Rising Anew-Chapter 9, part 1-
#28 of Rising Anew
Rising Anew -Chapter 9-
Heavy white globs fell slowly in the prints scattered along the path in the now glittering forest. The tree branches were hung low with the bounty of snow. The light glittered softly off of the pathway and tree boughs.
"It's beautiful isnt it?" Narina said with a smile as she looked on the scene in happy awe.
Narcenac nodded and looked around at the forest surrounding them. He happily squeezed her paw with his and purred as they walked along in content silence. Tarsus had both paws burried in a towel she had kept from their time at the shack in the mountains.
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It had been three months since the time spent in the mountain shack. The trio had left and made the treck through the mountain pass. It had been a long hard journey through those mountains.
A few days after they had departed the little building, the small group had wandered across a highway dissecting the mountains. Narcenac had insisted on staying clear of the road after a truckload of hunters had passed by and they had made a mad dash into the forest on the other side of the road. As the tigers and squirrel ran for their lives they heard the squeel of breaks and the rev of the engine as the hunters turned around to find out what they had seen. Three hours of dead sprinting later and a small cave halfway up a small mountain side, saw the three panting and weary. After that, they avoided highways and roads in general.
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"Itta get darken soon... We campa some place?" Tarsus asked as she plodded along through the deepening snow.
"Your right.. Do you want to pick out tonights campsite Tarsus?" Narcenac replied with a smile. He couldnt help but grin wolfishly as the young squirrel maiden shot up a tree and out across the branches. With a little flourish he pulled Narina tight to his chest and leaned down, kissing her tenderly. Slowly her eyes closed and a soft little purr errupted from her core.
"Mmmm I love you Narcenac. Please never let us be seperated..." Narina said as his lips parted with hers. She looked down with a soft sniffle as the last words made the air a little heavier.
"I dont want to ever let that happen." he replied as he lifted her chin with a paw, "Ever Naree, ever."
"I FOUNDS ONE!!!!" came Tarsus' wild cheerful tones as the young girl came bouncing through the branches overhead. With a squeel of delight, she fell into a drift at the base of the tree she was in and sent the glimmering powder into the air.
Narcenac and Narina both laughed happily at the antics of the young squirrel. Narina even grabbed a pawful of snow and began to make a snowball. Narcenac saw the sneaky look in her eyes and jumped behind a tree as the ball flew into the bark by his head. With a shout he jumped out from behind the tree and tossed two of his own, pelting both girls as he took off through the snow, both of them close behind him.
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Laying next to the dying embers of their campfire, the soft purring in his arms and the gentle wurring snores of the young squirrel girl told Narcenac that they were both sleeping. Tarsus had done well with this campspot. It was very secluded and allowed for a fire safely, not to mention the river running through the trees a few meters away.
Standing with a yawn, Narcenac stretched his arms wide and slowly made his way to the river bank. Looking out across the frozen surface, he watched the reflection of the full moon slowly fade against the far shore.
Just as he was about to sit down on the bank, a small crunching sound made Narcenac's ears twitch into attention. Sinking down into a ready crouch, he slowly made his way towards the sound. Stopping a few feet short of a large bush, Narcenac quietly listened for any hints of danger. Unintentionally, Narcenac's claws came into full view, glinting in the light of the moon. Suddenly, another crunch.
Whirling around, Narcenac growled and then yelped as a sword tip flashed to his chest.
"Your naturally skilled at using your instincts Narcenac, but you lack any refinement." The voice was deep and smooth. Like a deep warm natural spring.
"Who are you?! and what do you want with us?" Narcenac growled out, staring down the intruder.
The tall grey tiger looked down his curved blade at Narcenac and smiled. His bulging muscles rippling evidently through his fur in the moonlight. Green eyes glinted from a strong sculpted face. An easy going smile covering his features. It was evident that this Necromanta was older than Narcenac.
"Your grandmother didnt tell you that your old grandaddy was still around too did she?" the old tiger said with a chuckle. Sheathing his blade with a soft smile, the grey tiger shook his head, "Come here grandson!"
Narcenac's eyes grew wide with realization at the big arms of his grandfather enveloped him. "but... I... I saw your body... at the funeral... you were dead..." he stuttered as he hugged the huge grey form.
Taking a step back, Narcenac looked over his grandfather with mixed feelings. "Papaw... What happened... i saw you in the casket..."
Papaw looked down seriously and nodded. "I'll explain that later, when Narina wakes up. Right now we should head back to the camp and wait on sunrise." he said with a gloomy air. "It is dangerous hear at night. We Necromanta have enemies in these woods, and i am suprised you have come this far unscathed."
Narcenac looked around silently and nodded, walking towards their camp and gesturing Papaw to follow.
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The embers were a mere faint red glow as Narcenac and Papaw sat down to wait out the night next to the sleeping girls. The moon finally reached its penicle and then faded slowly into total darkness behind an approaching blizzard. Its final rays of light peircing a small clearing which hid a foul presence.