"No!" Zenith screamed, scrambling and clawing his stone off of the ground before he began rushing towards the rising smoke, watching as massive plumes of black ash rose into the sky, before gently falling back down like a crisp grey snow. Tears welled in Zenith's eyes in response to the smoke, as the acid-like air ripped at his lungs and made him barely able to stumble onto the beach without gasping for air.
He looked up at the fire ahead, staring hopelessly at the ship which Zenith had once called his home. Thick flames engulfed the entire vessel, causing ropes and buckles to snap, while the mast crumbled down and tipped into the ocean. Zenith could see flickers of gold, pink and blue from within the flames, highlighting the burning treasures which the crew had come to love. As Zenith stopped and fell to his knees, he screamed out into the open air, praying for it all to be a dream. But then, something new washed up on shore.
Pip's silky gold bandana washed up within the waves, singed and still flaming at the edge. Zenith reached out and pulled it from the water, dampening the flame and pulling the fabric close while he stared up at the crumbling ship ahead of him. He held out his signal stone, tears dripping down his face while he waited for the red light to diminish.
He had failed. He had failed once again. Their ship was gone and Pip had fallen with it. Zenith couldn't even speak as the tears of grief took over, consuming his entire body with the crushing weight of guilt and failure.
His father was right; he was useless.
"Zenith!" A voice called out, as the swordsman turned to see Elez landing at his side. The Angel boy had also stared at their fallen home, but his crewmate's life was what shook him to his core. "Where's Pip?" He mumbled, only to receive a shallow sob from Zenith as he held up the Fox boy's bandana.
"I couldn't save him… I should have stayed… I'm useless." Zenith mumbled, barely able to stand on his shaking legs.
"That's not true." Elez said, reaching down and pulling him up from the ground. "It's my fault too. In fact it's all of our faults. But you are not useless." He stated, holding Zenith's shoulders and glaring at him directly in the eye.
"I can't protect any of you…" He sighed, looking down at the sand while Elez gripped his shoulders tightly.
"That's just a straight up lie." The Angel hissed. "You're the strongest guy I know, and I also know damn well that you'll be ready to kick the ass of whoever did this."
"Footprints…" Zenith mumbled, staring at the floor with widened eyes.
"Huh?" Elez replied, looking down at the ground and following Zenith's stare. Packed down in the silky sand, there were dozens of footprints covering the entire shore, leading off into the forest with a strangely shaped, shallow trench following their direction.
"It looks like they were dragging something." Zenith said, pulling away from Elez and crouching down near the inch deep trench.
"It couldn't be our gold, we took all of that with us." Elez hummed. "And it's too thin to be a bag full of weapons; too shallow to be clothes."
"Maybe a body?" Zenith questioned, looking at the frayed and random edges.
"Not a dead one," Elez replied, pointing to the signs of struggle. "They tried to escape a few times… So maybe an animal due to the size of it?" He asked, looking up at Zenith as both of their eyes went wide with realisation.
"Pip!" They yelled, scrambling away from the beach as they raced after the scrappy footprints, searching around in the forest nearby and hoping for clues to the young boy's location.
Meanwhile, deep in the forests near the beachside, a large band of low level pirates were setting up a bonfire and pitching their cotton tents. Their higher level crewmates had been hunting most of the day, and they were the ones who slept in the comfortable town houses and luscious island mansion. But, since the pirates in question were mere soldiers, they were tasked with protecting the island and burning down any ships that got close, all while sleeping in the woods to build character and strength.
"So, what do we do with the runt?" One of them asked, catching the attention of the eleven others as they turned to the tree nearby. Tied up to that very tree trunk, Pip sat in a daze of fear and confusion, unable to see through the blinding sunlight that simmered through the canopy as well as the crackling flames of his captors bonfire.
"Well we can't kill him," another cut in. "The Captain has a no kill rule with children."
"That's true, but it was only him aboard the ship. We could use him as bait for the rest of his crew." A final soldier replied, stepping towards the boy as Pip cowered back in fear of the unknown. His eyes were so sensitive to the light around him, that he was practically blind during the sunlit daytime. Thankfully though, nightfall would eventually come, allowing Pip to make a quick escape if needed.
"How do we bait the others though? Should we tie him up in the centre of town?" Another questioned, as the main leader of the group pulled out a knife and began cutting Pip's restraints.
"Sounds like a great idea." He smiled, reaching down to grab Pip's arm before the boy sensed his presence and transformed, biting down on the delicate skin of the soldier's arm as the man screamed in pain and horror. Pip backed up at the sound, growling and hissing in his tiny fox form, unable to see the shocked faces of the other pirates.
"Ha ha! Andres got bit by a child!" One said, before others joined in and let out a hollar of happy laughter.
"Shut up!" Andres screamed, turning back to them as he brandished his blade in an attack read hold. All while blood dripped quickly down his forearm. "It's just a kid. I could kill them whenever I want." He growled.
"Then do it," one of them encouraged, causing Pip to back up in fear while Andres hissed in annoyance.
"Fine," he growled, turning towards the fox. "It doesn't really count if he's a familiar anyways." He muttered, spinning his blade in his hand as he carefully approached the boy. "Stand still and this won't hurt a bit." Andres chuckled, raising his hand as he prepared to throw his blade. Just as he flicked his wrist though, and the knife began spinning towards Pip, a sword flew right into it, striking it midair before slamming into a tree and shattering the metal of the blade with ease.
"Hey!" Zenith growled, stepping into the clearing with a rage fuelled bloodlust in his eyes. "That's my son you're picking on." He hissed, watching as Pip's ears perked up at the sound of his voice.
"Hold on guys," one of the soldiers shuddered. "That's Zenith," they squeaked. "That Dragon tamer!"
"Dragon Tamer!?" The others panicked, just as a massive shadow began blocking out the sun, casting over the clearing in which they stood and taking on the form of a massive winged beast.
"Run for your lives!!" One of them screamed, rushing off into the trees nearby, all while Zenith began his attack on the remaining group of pirates. Rushing across the clearing and ripping his sword out of the tree nearby, he brandished his blade and waited no more than a moment to strike.
"Guillotine!" He roared, causing his blade to explode with magic as he slashed it diagonally along the horizon, ripping through the bodies of the soldiers and all of the trees that once stood tall behind them. As the shadowy figure in the sky slowly descended and revealed themselves, the trees ahead of Zenith began to topple like dominoes, each one slashed deep by the cutting force of his blade and severed in half like butter. And with them - fell the headless bodies of the soldiers.
"Damn," Elez mumbled, landing down at Zenith's side as he looked out at the destruction he had caused. "And here I was thinking my dragon shadow puppet was cool." He muttered.
"It was good," Zenith said, sheathing his sword as he turned and slowly reached out for Pip, allowing his hand to gently brush the blinded boy's fur, before he reached down and pulled him into his arms. He did this to avoid scaring him, since Pip was prone to bite if something grabbed him out of the blue.
"Time to find Madison." Elez nodded, rising back into the air as he looked once more as the dozens of fallen trees. "I'll search the East side, you search the West. He nodded, before flapping his wings hard and darting towards the town nearby. But, for many moments, Zenith only stood and held Pip close.
"I'm so sorry," he told him, beginning his march towards the West side of town. "I should have stayed with you. I never would have forgiven myself if you got hurt." Zenith said, rubbing the small fox boy's ears while he looked up at the buildings that he approached. "I'm taking you with me now, everywhere." He explained. "I'll make a pouch that you can sit in as a fox while I walk." He continued, smiling at the thought of Pip's safety.
The small fox nodded in understanding and happiness, nuzzling into the fabric of Zenith's shirt while he rested his eyes and curled up into a tiny ball, thankful that he was safe once more. After noticing that Pip had calmed down though, Zenith stopped and swung his satchel bag around, before lifting up the flap and carefully sliding Pip's body inside. It was a tight fit with Zenith's bag of gold already packed inside, but Pip happily shuffled about and made room for himself to sleep, poking his head up under the flap and using the shade of the cover as protection for his eyes, allowing him to look out while staying hidden in the safety of Zenith's bag.
"Alright, time to hunt." Zenith nodded, before noticing that he was close to the map shop once again. Curiousity took over and he stepped towards the door, peeking inside once again but seeing nothing more than a lifeless room. Of course, all of the maps and papers were still there, but Zenith was puzzled as to why no shopkeepers stood at the desk.
The shop bell dinged as he stepped inside, filling Zenith with a nostalgic sense of home. When no reply came from his almost silent entrance though, the boy began looking around at the crowded room full of intricate maps and delicately handwrapped books.
"Hello?" He called out, listening for even the slightest rustle as a response. Which was ironically the exact noise he heard. Immediately, his body moved towards the sound, until he stepped up to a barricaded door near the back of the shop. "Is anyone in there?" He asked, shouldering the bookcase that was messily blocking the door, allowing no one to enter or exit while it stood there. Thankfully, Zenith was able to push it away, before pressing down on the handle and creaking open the old metal door.
"Who's there?" A girl's voice replied, one which was filled with uncertainty and fear.
"My name is Zenith." The swordsman replied, stepping into the dimly lit room and looking down upon the white haired woman that was seated before him. She seemed older than Zenith - but only by a few years, with short, silky, snow white hair that barely reached her shoulders. The room around her was barely lit by a candle, but Zenith could clearly see her pale blistered skin and paper cut hands. He stepped closer, but she moved away. "I won't hurt you, I just want to help." He explained, talking another step towards her as she stayed put and awaited his words.
"Why?" She asked, placing down her crimson pen and looking up to Zenith with a broken and confused stare. All around her sat maps and charts of every kind, depicting even the most dangerous of oceans that sat within the fabeled Red Circle.
"Because that's the kind of person I am," Zenith replied, reaching down to help her up, only to notice the chains that bound her ankle to her desk.
"You can't help me. They'll kill you." She said, turning away with a hurt expression, only to hear the distinct sound of shattering metal. She gasped and looked down at the floor, watching as her restraints fell effortless off her ankle, before her eyes turn up to look at Zenith sheathing his sword.
"Let's go," he smiled, holding out his hand towards the lady, only to receive a grateful and teary sob as a response, before she jumped up and hugged him tight.
"Thank you, thank you so much." She cried, holding onto Zenith as the boy slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"No problem, miss-"
"Haylee," she cut in. "My name is Haylee."