DESTRUCTIVE MYTH
Masked By Fog

"Sinira?” Ashleigh started calling through the fog, Drathis walked towards where she had been sitting noticing tracks left in the snow leading towards the waterfall.

“Stay here, I'll fetch her.” He left the fire following the rushed footprints up towards the river, straining his ears listening for her, till he picked up on her breathing and the sound of pebbles giving way under her shoes.

“Where are you going?” He called out heading in her direction, but she didn’t answer only increased her speed up towards the fall.

“I’m not going to chase you.”

“I Just need some time alone.”

“Alright.” He shrugged turning back.

“I saw you kiss Ashleigh!” Sinira snapped.

Frowning at the sudden outburst he turned around searching for her, spotting the outline of her figure near the water’s edge.

“Correction, she kissed me, but I don’t see why I need to defend myself, if you like the woman just kiss her.”

“What? No, I don’t want her like that she’s, my friend!”

“Well, you can’t be jealous you don’t even know me.”

“I’m not jealous, you think I want to kiss you?” She said in disbelief.

“I’m not sure what the hell to think, you running out here accusing me of kissing,” He stopped shaking his head, “You know what, I don’t need this, short your own shit out.” Drathis turned to make his way back to Galaxy.

“I saw her put her hands through your hair.”

He halted mid-stride.

“I saw your marking, your ears.” She whispered in disbelief.

He didn’t move.

“I know what you are.”

“The fog tends to trick the eyes, you saw nothing.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

He turned to face her slowly, “What do you want from me?”

“The truth.”

“Fine, I am an elf, satisfied?” He said slowly in a low voice watching her.

“I know, I mean I saw, I just don’t understand how.” She neared him her violet eyes searching his.

“Well usually when two opposites attract, they get together and,” He began to taunt linking his fingers about to demonstrate.

“Stop,” She snapped cutting him off. “Who are you?”

“You tend to ask that a lot, answer me this,” He stopped inches from her, “What are you going to do with the information?”

“Just give me your name.”

“Dray.”

“And I’m chopped liver, I want your full name.”

“Why?”

“Because I know what happened to the elves, and for a rouge like you to still be alive is impossible, someone would have caught you, somehow there would have been rumors about you or any tales of another elf being alive out there.”

“Rouge huh? I was caught,” he said in a low voice, she watched the pain in his eyes and wondered just what he meant by it, he looked so broken at that moment as if his comment went so much deeper than she could understand. She wanted to kick herself for even asking so much, yet she couldn’t help it, he looked so much like…

Her eyes went big as she stepped back studying him again, “You the one that snuck in the castle impersonating Galaleiath, I heard you were taken down to the dungeons,” She stopped connecting the dots, “Why didn’t he kill you?”

“I’m not that easy to kill.”

“You haven’t seen the man in battle.” She shrugged as if it was an obvious fact.

“Stop comparing me to him, we are nothing alike.”

“Does he know you’re an elf?” She asked ignoring the warning in his voice his eyes now unreadable at the mention of Galaleiaths name.

“Yes.”

“Does he know that,”

“Damnit women I will not be interrogated by you, I’m sure seeing another elf, as rare as we are is fascinating to you but I do not have the time to stand here and answer all your questions.” He snapped turning to walk back towards the camp. She watched him leave, her mind a whirlwind, she knew him she knew the memories were there, she just had to replace him in them, replace out who he was. Her heart was racing there was an urgency in her to tell him what she knew, tell him who she was if not that, then at least warn him before it was too late.

Stalking towards the campfire pissed from the women’s questions, Drathis picked up on rapid snorts and whining through the fog, he stopped listening to Galaxy’s panic then picked up his pace preparing for an attack, something was wrong.

“Why didn’t you fetch Sinira?” Ashleigh asked.

“Fetch her yourself, I am not your dog.” He grunted passing her, Galaxy came trotting towards them right into the fire kicking and stomping it out.

He spun towards the darkness scanning his surrounding, she wouldn’t be panicked for nothing, had his brother truly chased them down?

“What’s wrong?” Ashleigh whispered grabbing his arm for security, he ignored her trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness, the fog was still thick swirling around them yielding nothing.

A cracked twig had him pulling out his sword, it was glowing slightly at the tip and he wondered again at its properties, from what he could guess so far, it meant a supernatural threat.

“Who’s there?” He called out, but there was no reply.

After a couple of long agonizing moments, he heard a low stuttering growl, deep and hungry drifted towards them, followed soon after by other creatures chuffing.

“Get in the carriage, now.” He whispered to Ashleigh

“But,”

“Do it now!” He snapped, she recoiled from his arm at the tone in his voice running to the carriage locking herself in.

Good girl, he thought turning back to the hissing, the fog now beginning to show its hidden demons. He spotted a few sets of eyes, at first, he thought them to be wild animals, but these eyes were different, unnatural. He stood his ground counting the numbers, there had to be at least eight sleek muscled shadows stalking towards him.

The deep growls continued till finally, the fog parted enough to reveal ten monstrous snow leopards.

He didn’t breathe; usually, this would have been something easy to outrun leaving neither side hurt, he could respect an animal trying to keep strangers off their land; looking closer he saw their spines lined with black spikes from their lower backs to between their colorless eyes, their eyes were circled with shinning brown spots, no pupils, they had been so well camouflaged with the iced ground.

There was no way they were just freaks of nature, these belonged to someone, and they were hunting with a purpose.

“Galaxy.” He called softly, but she was already at his side. He watched the large cats reaching his mid-waist in height creep nearer, canines extended.

“The moment I jump on your back, they going to charge, I need you to get me to the waterfall.” He whispered stepping back slowly to her side as she snorted her response ready when he was. Holding his breath, he raised his free hand to grab her mane and one of the leopards responded by taking a quick few steps forward snarling intensifying.

“Go.” He swung onto her back and she took off towards the water.

Within minutes, they were nearing the river the beasts hot on their tail, “Grab my hand.” He called out to a surprised Sinira; she did without hesitation swinging up behind him wrapping her arms around his waist tightly.

“What’s going on,” She called in alarm “What are those!” She watched with horror as the large beasts tried to keep up with Galaxy snapping at her hind legs narrowly missing.

“I’m not sure,” Drathis twisted Galaxy away as one leaped for them, he brought his sword up to block it, and the leopard bit down on steel just missing its mark, hind leg claws digging into his thigh, Drathis shoved it back wincing at the pain or perhaps it was the sound of its teeth scraping along the blade.

Sinira pulled back from holding his waist retrieving a small dagger from her corset slicing at its throat, it shrieked falling to the ground being trampled by its group.

“I have never seen such cats!” She said to him before sucking in a breath of fright, “Dray!”

Drathis went rigid looking behind him following her eyes, a part of him expected to see the Gorgoknights, but instead, something nearly as eery was manifesting behind them; the beasts were altering, shifting into large birds lifting off into the frigid air coming up above them.

“Well, that’s new.” He mumbled.

Galaxy picking up on the transformed threat changed direction, circling away from the main road back towards the thickets of trees.

“I don’t think Zitex possesses this type of magic.” She called out holding onto him tightly, despite the danger touching him brought her a feeling of hope as if everything would be alright as long as he was there.

“No, defiantly not.” This had Dimas written all over it, they must have been sent to track him down and had been waiting for him to leave Zitex. He wondered instead if these beasts were sent after him by his brother, but doubted it. Galaleiath would most probably wish to kill him, himself.

Sinira watched him swing his sword repeatedly at the claws diving for them, from what she could only describe being a spiked harpy eagle parting through the fog with its lifeless eyes, dropping down on them through the darkness. It was one of the most terrifying things she had ever seen, one moment there about to kill them, the next hidden by the mask of fog no sign of where they might attack next.

“Now would be a good time for a little help.” He grunted ducking another set of claws as Galaxy skidded on the snow avoiding heavy beating wings trying to claw her neck.

“I can’t kill these animals.”

“They not normal animals!”

“But, they might just be possessed normal animals!” She protested hearing the doubt in her own voice.

“Sinira!” He grunted finally killing one, “I need you to use whatever witchy spells you have to roast these birds, now!”

Large talons sunk into Galaxies hind quarter causing her to snort and buck with protest, Drathis reached back to steady Sinira, but she had already been thrown off.

Drathis turned her around racing back for Sinira when two came diving for him, swinging his sword it connected with the creature and the impact had him lose his balance falling from Galaxy.

He landed on his shoulder half-winded but unable to take a breath as his foot was still hooked in the saddle’s stirrup being dragged forward, teeth snapped inches from his neck, he could do nothing as Galaxy leaped into the river taking him down with her.

The water hit him like a thousand iced needles spinning and twisting him in its powerful current, pulling into himself he finally unhooked his boot for the stirrup bursting to the surface for air. Against his will, they were dragged down the river and he kicked for the side of the bank just missing it each time. Pulling him under again he forced himself to the side till he finally grabbed a hold of a tree root looping out of the bank. Gripping onto it he pulled back to the side heaving himself up searching the choppy mass of water for Galaxy, but he couldn’t see her.

“Galaxy!” He called shivering uncontrollably but his voice was lost over the sound of rushing water. An electrical storm crackled behind and he turned to see Sinira circled by a few snow leopards. He looked back at the river torn between trying to replace Galaxy or saving the women, a growl was the only warning he received before being attacked.

* * * SINIRA* * *

Reaching her magical limit Sinira held her right arm as her hand slowly fisted, the power flowing out her palm used the thick air around them to create a static charge, electrifying the three nearest to her. They wailed in pain crumpling to the ground, and she watched the currents run through them, one mid yelp having her magic flow from within it out the leopard’s mouth killing it. She did a quick glance around looking for the remaining few till she heard hisses and snapping jaws followed by a man’s grunts.

Sinira took a step forward on wobbly legs, she hadn’t used this much power in such a short space of time before and she could feel the clouds of a deep dreamless sleep crawling at her, willing her to stop and rest.

“Dray?” She called out instantly cringing at the mistake, but the beasts ignored her clearly focused on him, why she wasn’t sure. Even with her, it seemed odd the way they had kept attacking her but seeming distracted as if looking for him. She still couldn’t see very well and her heated breath in the cold night just added to the obstruction, slowly nearing the commotion she nearly squealed when heavy hoofs rushed past her, a dark horse splashing her with iced water flying off its wet body.

Who was this elf that had such a target on his head?

A pained cry rang through the night and panic filled her at the sound of his suffering. Ignoring the sluggishness in her muscles she ran forward holding her dagger close nearly tripping over his abandoned sword. She bent down to grab it but it hummed lighting up threatening to burn her. A heavy thud and more groans were heard and she wasted no more time racing towards him leaving the sword behind.

* * * DRATHIS * * *

Drathis had his arm wrapped around a leopard’s neck pulling it back towards him squeezing with all his might suffocating it. Another charged at him biting into his thigh as he raised his leg to kick at it, the surge of pain rushed through him feeding him with adrenaline, finally allowing him to snap the neck of the beast in his grip. Releasing it he groaned as it flopped to the ground slowly retracting the spikes that it had sunk into his side and arm.

He kicked again at the one releasing his thigh, his boot powerfully hitting the beast in the throat sending it flying backward. Hissing with the discomfort he forced himself up looking at the remaining leopard watching him with determination. They looked at each other a long moment till the one he had kicked came silently up behind it, they looked at each other then back at him flattening their ears, lips pulling back displaying an impressive number of deadly teeth. Having dropped his sword, he took slow shivering steps back looking for anything he could use against them when he heard hooves rushing towards them.

Looking through the fog he heard the nearing snorting of Galaxy, she charged at the leopards momentarily paralyzed in shock, she didn’t hesitate to raise up onto her hind legs bringing her front hooves down hard, crushing the one underneath her weight.

“Dray!”

He turned to the voice seeing a stumbling figure through the fog and unrealistic fear of her bring hurt gripped him starting towards her he stopped, looking back at Galaxy hearing the cracking of bones under her powerful hooves.

“Dray!” She called again nearing him, he turned to see her spotting the blade in her hand and grabbed her pulling her into him for safety taking the blade, facing back towards the last leopard trying to get around Galaxy to him.

He threw the blade watching it spin through the air sinking into the side of the beast’s head.

* * * SINIRA * * *

Sinira watched the blade kill the beast then back up to the man holding her, but he was not looking at her, his eyes were scanning the trees anticipating another attack, listening for any more sounds. After what felt a lifetime, she spotted Galaxy drop her head towards the ground sniffing the dead beast, and a huge uneven sigh left the man behind her, his grip around her waist releasing.

“Are you ok?” She turned to face him recalling his pained cry earlier.

“Fine, you?” He said giving her a once over.

“I’m ok.” She whispered noticing now the man was soaking wet some of the darker liquid, not water; he was trembling from the cold and she could actually see frost forming at the tips of his wet hair. “You hurt and freezing, we need to make a fire before you get hypothermia.” She touched his shoulder gently.

“Fun fact about us elves, we heal fast.” He smiled down at her, his black wet hair falling across his face. She stilled at the sight watching his brilliant green eyes through the dark mass of thick hair, he looked like a god flawless and so desirable, she recalled their earlier conversation and wondered if such a man would ever let her kiss him.

Galaxy stomped the ground and the hypnotic jade eyes left hers looking in the horse’s direction, she watched his jaw tremble as another wave of shivers ran through him, stubborn man.

* * * DRATHIS * * *

He limped towards the Galaxy noticing the leopard slowly losing its fur and spots dissolving, he looked at the other nearby starting to do the same. Bending down pulling the dagger out of the transforming beast flipping it back, he prepared for another attack, but through the sound of his chattering teeth, he heard no heartbeats from them.

They watched as slowly the dead transformed back into ordinary men dressed in black uniforms.

“Is that the Black Maser?” Sinira asked looking down closer at the emblem engraved into a shoulder plate.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” He lied leaving them to retrieve his sword, his body was sore. The constant tremble had his muscles pulling in spasm, he needed to make another fire before he did freeze and tend to his wounds, he was sure a tooth was stuck in his thigh. Damnit, every time he thought he was out of her reach, the queen had something else planned, what else was she to send his way to capture him before she came after him herself? Was there no end to her madness? What if those spies had caught him, would they have dragged him all the way back to her?

Once back at the camp he sighed finally heating himself up near the fire, pulling his shirt and jacket off he groaned in pain again hanging them on a branch closet to the flames to dry.

“Here,” Sinira handed him a blanket from inside the carriage, he took it watching Ashleigh still sitting inside not willing to exit.

“The fire is warm,” He tried to offer, but she shook her head pulling the door shut.

“She has had a bit too much excitement for now.” Sinira slurred with a weak smile.

“What’s wrong?” Drathis asked grabbing her as she swayed.

“Nothing, I’m just tired.” She shook her head, “I need to rest, we both do.”

“Someone has to keep watch, go sleep.” He nodded his eyes pointing at the carriage, a silent demand for her to go in. heading back to the fire with his blanket trying to heat himself up he sank to the floor less gracefully than he intended his pained thigh causing him to lose his footing, landing on his ass with a hard thud.

Galaxy raised her head looking at him then nestled her snout back down against her chest resting on all fours on the other side of the fire.

“What?” Drathis asked the horse irritated.

“It was just amusing that’s all.” A giggle came from Sinira nearing them.

“I think there is still a tooth stuck in my thigh.”

“Let me help.”

“I’m not incompetent, and your exhausted look at you.” He said trying to keep the bite out of his voice, she really did look drained, dark circles were under her eyes and every blink took longer to reopen her eyes. But she was a stubborn one and he watched her walk right up to him kneeling by his leg.

“Yes, using so much magic in such a short amount of time drains me, but you saved our lives, the least I can do is assist.” She pointed at his thigh waiting for him to let her.

“I really don’t,”

“I know.” She cut him off watching his trembling body. “But I want to.”

They stared at each other, till she saw him nod once looking back at the fire. She crept nearer placing her hand on his thigh where his pants were ripped open.

“You ice cold.” She commented pulling her hand back from the half-frozen stiff fabric.

“Hence the fire.” He said and she could hear the chatter of his teeth. Wasting no more time she went back to his thigh using the hem of her dress to wipe the blood away gently, he tensed under her touch watching her with slight unease.

She spotted the tooth and placed her left hand firmly on his leg above it preparing to pull it, “Don’t move.”

“No promises.” He replied as she put her fingers into the wound trying to grip the root of the tooth, he groaned placing both hands on either side of his thigh. Her fingers kept slipping from the blood, “Got it.” She smiled yanking it from his leg.

“You’re enjoying this?” He frowned after a final pained grunt watching the smile on her face.

“Holy cow, look at the size of this thing.” She held it up to the firelight; the tooth was almost the length of her fingers, “No wonder you fell on your ass.” She giggled chucking it into the fire.

“Thank you.” He whispered pulling tighter into himself, the trembling hadn’t eased up and she wondered if perhaps he would let her help a bit more.

“You’re not heating up.”

“I know.”

She looked around working on a plan, all they had was the blanket on him, there was only one way and things were already awkward with this gorgeous man, no an elf! She had almost forgotten that fact!

“Why don’t you use your powers to heal yourself?” She asked softly, he blinked seeming to recall now that she knew what he was.

“My powers are,” lost? How was he to answer that, he didn’t recall how to use them properly, being trapped in a dungeon most of your life would make you lose yourself to. “It’s complicated, it's better this way.” He pulled the blanket closer to him rubbing his sniffing nose into the fabric trying to warm it.

Without warning she got to her feet to stand before him leaning down into his personal space, taking her cloak off and swinging it over his shoulders covered with the blanket, securing the hood over his head.

“What are you doing!” He frowned leaning back, but she ignored him coming closer, climbing onto his lap pushing her back into his chest raising her arms to pull his outstretched arms inwards, folding them over hers pulling the blanket around them again.

“You have hyperthermia, body heat is all that will help right now.” She whispered wrapping his arms around her middle.

Drathis went still, his shivering the only thing reminding him that he was alive.

* * * SINIRA * * *

Wrapped up in the arms of this mysterious elf she almost forgot how or breathe, her heart was racing, she couldn’t believe she had done it. Sitting on his lap she tried to control her breathing; he was taller than her and much broader packed with muscles, it had been the only logical choice, she couldn’t picture herself wrapping around him like a pet monkey clinging on, but being held by him, even though she had forced him to, did odd things to her stomach.

He was intoxicating and she wanted more, any other man any other day would have been left by the fire to heat himself, but she had wanted to hold him just to see what it would feel like, and they fitted like a glove.

She felt him finally relaxing a bit closing his iced hands over hers pulling her in closer for warmth, that act alone had her filled with butterflies. She had truly expected him to protest, fight with her again at least.

“You will ruin your dress, I’m still bleeding.” He whispered burying his face into her neck the tremble in his body still strong.

“It will wash out.” She sucked in a breath at his cold nose against her skin followed by his warm breaths, she couldn’t think straight, all she wanted to do was turn to face him, nothing else existed at that moment.

He snorted a small laugh and a shiver ran down her spine at his deep husky voice, who was he? She was about to ask, really, she was, but her eyes kept drooping giving in to sleep.

How could she sleep! Her body was charged, warm, and in the arms of the most gorgeous example of a male god.

She just needed to heat him up a bit more than she would go back to the carriage, she tried to believe the lie denying the fact that she never wanted to move. After a few minutes, his trembling had slowed to small ones at random intervals and his breathy had become heavier, hypnotic along with the crackling sounds from the fire, it was so very cosy.

“Dray?” She whispered, but he didn’t respond, her head drooped again and despite her best efforts she just couldn’t resist the call of sleep.