By the Red Moon Part 53
The Alliance made good time in their journey to Aries. Their foot and horse soldiers using the cover of the mountain ranges and what forests they ran into along the way whilst the thousands of dragon riders filled the skies over them.
Resting as little as they could manage, they made a light camp in the edge of a massive mountain and in the ivy-strung trees surrounding it.
Up in the many caves that covered the side of the rocky peak, the steeds and their humans huddled together by fires. With their own nook facing the north, Duo and his friends gathered for a meal and good company before they would have to pick up and move out again in the morning for the last day of their travel.
At the end of their dinner, the braided prince walked to the edge of their cave along with Deathscythe to stare out to the ominous darkness covering the lands that Dekim's hand of power had stretched over.
Where there was greenery and life still surrounding the area for so long before Aries was reached, everything beyond that point was gray and almost barren in comparison.
Even the heavens seemed to have a clear split down their center between the crystal clear blues and the threatening, stormy skies that covered what was left for the eye to see. Somehow, there was little doubt that the air would most likely lose its warmth beyond the line into peril. Just looking on it was enough to chill anyone.
Grunting, Scythe's eyes narrowed on their destination as her claws dug into the bed of rock beneath her. Lightly running a hand over the smooth scales of her leg beside him, her rider snickered, "Easy, girl. We'll have our shot soon enough." The black steed physically eased at his words while she craned her neck down and around to nuzzle him.
Indeed, it appeared to have been far too long since their last bout of action as far as all of the dragons were concerned.
Once it had been made clear where they were heading, all of the steeds were practically vibrating with the same anticipation as the soldiers. Apparently, they were every bit as tired of being on the receiving end of every fight and were looking forward to repaying the favor against Dekim's men.
As Scythe pulled her head away, Duo nearly jumped when a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind to pull him back against a firm chest.
"Hey, love," he smirked as the familiar feel and smell of his partner filled him. A gentle kiss was placed at the nape of his neck in response and he sighed as he continued to stare through the opening of their cave.
Following a long, companionable silence, Heero asked quietly, "How are you holding up?"
The braided price shrugged, "Pretty good, all things considered, I guess." Gesturing to the dark skies ahead, he added, "It is kind of weird how we're purposely going right into... that nightmare. Everything in us should be telling us to get as far the hell away from here instead of walking right into danger like this."
Resting his head onto his lover's shoulder, the Commander urged, "But...?"
"But I'm not afraid. Not in the way that I probably should be, I guess," Duo concluded with a quiet laugh.
Shaking his head, he grinned, "Really, I am like everyone else around here in that I just want this whole thing to be over... one way or the other. If we're going to finally catch those bastards off-guard for a change, and maybe even win a round, this is going to be our best chance so we shouldn't miss out on it."
Another comfortable silence fell as he paused for a moment to sort out the right words to follow. Peering from the corner of his violet eyes to lock onto the cobalt watching him and told him he stated softly, "You did the right thing by making this call. And I am sure that Odin is proud, wherever he is now with the other good spirits."
Heero swallowed roughly against the small lump that formed in his throat at that. Squeezing the prince tighter against him, he smiled and whispered, "Thank you for that, Duo."
With his arms falling away from the lithe waist, the knight-in-training leaned his back against Wing's side when his steed lay down beside him. Keeping his eyes on Maxwell, he questioned, "How are you feeling about using your gift as a weapon again?"
Letting out a prolonged breath, Duo turned his head away to think the inquiry over for a moment. Slowly returning his focus back onto the Commander, he answered, "That's a little too complicated to say for sure. Sometimes I'm anxious to see what I can do and then the next minute I'm scared of what will happen when it comes time. I'm not afraid of myself or what I can do anymore... I'm just afraid that what I have to offer may not be enough."
"I can certainly understand that," Heero nodded in reassurance.
Gently pushing off of his steed to close the distance between them, he locked his arms back around the prince's waist and smiled lovingly, "Just remember that whatever happens, you have already offered more to us then you could imagine by giving us hope again. That alone has meant more to everyone in this world than whatever your gift can provide. That light in the darkness has kept many of those still fighting something to believe in."
Biting his lip, Duo fought back some of the overwhelming emotions that threatened to drown him at that sentiment. He was still just a kid as far as he was concerned.
Maybe he always would be in his mind. And for one like himself who'd had no one in his life before to suddenly be surrounded by friends, family and countless supporters who looked up to him, it was a lot to grasp.
Just as he managed to fend back the threat of tears in his eyes, the prince's lips were captured in a gentle kiss. "Love you," the knight breathed, resting their foreheads together. "With all that I am."
"Love you too," Duo grinned in kind as his own arms laced around Heero's neck. "More than you'll ever know." He was rewarded with another, deeper kiss.
When their mouths parted, Yuy suggested, "Let's turn in for the night. We have one more, long day of traveling ahead before we reach Aries, so we will need all the rest we can get." Nodding, Maxwell stepped back and took his hand as they headed back to the camp fire along with their steeds.
* * * * * *
Only a few miles from their destination, the Alliance army continued to hide amidst the nearby trees and mountain ranges. Huddled below the cover of thick ivy vines that hung from a weeping willow, Duo squinted his eyes to make out what was left of what must have been a beautiful city.
Throughout the cloud-covered site, buildings were half-toppled or completely shattered with few residences and shops still in tact. In the center of the land, the castle itself was nothing but a fractured shell of itself with towers completely obliterated into piles of brick whilst large holes from hurled boulders punctured what walls still stood.
Surrounding Aries was a deep crater that had once held in it the run off of lava from the volcanoes just to the town's north to create a deadly moat. Now, even the volcanoes were as still as the rest of the land, leaving the lava that had still been in the crater to harden over.
Even more startling than the sights, however, was the smell and sounds that carried on the gentle breeze.
The lingering aroma of bodies that had been burned over the last several days was overwhelming. Meanwhile, the ears of the Alliance were filled blood-curdling screams of those poor souls that had been left to live to become toys for the gruesome beasts.
Fighting off his nausea, the prince tried his best to both shake off the stench and block out the wails to little avail.
Countless moving shadows through the town reveled the dark, armored monsters of Dekim's army. Along the inside edge of the crater, the disfigured guards were spread out to stare out to the living world. Even at their distance, the Alliance soldiers that were peeking through the trees could make out their glowing red eyes.
"Well, this is going to be a challenge," Trowa frowned as he pulled deeper into the wood after his look onto the city. "The moment we come out of the tree line, their lookouts are going to see us. What we would have to cross to reach them would give them more than enough time to get their bearings together and retaliate before we get there.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Duo considered his own options through his gift.
There was far too much land to cover to pull off eliminating all of the soldiers. If the spell that he was going to use was too large, it would take a physical toll on him. And he could not risk the chance of being completely vulnerable in the middle of a battle with those monsters.
But there was always a way that he still could make an impact without draining too much of his strength. All that it would take was one clear target. His violet eyes locked onto a potential point and smirked to himself as an plan was coming together.
Looked back to the rest of his friends, the prince offered, "I might be able to help with that by causing a distraction that would draw their attention away from us long enough to catch them by surprise."
A hand reaching up to rub his chin, Wufei thought aloud, "One spell like that would be enough to do it. Their army relies on being the ones in control of every situation. If we took that away from them, we might actually be able to pull this off."
Nodding, Heero agreed, "Right." As he turned to face his lover, he urged, "Just be sure to not spend yourself too much. I need to know that you can defend yourself if the situation should turn against us." Duo nodded firmly with a small smile of appreciation for the concern.
"If we waited until well after dark, that would further give us a bit of an advantage since most of the soldiers will likely be resting," Anna suggested. Frowning, she commented, "I know that the more honorable thing in battle to a knight is confronting our enemy head-on when they are just as ready."
Peering through the vines to the red eyes across the field, the archer shook her head, "But this would not exactly be the time that we can live by those standards... especially when we clearly would never be shown the same regard by those demons."
Without hesitating, the Commander replied, "Agreed. And I highly doubt that there would be anyone in the Alliance who would have a problem with that."
Focusing on his officers, he ordered, "See that the rest if the army is informed and ready when the sky is its darkest." Not needing to be told twice, Wufei and Anna clapped their fists to their hearts and hurried off to carry out their task.
Those still gathered at the forest's edge flinched when a woman's piercing scream suddenly broke through to echo in the distance. "Let's just hope that those being held captive will make it through to the attack," Quatre said quietly. "I hate to even imagine what would be happening to them that would have them making such horrific cries."
Lowering his head, the empath muttered, "What I wouldn't give to be close enough that I could at least end their suffering." Relena bit her lip and ran a hand over her husband's back soothingly. Sand Rock offered his own support by nuzzling his rider's other side.
"Soon enough," Zechs reassured. Folding his arms, he glared through the hanging vines before them and growled, "I have been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this." Her head resting on the ground beside the king, Peacemillion grunted as a plume of black smoke rose from her nostrils as a backing of the sentiment.
From the dark shadows behind them, a voice stated, "As have we." Their heads snapping around, the wide-eyed group watched as three familiar figures stepped forward into the small opening.
Gasping, Duo smiled widely, "Alex. Gloria. Adodera." Their own faces grinning, the werewolf pack stopped before the prince and bowed their heads. "Man, it is ever good to see you guys," he greeted with his voice not holding back a bit of his sincerity.
Alex smirked, "Well, we have seen much of you and your army in our travel here, even if you have never seen us." Something about that made Maxwell shiver just a bit in knowing that there were eyes on him without his even knowing. At least in this case, those gazes were of a friendly nature.
Gesturing her spiky head of black hair towards the vines, Adodera stated, "We overheard your conversation to take the city after nightfall. That would certainly be the most ideal situation. And the reinforcements that we have brought in will be ready."
Practically bouncing, Gloria reached Duo's side and laced her arms around his. "What is it that you are planning with your gift?" she asked with the same wonder in her transparent green eyes and anxiousness in her voice as a child wanting to learn about Santa Clause. That mental image had the prince chuckling.
"Well, I did have one idea," Maxwell answered, somehow not bothered at all as the petite blonde remained latched onto him by finding the endearment behind it. Peering back over his shoulder to the vines, he frowned, "But I am already starting to second-guess it. I may be too far away to be able to pull it off. The more I think about it, I think I was a little too quick to offer a distraction when we're this far out."
Sighing in frustration, he explained to the wolf pack, "I know that I haven't even begun to tap into what my gift is really capable of, but what my body can handle for now is a completely different story. I haven't had nearly enough time to train myself in pushing myself as far as I can go with this yet What I can do will help, but I don't want to put myself, or anyone else at risk by overdoing it."
"But we'd heard that you killed thousands in Pisces for miles around in one amazing spell without so much as flinching afterwards," Alex responded, the confusion clear on his face. "How is it that now you run the risk of straining yourself?"
Momentarily stunned at how word of that had traveled amongst the were-folk, Duo shivered once again. They had mentioned before that communications between their own spread faster than any other, but the thought of numerous eyes and ears on them mentally rolled him back on his heels a bit.
Luckily, Relena was there to speak on his behalf by grinning, "Well, Pisces was a very different situation. Duo's gift had been buried within him for so long that when it finally had an outlet, it did not need to have any of his awareness or strength to carry out what it knew was needed." Understanding filled the werewolves' eyes.
Catherine patted her braided friend's back and told him, "Experiences like this will only make you stronger, Duo. Until then, only push yourself to where you are comfortable and try not to be too hard on yourself the way I can tell you are being right now. What you can handle for the time being is more than the boost that we need right now."
The prince gave her a sheepish, but grateful smile.
Quickly, the girl on Duo's arm offered, "I could carry you closer to Aries when night has fallen, if that would help. There will be no moon tonight and my fur will blend in with the darkness around. They will never spot us until it's too late."
Leaning her head closer to his, the curl of her lips changed when her fangs poked through her mouth and a malicious gleam shined through her eyes. "It would be an honor to help you lead the strike against Dekim's men."
Off to the side, Deathscythe growled warningly, clearly not at all liking the thought of her rider going anywhere without her. Gloria paid no mind to the black steed. Even Heero finally had a reaction to the little werewolf by the concern that filled his cobalt eyes.
Turning his head to the Commander, Alex told him, "You would not have to worry about him. No one would be better suited for such a role than any one of us. And Gloria's fearlessness should never be taken as recklessness. It just so happens that in this case, she would be the best suited for the situation."
He raised his head to stare into the eyes of the black dragon and promised, "If the deed were to be carried out, we would move in and you would be able to collect the prince once again without a scratch on him. You have my word on that." Her ears lifting, Scythe blinked her green eyes and lost some of her hesitance.
While he would never doubt Alex's word, Heero still was not exactly thrilled with the thought of Duo being left with little to no defense if anything were to go wrong. Still, however he might feel over the situation, the decision was not his to make in the end. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his lover and told him, "You make the call. Whatever your choice, we will find a way to make it work."
Biting his lip, Duo stared ahead in thought. Silently weighing his options and the risks involved, he finally blinked to regain his vision's focus. His gaze settling on the girl still latched to his arm, he smirked, "Well, your bringing me in closer to the city would be a huge help with what I was originally planning."
Gloria let out a quiet cheer and threw her arms around his neck. "You will not regret this," she vowed with a brilliant smile as she pulled back. "And I am very honored by your trusting me. You are not going to be disappointed."
"Well, it's about damned time you showed up," Mueller groused as he stepped into the opening. Shoulders back, his eyes softened the slightest bit when they settled on the little blonde while she unlatched from the prince. Regaining his composure by turning to Alex, he snorted, "I was beginning to think that you had forgotten your pact to help us."
Snorting, the pack leader's eyes glowed a brilliant white and he replied in a growl, "One thing that you should know about our kind, smug one, is that we always keep our word." The Virgonian Commander froze in place as Alex turned on his heels with a gesture for the group to follow.
Not about to hesitate, Duo and Heero were the first to fall in behind the mystical trio as they took them through the wood and towards the end of the mountain ranges that flanked the tree line. As they turned the bend into the gorge, the humans and their steeds froze with wide eyes.
Before them, thousands of wolves sat in a multitude of shades and sizes. Grinning, Alex, Adodera and Gloria stepped aside to reveal their friends behind them. Their eyes glowing, the massive beasts slowly lowered themselves into a deep bow before the braided prince until the entire pack was bending to him.
Unable to contain his excitement, a smile split Duo's face as he breathed, "Awesome."
TBC...
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