Queen's note: I've had to rewrite the end of this chapter like… three times. But I think I'm happy with it!

Garnets

Chapter Forty:

Protection

Heather was, in a word, confused.

So very confused, and nothing seemed to be making sense since the start. She had just lost the last person to ever care about or for her since her mother was found torn apart by the demons just outside of their home dock. Watching as Aron swung around to cover her after Rick had pushed her forward at the splash of demon acid. Watching Aron screaming at the pain, screaming at everyone to just run if she saw right, to get away as the stinking pool spread out to and around him.

Then the giant appeared.

Heather did not understand why at first that he had hit Aron so hard with his… sword. At least not until her friend's dying screams cut off into a startled, almost normal muffled sound. Then the sword lifted and slammed down through Aron and the ground and all pain sounds were completely gone.

Someone was pouring saltwater over Heather's head. To wash away the droplet-splatters of demon bile that she was in too much shock to notice had gotten on her. Staring as the giant stood up, his shadow casting back over Heather and who was helping her. Just for a few moments before the demon broke through the barricade that was supposed to keep them out. In the park?

Heather remembered thinking she was going to see her mother again. Aron too. Maybe she would be lucky that something would hit her hard enough to make it not hurt anymore too, like the giant had done for Aron.

"That crazy pilot bastard!" The person beside heather cried out, the girl only catching a little of what they said by reading their lips before she was being pulled by the adult as the sky seemed to open up. Unlike the first few times though, demons and other worldly monsters did not pour out but a flood of saltwater. More than any wave Heather could ever remember herself.

She held her breath, could not help holding her breath and cling to the adult that was trying to shield her. Everything crashed, roared and pulled, though oddly… she did not feel much of anything. Just… aware of something that should hurt in her legs, but could not feel it.

She was staring up at the sky, not fully seeing it as Heather gasped for air. Her hearing seemed to be off and she was alone again, sprawled on her back somewhere on the street.

Movement drew her attention to her right and 'up' seeing the giant impossibly standing back up from the half crouch he had been in. How could he stand up against all that force…?

Heather realized an odd thing, she was still in his shadow as the fat spitting demon was roaring.

Screaming.

It was the deep inner ear vibration like 'sound' that she could not really hear, like everything else, but always was able to feel from the demons.

The demon was… scared?

Even though she was watching, Heather was not so sure how the giant moved so fast. One moment he was there, the next he was over there by the demon. Despite the fact that the creature was even bigger than the giant man, he was pulling it apart. Breaking apart its massive jaws that she had seen can open wide to spite that burning bile.

It really did seem like the now bloody demon was scared, trying to get itself unstuck and away from the green and tan armored form.

Heather was sort of happy she could not really hear anything going on around her as she lay there on the street. Watching from her spot as the giant was seemingly able to push the demon out back the way it came from the barricade with a shower of dark blood.

Something was felt in her chest, at first like the quick vibrations of the fireworks over the harbor before everything turned to ash and sadness. Heather stared back up at the sky, feeling that sensation turn into a deep rumble through her bones. Like feeling the sounds from deep under the earth vibrate up her small frame. It felt like what videos of avalanches looked like they should sound like to her.

Someone blocked the sky as they checked on Heather. She was having trouble focusing on them, tried to sign, to ask if she was dead yet.

They did not understand, and picked her up out of the wet street. Carrying Heather off to the side and away from the one barricade. All the while she could feel the unearthly (or too earthy?) rumbles and vibrations in her chest and bones.

Heather just let herself lay limp as she semi recognized members of one of religious groups that had caught her mother's attention. They were the ones that did not seem to hate, but help other survivors. Having taken over a larger out of the way harbor. She remembered distinctly that the people trapped in the park were from this group. They had gone there to get… something, and then were stuck.

Rick had been excited, and had scared her as he grabbed Heather off the sunny dock where she stayed to draw things with chalk. The man was in an active habit of dragging Heather around places with him, like he used to do to her mother before.

Was that how her mother found herself lost?

Heather finally started to look around, not seeing Rick. Just strangers. She did not want to get up, in case he saw her, but there was the possibility of finding someone who could sign, who could understand her. Rick did not really understand, only some half words, no matter what he said.

The girl reached out, tugging on the nearest adult for attention, trying anyways. Even if she did not have much hope. Trying to mouth the words she was only just learning to 'say' with her mother the year before. Help. Help please? See me talk? See me? Help?

"Is that sign language? I'm sorry baby I don't know it," the woman nearest said as she came over, sitting on her knees beside Heather and reaching to check the child over, wincing as her fingers brushed over the exposed scraps and…cuts?

Heather reflexively tried to hide her stomach, and then became aware of the new assorted road burns basically. Hurt, hurt, help?

She tried to speak aloud, but had only just started to learn how to do that before the world itself went deaf as well. That growling vibration in her inner ear (or was it in her bones?) was very distracting as well before she caught a glimpse of Rick. Heather wanted to freeze, to run, but her legs burned now and she took a chance to latch onto the adult in front of her.

Clinging tightly as there was a stir around them before someone grabbed at the back of Heather's neck and hair. She looked up at him, eyes wide as she recognized Rick's angry face. Trying to not read whatever he was hissing at her before there was a strange thing happening. Everyone's attention was shifting, including Rick as Heather felt that strange vibrating growl in not just her bones but her chest now. She tried to get away but was pushed down.

Hurt, hurt- help. Heather signed as she was shaken a bit in warning for doing so. But could not… not try to sign. Help, monster, hurt-hurt save me- hurt-

The light was blocked, and Heather felt herself being thrown forward. Scrabbling on the broken pavement. Before looking up to see…boots? Armor? They were impossibly large, and black in color.

It was demon blood Heather realized, it was coating… the giant from before. She saw the massive…man? Person? The giant tilted his head, the splatters of demon blood, char and ash covered him as Heather stared up at him from his shadow.

The thick armor creaked as he stooped over the girl, and then his bulk crouched at her. Even with the helmet and almost unable to see through the mirror like visor, there was a sense of being stared at in an unwavering way. The girl was aware that she was his full focus as he rumbled-

It was him.

She felt and had been 'hearing' this whole time since first seeing him.

Why hurt? The giant actually signed down at Heather, His head tilting minutely to his right as the girl stiffened and then lit up as she realized she could recognize the signs he used most. What makes you scared? Demons dread.

Monster, monster. She signed back, startled that someone else signed back at her, let alone this hulking giant. Her eyes rolled at who had been holding her head down. Help? Help please? Save me from monster? He made momma sleep with the demon monsters.

The giant cocked his head almost sharply as he watched, and then those massive hands reached for Heather and just picked her up as easily as if plucking a seashell off the beach. Not just the strange metal armor but the exposed skin of the upper she had to grab to grab as heather was shifted to sit on his left forearm. He was almost hot to the touch, but the black demon blood stains seemed to be…burned? It was black but more like soot stains now that the girl was so close.

Then he gave a thunder deep rumble that was almost aimed just for her. Vibrating through her as Heather grasped at the top edge of the giant's chest plate in an attempt to ground herself while he shifted to sign with her sitting on his forearm. Can take? Small thing have anything you want to take?

Wait.

Take…take her away from the docks?

The giant could do that? Was he allowed to? Then again he was bigger than anyone Heather had ever known.

The thought that she could just leave had never occurred to Heather until now. Having gotten used to the need to stay by some dock and seawater to survive. She was not even aware of the tears forming as she thought about her mom's chest on the dock, and her kitten.

She grinned up at the giant, feeling heady despite how she hurt that someone was saving her. Cat? Momma gave me?

I like cats. The giant signed around the girl as he stood up, Heather realizing she was held up higher than ever before. Possibly even higher than her father used to be in her memories.

Heather did not hear Rick as he pushed back over, until he grabbed at her arm, almost yanking the girl and off of the warm arm she was now sitting on. Her eyes widened and she almost fell but the giant was already moving as she caught some words by reading rick's face. "-ein charge of her with her mother gone. They owe- she needs to- it's mine!"

The sudden growl that vibrated through Heather was as alike to the big avalanche-like 'sound' she had felt before. She was being shifted so one large hand was grasping her as the giant stepped forward, the difference between him and Rick seemed titanic to Heather as she watched his other hand come forward.

She did not want to be so close to who was likely responsible for her mother being gone. Yet she was oddly not scared as she watched the giant's other hand fully closed around the smaller man's wrist and almost all of Rick's full forearm. The giant pushed his thumb up the inside of the wrist and then up into the palm to push on it? Watching in confusion as some wordless yell came out of Rick but he finally let go of Heather as she could grasp her hurting wrist.

The giant tilted his head slowly, having to hunch over to look between her and Rick. Then the armored giant cocked his head in a strange way that reminded Heather suddenly of a Cassowary as he looked at her before something rumbled in his chest. "Mm?"

Once more realized that she should reach out to an adult, even a giant adult was alright to ask for help from right? Heather pulled her shirt up, showing the older cut marks to the giant that held her. Tears burned in her eyes at the stress from the last near year, fumbling to sign to him around holding the faded red-pink fabric, one of the shirts that used to belong to her mother. Monster hurts me.

The giant flexed the hand not holding Heather to move her up and closer to his chest plate again, and her eyes widened as she saw how Rick's own trapped hand and wrist seemed to just bend and warp. She did not even get to see what her monster's expression was before he was just lifted off the ground and flung aside out of her line of sight as the giant stood back up to his full height.

Heather was aware in some sense of people scattering. Yet her whole focus was caught wholly by the giant as he… purred at her. His focus still focused completely on her, as the same hand that just shattered a man's arm now reached for her head.

Heather was strangely not afraid of this giant as his massive hand rested over her whole head. His touch just left behind streaks of death ash. The armored giant's palm was so warm, but not burning as Heather realized that he was giving her a head pat.

It felt nice, comforting even. Something so strong to kill demons and save her from the monster liked her.

He shifted, signing slowly around Heather. Making the girl shift to watch his hands intently. Where?

It took Heather a moment and she pointed down the street to the detection of her home-dock. Only just starting to remember there were other people as the giant started to walk. He could step over people that did not get out of the way without missing a step.

He was so tall…

It was strange, looking around and seeing the now empty street. Being a giant made him faster? That was so strange and amazing. Heather perked up and pointed to a wall painted in blues around a parking lot and to the small docks beyond, despite hurting she was happy to sign at the giant. There, see the jelly-fish on wall? That door. Goes to home dock?

The giant tilted his head to one side and then the other way, and then gave a chuff sound that once more she felt more then heard.

A thought popped up and Heather looked up at her reflection in the giant's visor, waiting until it seemed like he was looking back at her. Where is your home dock?

He…chuckled, freeing his right hand from inspecting the scraps on her arms. His hand lifted and pointed upwards, then paused walking to shift her and pointed to the northern sky, and to where the edge of the broken moon was on the horizon.

Stars. The giant signed slowly, glancing at the locked gate and then moved the gaping Heather over to be more against his chest before there was a swift movement.

The armored giant was grasping the top of the wall and deftly planting a foot on the top and just… hopped down. The Slayer made sure he did not jar the girl and he walked to the nearest dock, shifting her to his right arm and flexing the left. Feeling her jump as the blade snapped out.

He wedged it on the chain itself holding the gate locked, tilting his head at the girl and got a nod that it was the right place. The soft metal broke and twisted without having to break the lock. The gate opened before he knelt down, blade retracting.

Small thing have name? The Slayer asked once his hands were free.

She excitedly signed something, and then after a confused moment focused on spelling out her name. H-e-a-t-h-e-r!

He tilted his head, and then a vibrating chuckle came out. Flower?

Heather nodded excitedly. Like flower. What's your name?

Will tell when home. The slayer carefully signed, pausing as the dock creaked alarmingly under him. He slowly crouched down on his heels, setting the girl down as he heard faint voices. Putting a finger in front of where his mouth would be under the helmet. New flower, go get things.

Heather vibrated, excited that this was real. Started to run off and then back to ask. Won't go without me?

The giant shook his head, arms resting on his knees as he seemed… planted. That reassurance helped and Heather ran to get the few things of hers, and her mother's. Looking for the cat and hugging them to herself and walking back up the dock. Everything fit in a bag on her back, even the cat who's head peeked out of the bag, confused as he had been sleeping in the sun with it being quiet.

Heather paused, finding the giant had moved back away from the dock edge to the gate. Standing there between the girl and… Dock Security? From the main cruise and shipping docks. Heather stopped at the ramp, unable to see the faces of the new people, could not try and read any words. Yet she could see the slowly becoming aggressive body language as the giant just stood in the way.

He was not letting them pass him, and when one of the Dock Security tried to push him… everything blurred and Heather blinked in confusion as the Security man was on the ground.

It did not seem like he was broken or dead just knocked out of his senses.

Heather felt the giant growling as he took a step forward, making the other Dock Security flinch back and lift weapons at him. The Giant flexed his hands open and then closed slowly, shifting the smallest bit. Very aware of the practically vulnerable little one behind him, and not sure if Heather was fully shielded by his own bulk.

The Slayer was very much hitting close to his overall tolerance level with strangers. Short angry strangers that ignored the clear human signs he made. It took an annoying amount of self control to hold back and not accidently snap the humans in half.

One of them fired first, and he launched forward, leveling the humans down as quickly as he could before a second or third shot happened. Smaller caliber bullets, nothing that did more than annoy him as one bullet hit his upper arm, the other two bounced off his armor.

The Slayer grunted, looking at the four humans on the ground. Then turned to chuff at the small human he found and liked, checking that she was okay. Huddled on the dock ramp, watching intently.

He huffed, motioning the girl to come up, and was pleased as she came after a second. No resistance as she was picked up by the Slayer, he turned away from the dock, Heather braced on his left arm. The demigod is quite ready to just leave and deal with this city later on.

It was six steps before the Slayer froze as he felt something alarmingly very familiar. It was not since Argent D'nur since he sensed this power- no.

No.

More recent.

Almost right after waking up from that sarcophagus on Mars from the Slayer's perspective.

He remembered all to clearly the feeling of humming power under his hands and knees as he climbed on the broken body of the once great beings. The thrumming of power of the tortured, primordial soul. The haunting howls that begged for release back into the numbing in between space. The molten looking sphere of the soul that the crucible he used then sank into.

The raw primordial energy that was and was not like the Slayer's own, the smell of embers and frost as he was knocked back, yet still absorbed most of that suddenly released soul energy. That conflicting spiced and frozen taste of it, as the Elemental Wraiths finally were allowed to die in hell one at a time by his hands.

A Wraith.

There was a living Wraith on earth.

It felt broken enough that the energy he sensed almost brought the smell of its blood to him. The Unchained Predator of hell seemed to hyper focus on that. For a dangerous moment, the Slayer was hungry as he caught that near by scent of raw power.

Reviews!

XFireStoneX: my awesome fren, you're review popped up right after I updated! you're good! lol Also I forgot about the salt lakes, and I don't live that far from them! Good idea!

RavenShichiyou: HI AGAIN! Nice to see you! yes, there will be needed cuddles after the next few chapters and exposer to the 'healthy.' Trust me I have a whole thing almost completely written out already between the Slayer and his ESH. Many squish cuddles are due

Red Viy: can not tell you how much I died trying to not laugh on my work break reading your review. I will hold on that the Slayer just has universal disrespect for everything, he'll even still be a jerk now and then to those he likes too. So just... he do a shrug. at least he did not almost step on them on accident!