a tale of finding inner peace( mature )

Leila shivered as liquid was poured into her mouth. Chills ran down her spine as the bleeding in her abdomen stopped. The pain subsided, crouching and waiting to strike again when the effects of the serum wore off. Her eyelids fluttered and she dreamed lightly, of Wolf's face smiling at her.

Brutus smiled, he then looked at his warhammer, knowing sooner or later he would have to fight again."and I was enjoying my retirement. he got a couple of bandages and wrapped them around her body, dousing it in alcohol, which would disinfect the wound. he then rested her head on the pillow."that should help." he then walked up stairs and layed down

Leila sighed in her restlessness, the ache in her stomach slowly ebbing so she could slip into peaceful oblivion of deep sleep. She smiled at her dreams.

As the day broke through, Jackal walked in, Holding his sword, he saw Leila, and smiled under his mask. Brutus walked down, wearing his old Armor."has Rai succeeded." he asked, Jackal nodded."Leila coming too" he asked."she might do" replied Brutus

Leila's eyelids fluttered as she started to awake. She thought she heard Jackal's voice.

.....huh.....?

she was still half asleep.

Brutus smiled at Leila"Hey...how was the sleep?" he asked Jackal looked at Leila and bowed

She sat up, bleary-eyed.

....meh....it was awright....

Her mouth was operating on autopilot. She was still trying to wake up, but her brain didn't want to.

Jackal walked up to Leila." Wolf has gone to confront Lord Loss...me and Brutus are meeting Rai and his army, so that we can free your people..." he said as brutus held his warhammer

That string of statements cleared her head in a hurry. Her wings fluttered as her heartbeat sped up.

Wait. Wolf went by himself? And Rai has an army? Why didn't anyone wake me??

She gestured in an explosive throwing up of her arms and soon regretted it. A sharp stab of pain rippled through her ravaged torso; she moaned and wrapped her arms around her ribs as if to dull the throbbing.

"Because of that wound" replied Brutus."its not really his army but his uncle's.." said Jackal.brutus then smiled."I might not be able to dly but I have speed on my side" he said

Leila winced.

Well we have to go help him! I can't just lay around waiting for other people to do my fighting for me my whole life. This is my mess; Lord Loss is my problem to deal with.

she hopped down from the bed, ignoring her body's protests.

Oh, stop whining. It could be worse. You could be dead.

She pulled her black lace dress on over her bandages and underclothes and picked up the sword she had been given. Tossing her blonde curls over her shoulders, she turned back to the two men.

Well? You coming or not?

She had a smile on her face.

brutus smirked as he walked outside."lets go then" replied Jackal jumping onto Brutus' back." you gonna be okay flying?" he asked

Leila grinned.

Of course! I'm eager to see how my new wings work on my younger body.

As if to accentuate her point, she flapped her large blue wings energetically, lifting herself into the air. A look of pure joy stole her features and she tumbled over herself, flying in complicated patterns through the sky like some sort of mutated bird.

Brutus smirked"okay" he then ran, his speed was lightning fast, considering his size, Jackal held on tightly

Leila straightened out her flying pattern and flew straight in the direction Wolf had gone.

I sincerely hope he is okay. Because if he isn't, heads will roll.

She gritted her teeth. She'd changed so much within the past few weeks.

Rai waited by the entrance he looked around for the others."wait..Uncle they are here...get everyone ready!" he shouted as he saw leila and brutus.Rai waved from afar."looks like we made it" smiled Jackal

Leila grinned when she saw Rai. She swooped down in for a graceful landing right in front of him, ruffling his hair with the wind she created. She still moved rather gingerly, not wanting to ruin the healing she'd gone through. She subconsciously touched her battle wound.

I'm alright... I'm alright.

She exhaled heavily.

Hey, Rai. What's the plan?

Rai saw the wound."pretty nasty...well Wolf has gone on ahead...he has rallied those who escaped from lord loss, to fight while he makes his way to lord loss...we are the reinforcements.." he explained."Valefor sent us a message...he challenged you to a duel" he said

Leila couldn't help the little stab of disappointment when she heard that Wolf was not there. But she disguised it well, distracted by more startling news.

Valefor has challenged me to a duel? Doesn't he think me to be dead? He was the one who stabbed me, was he not?

Confusion tore across her beautiful, once-again-young features.

Brutus rested his paw on her shoulder gently."the wound wasnt deep enough to kill...but then you would have bled to death...he must have planned this...so that it would be easier to kill you." he said, Jackal looked at Rai."can he be saved?"he asked."yes...Lord Loss hasnt turned him 100%...he might be able to come round" he replied looking at Leila

Leila swallowed.

So that's the game plan... To bring my half-brother back to the light. And they expect me to do this? How can I? He has always resented me, never liked me or seen me as family at all. How am I to appeal to that?

But she merely nodded shakily. She would try to bring him around, if it helped save Wolf and defeat Lord Loss.

Brutus could tell somethin was up, and he had a clue what it was."Leila...valefor didnt hate you...he was angry, especially when you both entered you teens...when you were youg , he was pretty close to you...from what I can remember...but when you started to meet and befreind others, he thought you left him on his own...thats when it started...he told me this a few months before the invasion.." he explained, Rai's uncle motion his army to enter the gate."its time" said Rai as he nodded

Leila listened to Brutus with wide eyes.

But... If he didn't hate me.... Why did he stab me? Who does that to their own family?

She shuffled along behind the ragtag army of misfits. She could understand what Brutus was telling her. It made sense... But her brain was being stubborn, not wanting to admit it.

Brutus sighed."lord Loss twists the mind of whomever he wants...making them want things that they would never want...he can turn the most well mannered, good will man, into a an evil, sadistic monster...its one of his many gifts from Scairos...he is considered the "first Shadow" of scairos." he explained

Leila clenched her fists.

I can see why you are doing everything you can to stop this man...

She bit her lip, fearful of the events to come.