The summer heat was unbearable. Bastion could feel the sweat bloom beneath his fur, making him sticky, wet, and more than a little uncomfortable. He was beginning to acquire a rather unpleasant stench as well, with little hope of getting rid of it any time soon. There wasn't a body of water in sight for miles, just endless moors of straw yellow grass, swaying slightly with the slight breeze that trickled between the hills, teasing and warm.
"Bastion! Don't flick your bloody ears up! Put them down! Put them down!"
Letting out a sigh Bastion complied, pressing his rather ample ears back against his skull. They cast a long shadow against the back of his neck, over the unusual lump of his pouch that rested comfortably against his dorsal fin. The pouch stirred and Icthius forced his nose out of the stifling leather to breath.
"That's good boy,� crooned Icthius,"I'd give you a nice pet if I had the hands today,� he inhaled deeply and wrinkled his nose,� Or perhaps not. We stink, Bastion. Go wash us, for lord's sake!"
"I'd be more than happy to comply, my burdensome friend, but there is nothing to wash us with."
Bastion felt the head squirming against his neck, as if Icthius was attempting to turn himself around. Eventually he fell lax again and crouched back against the protective shield of Bastion's leather pouch.
"Are we nearly there, Bastion? Our feet hurt."
"Your feet hurt, I am perfectly fine,� it was a lie, of course, if Icthius could feel their body's feet smarting then they were. But Icthius had a much lower tolerance for minor ailments, and an even lower one for resisting the urge to complain about whatever discomforts he was suffering.
Perhaps they should stop for a bit of rest, though. They had been walking since morning, and spent the three previous days trekking across boiling hot terrain with little rest or time for meals. He certainly deserved a rest, didn't he?
Bastion frowned. As much as he wanted a rest, they had to reach the camp today. They'd fallen behind schedule and Bastion rued the thought of coming late. He had a responsibility to these people, the warriors of his clan, and he was damn well going to reach them before anyone had the chance to die. He shivered a little, flicking the duo-pronged ends of his tail. The stinging in his paused dulled a little, and he hurried on slightly quicker than before.
"Bastion,"Icthius crooned,� May we please rest? We'll reach the camp before nightfall, I'm sure we can't be far."
Icthius or the warriors? Bastion's frown deepened. His paws began to throb again.
"Icthius."
"Don't tut at me like that, Bastion. Covering it up doesn't change the fact that we're tired. Take a break, just a little one. We'll reach-."
A howl broke through Icthius' words, echoing through the valley. Bastion's eyes widened and he snapped his gaze toward the horizon. The pouch tightened around his neck as Icthius attempted to twist his head in the direction of the noise, his ears perked.
"Bastion! Ears down! Down, down, down!"
Bastion snapped his ears down again, but it was difficult keeping them that way. They gradually crept upward until perked on top of his head, straining forward to listen.
Shapes moved across the valley, dark and large. More Watari.
Bastion froze, furrowing the thickly furred skin above his eyes. Were these the warriors? Or enemies? Bastion's tail lashed against his thighs and he lowered his head slightly, squinting his eyes against the brightness of the sun.
"For lord's sake, Bastion! What is it? Who is it? I can't see."
"I don't know..."
"Well go look! Lord's sake, Bastion."
Bastion crept close toward the slope of the hill, and paused at its edge. No. He wouldn't approach them, that would be foolish. They were moving quickly across the horizon, not quite toward them, but they were getting closer, and even if Bastion and Icthius weren't the intended destination or target he would not escape their attention.
"Bastion!"
He inched forward again, crawling half-way down the hill before pausing a second time.
Another crow sounded behind them and this time Icthius did managed to wiggle himself effectively from the pouch to get a good look at whatever was headed toward them.
"Decorated Warriors, Bastion! Look! Didn't I tell you we would reach them? Can we rest now?"
"No-"
"You!" a voice snapped, not more than a few feet behind them. Bastion jumped and whirled around, jostling Icthius in his pouch.
"Bastion!"
Bastion ignored him, ears perked and eyes wide at the warrior before him.
She was a large creature, nearly twice the girth of Bastion-Icthius and several feet taller than him. She was decorated, sporting glimmering armor around her legs, neck, and chest, protecting all vulnerable areas from attack. Her dorsal fin was nearly three feet in height, sticking out of her back tall and strong, smoothly curved over her back. Her second head dangled from a mesh-like chain around her neck. She stalked toward the smaller male, her lips curled back in a snarl.
Bastion dipped his head quickly and lowered his chest to the ground.
"Are you from the city?" the female growled. The other warriors drew to a stop around her, their fur bristled and eyes flicking between Bastion-Icthius and the approaching watari.
Bastion nodded his head silently.
"Bastion-Icthius?"
Bastion nodded again.
"Who's in charge?"
"Bastion."
She drew back her paw, claws extended, and slashed Bastion across the cheek. The skin split and blood welled up, dripping down to mingle with his beard hairs. Quickly the cut repaired itself, leaving no sign of the injuring except a little splatter of red against his fur. Behind him he felt Icthius cringe, forcing a hiss out between clenched teeth. He willed his second head to keep quiet.
"You're late,"she hissed,� We�ve lost warriors because of you!"
Bastion lowered his head, pressing his ears back submissively, "My deepest apologies, warrior."
Icthius squirmed, and Bastion to sense his desire to speak out against Bastion's obsequious behavior. He bit his tongue, digging claws into the ground. Nothing good would come of this if Icthius opened his mouth.
The female's head snapped up and her eyes drifted to a spot behind them. She let out a frustrated growl and leapt forward, around Bastion,� There is no time for reprimands now. You will accompany my warriors into battle."
Bastion dipped his head deeply,� Certainly, warrior."
She cast him one last glare before rushing ahead, toward the approaching watari. The warriors followed after her with excited crows, their thick, armored legs jostling Bastion out of the way. They stampeded down the hill, fur bristled and muscles straining. Bastion waited until the last of their rank had passed him before picking himself up and racing after them as fast as his shorter, wearier legs would allow him.
"We're not fighting,� said Icthius calmly behind him,� I refuse to get out paws dirty with such...despicable activities. Leave the bloodletting for the warriors, Bastion."
Bastion rolled his head,� Of course, Icthius." Their purpose was to heal, not to cause injury.
It would have been exhilarating, if the possibility of death were not weighing on his mind. His muscles burned with each leap, straining against the pain and the overexertion. Before him the two sets of warriors had met, leaping at each other with jaws gaping and teeth snapping at the air. The scent of blood instantly bloomed over the valley, mingling with Bastion-Icthius' sour sweat-smell.
Bastion side-stepped away from the battle, skirmishing toward the edge of the scene to wait.
Icthius let out a grating hiss behind his head,� I don't understand why you insist on volunteering us for these...things."
"It's our job, Icthius."
"Well we aren�t' getting paid for it, are we? No recognition at all,� he snorted,� Bastion-Icthius, go do this. Bastion-Icthius, go travel across the country in the sweltering heat and throw yourself into- Bastion!"
Bastion had leapt forward and was hurrying across the battlefield. One of the warriors had fallen, bleeding heavily from the abdomen. Bastion wove his way through snapping jaws to the creature's side. He twisted around, snapping one of his three healer's amulets from his dorsal fin and dangling it over the wound. The warrior's chest heaved deeply, in out, in out. Bastion pressed his nose to the area and exhaled over the mess of flesh and organs. He pulled back, and the wound began to heal itself, muscle weaving itself into hard fiber and skin growing to cover the hole. Finally fur began to spring up over the area, and the warrior pulled himself off the ground. He shook himself, nodded quickly at Bastion, and leapt back into battle.
"Bastion!" Icthius shrieked, thrashing against Bastion's pouch.
Bastion craned his neck in time to see a large, brown watarus spring off the terra and leap at him. His eyes widened and he turned quickly, urging his tired limb to carry him forward. He felt the warriors teeth close around his tail and let out a growl of pain. Icthius joined him with a second shriek, his thrashing increasing.
Suddenly the pressure was gone and Bastion whipped around to see the female throwing the warrior to the ground, digging her teeth into its second head. Her jaws clamped over the warrior's second head and she bit down. The skull splintered, crushed. A tremor went through the body, causing the fur to bristle and the limbs to twitch before, finally, the whole thing fell lax. Dead.
The female lifted her head, locking eyes with Bastion, and snarled,� Go!"
Bastion nodded and rushed back into the crowds. More warriors needed his attention.
The battle ended bloodily, bodies strewn throughout the moors. Not many, but enough to cause Bastion's heart to clench in his chest. Icthius scoffed at his distress and snuggled down inside the pouch, ready to ignore him until he came to his senses. They were just warriors after all, it was their job to die. If Bastion was so adamant about imposing his own 'job' on Icthius, he bloody well couldn't ignore duty to one's occupation just because he meant a little death.
Everyone died eventually, after all.
The remaining warriors under the command of the large female made their way across the valley with Bastion-Icthius in tow. They'd managed to push back the others for now. They would return until they had regrouped, which, hopefully, wouldn't be for some time now.
"Damn rebels,� one of the smaller males scoffed.
Rebels indeed.
The city and its surrounding territories had been under the attack of rebel forces for several months now, ever since Lord Vadarian-Sethius had taken the seat of rule. He was a decent ruler, there was no denying that, but he was not of royal blood and his challenge against the rightful heir to the kingdom was thought of as a Bad Move from the very beginning. He managed to defeat the young lord-to-be, though, thus taking the kingdom. Several watari had become rather...distraught at this change of events, and groups began to band together as rebels in attempt to overthrow Vadarian-Sethius and restore the 'rightful' leader. It was all about blood, now a days, not skill or capability.
Icthius couldn't stand the thought. After all, one of these days he'd like to try his hand at overthrowing a leader, become the Lord. Low rank be damned, Icthius was destined for greatness. His lips curled into a grin at the thought.
The army made their way through the valley, reaching the slope of the very last hill that would lead them down toward the camp below. Icthius couldn't see it, but Bastion's mind sparked something of disappointment between them. It was probably some rat's nest camp, dingy and desolate. He hoped they had water, at the very least. Bastion-Icthius was beginning to smell something horrible.