The sleep was uncomfortable as the cold wind nipped at his nose and had frost grow across his frames. The times he did sleep he was quickly awoken as a small trekking sound ventured around him. Rye had remained in her spot close by, as he swore he could hear her muttering to herself. Shuffling his face to lie against the inside of his elbow, Crow didn’t know how long this slumber was, but it wasn’t something he wanted to be waked from. Sleep meant warmth and the reality meant cold... so far the sleep of warmth was winning out.

Harsh frost bite nipped violently at his ears, as he felt the leaves being blown off one by one.

‘I hate the Eanila season,’ Crow thought. The Sumala season was something he rather sleep out in. It had hot days and warm nights, as the stars overhead kept a person awake at night. Memories squeezed into his restless thoughts as he could faintly remember lying on a roof, just peering off into a endless night sky... but he wasn’t alone... there were three others with him. There faces were blurred as he swore he smelt a sweet fragrance of someone, he dearly missed.

There were plainly two males as a woman sat close by him, she was humming some strange tune. He only wished he could remember who they were and where this was. This was a place he wanted to revisit but how could he, if he didn’t know where it was? He didn’t want to leave now either. But something had crept up close to him, as a hot breath was close to his ear... there was a hand pressed against his left arm, a voice calling to him very quietly almost as if it was lost and panicked. ‘No... I don’t...’

“Crow... crow...” the voice was smooth as he felt the warmth of a humid wind crawling across his forehead. He rather enjoyed the warmth far more than the searing cold breeze.

Rolling onto his back the body warmth still arose above him, as he blinked slowly to rid of this sleepy blurry vision he had. Yawning some, Crow jumped to see Rye peering darkly down to him. This was once a comfortable feeling, suddenly disappeared. Opening his mouth to speak to her, Rye clapped her hand across his mouth as she pressed her left index finger to her lips.

“Mmm whafs hapling?” Crow tried to speak as Rye narrowed her eyes.

‘Shh.’ was all that came past her lips as she pulled away from him. She sat on the heels of her feet as he loved this new wave of wind. As long as it was to last, he was going to savor it. But there was a strange feel about this newly formed heat, as it had a odd aura to it.

‘Where have I witness this bef...ore...” Crow tensed as he knew what it was... it was the aura that surrounded Grey. ‘Oh god, not again!’

Crow cursed to himself as he wished they both had time to sleep... but it was obvious that he didn’t sleep longer than an hour and some. The moons overhead were are high peak, just sending down silver slivers of light. Gentle flowing mist glided through the air as the heat around had evaporated the dew on the grass and moss. If it wasn’t the fact that Grey was near, he would have enjoyed the beauty of it, but he couldn’t. Rye had lowered a slender hand to the ground to balance her weight from the balls of her feet to the balls of her hands. Where ever the slivers of light didn’t shine, it left an ominous black lust that covered the shadows well. He could hear his breathing coming uneven as Rye was barely even breathing. Her ears were as sheer high peak as he could see the depths of worry baring from her green eyes... it was almost unnatural so see. Rye was supposed to stand strong and this wasn’t showing it.

A low howl crept towards there awaiting ears, as he seen Rye for one moment staring forward then the next staring towards him. It was a quick movement that didn’t even look like she was ever staring elsewhere. His back ached from crouching, but he didn’t dare move. The slightest sound could bring Grey a step closer towards them. A hand raised as Rye began to lower her belly to the ground, as if she was a seplini.

The silence around them was becoming heavier with each passing moment, slowly driving him mad. He yearned to hear a bird chirping into the night, the howl of a wolf running by or even the sway of the trees, just rustling their leaves. The dark gave him the creeps. A crack of lightning sent both standing, as the dark clouds above began to fall in. There were flashes of light as the rain let loose, cooling the earth around them. Rye had lowered her ears once again as she started to laugh.

“Rye?” Crow raised an eyebrow at her behavior. “Are you feeling alright?”

Rye waved her hand as her hair was drenched from the rain. “I’m fine, I was just worked up about the heat... but I must have been from the rain.” Crow smiled softly as he was glad that Rye hadn’t lost her mind. He really didn’t need two psychos on his hands.

Running her fingers through the crown of her hair, Rye slumped her shoulders. “Guess we should find some dry land?” Rye was peering right at him as a crack of lightning fell across the perfect sky. But something caught his eye behind her. The light had lit up the darker areas of the forest, as something gleamed towards him. His heart pounding against his rib cage as a few following streaks of light came. Staring at the same spot, Crow felt his voice get caught in his throat as the yellow gleam of eyes protruded from the dark. The light had outlined his massive figure as he grinned.

Only letting squeaks past his lips, Rye had cocked her head to the left. “Crow what is wrong with you?”

“Aa...aaa...” Crow chest heaved as his heart had bounced its way into his throat. “Aha-a-a...” Pointing towards the darkness, Rye could barely see him freaking out. Pointing rapidly to where he seen the demonic figure, Crow started praying that another crack would sound through the sky.

“Crow would you stop it! We have to get out of this rain...” Rye shook her head as thunder sounded above them as finally that glorious crack of silver filled the sky. Rye froze on spot as she whipped towards the lunging figure. Her eyes were wide as her mouth hung open. His movements were quietly swift as Rye had barely any time to reaction. He heard the crack against the ground as flutters of smaller lightning showed brinks of them.

Grey had Rye on the ground as she was pinned by a deep hand in the ground on her right side as the other was over top her left shoulder. The bright yellow sights were visible through the dark as Crow seen the newly formed slits in the pool of yellow. The rain had made the ground soggy as he seen Grey yank free a hand to rise above Rye’s rib cage. A white gleam of fangs grinned as the hand came flying down.

______

Crow felt like the time around him had slowed down to the a crawling pace, as he could see Rye squirming to get away. Grey claws were coming down to lace into her chest, and he couldn’t just stand by anymore.

‘Gotta do something!’ Crow frantically whipped a hand back to snatch up his crossbow, as he knew he couldn’t hit Grey. Rye was determined to find some other way to help Grey. A bolt was already loaded in the trigger. Carefully aiming the bolt away from anything vital to Grey, Crow snapped the latch back to send forth the bolt. It slammed deep into the palm of the swinging hand. Grey snarled at the pain as he gave Rye the opportunity to escape from under him.

Adjusting his fingers, Grey took a carefree look over the bolt as he had the butt end in his free fingers. The sick slurping sound, came free from the palm as Crow didn’t think it was a wise idea to use another one, especially if he could easily remove it.

“Crow!” Rye was half up into the canopies of the trees as he figured it may be there only way to escape him. He couldn’t remember if Grey ever would follow Rye into the trees, but he hoped and prayed he didn’t start now.

Rye was amazingly quick and agile within the twisting figures limbs, as she bounced from one to another. He wasn’t too sure he could use the same method of climbing up in the trees. “Would you stop leaving me behind! I am not bait!” Crow yelled at her.

Sniffing the air, Crow continued climbing as he couldn’t place the smell. It was choking as he heard slow crying moans coming from all around him. Stopping in place of a sturdy branch, Crow waved his hand violently as the scarring heat burnt through his heavy gloves. “What the hell was that!” Crow cried, frantically looking around for what burnt his hand. The only thing he had it on was the next...

“The next branch...” Holding his burning hand, Crow peered widely as bright red veins sprouted along the tree, smoldering smoke was seeping through some cracks as the branch he stood on began to sink.

The branch snapped close to the edge as he seen the blur of black and yellow underneath him. A hand snagged his right hand to swing him away from the burning tree. “Crow...” Rye was on another branch of a different tree as she was straining to hold him up. “C-cover your face!”

He wasn’t going to ask questions.

The tree exploded into hot black flames as shards and slivers of wood shot out in every direction. A couple had penetrated through his clothes into his skin. Cursing softly, Rye grunted against his weight as she began to yank him up. It seemed he still had a chance of getting away and not becoming another one of Grey’s victim, but something was wrong. Rye suddenly cried in pain as she let him fall back down to a dangling height.

Strong scent of copper fell down from Rye’s perch as it landed on his sleeves. Looking towards it, it was a dark blood as he was afraid to peer up and see what was there, but Rye was stuck with holding onto him and having something attack her. Peering up for a brief moment, Crow seen Rye closing one eye as three massive puncture wounds glared down to him from her neck. Dripping the dark blood, Crow watched the claws draw deep into the back of her ribcage. Swearing violently against the pain, Rye swung her hand back and forth so he could get a hold of a closer tree.

“Rye get rid of him!” Crow yelled as he clung to the trunk of the tree.

Opening her bright green eyes again, Rye growled low and deep within her throat as she wiped away the blood from her mouth. Rolling onto her back, Rye brought back her foot as she belted him in the face. “I’m done playing nice!” Rye belted him again as he snatched her foot in his hand. “Don’t touch me you little bastard!” Rye sat up as she brought back a stiff fist. Slamming into him, he didn’t like the abuse he was getting in return as he jumped off to disappear in the darkness. Scampering up to Rye, her sights were deathly dark as her fingernails were dug deep into the bark of the tree.

“Are you...” Rye shot a nasty look towards him as she spat out more blood.

“Get ready to start moving again. We have no time to rest!” Crow stared at her in horror. She was still ready to fight and in the condition she was in!

“Rye look at your neck! Have you noticed the puncture wounds?” Rye snagged up a fistful of his vest as she brought him down to her height.

“Don’t piss me off Crow,” Rye shoved him back some as she was clearly angry and wasn’t going to be taking more of Grey. “When I say move, I mean move!”

The rain had begun to slow down as an intense heat began to burn the bottom of there feet. The blood seeped through her neck wounds as her back was worse. The blood had stained her shirt as it was a clear shot to see the ribs. Three were easily broken as the eye could see them. The skin around the wounds had become bruised as she turned her dark sights to peer behind them.

A final strike of bright lightning lit up the sky as black demonic flames could be seen climbing up the forest. The boding evil essence caused them both to peer over the shadowy figure of Grey. His palm had been healed as he was squeezing his fist open and close. Crow saw Rye glare towards him as it was going to be the last battle.

“On three, we jump.” Rye had blood at the side of her mouth as it was it. Rye was going to either turn him back to normal or kill him. He was betting on the second thought.