Nythe (6)

The formerly hard packed dirt of the land had been turned to mud from the heavy rain and blood.

Rune’s feet squelched through the mud. Movement would be difficult, but he’d make it work.

And as Midori then began to flood the entire place which made everything infinitely more difficult.

Leaping upward Rune landed on one of the three storage sheds that had survived Midori’s rampage through the camp.

In the corner of his eyes he could see Oda and Toma hiding in the nearby treeline, one of them holding Evan upside down by the injured leg to stem the blood loss; but he also knew they enjoyed tormenting would-be conquerors, just as he would in their position.

A strangled cry caught his attention from near the entrance of what formerly was the city of Nythe. The rain coming down so hard it had started a flood, and struggling to stay above water was Popcorn.

Wherever he had been taking shelter after his transformation wore off had not been safe from Midori’s rage, but Rune knew how much she’d hate herself if that strange, stupid, adorable creature got hurt.

Grabbing the rope strung to his belt he slung it over the branch of a nearby tree and dove straight into the water, aiming for the tiny, bedraggled creature in the water.

The rapids were cold, and moving so fast he only had a single change to grab it or it would be swept out.

He let himself flow with the current for a brief moment before kicking off the ground, propelling himself at the sodden bearcat.

Swooping his arms out he felt wet, matted fur against his palm and pulled.

Popcorn’s claws dug into the skin on Rune’s arms and chest, he could feel it clinging to him for dear life. Maybe it was kind of cute after all.

Rune leaped up into one of the trees near Toma and Oda.

“I need a path, if I can speak to her I can maybe get through the pain and rage.”

Oda shook his head, "too dangerous. Not enough help."

Toma pointed and almost as if on cue a handful of the villagers appeared in the distance, each laying down a barrier that would divert most of the water. Rune couldn't help the laugh of surprise that escaped his mouth.

"What about now?"

Oda and Toma tossed Evan aside before leaping out of the trees and moving through the flooding waters toward the villagers. And Rune watched as the pair of them, along with what looked like the entire group of villagers they had rescued, put up a barrier letting him approach Midori without having to worry about the flood.

Leaping toward the confused and enraged form of the person he cared for Rune opened his arms wide and braced himself as his body collided with hers.

He wrapped his arms around her body and held her, as tightly but as gently as possible.

There was a moment of pause— as if she were trying to understand what he was doing—and then she began to thrash.

It was like she was fighting for her life.

Reeling up on her incredibly long tail she thrashed her body back and forth trying to knock Rune free. And when that proved futile she began to claw at him, though doing so ended up also tearing open her own skin.

Thick dark blood splattered onto the ground, it sizzled and burned through the rock as Rune screamed for Oda and Toma’s help.

And they were there in an instant, like always.

They threw thick ropes meant for sailing around Midori’s hands and pulled with all their considerable strength to prevent her from hurting Rune and herself.

But even they were having trouble, slipping slightly in the mud.

Until another pair of hands grabbed one of the ropes, and then another.

Battered, beaten and still heavily bruised both Roy and Gray stood behind Oda and Toma pulling on the rope with every ounce of strength left in their bodies. Gray’s arm had been broken, and Roy’s left eye had been gouged out but they shouted a refusal to be defeated again.

With her restrained Rune lessened his hold slightly but still remained hugging her.

He could feel her body straining under his touch, fighting to break free.

“Midori, this isn’t you.” Rune said gently, closing his eyes and pressing his face to her scaled chest. “This isn’t who you are.”

She said nothing, she just screamed.

It was a scream of frustration, sadness, but also one that knew Rune spoke the truth.

The rain stopped. Oda and Toma let their grip slacken and Midori’s arms fell to her side.

She continued to scream, and although the rain had stopped her cheeks were stained with tears.

At some point her scales began to flake away, vanishing like bits of ash from a raging fire. Her form slowly shrank as scales gave way to naked skin until Midori collapsed into Rune’s arms. She was still sobbing, but he held her until the sun had started to descend.

“I wanted him dead,” were the first words that she said after a prolonged silence. Her voice hoarse and heavy. “Not now, but then…back when we graduated. And now I don’t know what I want. I’m so angry, Rune, I’m so angry about what him and others took from me.”

She was crying but her voice was stern as steel.

“I forgot who I was, who I wanted to be…you helped me remember, and helped me from doing something that I would never forgive myself for.”

“When we as Heralds get into that state, which I will explain more about another time. Our minds become compelled by repressed emotions, the things we try to hide from others and ourselves.”

Looking up at her she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, nodding slowly.

“That anger is a part of me…I feel it even now. But I don’t want it to control it the way it did then that was…scary,” a shiver of fear ran through her.

“It is. But you’re also more than just that.”

"I am, because of your help." Looking into Rune’s eyes in that moment there was nothing else she wanted more in that moment than to kiss him.

And so deciding to be brave she leaned up and placed her lips gently on his.

It was perhaps an awkward first kiss, but she would trade it for nothing else.