The Fallen

↕ Recovery ↕ Chapter 18

☢ Chapter Written By StriplessKitten ☢

The hazy day, with its hues of evening's breath- burnt orange emerging and mixing with rose and crimson that bled into a deep maroon, was soon docking its light upon darkness' shores as evening swiftly approached to sail the blanket of blackness and stars across the skies above for its transformation into the ebony skies, yet- still no sign of the rebellion leader, who had been missing since dawn. The Queen, situated in her luxurious castle was indeed very flustered about Aya's whereabouts, as were the others.

Inside the majesty's chambers, the irritating silence was an wavering ache in everyone's mind, questions left unanswered and no words exchanged, just dull faces and a few sighs and exhales here and there until, it eventually drove Fredrico to amplify his ability to speak.

"If your grace would permit me to search for the pretty eyed lady, I could assist her arrival to be a sooner date, I do have her scent obtained in my memory after all." He offered.

Perking up from being mentioned, dwelling on the thought, as to which Sakura responded by turning to face the wolf boy, her fan fluttering in front of her face to hide her anxious expression.

"Very well, Fredri--"

"I believe there was a small rebel squad following Aya's lead, would that be necessary enough to sustain her till she returns?" Mikah, sitting aside the room on a fancy seat, would suggest.

"Those few rebels wouldn't be enough to protect a helpless stray on the road, let alone their commander. No matter how well they are trained- they are most likely injured too, regardless. Fredrico, act fast, we have an agenda to follow." Sakura side glanced Mikah.

"How ironic, you call her a mutt after all, alas a stray and a mutt are two different things, are they?"

Mikah, being the gentlemen he was, silenced any more of his discomfort, exhaling and biting his tongue from Sakura's harshness, as he believed he had the final say, based off Sakura giving him another warning stare, it was clear that she was in no shape to snap with this much worry.

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Time-Skip

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Wasting no time at all, Fredrico made his journey a reality, venturing out to discover Aya's location. Trailing along the footpaths and plains till eventually he had tracked down the female's stronger scent of vanilla. Navigating within the pale moonlight as a guide.

He had been advancing for a long while, when he had stumbled upon the location he was set out to retrieve sightings on. His first initial thought process when he arrived on scene, was that the girl was deceased, judging off how there was ashes and a roaring fire spiralling skyward, surrounding the dusty gray substance- and a slightly burned leather jacket, that no doubt belonged to Aya. Circling the fire, he managed to locate the back of the embers, where he had spotted her, inhaling and exhaling deeply for air and gripping at the soil with clenched fists, she was evidently angry yet weakened.

Laying on her side, her hair sprawled out everywhere behind her as she coughed, attempting to catch whatever breath she was forbidden from inhaling, soot covered some parts of her pale skin, giving her a slightly dirtied look, it would've been Fredrico's guess that Aya had somehow managed to jump out of the flames as fast as she could, only recognising burns to her clothing and not her flesh itself. In a fast approach, he crouched down, and shuffled the female into his arms, holding her in a bridal fashion.

Instead of her usual rejection, Aya was weakened to a point where she just held him, clinging to him out of pure distress, curling herself up against his chest, petrified of the flames that was to their right. The wolf incarnated male didn't comment on it, but was indeed taken by surprise. Petting her head lightly, he had managed to persuade Aya somewhat to calm her nerves, proceeding with the black haired 17 year old to 'purr'. Much to his delight, he continued to indulge this behaviour, running his fingers through her long locks, as he travelled back to the castle. Leaving behind the fire as he noticed how the jacket he returned to Aya was being clutched to her chest.