Second Chance

Badge Of Honor

Liking the name, he purred.

"Now I am your animal to call. Your bracer that you wear is enchanted. It can carry me in it and I will be with you until your last breath. When you need me, call my name and I will protect you."

"This bracer, do you know what it is?"

"I do not know what it's called, I only know that I can stay in it and be with you."

"Why? Why did you tie yourself to me?" Jewels asked. "You were free. Don't you want to be free?"

"I have been alone long enough. The forest is getting smaller with each century and the humans have been attacking me constantly for the past two weeks, I need rest. You are the first human that did not attack me. You helped me when I was at my weakest. A lifetime with you is a blimp in my lifetime."

With the help of Nemean, Jewels stood back up. They stared into each other's eyes then suddenly Nemean disappeared in front of everyone.  The second Nemean disappeared, Raiden held her in his arms.  She could feel his heart beating fast and he squeezed her tighter.  They held each other not saying a word.  The bodyguards looked on as the Prince of Redbane held Lady Jewels.  This was the first time they have seen him show worry and affection towards someone.  They wondered if Lady Jewels would be the one who could love their Demon Prince.

"Is Ichi and Roku okay?" Jewels asked Raiden. 

"Yes." He answered her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Raiden held her at arms length and looked her over. 

"Ichi and Roku said you were injured."

Turning her around he checked over her tattered clothes.  Not seeing any wounds, he takes off his shirt and and covers her with it. 

"Come, it's time to leave."  Raiden said as he flew up with her in his arms.  They all flew to the nearest town.  Raiden had already rented the whole inn.  When they arrived, Sunny informed them that the bath had already been drawn and is ready for them. 

Carrying Jewels in his arms the whole way to the bedroom, he put her down long enough to strip her of her tattered clothing and scooped her up again and brought her to the bathroom. He set her gently in the bath tub then quickly took the rest of his clothes off.  He got in behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist, bring her closer to him.  Jewels laid back into his arms and tried her best not to fall asleep.  For awhile, she pushed through wanting to be next to him in his arms again after so long.  Raiden also wanted to stay in the steaming  water with her, however he knew she was getting sleepy.  So instead, he took the soap to wash her body and hair.  Once she was clean, he got up first and towel dried her body and wrapped her hair in a dry towel.  Scooping her up again like a princess, he placed her in bed. Jewels did not care about her wet hair,  the moment her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep. 

Raiden watched Jewels for a long time calming his heart.  Thinking back, when he received Roku's paper crane calling for help, his heart stopped beating. He had a bad feeling the whole day but kept brushing it off as if he was anxious for her return.  Raiden immediately set off to rescue Jewels and his men not caring to inform anyone why or where he left. 

He was able to reach Parker Forest within two hours and found his men heavily injured and barely conscious.  As they patched  Ichi and Roku up and fed them rejuvenation pills, Ichi retold Raiden about the ambush and when he told Raiden that Jewels was taken by the golden lion beast living in Parker Forest, the self control Raiden held on to broke as the fire within his veins rage forth.  He called Gekido for the first time in a long time.  The half eagle, half lion's roar could be heard from afar.  It flew above them in a circle a couple of times before he landed.  Gekido lowered himself down so Raiden could get on him.  Raiden gave the engery tracker to Gekido to follow and they flew west towards the golden lion and Jewels.  The whole time, he prayed to the Goddess that she would be okay.  He prayed that he'll settle for Jewels to still be alive and breathing when he got to her even if she was heavily injured.  As long as there was breath in her body, he was certain he could save her.