Fan Fiction ❯ Journey of RedHell ❯ Many a Strangers ( Chapter 2 )

By the way, some of these worlds are made up on the spot, and some of them are taken from the Elvish language ^ ^; so somewhere I'll have a translation, if ever I think of it

 

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Virago awoke to a sharp knocking at her door. Drowsily, she looked up from her pillow. It was hours later, in the late evening, when the sun was setting, casting a golden shower upon the land and setting the hills on fire. She yawned, throwing her legs over the side of the bed, tail twitching tentatively. Another knock was heard.

 

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Alright already! Sheesh," she grumbled, stumbling towards the door, the fading pain in her foot receding. She threw open the door right as an armored guard was about to shout.

 

"What is it?" Virago asked impatiently, rolling her eyes.

 

"We are here on official business ma'am!" the guard replied with an authoritive yell. He then promptly withdrew a scroll from his belt, unfurled it and began to read.

 

"Under the high rule of Prince Baldo do we hereby place out allegiance upon life or death to his throne and until then shall we serve our duties to him until henceforth-" The poor guard was cut off as the testy feline snatched the parchment from his hands.

 

"Gimme that!" she said roughly, scanning the paper for anything important. Bewildered, the guard uttered a shocked protest, but Virago continued to read for him.

 

"Blah blah blah," she muttered sarcastically, "Get on with it!" After a moment's pause, she found something of interest.

 

"Oh...! And what's this?" she muttered, reading a paragraph halfway through.

 

There was silence a moment as her brain perceived the shock of the statement. With abated astonishment, she rolled the parchment back up and tosses it back to the sentinel who was shifting his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She pondered a moment, sighing and looking past the village at the slowly dying sun.

"Tell the old man that I'll talk to him tonight. Expect me in an hour or two," Virago told the waiting feline whose tail twitched nervously.

 

"Er...uh, ahem. Yes ma'am!" he took to his authoritive yell again, dismissing himself from her, and, with a turn of his heel, tromped off.

 

Standing, watching the guard leave, she wondered if she really wanted to talk to the chief or not. If she did, he could keep her there all night, lecturing her about something or another. Shaking her head, Virago turned to limp back inside ti get ready for her visit to the elder.

 

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

 

Virago stumbled out of her house once more, only this time she had her boots on; one foot throbbing painfully as it began to remind her that the medicine was wearing off. Nearly hopping on one foot and grimacing terribly, she decided to visit Sam again, just because his hut was closer than Madam Lae's. Limping to his doorway she saw his door was closed and all was dark and quiet. Peering through water stained windows, she rapped sharply on the doorframe, calling Sam's name.

 

"SAA-AAM!" Virago pounded on the door. After another failed attempt, she gave up, swearing and kicking the door with her wounded foot, eliciting a howl of pain and a string of curses.

 

Unevenly balanced, the snow leopard fell over, clutching her foot with both handsome teeth grit in a snarl; tail swishing from side to side. After rolling in the dust, stars beginning to dance across her vision, Virago closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the sharp pain starting to recede slightly.

 

"Are you alright?" a voice was heard above the feline's face. Her eyes flashed open to see who was talking. Standing directly over the trashing form was a pale face; a black cloak obscuring the features of a rather tall and slender figure. The material was draped across narrow shoulders, hooding a face and skating across the ground, revealing black boots at every swinging step.

 

Virago looked irritably at her helper, but her eyes grew wide with wonder; emerald sparkling as it traced the movements of a thin pallid, hand, slender fingers outstretched to help the writhing figure up. Veiling her amazement, Virago reluctantly took the hand, and, with surprising strength, was lifted straight off the ground and to her feet, seemingly with no strain or tension. Tail swinging wildly, she found her balance on both feet before jerking her hand away from the stranger, snorting haughtily in her arrogance and turning her face away as she regained her composure, straightening her stance, her shoulders back and her head up. The figure bowed its head, keeping its identity concealed.

 

"That looks painful," the clear, sharp yet quiet voice said, gesturing towards Virago's foot.

 

The snow leopard scoffed, drawing herself up, her brain screaming with pain as she allowed her weight to press upon the wound. She smiled, lip curling, trying not to grimace.

 

"I'm perfectly fine," she hisses breathlessly, eyeing the tall hidden person who tilted their head forward somewhat to get a better view of Virago. With a snarl of pain and a suppressed gasp, Virago stumbled and remained on one foot once more, a strong hand steadying her.

 

"I can help you," the cool voice whispered next to her ear, hands on her shoulders, long nails tickling her skin. Fear tinging her eyes and tail tip twitching with an anger and confusion, Virago broke from her helper's grasp, spinning on one foot, but retaining her center.

 

Tail out for balance, one arm up for protection, one hand fingering the hilt of a dagger that remained hidden at her side, held on by her belt, and eyeing the stranger suspiciously, Virago stood, wavering on one leg. The character laughed and approached the skittish feline with delicate steps, extending a hand which held a vial of poisonous looking green liquid.

 

"Here, drink this. The pain should dissolve almost instantly." The hood which sheltered his face fell back partially to reveal a toothy grin. Particularly noticable were sharp, ridgid canines, much like that of a small dog's, but twice as sharp. Shrouded ruby eyes glinted as the smile vanished behind an ebony sleeve.

 

Virago made no move to take the object. Instead, she watched the sludgey green liquid slosh inside the intricate glass containing the substance. The mysterious person took a last step forward and placed the glass gently into her defending hand, smirking.

 

"Trust me," hissed a whisper before the cloaked person turned quickly and stalked off, the material dragging and swishing behind. She watched with narrowed eyes as the figure vanished when it entered a dark shadow in the waning daylight. Virago then lowered her defenses, touching her foot lightly to the ground, and concentrated on the strange, yellow tinged substance.

 

'What the heck is this?' she thought, peering back into the shadows, searching for any sign that her visitor was still there. There were none.

 

Sighing and pocketing the vial, Virago decided to wait and ask Sam or Madam Lae about it when she could find them. Taking a cautious step forward, the wary snow leopard stumbled on her bad foot, tried to catch herself and failed, ending up in a kneeling crouch.

 

"Dammit!" she growled through her teeth, nearly biting her tongue to keep quiet. A throbbing pain stabbed her foot, causing feline eyes to water under the stained suppression of holding back a howl of pain. Concealing a whimper with a cough, refusing to show how much pain she was in, Virago quickly straightened up from her place on the ground and looked around, swiftly, to make sure no one was in sight.

 

After reaching a decision, the snow leopard unplugged the small glinting bottle, hoping and trusting with all of her heart that it would help. Barely able to endure the pain much longer, Virago sniffed the steaming brew with distaste, then swallowed in one gulp; nose wrinkled in utter abhorrence. Sputtering, she somehow managed to choke down the burning liquid, coughing and grasping her throat with one clawed hand. Her vision swam, and for a moment she had trouble breathing. Finally, a renewed strength was given to her, and Virago was able to stand, testing her wounded leg slowly. Surely enough, the stranger hadn't lied. The pain withdrew, seeming to flow from her foot and was absorbed by the earth. Tail swishing happily, a snow leopard's grin playing on her lips, Virago took a sold step forward on her mending foot, finding it easy enough to walk. With a light laugh to herself, she leaped forward, cantering along down a winding trail through the woods, which soon brought her to the center of Wooden Way.

 

A rather large sandstone structure stood smack-dab in the middle of this part of the city. It was something of a tower, standing tall and steepeled to a thin point; curving outward and slanting to a 'V' shaped trough which connected to a large hole, imprisoned by three feet of solid white marble. Peering into the rain-washed basin, Virago could see her reflection. Curious eyes shined back; a blank expression appeared, an ear twitched and fair blonde hair hung limply over her shoulders. Sighing, she extracted a small piece of gold from a pouch, rubbing it between her finger her eyes closed with relaxed concentration. Humming to herself, Virago tossed the small bit of gold into the clouded water, opening her eyes to watch it float restlessly towards the interminable depths of the pool.

 

With another small prayer, she continued on past the small public shrine, tail bobbing and hair swishing. The elder's house was located at the northern most part of the city, flagged by trees and obscured by their branches, but the trail was clear, and it was obvious to find. It was a clay and mud hut, built like those of an ancient people. The walls were adorned with simple paintings and wearing, and there was a small fire burning in the center of the room. With a blanket draped across his shoulders, chief Noldoedan sat, hunched over the fire in his old age. Virago leaned in through the doorway, noticing that the elder's eyes were closed; his ashen face slack. Clearing her throat, the female leopard brought his attention to her.

 

Looking up slowly, Noldoedan watched her intently from his place by the crackling fire. A smoldering log fell into ashes and sparks as Virago stepped into the room. She was suddenly halted by a calloused hand, forbidding her entrance. She immediately stopped, staring with perplexity at the old leopard.

 

"Do not proceed, Virago, and do not speak until I allow it," he said in a low, gravely voice, nearly in a wheeze. He still wasn't completely over his winter illness. With only a silent protest to herself, Virago nodded an acknowledgement and stood at attention, feet together, hands behind her back, head up, eyes down and tail limp.

 

A moment of silence was all that spoke before Noldoedan said anything. Lowering his hand and blinking slowly, he continued.

 

"Virago, you are an archer of Wooden Way, our proud village. However," he paused to look the awaiting feline full in the face, "you have not proved yourself worthy to claim this position."

 

"WHAT?!" Virago cried out, aghast, no longer able to maintain the discipline she should have shown. Taken aback and before she could go any farther, the bewildered cat was hushed with another quiet hand.

 

"You are to be reprieved--"

 

"Reprieved?!"

 

"Temporarily."

 

Lost for words, Virago only stood with gaping mouth.

 

"Our food supply has been low for many months now. You hunt nearer the village where no game is found. Every other creature of Wooden Way is up to twenty-five miles away in search of food to supply us with." Virago stood impatiently, waiting for Chief Noldoedan to finish. "Alas, it is spring and what do you think it means that no fresh game is here to graze on these mountains?" The elder, noticing Virago fidgeting, raised his voice in anger at her attention space.

 

"We cannot move to any other place, Virago! We would not make it, and we won't as long as our once surplus amount of food continues to diminish! Virago, because of your lack of skills as an archer of Wooden Way, you are to be silenced and sent to work the fields."

 

"WHAT?!" came the expected shriek, "You can't do that!" Chief Noldoedan's eyes flashed, but he only continued to wait until she was finished.

 

"I can't work the fields! It's not fair! I've been an archer for--"

 

"Three years now," he finished for her, leaving her in a silent stupor.

 

"Until you prove yourself as a successful archer, you are to work the fields, starting tomorrow. If I get any trouble out of you, Virago, I'm going to have to send you out."

 

Virago began to utter a cry, but was cut short.

 

"That is all. You may leave. I expect you know where the fields are." With that, elder Noldoedan pulled the blanket tighter around him and went back to resting. Standing there in a blaze of fury, Virago only remained staring, the night behind her closing in as the twilight vaporized under the cloudy silent moon. Only subconsciously aware that the chief's greying ears were perked, swiveling backwards at the faint sound that she could hear clearly, Virago's brain only ignored that small detail, instead lavished with a thick wall of stupidity, trying to comprehend what Noldoedan had just told her.

 

Two things then happened instantaneously. A zip was heard as a well-placed arrow lodged its finely pointed head deep into the chief's back, piercing his heart and causing a look of alarm to spread across his face as he slouched forward. As Virago watched this two second display, she found the world spinning, the ground rushing towards her as a peaceful drowsiness overtook her. The world turned black before her eyes.

 

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

 

It was only about twenty minutes later when the feline came to, feeling rather refreshed, a dull and distant pain in her wounded foot, as if she were feeling someone else's pain. She could only see a nice shade of black as well. Sitting up, she felt the sharp edge of something bounce against her forehead.

 

"Ow!" she said forcefully, loudly as she removed a cool, wet cloth from her over her eyes. Looking around, the snow leopard noticed that she was in the forest, MoriTaure, surrounded by grey and voiceless trees. Frozen in her movement at the smallest trace of a noise several feet away, she stared hard but could find nothing.

 

Virago moved a branch out of her way, feeling the prick of thorns, rubbing her forehead with the other hand.

 

"What in the..." Virago muttered as her eyes started to adjust to the dim light. Snow leopards may not be nocturnal, but they can see much better in the dark, compared to humans. She was in a thicket of tangled brambles. Carefully avoiding the thorns, but managing to stick herself a dozen times over, Virago was able to wiggle out from under her prickly shelter. Standing up and looking around, all she could see were jagged black trees, mostly with thick pointy needles; a row of skeletal trunks growing adjacent to the land were the largest there, debris built up along them.

 

Virago was in a strange part of the forest. The slant on Mt. Kio was much steeper, telling her that she was much farther up the mountain. But how on earth did she get there? It was colder up here too. Not by much, but since it was the moon's turn to take reign of the midnight sky, it was to be much colder. Luna was in full blossom, her milky light, unveiled by the blankets of clouds, was able to penetrate the forest's dense canopy and shine through every small space like cascades of pale rain. An icy finger reached out to stroke Virago's moonlit fur, making her shiver, becoming paralyzed with a sense of fear, trying to figure out what was attacking her.

 

"It's okay. You have nothing to fear," a hissing voice whispered in her ear, and with that, the frightened cat took the opportunity to whirl around, tail following like a whiplash, growling as she did so, whiskers out.

 

"Who is it?" she snarled quietly, still looking for her attacker.

 

A shadowy dim figure dissolved from the shadows as it stepped under the moonlight. Being unable to tell any vague detail at all, Virago could only watch, suspiciously confused.

 

"That's not answering my question!" she said dryly.

 

"Alright then," the voice replied, as cold as the frosty night air at the peaks of Mt. Kio. Letting a dark cloak fall past his shoulder, the slender form of the ruby-eyed man she had seen earlier appeared. Dim blood red eyes glowed with the greying light of the stars; a human stepped forward, grinning to reveal his long, sharp incisors, dark jet-black hair falling across his shoulders.

 

"Do you remember me, Virago?" he asked, his voice chilling the shivering feline to the bone. She was not cold, just very nervous at the strange presence of this creature. No, it wasn't human. It was something dark and powerful. She could feel it. Tail swishing aggressively, ears flattening against her head, and fur raised, Virago certainly was a sight to see.

 

"Calm down now. Yes I know your name. How? Heheh... It's a rather long story, which I'll tell you once I have the time. If you may be wondering, my name is Xavier, and yes I am inhuman," he told her, in a much softer, warmer voice. With a tilted face, fangs bared in another drawn out grin, he laughed quietly once more, continuing to approach the snow leopard. Virago stumbled back some, observing the fact that this creature of the undead was indeed wearing much black to conceal itself from the light. Xavier was wearing a black shirt, with a wide collar, nearly reaching his shoulders before it reached loosely into a smooth oval. The shirt was tucked into ebony pants, with hung over his polished leather boots. He also wore a black belt with silver studs that had been dulled do that they would not shine except for in the brightest light. There was an air of mystery about him, and a sly cunningness that creeped out Virago.

 

Changing the subject and putting this matter rather off-handedly, Xavier stepped even closer to the feline, observing her with quiet serpentine eyes. Still regarding him with quite a disdain, Virago kept watch on the clever vampire, never allowing him to wander around to her backside, knowing that if she did, it could be fatal. A trace of something odd caught her nose. A nightly zephyr blew for a second's time, and she took in the scent. It smelled of sulfur.

 

'Sulfur?' she thought, brows screwing up in concentration, still keeping an eye on the stranger.

 

"The village is burning," Xavier answered her quietly, as if hearing her thoughts aloud. Virago merely looked at him, slightly perplexed. "Fire is beyond my power. I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to save your hometown, Virago. Please forgive me." Bowing his head reverently, the vampire's eyes hinted a sorrow for the unknown.

 

"Burning?" she whispered. Her eyes grew wide with that realization as another wafting smoke cloud wove its way through the mountain's trees. With a jump, she spun around, following the trail downhill, stumbling and tripping, tail swinging wide. Xavier made not to stop her, but watched as she disappeared from sight before he himself turned to look the pale sky light's eye with his own clashingly colored one. The vampire then vanished into MoriTaure's shadows.

 

Racing through the night woods, barely able to make out what was in front of her through the grey night mist, Virago only thought of what couldn't possibly be happening. Wooden Way, burning? Impossible! Or was it?

 

'God don't let this be true! Please don't let this be real! Let me get back to find it's all there! All intact! All peaceful! Dear Lord please!' she prayed, hurdling over a fallen log and catching herself as she nearly tripped on an upturned root. Pallid platinum hair flying behind her, arms out as she ran, Virago made a wild leap into the air over a small drop-off. Smelling the air, heavily laden with thick black smoke, she scaled the trees, branches and needles scratching her skin, sticking to her fur and blinding her vision. At the top she perched, overlooking her once glorious city, which now lay in ruins, burning like a magnificent hearth.

 

Eyes wide with fear and disbelief, an explosion sounded and a huge fireball erupted from within the depths of the inferno, belching up spewing flames like the mighty jaws of a volcano. Virago wanted to believe it had just been a volcanic eruption, but it was only fire, nothing more. Several trees that had caught in the fire at this new eruption burst into millions of pieces, throwing needle sharp pieces of bark into the air. A tremendous wave of heat overtook the wary feline, scorching her and dousing her in a sweat. Covering her eyes and holding onto the tree with one hand, Virago tried to hold back a cry, but failed. Claws digging into the bark, she gave out a howl of rage and dropped from the tree, landing on three feet, looking up, wild in rage, snarling.

 

She was hungry for revenge, and so she ran for the crematory, hoping against all odds that she'd find the village people farther away, near Raen where everything would be safe. Getting a distance of nearly a hundred feet from the pillar of the sea of flames, Virago was forced to stop, being held at bay only by the destructive and unbearable heat. Keeping her eyes covered, tail swinging fiercely, she let out another howl of anguish.

 

"NOOO!" she cried, fists clenching and unclenching, talons pricking her palms, hissing terribly. A hand on her arm, Xavier came forth from his realm of darkness.

 

"It's time to go Virago," he told her quietly. Reluctantly, the snow leopard allowed herself to be turned away to walk towards the cold and unforgiving night.