As she walked, the only sound was the crunching of the black rocks underneath her boots. The two suns high in the sky seemed focused on her with a vengeance. Her perfect white skin was covered in black dust and streaks of sweat. Annoying strands of her hair clung to her cheeks like a heavy coat. "Fucking sauna." She spoke in a worn-out voice, "Feels like days." She added. "maybe I should…" she raised her chin, unzipped her body-hugging black armor, bringing the zipper down, the swells of her ample breasts pushed out from underneath the tight material. "phew…" she blew out a breath, waving her hand over her chest.

not really working… little misaka said, damn air is nothing but hot…. and our girls might get a slight sunburn…

Mikoto furrowed her brow, puckering her mouth, "huh? What…. no, they won't besides… they'd heal so…." she looked down at her chest and took a deep breath. She grinned, admiring the view.

Please…. Little Misaka said sarcastically… you've had 'em for nearly 8 years, and you still… little misaka laughed… you wouldn't wear a bra for a month.

Mikoto grinned. It was true.

It wasn't like they just popped up overnight. But… when the measurements started growing. And she measured a lot… each morning rushing out of bed, into the bathroom, grabbing the tape measure, wrapped it around, taking a deep breath and…

Oh, please… you were just as happy… smart ass.

I know. She giggled. BOOOOOBS…. little misaka shrieked. We almost beat Anastasia. She laughed harder. "Tatas, Bewbs, cantaloupes!"

"yea," Mikoto spoke softly. A soft blush was hidden underneath the sweat and dirt-colored cheeks.

Mikoto raised the small canteen and drank a mixture of blood and water. Despite being a vampire, she still needed water to hydrate her body. She carried eight canteens on her utility belt hung around her waist and four utility belts across her body like gun belts. The other compartments are filled with dry rations, ampoules of blood and plasma, fire-making tools, and other survival conveniences.

She could feel the sweat dripping off her fingers, holding the canteen to her mouth. "I've got enough water for a while." She said, scanning the horizon.

She could see for miles, sniffing the air, "no rain in the forecast." Looked around in tired desperation.

"Looks like heat waves all day, every day." She said. "Katrina said this was a large planet with a sustainable life. But this area is barren. If anything, I should head east."

Which we are. Little misaka answered.

Mikoto nodded.

"The capital will be the first major city, but maybe some villages and a few watering holes before that." her voice fading as she slowed to a stalking pace. Something… she sniffed… someone… she growled.

She raised her head, her nose quivering, her heart quickening. The slight breeze was a luxury, cooling her wet face and hands and giving her a helpful hint. Her mouth watered. She had smelled the scent before. The muscles in her jaws twitched, and her chest trembled with a soft growl.

The uninvited diplomat who'd arrived at the castle in the four kingdoms acted as if she owned the place. A mild altercation occurred. A traditional shewolf greeting for the uninvited guest sent her flying. She retaliated.

Mikoto sighed, "should've…" shaking her head, "should've dropped her then." taking a deep breath, "Ava… Was her name." She whispered.

She wasn't human, more animal, like something from Greek mythology. A humanoid form walking on two legs, dressed in armor resembling ancient Greece but modern. Her large dark eyes glistened like wet stones, twisted black horns like a bull, the points face forward. Her long hair is held tight by ribbons. She was tall, 6 feet maybe.

She'd arrived, demanding to see Katrina, and refused to leave until they talked.

Mikoto thinned her eyes, listened to her heart's thrumming, cocked her head, and smiled. It struggles to breathe and has a heavy heartbeat under duress. The smell of sweat and blood filled the air, forming an airborne trail for her to follow.

She took a few steps and started to fast walk, leaving her straight-line path. She quickened her pace. In about an hour, she'd come upon a fresh blood trail. The glistening of the dark, wet liquid dissipates in the extreme waves of heat.

No wonder… Little Misaka said, in this heat, it dries quick

Mikoto lightened her steps. The crunching underneath her boot went silent until she was a few meters away from her prey.

Much to her delight, she knew her prey.

Ava, the diplomat who had brokered the meeting with Katrina. Who had even brought them over to this realm was on her belly, dragging her torn, bloodied body along the ground. Both legs were nothing but bloodied stumps. Her armor shredded, her hair matted with her own blood, her glimmering black horns cracked.

Mikoto grinned, seeing she'd gone one-on-one with one of her own and received the brunt of it. Ava stopped, pushed herself up off the ground, and looked over her shoulder.

Mikoto cocked her head, gave a little finger wave, and grinned. Ava's eyes slowly widened, her mouth hung open as a ragged breath blew out.

Mikoto's eyes shifted, turning crimson red, the color of the Blood Moon, her mouth parted, and her fangs glistened in the heat.

"We'll have a nice little talk," Mikoto said in words with not-so-subtle overtures. "You and I."

She took a deep breath, quickly walked over, and straddled Ava as she lay on her belly, grabbed a handful of her hair, violently pulled her up, wrapped her right arm around her, and held her tight.

She buried her face in the crook of her neck and whispered. "yes… a very nice talk. For me, not you."

Chills overwhelmed Ava's body. Pain tore through her as the bloody stumps dragged over the sharp rocks. Unintelligible sounds gurgled from her throat.

"You'll answer me." Mikoto growled, shaking her head yes, her warm breath brushed over her throat, "willing or unwilling."

She dragged the tips of her fangs across her wet skin. Her tongue slipped across the fresh wounds and sizzled like peroxide.

Mikoto licked her lips, "I lost a lot of friends… So not really playing nice right now." releasing a handful of hair, she grabbed her right horn.

At the cracking of her horn, Ava screamed, feeling the sudden jerk as Mikoto tore it off and tossed it to the ground. The bloody horn skipped across the black surface and stilled.

Ava's eyes and mouth opened wide in disbelief as warm blood flowed from the side of her head down her neck to her breast.

"I was… I was ordered by…" she spoke, trembling in pain, "by my master… And…"

"Who is your master!" Mikoto bit back the anger burning in her belly, grabbed her throat, switched hands, and took the remaining horn in her grasp.

"Bahamut!" she screamed, pain ripping through her flesh, her eyes teared, and tears slipped down her cheeks, "I serve and obey…" she said, unapologetic, with rapid breaths, "Surely you understand. I was given a duty, and I performed it."

"You led us into a trap." Mikoto countered, violently tugging the horn.

"I have no allegiance to you…." Her head jerked. "so why do you…." a painful strain of voice left her throat,

"fine…" Mikoto growled, knowing she was right. Her body shook with barely controllable rage. "Where's the capital?"

Ava took a breath, her jaws tight, refusing to answer.

"Where's…" Mikoto tightened her grip.

Ava closed her eyes, sweat, and tears mixed, sliding down her dirty cheeks. She lifted her head slightly, "that way…."

"How long?!"

"A year… a year and a half by foot…" she said, gritting her teeth.

Mikoto's eyes went wide. A year!

"Maybe longer…" Ava continued.

Mikoto's heart slammed into her chest, and her stomach tightened.

"Do you think they'd have a battle between Dragons so close to civilization?" Ava said, "we expected Katrina, but Gabriella and the Dragon mage were unexpected.

Dragon mage? Little Misaka said, Ruiko Saten?

"We didn't know about Gabriella…."

Gabriella had become her genetic twin to Katrina. A happy accident concerning organic micro-machines and Katrina's DNA.

"You, on the other hand… They thought you'd fall first…."

Mikoto arched her right eyebrow. "yet here I stand…" tightening her grip around the horn, it cracked.

Ava pulled her lips into her mouth, fearing the pain, "yes… Here you are…." She said, "left behind in a world ruled by dragons. The sons and daughters of the dragons of creation…" she coughed.

"I'll manage…." Mikoto jerked Ava's body. Her bloody stumps dragged across the black rocky soil, and stabbing pain rushed through her body.

"Why?" Mikoto asked.

"Why?" Ava furrowed her brow. "Why?" Ava repeated.

"The attack… Why?"

Ava struggled with the pain of her wounds, her body bent over in an unnatural yoga position from hell, "release me… And I'll talk…."

Mikoto leaned against her spine and wrenched her backward. "it's too… To uncomfortable…" Ava's voice broke.

"Fine…" Mikoto huffed roughly and released her hold.

Ava drops forward, catching herself. She felt the release of pain as she stared at the black ground between her hands. Blood and sweat dripped into the large pools of black crimson, slowly disappearing into the heat.

"Don't move…." Mikoto said, "just talk." Ava quickly nodded. "here…" Mikoto tapped her horn with a canteen. A bit of mercy, perhaps.

Ava turned her head, surprised at the canteen, slowly nodded, and took it. "very civilized…" she said, bringing the open canteen to her mouth and drank. Her mouth tasted of her own blood. Her throat felt like crushed gravel from the heat. She hungrily drank, letting very little water go wasted. She sighed softly, feeling the cool water in her mouth.

"Katrina killed the Empress assigned to rule by Bahamut…" she said, taking a deep breath, relishing the pleasure of water, cooling her thirst.

Mikoto listened.

"it seems she, the Empress, and Katrina had a falling out over a little one, who turned out to be her older sister. Twice was one time too many. So, Katrina and another, we don't know who, killed the Empress and ten thousand royal guards and put the Empress's little sister in charge."

"A power-play?" Mikoto whispered, "no…." Ava said, "Katrina, just put the first person she saw in charge. But Bahamut had sworn to protect her, and he failed…."

"Revenge?"

"Yes…" Ava nodded, "revenge. So, others joined to find favor with him. And others really didn't care. He is… Was the strongest, and he'd use it on a whim." She said, taking another drink.

"Sounds nice…" Mikoto said sarcastically.

Ava nodded. Her shoulders sank, enjoying the water. She rolled over on her back and maneuvered herself to where she could sit up. She shook her head, looking at the bloody stumps of her legs, her uniform and armor scraped and damaged.

She took a deep breath, holding it as if it were her last before she spoke.

"There are gardens…" she said.

"Gardens?" Mikoto asked. Ava nodded. "Oasis, I think you call them on your world. Lush and green, filled with water and food." She said, her eyes slowly brightening, "they're beautiful…." She nodded, raising her head looked at Mikoto.

"I will not be able to see them again."

Mikoto clicked her tongue, "start dragging…" looking off into the distance.

Ava chuckled, coughed, spitting out blood. She wiped her mouth, leaving a bloody streak across her cheek. "Even if you carry me… I'm going to die."

Mikoto quickly furrowed her brow and scrunched her face in disgust. "carry you?" Mikoto wanted to laugh.

Ava chuckled, her face turning soft and serene. She accepted her fate, taking the last of the water she swallowed. "If you get to the capital, they'll have a portal you can use. Just tell it where you want to go."

"No coordinates."

"Nope…" Ava slowly shook her head, "just say the name like I did. Earth, the four kingdoms…" she said with a mischievous grin. "That's it…." She slowly cocked her head, smiled, and gave her a quick wink.

"You're awfully forthright," Mikoto said, reaching for another canteen.

Ava smiled at the gesture, shaking her head. "You have to get there to use it…" she said, dropping her chin to her chest.

"Mikoto…" she said, almost as if she were her friend, "don't trust the priests," Ava said. As her body swayed, her vision slowly faded.

Mikoto's brow twitched, listening to Ava's heartbeat. It was slower, but she still had a while to go.

"I'm tired…" she said, looking up, exhaling a slow breath, "I like to ask you a favor." Trying to steady herself.

"A favor!" Mikoto quickly raised her voice, clenching her fist. "how could you…." remembering the loss of her friends.

"I'm asking for mercy…" she said with a sigh, struggling to speak, "I am… She slowly licked her lips. I am a soldier. I obey… We're bred for, trained for, and die for. I follow the master I was sold to…."

"Sold?" Mikoto's eyes quickly widened.

Ava nodded, and an honest smile appeared, seeing the tiny twitches in Mikoto's expression. Sold… Little Misaka echoed.

Mikoto swallowed her rising anger, "if I can… I might…" Her anger peeked from just underneath. Crossing her arms on her breasts, blew out a breath and dropped them just underneath her breasts.

"Nice problem to have," Ava grinned, chuckled, then spoke. "I want you to end my life." She said.

"What?" Mikoto cocked her head. "why…."

"I am not a vampire, so I can't regenerate or heal my wounds. Even if I could make it back. I'll just be executed for my failure to bring victory to the name of Bahamut. Of course, the fact that he's been killed. Might allow me to live a little longer." Her cheeks blushed, letting out a weak laugh, "but…" Her expression and voice turned somber, "despite my best effort to stop the bleeding, dragging my less-than-perfect body over those damn sharp black rocks with no water," she said, "dying of thirst scares me…" her eyes becoming wet. "So, I ask you, Mikoto Misaka, to have mercy on a fellow soldier." She said, "please…." Tears slipped over her cheeks.

"Dammit…" Mikoto growled.

We should. You would do it if she was one of your own households, so… Little misaka reminded Mikoto.

"Don't even play that card…." Mikoto growled, grinding her teeth as she quickly walked over to Ava.

"I'm not saying I understand…." Mikoto spoke. Ava smiled softly, "of course. I'm your enemy…" sighing softly.

"I think you should suffer a little more like me…." Mikoto, standing behind, grabbed her horn, a little gentler than before, tilted her head. Her neck glistened in the heat. "could you have washed…." Mikoto said, licking her hand and wiping her neck.

Ava chuckled, "I'm sorry… But my thirst came first…" looking up at Mikoto from the odd angle, "to die thirsty…." her eyes wet, "I just couldn't wonder the afterlife constantly thirsty…" she smiled. "The canteen was a beautiful gift…" her smile softened," from a compassionate soldier." Glancing at Mikoto.

Mikoto's growl grew louder.

She bent over Ava's shoulder, putting her hand between her breast. Ava held Mikoto's hand like a lover. Mikoto's eyes turned crimson, her mouth opened wide, and her fangs dropped, "I hate you for this…" sinking into Ava's throat.

Ava grinned, "I thank you for this…" she whispered. Mikoto's fangs pierce her skin.

Ava flinched, losing herself to Mikoto. Her heart raced, then slowed, the beating disappeared, and her hand slipped to her lap.

Mikoto swallowed until she could no longer feel her heart beating. Ava's body slouched. She finished, rose, and Ava's body slumped against her leg.

That answers one question. Little Misaka said.

Mikoto nodded, looking down at Ava's lifeless body. "I can feed…."

Little Misaka nodded.

Mikoto slipped out along a large blade from her hip, grabbed the handful of hair, gently pulled Ava's head up, placed the sharp edge to her throat, and took her head off with a simple swipe.

"No accidents…" looking cold and indifferent. Stepping back, the body dropped to the dirt.

Mikoto cleaned the blade, put it back into the hidden sheath, and started walking, carrying the head a short way. She held out her hand, her finger spread wide, bluish-white electricity sparked, wrapped around her hand, and shot forward, blowing a decent-sized hole in the ground.

With deep red eyes without emotions, she watched the dirt and debris rise into the air, and settle over the makeshift gravy. She gently placed Ava's head in the grave and covered it, finding a large black rock. Tiny bluish-white sparks jumped from underneath her hand as she smoothed the surface. And wrote on the makeshift tombstone. Ava, a soldier who served.

Setting it on the tiny grave. She stared at it, seeing her image on the polished surface. You liked her?

Mikoto shook her head, "no… Not really… I just…"

She'd made a good elite.

"Yeah…" lifting her head, and looked to the horizon. "Gardens…" she said, putting her hand on her hip and inhaling a deep breath.