Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Piece of Her Wings ~Untouched~ ❯ The Boy Who was with You ( Chapter 5 )

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

By: sadamex

Chapter Five:
The Boy Who was with You

They seemed to be on fire, glistening red in the morning sunshine.

Hitomi drew short, shallow breaths. The fatigue her inhuman ordeal gave her had overwhelmed her greatly. Color was absent from her face, her golden hair unruly and damp with sweat as they stuck out in all directions and plastered themselves about her cheeks and forehead. Her newly-formed wings stretched and contracted in every breath, long sticky strings of thick blood and fat dangling about the pair's tiny structure, glistening as if catching every drop of sunshine on the new dawn. Her knees were trembling from exhaustion, her whole body numb and frozen, it seemed. Finally, she slumped forward, her weary eyes sealed shut as she fell to the ground motionless, the darkness claiming her into oblivion.

The she-cat stayed rooted to her spot. Eyes wide, mouth agape, fingers and claws clutching at the dry soil underneath her. Like Hitomi, she, too, had her face drained of every color, and her knees were also trembling. Her mind was numb that her whole system was frozen in shock—even as much as momentarily forgetting the existence of the delightful little bruise on her left thumb. After some time when she started to see spots before her eyes, her mind suddenly snapped and told her that she needed air to live, and she let out the breath she had been holding explosively.

Tentatively, falteringly, the she-cat crawled towards the sleeping Hitomi, her inquisitive cat eyes deliberately avoiding to look at the tiny wings adorning the girl's back. She knew she had far too much interest in them that it was getting dangerous; she knew she had to avoid looking at her wings. She must not let herself be tempted to touch and—who knows?—investigate further this... impeccably curious little thing that she had never seen before. Her mind kept telling her not to think about it, which made her think about it even more. The powerful urge to run a finger down that bloody appendage was so ridiculously strong, she was twitching in every imaginable place that could twitch.

Surprisingly, the feline's previous revulsion about this whole thing had gone. The uncontrollable curiosity that suddenly swept upon her—like a really nasty itch—had altered her prior views—not to mention constitution—concerning Hitomi's new wings. She became quite fascinated of it, being a creature of strange origins herself, and she inched towards her, bending down low enough, sniffing the wings, brushing her whiskers about its still-wet feathers. The catlike creature prodded about the pair of wings—tails wagging, ears twitching and all—with bright feline eyes and a charming childlike persistence. She was a queer and playful little thing, an adorable little creature as nosy and curious as a—well, a cat. Finally, losing herself to temptation, she finally decided with a lick of her lips that touching the wings with one furry little finger wouldn't hurt.

Curiosity killed the cat, or so people say.

The furry bundle breathed for a moment, nose and ears trembling in excitement. But although she had decided, she was still wary; she would doubtfully extend a finger, slowly closing in on the peacefully sleeping girl, only to snatch it back at the last possible moment. Once, she was so close to touching them, the wings. But Hitomi groaned and fidgeted from her sleep, and the she-cat had to take back her probing finger again.

“This is getting ridiculous,” she muttered crossly.

Then, with a grand flirt of her blushing hair, she bravely put forth one clawed finger to finally touch the curiously trembling foreign object.

“We're getting closer!” a hoarse voice from behind shouted, only a few meters away.

“There are tracks in these parts also, boss!” came another male voice.

The she-cat spun around, her normal predatory instincts finally catching up on her. “Damn it!” she cursed under her breath. How could she have forgotten? Hunters roam around their forests like an infernal plague. Quickly snatching her hand back, she nimbly doubled back to head for the safety of the nearby bushes, away from the open dirt road.

She stopped midway and turned her head back.

Hitomi, in all her glory, laid face down, mumbling and snoring, oblivious and totally vulnerable to any God-knows-what the hunters had in store for her.

The feline snorted, turned and abruptly walked away. What does she care? Why does she have to care? She didn't owe that girl any favors, she hardly knew her. In fact, she doesn't know her! She's just a trespasser on her territory that should have been disposed of long ago. To hell with what the hunters will do with her. It's better her than me or my kind, she thought.

My kind.

The she-cat stopped to think. In the middle of the current turmoil and approaching danger, she risked her own life to think for a moment. If I left her all alone like this... she thought. Then I wouldn't be any different from them

And so before she could take cover, she had already decided (but it's not like she didn't go shutting her eyes and clenching her teeth for a good five minutes before taking action. In fact, that's exactly what she did); she quickly wheeled around once more and dashed to pick up the still sleeping girl. Just quickly get this over with! She huffed while shutting her eyes.

“You owe me big time, Hitomi,” the feline breathed in her ear as they disappeared in the thick forest, a resounding “Mm-hmm,” from Hitomi trailing close behind.

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There was silence in Gaea. The birds twittered, the streams ran noisily alongside the rushing wind on the treetops. Crickets and cicadas played their interlude of summer sonata, accompanied by the heavy croaking of the bullfrogs. From atop the clock tower in the middle of Paradise, the rich sound of the golden bell was tolling for quite some time now. Everything in paradise was doing what they were doing for the past centuries in existence; in fact, everything in Gaea was like how it was before. Life goes on uninterrupted, still flowing, drifting blissfully along its destined path, totally unaware about everything but its existence itself. Such was the case in Paradise. To attain eternal happiness, everything must be perfect. Everything must be in order. It was what paradise offered to anyone who would heed its call, and indeed, it was what they got.

And yet, the stillness was evident in Gaea. The angels—magnificent creatures who were created to rule the endless skies—all worked in silence inside the capital. Nobody made a sound. They were like drones, mere nameless heads just orderly and promptly doing their routines with bleak, somber faces. And it was not like nobody had anything to say; in fact, nearly all of them had new questions nagging about in their heads. But they were too caught up in their own reality, too afraid and stubborn to admit that something immensely earthshaking had indeed affected them, and so they stayed in silence.

It was a scary thing to behold, and it was such; the most powerful rulers of the heavens were secretly, unknowingly fearing and doubting their own power and existence themselves.

Casting sidelong glances, the faithful messenger inconspicuously came up Ontrose's side and murmured. “'Tis a most peculiar sight.”

Ontrose glanced at him through the corner of his eyes. “Peculiar might be too weak a word, brother mine.”

The two of them walked by the hallways, passing throngs and throngs of angels busily walking to and fro, going about their own ways, friends and acquaintances not even bothering to greet one another.

“What doth thou thinkest of this, dear friend?” the blond angel asked. “That—That event that happened last night... what was that, exactly?”

Ontrose pursed his lips. “I'm not entirely sure myself. But methinks it is somehow connected with my youthful charge.”

“Y-You mean?!” he answered incredulously, lowering his voice down to a whisper after catching a few odd looks from passersby. “You mean the girl from the ravine? What was her name—Hitomi?” he breathed, lowering his voice more so on the last word.

Ontrose nodded. “The Master hath mentioned something before which hath troubled me deeply.” He looked at his comrade as they reached the arched doorway to the castle's armory. “He told me that she is the most dangerous angel ever created.”

The messenger's eyes grew large, then narrowed down abruptly. “Ontrose, what art thy intentions?” he shook his head even before Ontrose could answer. “No, it is far too dangerous! The Master wilt not forgive thee if thou wouldst ask him of this... unspeakable and legendary offense.” He looked at him directly. “Besides, thou knowest that the Master wilt not give answers to thy questions.”

Ontrose reached for his sword which was hanging on the wall and buckled it at his belt. “I was not thinking of asking the Master about it, friend.”

The messenger looked at him quizzically. “Then to whom? Where art thou going, Ontrose?”

The one called Ontrose, Hitomi's raven-haired appointed guardian walked towards the tall arched open windows, unfolded his majestic wings, flared and thrust himself upwards, the soft flapping of his wings eddying the grass on the courtyard below. “To someone who knows first-hand of the accident.” He turned to face his gaping brother. “To the immortal prince bound in chains.”

“No, Ontrose!” his brother howled after him, extending his arm in an attempt to get back his brother, his friend.

But he was already too late. Ontrose was merely a shadow disappearing in the distant horizon.

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Hitomi was dreaming again. In her dream, she seemed to revisit certain places and events in her life. At first, everything was fathomless, and pitch-black—just like it used to be—and soon enough, space and matter enveloped each other to form an insubstantial plain underneath her feet and an endless sky above her head.

“Marlene,” said a warm, nurturing voice from behind.

Hitomi looked behind her to see her sister Millerna, still beautiful even in mourning, holding a tray full of steaming baked buttered bread. They were suddenly transported back to the village, trees and huts slowly sprouting like mushrooms around her, and the distant sparkling sea rushing in from the shadowed edges beyond the mountains inside her envisioned reality. They were standing outside their hut, the soft fertile earth soothing under her feet and the warm, gentle sea breeze caressing her exposed arms and neck. The smell from Millerna's tray was so real and tempting, Hitomi almost wanted to reach out to taste them. In the far-off night sky, colorful exploding stars filled the air with soft booming noises, the fireworks' shifting lights giving the whole scene an ethereal glow.

“Bless me, Marlene, dear, have some bread!” Millerna exclaimed, extending her tray of goodies. “It must have been so tiring to come back from the graves.”

Hitomi gently pushed the tray back. “I'm sorry, Millerna,” she said lightly. “But I'm not Marlene. My name is Hitomi, and I'm not your sister.”

Millerna froze for a second, her face a mixture of confusion and amusement. “What are you saying, Marlene? You're my sister.”

Hitomi shook her head. “No, Millerna. You're sister… she—she disappeared a long time ago.”

“Stop saying such nonsense!” Millerna snapped curtly.

“I'm not the real Marlene. Don't you remember? You just gave me that name because I couldn't remember mine.”

Millerna backed away, her face shifting from denial to sadness to that of anger. “That's not true! You're lying! You're Marlene! You're my sister!” she exclaimed. Her face creased into an accusing look. “How could you say such things? Do you want to hurt me after all that I've done for you?”

Hitomi took a step closer and shook her head. “No, Millerna, what I say is the truth…” she said in the gentlest way imaginable. “Marlene is dead.”

Millerna's lower lip trembled, and she let go of the tray, freeing her hands to tore at her hair, tears flowing down her flushed cheeks. “No, it can't be true!”

Her sister's cries of pain tore at Hitomi's heart. “I'm sorry, Millerna…” she said simply. “I'm sorry… but it is the truth, and you know it.”

Millerna glared at her. “But Allen resurrected you from the dead!”

And then Hitomi sank rapidly, her whole world turning into a swirling blue mess. From above her head was a jutting rock from the stone wharf, but when she tried to get a hold of it, the stone melted, hardening once more after a while, only to melt once again upon touching it.

And then, without even noticing it, Allen was there, dependable as ever. His strong but gentle hand came plunging into the swirling blue water to grab her own. “Marlene, the bucket is already full.” He said in his rich musical voice.

He fished her out of the water without much effort and helped her on her feet while Hitomi was patiently wiping the stinging saltwater from her face. “Let's go for a swim a while later.” He invited enthusiastically.

“No, Allen, I'd rather not—” she stopped as she looked at him. It wasn't Allen exactly; it was a totally different person in Allen's loose-fitting clothing. This person had a medium build, glowing caramel skin, and vaguely familiar unruly thick black hair. “You!” she gasped, fixing her brilliant emerald eyes on his face.

But there wasn't any face. His face was just a flat, formless mass of rich dark flesh.

Hitomi was taken aback for a second, not believing that she could not see his face. Her face twisted in surprise, her feet unsteadily took two steps backwards.

“What's the matter?” Allen's voice casually asked. ”Aren't you going to seduce me?”

Hitomi blinked and flushed slightly. “I-I... I didn't really mean that,” she stuttered.

Allen—or whoever he was that was wearing Allen's clothing—stood silently for a moment.

Hitomi bowed her head. “I... I didn't really think… I mean I wasn't thinking... I mean…” she guiltily blushed, her fingers twisting themselves into intricate and complicated knots.

“But I thought that you loved me,” he said flatly, bringing Hitomi back with him.

Her head snapped up. “I d-did, I mean, I do, I mean…”

“But I thought that you loved me.”

Hitomi came up to him. “I do, Allen! I do, I do!” she clung to him, close to tears. The feelings that she have suppressed until now have welled themselves up once more. Her emotions—her love for Allen—that she thought she had overcome, have somehow been rekindled and took aflame again. And she had just noticed for the first time, that no matter how much she avoided it, no matter how much she escape, endure and forget about it, no matter how long it takes for her feelings to find their way home towards her heart, the love that has always been there finds her. Just like sweet poison. Suicide's embrace. A most welcomed madness.

Just like a curse.

Hitomi's grip on his shirt loosened noticeably. Looking back at the man she was holding to, as if seeing him for the first time. And then she realized: this person standing right in front of her was not Allen. He was someone else. Was she directing that love for the real Allen? Or for someone else? For the true hidden person standing right in front of her?

“But I thought that you loved me…” he repeated hollowly. Gingerly he shook Hitomi's hands from their grasp, turned and ran away towards the darkened end of the wharf.

Hitomi started to run after him. “Wait!” she stretched out her hand. “Wait, Allen! I mean…” she shouted after him, slowing down for a minute. She felt a strange sense of prickling from inside her stomach, as if telling her something, creeping slowly upwards, until her whole being, even the farthest recesses of her soul could feel it. “Angel… you're my angel!” Hitomi gushed, bright eyes growing wide with that epiphany. She gathered her legs and ran at full speed. “Angel, wait!”

Without warning, the scenery changed. She was now atop a grassy cliff lined with swaying trees, running towards the deep gorge. From above her, thousands of angels flew by along their starless road, like flocks and flocks of birds flying south for the long winter. Hitomi stared upwards as she ran, too mesmerized by the heavens to realize that she was already at the cliff's edge.

She stumbled and fell fast. And even though that she fell almost endlessly, that the sick feeling inside her stomach was making her want to throw up, Hitomi wasn't scared at all. The darkness had enveloped her, but she continued to descend faster and faster. And, strangely enough, this feeling of falling was not new to her, somehow. Oh, yes, she definitely knew that she really did fell in the ravine, but this feeling—this memory, perhaps—of her was even before that event. Hitomi was very much baffled by this mystery. But before she could remember exactly when it was, an angel came swooping down on her, scooping up her legs and supporting her back as they glided to safety.

She quickly looked at his formless face, still quite puzzled and disappointed that she still could not see him, and noticed the strands of black hair billowing in the cool wind. She remembered that the one who had indeed rescued her had long flowing hair of the same color. This one, however, had not. It was just as dark, yes, but his was short and unruly.

Hitomi gently put a longing hand on his cheek. It felt warm, so warm and… nice. Nice and right. As if her hand was especially made to fit the masculine contour of his cheek. “Why won't you show yourself to me?” she asked softly.

“Perhaps it is not the time for you to see me.” He replied in his low monotone voice.

“When will the time come?”

“Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps someday. Perhaps never. I do not know.”

“Surely that time will come,” she said weakly, for which the only confirmation or rejection she got was silence. “It's strange,” she began. “But for some reason, I seem to know who you are. It's like I… it's like I feel it in my bones. I've felt this kind of thing ever since you called to me.”

“Did I really do just that?”

Hitomi blinked uncertainly. “Why, o-of course. I mean, you should have. I mean… haven't you?” she asked, only to receive silence once more. “It must have been you. Who else could it be?”

“But I am just a memory.”

“Just a memory?”

The boy nodded briefly. “Just a memory… an incomplete one, at that. A memory that someday too soon will be forgotten…”

Hitomi fidgeted anxiously from her position. “Then show me! Complete my memory of you! Show me who you are so that I'll believe… so I won't forget…” her eyes softened. “So that I'll remember who I really am… and who you really are.”

He was silent for a while, and Hitomi was sure that she noticed him glancing at her, even though he had no face. “I would want to meet you, Hitomi, if it was destined for me to do so.”

Hitomi's heart sank. “I always thought that we are the ones who make our own destinies.”

“And that is why we have always been in deep sorrow. We never learn to accept what fate thinks what's best for us.”

“Why? Is there really such a thing?” she asked half-mockingly.

He stopped for a second, as if taking into account the scornful words she had just said. “And you who makes your own destiny, do you believe that what you are doing will satisfy your need for happiness?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Do you believe that you can attain such happiness?”

“Yes.” Hitomi answered confidently. “When I finally find and enter Paradise, then all my pain and suffering shall disappear forever, and will be replaced with eternal bliss.”

“Why? Is there really such a thing?”

Hitomi stared at him blankly, unable to answer. It never occurred to her just to what the question pertained to, Paradise or eternal bliss itself. But whichever one it was, she had no truthful answer to tell. For all this time, she had been searching blindly, not knowing what exactly it was that she was searching for. It happened to her that she and the angel were just the same in that aspect. Even though she didn't offer herself right up at front, she had given herself to destiny, by solely—and blindly—believing what her heart had been telling her what to do and where to go.

Does this mean that she, just like the angel, was destined to be in eternal torment?

But the truth or lie that was in her heart held far more conviction to her than ever before. Hitomi knew what she saw. There exists a place called Paradise, and she knows it. She had seen it, with her own two eyes, on that fateful moonlit night. She knew she had felt it before, deep within her being, long before any shroud of darkness had veiled her past. She knew; therefore she believes.

Hitomi hadn't noticed—she wasn't exactly paying attention—that the scenery had changed itself again. She was now sitting on the dry dirt road she remembered waking up to this morning. She looked around her abruptly, but she soon found out that she was alone; her angel was nowhere to be found.

She stopped to think. Why can't she seem to remember who he was? Even though she would try so hard to stretch out her arm, trying to reach for the mask that forever hides his face from her memory, she could not seem to sink deep enough to even remotely touch the surface of his memory. It was as if a very powerful force—a magic of some kind, it seems—was keeping her from remembering him. Who, or, more importantly, what was he, really? Was he really just a guardian to save her from danger? Or a lover, someone she cares for deeply, like Allen? Or perhaps he was something else. Maybe he was a maniac… just like what the she-cat had told her before.

And then, as if her thought had somehow summoned her, the pink-haired half-human, half-cat rolled out and pounced at her from behind, causing Hitomi to fall face-first on the ground.

Hitomi glanced behind her. The she-cat's aura was very different from when she met her this morning. Her hypnotizing eyes had a very dangerous cast in them. The feline gave a snarl and dug her sharp claws deep in her back.

Hitomi let out a yelp of pain. The stinging sensation she felt was real. “W-what are you doing?” she demanded, trying to free her arms from the cat's feet that were pinning them down to no avail.

“I'll kill you before you get a chance to kill me!” she growled lowly, clawing and hacking at Hitomi's now severely-wounded and bleeding back.

“K-kill you?!” Hitomi exclaimed, flinching. “I never wanted to do such a thing!”

“You very nearly succeeded the last time, bitch!”

The sky started to darken; deep and ominous rumbling sounds reverberated through the heavens. Thick, unyielding cumulonimbus clouds began to gather in the center, slowly creeping out to cover the empty sky. Hitomi looked back at the creature punishing her with a fearful and questioning eye. “Why… what had happened the last time we met?” she asked weakly.

Before she could answer, a massive lightning bolt struck somewhere along the fathomless terrain, temporary enveloping the whole scenario with luminescent light. And when the darkness returned after a few moments, a sinister, shadowy, ominous figure stood behind the clawing she-cat, behind Hitomi, wielding an awful-looking double-edged sword high up in the air, its mortal blades shining as if the sword itself gave off light.

The creature glanced behind her and let out a terrible hiss, jumping out and off of Hitomi's surging back. She was facing the shaded outline—a boy, as far as Hitomi can tell—snarling continuously and eyes flashing dangerously as she readied herself from the attack that she expected to come at any moment.

The boy did not move.

Hitomi got up on her feet unsteadily, her back surprisingly was still stinging from the feline's scratches. She turned to face the two, unmoving and cautious, both frightening in their own leagues. Hitomi grew edgier and edgier as the silence between them grew on, an unpleasant and foreboding presentiment welling up inside of her.

Finally, the boy walked slowly and steadily towards the cat. Hitomi glanced at her, catching a momentary flicker of panic and fear in her eyes. The creature secured herself, bending her knees lower in their stance and brandishing her long claws. But the uncertainty of the situation was evident on her face: what kind of damage could her claws possibly do against the sword?

And then the rain decided to join in the whole sorry mess. The tiny droplets as cold as ice stained Hitomi's face, her back, her arms, feeling warmer compared to the chilly event she was witnessing.

In one fluid motion, the she-cat tumbled and lunged forward, agilely sliding out of the sword's way and stretched out one clawed hand towards her enemy's vulnerable chest.

But the sword was quicker than her in every aspect imaginable.

Hitomi shut her eyes tight and let out a shrill scream as the feline's right arm fell to the hard ground with a soft sound. The blood sprayed out and gushed from her severed appendage, making horrid plopping noises as they spilled across the earth. The she-cat, her bright feline eyes bulging out of their sockets, screeched and writhed. She fell down the ground and tied herself into an intricate knot, kicking and screaming and cursing out in pain.

The determination of that creature was admirable, Hitomi would give her that. With a desperate wail, the she-cat sprang like a tight coil unleashed, her remaining clawed limb reaching for his throat instead. But even before she could reach to slash him, he deftly swung his sword to surgically cut off her other arm.

He then proceeded in cutting her left leg completely as well.

The feline crumpled to the ground, wailing and growling, spit foaming on her lips as she writhed and squirmed in her own pool of blood. The sickening odor of the gore tarnishing the battleground was almost too much for Hitomi. The smell was so strong, it seemed that she could actually taste the metallic tang in her mouth. Her stomach lurched and she gave out an acidic gurgle, and she had to cover her mouth with a shaking hand to keep it down.

But the murderous boy wasn't fished. The poor girl, shock very much evident on her tear-stained face, couldn't even hold herself in her time of unbearable suffering, being separated from her arms. Screaming hysterically as the boy stepped up before her, he cut off her other leg methodically, not minding the cries of mercy the unfortunate creature screamed at the top of her lungs.

It was during this time when Hitomi had wanted to run towards them to stop the boy herself, but the sick feeling in her stomach was getting worse, her whole world was spinning around her. It was as if something stayed her legs in their spot, for she could not command them to move as well.

After hacking the she-cat's tail to small pieces, the boy crouched, and then proceeded to slicing her belly open.

Hitomi pressed another hand over her mouth hard, shutting her eyes. She didn't want to see or hear anymore. She wanted it to stop! But how could she? Could she possibly turn away from the events that were unfolding before her eyes? She had to look again. She just had to. And so she did.

The feline wasn't crying or screaming anymore. She was just gasping—like a fish out of water—big gulps of air in an effort to survive her ordeal. The thunder and lightning outbursts illuminate the whole dark scene. The boy was languidly crouched before the sliced belly. He had been careful to avoid any major organs upon slicing her, and so the creature had survived, barely. He was holding his sword loosely, the tip plunged inside the cat's intestines as he twirled and toyed with her guts.

The sickened Hitomi looked away a split-second after she saw what the boy was doing. Her eyes landed on something else. From only a few feet away from her, she saw the creature's severed arm and stared at it in horror.

The fingers were still twitching.

And Hitomi turned around to bend low and went on an extended bout of retching. It finally became too much for her to bear. When she had emptied her stomach, she was breathing heavily, her knees were rocking violently when she turned around to face them once more.

“Stop it…” she weakly whispered.

The boy yanked a fairly sizeable length of intestines and looped it around his sword, not minding the creature's louder gasping for air.

“Stop it!” she voiced out finally.

The boy stopped momentarily, as if he had heard her, letting two or three lightning bolts pass by. Then he loosened the tangle of guts from his weapon, wielded it high towards the unforgiving skies and aimed at the feline's head.

“No!” Hitomi shook her head, eyes wide and chest banging loudly.

The sword struck true. It connected with the she-cat's neck with a sickening crunch accentuated by Hitomi's hysterical screaming. But the blade could not completely sever the poor girl's hard spine, so she lay there, convulsing badly in her pool of blood, spit and tears as the boy mercilessly struggled to get his sword free.

She gurgled.

“Stop it!!!” Hitomi yelled at him, hands covering her ears and angry tears burning her eyes.

The boy heaved and hacked once more, only to jam the sword into the thick bone again.

“Stop it…” Hitomi sobbed, tear after tear falling uncontrollably. Her whole body shook as she sat on the damp earth, sobbing and crying for all that she was worth.

Hitomi lifted her face to gaze at the unfortunate creature. And even though her head was connected by a mere inch of bone and skin to the rest of her body, somehow she managed to turn her head towards Hitomi.

Their eyes met. And perhaps their souls as well.

What transpired between them, what passed between them in that fleeting moment, no one knew. But a kind of spiritual understanding grew out of that instant. It was as though the she-cat's sole purpose was to show Hitomi what kind of creature the boy who kept haunting her dreams really was.

“A monster,” Hitomi murmured, her eyes large and hollow, gazing unconsciously at the boy's great final blow which sent the creature's head bouncing off the road to roll a few inches away from her. Hitomi, her whole body and spirit depleted of any energy to react coherently, stared at the severed head with a horrified look on her face.

And it stared right back at her.

Hitomi wailed. Not even the rain could wash away the salty downpour away. She was so stricken and horrified at what was shown unto her. And it's not because everything around her happened for a reason, but because everything that had happened was so real. And it made her think.

Was it real?

The boy stood before her, still holding the evil sword, the rain gently washing away the blood and dishonor it has caused. Hitomi looked up at the dark figure and saw two glowing embers boring into her soul, gazing at her entire being.

They seemed to be on fire, glistening red in the pouring rain.

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Hitomi slowly drifted away from sleep. She could feel her awareness gradually working its way back into her system again. She could still taste the blood, feel the pang and the rain, though. Everything was just too damn real for her comfort.

Heavy-lidded verdant eyes began to peer their way around, hazily etching out the figures that faintly reveal themselves upon her. One hand touched her cheek and wiped the tears that had unconsciously flowed.

“She seems to be awake,” said a deep, detached female voice.

“Quite a while that she has been crying,” agreed another.

Hitomi abruptly opened her eyes, becoming suddenly alert at the voices that had intruded themselves upon her. Daylight streamed in through the open arched entrance, the light temporarily blinding her, only to reveal a silvery half-cat brooding above her motionless form.

Her deep azure eyes stared coolly at Hitomi. “Finally.” She purred nonchalantly.

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“Two bad decisions in one day, Merle, two bad decisions.” The bubbly pink-haired kitty mumbled half-coherently. She was squatted beside a busy stream, where schools and schools of pink salmon struggled and fought their way upstream.

Merle dutifully picked another plump-bellied fish and stuffed its furiously wriggling tail in her mouth. Her left hand was already busy tending the abundant pile of her catch that were desperately jumping their way back to the water, and her right hand was, of course, needed in swiping the fresh and juicy creatures out of the water, so there was no other choice but to use every possible storage place available, in this case, her mouth. She did realize—a bit too late, perhaps, but she did realize nonetheless—that she had one more mouth to feed. “I shun' have gun hunning this murning.” She mumbled. “It's a beeg missake mee-ing `er!”

Merle's furry eyebrows met. The mere thought of Hitomi puts her in a sour mood. She had originally planned on hunting game—rabbits or, if lucky, a deer or a wild pig—so she and her sisters could eat a bit more. Of course, salmon was plentiful this time of the year, but they already had fish yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. She knew that she shouldn't be picky; that as a hunted animal she should eat whatever was available, but it was all getting so tiresome, really...

So she had followed the tantalizing scent of fresh blood she caught carried by a passing breeze. “How lucky!” was what she thought then. Little did she know that that thought would turn into “Ah, hell and damnation!” just a while later. All the while she had been picturing a nice, alone, helpless, lean—preferably fat, but she had to imagine something more feasible—and wounded animal… perfect! Her mouth watered at the mere thought of all that fresh raw meat.

But that was her first mistake.

Merle harrumphed and stuffed another tail in her mouth. Now, Merle wasn't paying much attention, for her thoughts were wondering to what happened early that morning, but her mouth was getting quite crowded by this time. There is only a certain number of fishtails one can stuff in one's mouth, and Merle was getting quite near to that number. If she continued to stuff salmon after salmon like what she's doing, soon there would be no more space left.

“Mmfmmhm hmmumhmf homfh.” She mumbled to no one in particular, which, when spoken with an unblocked mouth and moveable tongue, would translate as “this is all Hitomi's fault”.

If Hitomi hadn't sprouted wings at that very instant, then she shouldn't have been very much interested. The nerve of that girl to purposely tempt her! Bah, her wings were not that splendid, anyway. They were all tiny and gooey and icky, and had these cute little wet feathers that were still folded about the fascinating bone structure of her delicately-shaped wings…

Then Merle wouldn't have the mistake of lingering there to prod the wretched curious thing, if Hitomi hadn't enticed her. Yup, it was all Hitomi's evil doing.

That was her second mistake, but it seems there was more. She also had decided—badly, she conceded. It must have been one of her off days. She had nothing but bad decisions the whole day. Hitomi was to blame for her course of decisions, of course—to save the girl from the hunters. And that, to her, was her biggest, stupidest, unacceptable mistake.

She grumpily stuffed another pink slithery fish inside her mouth. “Ffphoofid hee mfakes fnaroe…”

After mouthing “stupid three mistakes in a row”, Merle stopped abruptly, eyes intent. Her left ear twitched irritably. Her eyebrows met, and her jaw clenched a bit. Her eyes moved from left to right, glinting in the morning sunshine. But there was nothing unusual around her; she did not hear anything strange; the stream was merrily burbling about the rocks along its slender path. The birds were twittering and singing complex harmonies as if their tiny hearts were breaking. Insects of all shapes and sizes made their own myriad of noises, but there was nothing out of the ordinary around her.

All of a sudden, she spewed out the salmon in her mouth—sixteen was the last count—and sent them spraying in all directions, wriggling and jumping and all being so ridiculously silly.

Merle made a face and stuck out her tongue. “It tickles.” She said off-handedly by way of explanation.

Just then, Merle's sharp sense of hearing caught movement somewhere… upwards. She could hear a distant thumping sound, a whoosh and a soft flutter at the same time. There was a slight change in the wind's flow that had alerted her. It was too large to be a bird, she thought to herself, but the sound was made by only one creature, ruling out a possible flying flock of birds. Searching the heavens with her expressive cat eyes, Merle caught sight of a creature she despised the most.

“Angel,” she hissed viciously.

Quickly grabbing the salmons and stuffing them back in her mouth, she scooped up the rest of her catch in her arms and dashed to where the angel was headed—home.

------------------------------------------------

Hitomi sat upright hastily, feeling all her hair prickling up under the scrutiny of those azure feline eyes. The one in front of her—the silver-haired one—viewed her from her crouched position. Slowly, she stretched out with a lazy yawn, showing her an impressive set of sharp white fangs. Then she straightened herself, standing at full height. Hitomi looked at her full on the face, a hushed gasp escaping from her lips.

She was quite tall, much taller than Hitomi was. And slim; in fact, a little bit too skinny for her height and stature. But that slimness only highlighted her felinity. Smooth, short silver-and-black fur covered the entirety of her surprisingly curvaceous body. Like the pink-haired cat she met earlier, this silver one was a feline through and through—all paws and claws, and a swishy long tail. Her brooding but slightly bored eyes seem to hypnotize her; as if they were peering deep into her whole being. She had an air of mystery about her, an aura so intense, Hitomi couldn't discern if it was dark or light.

Without taking her eyes off the fair-haired creature staring back at her, she purred politely. “How is it with you, big sister?”

Hitomi blinked, the cold, almost emotionless voice bringing her back to earth. Then, as if she was just starting to feel herself for the first time, Hitomi felt the sweeping, damp sensations from a yet-unfamiliar part of her body—which was aching badly, by the way.

Hitomi felt the dampness stop for a while. “One is content. But the man-creature our little sister brought is bleeding again.” She heard a dry voice say.

Hitomi glanced sharply behind her. There was another one—gold of hair, this time—crouched beside the grass-laden bed she sat upon, and licking her.

Licking her wings.

The blond girl stood suddenly. “W-who are you? What are you? What are you doing?!” she asked, talking very fast.

The two did not answer. They did not even move.

Hitomi looked around, fear and indecision temporarily overpowering the fresh outflow of blood and pain building up within her back. “Where did you take me? What are you going to do with me?” she demanded.

At last, the gold one stood up, ruby eyes solemn. “Be calm, young creature. You must not strain yourself or your wound will not heal.”

Hitomi looked at her, then snapped back at the silver one standing casually on the other direction, then back at the gold one. Save for the differences in their hair and eye color, the two were very much identical.

Hitomi was breathing heavily, now that she could feel the sharp pangs from her back. She had so many questions to ask, so many questions whirling inside her head, but only one took voice. “What's going on? I-I don't understand…” she asked weakly, helplessly.

The pair of azure eyes softened a bit, almost for a second. “The wings are growing feathers,” said the silver one.

“B-but I…” Hitomi faltered, confused. “I don't understand.”

The gold one prompted her to sit down, placing a warm and surprisingly gentle furry paw on her shoulder. “Your wings are still unfinished. They are trying to complete themselves.”

Just then, Merle came busting through the closed back door, sending the fish she had been carrying in her arms all around the sandy floor. “Mmffummh!” she squealed excitably.

“What is it, little sister?” the gold one asked with interest.

Merle jumped to her and waved her arms around exaggeratedly, panting heavily. “Mm mfhmmh mmhympfhmm!” she mumbled.

The silver cat's ears twitched. “What?”

Merle rolled her eyes upwards. “Mm fhed, mm mfhmmh mmhympfhmm!” she repeated exasperatedly.

The twins looked at each other silently.

“Mm hmm phfmyhmph?” the silver one asked.

“Hmfhypm mfkmh.” Came the gold's reply.

“Mmm. Mm fhymph mmhmm numph!”

Merle spat the fish out. “Will you two cut it out?” said demanded crossly, stomping her foot.

The twins nodded innocently between muffled snickers. “What is it, little sister?” the gold one asked her again.

Merle took a deep breath. “I saw an angel coming in this direction.”

“A-angel?” Hitomi managed to squeal finally, her face twisted in pain.

“That's right. And if I'm to guess, he's looking for Hitomi.” Merle's eyes flashed at her dangerously. “He's the boy who was with you.”

------------------------------------------------

Loud clicking noises echoed down the empty halls as hurried footsteps took one lonely angel towards his destination.

He opened the antique carved wooden door with a slight creak in its hinges. “Thou called for me, Ancient?” the eternal messenger said.

The silver-haired Ancient tore his wrinkle-lined eyes away from the heavy volume he was reading and peered at him through the rim of his glasses. “I called for Ontrose. Where art thy brother?” he asked mildly.

The younger one could not answer. He could not weigh that of which is more important to him: his friend, or his master. He knew that should he tell the truth, it would be the end of Ontrose. But if he lied to the Ancient, he knew that his conscience would eat at him until it finally consumes his soul.

During the course of his silence, the Elder looked at him pointedly, as if realizing that he was hiding something from him. “Kamion, where art thy brother?”

The blond messenger, loyal and dependable in his duties, lifted his face, full of awe. It was the first time the Ancient Angel had spoken his name. For angels, names are private, most important possessions, only spoken and used among the closest of bonds. And for the highest authority in Gaea to speak the name of a lowly messenger like himself, it could only mean one thing.

Direct subordination.

Kamion stood up straight. “He left a few hours ago, my Lord.” He replied grandly.

The Elder nodded briefly and returned to his readings, content with his answer. He turned the crackling pages of yellowed parchment illuminated by tall, slender candles. “Didst Ontrose leave to save his charge again?” he asked pleasantly.

“Nay, my Lord Ancient,” Kamion replied dubiously, his heart beating very fast. “He went on a far more perilous mission.”

“Oh?” the Ancient replied, not bothering to look up. “What mission?”

Kamion was silent for a moment. He gulped hard. “To see the prince,”

The Elder stopped and looked at him sharply. “What didst thou say?” he asked crisply.

Kamion bowed his head. “To see the prince.” He muttered, doubt slowly creeping upon him. “He hath been meaning to ask the prince about his charge, Hito—”

He was cut short by the Ancient's fist as it slammed loudly on the table, rattling the candles and the high piles of books and documents. “Ontrose!!!” he roared. “Thou wish to defy me?” he turned to his messenger with an angry gaze.

Kamion could feel himself melting from that gaze. “F-forgive me, Master, I could not s-stop him. I… I should have told thee sooner—”

“Never mind that,” he snapped. “Deploy the others. Chase that headstrong Ontrose down!” he strode in front of the quaking Kamion. “He must not have word with He Who is Bounded in Chains!!!” he said darkly. He sped past him and headed towards the door.

“My Lord!” Kamion called nervously after him. “What if… what if thy son Ontrose resists thy orders?”

The Immortal Angel stopped. He turned around to face him, his eyes like slits on his grim face. “If need be, Kamion, kill him. Kill him.” He instructed before turning swiftly to leave the library.

Kamion, the flaxen-haired messenger, stood frozen and ashen-faced, finally realizing the consequences of what he had just done.

------------------------------------------------

Hitomi fell down on the bed and crunched herself into a tight ball. “Oooh…” she groaned, bullets of sweat forming on her forehead.

Merle's face shifted from anger to that of worry and curiosity. “What's with her?” she asked irritably. She jumped skillfully beside Hitomi's bed and put a furry hand over her belly. “Constipated?”

“No!” Hitomi snapped defensively, then returned to moaning again.

“She is growing wings.” The silver one supplied, then turned to her gold twin. “One worries that she will soon lose too much blood.”

The golden-haired cat looked back at her sister, then to Hitomi. “One rather suspected you might.” She agreed. “But one also thinks so.”

“One also suspected you might. What should one do?”

“One cannot do anything but to await its end.”

“Then we shall care for her?”

The gold one's ruby eyes grew thoughtful. “It cannot be helped.” She answered clinically.

Merle cocked her head in disbelief. “What?! Naria, Eriya, there's an angel out there and you're obsessing about this… this woman!” she sighed, annoyed. “Don't you even care?!” she yelled, her voice reaching a good octave or two.

Naria, her deep azure eyes calculating, turned to her sister. “Merle, it is not our place to accuse her of anything.” She said coldly. “She couldn't have called for that angel. She was asleep all this time.”

Merle's lower lip trembled. “Yes, but… but that angel!” she pouted and pointed out the window.

“There are always angels out there, dear sister. But like us, they also have their purpose.” The ruby-eyed Eriya supplied. “Besides, it was you who even brought one home.” She looked pointedly at Hitomi, who looked back, puzzled.

Hitomi bit her lip, then shook her head. “I… I'm n-not an angel,” she objected.

Naria walked towards Merle and Hitomi. “Let us get her outside. One should wash her wounds using water from the pool.”

Eriya motioned to her sister. “One must warn you, sister. She will not be most welcomed by the clan.”

Naria somberly took hold of Hitomi's arm and swung it across her shoulder while Merle took the other. “One knows of it already.”

They led Hitomi outside the hut, getting strange and angry looks from the other cat-people around them. They walked in silence, until they finally reached the small sparkling watering hole quite a ways from the concealed village.

And from the reflection on the water's surface, Hitomi saw for the first time what it was that was budding from her back. The wings, now not so tiny anymore, adorned her back like a crown adorns a queen's head. The feathers were sparse, and parts of the bone are not finished yet, but she was still impressed all the same about this strange thing which came from her body.

“Naria, Eriya! Look!” Merle choked, aghast as she pointed to the sky.

All of them looked up, and saw the angels blot out the sun as they fly above the village towards their unknown destination.

There are so many of them.

------------------------------------------------

“How could we escape them? There are so many of them!” Hitomi shouted into his ear.

“We can make it.” He said, looking over his shoulder while they hid behind the thick trees.

Hitomi whined. “But how could—”

“We can make it!” he repeated confidently, turning to face her. Hitomi's innocent face was clearly lined with worry. Her fresh green eyes were devoid of the shine and sparkle they had. Gently he took her hands into his, clasping them tightly.

“Remember, Hitomi, as long as I am here with you, everything will be alright.”

Hitomi nodded dubiously.

He clasped her hands tighter. “As long as I am still breathing, Hitomi, I will protect you.” He solemnly said, his wine eyes burning aflame. “I will protect you.”

Hitomi nodded once more, and threw her arms around him. They held each other tightly, both of their faces grim as they watched the sky turned dark.

It was only the two of them, two lovers against the oncoming army of angels that were so many, they blotted out the sun in the heavens.

------------------------------------------------

Hitomi bent to the ground as she felt a spasm in her back. “Ah!!!” she spat.

Merle winced and glanced away, covering her ears with her paws. “Oh God, it's happening again, it's happening again, it's happening again…” she mumbled.

Naria and Eriya watched curiously as a section of Hitomi's wings sprouted from her back, causing her to scream, and attach itself to the whole structure. Then a few more feathers grew as if on fast forward until they were as big as the other feathers were.

All the while, the twins were in awe. They looked at each other. “It is a piece,” Eriya said in revelation.

“Yes,” her sister nodded in wonder. “She gains a piece of her wings when she remembers a memory.”

------------------------------------------------

Ontrose sped through the horizon, racing against the setting of the sun. He had been circling above the thick forest for hours, but he cannot seem to find the exact location of the cave where the prince was bound. “Where is it?” he asked himself.

He had questions that had been nagging at him for quite some time now. That girl—Hitomi—there's something very peculiar about her. How is it that she can see him? And from the way the Master asked about it… does she have wings of her own?

The Master. Ontrose winced inwardly as he remembered the great offense he had done. It is the greatest blasphemy that anyone—especially an angel—would disobey his orders. But there was far too much mystery and secrets for Ontrose's comfort; he felt as if the Ancient Angel himself is keeping something from him and his brothers. He felt that he needed to know.

There is no turning back now.

Finally, he spotted a small hidden grotto concealed by the towering mountains surrounding an enclave in the middle of the forest. He felt a strong power emanating from inside that grotto, and an overwhelming presence. That has to be it. He said to himself.

But before he could spiral downwards, Ontrose looked back in horror to see the whole of heaven thunder with a thousand and one pair of wings beating in unison in a single beat towards him.

What hast thou done, Kamion?

The sun was setting, staining the whole world a ruddy red.

------------------------------------------------

Hitomi sat on the grassy earth, hugging her knees like a child. She was sitting by the pond, watching her reflection in the water get messed up as the steady rain of white feathers continued to fall from the sky. It had been quite a long time since this morning, when she gained another piece of her wings and the angels covered the sky. It was nighttime now, and stars have replaced the angels that had covered the heavens.

Eriya came out the open doorway holding a large grilled salmon. Merle was cooking a few more on an open flame not far away, and Naria had gone away to the clan leader for the rest of the afternoon. “Here, young one, eat. Eat, and be well.” She offered.

Hitomi took the fish, but had no appetite. “Thank you, Eriya. Thank you for everything.”

“You are welcome.” She beamed. Eriya frowned when she saw Hitomi's glum expression and sat down beside her. “One suspects that you are not feeling well.” She commented.

Hitomi sighed, twirling the stick of fish in her fingers. “I just don't feel like eating things that came out of Merle's mouth.” She said lightly.

Eriya chuckled and a pebble came flying through the air hitting Hitomi smack right on the head. “It's not like I can't hear you, you know!” Merle shouted from where she crouched, grilling fish.

Hitomi patted her head. “Kittens,” she whispered with a roll of her eyes. “How annoying.”

“Don't call me that!” Merle crossly snapped standing up and stomping her foot with a dull thud.

“Actually, she hates it most when one and one's sister calls her Kitty-poo.” The golden-haired cat whispered back.

“Eriya!!!” Merle complained shrilly while Hitomi and Eriya laughed heartily.

Hitomi let out a big breath and stared blankly at the stars.

“You're thinking about him, aren't you?”

Hitomi turned her face. “Huh? Him? Him who?”

Eriya smiled faintly and scooted a little bit closer to her. “The boy who was with you.”

Hitomi blinked in surprise, then stared at her ruddy reflection on the water. “I'm not sure if `thinking' would be a proper term,” she smiled a bit sadly. “I hardly even know him.”

“Oh, you know him, little one.” Eriya assured her. “You just misplaced his memory, that's all.”

“Misplaced.” Hitomi scoffed. “If only that was just it. I feel as if I'll never get to find him back, you know?” she said, looking at those penetrating ruby eyes. “It's like… every second, every moment spent, he's slipping farther and farther away… away from me.” She said, looking at her palms.

The night breeze blew in and stirred the crackling flame from where Merle was cooking. The night was very still, except for the insects that made their noises without a care in the world.

Hitomi rested her chin on her arms. “I've always dreamt of him… I've always dreamt of meeting him, seeing him… just… just being with him.” She said softly. “I've always dreamt of him… but I could not see his face… I just could not.” She smiled sadly. “Sometimes I think… perhaps… perhaps these dreams are… maybe…” she trailed off, staring high up the heavens, as if searching the stars for an answer.

“Don't, Hitomi.”

“Huh?”

Eriya, her face full of emotion, cat eyes soft with compassion, lifted one clawed finger and brushed an offending lock of hair from Hitomi's face. “Don't stop believing.”

Hitomi stared at her, taking in her words, feeling herself open up under the comfortable gaze of those eyes.

“Hitomi.” A voice said from somewhere among the trees in the distance.

Hitomi looked at the direction sharply just as Eriya was standing up. “Who's there?” Hitomi asked. Merle's ear twitched and she looked in their direction.

There was no answer, not even a quiver from the bushes.

“One suggests that you show yourself,” Eriya snarled lowly.

Merle came bounding up to the two of them just as Hitomi was about to stand up herself. “What's going on? I heard Hitomi's voice.” She asked curiously.

“There's someone out there!” Hitomi pointed to a shadowed portion of the forest.

They waited.

Until finally, from the thick trees in the forest, out came the raven-haired Ontrose, severely wounded and limping badly, his entire body and wings covered in majestic blood.

“Angel?” Hitomi gasped in surprise. “What are you doing… what happened to you?” she asked, running to meet him but Eriya caught her arm.

“No, young one!” she warned. “One suggests that you introduce yourself.” She growled angrily at the intruder.

Ontrose tried to steady himself. “Mine name is Ontrose. Commander of the army of angels and appointed protector of Hitomi.” He said with some difficulty.

“What do you want with us?” she hissed.

“I mean no harm, noble beasts,” he pleaded. “I just need a word with the girl in thy midst. Surely thou can see that I am not fit to battle with thee and thy clan, if that was mine intention.”

Eriya chewed on that quite a bit, trying to find a loophole, perhaps. “Alright,” she conceded. “But one cautions you that no harm should be done upon this young one. Should you do so, one will see to it that you will die in one's own paws.” She warned darkly.

Ontrose smiled weakly. “Do not worry… I am her protector; it is my duty to make sure she is all well.”

Eriya sniffed and turned around, but Merle was frozen in her place, her face as hard as stone. Merle took a few steps forward.

Eriya turned and caught her sister. “No, little sister, we must not interfere.”

Merle's eyes flashed dangerously, her pink hair billowing in the breeze. “You. It was you, wasn't it?” she asked.

Ontrose and Hitomi both looked at her quizzically.

“You were the one I saw flying above the forest this morning.”

Hitomi sharply turned to face him.

Ontrose thought for a while, then nodded briefly.

Merle ground her teeth hard, her jaw clenching and unclenching in apparent anger. She took a step, but Eriya's strong arm was firm. “Merle, no!” her sister snapped.

Merle stopped, looked at her sister then turned to look at Ontrose. “Don't you dare hurt Hitomi.” She said simply, then stormed away inside the hut.

Eriya looked at Hitomi, nodded at her briefly, then followed her hot-tempered sister shortly.

Hitomi went beside Ontrose and tried to coax him to sit. “What happened to you? Who did this to you, angel?” she asked.

“No no, I am fine, Hitomi,” Ontrose said, refusing Hitomi's offer to sit. “I am in a bit of hurry.”

Hitomi stared at him with wonder and worry.

“Hitomi, I need you to go to a cave not far away from here. It's really important that you should see him.”

“Him? Him who?” she asked once more. Really, if angels and cat-people both should just tell her the names of who they're talking about, then she wouldn't have to ask the same questions over and over again.

“The prince of all the angels.” He replied with difficulty.

Hitomi's eyes widened. There was something vaguely familiar to her when she heard him say that. But she could not seem to remember anything.

“You must talk with him. Ask him everything.”

“Everything?” Hitomi asked.

“Everything.” Ontrose replied, his face very grave. “Everything you wish to know about. Why you can't remember your past. Why you feel as if something is calling to you. Why you have suddenly grown wings. Why you were thrown out of Paradise.”

Hitomi's eyes widened even more. “I was thrown out of Paradise?” she whispered.

Ontrose nodded. He put a shaking hand on Hitomi's shoulder with difficulty. “Hitomi… I want you to hurry… I want you to find him before its too late!”

“Too late? What do you mean?” Hitomi asked, her heart beating wildly, though she was quite sure that she knew.

“I sought the prince out myself… but the angels caught me, Hitomi… and now they're after you.”

Hitomi stepped backwards in shock at what he just said.

“You must find him before it's too late, Hitomi… or else they'll kill you… they'll kill you!!!”

Tsuzuku

“Remember, Hitomi, as long as I am here with you, everything will be alright.”

Hitomi nodded dubiously.

He clasped her hands tighter. “As long as I am still breathing, Hitomi, I will protect you.” He solemnly said, his wine eyes burning aflame. “I will protect you.”

Footnotes:

I would like to apologize for any possible discrepancies about the gold and silver twins. Actually, I don't know who among the two of them is Naria and Eriya, I just assumed that the silver one is Naria, the younger, and the gold one is Eriya, the older. If any of you have information about this matter, could you please let me know? I would greatly appreciate it.

Kamion, his name and description, was taken from David and Leigh Eddings' Polgara the Sorceress. And wish I might, I could never own them. Sigh, sigh.

Sadame X
Defy your destiny.