A/N: My sincerest apologies to everyone who has taken a look at this story. I know how frustrating it can be to wait for new chapters, and while I have my reasons (senior year thesis and mono don't mix well, folks) for such a delay, I do feel guilty for making people wait so long. I told myself when I started writing fanfic that I would never leave a story abandoned, and although I can't say when I will have time again to write, I promise the readers that this fic will be finished. Thank you all for reading, huge hugs to all those following this bit and to those who have reviewed; it means the world to me. Enjoy the next piece!
"Who are you?" He recovers quickly, more quickly than the few others to whom I have spoken. I watch as his body immediately shifts, ever so slightly, into a pose of defense. Most likely an unconscious movement as he reallocates to shield his brother a bit more.
"You would not know the name."
"Alright then, where the hell did you come from?"
"Careful, child. I could ask you the same. This is my domain upon which you encroach."
He casts his eyes down, the warning received and understood. He knows his words will have great meaning upon our meeting. I wait for him to decide what is proper to say.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Hell, I don't even know where we are right now."
"Far from the reach of such humans as yourself. I am curious as to how you found yourself here."
"It's a long story." He pauses, trying to figure out what to do next. I can tell he wants to leave, wants to run back into the arms of civilization. But he knows he is in the presence of something inhuman. I wonder if he knows what I am capable of. What I could do for him and his brother, if I wanted to.
I won't, though. My decision was made long ago and I will not interfere. I am here only to garner his story, and then I will leave.
I do not heed the voice in the back of my mind that wants to do more.
"I have nothing but time here."
"I can't…I need to go. I've got to get out of here."
"And where will you go, child? You do not know where you are. You do not know how to get back to where you would like to be. You do not have the ability to get back. These are facts to both of us."
He stares at me, something analogous to fear behind his eyes. Not fear for himself or even of me, though. Just fear for his brother, once again the power of family driving this man's every thought and action.
I am nearly impressed.
"Who are you? What are you?"
"As I said, you would not know me. I am not a figure in a history book you can look up and decipher, hunter."
He shrinks back at the word.
"You know what we are?"
I nod. "Of course. It is etched upon your faces, after all."
"Then what do you want from me?"
It is my turn to pause. I wonder if I should be forward. He interrupts my thoughts, impatience clear in his tone. His brother is running out of time, it is only right for him to be agitated.
"Look, if you want to kill us, just kill us."
"Why would you think that?"
He huffs, tossing his head as his eyes take on a bitter gleam. "We're hunters. Since when do creatures like you not want to kill us."
I bristle at the crudeness of his words. He knows so little and judges too quickly.
"Do not group me in with those insignificant beasts. I was there at their beginnings, and at all of yours. You would not belittle me so to assume that I am anything akin to them. And do not call me creature."
I wonder if he will try to run. Instead, though, one corner of his mouth turns up in a grin. "I can't call you human. I can't call you creature. I wouldn't dare to call you monster, but you won't tell me your name or what you are. What would you have me call you, then?"
I am surprised at his boldness, and answer with a smirk of my own. "Well said, human. You may call me neither friend nor foe. I do not wish to harm you."
His brother shifts in his arms and starts to cough. The man leans down and brings one of his hands to gently caress the dampened, bloodied hair.
"You have a gentle touch for someone so hardened by battle, child."
He doesn't respond, too caught up in trying to offer some form of solace to the form he cradles.
"Shh, Sammy, don't try to talk. It's gonna be alright, kiddo. You just hang on a little longer, okay?"
He looks back up at me. I see helplessness in his eyes.
"You offer promises to him. Ones you know you may not keep." Promises, frail things that are so easily torn away by all the messes that gather up in our lives. They are foolish and should not be bothered with, and yet he does.
"We keep our promises in this family." His gaze hardens into resolve once more.
"I do not have to know you to know that must be a lie. All beings break their oaths at one point or another. It is in your nature."
"I won't, I…I won't. Not this time."
He is so determined. Such a strong will for one so battered. I have not seen a strength like this in a millennium.
He notices how I ponder. He takes it in, adds it to his calculations as if I am another piece of scenery he may use to his advantage. I wonder if he would attempt to overpower me in his frenzy for action. I think not. He is wiser than most.
I lean back in his fragile human form, and wait for him to make the next move. He pauses to breathe out heavily, eyes closing as if to pray. When they open again, they shine a green so bright it could set this field ablaze.
He speaks.
"I don't know you, you're right. You're not my friend or my enemy, and that's fine. We don't have to be anything to each other. But you're here, now, the only…being, I guess, for god knows how far. So you're all he has. Please, if you have anything in you that I can ask for, please. Help me to save him. Please."
And so the move is made.