Enslaved

Chapter 47

Kaida watched Ryuu's back worriedly from the arms of another rebellion member, wishing she could fly to him. She had watched as he talked to that other hybrid for a while before something she said had caused him to lose all composure. She had never seen him that angry, not even when fighting the slavers or the empire. He had called for the entire group to hurry up and get to the camp and save the medical attention for when they got back. He then had grabbed the other hybrid and forced them to fly with him for about an hour before he allowed them to lag back and get attention for a serious cut on their arm and chest. Ryuu had then picked up the speed so they were near racing over the ground, the moon seeming to barely move with how much land they covered. What had happened? What had they said? She glanced up at him just as they all dived, nearly causing her to yelp in surprise. They were already at the camp? The sound of wing beats and the brisk wind assaulted her senses before their feet landed on the ground roughly, jostling her slightly before they gentle held her out and she got her own feet under her.

"Thank you." She said to them, turning and smiling up at them. "I really appreciate your help."

They gave her a grim smile before she turned away and scanned the crowds of landing hybrids, her eyes searching out one. She spotted him walking quickly toward the tree line, his wings folded up so tightly against his back that they were near-vibrating. She huffed and, ignoring the pain in her wings and chest, she broke into a run after him, wincing as her breaths came out jagged. She gritted her teeth, angry at herself for not being able to fly as she sprinted over the grass toward him, her breathing getting rougher and rougher.

"Ryuu!"

He stopped but didn't turn around and she slowed to a stop a few feet away from him.

"Ryuu, what's wrong?" She focused on controlling her breathing. "What happened?"

A snarl ripped from him as he turned around and she took an involuntary step backward at the pure fury in his split pupil eyes. Her left arm wrapped around her waist and she was surprised to find herself shaking slightly.

"That is none of your business."

She blinked in surprise before frowning slightly.

"What do you mean? Of course it is! I am a part of the rebellion, just like you said!"

Ryuu laughed, sending shivers up her spine at the harshness of it.

"You think that makes you privy to every piece of information?" He tilted his head ever so slightly, looking predatory with his pupils razor thin. "You think that makes you important?"

She flinched, taking another step backward.

"I can help-"

Ryuu cut her off by slashing his arm through the air and snarling, louder than before.

"No you can't!" His voice was raised just enough to ring in her ears painfully. "I brought you along for one mission and you managed to break more rules than anybody else ever has! You are no more important than anybody else here."

She felt her chest cave in, her breathing tighter than it had been before, even when she had been running.

"Ryuu, you said I was a part of this rebellion- this family." She whispered, her heart aching. "Let me help."

Ryuu bared his fangs at her and whipped his wings open, plunging her into shadows.

"You will never be a part of this family."

Ryuu down flapped so violently that she fell on the ground, her ears ringing and her eyes stinging as she watched him completely disappear from her view into the forest. She didn't even notice that she was crying until a hand landed on her shoulder and she turned, meeting Kajeel's gaze.