A/N Whew, two chapters out within a week. I've had the last few chapters planned out for a while, as I have this one, and I hope it doesn't disappoint.
The seal moved in a slow, and laboured crawl,the fish in its mouth dangling limply as it died. It continued moving till the beach became smooth stone, instead of the mixture of shale and other rocks. It dropped the fish for a moment, another of its kind moving towards it. It was a smaller creature, though it was much younger.
After several roars and baring of fangs, the pair started fighting, biting at each other till the younger one tore the others throat out, staining the scorch marked rocks red. The challenger didn't mind, simply picking up the fish and started to move away, till a barrage of flint shards drove into its skull. It fooled to the ground. It's body as limp as the fish's that it had just eaten.
Lo walked towards it, the blood stained rocks dragging themselves from the carcass and floating around her. She wrapped an arm around the elder seal's tail, and began dragging it behind her, she was careful not to leave any blood stains behind her, while crows descended on the other.
She took it to the cave she'd been using, it was well sheltered, and difficult to spot, with enough twists and turns that what was inside couldn't be seen. They were looking for her, every so often a guard would sweep the beach. Looking for a body. Her body. She'd managed to survived, blasting fire into the ground to slow her descent, but it had still knocked her unconscious.
Upon waking she'd healed all her wounds, a particularly nasty gash in her forehead being her main concern. After that she'd found the gave she was in now, there was a small pile of wood at the centre of the cave, which she lit with a click of her fingers, before the stones she'd gathered began to skin the beast.
She sat down, staring into the flames and huddling over to get warm. She was still wearing her dress, though it was very damaged. She was going to leave at nightfall, they'd stop looking then, it'd be too dark to search and she could sneak away easily. She'd just have to wait it out.
Once the seal was skinned and othewise prepared, it began to float over the fire. Once it was cooked she'd find a source of water. She was glad for the hunting and survivalist traits Parcid had taught her. It was rather useful.
Lo began to run the events of last night aloud to herself. "So, I'm actually the rightful elven queen. I currently have a bodyguard waiting for me inside the tower. Someone ratted me out to the guards, and I've got a day to myself."
"Not entirely." A voice said, causing Lo to stand up, a ball of fire appearing in each hand and her pieces of flint lining up behind her before she glanced at the figure, before letting out a sigh, she was hallucinating again.
The rocks drove into the ground and the flames dissipated, before Lo dropped back to the floor. "Shall we get on with this then?"
"Really, no gasps of surprise?" Fay asked, clicking her fingers and having a piece of the floor raise to act as a chair. She looked, different. Her eyes seemed to have sunk, and the whites were more of a milky colour that surrounded a dull yellow. Her skin wasn't sagging, but lacked the smoothness that had been there before and her a visible portion of her hair had greyed. Her clothing was different as well. She no longer wore an elaborate dress, instead changing to a white shirt, blue jacket and brown trousers. She looked much more practical, as was hinted at by the various pouches that hung from her belt.
"I was expecting something like this." Lo replied, she had hit her head, and was expecting herself to feel dizzy, it would be preferable to this. "Considering I just found out about your past, it makes sense."
"Ah yes." She chuckled, before her voice took on a much more booming quality. "Fay, Queen of the weak and pathetic. Protector of those who can't make a fist due to their own idiocy."
Lo shook her head. "It may not be the smart think to do, but it's the right thing to do."
"The right thing?" Fay chuckled. "There is no 'right' thing. The very concept of 'right' was created by the weak to prevent the strong from reaching their full potential. Your father showed me the truth of the world. There is no good or evil, no right or wrong, no chaos or order. There is only strength, and how it is used."
Lo lent back and sighed. She'd given up on counting. "I'm glad you didn't raise me. You'd have been a terrible mother."
"No, I'd have been competent, unlike the weakling that raised you." Fay snarled. "I'd have taught you something mildly useful."
Lo could feel a certain amount of anger boiling in her, which she quickly forced down. She wasn't real. "Are you going to be around for long? I'm finding this rather disappointing."
"Finally, sonething we have in common." Fay announced, a malicious smile to cross her face.
"And what would that be?" Lo asked, raising an eye brow. She was slightly disgusted to think they had anything in common, even blood.
"We both disappoint the the other." She chuckled before standing up as another surge of anger went through her.
"Leave." Lo hissed. She knew she wasn't real, but it seemed like the best idea.
"Fine, but before I do, let me leave you with something." She said, digging through her pockets.
Lo started to frown. She couldn't give her anything, she wasn't. The sudden realisation dawned upon her, and she pulled herself upwards. The shards of rockm moving in mid-air, a single piece heading rapidly in Fay's direction. Before she could blink, the stone was deflected and a hand was placed on Lo's throat.
"I'm doing you a favour girl, though now it'll be more of a trade." Fay pulled a strange rock from her pocket that emitted a strange light. "This, is a minion stone. It'll help you regain some control of the minions."
Lo let out a choked sound as she tried to ask what she meant.
"Now, time for me to take what I need." Fay whispered. Lo felt a sharp pain dig through her entire body, like a thousand needles pricking her skin simultaneously. Suddenly it was replaced by a dull throb, and as Lo lost all energy to fight back, her body falling limp and her eyes closing as she fell asleep.
Fay placed her daughter on the ground, removing the seal from above the fire so it didn't burn before leaning down over Lo. "You won't understand what is happening at the moment, or why I'm doing what I'm doing, but I need you to be ready for what is to come. There's no stopping it, but at least you can try." She whispered, giving her a light kiss to the forehead.
Lo gave a shocked gasp, clawing to pull herself upright and breathing deeply. She glanced around her, before flopping to the ground. She attempted to stand upright, collapsing several times before finally succeeding. Fay had done something to her, she didn't know what, but she was struggling to move and lacked any energy.
She gripped onto the wall of the cave, holding the stone Day had given her in her palm as she arrived at the opening, glancing outside to see the tip of the sun on the horizon.
She was going to make it back. One way or another.