Ok guys…with the end of the school year and exams coming up this will be the last chapter for a little bit. I also got my other stories to update as well. So hope you enjoy and look forward to the next chapter.

Hogo Kurisutofā (Protective Christopher) Part 2

Sleeping was not very successful considering we were swaying up and down and I wasn't used to that nor the salty sea air that. I was feeling queasy the entire time. When I finally did get to sleep a metal clang woke me the next moment as a crewmember purposefully wakes us all while it's still dark out.

"Rise and shine girly and flea bags; got some food for you." He tosses the food through the bars so it lands on the floor making it less edible for any of us to eat. Looking more closely the food looked to be made of rotten grapes and other fruit and stale moldy bread along with some unusual looking meat. I say nothing to him only try laying back down to get some sleep. The others either not bothered by the man or just not wanting to eat follow my example. "Come on if you don't eat you'll get sick." Again neither of us respond or react to the comment. Something suddenly pokes my head as the member tries to get my attention, "Come on get up already. With all the noise you were making yesterday you seemed to be quite the girl. Don't tell me you lost that nerve. That wouldn't be really fun." Christopher stands up slightly growling at the man. I stand trying to head for the corner of the jail cell farthest away from the crew member but suddenly feel my hair being yanked on making me fall back. "You know you really are cute…"

"K- Kieru!" Christopher wastes no time in biting the hand griping my hair, biting quite hard in fact. He yanks the man's arm out of its socket thrashing it back and forth between the cell bars before letting it go. By now I've made my way into the corner hugging my knees to my chest glaring at the man as the pain is caused to him. the others also watch the show with stoic looks planted on their faces. "That's enough Christopher…you can let him go now." I say reluctantly and instantly Christopher returns to his kind demeanor as I allow him to rest on my lap again. The crew member only looks at us as we sit in the shadows, "We won't be broken that easily…" I say as he stares at me with a mixture of fear and shock. Eduardo, Nathan and Russell getting either angry, irritated or both charge at the barrier between them and the man making him get up and dash for safety. Still feeling exhausted I lay back down with the others huddling around me. Christopher places himself in front of me keeping my sight from what others may come before laying down next to me. I fall asleep slowly some how the rocking which made me feel sick also served to help me get some sleep. With the rotting food scent invading my nose and the others as well none of us are able to really fall sleep.

"Pst!" my eyes open to see fur and thinking nothing of the sound I try to fall asleep again.

"Miss Reisaki there's someone here…"

"Don't bother with it Thomas; it doesn't deserve our attention." Eduardo says coldly. Using my arms for support I look up to see a somewhat kinder looking crewman. He has an eye patch over his right eye where a scar is peaking out of and the other is blue. His black hair is pulled back and off his neck creating a small pony tail. He seems older than the first one I met.

"Hey, come here girl." He says in hushed tones but he doesn't sound mean like the others. As he comes closer to the cell he looks around to make sure no one is around before pulling out a few bread rolls, a bundle of grapes and a decent sized slab of meat. He looks down at the messy floor of rotten food, "I see you've experienced the Black Larka's hospitality towards prisoners…" he looks back and forth between the wolves beside me. "So which one did it?"

"Did what?" I ask folding my arms,

"I'm talking about busting up Gale's arm; he was wailing his head off how one of your friends tore his arm apart."

"Did your friend mention that he tried to grab me?"

"No but I figured that was what happened…personally I think it was funny." I point to the black wolf calmly staring at the man,

"Christopher is the one who did it. He may seem nice but I've come to learn he has a but of a mean streak when he needs to use it."

"Good that's going to come in handy while you're here." He kneels and places the food on the floor between the bars for us to get to. "Here eat this. It's not much but it's better than rotten food." I eye him doubtfully. "I know this must seem strange but I'm on your side. I know what it feels like to be forced onto this ship."

I stand and cautiously head up to the bars to meet this man claiming to be a friend.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Jacob; just like you I was forced onto this ship as well. Rai is not one to give people a choice."

"How do I know that I can trust you?"

"I don't expect for you to trust me right away but I am going to try and help you get off this ship." I look down at the food on the ground, "It's not poisoned or anything."

"That just makes it even more suspicious." I hear Eduardo say.

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to but I figured it would help." He leaves before someone finds out he's here leaving me and the others still suspicious of him. I look down at the food and set aside my pride picking it up. I break it apart and sniff the bread first to see if some sot of natural herbs were added to it that could have been used as poisons and the others check to see if anything else could be off. Everything seemed to checkout fine and I start to break up the food as evenly as possible among us. It wasn't much in the end but it at least helped to curb our hunger.

Again I'm woken up by the sound of the gate creeping open and someone standing in the way. The right hand of the captain stands in the opening gesturing for me to follow him. I look back at the others with a knowing look in my eye. While the others try to look around as much as they can here in the cell; Christopher and I are to memorize what we can of the ship when let out. It had been a few days a week at most since we were captured and had plenty of time to come up with this for a plan. It was the only thing we could do for the moment seeing as how the others were still being held up in the cell. As we follow the right hand, I notice Christopher on edge as he stares at the passing crew members making sure they maintain a distance. Gale, the one Christopher bit maintains his distance by staying up against the wall. After climbing up the stairs, the light burns my eyes after being in the dim jail cell for quite a while. There I find Jacob, someone who has been sneaking food for me and the others to eat, and others on deck. Off in the distance there is an island painted with different colors of green. Besides trees I can see formations that look like ruins. Rai shouts orders as I make my way over to the only person on this ship that I can somewhat trust.

"What's going on Jacob?"

"We are getting ready to head over to that island. That was our initial goal before we heard about you on Yamato. There's apparently a treasure located on this island."

"So why am I needed?"

"That's the thing, this treasure is known as the griffon's golden eye. It's a gold gem that was said to be guarded by a mythical creature called a griffon."

"What's a griffon?"

"A creature that is a mix between a lion and a bird."

"But if it's a legend why am I needed?"

"In case the griffon is there; the captain wants you to force it to give us the treasure."

"I…I don't force animals to do what I want; my…I mean it doesn't work like that. I can't will animals to do what I want them to do." Christopher leans against me trying to help calm my nerves. "I can't DO what he wants me to do." Jacob looks down at Christopher,

"Then you're going to have to find a way to escape when we get to the island."

"No!" I answer rather quickly.

"But-"

"We're not leaving the others here."

"Then he better be ready to protect you when Rai comes after you." Comes after me…?" soon crew members including me are picked to get on the row boat to head to the island.

…

Rai's right hand makes sure to stay close to me as he keeps an eye on me while Christopher keeps an eye on him standing in the way between us. Many animals try to come to me but I warn them to stay away from these people that they aren't like me. We come to a cliff as Rai begins to start climbing up. The others start following him.

"Can you climb in that form?" I ask the wolf by me.

"We climbed up cliffs like this back in the forest. It should be fine. Will you be fine?"

"Yes."

"If you start to feel tired let me know." I can't help but smile at his kindness.

"I'll be fine Christopher. I'm more worried about if we find that treasure…" I admit honestly,

"You're talking about the griffon…"

"I'm hoping it's not real, as disappointing that would be. If it is…"

"You're afraid of what may happen if you can't reason with it." I nod.

"My ability only allows me to talk to animals; with that gift I try to earn their trust and befriend them. It was never about controlling them."

"Then don't try to control it; just do what you normally do. You earned our trust right?"

"That was different you silly wolf." I laugh a bit. I look up at the cliff still thinking about the griffon that could possibly be waiting on the other side. My heart feels somewhat cold as I try to convince myself to move forward but my legs remain as stone. A human Christopher suddenly stands in front of me catching me off guard. My face feeling hot I trip stepping backwards; strong arms catch me and I feel myself floating as I'm being carried. "C-Christopher!"

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

"D-Don't do that; you always tease me…!" I whine.

"I'm sorry." Feeling my self calm down he only stares at me, "what?"

"You're as red as a tomato." He smiles kindly,

"Christopher….c'mon already… stop teasing me."

"Do you feel better now?" he asks as he sets me down.

"What?"

"I didn't mean to make you mad I was just trying to help take your mind off the situation for a moment." The cold feeling in my chest is gone now and I feel a little more relaxed. Nodding I smile at him.

"Thank you Christopher…" he pets my head gently before we hear from above,

"Get moving woman!" Rai shouts,

"I'm usually pretty tolerant of people like him but for some strange reason he causes me to lose all my patience…" Christopher says, now back to being a wolf, looking rather annoyed.

"I don't think it's just you… the others don't like him either." I say before we too start climbing up to the top.