a tale of finding inner peace( mature )

Leila stretched and rolled over in her sleep, popping a few joints in doing so. She winced in pain, still asleep.

She dreamt of Scarios, his face jeering at her, sucking her life from her, laughing at her. And then still ripping Wolf's soul from his body.

She sat straight up in bed, tears streaming down her face. She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them, whimpering.

Damn that monster! Giving me nightmares...

She wasn't talking to anyone in particular, just thinking out loud.

Wolf walked in."leila?" he said as he wrapped his arm around" somethin wrong?" he holding her close
brutus picked up some firewood and made his way back.

Rai was held in the prison. his body broken, his face covered in blood. he breathed heavily." I...I must...get out" he said looking to the side of his cell

Leila shook her head, her body trembling.

Just a nightmare.

She picked her head up.

I have to get my youth back. I have a feeling that Jackal is right about Rai... we have to halp him.

Leila shook her head, her body trembling.

Just a nightmare.

She picked her head up.

I have to get my youth back. I have a feeling that Jackal is right about Rai... we have to halp him.

" I know...he said that he will try to get it ready for tonight" he said as he kissed her on the forhead"lets try and not think about for now...hows about we go for a walk? " he asked, trying to get her mind off of the problems

Leila nodded. Her hands were still shaking in her fear. She shuddered and stood to her feet with some effort.

Yes... A walk sounds nice.

Wolf held her hand, walking along the small dirt path. he looked around, admiring the beauty."so...what was your brother like?" he asked as there where some akward silence

Leila looked down at the ground and kicked at the dirt.

Valefor... He was...an interesting individual. Cold. Calculating. A perfectionist. Pretty much the exact opposite of me.

Her voice was quiet and soft.

Wolf nodded in thought."thats the kind of men Lord Loss attracts....just another strong warrior in his web of power."

Wolf then looked at leila."leila...your brother...Lord Loss uses his men...once he sees no use in him he will kill him..." Wolf warned Leila"so thats all?...you've become more of a coward being around this subspecies.mocked Zedonius."Dont even push it Zed"thought Wolf

Leila was suddenly angry.

So that's it, then? Valefor's fate is set? This Lord Loss, he will kill my half-brother, no questions asked?

And then she started coughing, her old lungs protesting when she got so worked up and talking too fast.

Wolf looked away."200 years of working under him...you see alot come and go...I'm sorry" he sighed."I've always had been his

right hand man...I've dealt with his most personal requests...I know a thing or two about him" Wolf then held his arm."his mark still burns your skin...what a pitiful sight"said Zedonius.

Rai looked around, he tried to get up but his legs gave way."m-my body...its" he then fell unconscious" so what do we do with the fairy master?"asked the short reptillian."we let Lord Loss get the stone...drain her of her royal blood for the sacrifice...and then you get to eat the leftovers" Replied Balthazar with a devilish grin

Leila calmed her lungs and tried to breathe normally. She nodded.

I see. I suppose that's no less than what he deserves.

She was rather shocked at herself as the words came out of her mouth. That wasn't like her at all, to be so cold and callous.

he stopped, he looked out towards the lake. Wolf smiled at the glitter that stretched across the lake."just as beautiful as you" he said smiling at Leila."not long before your young again"

Leila smiled softly at that prospect.

Ah yes.... To be eighteen again....

She sighed and rested her weary head on Wolf's shoulder.

To not always be so tired!

Wolf looked along the ground, he picked up a stick and handed to leila" maybe this will help" he laughed jokingly

Brutus walked up to Jackal."so..he screwed you over too huh?"Jackal nodded." yeah...his gift twisted my body...thats why I were this armor and cloak"Brutus sighed" thats what all of those demon gods do...always screw you over when they have the slightest chance

Leila smiled and played up the old woman act, walking all hunched over, leaning on the stick. She pressed her hand to her back and squinted.

Help an old woman cross the street, sonny?

She couldn't help it. She laughed in spite of herself.

Jackal appeared." the potion is almost ready...when you drink it tonight it will take atleast a day and half to take full effect...i promise." wolf sighed." better than nothin right?" he then kissed her on the cheek."you would have waited atleast a week any other time"

Leila nodded.

I can live with a day and a half I think.

She smiled when Wolf kissed her withered cheek.

Soon, you will be able to kiss smooth skin, not old and withered.

And I won't fear a heart attack when my heart speeds up at the thought of kissing him.

She smiled the weary smile of an old woman.

Jackal nodded."I'll finish off the rest...I'll give it to brutus...after that I'm goin to check on Rai's condition" he then dissappeared.Wolf smiled."you will always look beautiful to me" he then held her close

Leila nodded to Jackal.

Thank you.

She then rested her head on Wolf's chest and traced circles on his arm with her thumb.

Thank you, Wolf... she whispered.

Wolf looked down at leila" your welcome" he then looked up at the sunsetting sky and smiled. Wolf thought about the times he had passed the lake, but this time it meant more to him."Is the "Wandering hurricane growing soft?" mocked Zedonius."how does it feel?...you know being old." he asked curiously

Jackal sneaked around, moving in the shadows. the lizardmen didn't notice him as they treaded along the corridors. he looked through each room he passed, looking for Rai. he then got the room at the end. Rai was barely alive."what did they do?" Jackal's eyes widened. he then picklocked the door and entered the room."dont worry...I'm here to get you out"

Leila grinned, the first real genuine smile since she'd grown old. She looked up into his eyes, and said, very seriously,

Oh. It's very...odd.

She lifted an eyebrow and started laughing before she sobered and said,

I always thought when you get older, you get wiser. But I'm still the same old me, just trapped in this old woman's body.

She wished she'd gained some wisdom along the way.

Wolf lifted her face up."Wisdom must be earned through mistakes,sometimes you gain wisdom through age...but thats not always the case...and besides your youth was taken quickly.." he said before sensing Rai's power falling as jackal aproached closer."I think..Jackal has rescued Rai." he retorted. the sky quickly turned to night.

brutus chopped wood , he saw Jackal and Rai aproach. he quickly lifted Rai from jackal and took him inside. Jackal stood looking up."will this be enough to pay for my sins?" he thought, sighing as he sat on some logs

Leila sighed. Then a movement caught her eye. Her gaze flickered to her perifary....

What is that?.... Rai!

Her eyes were wide. She hobbled over to Jackal, who was carrying him.

What happened to him?

Her eyes were wild with worry as she followed them into the house.

Jackal stopped her from entering." Leila just wait her please" he said as Wolf quickly entered

Rai was coverd in blood, his body was broken very badly.Wolf's eyes widened"what happened?" he whispered."just...a scratch....is all? Rai said weakly