Falling Leaves 31 ??

  Ari and Danya continue to run through the forest, Ari holds Danya over her shoulder.

  “How—- how long until we’re at your vill-” Danya says her voice low, she’s about to pass out.

  Ari runs faster, her legs start to give out. “We’re almost there! Just hold on a bit longer! Don’t pass out on me!”

  Ari closes her eyes once more trying to think about positive thoughts.

  All that comes to her mind is Peter’s broken body and his betrayal.

  “Get out of my head! I can’t think about you right now!”

  “Wha—-” Danya mutters confused.

  “Who—- who are you talking to?—-”

  “AUGH!” Ari yells. “It’s nothing! Just let me focus!”

  The trees start to groan in the distance, faint growls join in.

  Ari tightly closes her eyes once more, she tries to visualize a peaceful environment.

  “Peaceful—- peaceful—-.” she mutters.

  The growls surrounding them grow louder.

  “Nnneeeh.” Danya groans sounding like a sheep.

  “I’m—- tired—-”

  Ari’s legs start to burn, she continues to push herself running.

  Heavy stomping approaches in the distance, causing the ground to thud.

  Ari looks back. “Oh great what now?!”

  She focuses back ahead. “Don’t let it distract you!”

  She closes her eyes once more, thinks of something positive.

  “My room—- yes safe—- comfy—-”

  The footsteps grow closer.

  In that moment Ari feels her magical energy return to her.

  Her eyes snap open, she raises her arm pouring all her remaining energy into creating a bubble surrounding her and Danya.

  The bubble accelerates speed, it rushes through the forest.

  “Almost—-Almost—-”

  It storms through the soul trees, all of them groan and whisper, their eyes follow the bubble.

  “Now!” Ari shouts, the bubble pops.

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  She and Danya fall towards the ground, Ari’s hand starts to shine a sky blue light, and she slams her arm down in the air as if she’s slashing something.

  A light blue crack appears in thin air, it opens like a zipper.

  Revealing a sky blue light, Ari crashes into the dirt, her body starts to numb after using all her energy to make the bubble and to open the gateway.

  She grabs Danya by the collar and tosses her in.

  Her limbs start to pulse with pain. “Shit—- just a few more—- steps—-”

  She grunts, crawls forward to the gateway, barely making it inside.

  She falls inside, the gateway closes.

  Sky blue streaks of light swirl around Ari.

  She closes her eyes relaxing her body. “Finally—- I’m home—-”

  Danya not too far below falls through the wormhole, purple streaks of light surround her, she opens her eyes squinting, having a blank stare on her face.

  Her hair flows upwards as she falls, sparkles surround her and Ari.

  A bright white light swallows them at the end of the wormhole.

  Instantly they land in a dark green patch of grass, it’s wet, drops of water cover Danya’s ripped cloak, and her exposed parts of her skin.

  Ari lands face-first in the ground, the droplets splash against her, landing on her face.

  At a wooden village gate, inside a guard post, two men both with fox ears and tails.

  One with black fur, short messy hair, and pale skin, the other one with yellow fur, tan skin, green eyes, with curly hair.

  They both spot Ari and Danya on the ground.

  “Uh—- Takio? Is that who I think it is?” The one with black hair asks.

  Takio looks over the ledge and takes a closer look at Ari, he notices her navy blue hair and blue gi.

  “ARI’S BACK! RYOSHIO! TELL SHUN AND THE ELDERS!”

  Ryoshio bows. “Uh-uh—- right!”

  Ryoshio drops from the post, sprinting into the village.

  Takio yanks a wooden lever opening the gate to the village, the gate drags across the ground filling the air with a scraping sound.

  He leaps down, landing in the grass, and rushes to Ari and Danya.

  He reaches them, he kneels, he looks at their bruises and injuries. “Geez what happened to them?”

  His ears flatten. “We warned you not to venture the Cursed Backwoods Ari!”

  His gaze shifts to Danya. “And who is this—-” he leans in closer to inspect her face, her long lashes, her caramel skin.

  “She’s—- she’s—- beautiful!”

  “That red hair—- her face—- I’ve never seen anything like it especially not in this village!”

  Footsteps come charging towards him.

  “TAKIO!”

  Takio turns back to face him watching Ryoshio run with three guards all wearing grey fox masks covering their faces.

  “Hey uh-” he mutters, the guards run past him, inspecting Ari and Danya’s bodies.

  “Good, they’re still alive.” One of the guards says checking their pulses.

  The other two guards pick up Danya and Ari putting them over their shoulders.

  The guard crouching stands. “You two take them to the nursery.”

  “I’ll have to explain this to the elders.”

  He sighs. “It’s always something—- never can just have a peaceful day around here!”

  The other two guards bow, they run back into the village.

  “Hey wait!”

  The guard looks down at him. “Wait? Wait for what?”

  Takio remains silent for a moment.

  “Go on spit it out? You can’t yell wait without saying anything.”

  He sighs. “It’s nothing—- It’s just a stupid thought.”

  Ryoshio speaks up. “You oka-”

  Before he can finish the guard interrupts. “Well, get back to your post, don’t waste my time like that. Your shift isn’t over.”

  He turns to Ryoshio. “You too, get back to work.”

  Ryoshio bows. “Yes sir!”

  Takio lets out a sharp sigh and joins Ryoshio with a bow. “Yes sir—-” he says flatly.

  The Guard huffs, he walks back into the village.

  “What a prick—-” Takio mutters to himself.

  Ryoshio runs to the ladder near the post. “Come on! I’m not trying to get in trouble.”

  The gate begins to close, the wood scrapes the ground once more, kicking dirt and debris.

  “Yeah—- yeah—- I’m coming.” Takio walks over to the ladder.

  —————————————————

  With Danya and Ari unconscious and Peter and L’abeille defeated no one leaves the battle cleanly no matter who ended up victorious. Such is the nature of a Kill or Killed battle