Well, time for another chapter! I hope everyone likes this one; and, guys . . . do me a favor . . . don't jump to conclusions about Val's "love interest":-p I'm not even sure myself who he'll end up with . . . we have to see how it plays out!
Love,
Ukchana - oh and, review! Or I'll stuff mini-marshmallows up my nose!
Chapter 18
Wolfpack Island
June 6th, 2002
"Whatever you think best," Xellos repeated grimly in his head. Great.
"Alright," he answered Filia. "Let's see . . ." He put his gloved finger to his lips and looked out onto the gorge. "Well, there's the Enchanted Forests, which has Mistress Zelas' private sanctuary for magical creatures . . . heavily guarded, but we're high clearance, so it would be fine. Then, there is the volcano . . . we visited the hot springs near it yesterday. And then, of course, there's," Xellos pause, expecting an eruption, "the Hollow Hill, the Arc, and the Citadel." Please, oh please don't have a fit . . .
He opened his eyes and looked down at the blonde dragoness, her cold rage running a delicious chill through his human body. She raised her head, and he sensed her sudden dark humor as she replied haughtily, "Very well, then, General Xellos . . . I think we should go to the Enchanted Forest first."
Gazing down into her defiant blue eyes, Xellos pushed away the pleasing sensations it brought to him. "That sounds wonderful!"
It's silly, he thought sadly, but she's almost more attractive when she really hates me, then when she's just incredibly angry. The pure revulsion and pain flowing from her twisted within him. Oh, Filia, why do you do this? No, it's my mistake. I should have expected you to think I'd betrayed you.
With a smile to cover his concerns, he waved his staff, and they vanished.
(-(-o-)-)
Viridian and sepia shimmered into existence around them; rustling and the strident calls of birds greeted their appearance.
Filia frowned and peered around the tropical forest, breathing deeply of the muggy, perfumed air. "This doesn't look too different than the forest we went through to get to the castle . . . well," she backed away from a very large, sparkling insect buzzing past her, "perhaps it was less . . . disgusting. I hope these things don't bite me . . ."
"Oh," Xellos' voice replied smugly, "I'm sure they won't bite you. They reserve that for me."
Filia frowned and turned to look at him, only to gasp in shock and back away. "Wha-what on earth is THAT?"
Latched onto the general-priest's staff arm was a gigantic winged emerald snake, its sapphire and purple feathery wings flapping in agitation. The robed Mazoku grimaced and shook the staff in his hand, to no avail. "This is a Quetzalcoatl. Beloved by the Mayans for some reason I still cannot fathom, besides its bloodthirsty nature." The snake gnawed on him further, as if in response. "Isn't it pretty?"
Filia did not expect Valgaav to approach the creature when he did, but his enthralled expression was enough for her to know why.
"This is amazing," her son whispered, touching the smooth green scales of the snake. It recoiled from him, but held its grasp to Xellos, its large gold eyes watching the well-dressed dragon warily. "It's so beautiful . . . I had no idea they were real."
"They became quite close to not being real," Xellos expounded happily, grinning despite having a large serpent attached to his arm, "but for Mistress Zelas' 'zeal' - if you forgive the pun - for magical creatures."
"Doesn't that hurt?" Filia asked finally, her heart still beating quickly from the shock.
"Um," Xellos chuckled shyly and put his free hand on the back of his head, "actually, yes, kind of. But it's sort of nice, and the poison does interesting things to this body. They're quite pleasant, in a way. Almost as if being drugged!"
She grimaced at him distastefully. "I can't beLIEVE you!"
"What? It's fun!"
0
Valgaav ignored his bickering elders and stepped away from the irritated serpent, leaving it to its obviously enjoyable activity of biting Xellos. "So," he turned to the petite demoness, who had previously been silent, "um . . . have you come here often?" Ouch, that sounded like a pick-up line . . . I really need to learn how to speak to girls . . .
Smiling, the redhead shrugged and looked around them at the tropical forest. "A few times," she began, airy voice melodic and soft. "Like Master Xellos said, these are usually off-limits to any but the most influential Mazoku. I'm honored to have been invited by Master Xellos so soon after he returned." She glanced over to the arguing couple and smiled slightly at her superior.
I'm getting some really strange vibes from this girl, Val asserted as he adjusted his indigo crushed-velvet suit-coat. "He's a living legend among your people, isn't he?"
She nodded as they began to stray from the clearing, her shoulders relaxing slightly as they lost sight of Xellos and Filia. "Yes, he's amazing. I'm sure you already know this," Iyzeka smiled at him, "but Lord Xellos has led an unbelievable life. First, he was the first sole pure creation of Her Highness Zelas; other Lords created two equal servants, a general, to oversee battle, strategy and troops - and a priest, for intrigue, diplomacy, and torture. Lord Xellos is both, and does all. He's the perfect spy, and the perfect soldier."
Slowly nodding, Valgaav studied the fall of her hair across her cheeks and the play of the dappled sunlight against her pale skin. "He was the most powerful servant of any of the five Dark Lords. And now that there are three Hellmasters, he is their most powerful servant."
Their progress soon halted from an opening in the canopy. Pushing through the fierce undergrowth, they found themselves at the edge of a large, lazy river.
"Master Xellos did lots of other things," she chuckled dryly. "He's truly amazing. Most Mazoku Generals would remain towards the back of a battle, for their safety. He was fearless, though, and took on whole droves of Golden Dragons during the Second War." Her voice grew tired and distant as she gazed out onto the brown water. "Master Xellos said it was his duty to do his best. And he did."
"But," Valgaav pointed out bluntly, "you're frightened of him."
Her gaze flickered to him quickly, green eyes widening. "Hey, I don't know how you think that's true-"
"Anyone would be frightened of Xellos," Val interrupted, a strange urge prodding him to continue. "But there's more to it than that, it seems. Come on, you don't have to worry that I'll tell him," he smiled, "I doubt he doesn't know already, anyhow. Mazoku of higher levels can sense the emotions and presence of their lesser without having to even try."
Jaw clenched tight, the slim girl folded her arms across her chest and glared at the foliage, iridescent robes shifting as she moved. "Listen, you don't know what Xellos was like before!" she hissed, voice squeaking. "He . . . he's changed. A lot."
He gazed at her, mouth tightening in thought. "You know, you're not what I'd expect from a Mazoku."
"You're not what I'd expect from a Dragon, either," she scowled uncomfortably.
(-(-o-)-)
"Xellos, let's go somewhere ELSE, alright?"
He grinned at her and winked. "You know, Filia, being high is kind of fun. I don't have to worry about bodily damage because I can just repair anything wrong . . ."
The Quetzalcoatl at his arm had finally wrapped around the limb, eyes sleepy and wings folded. Its fangs were still embedded into his flesh. "I think," Xellos beamed, "the snake has tired himself . . . or herself. Hard to tell!"
His blonde companion neared him hesitantly, staring at the beast. The tip of its tail twitched as it studied her lazily. "Good, then let's leave."
"Can I take him with me?" he pouted down at her.
Blue eyes cold, Filia snapped, "No! The gods only know what that poison is doing to you, anyway, and it wouldn't be right to remove it from its native environment." She folded her arms across her maroon dress and snorted. "Come on, Xellos, this is ridiculous!"
He smiled at the agitated dragoness. "But I LIKE being ridiculous, darling."
Suddenly, her eyes blazed and she screamed, "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Xellos stopped and stared at her, speechless. She, for her part, turned away, and did not utter another word.
The poison is making me quite warm, he told himself as his eyes traveled over her shoulders and back. Filia . . . what should I do about you?
Since he was allowing the poison to affect his body, the most interesting things were occurring . . . the optical nerves were sensing light as stronger than it usually was. There was also a strange shifting higher into the light spectrum . . . Interesting . . . It causes one to see ultraviolet rays . . .
Filia's fists began to shake at her sides, and Xellos decided that enough was enough. Anyway, it's starting to make me dizzy, he consoled himself, but decided to not clear out the poison just yet.
"Filia," he began, "please . . ."
She spun, hissing, "Don't you dare say 'please' to me! I didn't do anything! You're the jerk here!"
They stared at each other, and Xellos sighed at the sound of bracken and branches cracking. "Well," he announced happily as Valgaav and Iyzeka returned, "Time to move on to another part of the preserve!" Swallowing his feelings, he gathered his power and teleported them away; minus the snake.
(-(-o-)-)
"Xellos," Valgaav deadpanned, "why is that unicorn chewing on you?"
"Eh, heh, heh . . ." The demon smiled, pain shooting across his pallid features. "Well . . ." He winced as the white stallion took another angry gnaw.
Across the clearing of the deciduous forest, Filia sat on a rock, trying to coax a female unicorn from a copse of birch trees. "Come on," she spoke softly, practically glowing with happiness, "I won't hurt you." The snow-white creature resembled a slim pony, and did indeed have a lion's ivory tail, with a pearlescent ice blue horn sprouting from the mare's forehead.
Iyzeka smiled, head bent above her shimmering garments. "They are afraid of everyone but Mistress Zelas . . . and other mythical creatures. Though . . ." she glanced to Xellos, then away. "They seem to have a taste for Master Xellos."
"So," Val's brows rose as he gave the Mazoku General a considering glance, "exactly WHY does it seem that every animal we've seen has a desire to chew you into bits?" This ought to be interesting . . .
"Eh, no reason!" Xellos declared brightly, then glared at the unicorn as it ripped a hole in his cape. "Bad unicorn . . ."
"There has to be a reason," Valgaav pressured, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Well, it's really nothing!" exclaimed the intoxicated priest nervously, "it's just that . . . I taste very good! Isn't that right, Filia!"
Filia slowly turned her head to stare at him from a few yards away. "ExCUSE me?"
"You're still high, aren't you, Xellos," Valgaav chuckled. "Why don't you get it out of your system?"
"It's fun!" the priest pointed out with one tremulous gloved finger. "Though, it's starting to affect my control over the body . . . and my judgment, hmm . . ."
Val stepped back as his mother stormed up to the Mazoku, her expression furious. Time to make a quick retreat.
"Xellos! I can't believe you're letting the POISON stay in your system! Why in the gods' names would you intentionally damage the body you created?!" The blonde grabbed the front of his cloak in her hands and shook him.
"Whoa," he laughed, "don't do that, sweetie."
Filia blanched in shock, and Valgaav grabbed Iyzeka's hand. "Let's leave now, okay?" he whispered.
Nodding desperately with worried eyes, Iyzeka transported them off.
0
Filia's mouth twisted, and she felt her eyes begin to water as she stared up at him. "How can you just . . . just be so IRRESPONSIBLE?! Do I have to remove the poison myself?!" He just . . . just doesn't care.
"Now . . . Filia-dear . . ." he said hazily, "you shouldn't get so upset. It's fine . . ."
The unicorn male chose that moment to shake his head with Xellos' shoulder between his teeth, and the Mazoku cried out in pain.
"Xellos, you moron!" Gathering her power to where her hands still grasped the front of his long-shirt, Filia quickly cast a purification spell, drawing out the poison from the physical body. "There," she began as his violet irises returned to a normal size, "that should be better."
Xellos blinked at her. "Whew, that was very interesting. I didn't expect the poison to set in so quickly . . . thank you. I might have had to leave this body completely and heal it from the astral plane, which would have been very annoying." He grinned at her and quipped, "Not to mention making you think I had died!"
She released him quickly, stepping away in disgust. "I'm glad that's all that concerns you. And WHERE has Valgaav gone?"
Unconcerned, the purpled-haired man shrugged. "He's nearby; they only went about an acre off, and there's no way that any other Mazoku could even enter these woods."
"Why?" she seethed.
"Because of the multitude of magical beacons strewn throughout the preserve. They were created by Mistress Zelas, so unless someone was more powerful than her, there is no way they could enter without her immediate knowledge. Valgaav is fine. I'm here as well, and I am no longer . . ." his brows rose, "inebriated." The unicorn snorted, so Xellos glared back. "Stupid unicorn."
"WHAT did you say?" Filia snapped.
"Um," he chuckled nervously, "I like my uniform?"
She gave him a cold glare. "Right."
Xellos grinned and shrugged. "You know, if you turned into a dragon the creatures would not be nearly as afraid of you." He laughed dryly. "They'd still want to chew on me, but . . ."
Ignoring him, Filia turned away and faced the clearing, considering changing her form.
"Well . . ." She frowned and studied the flowers waving in the breeze. "I might as well try . . ." I WILL be naked for a few seconds . . . but what does it really matter? It's only Xellos . . . She blushed and collected her thoughts.
Bringing her hands to her chest, Filia closed her eyes and opened her mouth. White magic coalesced around her, and she wailed as she felt it rearranging her molecules . . .
She could feel more . . . the weight of her dragon body, the muscles rippling . . . her tail and wings as they shuddered with new sensation. Opening her eyes, Filia looked down and sighed happily, then blinked as the sound of her breath shook the trees. "I'd almost forgotten what this felt like," she spoke, deep yet feminine voice echoing.
Xellos appeared a few yards from her nose, smiling as he floated in space. "Your form has changed quite a bit. You have grown into a very pretty female dragon."
Filia chuckled at him, adrenaline tinting her saffron skin rose. "Thank you. So, Mazoku can appreciate beauty?"
"Of course." His grin fell as his expression darkened. "Some believe that to destroy something beautiful is the height of being Mazoku. But I do not," he added quietly.
She blinked her voluminous eyes at him. "Oh." There was a short silence, then she murmured, "You're so small, Xellos . . . I'm not used to looking at you this way."
"Maybe you became too used to being 'human'," he mused. "I suppose it makes a certain amount of sense. It's not as if you could transform in the outside world in these times."
The dragon looked at him, large yellow brows furrowing. "No, it's true that I can't risk that," she said softly, lowering her long neck towards the forest floor. With a huge sigh, she sank onto the ground, her large form spreading out across the grassy clearing. I'm so tired, she told herself, huge blue eyes filling with tears. I don't think I can take much more of this.
Nearby, the two ivory unicorns whickered curiously. Very slowly, the mare began to tip-toe towards the despondent golden dragon, her slim white legs flashing in the sunlight. She lowered her glistening horse's nose and nuzzled Filia gently behind her ear.
Slightly surprised, the dragon looked at the smaller creature and sighed again; the billow flew through the clearing like a windstorm, but neither unicorn started from it. "Hello," Filia whispered, loud despite her attempt at quietness.
The unicorn gazed at her with concern, then carefully lowered herself next to Filia, leaning her milky flank against the dragon's smooth saffron scales. Whinnying, the unicorn closed her eyes, completely trusting next to the giant beast beside her.
0
Sitting in a crook of two branches, Xellos watched from many yards above, high in the canopy. Sorrow coursed through him, darkening his eyes and bending his shoulders.
He couldn't do anything. He couldn't DO anything. Filia was crying, mourning her inability to be free, mourning her believed desertion of her race . . . mourning his betrayal. And there was nothing he could do.
Anything I say, she would never believe, he told himself, toying with the tender verdant leaves surrounding his shady haven. Dropping his head, the Mazoku ripped the foliage from the branches with sudden anger, clutching the crushed greenery in his gloved hands.
"Dammit," he spat quietly, peering down at her through the violet curtain of his hair. "Filia, why . . . why?"
--Having some difficulties, my boy?-- came Zelas' mind-voice.
Snarling, Xellos clenched his fist and replied, --Of course. Women are never easy, Mistress,-- he laughed slightly at that.
--I am certain you've had your fill of ME on occasion,-- the Hellmaster quipped, --however, I don't see why you're still sitting in that tree.-
The Beastmaster took a deep breath, calming the anger he felt towards himself. –-What else can I do?--
--This isn't LIKE you, Xellos,-- Zelas warned. –-I know you. Is this endeavor really too much for you to handle? Or is it that FILIA is too much for you to handle?--
The truth in her words stung him, and he snorted. –-Of course it's not too much for me, the mission OR Filia.-- Eyes narrowing, he slowly rose to his feet on the branches and glared down at the despondent dragon. "It's ridiculous for me to blame myself for Filia's inability to handle her own emotions," he began angrily, "and I will not continue to coddle her false impression."
With a haughty snort, he narrowed his eyes and disappeared.
0
I'll never get to be a dragon again after this, Filia told herself, tears streaming out of her huge eyes. There was already a puddle forming under her chin, the water beginning to flow downhill along the slight decline. Wearily, she closed her eyes and covered her face with one saffron paw. Why does Xellos have to do this? Why did he have to remind me? Maybe he IS just using me.
"Filia," Xellos' sharp voice interrupted her thoughts, "stop this right now."
She looked over and saw him standing next to her head, angry purple eyes glaring at her. "Why? Why should I?" she bellowed, trees shaking violently from her defensive retort.
His eyes narrowed, gloved hands forming fists at his side. "Because," he needled sourly, "this is RIDICULOUS! You KNOW that we have an important mission to accomplish, and you just pout! I have tried to help you to be less stressed about all of this, but you CONTINUE to wallow in your own self-pity!" Xellos snapped, shoulders vibrating with his fury.
Rising onto four legs, the Golden Dragon bellowed, "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!?"
The two unicorns disappeared in fear, and every bird flew from the trees, terrified. At the edge of the clearing two humanoid forms materialized, unnoticed by monster or dragon.
"Quite easily," Xellos yelled, "it's the truth!"
Rearing back, the dragon hissed, "YOU are SO unfair ALL the time!" she accused. "You say you've done so much for me, but after acting so friendly and kind yesterday, you behave is if you BARELY KNOW ME TODAY!" Her eyes began to burn red. "And NOW you go and have to rub it in about how I'll never get to . . . get to be a dragon again." Giant drops of salt-water began running down her cheeks. "How DARE you lecture me on how to behave!"
The two glared at each other, each about to speak, when the sound of rustling branches distracted them.
"That's enough," a low, familiar voice began. Out of the woods stepped Valgaav, saffron eyes narrowed dangerously. "Both of you need to be quiet."
Shocked, the demon and dragon stared at him as he slowly, methodically, stepped between them, sunlight glinting dully off of the crushed-velvet suit-coat. In the distance, a low ripple of thunder moaned. "I," the green-haired teenager began, looking at each of them in turn, "have had to deal with this LONG enough. So I'm going to end this RIGHT NOW."
His head snapped to the left to face Xellos, and he growled, "XELLOS! You could have warned her this morning that you would have to act distant around Iyzeka because of formalities and most likely also because you weren't sure of her loyalty. But you DIDN'T."
The sun began to dim, dark clouds rolled along the edges of the horizon as Valgaav turned his cold glare to his mother. "FILIA. Xellos is not your keeper; he has a lot of responsibility, and you can't expect him to fawn all over you all the time."
Both Xellos and Filia gaped at him in surprise as he continued.
"This is INSANE!" Val snapped angrily, and lightening streaked across the sky as he clenched his fists. "There have been nothing but problems between you too! And NOW, it seems that neither one of you can stay civil for ANY amount of time at all!"
Instantly, the rain began, pelting them hard in a downpour. "I DON'T WANT EITHER OF YOU FIGHTING LIKE THIS UNTIL WE GET BACK FROM CHINA!" Valgaav screamed with rage, water flowing down his frenzied face. "OR ELSE I'M GONNA KICK SOMEBODY'S ASS!"
The rain roared as it poured down over the silent party, lightening flickering across the sky. Thunder boomed above their heads as Iyzeka hesitantly walked through the slick, muddied ground towards them.
"Um," she called over the clamor as she brushed soaked red bangs from her eyes, "we should maybe get out of the rain . . ."
Xellos nodded, hair and robes soaked and water dripping from his nose. "Alright." He sighed, and they disappeared.
(-(-o-)-)
Leaning an arm out a stone window, Zelas studied the distant storm and took a long drag from her cigarette holder. "Hmm. I didn't make that storm . . ." Eyes narrowing with confusion, she frowned and began to twirl a strand of her rose-colored hair. "How very odd . . ."
(-(-o-)-)
They materialized in a wide field, hills rolling off into the distance. Above them, the sun hung a few hours after noon. All were quiet in the uncomfortable silence; Valgaav shivered as a breeze wound through his soaked suit and slacks. His mother just shook slightly, water dripping from the golden scales on her flank.
Touching his shoulder, Iyzeka murmured quietly, "Are you alright, Lord Valgaav?"
His mouth twitched, but he smiled down at her. "Yeah. Um, let's go take a walk or something, okay? I think they might need some time alone."
0
Filia slumped to the ground, the long grass crunching under her and scratching her thick yellow legs. Still in dragon form, she gasped as she forced the transformation, her body glowing and spiraling down into her lithe human body. Steam surrounded her as the water was burned off in the spell, leaving her dry in her maroon dress.
Sighing, the blond looked up from the ground and blinked at Xellos. The priest stood weakly, soaked to the skin, eyes unfocused. "Xellos?" she asked carefully. In the distance, her son and the Lesser Beast disappeared unnoticed.
A strange keening sound emitted from the demon, and he jerkily sunk to his knees in the prairie grass, wind rustling through strands of his long wet hair. Orchid eyes still unseeing, his palms fell down flat to the ground before him, elbows locking as if to keep him from collapsing completely.
Gasping with a rush of fear, Filia crawled over to him. "Xellos! What . . . what's wrong?" Why is he acting this way? I've never seen him so upset . . .
His head rose and he looked at her; the sorrow and horror in his eyes carved a deep wound into her. Taking a shaky breath, Xellos feebly reached out a gloved hand to her.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she took his hand, then pulled closer to wrap her arms around him. "Xellos," she whispered, "it's alright." He . . . he is so . . . beautiful, the disjointed thoughts weaved through the torrents of emotion.
"Filia." He desperately grasped at her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm so . . . sorry," his nasal voice rasped painfully as he hid his eyes against her shoulder.
Relaxing in his embrace, Filia hushed him, shivering as the water in his robes soaked into her skin. "I'm sorry, too. It's alright, Xellos. Everything will be better."
The demon pressed his face tighter to her shoulder, then breathed heavily, "Here."
Black energy began to tingle through the both of them, and Filia found herself warmed and dried. She looked down at the man in her arms and chuckled at his state of disarray now that he had removed the water. "Xellos, you forgot a few things, I think," she reminded him.
He pulled back slightly, then grunted with annoyance and used magic again. Instantly, his hair was combed and lustrous again, and his robes once again appeared as if freshly dry-cleaned. "Fine, if you have to be picky," he smiled dryly.
A somber expression was quick to replace the weak jocularity, however, and his sad eyes studied her with an odd uncertainty. "I sometimes have a hard time believing it will be better, Filia," he admitted. "It . . . oscillates. Sometimes I am certain . . ."
He looked away, wincing as if a nameless, incomprehensible pain gnawed at his mind. "Other times . . ." The demon looked down at his outstretched hand. The gloved fingers undulated in and out, and he clenched them into a fist, then released it. "I would have lost my temper completely," he whispered, the wind catching the words and tossing them aside, "if Valgaav hadn't come back."
Filia shook her head, azure eyes pained with compassion. "That doesn't mean anything," she told the priest. "You wouldn't have done anything-"
"But I COULD have!" he argued with sudden passion, head drooping and orchid eyes wide with dread. "And . . . and I . . . if . . ." His ashen lips moved but no words emerged, as if speaking them would cause the deed to be done.
The blonde dragoness threw her arms around him and held him tightly to her. "No. No, I don't believe it, Xellos. You wouldn't have . . . there is no way you could have lost control enough to do that. Never will I believe that you . . ." . . . that you could ever . . . kill me.
Even she could not bring herself to say it. What would it do to him if I . . . DID say it?
Above the somber moaning sounds of the wind across the plains, the eerie keening noise began again, muffled by her dress. Filia rocked him as he clutched at her once more, tears soaking her lashes. "No, Xellos. You're mistaken, and I know it. Don't destroy yourself like this," she begged, running her fingers through his silken hair. "We need you." Her expression faltered, then collapsed as her mouth dropped open in desperation, "I need you . . ."
He fell silent, hands grasping tightly for a second, then beginning to rub her shoulders. "I won't leave you," he murmured, voice catching faintly.
"You'd better not," she answered. "You . . . you've been so strong, Xellos. The person keeping us from falling, keeping us together."
Shaking his head, the Mazoku muttered into the locks of flaxen hair that fell across her shoulders. "I should be stronger than this. This is what I was made for, this kind of mission." His voice began to rasp as it grew louder, angrier. "I AM strength, I AM tenacity. Flexibility, intelligence, spontaneity . . ." His head pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes, his violet gaze desperate and demanding. His mouth formed words that she could barely hear. "I am failing my Queen."
Her lips parted, and one hand rose languidly upwards, agonizingly slow, to touch his face. "No."
Shocked eyes peered back at her.
"You were always the perfect assassin and the perfect fighter, weren't you." Filia's mouth trembled as she fought back bitter tears. "But before, Zelas was all that you had. It's been a very long time since you had to fight beside someone you . . . cared for." A strange peace settled over her as she spoke, and her soul felt released. It's true. He . . . cares.
Smiling, Filia caressed his pain, her hands smoothing his wrinkled brow. "You have a lot on your shoulders, Xellos," she reminded him. With a slow, smooth motion, the dragoness leaned forward.
Wisps of her golden hair danced on the wind as she closed in, then planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered into his ear, a slight amusement coloring her thoughts as he stared at her, "for caring so much about us. For being my friend. For . . ." she sat back down on her haunches and gave Xellos a shy smile. "For everything you've done for me."
