Queen's note: OOF this turned out longer than I thought. But needed! (Also whoo some home chaos is being lightened!) I do like the silly idea that 'werewolf' is not a word in argenta XD

Garnets

Chapter Seventy Five:

Together and Off Away

Lily was very grateful for the overcoat that was plopped over top of her before going outside. It was something that likely could fit a bit loose on John and Valen, but Zanin had put the thick fur thing on her as he came over.

It was windy, though the building itself blocked most of it where they were.

Lily slowed behind Jade, squinting at the filtered daylight before stopping and then walking to the thick stone railing. Her mask was strapped on, but she could still smell fresh rain and…earthy and other things she was not sure what the scents were. It was alike but different from earth, even before the invasion. Lily could just stare around, not unlike how she had to take in what was inside the vault.

That had been pretty too, there was old wood flooring over the solid seeming stone. It was like the Fortress but more as the carvings and inlays were aged but kept safe from the weather. Simple but also like someone was trying to hide decorations in plain sight in how there was intricate brickwork between the wood flooring sections. The blue flames around that produced no heat had been fascinating.

Now though Lily could just stare at the vast expanse of… city.

"What do you see?" Zanin asked as he crouched beside the girl while Haco stayed lookout. The Argenta men was back in full armor except his helmet and looking between the landscape and the human.

"It's pretty," Lily said softly, blinked and then added as she looked up at Zanin's face, "Not the bodies you can see, but the buildings. It's pretty, even in the storm. It looks like it would shine in the sun."

The Sentinel turned to look over what was visible of the upper city, remembering what the ruins used to look like. The sieges. The peace. Zanin wondered what Lily saw that had her so fascinated, could still see and still call Taras Nabad pretty. To be so absorbed and visually tracing the architecture of what was left of the city. Then shifting to try and see beyond the haze of rain, trying to see what she could of the lower city.

"...it does shine," Zanin said, as he kept his senses out. Just in case there was some demon that dared to come out in the weather. Though he was not sure why the hell creatures were afraid of rain, or the start or the rain storms. "At least the roofs still do. It used to be even more when the buildings were kept clean, you can see some of the old banners. Once there were red, silver, blue and purple flags that were all over the city."

Lily turned after a few moments more, scanning over this covered external hall. Eyes settling on the red banners that still held up against the weather, some sun bleaching aside on the lower section. They had the Slayer's mark in gold towards the top. It was a strange feeling Lily was not quite able to place as she stared at that banner.

The girl looked back at Zanin, then what was visible of the city scape. "It's still pretty."

The bigger warrior smiled, starting to get up, moving to stand between the human and the open side of the passage. Gently nudging her more to the safety of the wall side and not easily grabbed. "I hope one day you can see a healthy Argenta city Lady Lily. But thank you for thinking it is still nice."

"It is," Lily said as she tucked her hands into the too big sleeves of the fur coat she was in. Grateful again for it and the warmer clothes Jade found. She looked up at the taller argenta woman and smiled up at her. She still missed her own mom, but Jade was kind it seemed as they walked together to where John was supposed to be.

The walkway opened into a curious area, it was like a balcony but that was fully covered. Having only a few support pillars, as most of the support was under and out of easy sight. The few were closer to the building and covered in climbing vines that worked up and then spread out from there to hang down and keep climbing both. It reminded Lily of…

She hesitated by the closer pillar, seeing that it was textured and had some sort of carving inlaid. The plants climbing and clinging to it had little white and pink flowers. As well as pods. Bean pods, dark green with a purple shine and about six inches long.

Like super sized green beans!

Lily really liked and missed easy access to green beans. Even canned green beans.

She wondered if these things were toxic beans or edible.

A deep snort-like sound drew Lily's attention back, she looked up to try and find it. Taking in the rest of the area. She could not quite tell with the dirt and grass if this space was supposed to be park-like. Or if the dirt and plant matter blew in and just piled up and decomposed before catching seeds on the wind or were left? The grasses reminded her almost like short…grain. Not wheat, oats? Only a foot tall and one of the Argenta present was activity collecting seeds.

Like inside the vault there were at least a dozen Argenta. In armor or half armor, male and female but all well armed with melee and energy firearms. Was a shotgun a universal form of firearm? Lily recognized the ballista cannons that Haco and Asin used. Something that might be a plasma rifle, but scaled up to be easier to use for the bigger Argenta.

Seven foot seemed like it was the edge of the lower end of average for sure now for the Argenta. Between the civilians she met on the Fortress before, and everyone here and inside-

Lily was starting to lean into Jade's side, feeling small. Then she started to realize there were strange, leathery tents set inside the balcony area. That did not make sense considering the vault seemed very well lived in. Why would the Argenta camp out here in the semi open? The roof was vaulted inside here like most Argenta built things Lily was getting used to. It was dome like, but more of an oval shape and made of a burnt gold, almost copper colored metal like several roofs and other bridge roofs were in the city.

There was a deep snort that drew her attention to the farthest tent as it started to move in the wind that got into this area. Lily saw and recognized Valen first, relieved, then annoyed as he was the one that supposedly brought her here. Lily sighed to herself as she was still relieved to know Valen was safe. Another person she knew was accounted for-

The man turned and reached up to rub his knuckles into the underside of a… dragon. That was not a tent. That was a whole ass dragon uncurling from under its wings. Horns on the top of the head and what looked like tusk like things on the lower jaw.

A part of Lily knew what the name really was, that wintherins were what the creatures were called. Yet seeing the mass of mussels and wings, and teeth, and legs bigger than her- or any person here! That was a dragon, a pale and almost blind seeming dragon but still! It was swinging its head away from Valen to look over.

And then a second creature uncurled from the 'tent' nearer them with a deep trill. The massive, blue tinted head arched over Lily and Jade before pressing against Zanin's side. A low humming vibrating from its thick throat at finding his rider the wintherin had been bonding too.

Valen blinked and then grinned at seeing a familiar form that had dropped into a crouch, practically crawling under the bigger woman. Looking up at the neck over her as Jade was catching her breath and starting to stand back up first.

Lily looked over at his voice, and then pointed up with wide eyes as she still had the mask on her lower face. Reaching for it to get a dose of medication, "You lied grandpa! These are really big!"

Valen could only laugh at the tone and then again at the following squeak as the wintherin arched his neck at the new voice. Sniffing over the small form on the ground intently. Zanin was not fast enough to stop the male from picking the human up around her middle and retreating to his nesting spot. Curling up tightly to try and hide what smelled like his mother's rider. Yet also smelled distinctly young compared to the argenta he was getting used to.

Clearly this was a hatchling, and he was a good wintherin, a good son and was very experienced taking care of younger siblings. This smelled almost like his mother's rider, so clearly this was his mother's rider's hatchling! She even squeaked like hatchlings! He would protect and care for the hatchling while his mother and sire were missing until the rider came back from around his sister.

The once Commander grinned and started over to try and help Zanin. Whistling for the attention of who was finishing cleaning up in one of the rainwater overflows just out of sight. "Relax my lake lily, he'll only nest on you if you try to get away. Deep breaths, the wintherin are well trained."

"...halp…"

There was a snort from behind Valen, before the Slayer stepped around the young female wintherin's bulk. Finishing pulling his under suit over his shoulders and zipping it up over his front. He homed in on where the soft voice came from. Green eyes notably softened to blue tinted as he walked over to the curled up bundle of winthern. Carefully pushing the big head aside and then reaching in between the cradling forearms. His back was shamelessly groomed as the Slayer extracted his human out from where she was more or less stuffed against the warm hide, and back into his own arms.

His throat still hurt and burned, so The Slayer could only give a chuff like sound of greeting instead of the hum he would normally do. Moving to get Lily out of range, but not before the blue male wintherin got a few good grooming licks to her as well. The Slayer set down Lily on the area that was behind the other, grey wintherin's bulk but mostly clear of the bigger head. Just not in any easy line of sight, as he tried to pat her hair back into order. Reaching over to his human's face and triggering her mask with a bigger dose to help her catch her breath.

"That's a lot of teeth." Lily whispered, not sure what to think, clinging to her mask and the big hand. She could hear the more amused sounds from the Argenta around but could only try to hold tighter to John's hand. Though realizing there was no one that seemed alarmed, it took a second for Lily to also recognize that she only knew Valen, Zanin, Asin, and miss Jade.

Lily felt… really small all at once.

A warm hand lifted and set on her head, and Lily peered up at her guardian. Same familiar face, square jaw, short brown hair, the same scars over his face on nose, cheek and down the side of his face. John smiled, lopsided with that scarring as he gave a huff-like chuffing sound again, he lifted his hands to sign. He had to go slow while letting Lily hold his hand . Flower. My Flower?

Why is everyone so big? Lily could not help sign back, finally letting go but feeling so much out of her depth once again.

John grinned at her, he lost some of the severe edge and though not completely as that was just how he was. John's expression softened as his right hand moved from on top of her head to the side, then let go fully to sign. Because you're a small Flower.

Lilly tugged on her fingers before signing in just ASL in a small way, close to herself as if to whisper. You said to trust you. I trust you. Am I safe here?

Yes and no. The not really man scanned around those here, then looked back at his human. His adopted daughter, the Slayer still liked the sound of that. Demons in city outside of here. Building. This building. My warriors. Good souls. Like Valen, I told them to protect you.

"That's a lot to ask," Lily noted in a soft voice.

John shook his head firmly, his hand came back for a moment to give a careful head-pat. No. They are S-E-N-T-I-N-E-L-S. Not too much, Flower. They want to be mine, so they must protect all my little flowers.

Lily seemed to be thinking about that, using a dry part of the big sleeve to try and clean the damp off her neck and shoulder. Then despite knowing they were both being watched, she asked in a small voice. "Can I have a hug?"

John stooped, no hesitation and then closed his adopted daughter into his arms. Pulling her up off her feet to squeeze as tight as he dared, but thankfully his body remembered how not to hurt a human despite the change. Shifting the Demigod pressed his cheek against Lily's head to feel her soft hair, as he made himself make sound. It hurt but the pain was more annoying now and nothing he could not handle.

Affection.

The taste of blood at the primordial word was worth it as Lily finally relaxed. She smiled as the human pressed her head against that spot above his collarbone while going that boneless limp she only did when trusting John. That warm faith spreading in his gut, told he really was being trusted.

As much as he wanted to stay like this, the Slayer stood back up right. Reflexively scanning around as he carried the little one over and offered Lily to Valen. Snorting in amusement as Lily shamelessly smacked her hand on the once Commander's face. By the time he stepped away and back with a familiar hilt, Lily was being set down beside her other guardian. She seemed to have forgiven Valen at least as he was checking her over.

Lily squeaked as the Last Gift was pressed into her chest. John gave a lopsided smile as the smaller human curled her arms to hold the crucible hilt. He could feel the living weapon's contentment and it seemed like a good idea. Both that it would reassure Lily, but also show the watching Sentinels this was his Flower. His human. Someone they would need to protect.

The Slayer smiled a moment before looking around, heading to his armor. Signing in Argenta clearly to make sure it was, well, clear. Mine. You protect what's mine.

"Help him get his armor on," Valen said to those nearest, his attention on Lily for a minute. Finishing making sure that she was okay.

It reminded Malum of when Vito was small as he watched. The current Sentinel Commander watched from where he sat beside the wintherin female's head. Keeping her busy with head scratches and from over stimulating the… tiny seeming girl with the borrowed fur coat she was hiding in.

Gods, this Lily just reminded him of a child. More so now that she was up on her own feet, the girl would not even clear his hip. Standing close to Valen and hugging a crucible against her, yet was showing no ill effects to hold a living weapon meat for the Slayer?

Malum eyelid Valen, he said this girl was no heir. The altered man was not so sure after what he watched. Then Valen's words sank in, no heir to a broken throne. Jade still called the girl a daughter, and Malum looked at his hands. The claws and how he had been changing. A wraith son, the new Demigod would likely keep changing. It took time before he started to really show a difference.

What if-

"Lily, this is an old friend of mine. Commander Malum." Valen's voice drew the altered man to look up. Fully out of the half meditative state and at the two that came over. Valen was keeping her between him and the wintherin.

Keeping her from easy view or reach for anything that might try a fly-by as he would any Argenta youth.

Malum hummed in greeting at the girl… Lily. Lifting his left hand over his chest and blowing his head, "It's good to see you awake little Lady."

The human blinked several times, and Malum winced, knowing he tended to make most civilians unsure.

Lily blurted something out, looking up at Valen, for a lack of a better term it was almost jiberish. It took a second for Malum to realize she said something not in Argenta but, a human language? It was too smooth to be random, and had a questioning tone to it.

Valen tilted his head, "Can you say that again in Argenta, my lake lily? Or… 'standard?'"

Lily blinked and tried again.

The Slayer rasped a laugh out loud to the side, already half in his Praetor suite with the help.

Lily frowned, thinking hard and then looked helplessly up at Valen, "I don't know how to say it in standard…Argenta. Bigger-hound… wolf?"

Malum chuffed and then laughed. Gods, his armor? Was that what had her attention? At least it was not a panic. "My armor is based on the sentinel wolves Lady."

"Fur?" The girl asked, tried, her eyes on Malum's shoulders then looking at the nearest wolf that was laying down but watching them. She then looked alarmed at her borrowed coat.

"Ah! This fur is from an arctus bai, my cloak and your coat are not made of our wolves." Malum assured, smiling at the confused-worried expression he could read. Lily was pretty open with her feelings it seemed.

Valen looked over at the Slayer, able to see the spelled out word signed. "John says it is like a b-e-a-r?"

"That's a big bear…" Lily paled as she imagined what the animal she knew looked like. Hugging the crucible tight to herself again. "You're really big too- ah! Sorry, that might have been rude- ignore that… Um, hi. Hello. It's nice to meet you?"

Malum felt himself chuckling, an honestly amused sound that made his chest feel lighter for the first time in what felt like months. Or years. The girl was weary of him, yes, but it seemed more that it was because the new Demigod was a stranger to the girl. Not because she was really afraid of him- then again the Lord Slayer himself was her guardian. This girl likely did not have to be in fear of much with him around, let alone within his range of movement.

But also she was recently given a wraith gift? Depending on who that Wraith was, that would be far more impressive than his altered form.

The human was looking around, back to Malum's form, then up at Valen, missing as a blue winthern head was stretching out behind her. "Now what-? ACK!"

The male winthern purred and tried to lick Lily's back again as she darted around Valen. Only to squeak as the female winthern with her tusks lifted her head from behind Malum to start sniffing.

Valen flashed a smile, grabbing Lily and getting her back against him. Away from the big, blunted but curious muzzles.

"Why is everything and everyone so big?"

"Because you are small my lake lily."

Small Flower. The Slayer signed in agreement as he came back with his armor on, though his helmet was hooked at his hip. Cleaned up and though he could get in on fast on his own, it was nice to have help from those that knew how to help. He reached out and caught the left tusk of Voila's daughter, lifting and moving her head away from Lily. Giving the winthern a good scritching under her chin for a few moments.

Small Flower can meet my big flower!

"After," Valen said firmly, leveling a look at the Slayer as he held Lily protectively against his side. "You finish getting the Sunwalker reforged."

"The best way to get to your old forge is through the throne room." Malum helpfully supplied, "Or get the lift working to go down from your Vault."

The Slayer looked down, then reached behind him to check to see if the other hilt of a weapon was attached to his back. Then remembered it was left on his bed, and growled, then growled again in annoyance as the rough feeling in his throat. The Demigod walked back over, and he gave a smaller smile as the Last Gift was offered back. Making sure that was attached to his right leg before starting back to the vault, motioning Lily to go with Valen. He put his helmet on and started to sign while walking, talking to Vega to get ready to open a portal.

Malum uncurled and stood up once the once Commander got a few paces away. Tying to keep his head tilted so the wolf helm would show better and smile in a way to not frighten as Lily looked back. She seemed relieved once paying attention to the Slayer's silent language and was quick to understand. Lily was being sent back to the Fortress.

He could understand that, as Taras Nabad was no place for a child of peace. Not until the Slayer culled through the ruins any more. The new demigod followed after the small group through the pathway as the rain was starting to lighten. For now keeping his bulk mostly hidden under the fur cloak.

Malum was right, Lily was just shorter than his mid thigh. At least she was well hidden between Valen and Zanin's bulk through the passageway until back into the entry before the vault. He watched as a portal formed inside, pulsing in a familiar swirl of blue, teal and silver. The warrior Zanin was moving to walk the human over, at least make sure she was going to be safe?

The current Sentinel commander caught the fluctuation of color a heart beat before the Slayer turned around. Malum lunged forward, "Wait! No! It's tainted by the witch!"

Lily backtracked, running into Zanin's armor as the Sentinel was moving to grab her. Pulling the human into a roll to cover as something came lunging out of the portal.

A multi limbed demon launched over the two on the ground, its eyes milky and senselessly lunged at the Slayer. Something that was made of many broken demonic bodies that had been forced to merge somehow. Or like the cancerous Hellgrowth itself had managed to stand up. The creature was screaming in an almost femmine voice as the Slayer reflexively hit it but it had just enough mass to keep running into him.

Malum was launching towards Zanin as a second malformed demonic creature was stumbling through the hijacked portal in time with Valen. The other Sentinels were already in motion, closing in and starting to form a defensive rank to help their War King. getting the mass of writhing flesh off of him. While at the same time Malum closed his hand over the armor on Zanin's back. Pulling the warrior and who Zanin held out of the middle of the fight.

He just saw the bundle of a fur coat being dropped and left behind as a gargoyle demon bit it. Only to be swiftly decapitated by Valen. Malum glanced down as Zanin had his feet again, but also had the girl still clutched in his arms. The moment he was let go, Zanin was moving, running to get the Slayer's heir out of the way. Through the line of guards and slid her to the ground beside Jade and Haco. The lift side, away from the room.

"Get them to the throne room!" Malum ordered as he swung his mace out from under the cloak. "Don't trust any other portals- there's still hiding spots up there!"

A wordless roar like sound came from the Slayer, it seemed to be reinforcing what was said as he got back to his feet before the mass tried to lunge over his side again. The thing was growing and getting back mass almost as fast as it was stripped off. Valen was in the new line of four between the two civilians and the open, now red and purple portal. Jade grabbed up Lily as Zanin had to let her go to pull out his weapons.

The argenta woman felt the freeze, the locking up reaction and remembered her late children. Her expression darkened and the geo witch pulled the human back with her to the lift as she could not help thinking of her own children, lost and alive.

Jade's eyes washed out into silver as what was left of her wraith gift flared back to life. Like hells she was going to lose another child again. The throne room had an opening, she remembered hearing it mentioned, it was not safe enough. There was a lower level, right? Jade was reaching out her senses as she held Lily tight, trying to find out how the lift was broken as mentioned to not go down.

Lily pressed back into Jade's middle as she screamed. Another hellgrowth creature was trying to launch through the Sentinels protecting this cubby. She did not know what they were- just something demonic and mashed together as if by an angry toddler that did not like the clay figures. She pushed back reflexively, but there was no where to go as Haco swung his energy sword at a hippopotamus like maw gaping at them over Valen and Zanin-

Something…snapped as Jade jerked, reaching out as she found a brick unseen in the track under them. Triggering or forcing the lift down as she fell her wraith gift starting to give out- before the uncontrolled pulse came from the child. Jade felt the wraith energy and… something else.

The girl screamed again, and it was altered and piercing half way through. Staggering the hellgrowth creature, and a few sentinels. Valen twisted, alarmed as he recognized the gorgon scream. Though it did not last more than a few seconds. Just seeing Lily curling up to hide against Jade as the floor shifted to start covering the area of the lift as it sank.

Zanin lunged forward, around the monstrosity as he just managed to land on the lift with the two. His wraith gift flaring to life as well as the Slayer's gift to help him make it though he was winded from a hit to his back. Valen whistled and sent his wolf phantoms down after them as well. At least one Sentinel was with the two, and the floor was closed again. Valen shifted his attention as he got free enough to swing his hammer loose and activate it.

They needed to focus on the current threat and get that portal closed. Then Valen would be going after his charge.

Reviews!

XFireStoneX:
She's very confused about Malum! and just... why is everyone so tall?! hopefully you like this chapter too!