Fan Fiction ❯ Six Years ❯ Chapter 37

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Ryo stayed silent throughout most of the journey through the woods but he sat up when he saw something striped run through a clump of bushes. Had that been a corovon? He snatched a bow and arrow from a half-demon that was riding alongside him and jumped off of Nightwing's back. Helard heard the archer's yelp of surprise and turned around just in time to see Ryo's disappear into the underbrush.

"What the hell is going on?!" he demanded.

"For no reason Caedin swiped Vhalkyre's bow and arrow," Ranvern said and Talfawn drew his weapon.

"Be ready everyone. This could be an ambush," he said.

"If it's an ambush, why did he leave his horse like that?" Specle inquired.

"He really cares for his horse," another agreed.

"Let's just wait and see what happens," Helard said and Talfawn glared at him. "That's all we can do. Now bite your tongue, Talfawn. Do not forget who is in charge here."

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Ryo ran after the corovon, the creature's long legs practically gliding over the woodland terrain. Ryo strayed behind then after he was sure he wasn't being followed, spread his golden wings and picked up his speed. He set the arrow into the bow as the animal abruptly changed direction. Ryo also changed direction and carefully aimed the arrow. The bow released its projectile with a high-pitched twang and Ryo watched the arrow fly through the air and listened for any suspicious sounds. He was in a dangerous position, after all. The desire for the elusive corovon had temporarily made him forget the company he was in. The corovon cried out faintly then fell to the ground. Ryo ran up to where it lay and removed the arrow from the beast's side. He then pulled down two sets of sturdy vines that hung down from a tree branch and tied the corovon's legs together. Ryo then switched forms and began dragging the animal back to where the others sat waiting for him.

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D knocked on Lee's door then sniffed the air. Was that what he thought it was? Lee opened the door and allowed D to step in. D deeply inhaled the scent as Lee shut the door. It was what he thought it was. But how? And why had Lee gone to all the trouble to get it?

"How did you get corovon?" he asked and Lee smiled.

"I bought it," he replied as D stared at the dining table.

"Why'd you go to all this trouble?"

"I wanted to. I should give you something in retribution for putting up with me all this time."

"Thanks. There was another killing today."

"I know. I saw it. Poor Garen....." Lee's voice drifted off as he sat at the table. D watched him for a moment, then picked up a fork. He put a piece of the corovon into his mouth and began chewing it.

"This is really good," D commented. "It's almost like I'm back in the palace eating this."

"Is it really that good?" Lee asked and D nodded his head.

"Yes. How did you learn to cook like this?"

"I helped in the kitchen once or twice."

"And all those years I thought you were just plain weird."

Lee lowered his violet eyes and said nothing. He remembered the conversation he had with his mother five years ago. It was true that he was nothing like the other demons around his age but he was slowly acquiring respect for his differences.

"I went ahead and got the apartment I found," D said, in an attempt to change the subject. He knew how sensitive Lee could get about his personality.

"Did you?" Lee inquired and D nodded his head.

"It's on your way to work so you can check it out if you want."

"I need to take some carrots with me to work."

"Why?"

"I have to see Eveningsong. I haven't seen her today so I'll have to see her after work."

"Isn't it dangerous to go out that far at night?"

"I don't have a choice."

"Just be careful, all right?" D asked and Lee smiled.

"I will. I'm not going to blow it when I've only got a year left before his arrival," Lee said and picked up his glass of wine.

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Ryo dropped the corovon in front of Helard's horse. Helard gazed at it for a moment then frowned. How could a mere human catch a corovon on foot, let alone carry it back by himself?

"With this meat, there will be no way of starving when the villages get to be few and far in-between," Ryo said and handed the bow back to Vhalkyre. "Also, once we get into more fruitful land, we can add nuts and berries to our provisions."

"Starberries?" Ranvern asked, hopefully.

"If we can locate any. I need to find a suitable place to clean this."

"I'll help you," Helard said as he dismounted. "The rest of you scout about for anything of value."

Helard picked up the animal's hind quarters as Ryo picked up the front half. They carried it down the trail until they found a large, flat stone that could be used as a table. They set the animal on the stone and Helard watched Ryo pick up a handful of star shaped leaves.

"You're not human," he said as Ryo placed the leaves on the corovon's side.

"Are you going to help? I'm sure you know how to do this," Ryo said.

"I want the truth this time. Who are you?"

"Someone that wants the killing of all species to stop."

"Are you serious?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Perhaps you're just too young to know any better. You're not going to be able to stop all the killing that goes on."

"I can try. Besides, there is completely no logical reason for wiping out an entire species. Would you let it happen to your people?"

"My people? Then you are a full blood."

"I'm not saying what I am either way," Ryo said as he began to clean the animal.

"If you are a full blood then why are you placing yourself in such danger?"

"Danger? You mean Talfawn?"

"Most of my men have grievances against full bloods. They would be more than willing to slay a pure demon."

"Not all demons are evil. A whole species cannot be evil, no matter how much you want it to be."

Helard thought about Ryo's statement and Ryo turned his attention back to the cutting of the meat. He wished he could start a fire right there but he knew that would only make things riskier for him.

"What was your social status before all this happened?" Helard inquired and Ryo grinned.

"Why do you assume I have one?" he asked.

"I can tell it's in how you do things. Your family obviously had some money."

"They had a little."

"You don't trust me, do you?"

"The only living thing I trust is my horse," Ryo said replied as he laid down another piece of freshly cut meat.

"Your family was killed. That much is true, isn't it?" Helard inquired and Ryo glanced away.

"There are two types of people in this world. Ones that are good and ones that aren't. My dad was killed because he possessed what someone else wanted. My mother was killed by a poisonous snake and my two close friends were slain. I don't take friends or allies anymore. It's too dangerous. My only companion is my horse."

"I can see why you distrust everyone, but you've got to trust people to some extent."

"Do you trust demons?"

"I used to but I was betrayed by one," Helard said as he wrapped the pieces of meat in the star shaped leaves.

"I see. That doesn't make the entire species bad," Ryo said.

"I'm just waiting for you to say `my people'. Talfawn will kill you when he finds out."

"He's not going to kill me. I have something to do and I'm going to do it. I'm not going to let him get away with this global destruction."

"Levin?"

Ryo's eye flashed in anger but he said nothing. He placed numerous small stones in a circle then placed a pile of twigs in the center of the circle and knelt down to quickly light the fire. He drew back as the twigs caught fire and glanced at Helard.

"If you wish to expose me, go ahead but let me forewarn you. I'm not going to let anything get in my way," he said as he placed the wrapped pieces of meat into the fire.

"What really happened back then?" Helard inquired.

"I don't really know."

Ryo ran his fingers over his mother's ring for a moment then glanced up at the sky. So many deaths....It just wasn't right.

"Since you've got things under control, I'm going to tell my men to set up camp," Helard said and walked off. Ryo whistled softly and Nightwing's ears twitched as he looked up. He trotted past Helard, who watched the horse for a moment then began walking again. Talfawn walked up to him with his arms folded tightly about his chest.

"We'll make camp here," Helard said. "The boy's got a lot of meat to cut up. Specle, Ranvern, why don't you help him?"

"Let me at it. I know a lot about food," Ranvern said.

"You should. You eat enough of it," Specle said as they walked off.

"What did he tell you?" Talfawn inquired and Helard glanced at him.

"He told me how his family was killed," Helard said and walked away from Talfawn. Ryo had given him a lot to think about. He simply didn't have the time to place all of Talfawn's fears at ease. Talfawn watched Helard walk over to his horse and frowned. He was going to find out what was going on.