Journey: Chapter Five
Leif had been silent ever since he made the decent into the Forrest below. His mind was swirling with the horrible realisation of how useless he truly was. He brought nothing to the table! Yes he was a gifted Tempori, but those abilities weren't under his control.
The three didn't even know which season he was born in. So far he had shown talents under both summer and winter.
Kiro had heard things before in his travels. He had heard word of an all powerful being in this universe. One that could use both Mind and Body abilities, one that was supposed to keep the world in the balance of good and evil.
But that couldn't be Leif! He was far to small, far to young and he had no control over any ability he could use. Leif looked like the kind of person you would see in a dark alley and go in to mug him. He was not 'all powerful being' material.
All though... He has proven to have mighty power in him.
Leif sighed as he looked down at his paws as he walked, wondering if he had truly used lightning as the Dragon and Tiger told him. He knew his mother had told him he was born in the winter, and she wasn't a stupid person. She would remember giving birth to her second son.
He sighed as he slowed down to a complete stop as he looked around, turning to the tree to his right and looked at the large pine tree.
"What are you doing Leif?" Chris asked, padding up behind the fox and looked over at the tree he was dazed looking at. "What is he doing?" Chris asked looking over at Kiro,
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Kiro asked, moving over to the other side of Leif. "are you alright?" he grumbled, Leif seeming to be ignoring the two as he slowly rose his paw, the two looking over in confusion as the Fox's arm began to strain.
Leif grunted over and over as he tried to shoot any small amount of lightening from his paw. Whimpering as nothing, not even a spark fired from his out reached paw.
"Leif what are you doing?" Kiro asked, the fox growling as the Drake interrupted him.
"I'm trying to not be useless Kiro, for fuck sake." He growled, turning on his heals and pushing past the Drake. His anger seeming to get the better of him,
"What do you mean trying not be useless?" Kiro called after him, "You're the reason we are alive!"
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Leif yelled back, "I have no idea what the fuck I did, and I don't even know if I will be able to do it again if we need me to."
"Buddy, we will cross that bridge if we come to it alright?" Chris said trying to calm the fox down.
"And what if I can't! Huh? And what if that results in Kiro getting an arrow through his head, or you a sword in your gut?" Leif growled, his frustration in himself making him pace around the road.
"Look Leif," Kiro said, walking forward to place a paw on his shoulder, "your being sill.."
"No I'm not!" The Fox screamed out, his paw slapping Kiro's large paw away from him, and to the surprise of all, a large bolt of energy firing right into the drakes chest.
"Oof!" Kiro yelped, the wind getting knocked out of him as he was fired across the road. Leif whimpered as he watched the Drake land with a crunch over on the other side of the road. Leif ran over to the Drake, who was laying back up just off the side of the path.
"Kiro!?" Leif yelled out, knelling next to the Drake who just groaned in pain. "Are you alright?" Leif asked, "I-Im so sorry, I don't know what happened!"
"Why do I get the blast!" Kiro groaned out, rolling over onto his back, "Why couldn't you fire it at the Rhino?"
"Hey!" Chris whined,
"I didn't mean to do it Kiro!" Leif whined, yelping as the drakes large seeping hole in his shoulder came into view. Bits of his scales scattered around everywhere and a chunk of his flesh was hanging off his shoulder. Leif had to hold in his sickness as he saw the dragons bone covering in a pool of blood. "Oh fuck!" Leif whined.
"What?" Kiro asked in a dazed state of shock.
"Nothing! Nothing." Leif said with a smile of utter terror was forced onto his lips. "Hey um Chris, do you have anything absorbent at all?" Leif asked with a smile,
"Me?" the Rhino asked "Um, not really Leif." he said, the fox growling at himself as he found himself now being more of a pain then help. His paws were now resting on the wound, his paws over one another as he put pressure on the wound and whimpered.
"I'm so sorry Kiro." Leif whined,
"Oh stop bitching." He growled tiredly. "J-Just get s-som..." He mumbled, his wards trailing off as blood continued to pour from his wound.
"Kiro! Dont you dare pass out on me!" Leif whimpered, not even realising as his paws began to burn up. He looked around, trying to find anything around them that he could use to wrap this wound, but nothing of use was around.
Leif looked down at the injury, before he looked up at Kiros face. His eyes were shut and his chest wasn't moving.
"Kiro you stupid filth open your eyes!" Kiro yelled just before Leif's paws burst out in a bright glow of gold. Leif watched as his paws encased themselves in a golden glow and rising in temperature as hot as fire. He watched the blood running down his scales stop, and the flesh that hung off his shoulder move back into its place. The bits of muscle and tissue began to reattach itself and the fallen scales coming from the ground to reattach themselves to the drakes body.
the Drakes eye began to slowly open as Leif's paws dimmed down, the drake waiting no time in growling as he sat himself up, his forehead pressed against the Fox's who just watched as he went from passed out to pissed off in a matter of seconds.
"What did you just call me whore?" He growled his green eyes enraged as he store the Fox down. His lip quivering as he looked up at the drake and whimpered as his growled seemed to rumble through to Leif's core. The two animals store into each others eyes, Chris watching and waiting for somebody to move, or do something. He watched as Kiro's lips gently curled over as the large being began to chuckle.
The previously terrified Fox was now an extremely confused animal as the Large Dragon began to laugh, the Drake grabbing at his belly as a hearty laugh just seemed to come from nowhere. Leif couldn't help but begin to giggle as the Drake acted just so out of character.
Kiro was not one to laugh at anything, he barely even smiled! So as to why he was pissing himself laughing on the ground after coming back from the dead was unknown to the two others, but it sure was hilarious to the Fox.
Leif and the Drake were soon rolling in tears on the floor, none of them knew why, but the two really didn't even seem to care. Chris was confused, as he just stood there watching the two laugh before him. He just kinda sighed as he let them do their thing, getting a little impatiant as it began to drag on. But who gave a fuck what Chris thought?
"D-Did I die?" Kiro asked, trying to breath through his laughter,
"Yeah!" Leif giggled, "I shot you with lightening, I don't even know how!"
"Hey um... Guys." Chris said trying to intervene.
"How... How am I here?" Kiro laughed, his stomach now seeming to ache as he rolled gently on the floor.
"I healed you!" Leif laughed, "Again, don't know how!"
"Oookaaay guy... guys seriously!" Chris said again, his voice desperate.
"Well thanks whore!" Kiro laughed,
"No problem stupid filth!" Leif laughed back,
"Hey ass holes!" Chris yelled out, the two now deciding to looking over at the Rhino now; both with the intentions of telling him to shove his attitude up his ass... but the sight they found brought their laughing to a very quick halt.
Leif and Kiro slowly stood themselves up, being sure not to make any sudden movements as the large pack of feral hunter wolves had made there advance on their smaller pack.
These weren't your regular wolves, Kiro would have just brushed them off easy. These were four times the size of a regular wolf. Their claws and fangs sharper, their senses keener, and their attacks much more deadlier.
"They must have smelt my blood." Kiro whispered, his paw slowly moving to his blade, halting as the large white Lupine before them barked a snarl in warning. Kiros jaw clenched in frustration.
The three anthro's watched before them as the four large Lupines had their tails up, fangs bared and a deep menacing growl to make them seem even more intimidating.
"What do we do?" Leif asked, his eyes wandering over the four large dogs. The large white on in front obviously the alpha male, he stood at the peak of the four. His eyes looking directly at Kiro. The green and piercing blue eyes locked with each other as one alpha faced the other.
Leif shook gently as he looked over the other animals. His eyes looking over the black furred wolf standing just beside the white. His focus was on the Dragon like his alpha. Leifs eyes gently studying him, finding it almost like the Lupine was protecting the white one. If not protecting he was the back up.
The two other Lupines stood on either side of the alpha and grey wolf. A black and white spotted wolf had his focus dead on Leif, his chest was down and his eyes wide open. It freaked Leif out a little just how silent the dog was. He was like one of those creepy silent guys who showed no emotion even as they stabbed or murdered their victim.
Leif wasn't sure if he lucky or unlucky with the choice of Lupine attackers. Chris stood nearly a meter away from a Lupine who was not only growling, but was sporting quite the large red rocket. It seemed the Lupine was one to kill then mate with his prey. Weather he ate it or not Leif wasn't sure about but he certainly seemed excited.
Leif whimpered as he looked over at Kiro and Chris, wondering and preying they would be able to do anything. Throw a dagger or two, hell even if they just backed away and see if that worked. He couldn't do anything!
Kiro's eyes were dead on the White wolfs. He had the other three Lupines in his peripheral in case they weren't the entire pack. He knew these beasts could move fast, but he wondered just how fast. At the moment it seemed like they were dead if they didn't do anything, and dead if they tried anything... Kiro looking over to his employer, looking at him to try and see if magic was on their side this time. But as the little fox shook his head, the dragon began to fear the worst.
"Well we had a good run." Chris chuckled, making Kiro wonder if the four beasts would be satisfied with some Rhino meat in return for his and Leif's safety.
"Can you seriously shut up?" Kiro growled gently,
"Well figure out a way for us to get out of this situation then." Chris growled, Leif looking over at the beasts. The alphas growling had stopped and his head cocked to the side as he watched the two anthro's growling at each other.
"I am fucking trying but you telling me that we have 'had a good run', is not helping and its not helping the quest either you stupid fool!" Kiro growled, turning to stare the Rhino right in the eyes.
"Well being honest with myself is going to make death a little easier then lying to myself!" Chris spat out at the Drake.
"We are going to get out of here you stupid fool, and once we are out I'm breaking your fucking jaw!" Kiro growled lightly,
"Hey guys!" Leif called out, The two far too wound up in anger to even notice.
"You are such a jerk sometimes Kiro! You think just because your bigger and you know how to throw around a sword that makes you better then everybody. Well let me tell you, it doesn't make you better then the filth I brush off my feet at night." Chris growled into the Dragons face, his green eyes staring daggers into him.
"You IGNORANT CU..."
"HEY!" Leif yelled out the twos head shooting over to the fox, who was currently in the process of rubbing his paws up and down the large white dogs belly, his leg kicking happily while he panted in content.
The two large males watched Leif laugh as the grey wolf came up to give his cheek a happy lick. Leif took his paws off the white wolfs stomach to reach over to slowly run his paws up the grey black wolfs muzzle. Smiling up at the dog with kindness as the dog sniffed at him. "They are most friendly." Leif giggled,
Kiro and Chris both clearing there throats and walking forward. The wolves padding over to softly sniff at the Dragon and Rhino. The two of them smiling as best they could while giving the animals pets and rubs.
"I guess not everything in this forest is dangerous." Leif said with a smile, the Black dog giving his cheek another soft lick as his large tail wagged behind him.
"Every person I spoke to about these wolves told me they were the most dangerous creatures of the wild and that you should take them out at the throat. H-How did you get them to play friendly?" Kiro asked,
"I walked up to them and let the Alpha sniff my paw, Then when he was satisfied I gave his muzzle a soft rub which led to him laying down and getting his belly scratched." Leif explained, laughing as he was knocked onto his rear as the White dog nuzzled against him. Leif now found himself laying down and rubbing the Large dogs large snout. "You breath is ghastly! Yes it is! Yes it is!" Leif said to the dog, his ears perking up as he tilted his head. Leif squealing as he found the beast just adorable! "I want one!"
"Do you have any idea how much that thing would need in meat?" Chris asked, Leif whining and pouting as the Rhino proved a good point.
"Well These animals are actually very self efficient." Kiro said with a chuckle, Rubbing the Greys wolf behind his ear with a soft chuckle, "They will go find there own meals, they will stay with a person, but they don't see themselves as their owner. There was a rare case where a wolf imprinted on a woman a few seasons back. The dog needs to fuck her every day."
"Well isn't that just lovely?" Chris asked, rubbing the spotted dog softly on his head, the Dog panting gently as he enjoyed the attention.
"That Dog has really come to like you Leif." Kiro chuckled, looking over to find the Fox sitting and laughing as his body was saturated in dog saliva.
"Sure it isn't getting a taste for him?" Chris asked, the white dog then panting softly as he nuzzled into the fox again.
"well boys I think we should be on our way." Kiro sighed,
"What?" Leif said, looking over and whimpering, "No~*" He whined, yelping in surprise as the dog scooped the Fox onto his muzzle and stood up, Leif laughing, as he quickly turned himself around and scurried down the Wolf's body. "I don't think he's going to let me." Leif explained,
Kiro just sighed and shook his head.
"Well I guess we have another friend tagging along then." He growled,
"Yay!" Leif called out, rubbing the Wolfs ear softly. "I am going to call you... Fang!" he said with a smile.
"Kind of boring don't you think?" Chris asked,
"Are you sitting on top of a large white beast?" Leif asked the Rhino who shook his head, "right, then I will name him whatever I wish."
"Yes you will." Kiro laughed, padding up to Fang and giving the side of his body a soft pet, reaching up to give Leif's foot a little nudge.
"You secure up there?" He asked,
"I believe so." Leif said with a smile. Kiro giving the small creature a little nod, a small smile on his lips as he did.
"So shall we continue on?" Chris asked,
"I think that would be grand." Leif said, Giving fangs body a soft pat.
"Alright then, lets move." Kiro agreed,
"Wait, what about the other wolves?" Leif asked, "are they just going to tag along?"
"Huh?" Kiro asked, looking up at Leif with a very confused look,
"Oh are we tagging along boss?" Came an unfamiliar voice, Leifs ears perked on his head as he began to search around for the sudden voice.
"No Ke'old, You will not be coming with us. You are the alpha now." Came yet another voice, but Leif didn't need to search for the new voice. The vibrations coming from the chest his legs were wrapped around told him who spoke.
Leif looked down at the white wolf below him, looking confused and also quite scared.
"Y-You talk?" Leif asked,
"Leif stop whimpering, what are you even saying?" Kiro asked, Fangs ears flicking up as he heard the dragons words. He looked over to the anthro on his back with an impressed look on his maw.
"Little Anthro," he started, dumbfounded as to how this little child was communicating with him. "You speak our language?" He asked.
Leif wasn't completely sure as to what the hell was going on. All he knew, was that suddenly the large dog was talking to him, and he could understand what he was saying, what was worse was he could talk back.. and they understood him.
"I-I guess I do..." Leif whimpered,
"That is incredible." Fang said astonished, "I have never met an anthro that could speak our language; but then again. I have never met an anthro I hadn't had to kill before ha-ha!" Fang laughed, his tail gently wagging behind him as his new friend talked to him.
Leif (out of nervous) gave a small laugh sounding more terrified then amused. "Oh, do not fear little one. I, nor my pack have any intentions of hurting you or your pack!"
Leif nodded his head, looking over towards Kiro, both he and Chris were looking at him with a state of bewilderment.
"Are you talking to your animal?" Chris asked,
"I ah.. I think I am." Leif said with a state of worry,
"How the fuck are you doing that?" Kiro asked,
"How the fuck did I see through the eyes of the enemy?" Leif asked back, the dragon rolling his eyes to agree with the fox it was a stupid question.
"Ke'old, Strave, Deathorn. You are you're own pack now. It has been an honour leading you." Fang said sternly, his posture going strong as he addressed his now ex pack.
"And it's been an honour following you Serreth." The three Wolfs said back, all standing strong like their once Alpha.
"May the Moon grant you passage to paradise." Serreth said with a small nod to his head.
"And may we meet there again." The Wolves said with a low bow of their chests.
"Now be gone!" The White wolf barked, before the three wolves turned and ran back into the wild. Their speed unimaginable to Leif, watching as they ran away from the group until finally they disappeared into the Jungle.
"What the fuck just happened?" Chris asked, looking at the drake and Fox who still found themselves watching the Forrest.
"Serreth just let his pack go, the grey one is now the alpha." Leif said with a soft pat to the wolfs back,
"Serreth?" Kiro asked,
"Oh um, Fang." Leif corrected himself.
"Fang?" The wolf asked, looking up at the Anthro.
"Its a usual name with give Lupines in our world." Leif said defensively, "But I can stick to Serreth if you don't like it."
"Serreth if you please young Anthro." The wolf asked, "Is there a name you go by?"
"I am Leif," The fox introduced himself, "The Dragon is Kiro, he is here to help me get to summerston. He is here for my protection. And that is Chris, one of the royal guards. He is here to watch me and make sure I do as the king tells me to do." Leif said with a dull tone.
"You sound like you do not like that one Leif," Serreth stated, looking over at the Rhino. Chris smiled and gave a small wave at the beast. "Shall I kill him for you?"
Leif gently snorted a laugh, raising his paw to his maw and shaking his head
"N-No Serreth, If he dies then I will be held responsible." Leif giggled,
"What!?" Chris asked, his face going from kind to fearful in a matter of seconds.
"Never mind." Leif said with a smile on his face.
"I think I like this wolf." Kiro laughed, gently giving his hind leg a gently rub.
"Kiro likes you." Leif said giving Serreths ear a soft rub.
"Gods divine Leif," The wolf moaned, his head pushing into the small paw of the fox, "You know how to scratch an ear!" The wolf was panting happily as his leg and ear got scratched, his tail gently wagging winding Kiro with each hard slam it gave to his back.
"Shall we actually head off now?" Leif asked, leaning back onto his Lupines back.
"I think we should indeed." Chris agreed, turning on his heals to begin walking back down the track.
"So what brings you all out here Leif?" Serreth asked, padding slowly in the direction of Chris.
"My family was taken due to me being... Different. Um, so I have to go pay a bounty and collect my Mother, Father and Brother." Leif explained,
"What makes you different small one?" The wolf asked,
"I have powers Serreth, I can do some amazing things when my powers let me." Leif said with a sigh,
"Like a god?" Serreth asked,
"No Serreth not like a god." Leif giggled,
"What's funny?" Kiro asked,
"Oh I told Serreth I was powerful, and he called me a god." Leif explained,
"Ha!" Kiro laughed loudly, "Nowhere near." He chuckled, Leif just rolled his eyes.
"Oh Young Leif." Serreth asked, "Do you have another member of your group catching up?"
Leif looked down at the Wolf with confusion, he gently shook his head to the large dog.
"No we aren't." Leif said confused, having to then grip the dogs neck very tightly as he turned himself around.
Kiro and Chris both stopped as he heard the small being yelp out,
"What? What is it?" Kiro asked,
"Serreth smells somebody." Leif said gently, staying low on the large beast as he was told.
"Where does he smell them?" Chris asked, Leaving a moment for Leif to ask his Lupine the question.
"Sh-She's behind that tree." Leif said, raising his finger to point at the large oak standing not thirty meters away.
"We know you're there female!" Kiro yelled out, "Come out now and give yourself up!"
The Four beings were silent as they all watched the tree. Leif every so often looking behind them to see if it was trap.
"Come on!" Chris yelled, "We haven't got all day."
"If I come out," The females voice asked, Leifs ears perking as the voice seemed familiar. "Am I going to be welcomed with dog fangs?"
"N-Not if you're Friendly!" Leif yelled out, Kiro looking up at the fox with a glare.
"You don't tell her that." He grumbled, "She needs to know that shes in more danger then we are."
"I-I think I know her." Leif said, "Serreth, down." Leif asked of the Lupine,
"Sorry Little Leif. You're paws only touch the ground when I know its safe." The lupine gently growled,
Leif just sighed, gently petting the large beast in thanks for keeping him safe.
"Give me your word your dog wont just jump out at me!" The female yelled back,
"The beast will only attack you if you give him a reason to!" Chris called out, "The wolf as well!"
Kiro rolled his eyes, not having time to deal with Chris's bullshit right now.
"Just come out and tell us why you are following us!" Kiro added.
"I follow for a friend," The voice called out, "not for the king. He is sitting on top of the Wolf and I followed to make sure he was alright!" The Voice called out, Before a large Glaive gently slid down from behind the tree. Leifs eyes lit up a little as he remembered that weapon all to well.
Kandi then slowly moved out from the protection of the large oak. Kiro noted the golden armour around her chest, and growled a little.
"Did your general send you?" Kiro growled,
"I told you already," Kandi said padding slowly towards the group. "I am here to make sure Leif is alright."
"What are you doing here?" leif asked, gently sliding off to the right of his beast, and with a bit of a fall, got to the ground. He then walked up to the Lioness and greeted her with a small hug, the feline returning gently.
"After I told you about the Rusty Dagger, I had to continue my duties like I told you. But as soon as I was done, I explained to my superior I had a family member I wished to visit in summerston. They gave me the time off I needed and well here I am." She said with a small giggle, "besides, This place is far to dangerous for somebody of... well.. your size." she said trying to sound as pleasant as she could.
"Yeah." Leif agreed, "That's why I hired Kiro over there." Leif said pointing to the large Dragon who nodded his head. His attitude still unclear as to if he liked this Lioness or not, but he knew to judge her know could be a very stupid idea.
"Hes a man and a half." Kandi said with a giggle, Leif nodding his head in agreement. Kiro just huffed.
"And we got stuck with Chris." Leif said pointing to the Rhino,
"Lieutenant General ma'am." Chris said raising his paw to his shoulder while his other curled around his back.
"At ease." she said nodding with respect to the Rhino. "how long have you served?"
"This will be my fourth Summer ma'am." Chris replied respectfully, Leif and Kiro both taking note of how polite he could be.
"How much battle have you seen?" Kandi asked, the Rhino going a little silent.
"before today, none that wasn't training. But my scores were very high." Chris said with struggle.
"That explains it." Kiro Chuckled, Chris gritting his teeth.
"Well then," Kandi said with a sigh, "if its alright with you Chris, I would like to take over this guarding duty."
Chris's eyes went from respectful to worrisome as the feline spoke, He shook his head as he listened to her ask for his approval.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant, but this money is going to see me through to next summer. I need the coin." Chris explained, almost sound as is he were begging.
Kandi just sighed and nodded her head.
"Alright, I'm not going to stop you from doing your job when you need the coin." Kandi said softly, "But if its alright with you guys, I would like to join you on your quest."
Leifs ears perked up as he eagerly nodded his head. Though, the two other males seemed to have a different opinion.
"Look, sweet cheeks." Kiro said with a sigh, Kandi's welcoming smile dropping as the Dragon spoke. "I already have one royal pain in my ass, I don't need another."
"But she's different Kiro!" Leif spoke up, the Dragon looking over at the small fox who seemed a little to excited for her to join. Maybe he was smitten?
"What do you mean?" He asked,
"She helped me, she took me to the magistrates office and pushed me to the front of the line." Leif explained, the drakes now seemed interested.
"Why would you help the boy?" He asked, "Your kind don't take to kindly to people like him."
"My kind?" She asked with a chuckle, "And what exactly are you? I don't see any flakes in your eyes."
Kiro just chuckled,
"Royal Guards." He said bluntly, "You're kind is what treats Tempori's badly. I don't give three fucks what somebody is. Just as long as they don't annoy me and don't fuck with me." kiro huffed,
Kandi store at this dragon with disbelief. Was he actually serious? Where those actually his rules? How fucking vain was this Dragon?
"You're..." Kandi began, trying to put the words together. "You're pathetic." She huffed. "You don't care about leif at all do you? All you care about is the gold at the end of all this and somehow that makes you better then the guards?"
Kiro looked at this woman as her words began to really piss him off. What was worse is that her words were true. He was only in this for the coin, but how the hell does she know?
"Heavy flow this month wrench?" He growled, internally smirking to himself as the Lieutenant gripped her weapon tighter.
Leif just sighed and looked up at the lupine who had taken a seat next to him, Serreth whined as he looked down at the young fox who was looking more and more defeated as the two barked at each other.
Kiro made woman shots, and Kandi made warrior shots. As the two continued back and forth, Leif was getting more and more annoyed at the both of them. They were on a tight scedual and yet here they were bickering over fucking nothing!
He looked over at Chris, hoping he could step in and do anything! But the fucking Rhino was standing there with a big smirk on his face as the two bickered.
Leif didn't know how much more of this he would be able to handel.
"Can we plea..."
"Shut up!" Kiro yelled, "And so what if you get a higher paying job? You work under a racist ass hole who only cares about cock and getting his ass filled, and a general who only likes causing pain onto others and fucking said hole!"
"Ok serioulsy, Both of yo..."
"Leif please!" Kandi growled, trying to be as respectful as she could to the small fox, "I know he dose bad things, thats why I got into the guards in the first place! So I could make a change! What changes do you make Drake!?"
"OK that's it you two." Leif growled standing up,
"Leif will you shut your fucki..."
"ENOUGH!" Leif boomed, the final warning gone as he golden eyes began smoking. He wouldn't take this anymore, he had a family to save and he wasn't going to let some prepubescent arguing get in the middle of it.
Kiro was about to take the Fox down a peg for daring to use magic on him, but as he tried to open his mouth, a terrible tearing pain surged through his mouth. The Dragon reaching up to try and find what was holding his lips together, but there were no lips.
Kiro began feeling around for any sort of mouth, but he had nothing. He only had cheeks, scales and a chin. His mouth was gone.
Kiro looked over at Kandi and the same had been done to her. She had nothing to yell out of, only a patch of skin and fur where there used to be a maw.
The two looked over at the Tempori who was stood before the two, his eyes steaming in golden smoke as he looked at the two.
"I am done listening to you two fucking bicker about your motives. Kandi, you are here to help me, because you care. I thank you for that but leave Kiro alone. His motives are not yours. Who cares if he is here for the coin, He's still here to keep me safe and I trust him with my being." Leif growled at the lioness who seemed to just nod her head, feeling a little down she had made her friend this angry.
Kiro on the other paw had the larges smirk on his first for a person who didn't have a mouth. It was obvious he was sneering at the lioness by the way his eyes seemed to just say 'take that'. Oh but Leif wasn't done.
"And you!" Leif growled, "You're a big strong dragon warrior, guess what. We all fucking know that! And we don't need your constant snarky comments and constant insults to fucking remember that! You are strong, you are talented, and I am paying you to help us! Kandi is not here to replace you, or try and take your coin away, she is here because she cares for me. She helped me when no one did, she helped me when I was beaten, and she helped me find you! With out her, you wouldn't be getting the coin you are now." Leif spat as the drake looked him dead in the eye.
Kiro wanted so bad to tell the fox to shove his words up his slutty arse, he wanted to give it back, but the next words he spoke just made it hard not to care.
"I will be alone in this world if my parents die. Do you understand that? My parents and my brother are all I have. They are the only people I have ever known until they were taken. I am fucking lost with out them. You two bickering at each other is not going to go well through this journey. I love my family more then I love myself, so if you two keep this up, you all can fucking go back to Royah and I'll go by myself. I don't fucking care how dangerous it is, at least it wont slow me down!" Leif whimpered, as the golden smoke surging through his eyes began to subside. His glowing golden eyes gently began to water, slowly sending tears down his cheeks.
Kandis heart was slowly breaking as she watched the small teenager cried before her, and for Kiro. He wasn't sure what was going on. He suddenly felt the need to help the small one even more. He wanted to put his arms around him, but strangely enough not strangle him.
"I-I'm..." Kandi whimpered, her mouth returning as the Fox's magic slowly died. She stood there in her guilt and sighed, "I'm sorry Leif."
Leif just wiped his eyes and turned to his beast. The Wolf laying down so the small being could get on his back.
Kiro opened his mouth to say the same, but of course his ego stopped him.
"Lets just go." Leif sighed, gently tapping the lupines sides with his legs to tell him he was ready.
"Do not worry little Leif." Serreth said, turning to the little one on his back, "If they do not get you there in time. I will. How many moons until you have to be there?"
Leif smiled at the white wolf, gently reaching forward to scratch him behind the ear.
"I have thirteen moons until I have to be at the second city." Leif said back, "Thirteen moons until my pack gets executed."
Serreths ears shot up, stopping in his tracks as the small ones words rang in his ears.
"I promise to you little Leif," The Wolf said, looking right into Leifs eyes. "I will get you to your pack, and I will keep you safe. Paradise hear me, you will be with your pack again."
Leif couldn't help but feel the truth behind the lupines words. He smiled more at the large wolf and shuffled himself closer so he could hug his beast around his large neck.
"May the gods here me say this." Leif said softly into the wolfs ear, "you are a true, and loyal friend Serreth. May we be friends forever."
"I hope for that too little one." The Canine replied softly,
"So um, shall we get going?" Kandi asked,
"I think it would be best." Leif said softly, letting his four legged companion go. The five then continued down the path, tension high among them all. All five of them knew that this journey was going to be hard on them all, it was hard on anybody trying to go through the forest. What was going to make it harder on them though, was the bond that they lacked.
If they were going to survive, they needed to be able to trust one another and be able to work as a team. They needed a leader, and with most of them thinking that was there job, the group was going to crumble.
Leif knew this; its what was making his anxiety hit an all time high. This group needed to get some trust in one another or nothing was going to get done. He only hoped that it would happen soon. Or the poor little fox would never see his family again.