~ chapter 6~

However it wasn't just that. Inside at the base of the tree was a shaft that hot air breathed out, warming the entire tree. Ares roosted next to her inside the tree and wrapped himself up in his wings his eyelids felt extremely heavy. Amara looked at him,
" Ares what are you going to do if my colony doesn't accept you?" Ares didn't want to answer, he was exhausted both mentally and physically. He ignored her question and tried to fall asleep. "Ares are you listening" unfortunately that wasn't an option.
"I'm not sure Amara...I might just go as close to home as I can and try to live out life the best I can. Or I'll fly back here and... well you know. Neither one is really an attractive option." Oh how he wanted to sleep now. Amara moved closer, slipping through the gap at his feet to cling to his chest. Ares sighed but he liked having her close. Amara, nuzzled into his fur, it was strangely relaxing and her added warmth made it easier to fall asleep.
The next Twilight was easier to wake too. He'd rested long enough that exhaustion wouldn't be effecting him as bad. Amara was also well rested and her happy little self as they flew, taking more time out for hunting now. Ares managed to find a rat's nest and thus was happily full, Amara had a successful hunt as well. Amara looked over at ares, he was grooming himself. She was glad he was better, she looked back up into the sky it wouldn't be long until they reached the bent tree; she wondered if they should keep going or find a roost instead. Amara sighed her muscles were quiet sore from flying another thousand wingbeats, and ares should get some more rest, she flew in front of him.
" I'm going to look for a roost" Before ares could answer she was beating her wings her sonic eye pulsing as she searched for a shelter. Ares slowly followed her. For some reason he didn't want her out of his sight. He knew it was stupid, he shouldn't be getting attached to her. He quickly caught up to her, remaining almost silent.
"hola señorita Amara" he whispered coming up behind her. She smiled.
"hola"
Ares grinned and sniffed the clean air,cold, sharp- pungent blood stained air. Whoa, what?. Ares sniffed again and stiffened. Amara caught the scent and was already wheeling to try and find the source, her eyes sharp; unfocused. Crap, ares followed after her but she kept dodging through thick undergrowth he could not fit through. Finally he reached her and saw her staring at the horror of murder. Ares flew, hard and captured in his wings, roosting quickly. Amara kicked, shoved, bit, clawed, and then gave up whimpering from the memory. Ares looked across the scene of blood. From the trees hanging from there feet, where Brightwings, and owl chicks. There wings pulled from they're sockets and splayed across the ground like blood splattered, dead leaves. The bodies weren't eaten . No this slaying was only for sport. The bodies, instead where pecked, and slashed until they became nothing more but bloody stumps with patches of fur, and feathers remaining. They're legs impaled by twigs too keep the attached to the trees. The torsos of the bats were cut open, internals steaming lumps in the snow, the birds beaks and eyes where pulled out, some hooked on branches, but the one thing that caught his attention was the carving in the wood of the tree. "Hide and seek brother".
"el infierno me ha seguido" (hell has followed me) he whispered quietly, clutching Amara closer. His heart was beating rapidly. Troy. Ares couldn't breathe for a few seconds due to shock. He was numb, completely numb. "We have to get out of here" He told Amara. She whimpered unintelligibly. "Hold on," As he felt her cling to his chest he flew for the both of them, heading to a roost far from the bloody scene. He checked it carefully before entering a cave in the hillside of the forest. "Are you okay?" he asked slowly. She nodded.
"All of them...butchered...who could've done this?"
"My brother and his comrades...they are up here or were but hopefully they've moved on, They've come up to find me and kill everything in their path it seems."
"What are we going to do?"
"I will stay with you till we meet with your colony, then I have family issues to deal with." Amara clutched his fur,
" You won't do such a thing! give your life to them!" Ares winced, and looked down at Amara,
" They are killing innocent, all because of me, don't doubt that they won't go after your colony, my father will want them targeted next, you wouldn't give up your family for me" The words hurt him because he already knew the answer, Amara was silent. He sighed, chest tearing with pain, his future was no future he would have too go back down there and get his heart ripped out, but it already seemed as if his heart was torn apart, bleeding slowly.
" I don't know the future but I know the present , i won't have you be killed for something that may or may not happen I won't LET YOU DIE IN VAIN!" Amara's breath hitched her eyes glistening, ares nuzzled her cheek, comforting her. She looked up at him nuzzling his cheek back,
" Promise me Ares, don't give yourself to them" She sniffled, like she was loosing her best friend or family member to the hounds. Ares sighed,
" I promise " I'm sorry Amara some promises must be broken. The small female nuzzled him again, comforting.
"You're my friend Ares, we'll stop this together." Ares sighed.
"Sleep Amara, we'll talk after." She started to let go of his chest fur he pressed his wings tighter around her. "You can sleep on me, after what we saw it's probably for the best." Amara nodded, falling asleep. As she rested Ares nuzzled her gently. Afraid that he may lose her. He hardened his eyes "Maldígale Padre, rociando la sangre del inocente, juro que yo le haré paga por esto." (Damn you Father, spilling the blood of the innocent, I swear I will make you pay for this.) He then fell asleep, forming what little extra protection he could to Amara. "Te quiero a señorita Amara " (I love you Amara) He muttered in his sleep. Amara was too far in sleep to hear his confession.