Io's sides heaved raggedly as she lay under a knobby broken tree. Black blood wet the surrounding ground, turning the once green grass a deep shade of emerald. Bone played peek-a-boo through deep gashes across her ribs and shoulders, the scales curled chaotically at the edges of the garish wounds.
Just this alone, she could have dealt with, painful as it was, but what got to her was that two of her legs lay in unnatural positions. Walking just this far had been hellish, but it had been necessary to get out of the way of the blood lake that was forming under the colossus and talk to her about the meaning of torture. This was worse than her time physically in The Tunnels.
'So this is it?' Io thought hazily as she eyed the dead prehistoric-like creature from her good eye, the other had swollen shut, and given the massive amount of pain she felt, the socket was broken as well if not shattered. 'Worth it though,' she managed with a slightly less than a toothy grin. Her beloved siblings were safe. Thinking over the days-long battle, she couldn't help herself when her toothy grin turned into a snarl. Come after her family, would ya? Hmph, fine, but better expect to lose your life before laying one hand, er claw on her little monsters.
Not to mention that the damn thing was seven or eight stories tall and built like a damn armored tank from the pictures she had seen in the books. It may have looked crocodilian, but the sheer thickness of the scales had been insane. Those plates had been the hardest parts to break off, let alone not mention she'd had to avoid the sharp spines that grew from its joints. Teeth almost the size of Io herself and claws big enough to mash her into compost.
She had struggled for hours with the one plate on its belly close to the armpit where it would be difficult to reach and hard to grind her into pulp. She could create a gap big enough to dig and dig, but it had been difficult. If the beast wasn't rolling, it was slapping at her, striking out with its claws or club tail. Before it could even get that far Io had kite'd the fucker for a whole, pissing it off time and time again to get it to stray from the mountain. Io had gained valuable information from this, though. The timing was too convenient between Eden's hatching and the colossus tracking them down.
Io frowned as she thought about repeated attempts the monster had made to head towards where she had stashed her siblings. 'Why would it go after them?' She wondered. From its actions, the monster's aggressive behavior was certainly not in favor of her family, but she just couldn't figure out what they had done to aggravate the giant.
It had been merely a speck on the horizon when they had initially noticed it. Given thirty, thirty-five minutes to get to, stash, and camouflage her siblings, it had been less than two kilometers away. Io was just grateful that Dagan and Sorcha had hatched underground. Maybe that was the secret and other creatures couldn't pick up on the scent or whatever gave away Eden's hatching. Io's brows furrowed. That creature had been too far away to pick up on Eden's hatching by scent, right?
Was it truly Eden that had attracted that thing's attention, though? It made no sense, but then what about Dagan and Sorcha then? More and more questions circled endlessly as her mind grew sluggish. The ground under her was completely black and as the blood trickled out of her onto the dirt below, the black pool looked as if it were a shadow stretching and growing. Io's sight dimmed, which scared her to bits.
She couldn't fall asleep here and the only thing that could pull her out of it? Letting out a huff, Io tried getting up only to fall back down when she accidentally put weight on her broken limbs. She couldn't help to bite down hard, drawing even more blood. Io cringed, swallowing the blood-accompanied roar back down. It was enough that she was bleeding so much, but at least the colossus's blood lake overpowered the scent of her blood, but if she howled her pain, then there was a possibility that she might attract predators in her weakened state.
'You can't die here Io, they need you. Who will take care of them? Sorcha, Dagan, and Eden need you. If you die, you are killing them!' Io screamed internally as she let out a ragged muffled while pushing herself to stand up again. The pain was like a black hole engulfing her very being. 'Io keep going!' She gritted her fangs and went to take a step, but nothing happened. Blood ran down her jagged scales and matted fur onto the ground below like beautiful obsidian gems, gleaming in the moonlight. 'Io you have to move,' she yelled at herself. Io moved to step forward with her broken front leg, but nothing happened.
'IO, YOU ARE GOING TO KILL THEM IF YOU DIE HERE! YOU PROMISED THEM! ALWAYS!' Io at this point couldn't help but let out a resounding roar of anguish as she put weight onto her broken front leg, and slowly started making her way back to the den where she had left her heart. Her life. Her very reason for breathing. One step. Two steps. With every step forward, Io whimpered. She did her best to step quickly on her broken legs and lengthen her gait, but it was to no avail in maintaining her balance, not when she had a broken front and back leg.
It wasn't easy. Many times Io fell further jarring her wounds, but when it began raining, she felt like hell had opened up its gates and sent a welcome party in the guise of softened earth below her paws, making it not only slippery but difficult to coordinate with her hampered sense of balance.
Io could feel her sanity slipping, driven away by the sheer agony. Bones poked out of the skin on her front leg and her shoulder bones rubbed against the gash on her shoulder making it wider. Io knew that she would get to her little monsters, but as for what state, that was the concern. That night long ago when she had gotten the Mend from The Tart's Pie, she had been in a blood frenzy when she left. She was scared now that if she lost to the fury rising, the agony that pounded into her sanity that she would lose herself.
The bone broke in half when Io took another step forward and Io went down with a crash and she let out a howl of agony. Io stood up once again, her vocal cords raw and blood dribbled down her muzzle from where she had bitten herself. Io stepped forward. She could not keep the broken leg completely off the ground and her mind was overstimulated beyond all reason, narrowed down to a mere pinprick. Dagan, Sorcha, and Eden. She would get back to them even if she had to drag herself there and eventually that ended up being the case when three hours into her trek back, her other leg finally gave way. That night, the animals hid from the unknown maddened creature that drug itself over rock and soil, letting out a mixture of furious roars and anguished howls.
Miles away, three little monsters huddled together. Dagan and Eden each held tightly Sorcha's arms to prevent her from dashing after Io. After that first night, Sorcha was inconsolable. Dagan was looking at the wall on his side with, teethed clench tightly as his black claws sank into the soft skin of his palms. Eden noticed the smell of fire first and gently clasped Dagan's fists, turning it upwards, with a gentle of gold against black, Dagan unclenched his fists, revealing ragged cuts. Eden frowned in displeasure at the sight of lava welling up in Dagan's palm.
Currently, Sorcha was sleeping, exhausted by the attempts to run follow Io. Eden glanced over Dagan from under long black eyelashes. Ever since their awakening, it was these two who had comforted them the most, the beast that Dagan told Eden about was supposed to be their sister, but Eden didn't understand why. Thinking back on yesterday's events, Eden knew Io had wanted to kill them before they came out of their egg. Eden had clearly sensed it. The sheer bloodlust that Io had directed towards Eden felt like she had been choking them.
---
Desperate to escape Eden tried shaking their egg more and more, only for the sensation to stop when they felt two of their kind. Just as those bonds snapped into being, they felt the warmer of the two bonds telling the monster to stop. When the bloodlust receded, they had enough peace of mind to actually hear the voices talking to them. It was muffled from the layer of rock that had kept them safe but that voice. It was only then that they felt safe enough to come out.
When Eden had hatched, the first thing they saw was 'Snow'. The shaking had not been appreciated, but Snow's touch had been cool and refreshing, however, Snow was not the one that Earth was looking for, nor did the bond that they had formed with Snow as strong as the bond to the other.
Just as Earth was beginning to wonder where the warmer bond was, they noticed the beast that had wanted them dead was struggling and snarling to get out of the ice that trapped it. They were about to grab Snow and make a run for it. The warm bond vibrated just as 'Fire' appeared. With a flash of shark-like teeth, Fire had ripped Snow off Earth and quickly checked for any injury.
They was could feel their heart pound. Fire was so pretty. If Earth had to liken Garnet to a stone, then Garnet would be Fire's descriptor, from its yellows to vibrant reds. Fire was a stunning sight to behold with their wild red, should-length hair, dark grey skin, brilliant orange scales, and yellow eyes.
When Fire had spoken to Earth, they snapped back to attention. While they were sidetracked, their would-be killer walked up to them. When Snow and Fire stayed relaxed at the monster's approach, they forced themself to calm down as well. Who knew what the situation was like, and Earth did not want to put Fire or Snow at risk.
The monster was so close that Earth could feel its breath. Just as they were getting ready to attack the beast scented them and put its forehead against theirs. What was it doing? Sure the beast had done the same thing to Fire and Fire had let it, but that didn't mean that this creature was innocent in its purpose.
Why were Fire and Snow so calm? Had this beast tricked them or something? Earth tensed up but just as quickly as they relaxed. Ok, let's see what it wants. Maintaining a dazed expression, Earth stretched nonchalantly while keeping an eye on the beast from under long black eyelashes. It had not displayed any aggression since Earth had hatched, which was fine, but Earth veered on the side of caution, keeping a firm mental grasp on the roots that lurked underground. 'Fine, we shall see what you are up to then,' Earth decided.
After receiving their name from the beast of all things!!! Earth- no Eden, looked at the Sorcha and Dagan's sparkling eyes and guessed what they wanted. 'Fine, fine.' Eden grumbled internally before hugging the smooth muzzle, careful of the fangs that peeked out here and there. 'If it eats me, you two are dead. Telling me it's safe to come out when you have not yet dealt with this predator.' The brother and sister had just joined in on the hug when the earth began to shake.
---
BOOOOOM!
Animals fled, birds flocked away and Eden could feel the earth trembling, the feet sinking deeply into the earth, and the wail of the trees as they perished because of the colossal creature headed their way. For Eden. For Sorcha and Dagan too. This creature had picked up on the wave the trio had made when they had bonded connected to Eden.
Eden's eyes widened, their dazed expression quickly disappearing in front of the behemoth that was coming this way to destroy them all. They panicked. Eden was just not strong enough to protect themself, not to mention Sorcha and Dagan as well. Those two weren't even able to protect themselves either, judging from their actions! How was Eden going to keep them safe?
It would be best to run. Maybe Dagan, Sorcha, and Eden could find a river nearby to whisk them downstream, away from here. That just might work. Eden let out a gasp when the beast wrapped them, Sorcha, and Dagan in her tail and deposited them onto her back. Eden toyed with the idea of phasing a stone from the dust in the air to stab the beast if it tried anything funny when Sorcha climbed over to get behind him. Sorcha forced him to wrap his small lotus-like arms around her waist just as Dagan pressed against Eden's back and reach over their legs to grab the fur next to Sorcha's hips. Dagan tugged at the hair and both siblings tensed as the beast sprinted away from their current location in a smooth distance-eating run.
When they had reached a decently sized den, the beast had lifted them off her back, carefully put them down, and slathered them in mud. Before stupidly calling, challenging the colossus. Great, just great. Eden and Dagan had had their hands full with Sorcha wanting to run after 'Io.' Eden scoffed at the duo. Did they not understand? What kind of creature would forsake its own development of another species?
They waited for that patiently that first day. Eden felt hope as their chances of survival grew when the colossus turned and went, although reluctantly, in another direction. After that first night had passed, Eden was okay with waiting, but after the third, with no sight of the colossus returning, now more than ever was the time to escape.
It was at this point that Dagan, Sorcha, and Eden had argued over extensively. Ultimately, though, Eden won the argument. Angered by the doubt of one of their own kind versus an apex predator of unknown origin. Eden finally agreed. "Fine, you believe Io will come back. What if Io is dead? Would she want you to wait here forever? To die here? How long are we supposed to wait?"
Sorcha crossed her arms, cheeks puffed in anger, while Dagan stared moodily at the entrance. "Io promised us!" Sorcha yelled. "Never aban- aband, ugh, never leave us! Always!!!"
"Yeah, Io promised." Dagan chucked in, his yellow cat eyes still burning from the fury when Eden argued that Io was not one of them and that they did not belong together.
"Fine. I will stay. You will stay and when the colossus here. We will all die!" Eden retorted angrily as they finished cleaning and wrapping Dagan's palms with the various plants that Eden had grown to make the cave more comfortable during the night.
"Io won't!" The duo simultaneously roared back.
At the end of the second day in that cave, the trio split. Eden was off one side while Sorcha and Dagan sat together on the other.
As the third day passed, Sorcha made remarks about going out and finding Io. Eden brought up leaving for a safer place only to be glared at by the duo until Eden gave in.
By the fourth day, Eden and Dagan had consoled a desolate Sorcha.
On the fifth day, thunderous roars of the colossus reverberated through the mountain range. Sorcha was fed up with waiting and wanted to seek Io while Dagan stoically watched the cave entrance for Io.
The thunderous roars had continued through the night and into the sixth day. During the afternoon, Sorcha had made a run for the entrance, yelling about how something was wrong and that Io needed their help. Dagan had to remind Sorcha over and over about their golden rule, 'When Io stashes you, park your ass.'
As with the last two days, the roars from the colossus continued, only it began to weaken until it eventually stopped altogether by nightfall on the seventh day. At this point, Dagan, who hadn't spoken since the day before, clung to Sorcha's arm to keep her from leaving and while Eden understood their fierce loyalty to Io, Eden helped Dagan keep Sorcha from running. Together they both talked Sorcha through her grief. As difficult as was for Eden to comprehend their bond with Io, Eden did not want either Dagan or Sorcha hurting any more than they already were. Eden didn't want to admit it to themself either, but there was a faint hope that maybe Io had not abandoned them, but had indeed sought the colossus to keep them safe as the twins said.
The night of the eighth day, Eden spoke to Dagan over the sleeping Sorcha, "Dagan, I know you believe Io will come back, but what if she doesn't? What then? If we don't leave here, we will die ourselves. The colossus is gone but us waiting here is only going to get us killed. Rather, it is by other monsters or starvation. How long do you expect us to wait?" Dagan shifted and looked at Eden, the exhaustion visible, but how haunted his yellow cat-like eyes look tugged at Eden's heart.
It wasn't just that either. Sorcha was getting thinner, her opalescent scales dimming from a soft luminescent to a dull white. Thus far, they had made due by foraging off of the various fruits and vegetables that Eden could grow, but they needed some meat soon. They were just too young to go without vital nutrients so soon.
"We wait Eden. Io no die. Io promised." The boy said in a raspy voice. Eden's red eyes narrowed as they maintained eye contact with the Dagan only to see his steadfast determination.
"Fine. However, if the both of you pass out, don't blame me for dragging you out from here." Eden said coldly before turning back to stare at the entrance. The rest of the day passed in silence. Dagan and Eden only got up when they needed to get some water for themselves or Sorcha before sitting back down again, each taking comfort in the other's presence.
Just as the three moons were making their way across the sky, Dagan and Eden heard movement from outside the cave. After making eye contact to confirm that they had both heard the sound. Dagan woke up Sorch quietly.
"Sorch, Sorch, wake up. White." Dagan whisper as he gently shook his sister's arm.
"Get up Sorcha, you need to get ready to run," Eden murmured, as they gently rub their dampened claws against her face.
"Mmm? What?" The little ice cube asked blearily.
"White. Maybe black. Maybe Io" Dagan responded as he got up. Eden glared at Dagan.
"You don't know that whatever that's making that noise is Io. It's probably a monster looking for dinner!" They whispered-yelled at Dagan angrily over the potentially precarious situation they were in.
'If only they had listened, then they would not be in this situation. Fuck!' Eden cursed internally. Eden was too weak to use their abilities in an actual fight for any length of time. It was enough to grab something and hold it while they made a getaway or grew small things for food, but being able to dynamically handle a battle was just too much for Eden right now. The twins couldn't stably control their skills yet either and reacted to difficult situations instead of taking action to control for the most part.
The sound grew closer and closer. Eden tensed up, "Dagan, if it isn't Io we have to get away from here. It is dangerous. Take Sorcha and run. I will distract it." Dagan looked at Eden before slowly stating, "We will not leave you behind, just like Io did not leave us behind."
Eden stared at Dagan, but the little flame only stared back. Yellow clashed with red and held until a tired ice cube broke her way through between the two.
"Eden, we wait for Io."
"Arggggh. Sorcha, what if Io doesn't come back? What if she died? Are we supposed to die here? Is that what you think Io would want? Us just to die here after she sacrificed herself to keep us safe!" By the time Eden was, they were yelling. For some odd reason, their eyes were blurry. Eden hiccupped as they rub their hands across their face.
Sorcha looked at Dagan both hugged Eden, telling them it was all going to be okay, they were here, and that Eden was safe. After a few Eden got a hold of themself, Dagan responded to Eden.
"We know. It's scary. We dunno' when Io comes back, but Io, Io doesn't break promises.