Kiss of Time

Child of Darkness

            As the night drew on, and the moons shone brightly in the darkened sky, the two companions made their way along a winding path among the trees of the Jade Forest. Her arms curled around herself tightly, Aurin walked a few paces behind Xavier, her gaze low as she watched her breath, white fog rolling from her muzzle with each exhaling.

            His eyes half closed, Xavier walked onwards at a steady pace, ignoring the searing pain of the cold as it tore into his flesh through his fur and armor like millions of barracuda teeth, glancing back for only a moment to look at Aurin before continuing onward.

“Keep up Aurin,” He said, his voice soft, though seemingly void of emotion. “We can not stop, not here..”

            Nodding absently, the young vixen sped her pace slightly, her eyes almost completely closed as she moved, darkness edging her vision as a calming numbness began to set in. Slowing in stride once again with every step Aurin tried to keep awake, tried to keep her eyes open, but all in vein, as with a final, calm breath, she fell forward onto the ground, her heart slowing as the chill of the air began to rip through her.

            Whirling around and dropping to one knee, Xavier scooped Aurin up and pivoted once more, continuing onward, his pace breaking into a steady run, his mind racing and his heart pounding as he forced himself to move as quick as mortally possible. After a few moments he found himself halted at a set of massive black iron doors, both covered in ancient writing, towering nearly thirty feet above him.

            Freeing one paw to force one of the doors open, Xavier was met by a rush of heat as the doors parted. Absently he walked through the doorway, laying Aurin on the floor of the dimly lit cathedral he now found himself in. Something about the dark walls, the marble floors and the onyx pillars reaching to the ceiling; they reminded him of the underworld.

            Hours passed as Xavier sat at Aurin’s side, softly stroking her headfur as she lay there, nearly unmoving, the gentle heaving of her chest, the only sign of life still left in her. Letting a long sigh escape him, Xavier bent down and placed a kiss on the unconscious Aurin’s forehead, his ears perking up quickly as the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention.

            Standing quickly, Xavier whipped around, glaring towards the sound as his ears folded back, a soft growl emanating from his chest as a paw fell to tightly grip the hilt of his blade.

“Show yourself!” He snapped, a harsh tone to his voice. “Show yourself or I’ll hunt you down.”

“Silence child,” came a voice, seemingly from all around, a soft hiss caressing the tone. “I should be the one huntin’ ye, for trespassin’ in my sanctum”

Easing up on his blade, Xavier perked his ears once more at the familiar voice, a soft black flame beginning to burn in his eyes as he continued to stare towards the sound of footsteps, following their path with his eyes.

            In moments, a wire-thin man came into view, a black hood raised over his head as he moved in almost complete silence, a thick black, leathery cloak seemed to caress the ground as he moved, almost gliding along the black marble floor.

            A half visible smirk spread over the dark mans lips slowly, twisting into an evil grin as he moved ever closer to the two companions, a soft chuckle escaping his throat as he moved in otherwise total silence.

“Come now,” came the same voice as before, almost piercing into Xavier’s mind as he stood there, staring at the seemingly lifeless, hooded man. “You must know who I am, Xavier.. I was the one who taught you of your powers..”

“Seth! You must-- ” Xavier began to say, but was quickly interrupted by the piercing voice in his mind once more.

“Aye, I’m here to take the girl off yer paws..” scoffed the man, a soft hiss caressing his voice as he continued to move ever closer, a sickening smell of blood beginning catching Xavier’s nose as he neared.

            Quickly Xavier tore his sword from the sheath, growling as his ears folded back, his teeth bared as his eyes began to glow with a menacing black flame; the same flames roaring up around his blade. With a smirk and a chuckle, the dark man simply snickered as he watched Xavier, continuing to move ever closer to Aurin, staring at her, a look of malice flickering across his eyes.

“You will not harm her!” Xavier said, lunging towards the dark man, his blade moving at blinding speed, becoming near a blur of flames as he struck, but all seemed in vein when the man seemingly vanished.

            “Show yourself Seth!” Xavier shouted, rage filling his voice. “Fight me like a man!”

“Oh no,” came the voice from all around once more, a soft, evil chuckle following it. “I will not fight you like a ‘man’.. My dear Xavier..” at that moment a sharp pain filled Xavier’s stomach, a glimpse of something darting passed him catching his gaze from the corner of his eye. Just then a similar voice rang out, from right behind Xavier now: “I shall fight you.. Like a Demon!”

            Whirling around only to see the dark man, his wings sprawled and his claws dripping with blood, Xavier let out a slight growl, moving to strike, his sword moving like lightning once more; but the strike fell short, as a sudden calm overcame him, and a sharp pain ripped through his spine. Struggling with his own body now, Xavier found himself paralyzed, as if petrified, he could only watch as the man lunged at him.

            A sudden, sharp pain filled Xavier as the man’s claws drove into his ribs, the other hand coming across his face, leaving four more deep gashes across his muzzle; though unable to even scream, Xavier simply endured the pain.

            It seemed like an eternity to Xavier, as the man brutally ripped at his body, like a demon of the fires of hell, his claws sinking deep with every strike; and with every strike Xavier felt himself inching closer and closer to death.

            As his vision began to edge with darkness, Xavier could see a tiny orb of light forming behind the dark man, and to Xavier’s amazement, it took form as time it’s self seemed to come to a crashing halt.

            Standing with a grin, a seemingly ancient wolf of pure white fur and four tails stood, a gnarled staff made from the wood of the demonic Black Aspin in one paw. White robes surrounded this ancient man, runes of golden silk lining them, and a crest in the form of a wolf’s head within a rising sun held fast upon the right shoulder.

            This new man stood with a since of serenity, a sort of calm as he looked the dark man over, a smile dancing over his muzzle for a moment as his pale blue eyes half closed; and a soft chuckling escaped his throat.