"What did you do?!" Inowyn shouted.
"I-I did nothing! I just touched his shoulder!" he answered.
I saw some vomit, and a small amount of blood seep from Ladon's mouth.
My hand almost slipped off the wolf's back, fear shaking my bones.
Prewana rushed in to inspect him. Tarwyn leaned in close as Inowyn joined her.
They turned Ladon over.
"That's definitely bile and blood," Inowyn said.
"Was he poisoned?" Tarwyn asked.
"It looks like it," Prewana answered. "I just don't know what kind. It must've been ingested."
"That would've been last night," Tarwyn said. "How's that—"
"I don't know Tjalin. I need to bring him to my study. I have every antidote and elixir in the book. And even if I don't, I have the book anyway; I can make it."
I felt something. It was ominous, like an invisible darkness was overshadowing Ladon. I slowly backed away with his wolf, though my body was reaching its limits. On accident, my mind peered into his. There was nothing but anger; a seething, molten rage.
Tarwyn leaned down, blocking my sight of Ladon. "Okay. I'll lift him up. Sister, carve the path."
"On it." She rushed to a nearby tree.
I outstretched my arm. "Wait! Don't, Tar—"
Suddenly I heard a powerfully loud clap, almost like a whip, as Tarwyn soared backward a few meters.
Inowyn stopped what she was doing and turned. "Brother!!" She left the tree.
Prewana quickly backed away, rushing to the edge of the platform.
I saw Ladon slowly roll over onto his front. His scaled arm lifted, first the elbow, extending to the wrist and hand, like a possessed doll, just before its fist slammed down into the floor, breaking the boards and shaking me off my feet. I would've fallen on more than just my rear if it wasn't for his wolf.
Slowly, his head hanging low, Ladon lifted himself up. I could see his face, an expression of pure rage. His eyes had changed from purple and red, to black and crimson, the bloody color almost seeming to glow from his irises."
Scales formed on my arms, legs, back, and parts of my abdomen.
Tarwyn gasped and coughed, trying to bring himself back up. "What in the hels! What kind of poison is this?! Ladon! Snap out of it!"
Inowyn reached him. She brought a pink starry rabbit out. It hopped past me, moving at an incredible speed.
Ladon turned to Tarwyn, and sprinted, yelling unintelligibly.
"What the—Inowyn, behind me!" He pulled his rapier out.
The two guards started to rush in.
"Don't make me—"
Ladon already reached him. Tarwyn attempted a thrust, but Ladon caught it, punching him in the side of his head powerfully. Tarwyn fell a meter to the side. Before his next fist could reach her, Inowyn created a powerful gust, slowing his advance and pushing herself away. The male guard got in range with a spear, but when he thrusted, Ladon broke it with the back of his hand, rushing in close, to the side, screaming as he punched the guard in the gut, launching him just next to me, barely conscious.
The female guard swung her swords, which almost did something thanks to Inowyn's winds at her back, holding him at bay somewhat.
"Don't hurt him!" I shouted.
"What are we supposed to do?!!" Tarwyn shouted, before coughing up some blood.
Prewana shouted from up above, on the starting platform. "It must be the poison! If I'm right, then he's unconcious! He won't remember any of this!"
A loud impact, and the female guard's back slammed into the railing, far away from him.
"He looks awake to me!" Inowyn shouted, continuously pushing in more and more wind with each hand.
"There's a difference! Trust me! His wolf isn't acting on any other will but to help the girl! His body may be awake, but not him!"
"So we knock him out?!" Tarwyn shouted.
"Yes! Or restrain him!"
Despite Inowyn's efforts, step by step, Ladon got closer to her, managed to push into range.
Just as he was about to strike, Tarwyn threw his rope, wrapping it around Ladon's arm. He pulled it taut. Tarwyn's arms shook like they were ready to give. "How…" he grunted, "strong… is he?!"
Ladon grabbed the rope with both hands and pulled, putting his whole body into it. Like he weighed nothing, Tarwyn flew across the platform, over Ladon and off the other side. He must've done something, because the rope pulled taut again, turning and restraining Ladon as the winds continued to blow.
Ladon was yelling furiously. Everything was only getting worse, as if the more they stopped him, the angrier he got. I watched him slowly pull harder and harder. The railing creaked, then screeched as it bent and snapped from the rope's pressure. The rope pulled up the boards in its path until Tarwyn was pulled through, getting sent into the air and slammed down as Ladon lost his balance. Tarwyn quickly shot up, but stumbled like a drunkard until his back found a tree to rest against.
Ladon got back up, slowly.
"We can't restrain him! He's too strong!" Inowyn shouted. She let her winds stop.
Ladon stared for a moment, catching his breath.
"I'm sorry. I have to do this." She raised her hands, a bright glow emanated from her palms.
In maybe two seconds, Ladon sprinted close, sliding into an attacking stance. As he threw a powerful punch, she made herself fall backward. Under his fist, her light blasted out, knocking him into the air, away from her.
Ladon bounced off the ground before he stopped, motionless minus his breathing.
She picked herself back up. "Hopefully that was enough. I'm starting to tire."
Ladon, who seemed limp for a moment, started pushing himself back up again. His whole body was shaking, radiating his rage.
"Can nothing stop him?!" Tarwyn shouted, strained.
I just noticed Tarwyn was half-covered in bark, his hand planted against the tree. I watched as more and more bark shifted onto his person until he was fully covered in armor. His helmet had a T-shaped slit.
I could've sworn I heard him whisper, "I'm sorry to do this to you." to the tree.
"It's his will! It must be!" Inowyn shouted back.
"Then how can we stop him without killing him?!" Tarwyn yelled.
"He has to tire out eventually… right?" Inowyn said, her voice nervous. Her breath was getting noticeably heavy. "Tarwyn, keep him busy! I'm going to enter my fylgja's eyes and get reinforcements!"
She sat down, meditating, her back to me.
I saw the male and female guards finally get up. I wanted to stand, but when I tried, my legs shook too much under my own weight. Tarwyn and the two guards stood in front of Inowyn.
"I might be able to keep him busy long enough to tire him out. Kalyn, I need you to take the girl and get her out of here. You're strong and fast—just be careful. Laryn, you'll stay with me. We need to stall Ladon. If we can't stop him, the reinforcements will."
"Right!" Kalyn answered, before sprinting back to me.
He picked me up, carrying me under his arm, facing the same direction as him.
He started sprinting away while Ladon's wolf followed beside.
I heard clashes and clangs behind me, a couple loud pops, then several in rapid succession followed by an eye-flinchingly loud one just before Tarwyn flew past us to the left, skidding across the ground, the majority of his armor already destroyed.
Ladon roared.
"Tjalin!" Kalyn stopped to help.
Tarwyn spoke, difficultly. "...Go . . . run…"
Kalyn turned back to the battle. I saw Ladon holding Laryn by the head. He threw her at the same tree Tarwyn took the bark from. She was out cold, and bleeding.
"SISTER!!!" he yelled.
He dropped me without a second thought, Ladon's wolf catching me by my night gown with his mouth. Kalyn sprinted forth as Ladon got ever closer to Inowyn. Kalyn pulled his sword out, passing her.
"You'll pay!"
His sword clashed with Ladon's scaled arm. All Ladon needed to do was push it away, and strike him. And he did. But Kalyn wasn't done. He was pushing himself up from the ground.
"I said you'll PAY!!"
Kalyn threw an uppercut, managing to make Ladon stumble back; almost fall.
Ladon screamed violently, before sprinting at him, tackling him to the ground. They struggled in a wrestling match. He managed to wrap his legs around Ladon's neck, holding his arm. Though Kalyn had technique, it wasn't hard for Ladon's strength to prevail. Ladon slowly stood up, carrying Kalyn up, and with even more strength, slammed him back down into the platform. He didn't move, his torso dipped through the boards.
"Okay, Tarwyn! I'm don—"
Inowyn looked around, quickly figuring the situation. Tarwyn was crawling past me, toward her.
She stood up, looking at Ladon, who stared at her with death in his eyes. "L-Ladon? You don't want to do this. Please! See reason!"
Ladon sprinted at her, showing no sign of acknowledgement, roaring. Inowyn planted her hands on the boards, conjuring spiny vines reaching out and low. Before Ladon could get too close, her brambles grabbed his ankle. It broke instantly, but not without tripping him. Inowyn rolled to the side, to avoid his body.
Ladon rolled on the ground, entering a crouching stance, ready to sprint at her again.
"Come one! I don't want to fight you! I don't want you to have to live with this! Please!"
"RRRAAAAAAHH!!!!" Ladon sprinted maniacally.
A light shone in her left hand as a spinning orb of wind gathered in her right. As he threw a wild punch, she deflected it with her left, the light blasting, turning his head away, deflecting his fist. She pushed the orb into his gut, pushing herself to the floor while launching him away.
Even from this distance, I could see her sweat.
She slowly stood up, barely upright. "Ladon… please hear me. You need to stop."
Ladon got back up, pausing for a moment, breathing as heavily as her. He growled, low and long.
She lowered her hands, showing her palms forward. Winds and light bent around her, swirling, rushing, gaining speed with every second.
Ladon sprinted again.
She held her stance. "I'm sorry…" and waited for him to get close.
Ladon threw a wild jab. Inowyn swooshed her hands to her right, blasted Ladon with an extreme amount of concentrated wind and light. His fist hit her gut, knocking her away just before he was thrown in the air. His back ricocheted off the tree above Laryn, breaking bark off it, then crashed into the railing as Inowyn landed motionless on her back.
Ladon, grasping a barely standing piece of railing, pushing himself back up again, fell down halfway through, and continued once again. Slowly, he did it. He looked around and found the only one still up: me.
He walked to me, swaying from side to side, limping. He stared the whole time, the same deathly gaze.
Slowly and arduously, using his wolf, I stood up. I took my hands off his wolf, standing on my own.
"Ladon… I can't stop you." I peered into his mind, finding only the same thing as last time. "I'm sorry," I spoke into his mind.
He stopped for a moment… Only a moment. Then continued. His walking quickened, stiffened. He started to jog. His own wolf reacted to his aggression like it wasn't even him. In an attempt to protect me, his wolf lunged at him, clamping his jaw down on Ladon's arm, thrashing to keep him at bay.
Ladon punched through its head, popping the wolf. I watched the wolf, who just turned to liquid, get sucked into his tatoo.
Ladon continued to me.
I could barely stand.
When he got close, he stood still and stared, silently. I watched his eyes; his furious eyes. I was scared, my whole body shaking. I've faced my mortality more times than I could ever count, but this was different. This was him.
Suddenly his hand grabbed my neck. I didn't see it reach. He lifted me off my feet. I could barely breathe.
"... Please… Ladon…"
His grip tightened, the pressure cutting off my breath. I could feel an extreme pain in my spine. I couldn't exclaim anything. I was about to pass out, or snap, but Tarwyn, from behind, all the bark that was left on him now concentrated on his hand like a hammer, hit Ladon across his back, breaking what bark he had left. Ladon dropped me to the ground. I landed on my side, gasping for breath, almost about to pass out regardless.
I saw Ladon quickly turn to Tarwyn, backhanding him like he was a hanging cloth on a clothesline; like he was just air. Tarwyn landed a meter or two to the side, unconscious.
What seemed to be an instant after, the tree holding the starting platform opened up. One at a time, guards rushed out, until there were six, weilding spears and shields, swords sheathed on their hips. Judging the scene, the unconscious Inowyn, Tarwyn, and two guards, I could tell they were willing to kill him.
Ladon exhaled slowly, a slight bit of voice peeking through it.
"Stand down!" One guard commanded. "Stand down now!"
Ladon ran at them like a rabid animal unaware of what weapons even were. Or so it seemed. Two guards thrusted their spears, which he jumped over, kneeing one of them in the face, spinning and back-kicking one behind him in the side of the head. In close range, another spear thrusted from his side. He leaned back, grabbed it, pulled it, grabbed the guard's arm, and yanked as he let himself fall, slamming the guard's head through the floor, dodging a different spear. He rolled from another spear, using his hands to push himself in the air, landing on his feet, but not after kicking another guard. The remaining two guards, though the rest weren't unconscious, pulled their swords out: one a sabre, the other a one-handed sword. I could hear his breathing from here. He was barely standing, as if he just used his last burst of strength. He stumbled back a few steps, I saw the fury in his eyes change, his scales recede, and not long after, he collapsed, just like that.
The guard with the saber thundered at him, raising his sword over his body, ready to send it through the boards below.
"Don't!!" I yelled, hearing Inowyn's voice do the same at the same time.
The guard stopped.
Inowyn coughed, several times. "Arrest him… Don't kill him."
"But, Tjali—"
"That's an order!" She pushed on her knees. "As your Tjali… and future Gythya… I command you to not harm him!"
The guard backed away. "As you wish, Tjali Inowyn."
"See to my brother, Kalyn, and Laryn. Bring Ladon away after. Prewana, we need your help." She looked to me, and rushed over as quickly as her exhausted self could. "Are you okay, girl?"
My eyes became foggy, exhaustion overtaking my body, my voice not coming out.
Ladon… Ladon…
The darkness took over. For a moment, I swore I could feel him, his pain, his heat. Like white glowing metal; like the sun. burning. I suddenly saw fire, an orphanage engulfed in flame, vaguely feeling familiar.
"Ladon…"
I walked to the building, several men bursting out of the front door. Some of them held girls over their shoulders, one with my hair, significantly shorter.
Suddenly, I knew what this was. "No!"
I ran in, made my way through the hall, past the fire, took a left, found a doorway missing a door, and stopped before I entered. I gasped at the horror, even though I've seen this more than once. Foz with a pitchfork through his back, Jankub burning, pinned to the wall, Rory's head… lifeless, Fin holding his gut in a pool of crimson, and Mosz… beaten to death. I felt like puking.
I heared the whimpers of a little boy, in the back corner. I rushed, ignoring my gut, pulled the blanket up from where it hung. I saw little Ladon, scared to death.
His eyes suddenly looked confused.
In an instant, I saw him, still a boy, looking at a kind, smiling woman, her eyes holding the warmth of a mother. All of a sudden I was in the middle of a town at night, watching him run away from an angry mob of maybe twenty, all trying to attack him. That same woman was in the front, holding a kitchen knife, screaming.
I saw him starving in a forest, eating anything he could find. Nuts, pine cones, and even bugs. I saw him fail, countless times, trying to hunt. I saw his first successful hunt: a rabbit. He cried at its death so long he never even ate it. I saw him after he successfully cooked a hunt the first time, desperately eating a different rabbit, sobbing all the while.
I saw him in another town, a bit older. He was being shunned by everyone, parents pulling their curious children away. He walked through, looking at everyone's eyes, ladened with suspicion even though he was only a boy; a stranger.
I saw him when he found his cloak, watched as he cut it, to add a sleeve.
I saw him shaking, trying to sleep next to a puny fire while snow tried to bury him, the warmth melting the snow, making him colder.
I saw him up in a tree, exhausted, to keep safe from a bear trying to reach him.
I saw two shadow wolves trying to get him, much older now, one going for the leg, the other having his arm, thrashing at his partially-scaled limbs.
In less than a blink I was in a different building. I saw him, terrified, killing amored guards. I saw him get stabbed in the back; his terror turn to anger. I saw him kill guard after guard, except for the one who helped him. All the blood. Suddenly I saw him looking at myself, who at that time, was in the corner hanging by chain. Immediately he was fighting Malkan, losing himself. I saw the crash, the escape. I watched him run harder than even I could imagine him doing, with me wrapped up in his arms. I watched him pass out by his friends.
I saw less than a second flashes of him attacking us—never enough for even a quarter of the full picture; never enough for any pieces to be put together, though I knew it all.
Darkness again. Just him, sitting into himself in the nothingness. Alone. Crying. Or fighting it.
I could feel his dragon's presence, but he never appeared.
I walked up to him, reached out to place my hand on his shoulder, but stopped. The image of his rageful eyes, flashing in front of my own, the pain of my neck returning. I couldn't touch him; couldn't console him. I was afraid of him.
He must've noticed something, because he stopped. His head slowly rose to look at me.
I took a step back, though I wanted desperately to help him; to do anything for him.
I saw his eyes, tearful, despairing. Completely different from his rage.
"Ladon…" I teared up. "I'm sorry."
A realization reached his face right before he wiped his tears quickly. "Fuck. Fuck! I hate it!"
I shuddered as he slammed a fist.
He noticed. "I-I'm sorry. I'm not… okay. That's no excuse." His gaze turned to perplexion. "Wait, you're here. How? Why? Am I? Why am I asleep?"
He got up and started walking to me. "Can you tell me what happened? Did I pass out? Why are you asleep?"
I walked backward, keeping his pace.
He noticed that too and stopped. "Are you okay? Did I do something?"
I couldn't bring myself to speak.
He looked mortified. "Oh gods… What did I do?"
He doesn't remember. Just as Prewana said.
"L-Ladon?"
"Yes?"
"Would you ever hurt me?"
"What kind of question is that? I'd rather end my own life than intentionally harm you. You must've gone through much worse than anything I did. I can't imagine being the next perpetrator. I'd never hurt you."
I looked down and around, before returning to him.
I could see his eyes dart around, connecting some dots. "Why would… Did I… What did I do? Don't tell me I—"
"You've gone through a lot too…" I didn't want to watch him find out. I couldn't.
He accepted the subject change and didn't push it.
"Yes. But I'm sure you had it worse."
"How?"
"I was never kidnapped. I don't know what you've been through minus the last bit before I found you, but usually, kidnapping leads to the worst things anyone can do to a person."
I didn't answer, just paused in a vulnerable silence. He wasn't wrong.
He let it stay as long as I wanted, still respecting the space between us.
"Ladon?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"For what?"
I felt my connection to his mind sever. He was gone. Or I was, leaving us both alone… in the darkness.