Orphan ran through the forest searching for water, any water. Blood poured from Chloe's wounds, soaking Orphan in blood. Not that he cared, Chloe was more important, why couldn't he find water! As Orphans fury grew, the faster his steps were, and soon he tripped in the middle of a creek, not even feeling the icy water Pearce his skin.
"Whoa," he muttered tripping over a particularly large rock while trying to reach the creeks edge, wanting to wash out Chloe's wounds before they became infective. He would have used magic, but healing spells weren't his specialty, not to mention he was seeing red and tired with worry. When Orphan finally managed to get to the bank of the creek, he tripped yet again bumping Chloe's major cuts harshly causing a small whimper to escape her bloodied lips.
"Oh, crap." Slowly setting Chloe upright Orphan swore, spotting a large lump of dirt slowly embedding itself into her back. After that Orphan spent hours cleaning Chloe's wounds, all the while trying desperately to retain some strength for teleportation, which he couldn't have accomplished earlier. The moon slowly rose peaking through the already dense and ark forest, bathing everything in heavenly light. In a corner Chloe lay covered by the majority of Orphans cloths and some dry leaves to retain all the warmth her shivering body could get. On a rock not to far away stood Orphan, scanning the surroundings, not sure if he could do much if they were attacked. Between his fight with Chloe and her earlier attack, he was whipped out. Usually he wouldn't be this tired, but he'd been using his magic no stop, with very little sleep and food for the last few days. Now , as a loud grumble emitted from his stomach, he wished he would have eaten more when he had the chance. Hearing Chloe moan when an icy gust of wind passed Orphan decided he would be much more use keeping Chloe warm then standing on a rock. Once Orphan lay down Chloe cuddled closer to him, like a moth to a flame. Looking around once more, nothing seemed to be out of place, but Orphan didn't look that well, hidden in the shadows stood an ominous figure, with glowing red eyes.
"Just you wait Chloe, we'll be together soon." The shadow melted away, leaving nothing but Orphan and Chloe huddled together in the small clearing.
Blinking slowly Chloe saw trees, lots and lots of trees. Slowly Chloe rose, only to be stopped by a familiar pair of arms wrapped around her middle. Chloe settled back down, turning slowly to face a sleeping Orphan, looking very much like a little boy, the harshness melted from his face. Chloe still had no idea where she was, or why she was under a cover of leaves. Something clicked in her brain, Leki, the small would cub, was not with her, nor anywhere within seeing distance. Panic shot through her body like lightning.
"Leki!" Called Chloe desperately, shooting up from her position, sleepiness, and the worry of waking Orphan gone. Pain filled every crevice of Chloe's body, and before she could stop it a loud cry broke from her throat. As soon as the cry left her lips Orphan was up frantic with worry talking in murmurs that Chloe at that moment could not grasp with her mind. A blank look had settled itself into her eyes, the only thing other than pain, was the thought of Leki gone.
"Chloe, Chloe, Chloe!" Yelled Orphan, worry growing as she didn't respond.
"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Bellowed Orphan, finding no other way to capture her attention. Barley jerking Chloe chocked,
"what," out sounding dry and weak, so different even she could tell something was wrong. Chloe wasn't sure why she didn't yell or scram like she normally did when things like this happen, but she felt as if she was outside her body watching everything happen, her actions not really her own. Silent tears slid down her pale face stinging her bloodied hands. Turning her tear-stained face to Orphan, she whispered,
"where's Leki?" When there was no response she repeated the question, but the third time it was ripped from her throat in a scream,
"WHERE'S LEKY?" Stuttering softly Orphan, looked around, shaking his head softly when he saw nothing.
" I don't Chloe, maybe he went to get help, or find food?" Slowly Chloe's mind calmed, panic, seeping from her body. When the tension left her completely she slumped back, no longer able to support her screaming body. Orphan caught her midway slowly lowering her down to the ground, feeling her wince when her back made contact with the cold ground.
"What happened?" Whimpered Chloe, feeling the pain, now more than ever. Her eyes dropped, and before Orphan could answer her she was dead to the world, body to exhausted to do much else. Detangling himself, Orphan once again clamored toward the rock, scanning the area around them. He felt much more alert, and his magic was just about to full power again, he could feel it pouring out of him in waves surrounding him in unnatural warmth, he wished he'd possessed last night when Chloe was shivering. A crack sent Orphan ridged, coiled up once again, ready to pounce. A black cub emerged from the shadows trotting lightly wards Orphan, a large deer dragging from his mouth.
"Thanks little guy." Whispered Orphan, not ready to send Chloe into another frenzy, she would try and fuss over the cub, and her body couldn't handle that. While Orphan Skinned the deer slowly, Leki padded towards his mistress, squeezing in-between her arms. Orphan watched a small contented smile filter across her face, as she grasped Leki tighter burrowing him in further than Orphan thought possible, sometimes Orphan wished he could be the cub, but a faint whisper of,
"Orphan" sent a satisfied smirk, creeping across his handsome face. After the deer was skinned Orphan set about making a fire. Smirking he whispered inaudibly pointing his hands a pile of wood, a blue flame burst into light. Different colors of magic, meant different things, mostly power, but in Orphans case it was his mood. Blue meant he was happy, or calm. Mostly it meant he was both, green usually signified he was just calm, and nothing more. Orphan knew h really shouldn't be so calm, but with Chloe's happy face, and lily scent her just couldn't help it. She relaxed him in ways not even Azalie could. As Chloe dreamed, Leki cuddled in her arms Orphan stared at the flickering fire, contemplating how different it looked during the day, particularly a sunny day rather than at night.
While all this was happening Hartia seemed quite lost, or out of place riding on a unusually large and tame bull he called Carolina, yelling Orphans name desperately, He had some interesting news from the tower of Fang, and the longer he was gone, the more worried Hartia grew.