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The Seventh Realm: Volume V

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 58: 'M' Is For...

Stepping inside, the chieftain stops at the sight of Manny, tied to the poles used to support a brass cauldron.

“Don't say anything. Don't even speak." Manny grumbles.

With a red mark on is face like a handprint and several slash marks from Ketlan claws, a few on them on his bare, inner thighs, the chieftain is visibly confused.

“How did you do that?" He asks.

“Fucking magic." Manny snaps.

“Which one of my people was it?"

“Oh, you know the one." Manny replies.

“No, I don't."

“The crazy one..." Manny sighs, turning his head to his captor.

“Oh... Oh! Yeah, her. Minkoto is a little strange. Can't quite figure out what she hates about humans. They drive her insane, especially the males." The chieftain says as he carefully pulls up and closes Manny's pants.

“Yeah... All that pent up 'hate'." Manny scoffs.

“What do you mean by that?" The chieftain raises a brow.

“Just get the fuck out of here, man!" Manny's voice shakes.

“Hold on a moment. I'm still visiting. Tell me a bit about yourself."

“Are you serious?" Manny raises a brow.

“Sure. I'd like to know who our sacrifice is. Maybe better judge how swiftly I can expect a response from the gods." The chieftain says.

“People call me Manny. Do you know what that's short for? 'Manitou'. It's what people would call a 'wolf-man'; a terrible, bloodthirsty beast that rips people apart and devours them alive. People called me that because when I met people like you... Well... I lived up to the name." He calmly states.

“Okay... So, a slow response then." The chieftain nods. “Well, I hope we've made you comfortable... You know... Before the sacrifice and all."

“I'm just fucking peachy..."

“Huh? Er... Well, thanks for the sacrifice! Goodnight!"

The chieftain leaves the tent, the gust from outside blowing the candles out. With the night outside and the thick material of the tent, Manny is left in utter darkness.

“Idiot..."

Sneaking into the sleepy camp by cover of darkness, Sidana, Darius and Koleta move as silently as possible, so as not to be heard by the Ketlan villagers. Passing by a series of tents, faint voices suddenly come from within a nearby fabric home.

“You did what?!" A woman asks in disbelief.

“Did I stutter?" Minkoto snaps.

“I'm confused as well." A third woman's voice adds.

“What he wanted was disgusting and unnatural, a perversion of the highest order. So, I proved it to him..." Minkoto explains.

“But that... Does not make any sense." The first remarks.

“It also sounds very cruel..." The third interjects.

“Shut up. You just cannot comprehend my logic." Minkoto barks.

“Clearly." The first woman says.

Now increasingly worried, Sidana moves faster, her footsteps growing louder. Darius and Koleta look to each other, their hearts racing with palpable fear as they await an angry cry, ready to run for their very lives at any moment. Once again, they hear more voices, but these voices lift their spirits. An angry Manny speaks to the dimwitted chieftain. Their conversation allows them to zero in on the tent where he's imprisoned. Waiting for the chieftain to leave, they wrap around the tent as the tribal leader passes by without sensing them.

“Idiot..." Manny murmurs from inside.

Entering the tent, Sidana can see Manny in the dark, her superior eyes having adjusted. Only seeing a faintly illuminated figure as the flap shifts, Manny looks quite fearful and it breaks her heart. Sneaking swiftly up to him she reaches out.

“Shh. It's me." She whispers before touching his arm.

“Oh god, Sidana. Thank you." He whispers.

“Shh! Hold on."

She takes out her knife and tries to cut the ropes. However, the way he is bound to the poles would make it difficult to do so without cutting his hands as well. Instead, she uses her own claws, carefully sawing at them for nearly a minute each before they break away. As soon as his second wrist is freed, he reaches out into the darkness, feeling around her body and taking hold of her. The way he trembles like a leaf in the wind makes her heart ache.

“Come on. Let's go." She whispers, petting his head.

Taking him by the hand, she leads him from the tent. With Koleta standing outside, she ushers them to follow the river east, as they were before. Darius is missing, however. Before they can take three steps, the chieftain walks from around the tent, his eyes wide in surprise.

“I thought I heard voices!" The chieftain exclaims loudly

Emerging from behind a tent, Darius puts the chieftain in a choke hold, placing his Smith & Wesson pistol against his temple and audibly cocking the hammer.

“Relax!" The chieftain says as people emerge from their tents, gathering around.

“You know what this is and you know I'll kill you with it, so make them back off and let us go, or you're the next sacrifice." Darius growls.

“You heard the boy. Back away!" The chieftain demands.

“Oh, you naughty human." Mintoko coos, standing amongst the crowd.

“Let's get out of here, please." Manny urges.

Returning his gear to him, he slings his pack and attaches his gear belt as they move. By the time Sidana returns his pistol, they are already far away from the village. Dragging the chieftain with them, they walk about a quarter of a mile before stopping.

“Okay. End of the line." Darius says as he lets go of his prisoner.

“Oh no. Please don't ki-"

Koleta punches him in the face with a right-hook, putting considerable force behind her shoulder. The blow knocks the man unconscious and he falls in a heap on the ground.

“What was that for?" Darius asks.

“Didn't you want me to knock him out?" Koleta appears confused.

“No. I was going to let him walk back." Darius answers.

“But you said 'knock people out' before we went in to get Manny." She insists.

“No, I said 'I hope we don't have to knock people out'. That's what I said." Darius retorts.

“Oh..."

“Alright, enough. Let's just get out of here." Sidana grumbles.

Leaving the chieftain's body lying defenseless in the darkness, Darius briefly wonders if his people will find him, or will a kodana or moltaka get him first? It's obvious that neither Manny or Sidana care. Trudging along the shoreline, the cyan water glows in the darkness as the purple night moon's light reflects from the surface. Glancing to her companion, Sidana can see well in the darkness. The mark and cuts on his face are a telltale sign that Manny has suffered some abuse while imprisoned. Her mind races as she tries to think of something meaningful to say, something that might ease his pain.

At a loss for words, she simply watches him with notable consternation. Walking until they traverse at least two miles, they stop to rest. Sitting by the moonlit river, Koleta refills their canteens as Manny slumps down onto the ground. Darius keeps watch, now thorough paranoid about every possible sound in the darkness. Squatting down beside him, Sidana is determined to communicate with Manny. Should she ask what happened to him, or if he's alright? With her jaw hanging open as she very carefully formulates a sentence, he turns and hugs her.

Dropping to her knees, she rests her chin atop his head as she feels him trembling. With her arms wrapped tightly around him and her platinum blonde hair running past her face and over his head, she tugs at him even though he is already firmly within her grasp. The silence is deafening.

“I'm sorry." Manny chokes out.

“For what?" Sidana asks.

“They captured me. It was my fault. I wasn't trying to be caught, but I was too tired. I'm just a human." He whimpers.

“You were protecting the rest of us. You saved Darius." She speaks softly, petting his head. “I'm just glad you're here, and that you're safe now."

“Better me than you, huh?" He chuckles.

Pulling back, she looks down at him. As he turns his eyes up to her, he suddenly looks rather pitiful.

“No. I'd have gladly traded places with you." She says with a little grin.

“Sorry, captain. I wouldn't have let you go down alone." He grins.

Leaning towards each other, they share a little kiss. Sidana's long, tapering tail curves around her side, wrapping behind Manny's back and further shielding him. Koleta and Darius cannot help but watch as Sidana lovingly nuzzles Manny's face. Neither wishes to reveal his torment to Sidana, who has hearing similar to a human or Zelkona. Both juveniles listened to a portion of his torture from a distance as they crept closer to rescue him. Darius' guilt begins to weigh on him; he should have listened to Sidana and ignored the tribe. As he watches the human and Akzazel on the ground, their bodies entwined, he can only hope that Manny and Sidana will both fully recover from this incident.

“Hey." Manny sniffles. “Don't worry about me, alright? I'll be fine. A guard just knocked me around a little."

“Are you sure you're alright?" Sidana asks softly.

“Yeah. Those idiots wouldn't have even known how to sacrifice me. And besides, the 'M' in 'Manny' stands for 'manly'." He quips.

“What do the other letters mean?" Koleta asks.

“Manly killed them. They're just his trophies."

Though he now jokes as he did before, Sidana can sense the effort that he is putting into them. She can only hope that he'll recover, and one day he might share with her what he's been through. For now, however, she's elated to merely have him back.

“We should keep moving." Sidana suggests.

“Right." Manny nods.

Rising from the ground they continue their walk. They can hear the sounds of the creatures in the darkness. Are they aware of their presence? Perhaps they're stalking the group? Or perhaps they are stalking other prey in the distance? The unknowing scratches at Darius' nerves, keeping him on edge.

“Do you two hear that?" Darius asks Sidana and Manny.

“Shut up and focus..." Manny quietly grumbles, suddenly sounding very irritated.

They follow the river for some time as it twists and turns. From the position of the night moon, they know that they're still heading vaguely east, though now they are moving gradually southward. Darius knows that they are moving even further and further away from his goal, the very city that he ran away from days earlier.

“Can't we just swim across?" Darius suddenly suggests.

“With these heavy packs and that current?" Manny snickers.

“We're walking even further away." Darius says.

“We know..." Sidana grumbles.

“Well, what if we-"

“Just shut up. Shut the fuck up." Manny interrupts him, stopping and glaring at the Sakona juvenile.

“What's your problem?!" Darius growls loudly.

“Hey..." Koleta whispers to them, a worried look on her face.

“You want to know what my problem is? Okay... I'll tell you what my problem is... You're my fucking problem!" Manny screams.

“What did I do?!" Darius asks as loudly as Manny.

“Guys..." Sidana growls, equally fearful as they grow louder.

“You risked my life and you risked Sidana's life! You even risked Koleta's life – She's following you for some reason – all for your childish hunger for glory."

“That's not what I was doing! I only risked myself!" Darius says defensively.

“That doesn't matter. She cares about you enough to follow." Manny begins, pointing to Koleta. “That makes you responsible for her safety..."

“I thought they might be friendly! I was trying to help us get home!" Darius retorts.

“So, you just walk into a potentially hostile camp?!" Manny snickers.

“I had to do something!"

“No, you didn't! You keep acting without thinking! We had a plan!"

“Enough..." Sidana growls.

“At least I was acting at all. You and Sidana would have camped for the night; walked a huge circle around them." Darius grows quieter.

“Because we know better. Sidana's the smartest one here, and I have experience with this kind of stuff."

“I was just trying to help." Darius turns his head down.

“Good job. We wasted some ammo and I was captured." Manny sarcastically applauds him.

“Hey, that wasn't my fault!"

“Yeah, I bet nothing's your fault, is it?" Manny scoffs. “When are you going to start taking responsibility?"

“You're the one who sent me into that tree. You're the one who led them away." Darius retorts.

“It's called damage control. None of this would have happened if you hadn't fucked up so spectacularly."

“Don't lecture me. This isn't even your home. About a month ago, you weren't even here; I was born on Monala." Darius snaps.

Now even Sidana grows frustrated with Darius. How dare he target Manny so cruelly, after all that he's done for him? Stepping between Manny and Darius, she forces them apart before smacking Darius hard across the face.

“Hey! Don't hit him!" Koleta growls in anger.

“How dare you, you little brat! We've been cleaning up after your stupidity long before this ever happened. Manny never asked to come here; he was brought by a storm, just like your father. He's made the best of his situation, which is more than I can say for you. Do you know how many times I've heard him lament being away from Earth? ... Zero. He was fitting in and finding a place for himself before you had to ruin everything. We're out here because your father sent us to collect you, not because we want to be." Sidana scolds him.

“I'm sorry..." Darius murmurs.

“Stop being sorry and start helping us fix this. You can start by shutting your mouth and listening to us when we give you sound tactical advice." Sidana snaps.

“Okay..." Darius nods.

Staring at the ground, the shame is now just as powerful as his guilt. Resting a hand comfortingly on Manny's shoulder, Sidana gives him an assuring smile and begins to lead them again, but they all stop dead in their tracks. A terrifying noise comes from the darkness, just beyond a large, blue fern. Everyone's eyes grow wide. Even Manny knows the sound; his link with Agnis gave him the same knowledge that Cyrus and several others attained. The group immediately bolts, trying to escape the horrors of the night. Popping out from the darkened jungle and pursuing their prey, a pack of hungry Zajak follow behind.

Their pale blue skin, glowing yellow eyes, and pointy elf-life ears with two points like a check mark is visible even to Manny when he glances back. Drooling blood from a previous kill, the subterranean monstrosities, a failed hybridization created by the ancient humans, race to catch and devour their fleeing prey. Darius and Manny both regret their argument; this is their fault for being so loud. Zajak hunt at night, hiding in caves during the day. A pack out hunting must have heard them, and their prolonged fight made it easy for the savage beasts to pinpoint their location.

As they race through the night, pursued by the horrors, a Zajak emerges from nearby brush. It tackles Sidana and the pair roll and wrestle on the ground. Realizing that they now have no choice, Manny draws his Ruger P95. Darius pulls his Smith & Wesson 5904 and Koleta retrieves her Glock 17 from a pocket. Turning back, Manny fires four shots at two Zajak, hitting them both, center-mass. Darius and Koleta fire rapidly at the remining three, missing a few shots but striking them with most of their rounds. Even though they can see much easier in the dark, it can't make up for a lack of rigorous training and experience, something Manny and Sidana have in spades.

Trying to help Sidana, Manny races up to her. Using her incredible strength, she pushes the Zajak away from her, slashing with the claws on her hands to keep it from charging. However, a relatively thoughtless creature, it charges anyway. Slamming into her body as she swipes at the air they fall into the water. The Zajak flails in the water, quickly drowning as it's washed away. Sidana, however, grabs onto exposed tree roots. Diving down onto his belly, Manny grabs for her arms. Her flesh, already smooth and shiny, becomes quite slick when drenched in water; it's hard for him to grab hold of her.

“Don't think you can leave me alone with these kids." He tells her.

“I'm Darius' age." She quips, tilting her snout above the water.

“That's different. You're mature, and besides, I need you."

Struggling to keep her head above water, he digs his feet into the ground and clenches so tightly his hands begin to cramp up as she holds on for dear life. Firing at the last Zajak, Darius and Koleta turn to see their struggle. With all the strength he has, he pulls her from the water slowly but surely. As Darius and Koleta race up to them, another Zajak appears, racing toward and preparing to pounce upon Manny. Risking her own life by taking her hand away, Sidana draws her gun from her holster. Taking aim over his should and back, she fires three rounds as fast as she can, striking it in the torso. Losing his grip, she begins to slip.

Tossing her pistol onto the ground beside the river, it lands by Manny's feet. Gripping her slick hide tightly in his hands, she grabs onto him, inadvertently digging her claws into his flesh. He grits his teeth through the pain. Using his adrenaline to his full advantage, Manny pulls hard, dragging Sidana from the rushing water. Her already smooth and shiny flesh, now drenched with the cyan water of Monala, gleams like a polished sword. He turns his head down and gasps for breath, his muscles screaming from the exertion. The light reflects from her flesh like a mirror as she sits there, staring at the human who managed to save her life yet again.

Sidana suddenly pounces, tackling Manny and pushing him somewhat painfully onto his back, which bears his full pack. She nuzzles his face and kisses him many times.

“It's good to see you too." He quips.

“I need you too." She admits, hugging him tightly.

“You do?"

“Mhm. I would have rather slipped away than let that Zajak kill you, because if I had somehow lived and you were dead... Well..." She continues.

“Are... Are you trying to say that you love me?" He asks.

“Let's not get swept away here." She smirks.

“Heh. Swept away... Well I have no problem dying for you, just so you know."

“That's an excellent quality in a soldier." She coos, kissing him again.

Reloading their pistols, Darius and Koleta keep tabs on the surrounding area, their eyes scanning for further threats. Walking toward the hugging Manny and Sidana, Koleta squats down and picks up Sidana's gun. Holding it out to return it, Sidana's too busy holding and nuzzling Manny, who now kisses her back just as fervently. Sidana's tail sways, plopping on the ground with soft thuds. Darius and Koleta glance to each other, both a little uncomfortable as the pair openly display their rapidly budding affection for one another. Koleta eventually clears her throat.

“Well now... As much fun as this is, we should keep moving." An aroused Sidana reluctantly says.

“Yes, captain." Manny replies with a disappointed sigh.

Rising from the ground, Sidana takes her gun back from Koleta and holsters it. Manny brushes himself off, his eyes ever watchful. He soon retrieves his own weapon, drawing the magazine to count his remaining rounds before stowing it in its proper place.

“Keep following the river?" Koleta asks.

“Keep following the river. It'll cross somewhere." Sidana answers.

Continuing their trek, they walk throughout the night.