| "But this early? The sun isn't even up." "Your dad told me to wake you when he woke me first. Said that an early morning start on things would do us some good. So let's get dressed and meet Ren and your father downstairs." Dylina stood with the help of Meg, her eyelids refusing to remain open for even a moment. Her friend held her in her arms, rocking her back and forth slowly. Eventually she could stand under her own power without the help of Meg as she stumbled slowly to her cabinent. She opened it up, only to see it empty as Meg turned her around. "Your clothes for this morning are right on the chair. Everything else has been packed and put on a horse. Your dad and Ren loaded it all up while we slept." She picked up her stack of clothes and looked it over carefully. It was the bodice top and leather pants that Meg made for her for the trip as well as the cloak to go over all of it. Meg had borrowed a shirt and pants from Ren as she didn't have enough time to make clothes for herserlf nor did she have any fit for traveling. She did, however, manage to make herserlf a cloak that looked similar to Dylina's. Slowly but surely Dylina got dressed before she moved downstairs, Meg trailing not far behind. Ren was sitting at the table, sipping his tea while her mother and father sat together across from him. Her mother was crying into her father's shoulder as her father smiled at Dylina when she entered. He diverted his wife's attention from crying to her daughter as she stood and embraced Dylina in her arms. Tears still rolled down her mother's cheek as she kissed her all over her face. "It's hard to see my daughter leave me. Of course I know every mother feels sad when she figures out that her daugher isn't no longer her baby." Dylina blushed. "Mother..... don't worry. I'll be alright." "I know.... it's just hard for me not to cry." She helped her mother back to her seat as she took her spot next to dad while Meg stood behind Ren. Her father looked at the young man, pausing for a moment. Dylina watched her father think about his decision one last time as the door to her house opened slowly. All eyes but Ren's looked at the entrance to see who the newcomer was. Dylina watched one of the most cheeriest of men that she has ever known enter her house. He bowed to her father respectfully before he took a seat near Ren. Eventually he smiled at her, making her heart to skip a beat. Her father leaned forward and focused on the two other men while Ren didn't even bother looking at the newcomer. "I'm glad you came, Byrd." "It's an honor." replied Byrd. "So..." her father looked at Dylina for a moment before his gaze returned to the men. "I can trust you two to protect my daughter and Meganlique, can I not?" Ren merely nodded while Byrd smiled. "Of course. You know I'll protect your daughter with my life." Ren stood up slowly before he left the room silently. Dylina closed her eyes and sighed before Byrd, Meg, and herself followed. She glanced at her parents one last time while she exited the house, sorrow filling her eyes. At once she dismissed the painful thought as she climbed onto the horse with the help of Ren. He proceeded to help Meg into her horse before he looked at Byrd and pointed at the horse. Without another word he slinged his backpack over his shoulder and began to walk out of the town. It took Dylina a while before she got horse moving at a trot. Meg followed behind while Byrd took the rear of the line. It was when she got a good look at Ren's backpack when she saw the large spear attached to it. Her curiousity started to swell, as she never saw it before now. "Ren.... what's.... where did you get that spear?" "Made it.... and its for you." Ren glanced back at her for a moment. "Your father said you practiced with a spear, so I made this one for you for travel." He untied the strap and tossed it to her as she grabbed it out of midair. She tested the weight and the balance of the spear. Slightly heavier on the bladed side, but the overall weight and balance are well done.... Dylina laid the shaft of the spear on her lap, relaxing and enjoying the ride while she still could. It's gonna be a long journey...... ------------------------------------------------------------- It was well past sundown of the same day when Dylina woke up from her mounted sleep. She was still holding her spear while Ren led her horse. Her body felt sore and tired as Ren took her around the forest until he found what she thought to be an ideal spot to rest. He helped her down off her horse before he did the same for Meg. All four froze when a twig snapped not too far off away. It was a brief pause of silence when twigs started to snap occasionally, but the snaps grew stronger and more frequently. Ren drew his sabre slowly and waited patiently as Byrd reached for his broadsword. Meg slowly made her way away from the noise while Dylina prepared herserlf, slowly tensing the grip on her spear. She nearly lost her stomache when she saw her foe approach. Zombies walked towards them, missing arms as well as outer skin as some of the internals of the undead fiends were clearly visible to the naked eye. Her thoughts paused for a moment as her gaze remained fixed on the undead. How.... HOW!!!!!!!!!!!! The zombies stopped not ten feet away as a female emerged from behind the lines to the front. She smiled seductively at Dylina, playing with one of her curled horns before she looked at Ren in the same manner. Her bat-like wings kicking up a small breeze while both of her demonic tails were wrapped around her waist. The dark laced bodice covered very little of her clevage as well as the rest of her body as she brushed her green hair behind her and stared at Dylina with her icy eyes. "Give me your body and your powers. I'll take it by force if need be, and I'll start off with your village if you run." Dylina blinked as Ren stepped forward. Byrd stood next to him as Ren looked back at her with his emotionless eyes. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his face as he shouted at her. "Behind you!!" She heard her friend shriek out in pain as she turned to face a few zombie wolves. One had already clawed Meg's right shoulder, slime surrounding the edge of the wounds. The horses suddenly panicked as all three bolted out of the area while Dylina attacked the wolves, watching them scatter away from Meg's prone form. She rushed to her friend and helped her to her feet while she checked on her friend. " Meg, are you okay?" Her friend merely nodded as a pouch landed near her. Dylina looked at Ren for a moment before her mind started to focus on her anger. The rage she felt inside her caused her blood to boil as Dylina's body slowly began to change. A wave of diziness hit her like a brick as she closed her eyes to keep focus. Eventually she felt her body to be three times as large as her normal as she opened them again. She looked at her werewolf form for a moment before she held her spear again. "Take Meg to the village and warm them!" shouted Ren at her. "And take the herb pouch with you!" Dylina knelt in front of Meg, picking up the pouch as her friend climbed onto her back. Not wasting anymore time, she dashed off, giving a quick glace at the two men fighting as while the subuccus watched her prey run. She made tracks through the forest, weaving in between trees. Adrenline pumped into her blood as she quickened the pace while her wounded friend held onto Dylina's neck with her left arm. Three hours of non stop running left Dylina worse for wear as she made it to the village. She was immediately surrounded by her tribe as she collapsed onto the ground. A wave of relief hit her in the last moments before she passed out, unable to move any longer. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dylina woke up to the familiar setting of the caverns, her eyes opening slowly as she felt around her for Meg. Instead her hands felt the blanket on top of her as she looked around her. Familiar faces surrounded her as her body began to protest to her. Her legs refused to move an inch as she watched her father clear the crowd forming around her. He smirked at her. " That was a quick journey. " Memories started to fill her mind as she sat up quickly. "Where's Meg? And what about Byrd? Ren?" "Meg's wounds are infecting at a horrid rate. She may not recover for a long while, but at least she will. It was lucky of us to find the pouch you were holding. It had some salve for the wounds." Her father paused for a moment, sighing and shaking his head. "Ren and Byrd haven't shown up yet..." "I gotta.." Dylina groaned as her legs protested even more as they gave out on her when she tried to stand. Her father helped her under the blankets again as she looked up at him, feeling useless and weak in her current condition. Eventually she relaxed as her father held her hand. "So, father..... How long have I been unconscious?" "A few hours now." Dylina closed her eyes, thinking of the subuccus as well as the undead. She shuddered as to think of what might have happened to the two men while she tried to shake the vision of the subuccus as well as the vision of Ren's face when he looked at her. Totally emotionless.... he can't even be human.... it was as..... as if... her eyes flew open wide in shock at her new revelation. As if he wanted to die. |