In her dreams she stood against a faded landscape of gray. Very rare splashes of color emerged as she looked around the monochrome world, but the most vivid was the crimson color of the stream of blood that ran before her. The frightening scene froze her in place as she witnessed the mutilated bodies that floated through the tides. Her father’s corpse, her twin’s shaking figure with his throat slashed, her new friends each cut up in different ways, and finally her raptrix Silva stared at her with dead eyes. All the hybrid could do was silently scream as she was unable to utter a single noise of protest.
I couldn’t save any of you.
Apologies would never be enough. Nothing could change her past and the fear from it rooted itself even in her future. Wasn’t her presence a danger to those she loved? Her mother had used her to root her father in Zena while her twin had gotten injured because of her…even Silva was often putting himself in danger now. When would the cycle ever end? Who would she lose next? This was the reason she was so afraid of keeping anyone close again and why she was so divided every time she saw Silva. She was so afraid that he would be next.
The fear haunted her daily as she tried her best to blend into Jauhar, but every time she laid down to sleep these dreams would come back. Every moment of silence she had meant that the screams of her nightmare’s would come to fill the void. Screams that even now shook her to the core. Yet the rustling of noise felt so real almost as if she could truly hear it with her own ears.
Could it be real?
Bolting upright from her blankets Talisia quickly wiped the tears and sleep from her eyes. She was thankful to be freed of the nightmares, but the noises waking her up were not normal. There was no Silva brushing up against her as a comfort, but rather a low growling that resounded around her. Others may have not noticed the noise, but her sensitive ears heard it loud as a bell. Something was wrong and her raptrix was involved.
Silva please be safe!
The silent protest rang in Talisia’s mind as she quietly skirted around her blankets to sneak out the side of her tent. Fear though made her heart clench in her chest. What would she see out there? Could she really be bold enough to risk seeing another loved one lying injured before her? Another growl made her hiss through her teeth. There was no way that she was going to leave Silva alone!
The voices of earthlings caught her attention next as she peered around the side, “Get over here you stupid beast!” A trio of shifters seemed intent on circling around the large raptrix. After a second of seeing the ropes in their hands she easily placed it together. They were trying to tie down her guardian.
“Get a good price for this boy he said, Jarv.” Whispered the eldest of the three as he pushed the other boy forward towards the raptrix, “Now go play nice with the beast so we can nab it already!” It was obvious that he didn’t want to be the one to get closer to the growling creature.
Price for Silva? Talisia frowned at the thought. How others thought that it was proper to take any free creature to sell in a market like an object was beyond her. Still though what could she do? If she came out now there were three of them and she was without a weapon in hand. Silva was so angry though that she worried. Just jump up and fly away, silly. Please! The silent plea kept rising in her mind, but she knew that he was more worried about her than anything. If her tent wasn’t behind him then the raptrix would have easily went on his own, but he was never going to leave these three anywhere near Talisia.
As the men got closer she felt the anger pouring from the raptrix. He was truly getting annoyed, but what could she do? Talisia tentatively reached out a hand from the shadows before the sudden movement of the trio made her pull back. They truly were trying to capture him! “Silva…” The softest of whispers escaped her mouth as the younger shifter attempted to rush the raptrix.
“Just let me tie you down already you stupid beast!” Yelling in frustration the boy reached forward to whip the rope around Silva’s throat. But the raptrix was swift to react. As soon as the rope touched around his neck the beast moved forward. He was not armed with rope like his attackers, but instead with razor sharp claws. Talisia seemed to see the scene in slow motion. Silva reared up on his back legs and his front left paw shot out towards the shifter and connected with his face. As claws met flesh fresh blood splattered into the air and the shifter’s scream was one of pure anger.
“You damned thing!” Wiping blood away from his face the male reached down and pulled the sword free from his side, “I don’t care what they say a good pelt should be enough for them!” He barked towards the rest of the trio, “Let’s just kill this freakin’ thing and get some gold for its fur!”
He rushed at Silva with his sword raised, but the raptrix jumped back. Still the rope had gotten caught around his neck and it was obvious that the ends would easily get snagged on any of the fauna around them. As the other two thieves moved forward with their weapons raised as well Talisia’s gaze widened. Surely they weren’t really planning on killing Silva.
“Let’s just see if we can beat it down. I’m sure one or two legs missin’ will still keep someone interested in wantin’ a foreign pet.” Spouted the eldest as he moved forward with a whip in hand, “I can tame in into shape I’m sure.” A flash of a grin made Talisia flinch in fear. That grin did not promise good things for her raptrix’s future.
Still as the two others fought around Silva, dashing in with their swords while the raptrix danced around them with his fangs bared, the third kept his whip in hand and another rope at the ready. Talisia could easily see that he meant to snag the other rope and add his to pull the raptrix onto his knees. Both options were a possibility because while she could easily observe the fight and see the third shifter on the side Silva was too distracted. He didn’t even realize that the rope was finally caught around the root of a tree. Then the next rope went through the air and wrapped tightly around his neck to bring him down.
Silva…
Talisia didn’t know what it was that spurned her to move forward, but as Silva went down and the third shifter moved to snap his whip the hybrid finally went into action. The two fighters were taunting Silva since they had finally gotten to pull him down. The youngest still pissed over his scratched face raised his own sword as if contemplating where to cut the raptrix in return. What they did not expect however was the blur of movement that barreled into their companion.
“No!” The protest erupted from her lips as she tumbled into the older shifter breaking his balance. The whip went flying from his hand as the two figures twisted through the roots. Flailing against the male Talisia attempted to twist free. She had managed to knock him over and used that moment of confusion to kick into his stomach before rolling over to try to stand up again. Every rib ached from the harsh impact, but her gaze was determined as she looked towards the other two thieves. Almost as if they were thinking the same thing the girl tumbled forward to grab the freed whip.
She had never touched one of these before…yet the leather handle fit snugly into her hand. Almost as if she was born to use one.Cracking the whip as she had seen others do the hybrid attempted to stand as tall as possible, “Get away from the raptrix.” She warned though her attempt at intimidation did not seem to really sway the thieves.
“What are you going to do?” Jarv, the youngest, sneered through the blood that was drying on his face, “Shake a whip at us? Girl be smart there’s three of us and only one of you.” He motioned with his chin towards the tied down raptrix, “I don’t think you’re realizing the situation well so I’ll give ya a chance to back down.”
“I think you misheard me.” Talisia took a deep breath, “Get. Away. From. The. Raptrix.” Each word was uttered slowly as she took a step forward and cracked the whip once more, “Now while two of you are still standing.”
“Two?” A laugh crackled behind her and Talisia felt a pair of strong arms suddenly snake out to wrap around her body, “Learn to count girl.”
Three? Talisia kicked out her legs as she struggled against the older shifter. She must have truly did less damage than she had believed if he was up already! Her twin had always told her that if she wanted to fight she had to act quickly. She had taken too long to try to chase them off and given the third guy plenty of time to get back up on his feet. Cursing at her stupidity Talisia continued to keep trying to kick the shifter. His grip though was getting tighter and she had to wheeze for air. Tears blurred in her gaze she tried to spot Silva. I’m so sorry. Why was she so useless?
“What do we have here though?” She felt his breath against her neck as the other two moved forward to look at her, “Seems like an interesting piece of work we’ve caught here.”
“Figures that such an odd creature would have a hybrid like this to go with it.”
“Hybrid or not that’s a nice body there. Think we could make this a rare sale as well?”
The teasing question was cut short as a loud growl filled the air behind them. While the trio had been focused on Talisia the raptrix had managed to get back on his paws. Heat rippled through the air and it was almost as if Talisia could feel the anger just radiating from her guardian. Sudden loud snaps of the rope echoed through the trees as not only one, but both ropes broke free from their bindings. Talisia’s gaze widened in surprise as Silva’s crystal blue gaze caught her attention.
It was like her whole body was lit with a fire. His anger filled her spirit and the determination she saw in those crystal eyes echoed in her own heart. After all they had been through together they were just going to let this stupid trio of thieves do what they wanted with them? We’d be fools to fall here. Nodding Talisia bent her head down to bit hard into the shifter’s arm.
The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth before she was pushed away. Rolling into the ground Talisia grinned up towards the male as he cursed towards her, “I don’t think my bite is what you should worry about.” Silva was free and he was hovering over the other two thieves with his teeth bared. Talisia reached forward herself and grabbed the whip back from the ground where it had been dropped once more, “I think you guys asked for more than you could handle.”
Racing forward she snapped the whip forward and hit the younger shifter’s legs as Silva pounced forward. In that flurry of movement several things happened. The middle thief gave up on the ‘robbery’ and bolted through the night. There was no way he was going to continue dealing with those two demons! The youngest got thrown against the ground and lost his sword as Silva slashed through his arm.
Talisia herself turned on the leader of the group and danced around him while slapping the whip sharply against the ground around his feet, “How does it feel to be on the other end of this?” She asked quietly, “You’re a monster for making beasts suffer so. Silva is not a prize to be captured, but a creature to be admired and respected. You guys are fools to ignore that.”
Silva had already ripped into the younger shifter and leaving him dazed on the ground stalked towards the leader. His blue gaze was cold as if he were just hunting any other prey. As the shifter crawled backwards in the dirt Talisia had a cold feeling in her stomach. That fear…should it be normal? Grimacing she shook her head, “Enough Silva.”
A growl of protest gently vibrated through the air as Silva took one last step forward. Still as Talisia reached out and touched against his shoulder the raptrix stopped, “Let them go. I think they learned their lesson.”
“Knew you wouldn’t let him hurt some fellow earthlings.” Commented the leader as he pushed himself from the ground weakly, “Shouldn’t risk so much for a beast you know…they really aren’t worth it in the end.”
At his words Talisia tilted her head, “I think you misunderstand me. Earthlings compared to the mighty beasts of this world can be absolute trash. I only stopped Silva because I didn’t want him to get your nasty blood on his fur. If I were you I would take your friend now before I decide that water should be enough to get your stink from his claws.” Her gaze was furious, “So leave now. I hope to never see you again around my raptrix else the ground will be the last thing you will ever remember touching.”
After they fled Talisia leaned against the raptrix with a sigh, “Oh Silva.” Wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him close, “I should have realized that coming here was going to be a challenge for you.” Already he had to deal with the intense climate change, the strangeness of the other creatures around him, and also now with the traders seeing him as a rare prize…life was not going to be easy.
What could she do?
Tears burned in her gaze, but the girl quickly brushed them aside as she stood up. Motioning forward she began to move through the trees. A noticeable limp was in her walk as already some faint bruises were darkening parts of her body. The raptrix walked beside her to help as a guide and comfort. It was a rare moment that Silva did not even bother to appear distant and instead pressed close as if afraid of what was about to happen.
Hours of walking got them towards the edges Jauhar’s rainforest. As the sky began to open above them Talisia pointed upwards, “See? Wouldn’t it be best if you could always see the sky over you? You’re meant for lands of ice and sky, not for this heat and all these trees acting like a cage for you.”
Silva growled low in his throat, a gruff protest to the hybrid’s words. Still Talisia went on, “Don’t you miss your home? Surely you miss the prey there and find it easier to hunt and to be free.” Another gruff growl of protest made her stop in her tracks, “I’m being serious Silva. Leave.”
She pushed him away from her, “Go. Just go and be free again. Stop risking yourself for me.” Talisia’s gaze burned with pain, “I nearly lost you just now again and I don’t want to keep going through this cycle. Just go home already, go back to Zena.” As the raptrix whined mournfully she managed to shove against him once more, “Leave!”
The sharp whistle of a command filled the air and Silva finally sprang away and opened his wings to take to the skies. Alone Talisia collapsed on the ground with silent sobs racking her body. Had she made the right decision? What she didn’t realize was that another shadow had followed them.
A hand pressed against her mouth as the middle thief snickered into her ear, “I don’t think sending off your pet helped you out well, miss.” The flash of a metal lit the air as he drew his knife, “You might want to act quickly before I give him something bloody to come back to. Won’t you call him back? I was promised a pretty piece of coin and I’m not giving up on my prize.”
Swallowing back her fear Talisia replied, “I sent him away. He’s not coming back.”
“Not the wisest decision then on your part. Should I find other ways to get payment then for my troubles?”
As he pressed the blade closer to her throat and reached a hand down her neckline a blur of movement darkened the skies. Teeth bared Silva attacked the shifter as Talisia managed to roll free. Panting she rubbed a hand along her neck before looking around. Surely there was something to use here…noticing a loose rock the girl took it in her hands, but froze as she saw her raptrix ripping into the male, “I guess you missed my warning.” She commented standing over the bleeding thief, “Raise a blade against me or my raptrix and you will be in trouble.” The words echoed through the clearing before she slammed a rock into his head. Not a fatal blow, but one to really help him to clear his mind on the matter.
After limping away for a bit Talisia finally found a moment to relax against Silva, “You really are stubborn do you know that?”A short bark answered her, “I’m guessing that means I really am stuck with you?” She looked towards him with thoughtful eyes, “As long as you promise not to do reckless things for me…I’ll promise to be a better guardian for you in turn.”
As she reached around to hug his neck she noticed something sticky in his fur, “Silva!” He had been cut! Gasping Talisia moved to inspect the wound and sighed, “I swear…you make me worry about keeping you still.” But no in her heart she knew that no matter what she was attached to the raptrix and he was stuck with her as well. Was she how she was to get on the path of being a beast charmer? It seemed every time she tried to chase away the dream it kept coming back just as Silva always did. In a strange way the fight with the thieves had only renewed her resolve to fight for the creatures she loved.
Still she couldn’t help but to shake her head. Surely having Silva by her side made her stronger and more determined to protect him and others…yet she really was going to burn through a lot of bandages at this rate. “I’m going to start charging you for every time I have to patch you up.” Her bit of humor tried to calm the shaking of her hands as she looked through his fur. Not too deep which was good. “I swear Silva you will be the death of me.”
Truly how much could her heart take of this?
Yet she was glad. It was nice having her raptrix to worry about and for him to worry about her in turn. And hopefully, just hopefully they would have many more years of worrying to do for each other.
(3295)
OOC 
