Fan Fiction ❯ Esthenia II ❯ Part Four- The second war begins ( Chapter 4 )

Part 4, The Second War Begins

Destruction

Running as fast as I could, I made my way to the village. I didn't know what I'd find when I got there, but for some reason I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant.

I was filthy, sticky and still bleeding from all the hell I was put through in Ceair. The Filodrakes were far more brutal than I'd expected, and the human hunters weren't much better. There was only one good thing from that whole experience and that was gaining a new ally.

Torrik was very kind to me. His attitude made him seem more arrogant than he appeared to be. I was finally away from the Filodrakes but I still wasn't safe. The human hunters were still around. They were bound to come for me again, maybe by the hundreds. The forest was thick enough to slow them down, but I wasn't going to take any chances. So I didn't dare slow my pace.

Out of everything else, I was worried most about Pagasis. The whole time I was gone I didn't see or even hear a trace of him. Surely he would have realized that I wasn't there, and would have come looking for me. It would seem kind of foolish to think that he didn't know that I just suddenly disappeared. Aside from the other night, we'd rarely leave each others side.

Now I was running up a hill. Any second I'd see if the village was all right. It was tall enough to see down into the clearing where the village stood. I made it to the top and looked down. My stomach churned.

A black cloud of smoke was rising from the huts. The smell of burning wood reached my nose. I gasped and ran down the hill as fast as I could go. I kept on telling myself that it wasn't true, but when I reached the clearing my nightmare was indeed a reality. I slowed to a walk and nearly cried at the sight.

All of the huts were destroyed. Some were even on fire. They all lay were the once stood in a heap of wood and other debris. There was no sign of life anywhere. I called out everyone's name as I walked around. I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks. I was alone and afraid. Nobody was there. I sat down on a log and furiously thunk. About a million things were going through my mind. I knew very well that Canis was behind it all. I pictured her sly face full of laughter and joy as she blew up the huts one by one with her magic.

The whole thought made me furious. I couldn't believe we trusted her. I should have tried to get rid of her when I had the chance.

I didn't know what I'd do if everyone was killed. I know her main intention was to kill me and destroy the island, but why kill everyone else?

I stood up. I knew I had to take some kind of action. I decided to find Carona and maybe the others if I could. I knew one thing was for sure, and that was if everyone was killed, I wasn't going to give up the island without a fight. I ran up to one of the huts and rummaged through the debris. I lifted up logs and boards, but didn't find what I was looking for.

I ran up to the hut that belonged to me and Pagasis. I knew it had to be in there. I looked around after a moment and saw it. I stepped over a log, leaned down, and picked up a wooden long-bow. Next to it, was a quiver full of chrome colored arrows. These where called the silver arrows. I got them from one of our recent journeys. They were magical, and can do anything to a target you wanted. I was saving them for an emergency, and knew they'd come in handy. Suddenly, something moving caught the corner of my eye. I glanced over and saw the green headband that Mona had given me. It was caught on a splinter and flapping in the breeze. I walked up to it and unhooked it. I peered at it for a moment, then looked down at my feet. The outfit I was wearing the night before was sitting there. They were still neatly folded and in one piece.

I looked down at my shirt. It was covered with the human hunter's blood, dirty and sticky from my sweat. My shorts were also filthy and uncomfortably tight. I thought for a moment then smiled.

I took off what I was wearing and changed back into the thing I hated most. I then slipped the head band on.

"No wonder why they like to wear this." I said to myself.

It was light weight, comfortable and not as hot and sticky. The headband kept my bangs out of my eyes and the sweat from dripping down my face. I supposed that if I wanted to kick butt, I'd do it in style.

I looked over my cuts and bruises. They still stung pretty bad, but didn't bother me too much. Most of the bleeding had finally stopped. There were dry red marks going down my arms and knees.

I picked up the quiver and put the strap over my shoulder. I then grabbed the bow and headed for the path, passing the demolished huts on the way.

I figured that some how they'd rebuild everything. Everything they worked so hard to build was destroyed in less than a minute. I supposed that's what they get for being too trustworthy. There's nothing wrong with it, but sometimes, you just got to look a little deeper.

An Easy Ride

With my bow in hand, I made my way through the trees and underbrush. My throat was hot and dry, making me pant like a thirsty dog. I could feel my sweat begin to sting on my bleeding wounds while I was running. I wanted to get to the cliff as fast as I could. I wanted to prove to myself that everyone was still alive and Okay. I was beginning to regret the fact that I couldn't say goodbye to Pagasis if something happened to him. I knew very well he couldn't die, but that didn't mean he wasn't seriously wounded, just barley hanging on to life, wishing for death. The stitch in my chest was a constant reminder of it. It felt the same way it did the night Pagasis kissed me. It felt like someone reached into my chest and passionately squeezed my heart.

When my sides began to stitch up, I slowed down. I was limping by then. The bottoms of my feet were beginning to bleed. I didn't want to stop though. I walked on until the air around me was misted with fog. The moss beneath my feet felt soft and moist. I knew exactly where I was when the ground sank into a clear pond. There where large trees growing on small mossy islands all over the pond. I had made it to the marsh. The place where the aqua foxes lived.

I walked up to the pond and kneeled in the damp moss. It felt good on my knees. I cupped my hands, scooped up some of the water, and drank. It tasted so good and fresh it cleared my throat and chest. The water was like a sheet of glass, and I could clearly see the bottom. The aqua foxes kept the water clean, that's what they do.

I stood up, and stepped into the water. Right away, my feet stopped hurting. I walked through the short weeds. The water got deeper and my knees stopped bleeding. I took my quiver off and rose it above my head as the water rose to my chest. I felt my whole body tingle as it healed. Sighing with relief, I stepped onto one of the islands. Water dripped from my body. I stepped over the fuzzy green roots of the large tree that lay in the middle of the island and stepped back into the water. I looked down at my feet and jumped back.

The large blue eyes of an aqua fox as staring up at me. The little blue creature sat up and let out a squeaky giggle. It looked like a fox with fins on it's ears and tail.

"Hi." I said, trying not to look too afraid.

"Hello!" it said. "Your human!"

"Yeah," I said while stepping out of the water and back onto the island. I sat down on one of the roots. "It's a long story."

"Are you Esthenia?" the fox asked as it followed me up and sat on another tree root.

"Yeah." I said. "A bit obvious huh?"

The little fox nodded.

"You look like your in a bit of a spot." it said.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"The village in the woods..." the fox said. "I heard sounds coming from there."

"What sounds?" I asked while quickly sitting up straighter.

"Boomin' and bangin.'" said the fox. "Then all the running!"

"Running?"

"Yes ma'am." said the fox with a nod. "Through the swamp. Millions of feet..."

"Which way do they go?" I urged.

"I think they went in that direction...." said the fox while pointing northwest.

"The cliff." I gasped as I stood up. "I knew it! I gotta get there before she finds them!"

"Wait!" the fox said as I stepped back into the water.

I turned.

"There is a quick way of getting to there." it said.

"Really?" I asked. "How?"

"Follow me!" the fox said as it dove into the water and swam between my legs.

I ran after it through the water until we reached the shore. I stepped out of the water just as the fox leapt out. It shook itself off and made a whistling sound.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"It attracts them." the fox whispered. It whistled again.

We waited a moment. I looked around. I didn't see or hear anything. I supposed that I was used to being a sphinx. My senses weren't as good. Then a rustle in the underbrush caught my attention.

An elk stepped out. It was tall and had brown stripes all over its light tan body and around its eyes like a mask. It had long curly horns and alert, brown eyes. I recognized it right away. These deer dwelt all over the island. I saw them mostly as dinner for Rinoa.

The fox whistled again.

The elk tensely pawed the ground, but when the fox whistled again, it tentatively began to walk toward us.

I awed.

"That's right." said the fox. "They're nice when they aren't being hunted for their hides."

"You mean...?" I gasped.

"Yup!" the fox said with a smile. "You get to ride em!"

"Woa..." I murmured.

The elk walked up to the fox first. It lowered it's head and sniffed the little fox's ear.

The fox stroked it's velvet nose, then the elk rose its head and looked at me. Its ears twitched and it walked up to me.

I reached out and stroked its head. I was actually touching it!

"Jump on!" the fox said.

The elk lowered its head and nudged me with one of its horns.

I grabbed it and used it to hoist myself on. I slipped my leg over its back and sat up. I looked down at the fox and smiled.

"Thank you." I said.

The fox saluted me.

I giggled. I thought those foxes where the funniest things. I then gasped with alarm when the elk instinctively turned and began to run in huge leaps. I held on to its neck as tightly as I could. I was amazed with it's agility and grace as it bounded over large tree roots and bushes.

"Hurry!" I shouted to it. "We've got to get there before it's too late!"

It must have understood, because it let out a grunt and sped up. I wondered how in the world Rinoa could catch them. They were indeed very quick and smart.

Just then, there was a tall rock of walls in front of us. I recognized it right away from our first run through the woods when Pagasis, Kovu and I were being chased by Sidie, the rock bear. It was the very base of the cliff. I just figured that the elk would run around the wall and go up the easy way, but I was wrong. I felt my stomach drop when the elk didn't turn. It ran for the wall. I held on tighter as the elk leapt into the air and landed sideways on a boulder, then leapt again onto another one much higher up than the first. I had my eyes closed the whole entire time. I was afraid to look down. I then heard the name of my voice when I didn't feel anymore motion. I opened my eyes and peered around. All four of the elk's legs where on the ground. We had finally made it to the top of the cliff, and Mona, Kovu, Neara, Carona, and Rinoa where all standing there staring at us. All of them looked alarm.

I slid of the elk's back as Mona ran up to me.

"Esthenia!" she cried as she threw her arms around me. "You're okay!"

"Yeah!" I said.

When Mona let me go Neara and Kovu gathered around me.

"Where have you been?" Neara asked frantically. "We've been worried sick about you after our village was destroyed!"

"I know it is." I said. "Is everyone okay?"

"They're inside." said Kovu.

"What happened?" I asked.

"It was that scrawny wench, Canis." Mona growled.

"The next morning she turned on us." said Kovu with a frown. "She said something about the island dying and started blowing the place apart. We tried to stop her, but her magic was too powerful."

"So, she's a demon?" I asked.

"That's what I don't get." said Neara. "She didn't look or smell like a demon before, but when she did that her eyes glowed red. That's a sure sign."

"She stole my necklace." I said. "That night before I went to sleep. She snuck into my hut and took it from me. Then she teleported me to Ceair."

"Ceair!" Mona gasped. "You mean the place with the Filodrakes!"

"Yeah." I said, I then looked around. "Where's Pagasis?"

"What!" Neara exclaimed. "We thought he was with you!"

A Decision

"What do you mean!!" I exclaimed.

I looked from one guilty face to the other. I didn't understand it. I had no idea that Pagasis was missing too.

"Esthenia,"

I turned and watched as Rinoa walked up to us. She looked down at me with a grieved expression.

"I'm sorry." she said.

"What do you mean?" I asked with my fists clenched.

"When he was ready to go to sleep last night, it wasn't too long after you left." she said. "He was worried to leave you alone."

"What?" I gasped.

"Yes." she said. "After he found out that Canis wasn't around, he decided to check up you. He knew that you were afraid of Canis, and also had this bad feeling about her. When he didn't come back and tell me that something was wrong, I figured that everything was all right and that he had fallen asleep or something. So I didn't suspect anything."

"He wanted to protect me..." I breathed.

Rinoa nodded her head.

"But why!" I suddenly cried. "Why would he care! After what happened that night he shouldn't want anything to do with me!"

Everyone's faces changed from guilty to extremely guilty. It took me a moment to realize that I said a little too much information. Suddenly, the silence was broken by Aslynn as she came out of nowhere and threw her arms around me. She then let me go and looked me over.

"I see your injures are healed." she said.

"Yeah." I said. "The marsh water did it."

"I figured as much." she said with a smile. "That's one of the key ingredients in my antiseptics."

"Aslynn," I said. "Do you know what happened to Pagasis?"

Aslynn's face expression turned from joy to a stern look.

"I'm sorry." she said. "I'm afraid I cannot give you that information. It's something you need to learn on your own."

I let out a stubborn sigh.

"Well," I finally said. "He's got to be alive somewhere. He can't die. He's immortal remember?"

The others nodded. They all appeared to be deep in thought.

"Canis must have him captive somewhere. Since he's still alive that means that I'm not dead." I said. "She want's to lure me back to her somehow so she can just kill me herself."

"Very good." said Carona. She had appeared next to Rinoa. "Indeed, it is you, Esthenia, that she wants."

"But why would she want me?" I asked. "I've never met her in my life. Why would she want to destroy the island?"

"Think." said Carona. "Other than her, who else wants to destroy this island?"

I thought for a moment. I remembered that the demon king, Isthrak, wanted to destroy it long ago, but he was dead. Then I remembered.

"It can't be." I said. "You mean Digarah?"

"Do you think that Canis and Digarah have formed some kind of alliance?" Mona asked.

"Very much so." said Carona.

"This is bad." said Neara. "Both of them are very powerful. Their powers combined could kill us all."

"Indeed." said Kovu looking very thoughtful. "But why would Canis and Digarah be together in the first place? I have this feeling that Canis wouldn't want to destroy the island just for the fun of it. Something had to be in it for her."

"Well, she is evil..." said Mona while folding her arms and frowning. "And that Niegie..."

"What!" I exclaimed. I had almost completely forgotten about him. "Come to think of it, what did happen to Niegie?"

"He vanished after that night." said Neara. "We didn't know where he went, but I have this feeling that he was helping Canis the whole time."

"He seemed so nice though." I said.

"Yeah, that's what they want you to think." said Rinoa. "Then when you have your back turned, they stab you. I can't wait till the day that I crunch he and that witch in my jaws."

I sighed and sadly looked up at her. I knew that she was hurt more than angry. She had liked Niegie and gave into his act. He had broken her heart.

"Where do you think they would be hiding?" I asked. "They have to be somewhere on the island."

"Well, there's no real proof of that." said Kovu. "They could be anywhere in the world by now."

"But if they want me then why would they be somewhere were I couldn't reach them?" I said.

"Good point." said Kovu.

"They would make it obvious if they want her to find them." said Rinoa.

"Of course!" Mona suddenly said with a snap of her finger. "The meadow! Our meeting place! That would be the best place."

"Right..." I said. I then turned and looked out at the forest. I couldn't see the meadow from there because the trees where so tall, but I had this feeling that Mona was right. I then looked around for the elk. To my surprise, it was sill standing there where I left it. It hadn't moved this whole time. It was just nibbling on a few blades of grass that grew out of the cracks in the rocks. I whistled. It rose its head and looked at me.

Everyone else looked too. They all looked a little confused.

"Where'd that thing come from?" Mona asked.

Meanwhile the elk walked up to me and lowered its head.

I grabbed its horn and hoisted myself on its back.

"What do you think you're doing?" Neara asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I asked irritably. "I'm going to save my friend."

"Alone?" Mona gasped. "Yeah right! At least let one of us go with you."

"That's right!" said Rinoa. "You're only human. They'll kill you the first chance they get!"

"Is that all I am?" I asked. I was starting to feel a little angry. "Just a human?"

"That's not what I meant." said Rinoa, looking a little hurt. "I mean to upset you, but I just couldn't bear to let them kill you when you are no match for them. Face it, they have you outmatched, and outnumbered. It doesn't matter what form you are in."

"Look." I said. "If it's me they want then it's me they'll get! Pagasis is my friend. He'd kill himself just to please me, and I was selfish enough to lay back and let him. Well, not today. Now it's my turn to help him."

I tapped the elk's side. It turned, and before we went I said, "Don't you dare follow me!"

With that, the elk leapt off the cliff, and I was on my way again.

A Deadly Duo

I felt bad for turning my back on my friends, but I had made my decision. I was to prove to Pagasis that I cared about him just as much as he cared for me. I knew very well he'd do anything for me. Even go through torture. I had this bad feeling that Canis and Digarah were torturing him just for their sick pleasure.

"Hurry!" I shouted to the elk as we tore through the forest.

The elk let out a grunt and sped up.

I held on as it leapt over a high tree root and down a steep slope. It was as if the beast could fly. I felt like I was riding on Pagasis' back once again. That day when we first met and he protected me from the human hunters. The thought just made me feel sadder about him protecting me all the time.

I felt a tear fall from my eye and blend in with the blur of green that swept past me.

It wasn't too long before we reached the meadow. I looked around the grassy plain and noticed that the place we where looking for was on the other end. I hopped off the elk's back.

It grunted and looked at me with its large brown eyes.

"Thank you." I said as I stroked its nose. "You're free now. Go and have fun!"

The elk just cocked its head to the side.

"You silly thing..." I sighed as I turned.

Without a second look, I started running down the edge of the forest. I knew exactly where I was going. The image of our spot was fresh in my mind. It was at the edge of the forest. There was an apple tree and a large rock that Mona always sat on. It reminded me of the times when we'd go out and play apple tag in the open space. The sun would be warm on my orange fur and would make me hot and sweaty, but I never wanted to stop running.

I passed a familiar tree and knew I would be there soon. Then suddenly, something tripped me and I went crashing to the ground. I lifted myself up and spit the grass out of my mouth. I looked up and saw Digarah standing over me.

He was tall and looked a lot like Kovu. Only he was much larger and had red wings, yellow chest scales and a large, black shaggy head. He had a wicked grin on his gnarly face. His evil red eyes looked cold and malicious.

"So." he said. His voice was as cold as his eyes. "Here's the famous Esthenia... Not so tough now are we?"

I clenched my fists. I could feel the anger burning up inside of me. How dare he speak to me like that...

"So, the runt finally showed up." said Canis, who appeared by his side. "Hadn't had enough, huh?"

"Shut up!" I shouted as I stood up fearlessly.

"Oh," said Canis with a humorous expression. "Careful, sweety. She's going to blow her top and stain my dress with her weak human blood."

"Esthenia..."

I turned my head and gasped.

Pagasis was lying there next to the apple tree. He was back in his horse form, and his whole body was bleeding and wounded. His blue eyes were barley open. They were on me, and they looked sad.

"Pagasis..." I whimpered.

"Yes." said Digarah. "We had a little fun with your friend here. Since he cannot die, we had a little extra fun than usual."

Canis just laughed.

"Eshtenia..." Pagasis said. "Run away from here... Don't worry about me.. I'll pull through."

"No way!" I shouted. Tears were streaming down my face. "I'll never leave you! I don't care if you can't die or not. Nobody messes with my friends!"

"The kids got a lot of spunk." said Canis. "But it won't last long."

"No, it wont." said Digarah. "So, child. What do you plan to do. I see you have a weapon on you. Do you think that mere sling could kill me?"

I felt my body begin to tremble with anger.

"You both are so stupid!" I shouted. I reached over my shoulder and grabbed an arrow. I knocked it and drew back the bow. It was pointed at Digarah. "What makes you think I can't kill you?"

Digarah frowned.

"Worthless human." he said.

"Because," said Canis. "We're all powerful. Nobody can stop us. Even your little Guardian friend was no mach for us."

I shifted my aim to her.

"Why are you involved in this?" I asked her. "How does the destruction of this island have anything to do with you?"

Canis grinned.

"I met Digarah here quite a while ago. When he found me, he promised to teach me how to become a full fledged demon. He said I could complete my transformation by helping him destroy this island." she said.

"Why in the world would you want to become a demon?" I asked.

"Because," said Canis. "As a regular fox, I wasn't qualified to become a pure Guardian. I wasn't powerful enough. So I decided it would be better to go the opposite way and become a demon. Doing so, I could double my power and rule my island."

"You fool!" I said. "What's the point in that? All your going to do is kill your island!"

"Silence!" she said.

"And what about Niegie?" I asked. "Why would someone like him become involved with someone like you?"

"That was all my plan." Digarah said. "I brainwashed the idiot and made him think he was going to visit her. Then when he ended up on this island, she'd come here looking for him."

"I see." I said. I then grinned. "Cleaver plan, but it's going to end here."

"What are you going to do?" Canis asked with a mocking grin. "Poke me with that thing? I'll fry you..." She raised her hands.

"Wait." said Digarah.

Canis looked at him with a frown.

"Let us battle this out." he said. "Let's see how strong she really is."

The Soul Stealer

I felt beads of sweat form on my head. My bow string was starting to cut into my fingers. I still had it pulled back and aimed at Canis.

"Let me go first." she said to Digarah. "I'll suck her soul until her body crumbles."

Digarah still didn't take his eyes off of me. His face remained expressionless but I knew he was thinking.

"So be it." he finally said.

Canis took a step back. She had a wicked grin on her face.

"Fine!" I shouted. "DIE!"

With a flash of silver I released the arrow. It made a faint whistle sound as it headed for its mark. It hit a tree.

Right away the tree withered. Its green leaves turned a sick brown and dried. Its branches grew brittle and began to break. Then the tree fell.

"Whoops!" I said. I killed a tree!

"Whoops is right!" said Canis.

I turned around and backed away. She was standing right there in front of me.

She had her empty hand held out in front of her.

"Let's see you survive this..." she said as she closed her eyes.

When she opened them again they where flashing red. A round orb had appeared in her hand. It looked like a little back hole.

I drew out another arrow and nocked it. Just then, I felt something pulling on me. I couldn't explain it. It felt like something was trying to get inside my body and pull out my insides, but I wasn't moving anywhere.

"What are you doing to me..." I gasped. A queasy feeling had suddenly taken over me.

"This is my soul stealer." Canis giggled. "Soon your soul will be mine and your body will be like an empty shell."

"No..." I gasped. I raised the bow and pulled back, and aimed for the ball. "Break!"

I released the second arrow. It whistled through the air and just hit another tree. It snapped in half and fell to the ground with a crash.

Canis had reappeared behind me. She was laughing.

"You aren't quick enough for me!" she said. "Just hold still and make it easy on yourself. It'll be over in a minute."

I felt by body begin to grow weaker. My legs could hardly support my body anymore. My knees where shaking. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Pagasis struggling to get up, but falling back down at every attempt.

"Pagasis! No!" I shouted to him as I slammed to my knees. My body began to glow a dim yellow. "Don't get up! You're already badly injured because of me!"

"He can't save you now." Canis said. "He's wasted."

"SHUT UP!" I roared as I stood up with all my strength. "Don't you DARE insult him!"

I drew out another arrow and pointed it at her.

"Let's see you dodge this one!" I said with a grin. "Hit!!"

With that, I let the arrow go.

Canis disappeared and the arrow shot through the place where she once stood. She reappeared and laughed.

"What's that supposed to do?" she said.

"That." I said as I pointed at the arrow.

She looked to where I was pointing and gasped. The arrow had turned around and was heading back at her. This time, she wasn't quick enough for it. It hit her right on the thigh. She fell to the ground.

"You fool…" she said through clenched teeth. She grabbed the arrow, blood was now leaking from the wound and soaking in the ground. "Once I pull this out my wound will heal."

"No it wont!" I shouted. "DIE Canis!"

The arrow flashed red. Canis took her hands off it and stared at it in horror.

"What's happening!" She cried as the arrow throbbed like a beating heart.

The wound began to bleed even more. It flowed down her leg and dripped to the ground. Little by little, it began to flow even faster until Canis dropped to her knees. She held her hands to her chest as a faint red glow appeared there.

"Digarah!" she screamed as the faint glow made a bright flash. With that, Canis fell in her puddle of blood. She was dead.

I turned to Digarah with another arrow.

"You're next." I said.

Digarah looked calm. He didn't pay no mind to his dead companion. He was staring at me with his cold red eyes.

"If you wish to fight me." he said. "At least do it right."

"Yeah, right!" I snorted. "Don't think I'll fall for that crap!"

He pointed at Canis' body.

I looked and saw something that made my heart jump. My necklace was lying there next to her body. It must have fallen from her pocket when the arrow hit her.

"Get it." Digarah said. "I've always wanted to fight a sphinx."

"It's a trick." I told myself. "There's no way he'd just let me have it."

"Go ahead." Digarah said.

"I'm not stupid." I said. "What makes you think I'd fall for something like that?"

"Are you competitive?" Digarah grinned.

I thought about it for a moment, wondering where he was going with this.

"What's that go to…"

"Just answer." he said.

"Yes." I said.

"Then you would probably know what I mean." he said. "I may be a demon, but I know that there is no fun in a fight when you don't have a challenge."

I frowned for a moment. Then without taking my eyes off of him, I strode over to the body, bent down, and picked up the necklace.

"If that's the way you want it." I said with a grin. "If it's a challenge you want, it's a challenge you get!"

Transformation

I quickly fixed the chain-link and slipped it over my head. I stood there for a moment. I never took my eyes off my foe as he stood and watched. My body began to glow, and the transformation had begun. My feet and hands turned into clawed paws and my large, black tipped wings sprouted from my back. It wasn't too long before I was back on all four paws once more. My sight, smell and hearing where amplified a hundred times better. I could smell the stink of Digarah in the air. He was made of pure anger and that was all I could smell, the sour scent of anger.

"Good." he said. He then charged.

I dodged out of the way as he blew past me with lightning speed. I turned and roared. A jet of flame flew from my mouth.

Digarah jumped high to dodge the flame. He hovered in mid air and made a ball in his hand then whipped it at me.

I dashed to the side as the ball struck the ground. It went deep and left a small crater. I sprang upward in hopes of catching him with my outstretched claws, but I only hit the air. He was directly above me. I spread my wings and lunged at him again.

He dodged me again and whipped my with his tail when I sped past him.

I fell a bit. My back was in a lot of pain where he had hit me. I spread my wings again and glided upward. I looked around for him. I couldn't see him but I could still smell him. Confused, I fell back down again and looked around. I didn't see him any where. Then, something struck me from behind and I was blasted forward. I landed in the dirt on my back. I couldn't feel the pain because for some reason my back was numb. I looked up and saw Digarah standing over me with a triumphant grin. He had another flashing red ball in his hand.

I gasped.

"This was indeed fun playing with you girl," he said. "but now it is time for me to kill you."

I raised my arms and blocked my face just as he raised his hand. Then suddenly, something white stood in front of me.

There was a flash of red and Pagasis fell at my feet.

I felt like I was going to faint.

"Pagasis!" I cried as I ran up to him. I looked down at him, hoping to see any sigh of life.

"Fool…" Digarah said.

"Pagasis! Can you hear me!" I exclaimed as I rested my paw on his cheek.

Slowly, his eyes opened. They were both on me.

"Esthenia… Are you all right?" he asked. His voice was strained.

I felt my eyes begin to water.

"Yes…" I said. I then began to feel angry. "Why did you do that?"

"I can't die." he said.

"I don't care about that!"

"Hate to break this up…" I heard Digarah say as there was another flash of red and Pagasis and I were thrown. I slammed into a tree and Pagasis tumbled to my feet. I laid there. Shivering from head to toe. I could feel my back begin to bleed. It was still numb.

Pagasis didn't move either. Though, his eyes were still open and staring at me.

I looked back into them and started to feel hot all over. I felt as if my body were on fire. I took my eyes off of him and watched as Digarah walked toward us.

"Esthenia…"

I looked down at Pagasis once more.

"Run." he said.

I felt my eyes begin to burn.

"Never!" I said. "I won't leave you! I am staying by your side, even if it kills me!"

I stood up and walked up to him.

"Then take this…" he said as he closed his eyes. "Don't become a demon…"

I looked at his neck. There was the necklace that connected our thoughts. I quickly leaned down, untied it, put it on myself. I looked back down at my friend. He had fainted. He was bleeding all over and had black char marks on his body.

I turned and glared at Digarah as he stopped at a distance in front of me.

"You still hadn't had enough?" he asked cooly as he made another ball in his hand. He then threw it again.

I dodged out of the way. Then with horror, I looked over my shoulder and saw that it hit Pagasis instead of me. I felt a tear drop from my eye as I heard his voice in my head telling me that he was all right over Digarah's laughter.

"It's not all right!!!" I shouted out loud.

Just then, I felt a sudden hotness take over my body. My claws dug into the ground as I felt something happen. All I could see was red. I couldn't hear anything, only the rhythm of my heart beating frantically in my chest. I could feel my body throb.

I could still smell. I could smell Digarah standing in front of me. I could smell his fear. I blindly ran at him and tore with my claws. I could feel the flesh and smell the blood of my foe.

I took a deep breath through my nose and I could see once more. Everything was still red, but I could make out everything around me. I could see Digarah lunge at me. The blood from his wound was trailing behind him.

I lunged too. I sank my claws into his shoulders and went for the neck as his claws sank into my shoulder.

Inside, I could hear myself asking what I was doing. I ignored it, for the only thing I wanted on my mind was to sink my fangs into Digarah's throat. I wanted to kill him for what he did to Pagasis. I wanted to see his blood. I wanted to hear his gasping breaths as he drown in his own blood.

Then I blacked out.

Protection

"Esthenia…"

"Pagasis…"

"Yeah, it's me." he said. "You did great…"

"What happened? I don't remember anything…"

"You'll wake up soon…"

"Pagasis…?"

"Esthenia…"

I opened my eyes. I could see someone standing over me. I was in some kind of room.

"Pagasis?" I moaned.

"No." said the person. "It's me, Aslynn."

My eyes finally adjusted. Everything came back into focus. I could see Aslynn's bright eyes in the dim light.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"You're back at the cave." she said.

It took me a moment to realize that I was lying on a bed of furs.

"Thank god you're all right!" Mona exclaimed when she saw that I was awake. "I thought you were never going to wake up!"

I sat up.

"Where's Pagasis?" I suddenly asked.

Aslynn and Mona looked at each other.

"He's here too." Aslynn finally said.

"Is he all right?" I asked.

"He's going to be fine." Aslynn said with a warm smile.

I stood up. I felt normal again. Though, I still couldn't explain what happened back at the meadow when I was fighting Digarah.

"Where did you find me?" I asked them.

Mona and Aslynn exchanged glances again.

"Well," said Mona. "After a while, we began to worry about you. Rinoa decided to go out and find you, and she brought you back."

"Where is she?" I asked as looked to the mouth of the cave. The sky glowed with red. I knew it was sun set. I had to leave for my world very soon.

"She and the men are at the village re-building it." said Aslynn. "We decided to stay here and wait for you to wake up."

"I should go find her…" I finally said.

"What for?" Mona asked.

"I want to ask her what she saw when she found me." I said. I was curious to know. "By the way, where is Pagasis?"

Aslynn pointed over to the other side of the cave.

I walked over and saw Pagasis lying on another bed similar to mine. He was covered with bandages. His eyes were closed. He looked as if he were merely asleep.

"I've been giving him antiseptics." Aslynn said as she walked up behind me. "He still hasn't woken up."

"I see…" I said. I then turned and headed for the mouth of the cave.

"Hey wait!" Mona called behind me. "Let me go with you!"

"Okay…" I said. Though I was in those moods where I wanted to be left alone.

Mona stayed beside me as we walked out onto the cliff.

"So," she said. "What did happen?"

"I'm not quite sure…" I said. "I just blacked out."

We dove off the end of the cliff and glided into the air.

"I heard Rinoa telling my parents something about you." Mona said over the wind. "Something about blood…"

"What?" I gasped.

Mona nodded, she had a sympathetic look on her face.

We flew until we spotted the clearing. We could see the native men walking about, cleaning up the mess and rebuilding some of the huts. When we landed, we where greeted by Kovu and Rinoa.

"Esthenia!" Kovu exclaimed. "You're awake."

"Yeah." I said. I then looked at Rinoa. "Can I talk to you?"

Rinoa stared at me for a moment. I felt as if she was looking right through me. She then nodded.

We left Kovu and Mona and walked to the edge of the clearing.

"I suppose you want to know how I found you." she said as she laid down and crossed her huge paws.

"Yes." I said as I sat in front of her.

"You where lying there." she said. "You weren't moving and your eyes where froze open. They where bright yellow. Blood stained the corners of you mouth and you paws. Canis was lying there not too far from you. She was dead. I believe you used one of the silver arrows to kill her."

"What about Digarah?" I said. I was in total shock of the whole thing.

Rinoa shook her head.

"There was a trail of his blood and nothing more than that. It led to the ocean. He might have flown away, or he might have fallen into the water. I don't quite know."

"What about Pagasis?" I asked.

Rinoa's ears dropped.

"You know, last night…" she said. "He was telling me about how much he cared for you."

I felt my stomach churn.

"Go on…"

"He was lying over you, protecting you." she said while avoiding my glaze. "He had claw marks all over him."

I held on to her every word. I was in total shock.

"Why…" I said. "Why did he have to do that? I could have killed Digarah!"

"I don't know." said Rinoa. "That's something you'll have to ask him."

I decided to fly back to the cliff. I didn't bring Mona with me this time. My mind was so full I couldn't think. I was somewhat angry about what I heard. Though, it still didn't explain what happened to me, but I learned another detail, and I didn't like it.

I landed on the cliff and ran inside. I found Aslynn kneeling next to Pagasis with a bowl of green liquid and was pasting it on his back.

He was lying there on his stomach with his arms crossed out in front of him. He was in his human-like form once again, and his eyes where open.

"Pagasis…" I said as I walked in front of him.

He looked up at me with his eyes. He smiled.

"Good to see you." he said. "Are you feeling all right."

"Yes." I said with watering eyes. I could see the scratches on his back now that the bandages where taken off. They looked deep and had to be hurting him very much.

"Why did you do it?" I asked him sternly. "I could have killed him you know."

"Yes," he said. "I know."

"Then why where you protecting me?" I asked. "I know Digarah didn't do that to you."

"I think I'll go…" said Aslynn as she stood up and walked outside.

I didn't watch her leave. I was too busy staring down at my friend.

Pagasis sat up and looked at me. His eyes looked sad.

"I wasn't protecting you." he finally said.

"What?" I gasped.

"I was protecting him from you."

"Pagasis…" I stammered. "But why? He's a ruthless demon. I couldn't stand to see him hurt you like that."

"Indeed he is a demon." said Pagasis. "But being the way you where, you would have ripped him from limb to limb. Nothing, not even a demon deserves that. Even after his death, you would still be attacking until every last bit of him was torn."

"I don't understand." I said. "Just what did happen to me?"

"You became a true sphinx." he said. "Out of your anger, you would have become a demon, but you had my necklace. It kept you from becoming a demon. So instead, it transformed you into something just as bad. You had no thoughts of your human life. When I found you, you had him by the throat with you fangs."

"Really?" I said. "I don't believe it."

"Yes." he said. "So now do you understand why I did what I had to do. I saved you from the shame of waking up and finding yourself covered in his flesh."

"Can you…" I said as I pointed to myself.

Pagasis nodded. His eyes flashed blue.

I was standing on two legs now. He had transformed me into my human-like form. I was back in the native outfit. I walked up to him, kneeled down, and hugged him.

"I'm sorry." I said as tears began to stream from my eyes.

"For what?" Pagasis asked me.

"The scratches." I said. "I know very well I did that to you."

"Don't worry about it." he said as he put his arms around me and held me close. "You couldn't control it. Even if you could see what you where doing, you still weren't you."

"Thank you for being my friend." I said as I let him go.

"I'm with you to the end." he said with a smile.

Good Byes

It was beginning to get dark outside. I could see stars beginning to appear as I glided back to the village. The air felt cool and moist. It made my nose run. I knew it was going to be a chilly night. I felt most sorry for the natives. Their homes where destroyed and they had to sleep in the dark cave. I left Pagasis with Aslynn. I said my good byes to him and left. I had to go home very soon, and I had to say good bye to everyone else.

I didn't understand how a normal weekend trip went so wrong. It seemed to go by a lot faster than normal. I remember on Friday, we just hung out. On Saturday, we partied and by the end of the night, all the bad things started happening. Then on Sunday, today, I traveled through Ceair, rode an elk, and fought Digarah.

I landed and walked around. I could see that the fire had been re-started. Shadows of the working natives danced around the clearing. I found Kovu and Neara first. They where both rebuilding their hut. Kovu was carrying a huge log when I walked up to him.

"I have to go." I said to him. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay here and help."

"Think nothing of it." he said. He then dropped the log and gave me a tight hug. "Thank you so much."

"For what?" I gasped.

"You saved the island." he said as he let me go. "You managed to do it again."

I smiled.

"Are you leaving?" Neara asked. She had a bundle of furs in her arms.

I nodded.

"Sure…" said Kovu. "Make me carry all the heavy stuff."

Neara smiled. She walked up to him and dropped the firs in his arms.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Neara said with a grin.

Kovu rolled his eyes. He waved good bye to me as he walked away.

Neara also gave me a hug. She said almost the same thing Kovu did. I felt my face flush.

I found Mona and Aquita. They where both repairing Mona's hut.

"Hey! Esthenia!" Mona called to me. She leaned down and grabbed my backpack. She carried it over to me.

"I think you want this back." she said.

"Thanks." I said.

"It's nothing." she said.

"So this is good bye for now is it?" she said.

"Yup." I replied.

Aquita joined us. He insisted that we had a group hug. They both squeezed so hard I thought my eyes where going to pop out.

After that, I found Rinoa and Carona. To my surprise, Niegie was with them.

"Where did you come from?" I asked him. "What happened?"

He smiled at me.

"Well, I don't quite know." he said. "I woke up in the forest somewhere."

"Are you going to stay here?" I asked him.

"I don't think so." he said sadly. "I understand that I was part of an evil plot. I wasn't meant to be here."

"Oh…" I sighed. I kind of liked having him around. "I have to go back to my world. I guess this is good bye…"

"I see." he said. "Well, there's nothing stopping me from visiting. When you come back, find a way to let me know and I'll come and see you."

"That would be cool." I said as I gave him a hug.

"Cool?" he asked curiously.

"That's just one of her native words." said Rinoa. She had walked up behind me.

When I let Niegie go, she poked me in the back with her huge black nose. I turned and hugged her snout.

"Uh, okay…" she said as she looked down at me with crossed eyes.

"Just don't sneeze." I said humorously.

She lifted her huge head, taking me with it. I hung on to her nose as she lifted me onto Carona's back.

Carona smiled over her shoulder at me.

"So, you're still coming back?" she said. "Even if you almost lost your life?"

"Yes." I said.

"You're brave." she said. "Now that a second war has begun, your life will be in danger every time you see us."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Digarah will use all means at his disposal to kill you now that he knows how powerful you've become." she said. "You remember how the first war was… when the demon king returned. Well, now that he's destroyed, there is a new king, and he'll return, maybe with an army."

"I see…" I said. "But I beat Digarah this time didn't I?"

"Yes." Carona said. "But you only won the battle. You didn't win the war."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I opened my eyes. I was standing out side of my house. It was dark and a little chilly. The yellow lights from the windows illuminated my presence. The first thing I did was look up at the sky. I smiled. It had stopped raining.