The air had begun to turn bitter as the sweet summer months was closing... he should have remember about the fall season approaching. But that couldn’t stop him now... the three of them needed a warm place to stay and in the edge of the Demise Forest, wasn’t his choice. Rye wasn’t going to last forever, and himself and Crow were beginning to die. The speed they had kept for the past two days, wasn’t a wise choice. Food was sparse when they did eat, and they were due for a long soak in a hot spring.
Coming near the brinks of the dead forest, Crow had to cover his eyes for a brief moment. The glare from the sun was just a little unusual since they had been traveling rapidly through dark, dank scenery. Grey laid Rye gently on the ground as he shuffled off his red vest.
“What’s wrong? Why are we stopping?” Crow fired rapidly. Staring down to the vest, Grey peered backwards for a brief moment.
“We are doomed Crow, that’s all.”
Crow blinked hastily, “Doomed? What are you talking about?”
Gesturing towards Rye, Grey flicked the vest towards the ground as he knew that the blood stains were nothing he could do now, and he wouldn’t be able to even enter Sidri with the stench of blood on him. It would be a sign that he killed someone. “Rye is pulling her last weight and we are still about three days away.” Grey removed his blue sash as he silently cursed all the gods he could think of.
“You can’t possibly be giving up,” Crow snapped his fingers. “Just like that.”
“I am.”
Staring blankly towards him, Crow was rather speechless... “But... but that’s just...”
“Crow we can’t make it, and there no use... I’d say she has about what... two hours?” Grey ventured a gaze towards his young companion.
“That’s just being pathetic!” Crow snapped.
“Crow lower your voice.” Grey remained steady. “I am not in the physical capacity to carry on and neither are you, so don’t even start an argument.”
“Oh please... this is a sorry site... even for you Grey.”
His ears perched high as he became tensed. ‘I did not just hear that wicked woman’s howling voice.’ Grey turned his blue gaze to the light hair of the earth goddess. ‘God damnit... not her. Anything but her... I mean I’ll even take a deathly plague.’
She seemed to appear out of no where as the as the sleek white gown stuck to her shapely figure. The gentle waves of dark blonde hair swished gingerly against the back of her knees as her weird looking companion hobbled along quickly behind her. Stepping back some, Crow watched him.
“Now did I hear right? Are you giving up on the poor guardian?” Variona question as she closed the comfortable gap between him and her. Her silk pale hand closed up on her chest. “I am so hurt too Grey—” her bottom lip poked out some “— you didn’t even bother asking for your beloved Earth goddess to save your little woman’s life.”
“Oh don’t even pretend like you care Variona.” Grey growled low and deep as his ears shrank down to almost touch his shoulders. “I am actually surprised to see you here. I thought you wanted Guardian Hunter out of the way?”
Variona bit her index fingernail sweetly as she turned a coy eye up to him. “Oh I do my slave, but I want to be the one to snuff her out!”
“But you’re a goddess... you’re suppose to protect the earth... are you not?” Crow interjected.
“I am, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take out any mere mortal that I wish.” Variona grinned; her cat like eyes began to focus on Crow as she pushed Grey aside. “Now you’re a fine looking young man... what are you about... 17? 18?”
“Variona get to the point of you coming here!” Grey barked, causing both to jump.
Her glare fell backwards as she wasn’t happy to be interrupted so rudely. “You... shut up! I was addressing young, sweet, innocent Destyn.” Crow’s eyes grew wide as he suddenly became a slight annoyed and even more suspicious of this woman. “But I guess that doesn’t matter, just as long as you have your precious guardian back!”
“If you do it, I’ll...”
“You’ll what Grey?”
“I’ll do whatever you wish of me, but only for a short month!” Grey threw the idea out as Variona seemed slightly interested in the idea.
Dragging her fingers under Crows chin, she stood her ground only for a brief moment. Bringing his ear closer, Variona whispered something soft and low too him.
Crow reaction seemed quick and swift as he yanked away from her twisted expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t remember anything about my past!”
Variona giggled lightly as she shrugged. “You’re not that innocent Crow. But your punishment is on its way... so I’ll leave you for him.” Her heels turned towards Grey once again, “Anyways I came here to fix the problem of the guardian, so I tend to kept to my schedule, and I am a busy woman you know.”
“Just get too it!” Grey snapped. “Every minute more I spend with you, the more I grow to dislike you Variona.”
“I’ll pretend I never heard those nasty words coming from your mouth Grey.” Her nose was held high in the air as she snorted softly. Crossing her tracks towards Rye’s slumped figure, an orange glow seemed to centre itself in the base of her palm, only to grow up her arm. The strange magic Variona cast across Rye began to seal the gaping wounds press across her body, as a noticeable rhythm of breaths started to become stronger. He thought Rye was pale before, as he realized it was true.
The dark tanned skin grew into its normal complexion as Variona whipped about quickly! “Now your mine you little scum bag!” Variona directed her sights upon Grey as he didn’t dare to move. “You don’t think I heard your comment of calling me a witch?”
“I was hoping you’d hear it!”
“Really,” a foot tapped rapidly on the ground as she mouthed words as Crow was just plainly watching. “Well I don’t want to have you as a slave Grey, but you will be a slave to a blood curse.”
“I am not afraid of any apprentice magic from you Variona.” Grey took a side glance to Crow as he gestured for them to start on a walk towards Sidri. Gliding a hand under Rye’s living figure, Crow booted the little beast of Variona’s as it had hung around his legs.
“Don’t walk away from me!” Variona screamed. Her screams became distant as Grey was more than satisfied with himself.
“What’s a blood curse?” Crow questioned.
His shoulders rose and sank. “No clue, but knowing her skills, she probably implied me with some strange ecchial plague. Thing is, I’m not ecchial so I wouldn’t be affected.” Crow smirked. “Well think you up for another good run? Now that we don’t have to worry about Rye, I think we can keep up the pace.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can hold my own.”
Grey grinned slightly as he had a strange feeling that Rye knew what a blood curse was and she heard the whole thing.