un-humane-ly...thinking what became of humanity these days, and still humans think they're the most honorable creatures on the Soil !!
"And, you want to-.."
YOU want to...!! it cocked its head again ..Take our Kidling back to your place..!
The growls graveled low frequently. The humans blinked. Yes, for Lady Deia's wishes...
There was a soft choked sound coming from the boy, and he looked as if he's swallowing the urge to gag. The men couldn't be sure as they were looking at him from behind, but he seemed as if he's coming to from somewhat a haze, his head still bowed low.
There were animal-moans of concerns from the wolves, the boy slowly lifted his head, swaying a little. His forlorn face pinched a little, and gave out a soft animal whine.
That's the only cue needed, when suddenly a flock of small wolves jumped his small crouching body from behind the giant trees.
Howard lifted both brows at the sudden affair, Odin reflexively grabbed his talisman-sword hilt in a set stance, his men jumped down from their horses on guard, the Charms stiffened in allert preparing the Waves from within for an attack if needed...the chewing camel still chewing lazily... The wolves barked madly at the humans, ready to spring in a simple movement from them, the golden beast on the far limb of the tree tsk-ed and lifted its head.
A loud reverberating howl heard long in the Forest for a several long moments. Some birds flew and small animals took fled from quite some distance around the area at the mighty sound and the sense of power it carried. The pack of wolves jumped and startled to silence, lowering their massive bodies in subdued fear. The men stilled on their spots, locked their gazes to where the howl came from.
The beast looked at the ones on the soil-ground with level impassive eyes, then jumped the umpteens storeys high down from the tree limb in one graceful leap, and landed soundlessly between the small covered-with-a-bunch-of-wolfcubs boy and the anxious men. It lowered its head so it's on the same level as the humans' on ground and flicked its eyes to the fluffy-yellow-furred-bundle behind it.
...Brats go to your babysitters..!! Now ! Go ! Shoo..!! it said flatly motioning them by swishing its longfurred tail. A few visible eyes from the bundle blinked several times. NOOOWH!!! the big beast roared.
Whines and animal moans were heard, the woflcubs rushed to get off of the crouching boy and got behind their whining adults back to the trees they came from, where a few adolescent wolves stood with surprised wide eyes, and herded the cubs with their muzzles.
Sorry about that, cubs are sometime insufferable and-... there was one cub left sniffing at Odin's feet and raised one of its hind legs up. After a shower-of-nature finished it sniffed at his legs again then took fled to where the others gone to.
All eyes trained on the general's steaming feet, he frowned deeply, the beast wrinkled its nose, the other men stared wide eyed, Howard had a hard time keeping his grin from swallowing most of his face...his camel still grinned-chewing...
...and obnoxious !! Especially that one ! the beast stared at the vanishing cub.
At least you didn't get a shower on your face while you're sleeping...-
The beast scrunched its face and grimaced, catching itsself... It looked at the men's eyes sternly Don't dwell on that thought..!!!
Howard snickered explosively, his shoulder slumped and shooked convulsively...his camel gave out the infamous strange noise of bray-laughing again. The golden beast narrowed its eyes on the old Charms, who frantically waving his right hand for appologize, while his left hand covering his face to muffle the sounds of chuckles.
The beast snorted once and rolled its eyes, then walked to the boy ...Youngsters these days; at least show some respects to the elders... and flicked its head, shrugging again.
The men let out the breath they didn't realize holding, relieved that the big beast didn't take it as an offence and that means they wouldn't have a bloody feud right then and there, and Odin's men mostly thankful to their luck to have the opportunity to see their infamous-of-glaring-death general given a shower-of-nature by a wolf-cub. Definitely not something they'd see everyday and didn't get to be the object of a death-glare by witnessing; okay, so they're considering their chance at story-telling that to their comrades back at the Castile without getting killed afterwards. But decided they wouldn't temp the Devil –the Devil here being the General, he could give them a bloody feud too and them being the bloody object of the feud.
Howard outwardly chuckled at those muttered words. "Yes, they should have. Say, how old are you anyway, I've never aquainted to any Wild like you..-"
You've never seen ANYTHING like me, I'm the only one there is, for the passed three thousand years, at least. That's why I'm called Solo... the beast looked back at the Old Charms ...I didn't really count the passing Time before that..! subtly smiled a wolf-smile for the thoughts of the General's men it smelled thick in the air. Humans..!!
"Really...?!" Howard widened his eyes behind his black-spectacles.
Did you make sure to look both ways for any situation here...?! the beast said cuttingly again. At the uncomprehended expressions from the men, the beast continued ...You sure it's just your royal-human finding another pet for herself, or..
..didn't you think that Kidling here thought he got himself another human-TOY to playwith..?
The men stunned, opening their mouth but couldn't form any word.
Ne.., Kidling..? the beast lowered its head and nuzzled the boy's side of face. He lifted his head slowly, the eyes were a bit disoriented but the beast knew he was aware of the situation to some extent. A low long whine, and the boy butted back his head to the beast's muzzle albeit weakly, his saber-cuspids had retracted back completely to his jaws, leaving no trace of their existence on the outward appearance.
The beast chuckled heartily The cubs found him a little over a year ago. The Pack took him in since then, ...my favourite toy, yoouu...! and said in a rumbling low affectionate voice, messing the already disarray brown hair with one silvery-liquid-metal arm that emerged from the beast's front forehead under his left-side triangular horn. The boy gave out a small mewling noise and closed his eyes tightly, looking more relaxed by the affectionate gesture. That only gave the beast more craving to tousle the boy's hair with another hand protruding from under the other horn.
The boy squirmed annoyed, trying to get rid the hands by his small clenched one, making sound of frustrated moans, finding no success at the effort he planted his body weight at his knees and used both his clenched hands to rid the offending metal-arms. The beast chuckled louder merrily. In the end he just pushed the beast's muzzle down in exasperated shove. The beast let itself being shoved down to the ground and rested reclining on its belly.
Suddenly the metal-hands stopped their messing and cupped the boy's face to look up, You do realize WE only play our TOY until supper, do you..?!! the voice turned cold and flat.
The boy widened his eyes, looking straight at the metalic-face that had emerged from the beast's forehead, formed as human's body from waist-up, the metal-hands still cupping the boy's face attached to the metalic-body's shoulders. The humanoid-metal looked like of a youngster of late teen-age, with supposedly layers of sheet-strands cupping 'his' face with messy points around 'his' mid-neck. Currents of golden-surge rippled on 'his' face's surface. This metal-body was Solo...
The shocked striken small face lost its color dramatically, and the boy's body started to quake in no time. His eyes stared wavering and incredulously at Solo's metal eyes. The men's faces behind him were no less shocked too.
At the early signs of hyperventilation, the metal arms pull him up forward and hug him, laughing heartily again, much louder this time. The beast swept its muzzle to the boy's buckling feet and let the small boy sat on it. I'm sorry !! I'm sorry ! Just toying with you..!! The metal arm patted the small back assuringly, the other one securing the brown haired head under 'his' chin.
I really am just joking..!! It's okay, Kidling, I didn't really tell you to eat her, I'm sorry...!! The metal laughed again, the golden-surge on the face rippled to its whole body-surface with every laugh. The small boy made strangled whines/moans, clenching the metal-shoulder's, his small fingers sank under the surface, one hand clenched at his own chest.
Lessening his trembling, Solo emerged another pair of hands from 'his' body-sides under the armpits. One 'he' enfold on the boy's shoulder, and the other around the boy's hip on the muzzle. And started to craddle him up and down, giving sounds and hums of assurances altenately between affectionate chuckles. While the boy tried to make his body reactions under control again, the metal flicked 'his' eyes to the general and to Deia's prone body on the ground. Odin took the hint immediately, and subtly lifted the small girl carefully from the damp ground.
Solo cupped the boy's face again, trying to avert his eyes from seeing. I didn't mean it, you know how much I like to draw any reaction out of you... Okay ? Relax now... It's okay...! 'he' kissed his forehead once, and kept him secured with the lower-pair hands embracing his lower body.
The boy widened his eyes again as he sensed something different behind him, he forcefully turned his head between the metal's arms. His face was pinched again when he saw the violet eyed human craddled safely in Odin's arms. He let out a misserable whining moan and stretched out a hand toward her.
No..!! the metal crushed him to 'his' chest with all four arms. Then continue in a low soft voice in an alien language ..Let her be. Remember what the Whitered-Hag told you about Time..? The boy whimpered once, not averting his eyes from Deia.
..There's only One-Past,...the Present's is uncertainty full of chances to choose and decisions to make, and the Future's a web of probabilities to continue that One-Past..!! The boy's lips wording mutely the spoken language distractedly, his eyes kept locked on Deia's body, at her hand which unconsciously still holding the deep-blue rectrix.
You have to choose who's gonna be part of your One-Past, and who's gonna be your Future part, in the Present..! Now...
... You can't have both, Kidling...! a pair of metal arms cupped his face again to look up at 'his' metal eyes. You choose that human, you put me and the Pack in the Past. We have separate ways...
The boy searched frantically at the metal eyes, then shook his head forcefully in denial. He looked at Deia and back to the metal eyes a couple times, telling with his eyes desperately what his Voice couldn't at the moment.
The metal face stilled, 'his' metal brows furrowed in a thought. Moments passed, and the boy's anxious eyes turned to full expectant, with clenched hands clasped at the metal wrists cupping his face.
What's wrong with your throat...?! Solo asked levelly. The boy surprisingly let down his impassive wild mask and made a face that grimacingly annoyed, with an exasperated hiss, and unclenched his fists to scratch the metal arms with long-pointed dark-blue nails. The metal surface cut open but liquidly mend together again like stillwater.
I mean it!! Now that I think of it, I hear you growl not even once since yesterday..! 'his' furrow deepened and pouted. He growled before at your crib..?! The men stuttered for answer " .. Well..."
..See?! You didn't use your Voice, that's ussual. But didn't growl is UNUSSUAL! Right !! You didn't growl too when the Pack flocking around you just now. Yet you growled before at their place BEFORE yesterday !! You remember the Arachnysses at the Hungry Desert ?! Now that was a GROWL you gave them..!! Not a PURR..!! You called for me the day before and frantically asked me how to PURR !! What a horrid thing to do !! Wilds growl, not PURR..!! That's how we-... the metal stopped his spatting words and frowned.. What was the main idea of the topic again...??
And a big rock lodged in 'his' back of head with a loud splotching sound.
Whaaatth??!! I know I have a habit of stray-topic-ing !! 'Can't help it..!! 'he' grew another pair of hand from behind 'his' back to pick the rock off of 'his' head. Who threw this..?!! and poutingly asked at the Pack behind 'him'. Several wolves lowered their heads and gruffed, gave 'him' the look. A golden longfurred tail swishing for answer not too far behind, and an annoyed animal moan came from under the metal's body. Solo dropped the rock at 'his' side and arched to the side to spar a foul-staring competition with the golden beast's eye, then to teeth-baring, then to hissing and growling. The men sweatdropped at the silly antics.
This is NOT silly..!! I'm the Head of the head here-.. !! Then suddenly the boy jolt-trashing and scratching wildly with four limbs at the metal Whoaa..!! Yeaa-...Okay !! if anything he just became more violent, because everything wasn't okay, but he couldn't make 'him' understand.
...-Okay !! Stop it !! ...Before you spit out your organs because you're getting too excited, STOP..!!
Then the boy stilled, Solo's three pairs of arms holding his restive wrists and shoulders and hips looking like a scorpion. Standing wobbly on the beast's muzzle, his posture slumped, and he wheezed hardly, eyes bewildered by internal pains, the boy baring his clenched teeth in an inaudible hiss.
..Okay...! Solo said in a low tired assuring tone. You want that human.. fine ! But that human can't come with us!! The boy searched 'his' eyes frantically. No!! 'Not one of our kind! Not one of YOUR kind..!!
He whimpered a sorrowful sob, and Solo shook 'his' head slowly. No, Kid... The Pack adopted you because you're abandoned..! he whimpered harder. I'm sorry, but you were abused and abandoned we couldn't left you die in the dirt alone... But that human's different !! You see those adult humans..?! They're the human's pack..!! If we take the human with us, they'll definitely come after us to take her back, and they'd want to slaughter us... just like the Pack would to the ones who took you from us! You understand...? I like bloodshed nomore than you do..!! Sad prussian eyes darkened and brimmed with sheen of tears. Solo gave a liquid sad smile ...you much too considerate creature..!!
The metal eyes looked deep into those glossy gems, let out a slow repentant 'sigh' noise, 'he' took the small wearied body to curl up in 'his' embrace. And spoke in a hushed whisper, Kidling..., this place is her home, not ours..!! Our home is where we could see the moon and stars at night, and where we could sunrise-gazing together as a flock at dawn.., where you had to sit on my back because the sun blazing down so much you couldn't stand on the heated soil or rocks!! Or where you took a shelter under my body because of the rain and you're afraid of the thundering storm; and you had to sleep curled in to me blanketed by the cubs to get warm in the night. That human couldn't live in that kind of 'home'...!
But you ARE my home, if you stay I have a home in this place too..!! You could stay in the outsides...Violet-eyed-human doesn't have to go from here...! All will be happy..!
Solo wrinkled 'his' brows sadly at the boy's thoughts. Kidling..., the Pack comes first! Private wishes the later.., if you're part of the Pack, your needs come first WITH the Pack's. If you're out or put the Pack behind, then your desires are not my first priority..!
Solooo...!! The boy mouthed 'his' name, of which 'he' took advantage as the ever opportunist.
Hold it..!! and jammed two of 'his' thumbs between his teeth at either side of the boys opened mouth. 'His' expression changed from melancholic to deep concentration, peering down inside the boy's throat. Stop squirming, or I'll shoot tendrils of me through your ears or nostrils to examine your throat, you know you hated it when I do that..!! Howard's brows shot up to his -supposed- hairline at that, the Charms let out small squeaks, while the men unconsciously shivered imagining the words, and for once the camel stopped chewing and furrowed... Odin blinked looking sidelong at the camel, so the ruminating-summon-beast can stop chewing for once too...
The metal eyes gleamed with goldenness for a while, then 'he' secured the small head back under 'his' chin, and shot a look at the old-Charms. "..We couldn't examine his internal injuries, much else treat them...!" Howard said appologetically in telephatic Harmony. The beast's eyes clouded, and Solo's metal eyes closed for a second, 'his' hands rubbed the boy's body for comforts. When 'he' openned 'his' eyes again, they were glinted with sad resolve, Solo shook 'his' head a little. Howard's eyes widened at the meaning, and cursed inside. Odin caught the small gesture too and let out a hissing breath. Several wolves whined behind.
The boy whimpered once and hugged the metal body tight. I'm not deffective Solo don't desert me please stay...!!
Listen, Kid, you can stay here if you want, we won't force you to come with us..!
The boy instantly looked up at the whispered words to the metal face in panic. How could he...? Right after he plead 'him' not to leave him alone ?! Shhh...no, I'm not abandoning you, you're my only Kidling..! I couldn't touch other beings with this form, you know that; only you... I'm only this-Solo for you, I'd have forgotten this form if I hadn't met you.. You're my Kidling forever!! My wunderkind..!
. . . . . . . . . . but the Pack comes first...! it was a very soft echo almost unheard, if only the boy didn't have hypersensitive ears. He trembled convulsively, then bolted to the ground on his feet a few paces from the beast, standing in an indignant pose clenching tightly at his too long tunic sleeves, with face a mix of anger and sadness and pleading and pain.
That's the Rule of most packs,...otherwise they will only be living for a short time, slaughtered or divided. Being alone would be almost the same as a dead sentence... THEN, WHY ARE YOU KILLING MEEE...?!! The screamed thought was almost felt like a thunderbolt to 'his' heart, Solo closed 'his' metal eyes and swallowed the pain of the accusation.
. . . . . . I'm not...!! the beast rose from the ground, Solo merged-in the additional pairs of hands back to 'his' metal body, and stretched out a hand to 'his' Kidling. Come.. we should be on our way to south...!! 'He' said almost begging.
The boy pursed his lips thin with watery eyes, unmoving. The wolves seeing their leader stood to leave, rose too, whining at their small Kidling-beast they'd adopted for over a year, their cubs' beloved pet. The boy dazedly turned to Deia's hand holding the deep-blue rectrix, feeling his selfishness crumbled, just for once, he thought, others would care of his pleads, is that too much to ask...?!
...We've already late for over two-moons, if we don't get on the roads now we'd get caught by the Uncanny-Storm at the Gap of Gaol..the adults could manage to come through it, but the cubs wouldn't..! Or else we'd have to wait for the next half-sundye(1) to pass the gap...!!
You don't understand, how come you don't understand...you're Solo, you should understand me...you always do..!! Ever so slowly, he shifted his forlorn gaze to Deia's closed ones, then to Odin's holding Deia's body. The general stared back with a sad determination like those forged in battles. Then to Howard's, one of the Charms he'd accepted as a caregiver for the past seven weeks. The old-Charms slid down his spectacles showing his eyes, gave him a small grandfatherly assuring smile. Then back to Deia's face. Her face looked peaceful in her unconscious sleep, a wave of possessiveness swept him warmly, may the rectrix keep your sleep safe from nightmares. And blinked, imagining those violet eyes opened and seized his. She would never let him go, at least, he thought, voilet-eyed-human might want to come with him or forcefully take him back to her chamber, he wouldn't mind that. In fact, he hoped her eyes would popped open any time now. A small smile he never showed at the Castile graced his face for a while, but knowing it was a futile hope, gone to a cold wild-mask again, his eyes trained at Solo's dimmed and darkened.
As if in a dream, he took a step forward to where the beast stood. The wolves waved their tails and moaned encouragingly.
"...Prussian..."
"...Come back.."
A soft voice whispered in his memory...
"...please..." the voice saddened.
He stiffened and his chin trembled in indecission... he looked at Solo's clouded metal-eyes, then to the beast's awaiting golden-eyes, then to the ground. He didn't dare looking at the other wolves' eyes, nor towards the cubs, he could hear them whines and moaning, could hear their swishing tails and felt the movements in the thick Air, they woofed and chaffed and sniffed at him, smelling the doubt in him. Knowing his inclination weighed more to the humans than towards them. He knew they knew it, and their hopes and expectant sounds beginning to weigh down on his heart of heart. And he couldn't take it anymore...
The boy closed his eyes immediately, mouthed Solo's name. Solo dropped 'his' outstretched hand, knowing the boy had made his resolve... and he bolted on four limbs to the deepness of the Forest away from all of them. Away from the hurt expressions on the wolves' face, from Solo's inexpressive conceding metal-eyes, from the sounds of wailing and keening cubs gouging his heart. The humans's surprised stares felt like frozen spears on his back, ...he wanted to run away from them too, why couldn't they make it easier for him..,for all of them...?!
...And all will be happy... He closed his eyes trying to prevent the tears from falling, he never cried before he met the Pack, and Solo... he wouldn't cry now when he's running away from them.
His vision blurred but he didn't stop running...
"...You drove him away on purpose..." Howard said silently without acussation, just acknowledgment... The golden beast moaned silently, Solo's metal-eyes were still locked to where his Kidling had vanished to. ...Yes..
...He'll hate me for pushing him.., it's better than hating himself..! the silent voice softly echoed like a breeze. He does that a lot...!! ..Thinking that he deserves to be the one hurting.. alone...! Solo looked at the humans, then to the grounds, 'his' voice murmured ...he some times strayed out of the Pack's sanctuary to keep them save...But then, what good of a pack if we couldn't... 'his' metal eyes clouded.
..The people... The others ! ..subjected to him treated him... unscrupuously ..ruthless...!! Those immoral sinful bastards..!! Solo growled, the beast baring its teeth under 'his' metal body. The men blinked at the hatred curse. Solo looked to the trees behind the humans, 'his' left metal-arm absent-mindedly stroking the beast's side-face, 'his' heart yearning to stroke a small brown haired head instead.
...When the cubs found him... 'he' cocked 'his' head to the side ..They were sitting on the rockplanes under the mountain surrounding something...bad..! Solo furrowed 'his' brows while the beast under 'him' scrunching its face. ...It was a dried pile of something... Even I had a hard time recognizing it.. It was... A golden surge rippled through him like a shiver.
He was so broken he didn't even look humanoid...!! 'he' stared pointedly at Howard's eyes.
How could they do that to their youngster...?! the beast's eyes were seizing Odin's, knowing the general knew about another 'they' he could reffer to in this land.
The humans didn't try to say anything, they couldn't voice about their feelings over such situation. They could only vow subtly that it wouldn't happen again, if they have a say about it, if such situation ever occurs again..., gods forbid it would !
...Mistakes bound to repeat themselves...!! Solo flicked 'his' eyes to Deia's peaceful face. "..NO-..!!" Howard and Odin reflexively defending her.
I'm not accusing..!! 'he' said soflty, cutting. ...I just... Could you please try to help him...to seek help..? 'he' frowned in despise ..That... blasted-craft.. is eating him alive from the insides...!! I couldn't.. The beast sigh in tired defeat ...I have other responsibilities I couldn't neglect...! the wolves whined behind 'them'.
"...Allright, we'll try our best..!-"
Trying is not good enough..! Solo folded 'his' arms on 'his' chest, golden surges rippled every time his surface touched each exterior-side of 'his' body. This creature has a habit of cutting other's words too, Howard noted.
Nodded "We'll DO our best ! I have quite aquaintances I could ask for help, we'll go abroad if we have to...!" Howard amended. Solo just staring at him. "...He'll be safe in the heart of this land..!" he added reffering to the Castile, as the most protected place in that land. Somehow he caught the unvoiced warning that there were some ones who would what to hurt the boy intentionally, out there.
"That void-craft...-" Odin said distractedly. Couldn't be taken cared off by your magics, I know. And you wouldn't find many literatures about the thing too... just consult about it with the kid, he's the one survived it so far.. albeit barely...!
Howard's brows lifted in a new perceptive. Suddenly Solo laughed bending his metal-body forward ...Are you kidding...?!! The kid's a genius, if not he wouldn't even survive a contact with that craft-thing..!! Howard blinked, that's why there had been two kinds of power within the boy...?
Solo smirked Next time, ask him what he needs when you try to mend the kid, he knows better how to mend himself than any of you...! Howard blinked again. But the boy was unconscious almost all the time the first month.
Duhh..!! Solo slapped 'his' right hand dramatically at 'his' forehead, let out a groan, the beast let out a 'woof'-groan under 'him', and 'he' brought the open-clawed hand scratching deep in 'his' liquid-metal face in exasperation. The hand stopped still covering his mouth. You tried to speak to him with your-kind of magics..? How about just think it in your head, and he could smell your intention in the air, or just lick it...?!
Howard, the general, and two Charms blinked at that... Oh, so that's why he did the sniffing and licking at everyone..?? To know who got the 'things' he needed to mend himself...?
Solo tsk-ed half grimacing He'd thrown you when you force-mend him..? The Charms blinked.
Hn..! Good for you, then..!! At least you still got everything intact !
You see my hands, here...? the metal body bent backwards uncomfortably, 'his' upper hand lifted up leaving the lowers dangling I have nothing to recline on, now..!! . Pause...blink..no comprehension...
These horns..!! 'he' said exasperated slapping hard at the small triangular horns behind 'his' body. The beast groan. ...were used to be this long..!! 'he' motioned the length of them from the forehead to the beast's mid-neck that formed arcs backward like mountain-goat's or gazelle's. I used to be able to recline like this..!! Solo mimicked the pose ...and I was just trying to mend the kid with MY power, and he wolved them all in a blast...!! I thought we're the wolves ones...!!!
...blink...
Solo rolled his eyes ...He ate them, okay..?! Thousands of years of growing, and he swallowed them in an exploding-second...!! Howard's lips quirked in a grimace ...RIGHT!! He threw you to the walls, well good for you for not having compatible-raw-power with his vibes..!! 'he' pouted. Behind 'him' a few wolves groaned ...Oh, shut up...!! . Huff...
... "...Huh...?"
My horns are collected raw-power from my surroundings...! Like from supernatural-caused elements at some specific places, such as ire-dirts, thunders, or storms...- -squeak-
...We have to run off before the Uncanny-Storm at the Gap of Gaol outbreaks...!! The wolves groaned again behind, the golden beast gave a wolf-snort under. ...Whaaatt..?! So I also got a habit of being carried away, since it's no fun having a chat with any of you...!! –that included the beast under 'him' too, who wolf-groused at 'him', and distractedly turned around, still having arguments with its metal other-self's head, and leave the humans sweatdropping on their spots. Some wolves whined and gruffed at the direction the boy had gone to, still could smell him in the Forest's air, then herded their cubs to follow their preoccupied leader. Vanishing by the giant tree trunks.
... "...That was...-"
"..-good for us..!" Howard cut Odin' words and blinked impulsively. His camel started chewing again...
-tbc
(1) sundye; a year time.. As one of the Ancients -creatures/beings- Solo used their terms as they belief (or beable to see) that the sun's color/corona changes its color every year. Some used the term of sun-crown.
...saru made the concept for a comic project's story, but think it's okay to be used in a fanfic... (right, Oni-tan...???? ...-NOT..??!!!)