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The Bindings of the World
The Winged Child
Chapter 3: Walk the Fire

By Kellendraysia

Continued from BOTW:WC Chapter3: PT I

Salamander slithered back from the blazing inferno as he slowly pulled the Hunter from its warm embrace. His upper hands supported the Hunter’s strong wings, spread out to their full length the feathers waved gently with his movements; his lower set supported the Hunter underneath the armpits. The Hunter unconscious form hung flaccidly within the Fyrewalker’s grasp, head bowed, long hair flowing over his limp form was matted with coagulated blood where the fires originally could not reach. Salamander cocked his massive head, peering down at the Hunter with great golden eyes as he was careful in his movements not to catch himself with the barbed hook at the end of Ashitaka’s long sinuous tail. Shifting and stretching his body Salamander gripped the Hunter about the waist and just above the knees with his first two pairs of small yet powerful legs along his serpentine body, to hold the Hunter still. Despite the heat of the fire several of the Hunter’s most serious of wounds wept feebly.

“This does not bode well,” Elizabeth remarked as she assessed the Hunter’s wounds and shook her head sending short fiery tresses swaying with her movements as she reached out her hands to examine the nastiest of wounds. “Sometimes I wonder how he even survives.”

Elizabeth then turned and spoke to Bowyn and gave him instructions of items to fetch back from their home by the fissure even as she drew a length of reddish hued silken thread from a pouch about her waist with one pair of hands while the other fished out a needle and a sharp dagger.

“He will not allow you to use the Kryxx,” Cayd spoke, his voice was very quite, almost a whisper, yet penetrating as he nodded to Salamander, as he assumed what one item would be included in Bowyn’s list when the golden Fyrewalker returned, “nor will the Hunter in truth; I have heard that even in his unconscious state he reacts to their presence.”

“It is only a pre….” Elizabeth started; turning a tense, half angered look at Cayd as he moved around to the far side of the fire to help Keagan and the others feed the blaze till he was further needed by his kindred.

“No,” Salamander interrupted as he noticed Keagan and Tarlyssa paused in mid motion. “We must avoid using the Kryxx if possible.” He saw his look on his sister’s face and shook his head. “I know that it is only a precautionary step to have Bowyn return with the Kryxx, but I must insist that we try all in our power to avoid using them.”

She sighed as she looked at her brother before beckoning him to return to the fire and submitting to his reprimand, “Alright, I will see what can be done.”

The Coldfire cocked his head as he watched Bowyn leave the group, by the movements of the other two Fyrewalkers he could tell something had transpired, especially as the large draconic looking serpent man shook his head. A strangled sound of shock passed youth’s lips as he stared at Salamander and the form that the Fyrewalker held as they disappeared back into the raging fire. By the collar of his tank top biting into the back of his neck, Coldfire assumed that Kinkara watched what he considered a strange phenomenon.

“I hate it,” Kinkara whispered into Coldfire’s chest and the teen patted the young woman awkwardly on the back as he looked down at her. “I hate watching every time it happens.”

“What is going on?” Coldfire questioned, confusion scarcely hidden within his voice as he reached on hand up and ran in it through his hair as he continued to consol the distraught young woman. How did I get myself into this, he thought as his gaze then drifted back over to the Hunter’s camp where he saw the other red Fyrewalker half fade into the fire.

“Ashi-sa’lyth, he must have been gravely wounded, that would be the only reason that the Fyrewalkers were contacted.” Kinkara explained and she looked up before gently pushed herself away from Coldfire as she sniffed and dashed a hand across her eyes to hastily wipe away the welling tears. She shook her head as if to banish the thoughts that plagued her mind. “I wish I knew what was going on; I don’t even know what Ashi-sa’lyth’s condition is.”

“Well, why don’t we just go over there and find out,” Coldfire said in a matter of fact way as he gestured towards the Hunter’s camp, which caused Kinkara to stare at him in astonishment, her jaw dropped open slightly.

“Bu…but you should stay here… in bed,” Kinkara stammered that look of disbelieve still easily readable upon her features, before she wagged an accusing finger at him. “You need to rest and heal!”

“I’ll be fine,” Coldfire chortled with a smile, as he waved his hand dismissively at the young woman. “Besides I don’t think I could sleep any longer now if I tried. If your friend is hurt you should probably find out how he’s doing, I know I would.”

With a rustle of soft blankets Coldfire shifted so that he could swing his legs off the bed and hopped down with a grunt as he placed a hand across his abdomen and straightened up slowly as he rested his free hand on the bed. Looking over at Kinkara and upon seeing her disapproving look, he winked at her. Apparently, I’ve distracted her enough not to think about what is going on over there, Coldfire thought. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing yet.

“Mmmmm ahhhh,” Coldfire sighed as he stretched his hands behind his head and arched his back. The barest tip of his tail brushed against the cool stone floor lazily as he stretched. Even for all his aches and pains he felt good. The nightmares pushed aside by the restful sleep, he had no recollection of the internal struggled he fought while under the spell of the Wheyv before he blacked out several hours ago. The youth checked over his bandaged wounds and dropped down into a squat before standing back up, making sure everything was working properly. He cast a glance over his shoulder and ruffled one of those patched wings and cocked his head before shrugging. Concentrating a brief moment he willed them to fold back into his body to heal, causing the bandages that bound those beautiful chocolate pinions to flutter slowly to the floor, where they would be protected far better then being exposed, though Coldfire was quite impressed with the bed he had been sleeping on. He then turned around to face Kinkara who wore a look of total disbelief, and held out a hand. “Ready to go?”

Kinkara’s lips tightened as she gave her tails a spastic slap against the bed before taking Coldfire’s hand and letting him help her up. Once her feet hit the cold stone floor she let go of the youth’s hand only to poke him in the chest repeatedly as she chided him, “You could have warned me you could do that.”

“Uh…sorry,” Coldfire murmured, as he ran a hand through his hair again and looked a little sheepish. For a brief moment he thought he was speaking to Katherine, with the way that Kinkara had reacted by scolding him for something that was so natural to him. His chest tightened a little as he thought about Katherine and he smiled, Maybe that’s why I feel so comfortable around her all of a sudden, he mused to himself.

Kinkara turned and started towards Ashitaka’s camp, strides that started out strong and steady slowed and wavered making it easy for Coldfire to catch up and despite the comfort he felt around Kinkara, now that he was up and moving he was not so sure of his surroundings or himself now that he was away from the young Kathy’an’s encampment. The distance to the Hunter’s camp was only several yards but it felt as if it were many long miles to the pair as they weaved around people and anomalies along the cavern floor. Coldfire had to be careful not too trod upon Kinkara as she slowed her steps, not to mention that she was nearly a foot shorter then he was.

“Keagan!” Kinkara called as she rushed forward, the Kathy’an man had little time to catch hold of his sibling as she threw herself at him with as much force as she could, arms to wrap about the young man’s neck. He had just stepped back from the fire to regain his breath and cool down and never expected to see his sister hurling towards him with the force of a small comet.

“Oof,” Keagan gasped as Kinkara hammered into him and he lost his balance, the pair fell into a heap upon the floor, actually causing Tarlyssa, Jahi, and Tearlach to laugh softly regardless of situation at hand. Cayd merely smiled, laughter was rare to fall from this one’s lips.

Coldfire wandered up to the group slowly, the exertion of walking just that short distance did provide to be winding experience and the sight of the Fyrewalkers unnerved him a bit, at first he thought they might be some form of flesh demon, yet they did not feel that way as he drew near to them. Edging along the side of the site, he gave the Fyrewalkers a wide birth as he made his way over to Kinkara and Keagan, one arm resting gently across his stomach as if he willed the splints in his side to go away. The youth’s eyes never left the fire as his long tail twitched behind him in jerked movements unsure of what he was fully seeing within the scorching inferno. He could see the reptilian Fyrewalker as a dark shadow within the flames, holding the Hunter before him with the second Fyrewalker appeared to be sewing up a wound, or that is what he assumed by the motion of her hands.

“Kinkara, what are you doing here where is Coldf…” Keagan’s words died upon his lips when he saw Coldfire edging his way towards him and his jaw just dropped open. Shaking his head the Kathy’an’s mouth snapped shut with a click. He looked up at Coldfire and asked, “Shouldn’t you be resting.”

The youth looked down at Keagan with a slightly cocky smile upon his lips as he watched the Kathy’an extract himself from his sister. Dropping his hand from his stomach to rest on his hip he shook his head sending that myriad array of colored tips swaying before cerulean eyes and he chuckled softly.

“Nah,” Coldfire replied in that self-assured teenage tone as he gestured with his free hand, “I’m fine.”

“Keagan,” Kinkara inquired as she fell back to sit up on her knees, drawing Keagan’s attention away from Coldfire before he could react to the youth’s remark. “How is Ashi-sa’lyth?”

“I…we…” Keagan stammered as he looked at Kinkara not knowing how to answer. He feared to tell her the truth, yet he did not wish to lie to her either. He looked up first to Coldfire then his dark green gaze swung in Jahi, Cayd, and Tarlyssa’s direction.

“We don’t know, the Fyrewalkers are doing everything they can,” Jahi interjected drawing Kinkara and Coldfire’s gaze to him as he walked over and knelt down next to Kinkara. The dark haired man placed a gentle calloused hand upon the young woman’s shoulder. “His wounds are grave, and he has lost a lot of blood.”

Kinkara bowed her head as she drew in a long shuttering breath and let it out as a soft sigh. After a few moments pause she lifted her dark earthen gaze and directed it towards the fire and watched the shadowed forms within. Fingers curled into tight fists upon her knees as those duel tails swayed behind her stirring up bits of ash and pebbles. She let out a soft trilled sound that sounded roughly cat like, yet not. Virtually silent feet padded up behind Kinkara and she felt a heavy weight and a domed head press into her back as Halith’Nyeth let out a soft, comforting warble as he nuzzled her back with the top of his head.

“Don’t worry sis, I’m sure he’ll come around, he always does,” Keagan added looking to Jahi for more support.

“Now, now don’t be distraught,” Jahi said softly as he patted her on the shoulder. “Ashitaka is in good hands, Salamander and his sister are the finest pair of fire healers in any Demon Lord’s territory.”

Jahi gave Kinkara one last reassuring pat upon the shoulder before he stood up, his gaze fell upon Coldfire and he smiled in spite of the tension and apprehensive feelings that seem to fill the encampment. Behind him the stocky man could hear wood being tossed into the blazing conflagration that housed the half-demon and the pair of Fyrewalkers. Moving around the young Kathy’an woman carefully he closed the short distance between the winged youth and himself, while Keagan spoke to Kinkara in soft tones filling her in on what he knew of the situation now that the original pressure had been relieved from his shoulders. Halith’Nyeth moved around to the young woman’s side and dropped his head into Kinkara’s lap which she began to strike idly as she conversed with her brother while Jahi’s attention shifted to Coldfire, the BloodLet’s tail blade scraped softly across the hard earth floor.

“I was wondering when you might be awake,” Jahi remarked as he held out a hand to the young man. “I know that you had given Kinkara quite the scare when I had stopped at spoke to Keagan earlier today. What’s your name son?”

Coldfire tore his crystalline gaze away from the Sentinal and blinked as he shook his head slightly. The youth’s features alight with curiosity as he was tempted to try and reach over and touch the creature before he was interrupted with a start.

“Uhhh,” Coldfire replied intelligibly, after a few moments pause he added, “The name’s Coldfire.” The teen reached out and shook Jahi’s strong hand, his trepidation melting away with the man’s genuine smile.

“What is that creature?” The youth asked after retrieving his hand back from the burly man’s grasp and pointing to Halith’Nyeth whose head was hidden from Coldfire’s view.

“He is a BloodLet Sentinal,” Jahi answered with a light chuckle, “When we have a bit more time I’m sure that someone will be able to explain them to you. But alas I know very little about those critters save the fact that their blind and nearly impossible to catch flat footed in a fight no matter how good you are.”

The soft sound of logs clattering together mixed with the murmuring voices of Kinkara and Keagan as Coldfire spoke with Jahi. The whispering footsteps of Shira filtered through the various other noises to the youth’s ears and he turned his gaze to the second Sentinal within Ashitaka’s camp. She was larger then the crimson and white BloodLet, that much he could tell. The dappled grey female did not sport a metallic tail blade like her smaller male counter part but a flexible metal tip that ran almost half way that long sinuous appendage. A soft trill passed Shira’s velvet lips upon catching Coldfire’s scent and the youth turned to face her and began to kneel down. With this action he also caught sight of Bowyn’s return, not much more then a shifting golden line against the dark backdrop of the cavern. Bowyn entered the camp like a liquid streak causing Cayd to rear back with a loud hiss and he lashed out with the first two pair of his small legs.

“Yieeeeeeeee” Tarlyssa yelled as she dropped the wooden pieces she was about to throw into the fire and she ducked below Cayd’s reach as his swung his arm back, barely catching in time to not throw a log at Bowyn’s head, She did not know how Cayd did it but he somehow managed not to strike her or the golden Fyrewalker with a pair of logs in each set of hands.

The Fyrewalker’s angry hiss and Tarlyssa’s yelp of surprise drew everyone’s attention quite quickly. Keagan twisted to his feet and his sister’s ears flared open as she looked poised and ready to move in an instant. Coldfire found the sight of the rearing Fyrewalker to be quite impressive; though not quite as intimidating as other demons and creatures he has faced in the past. Still the youth was quite certain that Cayd could pose to be a considerable threat if angered enough.

“I apologize,” was the murmured apology that was given to the Cayd and the Huntress as Bowyn settled himself next to the fire and quickly started to unpack a small yet bulging sling bag. “Has Elizabeth asked for anything whilst I was gone?”

“What are you doing you moron, you could have gotten yourself hurt or heavens forbid killed!” Tarlyssa spat as she straightened up and scooped up a stout piece of limb about as thick as Coldfire’s forearm. It almost appeared as if she were debating about beating Bowyn senseless with it.

“Excuse me,” Jahi said as he turned away from Coldfire and Shira and headed around the fire, what little he could see from the position he once stood did not settle well. Last thing that was needed at the moment was for a fight to break out inside the camp. “No, Elizabeth has not re-emerged from the fire yet. You may want to let her know that you have returned.”

“Then I shall ask,” Bowyn answered with a nod of his head as he picked up an item within each hand and moved to enter the fire.

“NO! Bo…” Cayd started before trailing off as all four pieces of wood that he was prepared to throw into the fire fell from his hands with a loud clatter as he made a grab for Bowyn as the golden serpent man half disappeared into the flames. “…wyn…”

“What’s the matter?” Keagan asked ears perked forward as he watched Cayd cover his face with his first pair of hands. Coldfire turned, long dark locks with their myriad tips swayed before his vision as he stood up to move to the far side of the fire with everyone else, his fascination with the Sentinals would have to wait.

“This is not good…” Cayd nearly moaned through his hands as he drug them slowly down his beautiful angled features, a look of disbelief upon his face, “Not good at all…”

Bowyn entered the fire, the roaring blaze was stoked well enough to house the three Fyrewalkers comfortably as long as two of them resided half in and half out of the fire. Items held near his chest Bowyn watched Elizabeth work, her hands moving gently but methodically as she was working on stitching two wounds at a time and apparently nearing the end of the process.

“I have returned Elizabeth and I have brought a few items within the fires with me, since I was unsure of what you still may need,” Bowyn said respectfully as he held out the four items.

One item happened to be a small fire proof bottle, the dark contents within the thick smoke-like liquid seemed to ooze and crawl about the container all on its own, for inside this enchanted crystalline urn was the Kryxx. Kryxx were as small slug or amoeba like symbiotic demon, their form had no true shape. The Kryxx are funny little demons for the fact that they are a beneficial symbiotic parasite that Ashitaka respects and loathes at the same time, for they boost the demonic immune system, for they feed upon diseased and dead cellular matter. Thus enhancing healing and regeneration virtually ten fold depending on the demon’s race. A perfect creature at a seemingly desperate situation that the Hunter is in at this moment, yet the repercussions are what Ashitaka hates dealing with later. For once a Kryxx has entered a host, the do not always care to leave once their job is done.

The Hunter could feel their presence even in his deep state of unconsciousness, the presence of the Kryxx, and it did not settle well with him, he stirred. His head that once lolled limply against his chest raised slowly much to Elizabeth and Salamander’s surprise and the Hunter’s eyes opened to mere slits. Unfocused he turned his attention to Bowyn or more pointedly to the bottle within the Fyrewalker’s grasp and a low hiss passed Ashitaka’s lips and he tried to move forward straining against Salamander’s firm grip.

“Easy, Ashitaka, it is all right,” Elizabeth pleaded comfortingly the harder the Hunter strained in her brother’s grasp and she turned and snapped at Bowyn, “Get back, Bowyn, now!”

The woman’s words fell upon deaf ears as the Hunter’s thrashing movements force Elizabeth to let go of the needles and threads, with an astonished gasp, used to suture his wounds as they pulled taught and put stress upon the already frayed flesh as she slithered backwards a few paces. Still too weak to break free of Salamander’s grasp no matter how much he thrashed about the Hunter’s tactic changed as his tail lashed about wildly.

For Bowyn the ramifications of his actions would seem like an eternity, while they happened far too quickly for Salamander and Elizabeth’s react properly. He watched that long sinuous tail roll and uncoil faster than a striking Yuunkem and he tried to raise a pair of arms to shield his face but it was too late. Long spines on the back of Ashitaka’s tail dug deep into the Fyrewalker’s flesh, raking up over two pairs of thick forearms and diagonally up Bowyn’s face and he reared back out of the fire, in a shower of hot coals and ash, with an agonizing cry causing those outside the fire to scatter as the muscular form toppled to the floor, a gout of blood sprayed in a graceful arc upon the floor next to where he landed. The bottle of Kryxx fell free of the Fyrewalker’s grip and rolled with a slight grating tinkle across the stone floor and bumped into Coldfire’s foot.

It was over nearly as quickly as it happened and to Elizabeth’s astonishment the Hunter sagged once again within Salamander’s grasp. Those emerald eyes slid closed slowly as Ashitaka’s head gradually sank back to his chest and to the woman’s bewilderment she realized that the Hunter was never truly awake. Ashitaka’s actions driven by a subconscious reaction to the Kryxx, as he let out a shuttered breath and slipped back into the darkest depths of oblivion once again.

“What’s going…” Coldfire started then trailed off as the group watched the fire, tension written across nearly everyone’s features and events started happening quickly, the fire itself seemed to bulge and erupt.

“Look out!” Cayd cried out the warning as he lunged forward and shoved Jahi out of the way as bits of burning ash whipped out of the fire as it belched hungrily. In the same motion he swept Kinkara up in his second pair of arms as he coiled upon himself at a safe distance holding both the Kathy’an woman and stocky human. As soon as the fire started to act oddly Halith’Nyeth was upon his feet and rushed out of everyone’s way, especially the large black Fyrewalker as he scooped up Kinkara.

Kinkara screamed as she pointed towards the angry waving flames as Elizabeth reared half out of the fire, but the worst of the situation was yet to come. It was hard to tell what emerged from the licking flames first; the arching of stream blood or Bowyn’s collapsing form. Cayd set Kinkara and Jahi down in a flurry of movement as the golden Fyrewalker hit the cavern floor, blood spurting from his wounds, as the wind was knocked from his body; his head met the floor with a sickening crack, adding to the already grizzly pattern upon the floor.

Coldfire felt something collide softly with his foot, a soft tink of glass reached the youth’s ears as it hit the metal plating upon his shoe. Stooping down the youth swept the item up and held the bottle eye level at arms length and shook it gently. Inky black forms shifted inside the murky grey contents of the bottle. Shrugging the youth moved closer to Kinkara and Jahi and he thought he caught a glint of gold disappear back into the flames and thought he saw what looked like a large boney stinger much like you would find on a scorpion, yet by the sight of Bowyn’s wounds that was not what caused Fyrewalker’s deep gouging injuries.

“Are you alright?” Coldfire asked Kinkara as he made his way over to her, she stood still as a stature staring at Bowyn’s bleeding form.

“I…I…” Kinkara stuttered and looked like she was ready to jump out of her skin as she turned to Coldfire with that paralyzed animal look and she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming herself. “I…I’m fine.”

“You?” He turned to Jahi with he same inquiring tone.

“Fine,” Jahi answered coughing, “Just fine, a bit singed is all.”
Coldfire just nodded in response as he cast Kinkara a soft smile and gave her reassuring pat on the shoulder before he made his way over to Cayd, he noticed Keagan was heading that direction as well. The closer he drew Coldfire could see the mess that Bowyn’s arm and facial wound and strewn half over Ashitaka’s camp. A great sweeping arc of reddish-orange droplets hissed softly upon the cool stone of the cavern floor that was not close enough to be warmed by the fire. He could feel a distinct increase in temperature as he came to stand next to Keagan, just off to Cayd’s right. At first he thought it was just because of his proximity to the raging inferno that Bowyn was thrown from, then he realized that was not fully the case. Standing within a small radius, a mere five to six foot, the youth realized that the Fyrewalkers themselves cast off a fair amount of heat, meaning that their disquieting presence is not holistically from their appearance.

“Is he going to be alright?” Keagan questioned as he watched Cayd pull a pair of thick cloths out of the sling bag he dropped and pressed one to wound across Bowyn’s face and the other against the bloody gashes in the golden Fyrewalker’s arms that lay across his chest.

Before Cayd answered the serpentine visage of Salamander poked out of the fire, his scaly lips pulled back along his muzzle in a snarling grimace as he looked at his fallen comrade. Head cocked he watched a few moments before speaking, “I am glad to see that you are taking care of Bowyn, please make sure he does not try anything else so foolish till Elizabeth and I are done, then we can have a better look at his wounds.”

Cayd nodded to Salamander before he turned his gaze to Keagan and Coldfire, as the crimson Fyrewalker pulled his head back into the flames. He spoke casually in that soft whisper-like voice, “I am sure that Bowyn will be fine, scaring is possible but other then that I think he should consider himself fortunate.”

“Why is that?” Coldfire questioned as he squatted down to have a better look at the black Fyrewalker’s administrations to Bowyn’s wounds. Hands rested between his knees, the bottle and its smoggy contents still grasped in one hand.

“You look like you could use some help,” Tarlyssa stated as she made her way over to the fallen Fyrewalker as well. Moving over to Bowyn’s far side she took over applying pressure to the wounds on the golden man’s face.

“Thank you,” Cayd responded to Tarlyssa’s assistance before he turned his dark gaze to Coldfire as he adjusted the pressure upon Bowyn’s arms as he felt the man stir slowly. “He is fortunate that he took the brunt Hunter Ashitaka’s attack from just the half-demon’s spines and not the barb at the apex of his tail. The stinging barb houses a small set of poisons, some deadly, some that are considered much worse than death.” His gaze swept back to the fire sending black and red locks swaying before his vision as he shook his head and turned back to Coldfire. “There is no telling what venom Bowyn would have been stricken with had he been struck by the Hunter’s stinger, given the circumstances.”

“I thought I saw something disappear into the fire,” Coldfire remarked off handedly as he looked at Cayd. Now that the youth had Cayd’s attention he held up the bottle and its foggy grey content and inquired curiously, “What is this stuff?”

“Kryxx” Tarlyssa stated without looking up at Coldfire or the bottle he held as she reapplied a more even pressure to the slowly bleeding wounds upon Bowyn’s face and murmured comfortingly to the Fyrewalker as he stirred briefly.

“What? You mean to say that it’s alive?” Coldfire replied in a confused tone as he looked down at the odd swirling contents as he shook the bottle lightly before his vision, nose wrinkled at the thought of something living within that slimy grey matter behind glass, “Looks disgusting.”

“They are,” Keagan agreed with Coldfire’s last statement, the Kathy’an male helped out as much as he could with Bowyn and his current predicament by passing Cayd and Tarlyssa fresh dry cloths to replace the saturated ones and retrieving any other items the pair might need as they tended the fallen Fyrewalker.

“At least they are helpful,” Kinkara added a bit matter-of-factly as she walked up to the gathered group with Jahi.

Coldfire cast a glance over his shoulder at Kinkara and lofted a dark brow that continued to mirror his confused state of mind concerning the bottle and its contents. He gave the young woman a reassuring smile that would cause many women to melt on sight. Kinkara returned the smile though it was weak and her features where pale with concern. The youth could tell that the collapse of the Fyrewalker has shaken the young woman greatly.

“Kryxx are a type of symbiotic demon,” Jahi explained as he came up to the working group and crouched down next to Coldfire drawing the youth’s attention to himself as he gestured to the bottle as he continued on. “Kryxx help boost their demonic host’s immune system, enhancing their healing and regenerative abilities. They are immensely helpful to full demon and half-demon Hunters,” Jahi nodded towards the flames, “Such as Ashitaka. The flip side of that is meeting up with an Overlord that is infested with Kryxx, for they do not take sides, whether the host is good or evil they have no influence over the Kryxx actions.”

The youth’s gaze turned from Jahi to Cayd as his mind digested the information that the stocky man had told him and he lowered the bottle of Kryxx once again, letting it rest between his knees as he held it firmly in one hand. Coldfire noted the dark haired Fyrewalker’s silence and observed his meticulous treatment of Bowyn’s wounds had finally stopped. Once Cayd was satisfied that his companion’s injuries had stopped hemorrhaging he carefully pealed the blood stained fabric away to asses the true extent of the damage which drew the youth’s attention to the rented flesh. Cayd sighed and shook his head as he drew all the bloody towels away including the cloths that Tarlyssa had been using. Leaning forward Cayd placed one hand from his upper set of arms against the floor as he moved Bowyn’s head so that he could take a better look at the wounds upon his companion’s face all the while muttering something in his native language before chuckling softly.

While Cayd and Tarlyssa toiled over Bowyn’s wounds, patching him up slowly, Elizabeth and Salamander finished darning Ashitaka’s wounds as well.

“Wait,” Elizabeth said as Salamander made ready to leave the warm embrace of the fire with Ashitaka.

“Hmmm?” Salamander rumbled as he shifted the Hunter’s body so that he was cradled within the Fyrewalker’s first pair of arms, much like one would hold a sleeping child.

“He should not stay like this,” Elizabeth explained as she slithered deeper into the fire to reach her brother and worked gently with both pairs of hands hoping to trigger Ashitaka’s change.

Fingers and toes splayed momentarily within Ashitaka’s unconscious sleep, reacting to Elizabeth’s touch. Long talons and retractable claws slowly shrank leaving smooth human flesh in its wake. Tapered ears melted away leaving behind smooth human shaped lobes, long hair receded leaving behind short shaggy locks with long spiky bangs and finally his horns, wings, and tail shrank, with drawing back into Ashitaka’s body leaving the Hunter looking fully human as his skin returned to its sun kissed bronze tone. Tattered bits of cloth hung from Ashitaka’s form, shredded remnants that were once a pair of pants and a set of shirt sleeves of flame resistant cloth.

“I believe it is safe to remove him from the flames now brother,” Elizabeth stated once she was satisfied with the Hunter’s transformation and she backed out of the fire herself.

Coldfire turned his gaze towards the crackling inferno when the soft rasp of scales met his ears and he saw Elizabeth emerge from the fire. Straightening a little the youth noticed Salamander materialize out of the flames as well, his great scaly head emerged first, parting the flames before the rest of him appeared carrying the unconscious form of the Hunter. The youth felt something brush against his arm and Coldfire blinked as Kinkara dashed around him and closed the distance between Salamander and herself seemingly within a blink of an eye. Jahi too rushed forward and nearly tripped over the sleek form of Shira as she lay just in sight beyond Cayd and Tarlyssa.
“Is he…” Kinkara started to ask breathlessly, her expression one of anxiety as she bounced on the balls of her feet trying to obtain a better look at Ashitaka.

“Hunter Ashitaka will be fine,” Salamander rumbled softly, “He sleeps now; a bed will have to be prepared.”

Jahi started moving objects around in the camp as Kinkara talked to Salamander as he worked to prepare a level spot for the Hunter’s bed as Cayd and Tarlyssa still tended to Bowyn who had not fully regained consciousness yet. Coldfire’s attention shifted between the Fyrewalker before him and Salamander and Kinkara just beyond the spot where he crouched. Kinkara turned went to help Jahi with his task as Elizabeth approached Bowyn, looking over Cayd’s shoulder she placed one hand upon it and shook her head.

“The fool,” Elizabeth muttered in wistful wonder, a light smile upon her features, “He knows better than to bring a bottle of Kryxx into Hunter Ashitaka’s presence. It does not appear that the two of you need my assistance anymore. Was the bottle of Kryxx recovered?”

Cayd and Tarlyssa nodded and chatted with Elizabeth about Bowyn and his wounds, while Coldfire still observed the movement around the Hunter’s camp. There was not a lot for him to do at the moment save stay out of the way. The youth looked up at the mention of the Kryxx and gets his first good look at Elizabeth. For an unusual looking woman she was not horribly unattractive, even with the facial scales, it would be if you could just get past the strangeness of the Fyrewalker’s form. The heat their bodies gave off and the multiple limbs and serpentine like structure was still a bit unsettling for the youth, but she seemed to be pleasant enough to speak with so far. He held the bottle up once again and gave it a little shake, to get Elizabeth’s attention.

“Here it is,” Coldfire stated simply, a soft smile upon his features which drew Elizabeth’s golden gaze to the crouching youth.

“Excellent,” Elizabeth remarks as she straightens up and glides around Cayd to reach Coldfire, “May I have them back please?”

The female Fyrewalker holds out her hand to Coldfire as she asks for the bottle to be returned and the youth slowly stands up, stretching stiffly as he does so before handing the bottle back to Elizabeth. His crystalline blue gaze shifts down to Bowyn and all of his nearly bound wounds as Cayd slaps the golden Fyrewalker’s face gently trying to wake him from the stupor that he is in. Elizabeth’s crimson scales sparkle faintly in the firelight as it dies back slowly as Coldfire takes a moment to examine the serpentine woman as he hands the bottle to her. He could feel the heat radiate from her body and her skin was quite warm to the touch as his hand brushed hers as he gave the woman the bottle full of Kryxx. The youth was actually quite surprised at how soft Elizabeth’s skin was, though he did not allow his amazement to show upon his features.

Elizabeth cocked her head and studied Coldfire a few moments before speaking, “Your new here are you not?”

“Uh…yes,” Coldfire responded slowly as he placed one hand upon his hip as he eyed Elizabeth.

She leaned forward, one hand to grasp Coldfire under the chin after shifting the bottle of Kryxx to a non-dominant hand as she placed a second hand upon the youth’s shoulder. Again she cocked her head, this time in the other direction as she carefully turned the youth’s head. Once satisfied she let go of Coldfire’s chin and half glided around him, taking in all of the youth’s bandages as she returned one hand to his shoulder and dipped her upper body down next to his knees, placing another hand upon his lower right leg.

“I can safely assume that you received these wounds in the same battle that Hunter Ashitaka received his own,” Elizabeth stated, as she swayed her body to the youth’s left side. “You have been tended to well.”

Coldfire’s eyes widened as Elizabeth approached him and he took a half step backwards not sure what to expect. He felt the warmth of her touch, much like being out in the mid-day sun, it was not that unpleasant but as she half curled part of her body around his own he started to sweat. The youth’s shock wore off about the time she was done with her administrations that had left him no time to react. When Elizabeth pulled back Coldfire gave a slight sigh of relief, he was not sure he would care to be in such close proximity to a Fyrewalker again any time soon and he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Easy now.”

Coldfire heard the soft voice of Cayd of to the side and turned to see the dark scaled Fyrewalker helping Bowyn up. The golden scaled man had one good hand against his forehead as Cayd draped one of his bad arms about his shoulders.

“I think he has had enough excitement for today,” Elizabeth stated as she too looked at Cayd and Bowyn, “I believe it is time to take him home, I shall help you in a second.” She then turned back to Coldfire, “Take care of yourself young man, you wounds appear to be healing well.”

Elizabeth slithered off to Bowyn’s good side and draped his second arm about her neck after stowing the bottle of Kryxx away in the sling pack. With a few words of thanks to Keagan and Tarlyssa Cayd, Bowyn, and Elizabeth made their way out of Ashitaka’s camp back to their home by the Fissure. Salamander returned to the fireside to retrieve the pack that his sister left and turned his attention to the others.

“I will leave Hunter Ashitaka in your hands, Keagan,” Salamander rumbled softly as he slung the pack over one shoulder. “I will be back to check on him later this evening but I feel that we have stayed long enough, given all that has transpired today. If he wakes please send someone to fetch me so I can have another look at his wounds and make sure that he is functioning properly.”

“As you wish,” Keagan replied as he reached out and shook hands with Salamander. “I’m sure that Ashitaka will be fussed over enough with Kinkara here. No need to burden yourself with the Hunter’s care unless something drastic changes.”

Salamander’s turned and shook hands with Jahi and added his thanks for his help and Tarlyssa’s help. His gaze then turned to Coldfire who at the moment seemed to stand apart from the rest of the people gathered within the camp and gave a nodded bow of his head in thanks and acknowledgement before turning around and streaking across the floor like some crimson bolt of lightning.

“What now?” Coldfire asked as he walked over to Keagan and Jahi, his gaze still upon the direction that Salamander left, before he turned his attention to where Kinkara was sitting next to Ashitaka, the Hunter covered in a small variety of blankets.

“Now would be the time for you to sit, relax and have a bit of dinner,” Keagan replied as he turned to face the youth, one hand on his hip. Those dark eyes gazed upon Coldfire with a calm determined look. His tone of voice picked up that elder brother tone as he spoke to the youth once again, “Especially since you should have stayed in bed to begin with. Now please, sit, I will be back in a few moments with supplies from our camp. I think it will be best if we just stay here.” He rolled his shoulders in an easy shrug, “Besides I don’t think that we could drag my sister away from here if we tried.”

Coldfire’s brow wrinkled in a disgruntled look as he placed his hand upon his hips and got ready to argue his point, “Hey look,” he gestured to himself, “I’m fi….”

“Coldfire, please,” Keagan interrupted holding up one hand to silence the boy as he reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose with the other and sighed. “Look, I’m sure that you feel fine, but it would easy my piece of mind and I’m sure in the end my sister’s if you would just take it easy. Now that I know that Ashitaka is safe and that my sister is not going to worry herself to death, I think that a bit more time can be dedicated to making sure you taken care of till your own wounds heal. Besides it’s been a long day and I don’t need to have you collapse all of a sudden. So please, sit.”

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“Are you sure you don’t need any more help?” Drey asked as he looked to the elder Beast Keeper. Blood was spattered all over his clothing as the pair finished making the young KwyikSylver comfortable after binding her wounds.

“No, my dear boy, no,” Nitika replied with a chuckle as she stood up dusting her hands off upon her soft doe hide pants at the same time. “You have done enough and I thank you. Now off you go, I’m sure you have better things to do then keep this old woman company.”

Drey had to suppress the urge to chuckle as the elderly woman made a shooing motion with her hands. Bringing his hands together one formed into a fist that he placed against the flat of his other hand he bowed to Nitika as he spoke, “Then I guess I shall take my leave.”

“That’s a good boy,” Nitika replied with a smile as she patted Drey upon the arm. “Tell Ashitaka that his young friend is safe. It may take a day or two before she is conscious enough to speak, but she is safe.”

“Alright, I’ll let him know,” Drey responded as he unfurled his wings and soon leapt into the air, with one last wave he flew off in the direction of Ashitaka’s camp.

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Coldfire opened his mouth and let it click closed once again with a disgruntled sigh he moved to a spot not far from the fire where he could talk to Kinkara and threw himself down on a blanket that was sitting there. His spade tip tail twitched in irritation as he rested one arm upon a bent knee, his other leg folded before him. He gaze turned to watch Keagan head in the direction of the camp he shared with his sister, the young Huntress dashed after him, only to fall into step with the Kathy’an man and soon they disappeared among the small amount of milling people traversing the cavern. The youth started as a velvety muzzle pressed into the palm of his hand that hung laxly by his knee, nearly causing the youth to tip over as Halith’Nyeth nuzzled his hand. The BloodLet had reached his head under the youth’s leg, jerked back when Coldfire flinched and nearly pinned his muzzle and Nyeth chuffed at him. Leaning hard upon his other arm, Coldfire relaxed and resumed his casual resting position as Shira, the dappled grey made her appearance from the other side of the fire, coming from Kinkara’s direction.

“Apparently he didn’t like that.”

Jahi’s voice came from behind Coldfire, causing the youth to look up, getting a good look at the man’s braided beard and smiling face as he looked down at him. The look on Coldfire’s face must have been priceless for it caused Jahi to laugh heartily before he sat down next to the youth. The corner of the stocky man’s eyes crinkled with his smile and his laughter setting Coldfire at ease and renewing the youth’s curiosity for the Sentinals.

“Well what should he expect, he scared me half to death,” Coldfire teased in response as Jahi sat down next to him. Shifting slightly he leaned forward and held his hand out to Halith’Nyeth, “Come on now, it’s alright.”

Shira nudged Nyeth in the shoulder with her smooth domed head before standing next to him a soft trill left her lips as she dropped her head slightly as if staring at Coldfire. The smaller male’s respond to that heavy nudge was a playful nip at Shira’s neck before he returned his observation of the youth, his head canted slightly to one side as Coldfire spoke to him. Slowly, tentatively Nyeth walked forward, head lowered sniffing profusely much like a nervous dog coming up to something foreign. That soft muzzle touched Coldfire’s hand again, nosing it gently till he worked the youth’s hand up on top of his head, till he could sniff Coldfire’s fingertips. The youth smiled and chuckled slightly as his skin was tickled first by the soft pelt then by the snuffling breaths of the BloodLet male as he chattered softly.

“So are these someone’s pets?” Coldfire asked as he stroked Halith’Nyeth’s head once the male had settled down and was now laying at his side. “Or are they here on their own?”

“Sentinals are no one’s pet.”

“Huh,” Coldfire turned in the direction of a new voice to see a form land next to the fire.
“I hope I didn’t miss much,” the new comer added as he folded two pair wings against his back.
“No, no not at all,” Jahi responded drawing a curious glance from Coldfire before his bright gaze returned to the fire side and a figure walked out of the flickering shadows. “Ashitaka’s resting right now, Drey, so it will be best not to wake him.”

“Hello,” Drey said with a smile to Coldfire and nodded to Jahi as he made his way over to them.

“Hello,” Coldfire returned not quite sure what to think of the youth before him.

Drey was smudged with the blue tinged silvery blood of the juvenile KwyikSylver, it stained his clothing and his pale near white skin and Coldfire knew that the youth had to be some form of demon. He could feel it, though the energy that surrounded Drey did not feel dark and brooding but, light and the youth figured he must be a white demon, but a very unusual one at that. Coldfire marveled a bit at Drey’s appearance, for his outfit almost seemed orient in design, almost as if he were wearing a short kimono and a pair of cut off hakama pants, but the clothing style was just different enough that they could not be.

Before introductions could be made, Keagan and Tarlyssa returned with a wide variety of supplies and Drey rushed over to help unburden the pair and helped bring everything over to the crackling fire.

“Would you go fetch my sister?” Keagan asked Drey as he and Tarlyssa started preparing an assortment of meats and vegetables by the look of it. “She really should eat, and some social interaction would be good for her right now.”

“Sure Keagan,” Drey answered easily and headed the short distance across the camp, his long tail swayed lightly behind him sending the black tuft on the end dancing with his movements.
“When did he get here?” Keagan questioned as he looked up at Jahi and Coldfire and started to peal something that was renascent of a potato crossed with an apple, in the youth’s opinion.

“Not long before you returned,” Jahi replied with a light shrug. “He was with Nitika for a long time.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Tarlyssa interjected into the conversation. “From what I saw of Hunter Ashitaka’s condition, the KwyikSylver, at least that is what I think Drey was carrying, couldn’t have faired much better.”

“Actually she was worse,” Jahi replied, “I’m sure we’ll all know more when Ashitaka regains consciousness. Though I wouldn’t be surprised of Coldfire could fill in at least some of the tale.”

Jahi looked at the youth who returned his gaze calmly before a smile split his features and he patted the BloodLet at his side. Rolling his shoulders in an easy shrug, he replied, “Sure no problem, though I only know so much, as I recall I was kicked in the face about halfway through the fight and I’m sure you can guess what happened from there.”

Drey returned to the fireside with Kinkara and soon more introductions were made. Not only was Coldfire introduced to the demon youth, but to Tarlyssa, the young huntress who had helped out around Ashitaka’s camp. Their conversations would carry on late into the night after the evening meal. Slowly everyone retired for the evening, Coldfire, Keagan, and Kinkara stayed within Ashitaka’s encampment to keep and eye on the healing Hunter. Tarlyssa and Drey returned to their shared camp within the Fyretrae Clan, but left with the promise of returning in the morning. Jahi too returned to his family camp with kind words and the promise of stopping by to see how both Coldfire and Ashitaka were fairing.

Description
The Bindings of the World
The Winged Child
Chapter 3: Walk the Fire

By Kellendraysia

Continued from BOTW:WC Chapter3: PT I

Salamander slithered back from the blazing inferno as he slowly pulled the Hunter from its warm embrace. His upper hands supported the Hunter’s strong wings, spread out to their full length the feathers waved gently with his movements; his lower set supported the Hunter underneath the armpits. The Hunter unconscious form hung flaccidly within the Fyrewalker’s grasp, head bowed, long hair flowing over his limp form was matted with coagulated blood where the fires originally could not reach. Salamander cocked his massive head, peering down at the Hunter with great golden eyes as he was careful in his movements not to catch himself with the barbed hook at the end of Ashitaka’s long sinuous tail. Shifting and stretching his body Salamander gripped the Hunter about the waist and just above the knees with his first two pairs of small yet powerful legs along his serpentine body, to hold the Hunter still. Despite the heat of the fire several of the Hunter’s most serious of wounds wept feebly.

“This does not bode well,” Elizabeth remarked as she assessed the Hunter’s wounds and shook her head sending short fiery tresses swaying with her movements as she reached out her hands to examine the nastiest of wounds. “Sometimes I wonder how he even survives.”

Elizabeth then turned and spoke to Bowyn and gave him instructions of items to fetch back from their home by the fissure even as she drew a length of reddish hued silken thread from a pouch about her waist with one pair of hands while the other fished out a needle and a sharp dagger.

“He will not allow you to use the Kryxx,” Cayd spoke, his voice was very quite, almost a whisper, yet penetrating as he nodded to Salamander, as he assumed what one item would be included in Bowyn’s list when the golden Fyrewalker returned, “nor will the Hunter in truth; I have heard that even in his unconscious state he reacts to their presence.”

“It is only a pre….” Elizabeth started; turning a tense, half angered look at Cayd as he moved around to the far side of the fire to help Keagan and the others feed the blaze till he was further needed by his kindred.

“No,” Salamander interrupted as he noticed Keagan and Tarlyssa paused in mid motion. “We must avoid using the Kryxx if possible.” He saw his look on his sister’s face and shook his head. “I know that it is only a precautionary step to have Bowyn return with the Kryxx, but I must insist that we try all in our power to avoid using them.”

She sighed as she looked at her brother before beckoning him to return to the fire and submitting to his reprimand, “Alright, I will see what can be done.”

The Coldfire cocked his head as he watched Bowyn leave the group, by the movements of the other two Fyrewalkers he could tell something had transpired, especially as the large draconic looking serpent man shook his head. A strangled sound of shock passed youth’s lips as he stared at Salamander and the form that the Fyrewalker held as they disappeared back into the raging fire. By the collar of his tank top biting into the back of his neck, Coldfire assumed that Kinkara watched what he considered a strange phenomenon.

“I hate it,” Kinkara whispered into Coldfire’s chest and the teen patted the young woman awkwardly on the back as he looked down at her. “I hate watching every time it happens.”

“What is going on?” Coldfire questioned, confusion scarcely hidden within his voice as he reached on hand up and ran in it through his hair as he continued to consol the distraught young woman. How did I get myself into this, he thought as his gaze then drifted back over to the Hunter’s camp where he saw the other red Fyrewalker half fade into the fire.

“Ashi-sa’lyth, he must have been gravely wounded, that would be the only reason that the Fyrewalkers were contacted.” Kinkara explained and she looked up before gently pushed herself away from Coldfire as she sniffed and dashed a hand across her eyes to hastily wipe away the welling tears. She shook her head as if to banish the thoughts that plagued her mind. “I wish I knew what was going on; I don’t even know what Ashi-sa’lyth’s condition is.”

“Well, why don’t we just go over there and find out,” Coldfire said in a matter of fact way as he gestured towards the Hunter’s camp, which caused Kinkara to stare at him in astonishment, her jaw dropped open slightly.

“Bu…but you should stay here… in bed,” Kinkara stammered that look of disbelieve still easily readable upon her features, before she wagged an accusing finger at him. “You need to rest and heal!”

“I’ll be fine,” Coldfire chortled with a smile, as he waved his hand dismissively at the young woman. “Besides I don’t think I could sleep any longer now if I tried. If your friend is hurt you should probably find out how he’s doing, I know I would.”

With a rustle of soft blankets Coldfire shifted so that he could swing his legs off the bed and hopped down with a grunt as he placed a hand across his abdomen and straightened up slowly as he rested his free hand on the bed. Looking over at Kinkara and upon seeing her disapproving look, he winked at her. Apparently, I’ve distracted her enough not to think about what is going on over there, Coldfire thought. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing yet.

“Mmmmm ahhhh,” Coldfire sighed as he stretched his hands behind his head and arched his back. The barest tip of his tail brushed against the cool stone floor lazily as he stretched. Even for all his aches and pains he felt good. The nightmares pushed aside by the restful sleep, he had no recollection of the internal struggled he fought while under the spell of the Wheyv before he blacked out several hours ago. The youth checked over his bandaged wounds and dropped down into a squat before standing back up, making sure everything was working properly. He cast a glance over his shoulder and ruffled one of those patched wings and cocked his head before shrugging. Concentrating a brief moment he willed them to fold back into his body to heal, causing the bandages that bound those beautiful chocolate pinions to flutter slowly to the floor, where they would be protected far better then being exposed, though Coldfire was quite impressed with the bed he had been sleeping on. He then turned around to face Kinkara who wore a look of total disbelief, and held out a hand. “Ready to go?”

Kinkara’s lips tightened as she gave her tails a spastic slap against the bed before taking Coldfire’s hand and letting him help her up. Once her feet hit the cold stone floor she let go of the youth’s hand only to poke him in the chest repeatedly as she chided him, “You could have warned me you could do that.”

“Uh…sorry,” Coldfire murmured, as he ran a hand through his hair again and looked a little sheepish. For a brief moment he thought he was speaking to Katherine, with the way that Kinkara had reacted by scolding him for something that was so natural to him. His chest tightened a little as he thought about Katherine and he smiled, Maybe that’s why I feel so comfortable around her all of a sudden, he mused to himself.

Kinkara turned and started towards Ashitaka’s camp, strides that started out strong and steady slowed and wavered making it easy for Coldfire to catch up and despite the comfort he felt around Kinkara, now that he was up and moving he was not so sure of his surroundings or himself now that he was away from the young Kathy’an’s encampment. The distance to the Hunter’s camp was only several yards but it felt as if it were many long miles to the pair as they weaved around people and anomalies along the cavern floor. Coldfire had to be careful not too trod upon Kinkara as she slowed her steps, not to mention that she was nearly a foot shorter then he was.

“Keagan!” Kinkara called as she rushed forward, the Kathy’an man had little time to catch hold of his sibling as she threw herself at him with as much force as she could, arms to wrap about the young man’s neck. He had just stepped back from the fire to regain his breath and cool down and never expected to see his sister hurling towards him with the force of a small comet.

“Oof,” Keagan gasped as Kinkara hammered into him and he lost his balance, the pair fell into a heap upon the floor, actually causing Tarlyssa, Jahi, and Tearlach to laugh softly regardless of situation at hand. Cayd merely smiled, laughter was rare to fall from this one’s lips.

Coldfire wandered up to the group slowly, the exertion of walking just that short distance did provide to be winding experience and the sight of the Fyrewalkers unnerved him a bit, at first he thought they might be some form of flesh demon, yet they did not feel that way as he drew near to them. Edging along the side of the site, he gave the Fyrewalkers a wide birth as he made his way over to Kinkara and Keagan, one arm resting gently across his stomach as if he willed the splints in his side to go away. The youth’s eyes never left the fire as his long tail twitched behind him in jerked movements unsure of what he was fully seeing within the scorching inferno. He could see the reptilian Fyrewalker as a dark shadow within the flames, holding the Hunter before him with the second Fyrewalker appeared to be sewing up a wound, or that is what he assumed by the motion of her hands.

“Kinkara, what are you doing here where is Coldf…” Keagan’s words died upon his lips when he saw Coldfire edging his way towards him and his jaw just dropped open. Shaking his head the Kathy’an’s mouth snapped shut with a click. He looked up at Coldfire and asked, “Shouldn’t you be resting.”

The youth looked down at Keagan with a slightly cocky smile upon his lips as he watched the Kathy’an extract himself from his sister. Dropping his hand from his stomach to rest on his hip he shook his head sending that myriad array of colored tips swaying before cerulean eyes and he chuckled softly.

“Nah,” Coldfire replied in that self-assured teenage tone as he gestured with his free hand, “I’m fine.”

“Keagan,” Kinkara inquired as she fell back to sit up on her knees, drawing Keagan’s attention away from Coldfire before he could react to the youth’s remark. “How is Ashi-sa’lyth?”

“I…we…” Keagan stammered as he looked at Kinkara not knowing how to answer. He feared to tell her the truth, yet he did not wish to lie to her either. He looked up first to Coldfire then his dark green gaze swung in Jahi, Cayd, and Tarlyssa’s direction.

“We don’t know, the Fyrewalkers are doing everything they can,” Jahi interjected drawing Kinkara and Coldfire’s gaze to him as he walked over and knelt down next to Kinkara. The dark haired man placed a gentle calloused hand upon the young woman’s shoulder. “His wounds are grave, and he has lost a lot of blood.”

Kinkara bowed her head as she drew in a long shuttering breath and let it out as a soft sigh. After a few moments pause she lifted her dark earthen gaze and directed it towards the fire and watched the shadowed forms within. Fingers curled into tight fists upon her knees as those duel tails swayed behind her stirring up bits of ash and pebbles. She let out a soft trilled sound that sounded roughly cat like, yet not. Virtually silent feet padded up behind Kinkara and she felt a heavy weight and a domed head press into her back as Halith’Nyeth let out a soft, comforting warble as he nuzzled her back with the top of his head.

“Don’t worry sis, I’m sure he’ll come around, he always does,” Keagan added looking to Jahi for more support.

“Now, now don’t be distraught,” Jahi said softly as he patted her on the shoulder. “Ashitaka is in good hands, Salamander and his sister are the finest pair of fire healers in any Demon Lord’s territory.”

Jahi gave Kinkara one last reassuring pat upon the shoulder before he stood up, his gaze fell upon Coldfire and he smiled in spite of the tension and apprehensive feelings that seem to fill the encampment. Behind him the stocky man could hear wood being tossed into the blazing conflagration that housed the half-demon and the pair of Fyrewalkers. Moving around the young Kathy’an woman carefully he closed the short distance between the winged youth and himself, while Keagan spoke to Kinkara in soft tones filling her in on what he knew of the situation now that the original pressure had been relieved from his shoulders. Halith’Nyeth moved around to the young woman’s side and dropped his head into Kinkara’s lap which she began to strike idly as she conversed with her brother while Jahi’s attention shifted to Coldfire, the BloodLet’s tail blade scraped softly across the hard earth floor.

“I was wondering when you might be awake,” Jahi remarked as he held out a hand to the young man. “I know that you had given Kinkara quite the scare when I had stopped at spoke to Keagan earlier today. What’s your name son?”

Coldfire tore his crystalline gaze away from the Sentinal and blinked as he shook his head slightly. The youth’s features alight with curiosity as he was tempted to try and reach over and touch the creature before he was interrupted with a start.

“Uhhh,” Coldfire replied intelligibly, after a few moments pause he added, “The name’s Coldfire.” The teen reached out and shook Jahi’s strong hand, his trepidation melting away with the man’s genuine smile.

“What is that creature?” The youth asked after retrieving his hand back from the burly man’s grasp and pointing to Halith’Nyeth whose head was hidden from Coldfire’s view.

“He is a BloodLet Sentinal,” Jahi answered with a light chuckle, “When we have a bit more time I’m sure that someone will be able to explain them to you. But alas I know very little about those critters save the fact that their blind and nearly impossible to catch flat footed in a fight no matter how good you are.”

The soft sound of logs clattering together mixed with the murmuring voices of Kinkara and Keagan as Coldfire spoke with Jahi. The whispering footsteps of Shira filtered through the various other noises to the youth’s ears and he turned his gaze to the second Sentinal within Ashitaka’s camp. She was larger then the crimson and white BloodLet, that much he could tell. The dappled grey female did not sport a metallic tail blade like her smaller male counter part but a flexible metal tip that ran almost half way that long sinuous appendage. A soft trill passed Shira’s velvet lips upon catching Coldfire’s scent and the youth turned to face her and began to kneel down. With this action he also caught sight of Bowyn’s return, not much more then a shifting golden line against the dark backdrop of the cavern. Bowyn entered the camp like a liquid streak causing Cayd to rear back with a loud hiss and he lashed out with the first two pair of his small legs.

“Yieeeeeeeee” Tarlyssa yelled as she dropped the wooden pieces she was about to throw into the fire and she ducked below Cayd’s reach as his swung his arm back, barely catching in time to not throw a log at Bowyn’s head, She did not know how Cayd did it but he somehow managed not to strike her or the golden Fyrewalker with a pair of logs in each set of hands.

The Fyrewalker’s angry hiss and Tarlyssa’s yelp of surprise drew everyone’s attention quite quickly. Keagan twisted to his feet and his sister’s ears flared open as she looked poised and ready to move in an instant. Coldfire found the sight of the rearing Fyrewalker to be quite impressive; though not quite as intimidating as other demons and creatures he has faced in the past. Still the youth was quite certain that Cayd could pose to be a considerable threat if angered enough.

“I apologize,” was the murmured apology that was given to the Cayd and the Huntress as Bowyn settled himself next to the fire and quickly started to unpack a small yet bulging sling bag. “Has Elizabeth asked for anything whilst I was gone?”

“What are you doing you moron, you could have gotten yourself hurt or heavens forbid killed!” Tarlyssa spat as she straightened up and scooped up a stout piece of limb about as thick as Coldfire’s forearm. It almost appeared as if she were debating about beating Bowyn senseless with it.

“Excuse me,” Jahi said as he turned away from Coldfire and Shira and headed around the fire, what little he could see from the position he once stood did not settle well. Last thing that was needed at the moment was for a fight to break out inside the camp. “No, Elizabeth has not re-emerged from the fire yet. You may want to let her know that you have returned.”

“Then I shall ask,” Bowyn answered with a nod of his head as he picked up an item within each hand and moved to enter the fire.

“NO! Bo…” Cayd started before trailing off as all four pieces of wood that he was prepared to throw into the fire fell from his hands with a loud clatter as he made a grab for Bowyn as the golden serpent man half disappeared into the flames. “…wyn…”

“What’s the matter?” Keagan asked ears perked forward as he watched Cayd cover his face with his first pair of hands. Coldfire turned, long dark locks with their myriad tips swayed before his vision as he stood up to move to the far side of the fire with everyone else, his fascination with the Sentinals would have to wait.

“This is not good…” Cayd nearly moaned through his hands as he drug them slowly down his beautiful angled features, a look of disbelief upon his face, “Not good at all…”

Bowyn entered the fire, the roaring blaze was stoked well enough to house the three Fyrewalkers comfortably as long as two of them resided half in and half out of the fire. Items held near his chest Bowyn watched Elizabeth work, her hands moving gently but methodically as she was working on stitching two wounds at a time and apparently nearing the end of the process.

“I have returned Elizabeth and I have brought a few items within the fires with me, since I was unsure of what you still may need,” Bowyn said respectfully as he held out the four items.

One item happened to be a small fire proof bottle, the dark contents within the thick smoke-like liquid seemed to ooze and crawl about the container all on its own, for inside this enchanted crystalline urn was the Kryxx. Kryxx were as small slug or amoeba like symbiotic demon, their form had no true shape. The Kryxx are funny little demons for the fact that they are a beneficial symbiotic parasite that Ashitaka respects and loathes at the same time, for they boost the demonic immune system, for they feed upon diseased and dead cellular matter. Thus enhancing healing and regeneration virtually ten fold depending on the demon’s race. A perfect creature at a seemingly desperate situation that the Hunter is in at this moment, yet the repercussions are what Ashitaka hates dealing with later. For once a Kryxx has entered a host, the do not always care to leave once their job is done.

The Hunter could feel their presence even in his deep state of unconsciousness, the presence of the Kryxx, and it did not settle well with him, he stirred. His head that once lolled limply against his chest raised slowly much to Elizabeth and Salamander’s surprise and the Hunter’s eyes opened to mere slits. Unfocused he turned his attention to Bowyn or more pointedly to the bottle within the Fyrewalker’s grasp and a low hiss passed Ashitaka’s lips and he tried to move forward straining against Salamander’s firm grip.

“Easy, Ashitaka, it is all right,” Elizabeth pleaded comfortingly the harder the Hunter strained in her brother’s grasp and she turned and snapped at Bowyn, “Get back, Bowyn, now!”

The woman’s words fell upon deaf ears as the Hunter’s thrashing movements force Elizabeth to let go of the needles and threads, with an astonished gasp, used to suture his wounds as they pulled taught and put stress upon the already frayed flesh as she slithered backwards a few paces. Still too weak to break free of Salamander’s grasp no matter how much he thrashed about the Hunter’s tactic changed as his tail lashed about wildly.

For Bowyn the ramifications of his actions would seem like an eternity, while they happened far too quickly for Salamander and Elizabeth’s react properly. He watched that long sinuous tail roll and uncoil faster than a striking Yuunkem and he tried to raise a pair of arms to shield his face but it was too late. Long spines on the back of Ashitaka’s tail dug deep into the Fyrewalker’s flesh, raking up over two pairs of thick forearms and diagonally up Bowyn’s face and he reared back out of the fire, in a shower of hot coals and ash, with an agonizing cry causing those outside the fire to scatter as the muscular form toppled to the floor, a gout of blood sprayed in a graceful arc upon the floor next to where he landed. The bottle of Kryxx fell free of the Fyrewalker’s grip and rolled with a slight grating tinkle across the stone floor and bumped into Coldfire’s foot.

It was over nearly as quickly as it happened and to Elizabeth’s astonishment the Hunter sagged once again within Salamander’s grasp. Those emerald eyes slid closed slowly as Ashitaka’s head gradually sank back to his chest and to the woman’s bewilderment she realized that the Hunter was never truly awake. Ashitaka’s actions driven by a subconscious reaction to the Kryxx, as he let out a shuttered breath and slipped back into the darkest depths of oblivion once again.

“What’s going…” Coldfire started then trailed off as the group watched the fire, tension written across nearly everyone’s features and events started happening quickly, the fire itself seemed to bulge and erupt.

“Look out!” Cayd cried out the warning as he lunged forward and shoved Jahi out of the way as bits of burning ash whipped out of the fire as it belched hungrily. In the same motion he swept Kinkara up in his second pair of arms as he coiled upon himself at a safe distance holding both the Kathy’an woman and stocky human. As soon as the fire started to act oddly Halith’Nyeth was upon his feet and rushed out of everyone’s way, especially the large black Fyrewalker as he scooped up Kinkara.

Kinkara screamed as she pointed towards the angry waving flames as Elizabeth reared half out of the fire, but the worst of the situation was yet to come. It was hard to tell what emerged from the licking flames first; the arching of stream blood or Bowyn’s collapsing form. Cayd set Kinkara and Jahi down in a flurry of movement as the golden Fyrewalker hit the cavern floor, blood spurting from his wounds, as the wind was knocked from his body; his head met the floor with a sickening crack, adding to the already grizzly pattern upon the floor.

Coldfire felt something collide softly with his foot, a soft tink of glass reached the youth’s ears as it hit the metal plating upon his shoe. Stooping down the youth swept the item up and held the bottle eye level at arms length and shook it gently. Inky black forms shifted inside the murky grey contents of the bottle. Shrugging the youth moved closer to Kinkara and Jahi and he thought he caught a glint of gold disappear back into the flames and thought he saw what looked like a large boney stinger much like you would find on a scorpion, yet by the sight of Bowyn’s wounds that was not what caused Fyrewalker’s deep gouging injuries.

“Are you alright?” Coldfire asked Kinkara as he made his way over to her, she stood still as a stature staring at Bowyn’s bleeding form.

“I…I…” Kinkara stuttered and looked like she was ready to jump out of her skin as she turned to Coldfire with that paralyzed animal look and she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming herself. “I…I’m fine.”

“You?” He turned to Jahi with he same inquiring tone.

“Fine,” Jahi answered coughing, “Just fine, a bit singed is all.”
Coldfire just nodded in response as he cast Kinkara a soft smile and gave her reassuring pat on the shoulder before he made his way over to Cayd, he noticed Keagan was heading that direction as well. The closer he drew Coldfire could see the mess that Bowyn’s arm and facial wound and strewn half over Ashitaka’s camp. A great sweeping arc of reddish-orange droplets hissed softly upon the cool stone of the cavern floor that was not close enough to be warmed by the fire. He could feel a distinct increase in temperature as he came to stand next to Keagan, just off to Cayd’s right. At first he thought it was just because of his proximity to the raging inferno that Bowyn was thrown from, then he realized that was not fully the case. Standing within a small radius, a mere five to six foot, the youth realized that the Fyrewalkers themselves cast off a fair amount of heat, meaning that their disquieting presence is not holistically from their appearance.

“Is he going to be alright?” Keagan questioned as he watched Cayd pull a pair of thick cloths out of the sling bag he dropped and pressed one to wound across Bowyn’s face and the other against the bloody gashes in the golden Fyrewalker’s arms that lay across his chest.

Before Cayd answered the serpentine visage of Salamander poked out of the fire, his scaly lips pulled back along his muzzle in a snarling grimace as he looked at his fallen comrade. Head cocked he watched a few moments before speaking, “I am glad to see that you are taking care of Bowyn, please make sure he does not try anything else so foolish till Elizabeth and I are done, then we can have a better look at his wounds.”

Cayd nodded to Salamander before he turned his gaze to Keagan and Coldfire, as the crimson Fyrewalker pulled his head back into the flames. He spoke casually in that soft whisper-like voice, “I am sure that Bowyn will be fine, scaring is possible but other then that I think he should consider himself fortunate.”

“Why is that?” Coldfire questioned as he squatted down to have a better look at the black Fyrewalker’s administrations to Bowyn’s wounds. Hands rested between his knees, the bottle and its smoggy contents still grasped in one hand.

“You look like you could use some help,” Tarlyssa stated as she made her way over to the fallen Fyrewalker as well. Moving over to Bowyn’s far side she took over applying pressure to the wounds on the golden man’s face.

“Thank you,” Cayd responded to Tarlyssa’s assistance before he turned his dark gaze to Coldfire as he adjusted the pressure upon Bowyn’s arms as he felt the man stir slowly. “He is fortunate that he took the brunt Hunter Ashitaka’s attack from just the half-demon’s spines and not the barb at the apex of his tail. The stinging barb houses a small set of poisons, some deadly, some that are considered much worse than death.” His gaze swept back to the fire sending black and red locks swaying before his vision as he shook his head and turned back to Coldfire. “There is no telling what venom Bowyn would have been stricken with had he been struck by the Hunter’s stinger, given the circumstances.”

“I thought I saw something disappear into the fire,” Coldfire remarked off handedly as he looked at Cayd. Now that the youth had Cayd’s attention he held up the bottle and its foggy grey content and inquired curiously, “What is this stuff?”

“Kryxx” Tarlyssa stated without looking up at Coldfire or the bottle he held as she reapplied a more even pressure to the slowly bleeding wounds upon Bowyn’s face and murmured comfortingly to the Fyrewalker as he stirred briefly.

“What? You mean to say that it’s alive?” Coldfire replied in a confused tone as he looked down at the odd swirling contents as he shook the bottle lightly before his vision, nose wrinkled at the thought of something living within that slimy grey matter behind glass, “Looks disgusting.”

“They are,” Keagan agreed with Coldfire’s last statement, the Kathy’an male helped out as much as he could with Bowyn and his current predicament by passing Cayd and Tarlyssa fresh dry cloths to replace the saturated ones and retrieving any other items the pair might need as they tended the fallen Fyrewalker.

“At least they are helpful,” Kinkara added a bit matter-of-factly as she walked up to the gathered group with Jahi.

Coldfire cast a glance over his shoulder at Kinkara and lofted a dark brow that continued to mirror his confused state of mind concerning the bottle and its contents. He gave the young woman a reassuring smile that would cause many women to melt on sight. Kinkara returned the smile though it was weak and her features where pale with concern. The youth could tell that the collapse of the Fyrewalker has shaken the young woman greatly.

“Kryxx are a type of symbiotic demon,” Jahi explained as he came up to the working group and crouched down next to Coldfire drawing the youth’s attention to himself as he gestured to the bottle as he continued on. “Kryxx help boost their demonic host’s immune system, enhancing their healing and regenerative abilities. They are immensely helpful to full demon and half-demon Hunters,” Jahi nodded towards the flames, “Such as Ashitaka. The flip side of that is meeting up with an Overlord that is infested with Kryxx, for they do not take sides, whether the host is good or evil they have no influence over the Kryxx actions.”

The youth’s gaze turned from Jahi to Cayd as his mind digested the information that the stocky man had told him and he lowered the bottle of Kryxx once again, letting it rest between his knees as he held it firmly in one hand. Coldfire noted the dark haired Fyrewalker’s silence and observed his meticulous treatment of Bowyn’s wounds had finally stopped. Once Cayd was satisfied that his companion’s injuries had stopped hemorrhaging he carefully pealed the blood stained fabric away to asses the true extent of the damage which drew the youth’s attention to the rented flesh. Cayd sighed and shook his head as he drew all the bloody towels away including the cloths that Tarlyssa had been using. Leaning forward Cayd placed one hand from his upper set of arms against the floor as he moved Bowyn’s head so that he could take a better look at the wounds upon his companion’s face all the while muttering something in his native language before chuckling softly.

While Cayd and Tarlyssa toiled over Bowyn’s wounds, patching him up slowly, Elizabeth and Salamander finished darning Ashitaka’s wounds as well.

“Wait,” Elizabeth said as Salamander made ready to leave the warm embrace of the fire with Ashitaka.

“Hmmm?” Salamander rumbled as he shifted the Hunter’s body so that he was cradled within the Fyrewalker’s first pair of arms, much like one would hold a sleeping child.

“He should not stay like this,” Elizabeth explained as she slithered deeper into the fire to reach her brother and worked gently with both pairs of hands hoping to trigger Ashitaka’s change.

Fingers and toes splayed momentarily within Ashitaka’s unconscious sleep, reacting to Elizabeth’s touch. Long talons and retractable claws slowly shrank leaving smooth human flesh in its wake. Tapered ears melted away leaving behind smooth human shaped lobes, long hair receded leaving behind short shaggy locks with long spiky bangs and finally his horns, wings, and tail shrank, with drawing back into Ashitaka’s body leaving the Hunter looking fully human as his skin returned to its sun kissed bronze tone. Tattered bits of cloth hung from Ashitaka’s form, shredded remnants that were once a pair of pants and a set of shirt sleeves of flame resistant cloth.

“I believe it is safe to remove him from the flames now brother,” Elizabeth stated once she was satisfied with the Hunter’s transformation and she backed out of the fire herself.

Coldfire turned his gaze towards the crackling inferno when the soft rasp of scales met his ears and he saw Elizabeth emerge from the fire. Straightening a little the youth noticed Salamander materialize out of the flames as well, his great scaly head emerged first, parting the flames before the rest of him appeared carrying the unconscious form of the Hunter. The youth felt something brush against his arm and Coldfire blinked as Kinkara dashed around him and closed the distance between Salamander and herself seemingly within a blink of an eye. Jahi too rushed forward and nearly tripped over the sleek form of Shira as she lay just in sight beyond Cayd and Tarlyssa.
“Is he…” Kinkara started to ask breathlessly, her expression one of anxiety as she bounced on the balls of her feet trying to obtain a better look at Ashitaka.

“Hunter Ashitaka will be fine,” Salamander rumbled softly, “He sleeps now; a bed will have to be prepared.”

Jahi started moving objects around in the camp as Kinkara talked to Salamander as he worked to prepare a level spot for the Hunter’s bed as Cayd and Tarlyssa still tended to Bowyn who had not fully regained consciousness yet. Coldfire’s attention shifted between the Fyrewalker before him and Salamander and Kinkara just beyond the spot where he crouched. Kinkara turned went to help Jahi with his task as Elizabeth approached Bowyn, looking over Cayd’s shoulder she placed one hand upon it and shook her head.

“The fool,” Elizabeth muttered in wistful wonder, a light smile upon her features, “He knows better than to bring a bottle of Kryxx into Hunter Ashitaka’s presence. It does not appear that the two of you need my assistance anymore. Was the bottle of Kryxx recovered?”

Cayd and Tarlyssa nodded and chatted with Elizabeth about Bowyn and his wounds, while Coldfire still observed the movement around the Hunter’s camp. There was not a lot for him to do at the moment save stay out of the way. The youth looked up at the mention of the Kryxx and gets his first good look at Elizabeth. For an unusual looking woman she was not horribly unattractive, even with the facial scales, it would be if you could just get past the strangeness of the Fyrewalker’s form. The heat their bodies gave off and the multiple limbs and serpentine like structure was still a bit unsettling for the youth, but she seemed to be pleasant enough to speak with so far. He held the bottle up once again and gave it a little shake, to get Elizabeth’s attention.

“Here it is,” Coldfire stated simply, a soft smile upon his features which drew Elizabeth’s golden gaze to the crouching youth.

“Excellent,” Elizabeth remarks as she straightens up and glides around Cayd to reach Coldfire, “May I have them back please?”

The female Fyrewalker holds out her hand to Coldfire as she asks for the bottle to be returned and the youth slowly stands up, stretching stiffly as he does so before handing the bottle back to Elizabeth. His crystalline blue gaze shifts down to Bowyn and all of his nearly bound wounds as Cayd slaps the golden Fyrewalker’s face gently trying to wake him from the stupor that he is in. Elizabeth’s crimson scales sparkle faintly in the firelight as it dies back slowly as Coldfire takes a moment to examine the serpentine woman as he hands the bottle to her. He could feel the heat radiate from her body and her skin was quite warm to the touch as his hand brushed hers as he gave the woman the bottle full of Kryxx. The youth was actually quite surprised at how soft Elizabeth’s skin was, though he did not allow his amazement to show upon his features.

Elizabeth cocked her head and studied Coldfire a few moments before speaking, “Your new here are you not?”

“Uh…yes,” Coldfire responded slowly as he placed one hand upon his hip as he eyed Elizabeth.

She leaned forward, one hand to grasp Coldfire under the chin after shifting the bottle of Kryxx to a non-dominant hand as she placed a second hand upon the youth’s shoulder. Again she cocked her head, this time in the other direction as she carefully turned the youth’s head. Once satisfied she let go of Coldfire’s chin and half glided around him, taking in all of the youth’s bandages as she returned one hand to his shoulder and dipped her upper body down next to his knees, placing another hand upon his lower right leg.

“I can safely assume that you received these wounds in the same battle that Hunter Ashitaka received his own,” Elizabeth stated, as she swayed her body to the youth’s left side. “You have been tended to well.”

Coldfire’s eyes widened as Elizabeth approached him and he took a half step backwards not sure what to expect. He felt the warmth of her touch, much like being out in the mid-day sun, it was not that unpleasant but as she half curled part of her body around his own he started to sweat. The youth’s shock wore off about the time she was done with her administrations that had left him no time to react. When Elizabeth pulled back Coldfire gave a slight sigh of relief, he was not sure he would care to be in such close proximity to a Fyrewalker again any time soon and he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Easy now.”

Coldfire heard the soft voice of Cayd of to the side and turned to see the dark scaled Fyrewalker helping Bowyn up. The golden scaled man had one good hand against his forehead as Cayd draped one of his bad arms about his shoulders.

“I think he has had enough excitement for today,” Elizabeth stated as she too looked at Cayd and Bowyn, “I believe it is time to take him home, I shall help you in a second.” She then turned back to Coldfire, “Take care of yourself young man, you wounds appear to be healing well.”

Elizabeth slithered off to Bowyn’s good side and draped his second arm about her neck after stowing the bottle of Kryxx away in the sling pack. With a few words of thanks to Keagan and Tarlyssa Cayd, Bowyn, and Elizabeth made their way out of Ashitaka’s camp back to their home by the Fissure. Salamander returned to the fireside to retrieve the pack that his sister left and turned his attention to the others.

“I will leave Hunter Ashitaka in your hands, Keagan,” Salamander rumbled softly as he slung the pack over one shoulder. “I will be back to check on him later this evening but I feel that we have stayed long enough, given all that has transpired today. If he wakes please send someone to fetch me so I can have another look at his wounds and make sure that he is functioning properly.”

“As you wish,” Keagan replied as he reached out and shook hands with Salamander. “I’m sure that Ashitaka will be fussed over enough with Kinkara here. No need to burden yourself with the Hunter’s care unless something drastic changes.”

Salamander’s turned and shook hands with Jahi and added his thanks for his help and Tarlyssa’s help. His gaze then turned to Coldfire who at the moment seemed to stand apart from the rest of the people gathered within the camp and gave a nodded bow of his head in thanks and acknowledgement before turning around and streaking across the floor like some crimson bolt of lightning.

“What now?” Coldfire asked as he walked over to Keagan and Jahi, his gaze still upon the direction that Salamander left, before he turned his attention to where Kinkara was sitting next to Ashitaka, the Hunter covered in a small variety of blankets.

“Now would be the time for you to sit, relax and have a bit of dinner,” Keagan replied as he turned to face the youth, one hand on his hip. Those dark eyes gazed upon Coldfire with a calm determined look. His tone of voice picked up that elder brother tone as he spoke to the youth once again, “Especially since you should have stayed in bed to begin with. Now please, sit, I will be back in a few moments with supplies from our camp. I think it will be best if we just stay here.” He rolled his shoulders in an easy shrug, “Besides I don’t think that we could drag my sister away from here if we tried.”

Coldfire’s brow wrinkled in a disgruntled look as he placed his hand upon his hips and got ready to argue his point, “Hey look,” he gestured to himself, “I’m fi….”

“Coldfire, please,” Keagan interrupted holding up one hand to silence the boy as he reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose with the other and sighed. “Look, I’m sure that you feel fine, but it would easy my piece of mind and I’m sure in the end my sister’s if you would just take it easy. Now that I know that Ashitaka is safe and that my sister is not going to worry herself to death, I think that a bit more time can be dedicated to making sure you taken care of till your own wounds heal. Besides it’s been a long day and I don’t need to have you collapse all of a sudden. So please, sit.”

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“Are you sure you don’t need any more help?” Drey asked as he looked to the elder Beast Keeper. Blood was spattered all over his clothing as the pair finished making the young KwyikSylver comfortable after binding her wounds.

“No, my dear boy, no,” Nitika replied with a chuckle as she stood up dusting her hands off upon her soft doe hide pants at the same time. “You have done enough and I thank you. Now off you go, I’m sure you have better things to do then keep this old woman company.”

Drey had to suppress the urge to chuckle as the elderly woman made a shooing motion with her hands. Bringing his hands together one formed into a fist that he placed against the flat of his other hand he bowed to Nitika as he spoke, “Then I guess I shall take my leave.”

“That’s a good boy,” Nitika replied with a smile as she patted Drey upon the arm. “Tell Ashitaka that his young friend is safe. It may take a day or two before she is conscious enough to speak, but she is safe.”

“Alright, I’ll let him know,” Drey responded as he unfurled his wings and soon leapt into the air, with one last wave he flew off in the direction of Ashitaka’s camp.

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Coldfire opened his mouth and let it click closed once again with a disgruntled sigh he moved to a spot not far from the fire where he could talk to Kinkara and threw himself down on a blanket that was sitting there. His spade tip tail twitched in irritation as he rested one arm upon a bent knee, his other leg folded before him. He gaze turned to watch Keagan head in the direction of the camp he shared with his sister, the young Huntress dashed after him, only to fall into step with the Kathy’an man and soon they disappeared among the small amount of milling people traversing the cavern. The youth started as a velvety muzzle pressed into the palm of his hand that hung laxly by his knee, nearly causing the youth to tip over as Halith’Nyeth nuzzled his hand. The BloodLet had reached his head under the youth’s leg, jerked back when Coldfire flinched and nearly pinned his muzzle and Nyeth chuffed at him. Leaning hard upon his other arm, Coldfire relaxed and resumed his casual resting position as Shira, the dappled grey made her appearance from the other side of the fire, coming from Kinkara’s direction.

“Apparently he didn’t like that.”

Jahi’s voice came from behind Coldfire, causing the youth to look up, getting a good look at the man’s braided beard and smiling face as he looked down at him. The look on Coldfire’s face must have been priceless for it caused Jahi to laugh heartily before he sat down next to the youth. The corner of the stocky man’s eyes crinkled with his smile and his laughter setting Coldfire at ease and renewing the youth’s curiosity for the Sentinals.

“Well what should he expect, he scared me half to death,” Coldfire teased in response as Jahi sat down next to him. Shifting slightly he leaned forward and held his hand out to Halith’Nyeth, “Come on now, it’s alright.”

Shira nudged Nyeth in the shoulder with her smooth domed head before standing next to him a soft trill left her lips as she dropped her head slightly as if staring at Coldfire. The smaller male’s respond to that heavy nudge was a playful nip at Shira’s neck before he returned his observation of the youth, his head canted slightly to one side as Coldfire spoke to him. Slowly, tentatively Nyeth walked forward, head lowered sniffing profusely much like a nervous dog coming up to something foreign. That soft muzzle touched Coldfire’s hand again, nosing it gently till he worked the youth’s hand up on top of his head, till he could sniff Coldfire’s fingertips. The youth smiled and chuckled slightly as his skin was tickled first by the soft pelt then by the snuffling breaths of the BloodLet male as he chattered softly.

“So are these someone’s pets?” Coldfire asked as he stroked Halith’Nyeth’s head once the male had settled down and was now laying at his side. “Or are they here on their own?”

“Sentinals are no one’s pet.”

“Huh,” Coldfire turned in the direction of a new voice to see a form land next to the fire.
“I hope I didn’t miss much,” the new comer added as he folded two pair wings against his back.
“No, no not at all,” Jahi responded drawing a curious glance from Coldfire before his bright gaze returned to the fire side and a figure walked out of the flickering shadows. “Ashitaka’s resting right now, Drey, so it will be best not to wake him.”

“Hello,” Drey said with a smile to Coldfire and nodded to Jahi as he made his way over to them.

“Hello,” Coldfire returned not quite sure what to think of the youth before him.

Drey was smudged with the blue tinged silvery blood of the juvenile KwyikSylver, it stained his clothing and his pale near white skin and Coldfire knew that the youth had to be some form of demon. He could feel it, though the energy that surrounded Drey did not feel dark and brooding but, light and the youth figured he must be a white demon, but a very unusual one at that. Coldfire marveled a bit at Drey’s appearance, for his outfit almost seemed orient in design, almost as if he were wearing a short kimono and a pair of cut off hakama pants, but the clothing style was just different enough that they could not be.

Before introductions could be made, Keagan and Tarlyssa returned with a wide variety of supplies and Drey rushed over to help unburden the pair and helped bring everything over to the crackling fire.

“Would you go fetch my sister?” Keagan asked Drey as he and Tarlyssa started preparing an assortment of meats and vegetables by the look of it. “She really should eat, and some social interaction would be good for her right now.”

“Sure Keagan,” Drey answered easily and headed the short distance across the camp, his long tail swayed lightly behind him sending the black tuft on the end dancing with his movements.
“When did he get here?” Keagan questioned as he looked up at Jahi and Coldfire and started to peal something that was renascent of a potato crossed with an apple, in the youth’s opinion.

“Not long before you returned,” Jahi replied with a light shrug. “He was with Nitika for a long time.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Tarlyssa interjected into the conversation. “From what I saw of Hunter Ashitaka’s condition, the KwyikSylver, at least that is what I think Drey was carrying, couldn’t have faired much better.”

“Actually she was worse,” Jahi replied, “I’m sure we’ll all know more when Ashitaka regains consciousness. Though I wouldn’t be surprised of Coldfire could fill in at least some of the tale.”

Jahi looked at the youth who returned his gaze calmly before a smile split his features and he patted the BloodLet at his side. Rolling his shoulders in an easy shrug, he replied, “Sure no problem, though I only know so much, as I recall I was kicked in the face about halfway through the fight and I’m sure you can guess what happened from there.”

Drey returned to the fireside with Kinkara and soon more introductions were made. Not only was Coldfire introduced to the demon youth, but to Tarlyssa, the young huntress who had helped out around Ashitaka’s camp. Their conversations would carry on late into the night after the evening meal. Slowly everyone retired for the evening, Coldfire, Keagan, and Kinkara stayed within Ashitaka’s encampment to keep and eye on the healing Hunter. Tarlyssa and Drey returned to their shared camp within the Fyretrae Clan, but left with the promise of returning in the morning. Jahi too returned to his family camp with kind words and the promise of stopping by to see how both Coldfire and Ashitaka were fairing.