“I must confess,” Lucifer regarded Yuki with a warm smile, “You are not the one I was expecting.”
Yuki’s eyes went wide as she regarded the massive angel who sat upon an otherwise unassuming, albeit giant, leather chair.
His massive white wings framed his muscular frame, all while long blond hair framed a flawlessly handsome face. Violet eyes glowed warmly but pulsed with a power that, though unseen, filled Yuki with a sensation of awe.
“I’m not?” She choked out, hesitant to approach the beautiful Angel. She was startled by his sheer size, as well as his absolutely gorgeous countenance. “If you weren’t expecting me… then who were you expecting?” she stammered slightly.
Lucifer smiled at Yuki with adoration, his violet eyes shimmering, “Someone who’s no longer with you, my dear.”
Yuki’s brow furrowed as thoughts of her father passed through her mind.
“Exactly,” Lucifer stated, his eyes boring into Yuki’s.
Yuki felt her stomach drop as she wondered if the Guardian before her could hear her thoughts. “Why am I seeing you? I didn’t expect to see the Guardian here when I opened the door,” Yuki stuttered.
Lucifer grinned knowingly to Yuki, “and I didn’t expect your path to lead to where it did either, but such is the joy and wonder of my children’s’ free will.”
Lucifer towered over her even as he sat. He gracefully motioned to a small gilded tea set on a table beside him. His soothing and empowered voice beckoned, “Please sit, my daughter. Your cup is waiting, help yourself.”
He watched her expectantly, already sipping from his own steaming cup. It appeared that Lucifer had indeed expected one guest. Afternoon tea for two was elegantly laid out on a table next to him, and next to that was an empty seat. This seat was much smaller than the one occupied by the refined and colossal Guardian.
Yuki studied the elaborate table with interest. In addition to the fancy tea set, there was also a mouth-watering triple-tiered display of tiny sandwiches, scones, and cakes. She looked back to Lucifer in amazement. He was so majestic, so wonderful! Was she truly meant to sit and have tea with the Guardian himself?
“Don’t let the tea cool, dear,” Lucifer said softly, but with a hint of urgency in his voice.
Yuki obliged, happily settling into what proved to be an impossibly comfortable chair. She carefully poured a small amount of tea into her dainty porcelain cup. She clasped the small handle and brought it to her lips; it smelled divine. She was intensely aware of the Guardian’s powerful gaze upon her.
She took a tentative sip. As it touched her tongue, she instantly learned the true meaning of the word ‘heavenly’. Such excellence was something Yuki knew she could never recreate by herself.
“Your mind creates whatever it likes best,” the Guardian said with knowing amusement, “This flavor, you could never achieve it outside your mind, but in here? Flawless. And you, my dear, you deserve a bit of luxury right now with everything you’re currently enduring.” Lucifer looked at her with sympathy.
“My mind? So this isn’t real?” Yuki sipped the delicious tea, gazing at her reflection on the surface of the warm liquid.
“Reality is merely a matter of perception,” Lucifer chuckled, “This moment is very real, but only to you and me.”
“If I may ask, where’s my son? My husband?” Yuki inquired, suddenly flooded by thoughts of them, of how much she missed her sweet Geoffrey.
“Perfectly safe,” the Guardian reassured her. His response did not have his intended effect and instead caused Yuki to grow rather frantic.
“Don’t tell me that! What does that mean? Where are they?! And if this is all in my head, am I safe?!” Yuki attempted to stand but the Angel’s huge white wing quickly moved to firmly stop her, encircling her in a warm embrace.
“You are safe. They are safe. Everyone you love is perfectly fine, Yuki. I promise.” He looked at her earnestly, his violet eyes sincerely fixed on Yuki’s bright blue ones.
“…How can you be so certain?” Yuki asked quietly, almost dreading the answer.
Lucifer smiled affectionately and replied, “Because I am your father… and your father’s father, and his father’s father’s father, until the very beginning of your ancestral line.”
Yuki felt a grave shiver come over her - as if the bottom of her stomach had just fallen through the floor, and now she was free-falling.
Lucifer stood, slowly turning toward Yuki as he set his teacup down on the table. “No fear, my child.”
Yuki swallowed hard, nodding, her eyes widening as she took in his shocking height.
A subtle look of pride came over Lucifer’s face as he regarded her, “Yuki… So very strong and brave, my daughter. Loyal and stubborn as the best of them.” He lovingly placed his hand on Yuki’s shoulder.
Upon his touch, Yuki felt an intoxicating warmth spread over her, eliminating her tension. This gesture allowed her the courage to ask, “Did that blue stuff I drank kill me then?”
“You are not dead.” Lucifer chuckled, “I suppose you’d have preferred if I led with that, all things considered.”
Yuki laughed in relief, “Am I going to make it out of this alive?”
Lucifer laughed with her and took Yuki’s hand, sending more waves of pleasure and contentment shooting through her body and spirit. “Come, come. We have much to discuss before we part ways.”
Yuki grimaced, “Part ways? Where are you going, Lord Lucifer? Please don’t leave me now, I need you! I’m stranded and-”
“You do not need my help, you are more than capable on your own,” Lucifer chuckled as he cut her off, “and no need for the ‘Lord’, my child, ‘Guardian’ will do, or even ‘Father’ if you prefer. And actually it is you who is leaving, not I.”
No! I can’t leave his side! Yuki thought. Distraught, she looked at him sadly, “I don’t follow.”
Lucifer’s smile faded slightly, “No… no you don’t. Not like the others in your bloodline. Even then, not as I would have liked, but that your nature, isn’t it? Devotion is optional for my children.” He looked at her, his smile returning. “My little Yuki. How I will miss you. But fret not, you are in the hands of my Fathers now, and they will welcome you.” He laughed. “I did not think it was you they would one day welcome, to be honest, but that is the wonderment of my children’s free will.”
Yuki looked ahead, trying to determine where he was leading her, “Wonderment of free will?”
Lucifer chuckled, “it is vexing and challenging, but oh so refreshing. You will soon learn why. But know this: your free will is unique to you. It allows you the freedom to act for your own interests, or…” he beamed down to her, “act in the interests of others. The choice will remain yours.”
She wasn’t sure what the Guardian was talking about, but she did her best to follow. It was right about now she really wished she had paid more attention in church. They soon came upon a large stone well.
“A going-away present.” He handed her a gold coin. “Make a wish - but I warn you, it will come true.” He beamed, his face glowing. “I promise it.”
Yuki frowned, “I… I don’t understand. Will, I ever see my son and husband again?”
Lucifer kneeled down beside her, although he still had to look down at her to make eye contact. He replied simply, but with empathy, “No you will not Yuki, and for that, I am so sorry.”
Yuki looked at the shiny gold coin. “Can I wish to know ‘what is the meaning of life?”
Lucifer hesitated a moment and then began to laugh heartily.
Yuki frowned in embarrassment, “Are we a joke to you?”
“No my child,” Lucifer’s laughter subsided, “but that would be a waste of your wish.”
“Why?” Yuki frowned, feeling like a small child.
“Yuki,” Lucifer began, “would it matter at all to you why you were here?”
Yuki thought, looking around the void and then back to the wishing well, “I suppose… well, no, but what is my purpose?”
Lucifer smiled, gently stroking the top of her head, “Why, Yuki, are you asking me? That is a question only for you.”
Yuki felt a spark of understanding at this piece of wisdom and considered it for a moment. “Okay, if I make a wish, you’ll grant it?”
“With all my power, so make it worthwhile,” Lucifer grinned.
“Then I… I want my son to be safe from harm… If I’m not there for him I want him to be looked after and safe, I want him to have your protection.” She tossed the coin into the well.
Lucifer smiled at the well, and turned to her, “You have my word Yuki. I will always pay special attention to your son… you are certain that is all you desire?”
Yuki smiled, and looked to him oddly, “As long as it means he’s alive and well…”
Lucifer smiled coyly, “Alive? I assure you, he will live a long and healthy life, but no one lives forever,”
“Don’t you?” Yuki asked.
Lucifer laughed, “A fair point! I will do my best to satisfy you, Yuki,” he tapped the well, “Come now! I have a few parting words of wisdom before you go. But know this: you need not worry about your son.”
Yuki looked around, the white around them vanishing. “Am I… am I going into the darkness?”
Lucifer shook his head, smiling, “No dear, but you will be traversing the darkness of your own soul.” He placed his hand on her chest, “No fear. Remember Yuki, do not fear what you do not know. Embrace it.” He held her shoulders tightly now, sinking down onto his haunches. It was as if something quite powerful was pulling them apart and his grip was keeping her there just a moment longer.
A deafening wind now encircled them both, the darkness swirling around the two of them. “And most importantly - Live!” he cried out.
The well vanished. Yuki yelled back to him over the surging wind, hugging the Guardian tightly. “I-I will! Bu-but please protect me!”
“You’re in Their hands now my daughter…” Lucifer called out, his grip on her beginning to fail.
“Who’s hands?!” Yuki shouted desperately.
“My Fathers’!” Lucifer shouted, “The Guardians shall protect you, the Father, the Son, and the Holiest Spirit! Be with them, child!” With that, she was ripped from her father’s embrace.
As Yuki felt herself falling, she heard her father’s voice echoing over the cacophony of wind and clattering of falling brick and stone of the now shattered well, “Live, Yuki. Live well!”
…
Back in her uncomfortable shelter, Yuki gasped, spitting up a mixture of saliva and vomit, clearly expelled while she was unconscious. She groaned upon realizing where she was, placing her hand on her head. It was strange though, despite her situation, she somehow felt very rested.
She recalled the vivid dream - it had felt so real! She was flying, fast, and high. She went home to find her family but instead met an Angel. A massive, kind, wise, and powerful Angel, and he told her many things. Was he the Guardian? The memories were vanishing faster than she could try to recall them, as dreams often do upon awakening. She recalled her father’s voice, now the only thing she clearly remembered: “Live, Yuki, Live.”
She spoke out loud, feeling the urge to answer, “I will Daddy…” she looked up, feeling a renewed surge of determination.
Yuki’s thirst was unbearable. Her water container was bone-dry. She searched all around the campsite, but for the life of her, she could not find a single suitable water source. Her stomach grumbled angrily and her throat was parched. The vomit found next to her upon her awakening had demonstrated in great detail that she had clearly lost everything she had eaten and drank.
Why this made her feel worlds better, aside from her hunger and thirst, was bothersome. Did I eat something poisonous? She wondered if she misread her field guide.
Yuki made the decision to return to her ship, admitting to herself that she had no choice. The lake had water she could at least boil to drink, and it was possible there was more she could salvage from the ship itself.
She packed a bit of cooked ripper meat and made her way through the thick forest. If she was lucky, she might find a few stored rations stashed in the ship as well.
She trudged along on the hike out of the forest and back to the lake. This physical exertion was making her already-empty stomach grumble and complain more. It didn’t help matters that her body was still out of whack from that strange drug she had taken.
To answer her stomach’s complaining, she reached into her pack and took a chunk of meat, tearing into it and chewing it thoroughly. It was cold, it was dry, but it was food.
As she traveled, she did as best she could to track whatever landmarks that she remembered from when she had dragged the parachutes into the woods. The last thing she needed was to get lost on her way back to her hideout.
Finally, Yuki found herself at the forest’s edge. Out past the tree line was the familiar field of tall wild grass that soon gave way to the small sandy lakeshore. As she slowly made her way through the overgrown grass, she soon spotted her ship in the lake. She breathed a sigh of relief and took a couple more steps, before drawing a small gasp and stopping dead in her tracks. Adrenaline coursed through her as she processed the terrifying sight dangling above and not very far away from her.
A large, powerful-looking, blue scaled leg was hanging from a hammock not too far from the shoreline. It was larger than the ripper’s leg, and it’s foot had twice the toes. Yuki frowned, slowly ducking into the grass as she reached for the field guide. She silently checked the “NITEN DRAGON” entry.
To her utter dismay, the foot matched the illustration perfectly. Vibrant blue scales glistened in the morning light. The four large toes were tipped with large black claws, even the back of the huge paw had a dewclaw protruding from the heel.
As Yuki examined the leg in horror, she was struck by the unusual realization of why it was positioned in such a way. In the trees, she spotted a large, brown sling-style leather hammock. The only indication that it was out of place in the green and brown tree branches was the brilliant color of the leg. Soon a large, equally colorful matching tail joined said leg, luckily compromising the otherwise well-camouflaged hammock’s position.
Terrified, Yuki did her best to halt her breathing. She pulled her wings tightly against her back, trying to make herself as small as possible. She grit her teeth and painstakingly began to back away, trying to stay hidden and out of the creature’s line of sight.
Caution transcended into panic as Yuki noticed a red Niten Dragon’s head now popping up from a previously unseen hammock on the same tree. There were two of them!
The red Dragon’s head peeked over the edge, and its eyes blinked sleepily. The red one’s hammock rustled and swung, and it let out a clicking noise. Had it seen her?
Then Yuki saw the dangling blue leg flex and quickly withdraw back upward into its hammock. Suddenly she heard growls coming from the two nearby trees. Peeking through the tall, thick grass cover, she looked to the second set of growling and saw the head of the other Dragon. It looked angry and Yuki didn’t want to bother finding out why. Yuki sprinted as quickly as she could back into the forest to seek cover, desperately hoping they hadn’t noticed her.
…
Lazzerlth heard something in the distance that didn’t sound like average rustling in the bushes. She leaned over her hammock and to her surprise she saw the Dei they were tracking. She was standing frozen in place though, and she wondered why. She turned and saw Fezzick’s foot and tail hanging down from his hammock. She groaned and let out a clicking noise to alert Fezzick.
Fezzick stretched and yawned, “Whaaaat?” he complained lazily.
Lazzerlth whisper-growled trying to avoid further detection from the Dei. “Fezz you idiot! The Angel! It came back! Get up!”
Fezzick pulled his leg up, “Where? I don’t see her!” he said loudly.
Lazzerlth rolled her eyes in frustration and growled, knowing their cover was surely blown. “Be quiet, you moron, she can hear us!” Lazzerlth looked to where the Angel girl had just stood and growled more loudly upon seeing her fleeing back into the woods. “Great! You scared her off!”
“Why is she so scared?” Fezzick growled in annoyance, as he jumped and landed heavily on the ground below them, so much so that the trees they had been sleeping in shook.
Lazzerlth glided from the hammock and landed gracefully on the ground. “She saw your big ugly leg hanging out of the hammock and probably thought you were something that was going to eat her! Come on, before she gets away!”
Fezzick grinned and began to give chase.
Lazzerlth did the same, running as quickly as she could, her wings folded around herself for maximum speed as she quickly caught up to and surpassed Fezzick.
Fezzick smiled, and in his excitement, he let out a mighty roar as they ran towards the forest.
…
Yuki was already well into the forest when a horrifying roar blasted her eardrums. As if a fire had been lit under her, she bolted forward, faster then she had ever run before.
Fight or flight instinct took hold, and flight took her as far away as she could go.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she ran. In what must have only been minutes, she arrived at her shelter and quickly passed it by. She dropped her bag there as she dashed through, hoping to unburden herself and distract the Dragons chasing her.
Tears of fear filled her eyes as her heart throbbed in her throat. Her legs and arms burned from the strain of running for her life through the dense forest.
Yuki’s arm stung with sharp pain and she stumbled as her shoulder clipped a tree branch. Determined to ignore the pain, she pushed forward, running as fast as she could. Luck was not on her side as a root caught her foot and she careened forward, crashing straight into a tree.
The mounting pain would have to wait, however, as she continued pushing forward, deeper into the woods. That was all she could think to do as she remembered the guide book’s warning: run, run, run. Deeper into the woods, into denser woods where they wouldn’t be able to find her from the air.
Another tree root caught her foot, and she found herself flat on her face in a pile of leaves and ground debris. Yuki’s tunnel vision gave way as she finally had a moment to breathe, and her ears perked up in hearing the sound of running water.
She pushed herself up off the ground and glanced above to see a riverbank.
“Oh… Where… were… you… before!” Yuki exclaimed while panting heavily, barely catching her breath as she voiced her frustration.
A quick glance behind her showed that she might have lost her pursuers. Nevertheless, she dove into the water and swam upstream, giving quick bursts of speed with her wings as she swam, hoping that the Dragons would assume she went downstream.
If she couldn’t outrun the creatures, she’d outsmart them, after all, she’d outsmarted that pack of Rippers!
Perhaps if they couldn’t find her scent they’d give up their hunt. Yuki hoped this was the case as she pushed herself until she couldn’t swim any further.
A large stump served as a decent temporary hiding spot. Yuki grabbed onto a slimy root, letting the river’s current flow over her aching body, the cool water a welcome relief to her overtaxed muscles.
The area stunk of decay and muck, but that was far preferable to being torn to shreds. Besides, she thought, the silver lining of such a rancid odor was that the smell might be overpowering enough to mask her scent.
As she held on, she reached out into the flowing clean water and she cupped her free hand. She drank as quickly as she could, quenching her thirst before pulling herself closer to the stump.
…
Lazzerlth was slowed by the density of the trees as she ran. She cursed as she occasionally got caught on a root or a tree branch. Pursuits on foot were not her strong suit, and even less so for Fezzick, who was a solid minute behind her at this point. She sniffed the air, and the scent of the Angel grew stronger. At least the scene of what Lazzerlth thought was the Angel, as she had never smelled anything like it before. She cast a glance behind her and Fezzick was nowhere in sight. She rolled her eyes and turned to face forward.
Lazzerlth spread her wings and brought herself to a complete halt. She flexed her claws out as she spotted the head of a Swift Plunderer looms out in front of her. She had run into these creatures many times, they hunted in packs of three and preyed upon hunter groups who had just made a kill.
She roared in fear and jumped back, hitting her shoulder against a tree. Lazzerlth quickly realized with a closer look that it was only the head of a creature she knew as a Swift Plunderer; it was clearly decapitated.
Strangely, its head was mounted on a large stick before what looked like a make-shift tent.
As Lazzerlth inspected the area, she decided this was where the Angel must have been making camp. The Angel’s scent was everywhere, and as she sniffed she turned to spot a strange bag tossed haphazardly on the ground.
She rubbed her sore shoulder a bit as she continued to inspect the contents of the bag. With a sniff of the meat, her eyes went wide, “Plunderer meat? She’s eating it?” she looked to the decapitated head. “…Badass little Angel.”
Lazzerlth examined a book written in a bizarre language she couldn’t even begin to read. “Ugh, I should have learned how to read Dei…”
Fezzick finally caught up to her, panting hard. Not built for the chase, it would seem. His large chest heaved as he inhaled deeply through his nostrils and then exhaled hard through his mouth. His impressive muscles visibly bulged under a rather tight green leather vest, making it difficult to tell where the vest ended and his own blue leathery skin began. “She… won’t… understand… us….” he heaved.
Taking in the masculine sight for a moment, Lazzerlth regained her composure. “Look,” she said slowly. “This Angel?” she pointed to the Plunderer’s head, “She killed it.”
The man’s face was in shock, “A Dei Angel killed a Plunderer? Are you sure she didn’t just find a dead one?”
Lazzerlth nodded and tossed a bit of meat at Fezzick, “Yep! Fresh Plunderer meat,” Lazzerlth looked at the Plunderer’s head again. “We’ll have to find her soon. She got lucky with this Plunderer, that luck won’t last. Something else might get her. But if she’s able to kill a Plunderer, we need to be careful. She’s not normal prey, she’s smart. No more roaring, okay?” She shot him a stern look, “No matter how sexy it is.”
Fezzick rolled his eyes, “She’s a damn primitive, how smart can she be?”
Lazzerlth glared at him, “Smart enough to slay a Plunderer and brave enough to sleep on the ground… or did you forget that it’s because of those very Plunderers that we have to sleep in the trees?” She stood up, Yuki’s bag in her hand, “She knows we’re after her, so she’s probably hiding somewhere she thinks will hide her scent. I think there is a river nearby. Come on, let’s make our way to it, see if we can pick up her scent there.”
Fezzick chuckled and walked towards Lazzerlth, picking the bag up to his nose and inhaling sharply. “You have to admit though… it was a pretty good roar.”
Lazzerlth felt her cheeks heat up, and turned from Fezzick quickly, “I’ve got her this way,” she said as she ran towards the river.
Fezzick grinned as he followed after her, even as she grew distant. His smile grew as he admired her beautiful tail switching back and forth, her powerful legs flexing as she gave chase. “I love being the slower runner…” he growled to himself. Though unintentional, her tail was held up high between her wings to keep her balance forward, giving Fezzick a clear view of her hips and thighs. Fezzick almost slammed into a tree due to his distracted admiration.
…
Yuki’s breathing slowed and she closed her eyes for a moment, her flight suit keeping her fairly dry and warm as she thought about her next move. She smacked herself in the head as she realized she had dropped the guide book along with her bag. She couldn’t risk going back for it, the Dragons could be waiting for her to return to her shelter if they lost her. She was likely stuck without the guidebook from now on.
A sudden hiss in her ear startled Yuki. She turned quickly to see a large reptilian face peering at her, far too close for comfort. She pushed herself away from the shoreline and back into the stream, staring at the snake-like creature sticking its three-foot-long neck from a knot of the stump. A pair of thin arms popped out from its sides and clutched at the rotting wood. Green scales with black stripes lined its long, serpentine body. Its forked tongue flicked out of its mouth as it curiously examined Yuki.
Yuki swam downstream quickly to gain momentum and distance from this new threat. Now she had to outrun this strange creature, all while remembering that she was being pursued by Niten Dragons. Why did every creature on this planet wish to devour her?
Yuki swam past a familiar portion of the forest, it was where she had entered the river. She cursed at herself in realizing she was now downstream from where her scent would have ended.
So much for hiding my scent. Yuki moved to the opposite river bank and heaved herself up and out. A quick survey of her surroundings, and a chance to slow her heart rate, confirmed that nothing else was chasing her.
I think I lost those Dragons, she thought to herself as she peered over the river. Her panic and exertion had taken its toll. Burning pain in her chest, arms, shoulders, and legs was her body’s desperate way of begging for a respite. This isn’t good. She leaned her head back against the tree and groaned as her lungs seemed to burn.
She couldn’t stay there in the open, and so after the briefest of breaks, Yuki jogged off deeper still into the forest.
…
Lazzerlth came to the river bank and frowned, sniffing. “I knew it! She dove right in!” She looked into the water, glancing down and upstream. “I don’t see her… She could have gone up or downstream. We may need to split up.”
Fezzick caught up with Lazzerlth, heaving as he did so. “How about… a quick breather?”
Lazzerlth growled, “This is why you need to do more cardio.”
Fezzick knelt by the river bank and cupped his hands in the water, pulling them up to his muzzle and drinking heavily. After a moment, still gasping for air, he remarked, “She had to have gone downstream, the current is too strong.”
“It’d be easier to swim downstream with this current, but upstream would give her a better hiding place since she might have tried to outsmart us, thinking we would assume she took the easiest route. Splitting up is going to be our best bet.”
Just then a large serpent slithered through the water, showing its full length of over three meters.
“Big guy,” Fezzick said affectionately.
“Yeah, he’s a beauty. Too old to hunt though, but man look at him!”
Fezzick bent his knees and beckoned to the creature. “Here big guy, I won’t hurt you.”
The serpent’s instincts knew better than to trust one of the more capable hunters in its world, and kept going, slithering into its home in the dirt around the stump.
“Hey!” Fezzick had an idea and looked at Lazzerlth. “Bet she went downstream… Big Guy might have scared her down the river, and it probably got curious and followed her down. It didn’t look like it had anything in its mouth so it definitely wasn’t hunting. Plus it’s too early to sunbathe, see? Its home is upstream from here.”
“You could be right,” Lazzerlth said. She looked into the water. “You know…” she said slyly, walking to Fezzick and placing her hands on his chest, a large toothy grin on her face. “If your muscles are so sore from running, you should cool off!” She gave him a firm shove, laughing as he tumbled into the river.
Fezzick gasped as he breached the surface, growling at Lazzerlth. Lazzerlth growled back, licking her lips as she happily examined her now-soaked hunting partner.
Fezzick crossed his arms, “As much as I would love to make love in this river… we have to find that Angel or all this effort will have been for nothing.”
Lazzerlth humphed and leaped over the river. Fezzick grumbled as he pulled himself out of the water, “I swear, you women are always ready for sex.”
Lazzerlth snickered, “Got a problem with that?”
Fezzick rolled his eyes and did his best to catch up with Lazzerlth’s fresh head start.
…
Yuki needed to find someplace to hide, someplace where her scent would be masked, or somehow hidden. As she put some distance between herself and the river, she continued into very dense, darker woods. When the brush seemed to reach its absolute densest, a small clearing emerged. The clearing was still shaded by the heavy canopy of trees, but it was devoid of any movement impeding brush.
As she took a moment to catch her breath pain wracked her body! She screamed out in shock as a sharp stabbing pain struck her hand! She looked to her hand to see some kind of horrific worm that was attached to her wrist! Worse yet, it had bitten right through her suit!
She grabbed the worm-like creature that was attached to her hand and pulled it off with a painful gasp. Her hand was bleeding in a round bite-mark. The worm had been sucking her blood! It writhed and wriggled in her hand as a circular set of sharp teeth like spines flexed and gaped in the air. She threw it to the ground and stomped on it in disgust. The worm popped as she squashed it, a small amount of blood oozing out of its ruptured yellow flesh.
A wave of dizziness caught her off guard. She staggered to a nearby rock and shook her head to regain her composure. Oh… no… Please don’t be venomous. She looked at the strange creatures that wriggled on the ground and cringed, they were clearly seeking out something to feed on. She reached for her missing handbook out of instinct and found her hand was already numb. That’s not a good sign.
She scrambled away from the clearing. She had to get as far away from the Dragons as she could… there was no way she’d end up as their breakfast.
…
Fezzick and Lazzerlth had taken a brief break, held up by the thickening brush.
Fezzick squeezed out his vest, grumbling, “Of all the times for your little cravings.” he said, wringing his shirt out.
Lazzerlth smiled seductively, “Hormones my mate… I blame all the running… seeing you out of breath like that…” She purred, “it’s your own fault, muscles straining against that vest of yours,” Lazzerlth licked her lips, “makes a girl hungry.”
He let out one loud “HA!” at her as he tirelessly dried his vest. “Let’s hope the Angel hasn’t gained any ground due to your antics.”
Lazzerlth nodded slowly, her eyes on his bare chest, not paying his words much attention.
Fezzick rolled his eyes and put on his vest glaring at her. “What did I just say?”
“Hmm?” Lazzerlth’s cheeks blushed, “Oh, uh…” she coughed.
“Let me guess, blaming the hormones?” Fezzick chuckled, “When are you due anyway?”
She smiled warmly at him, “I’ll be out of work for the next three weeks laying that egg for you… so you’d better work double for me.”
Fezzick nodded happily and beamed at her, “What’ll we name him? Or her?”
She laughed, “It’s not even laid yet and you want to name it, huh?” she smiled and stood up. She slipped her now-dried pants back on and looked at him, remembering her original purpose. “Okay… let’s get back to this hunt… she’s probably stopped running by now and is trying to hideout. She must be exhausted and scared.”
“Why is she so afraid?”
Lazzerlth shrugged, “Well… She’s probably never been to Nite before… probably a real shocker, Dei Angels don’t have any natural predators. Not to mention,” she shivered, “your vocal performance?”
Fezzick smiled bashfully, before he could say anything else, Yuki’s scream of fear echoed faintly. For an average person, this sound may have gone wholly unnoticed, but to Fezzick and Lazzerlth’s attuned hunters’ ears, it was quite clear. “Come on, I think she’s in trouble!”
…
Yuki had run what felt like several kilometers before her arm had lost all feeling and accidentally hit into her stomach, winding her. She lay splayed against a cliff face, panting and trying to regain her composure.
I have to get a grip… it’s just my arm… it’s just numb… She slowly stood up, finding it harder to move her right leg. Just my arm. Yuki lied to herself.
She found herself near a smaller stream, and her lessening mobility was narrowing her options. She collected all the debris she could and gathered it together to form what looked to be a large pile of fallen branches next to an adjacent tree.
She then moved to the stream and took off her suit, leaving her in her undergarments, and stuffed the suit full of leaves and dirt, placing it behind the cliff face from the direction she ran. She knew the hunters would follow her trail, so she made it seem as if she had passed out against the cliff.
A quick dip into the water and a vain attempt to clean her wound was next. Still numb, still bleeding. She frowned and continued on with the next phase of her plan.
With all the mud she could find, she caked herself with it, finishing the task just as her leg went completely numb and limp. She dragged herself behind her cover, and shivered there, the cold mud sapping her of body heat.
Pure fear gripped her, she had no choice but to hide. She knew this spot wasn’t the best, but she was out of options. She could only hope the Dragons would find her suit, tear it to pieces, and leave. Her wings feathers ruffled and she tried to smooth them down, keeping her wings against the tree behind her. She knew it was a terrible plan. She knew, deep down, that there was no way that the Dragons wouldn’t find her.
At this point, she just hoped to delay the inevitable. She swallowed hard, and silently began to pray to Lucifer as hard as she could.
Despite being unable to move half her body, she could barely keep herself from violently shivering.
…
Lazzerlth stopped as she spotted the same clearing Yuki had arrived at.
Fezzick sniffed, “She was here.”
Lazzerlth began to investigate when the twitching worm-like creature Yuki had stomped on caught her attention. “Is that a Numb Leech?”
“Those are rare…” Fezzick took a step back, "you think she was bitten by it?
Lazzerlth knelt by it, and sniffed, “that’s her blood,” she turned to Fezzick, “put it in your bag.”
“What!?” He cried, “I’m not touching that thing! You pick it up!”
“I’m pregnant!” Lazzerlth defended, “And we need to show the doctors what bit her if she is going to live! They’ll need to find the right anti-venom!” She stood up and backed away from the leech as Fezzick scooped it up with a tentative claw. “If she’s been bitten… she’s not going to make it very far. Her life is in danger!”
Fezzick nodded seriously, “Right… so…?”
“We need to be rough with her, knock her out if we have to, pin her down, tie her up, whatever we need to do - she probably doesn’t even know how much danger she’s in right now!”
They rushed off, following the footsteps, as they did Lazzerlth’s face of worry seemed to grow.
“Her footprints are getting harder to track and… and they’re showing she’s slowing down.”
“Maybe that means we’re getting closer?”
She sighed, “Fezzick, if she’s slowing down she’s leaving hard to find footprints… she might be doing it on purpose…”
The pair came upon the small stream. Lazzerlth stopped Fezzick fast in his tracks and covered his mouth, pointed to a familiar smelling leg and boots.
She jumped into the air, and landed over the form of the Angel, “It’s okay! I have… wait…”
Fezzick frowned, “What?” he looked at the decoy, tilting his head to the side in confusion, “Did she turn to dirt?”
Lazzerlth gave Fezzick a stern gaze.
Fezzick shrugged, “Well, where is she then? Why is she going to such great lengths to hide from us?”
“I told you - she doesn’t know how badly poisoned she is!” Lazzerlth yelled, frustrated.
…
Yuki heard the hunting party and quieted her breathing even more so than before. She took very slow, shallow breaths, and did not move a single muscle as she heard the leaves and twigs snapping near the stream. She closed her eyes and pictured herself in a full-body cast, unable to move.
She heard the creatures growling and hissing at each other. She heard the female first, her growls higher-pitched than the roar she had heard earlier. Yuki squeezed her eyes shut even tighter.
“Zh bsdr! Ysh ly… rg’e…” the female growled.
The male’s voice came next, “Mh? Ham pnth lklvk?”
There was a brief silence before the male’s gruff growls echoed past Yuki’s ears. “Vbkn ayph hya? Mdv’e hya mtkvvnt lhstyr maytnv?”
The female’s voice now caught on a tone of anger as Yuki hears the next series of growls and hisses, “Amrty lk - hya la yvd’et kmh hya mvr’elt qshh!”
Yuki now couldn’t feel her entire right side and her breathing was getting hard to control. Suddenly, through her eyelids, she saw a shadow cast on her hiding place. No… Her mind silently called out to her. Run… her mind then repeated, but her common sense beat it back, No…
Finally, a low growl filled her with dread, enough so that she took a sharp breath, which was enough to signal her pursuer that she was there.
A pair of clawed hands thrust themselves into the fabricated brush and parted it quickly as if it were a pair of French doors. The red Dragon bent down, her wings flared, her legs parted wide and low and her tail high in the air.
“Ah-hh! Svp svp mtsaty avtk!” Her mouth was opened wide as she growled out what seemed to be a low roar in Yuki’s face, a wide toothy grin and look of satisfaction on the dragon’s lizard-like maw.
There was no doubt in Yuki’s mind that she would die, and the only thing she could do soon overrode every rational and reactionary thought in her mind. She screamed in pure and true terror. A specific terror, only experienced by one who knows they are drawing their final breath before a violent and untimely death. Her terrorized scream shook her body and soul to the core, her fear overtook everything, and as if to merely avoid the pain of being gutted and then eaten, her body’s overreaction caused her to faint.