Disclaimer: Namco owns all that is in this story save for the plot and the OCs.

A/N: Sorry for the wait! My beta finally got this back to me revised after some technical issues and once I finally got access to the internet again, no power = no internet, I got this posted.

Thanks to my reviewers: Destinydeck, ., Natasha Knight, and CorrineAri I had the motivation to write. Without them, well, this story wouldn't have gotten to the fourth chapter XD

Chapter 4

'Where am I?' I wondered as I woke. 'What happened, and how did I get here?' I tried to sit up but the pain that I had forgotten about flared sickeningly in my left side. The feeling of bandages against my skin made me aware that someone had tended to the wound and had wrapped it tightly. Thinking back, I became aware of how I had ended up here.

!

I was barely conscious when Lucifer wearily padded into a small village deep in the forest on the lake. However, the entrance was barred by two guards that were posted. They spoke feverently in a language that I did not understand, but they didn't seem to have a problem with Lucifer.

A small crowd had formed, and from them an aged man stepped forward and took control of the situation. None of them seemed to notice me upon Lucifer's back as I burned in agony. Once more, Lucifer turned his head back to me whining softly, but I couldn't answer. I was barely holding on to the last bits of awareness I had left. He could see the severity of my condition and turned back to the now larger crowd. I felt him rumble as a growl built in his chest before he released it as a malicious snarl.

The old man quickly retreated back to the crowd and faced Lucifer, instantly wary of the now dangerous animal. Just then, my strength had finally given out and I fell from Lucifer's back, crumpling on the ground. I laid there un-moving as the crowd realized that the animal in front of them had brought someone to their village. Lucifer nudged me gently, trying to get a responce. When I did not, he laid down next to me protectively. I was barely conscious as they deliberated, and the last thing that I remember was the old man kneeling down next to me before I slid into darkness.

!

'How long have I been here?' I wondered breaking from my reverie. I propped myself onto my elbows and looked around the room. The tattered clothes that I had been wearing when I arrived, were folded on top of a table and my pack was sitting on the floor along side it. However, the flute that my father had given me was nowhere in sight.

I was still propped up on my elbows when woman entered the room with the old man behind her. She froze when she saw that i was awake, but the man behind her gave her confidence and she continued over to me. What stuck me when she got closer was that her ears were pointed at the tips.

My eyes widened minutely. 'Lucifer brought me to the elves? That sly dog!'

The woman helped me sit up and gently unwrapped the bandages around my torso before using magic to treat me. However, worry flashed across her face when, even though i had an exsphere, my wound wasn't healing as quickly as it should have.

"Don't worry too much about it." I told her calmly. "I don't heal fast with magic. Been like that for as long as I can remember."

The elven woman flinched at my voice but she seemed to understand what I was saying for the worry left her eyes. She healed me as much as she could before wrapping me again with clean gauze. After she finished, she bowed to the old elven man and quickly fled.

"You have caused much trouble outsider." The man said sitting down on the lone chair in the room. "Humans are not allowed to enter our forest unless the King in Meltokio grants permission to do so. You are lucky we allowed you to enter Heimdall."

"I didn't come here on purpose." I said icily, pushing myself into a sitting position. "Lucifer brought me here on his own accord. I meant to go elsewhere."

"Lucifer? You must mean the protozoan." He deduced. "Though that name does suit his forcefulness and coloring. I am surprised that he is gentle with you. To the other people in the village he snarls and snaps his jaws at any who try to get near him. The two of you must have a tight bond."

"What's it to you?" I snapped.

"When we found this flute on you we became curious." The old man revealed my flute case so that I could just see it. "Only people gifted with music and a bit of magic can play this instrument."

'So he's the one who had it!' I thought angrily

"I've had that flute since I was little," I barked. "That flute is the only memento that I have left of my parents."

"Easy, calm down." The old man said taken aback. "If you can play it then you can keep it. Deal?"

"Deal." I held out my hand and he gave the case to me. I took the flute. Tuning it before putting it to my lips, I started to play the song that my father had taught me. This time, however, instead of just my flute, more instruments joined me. The doorway to my room was quickly crowded with elves who came to listen to the music coming from the outsider's room. Even the air seemed to still and listen to the melody.

When I reached the final measure, and the final note faded away, silence hung in the air. I took the flute from my lips and sighed quietly waiting for some form of reaction. Suddenly, like dominoes, the elves in the doorway began clapping for me. My eyes flew to them in disbelief. They were applauding me, the outsider they had reluctantly took in. There was a faint distrust in their faces but it was not as harsh as I thought that it would be.

I turned my eyes back down to my flute as a faint blush brushed across my cheeks and as quickly as it had come, the applause died away, and the elves dissipated going back to their lives. Silence hung in the air once more as I waited for the old elf's verdict.

"The flute is definitely yours," the old man sighed. "Well, you will be staying here for the time being, correct? Then you must know that I am the chief of this village. My name is Hien."

"Skylar, but everyone I know calls me Sky." I told him as I put the flute back in its case.

"Well then Sky, perhaps you can tell me how you got that wound?" Hien spoke, his eyes piercing.

"I was en-route to Ozette when I was ambushed by bandits. I lost my focus in the battle and one of them lodged his dagger in my side." I sighed as my pain resurfaced briefly.

"Then your beast was right in bringing you here. If he hadn't, that wound could have killed you and it almost did. You were unconscious for a week and had a rampant fever for the first four." Hien explained.

"I apologise for causing you so much trouble." Sincerity ringing in my voice.

"Well, now that we know that the flute has chosen you, we will help you and protect you if need be. For if we hadn't earlier, Lucifer would have been very displeased." Hien stood and moved toward the door. "Get some sleep. I will come again tomorrow." He exited the door and closed it behind him with a soft click.

I leaned back against the pillows and sighed. 'I don't want to be here. I love my freedom.'

Closing my eyes, I wished for sleep as the pain in my side began to sharpen.

!

Remember my drive to write comes from reviews! Everyone who reviews makes me happy and gets to hug Lucifer!