Warriors

Nine~ A Weird Kind Of Countdown

Tristan had fallen asleep on the couch, to regain his energy, leaving Pax and Kyler to air out their thoughts.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't want you to worry about him. You told me all about the old war, I couldn't imagine what you would have done if I told you about Tristan." Kyler's eyes were scouring for something to latch onto, anywhere to focus on that wasn't Pax.

Pax didn't want to rub salt in the wound, knowing that this situation wouldn't have happened if not for Tristan being who he was. Yet they had been friends for years and this hadn't happened before, anything to do with these Solar variants was getting under Pax's skin.

It didn't make sense, why had they chosen now, why wait so long and why specifically Pax. Why would they involve Kyler, how had they even known he was important to Pax.

Pax, wanting nothing more than to take Kyler's pain away, strolled into the kitchen and started rummaging through the cabinets. A questioning gaze controlled Kyler's features as he waited, painfully unable to move.

Finally Pax had found something he hoped could at least take the edge off, one of his mothers old burn pastes, he wasn't sure how well it would cool Vampire magic but he had to try.

Kyler was reluctant, not sure if mixing magics was the best idea but it wasn't his place to judge how well magic works so he gave in. At the very least the paste was cool to the touch when it was applied and he wouldn't admit how nice it felt that his boyfriend was massaging his arm.

To think how worried he was just yesterday that they wouldn't see each other again and now they seemed fine, other than the life or death situation that Tristan was refusing to tell them the details of.

A howl sounded, Pax heard his fathers words clearly, both his parents were going to stay with Anther and the pack while the Solar's were roaming the woods. He also warned Pax to remember the full moon approaching. It was getting surreal, his parents couldn't even make their way home and now they were going to take Kyler.

Kyler went up to Pax's room to lie down, feeling fatigued as his strength was being drained from the burn.

Pax sat on the kitchen island, staring at the couch, wishing he could burn a hole through it. Guilt was starting to creep in, he knew this wasn't something he was blameless in, not that he would admit it.

The full moon wasn't going to stop Pax from helping, it might make it trickier than any other night but he wouldn't be taken out of the game.

''You're not really asleep, are you?'' Pax's voice echoed off the quiet cottage.

''Why do you ask?'' Tristan replied, eyes still closed.

Pax shifted his weight, leaning forward on his arms. ''I just didn't think Vampires could sleep.'' He put emphasis on the word 'could' feeling a slight discontent with his lack of knowledge on Vampires.

A smirk tugged at Tristan's mouth, ''Not in the same way humans or Werewolves do, but yeah, we can sleep, we just don't need to. I use it as a way to pass time mostly.''

Pax felt even more confused. ''So... are you sleeping now?'' He couldn't tell.

''No, you woke me up.'' Even Pax could feel the sarcasm as Tristan chose now to wake, opening his eyes and sitting up, returning Pax's gaze. It was now that Pax saw the intense deepness of Tristan's grey eyes, almost losing himself in them for a second.

Forcing his eyes away, clearing his throat, Pax wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. Tristan took note of Pax's discomfort.

''How did you and Kyler meet? I would assume it was that human school he goes too, he never really talked to me about that place.'' Knowing that Pax was a part of Kyler's life, Tristan was determined to play nice, getting to know the beast was a good start, he thought.

He found it odd but indulged the Vamp. ''Uhh. Yeah, we were in class, the teacher signed us up for a project and it kinda bloomed from there. What about you? If you don't go to school, how'd you meet him?''

Tristan shrugged, ''He got lost in the woods, he was 7, I was 8. I knew if my parents smelled him there would be trouble so I helped him back to the path by his house. His parents had been looking for him for two hours, he was trying to run away cause they wouldn't let him stay up past his bed time. His parents were so grateful he was safe and said I was welcome anytime.''

Pax thought about this, he'd never known Vampires to be caring, especially about humans. It was also funny to think of a little Ky running away, he wished he could've known a baby Kyler.

Snapping from his thoughts, Pax realised something. ''You have parents?'' Shock coated Tristan's face as he was now the one avoiding eye contact.

The silence was deafening, Pax wondered if he misspoke, crossed a line. He looked down sheepish, preparing an apology, he hadn't meant to upset Tristan, which was a first.

Kyler cried out in pain, Pax was upstairs in seconds, Tristan followed behind, fearing what they were going to see.

Bursting through the door revealed how fast the burn was spreading, it was now covering Kyler's chest and ribs, it was up his neck and down his fingers. Pax knelt by the bed, holding Kyler's unburned hand, Tristan stood by the door, seething in a rage he hadn't felt in years.

The pain was etched on Kyler's face and it was only going to get worse before it killed him. Tristan ran downstairs with Pax calling after him, he had nothing to lose except for Kyler.

Tristan stood at the front door of the small cottage in a clearing in the woods and waited, he waited and waited until he could think without crying. Then he called out.

After a moment three Solar Vampires walked out of the tree line toward the porch, stopping a few paces short. They communicated exclusively in their minds, away from prying ears.

''Why did you summon us, Lunar?'' The oldest of the group spoke, squinting.

''The human is dying, you've made your point, heal him.'' Tristan knew this was a long shot, he knew exactly what they wanted, what he didn't know was why.

''The blue Wolf?'' The leader asked, unfazed and unimpressed.

''Why do you want the blue Wolf? What has he done to you?'' Tristan was losing his patience and Kyler was losing time.

''He must pay, before the prophecy comes true and history is repeated.'' The second Solar stepped forward, he was shorter than the first and his thoughts were more muddled.

Disbelief was dripping from Tristan as he shook himself out of his stunned silence. ''You mean you're doing this because of something that hasn't even happened yet?'' His voice coated in disgust as his outburst no longer remained in his head, he found himself shouting at them.

''The down fall of all Vampires could be caused by this one Wolf, are you really okay letting that happen? I'm sorry about your human friend but it was the only way to show you how dire our situation is.'' The third Solar, a girl about 15, curls of a sunset framing her face, sounded almost like she had a conscience.

Tristan couldn't tell if her apology was as sincere as she sounded, he frowned at the other two, wondering how she ended up lumped with them. Looking at the sun as it was almost making its way down the treeline, Tristan feared for nightfall.

''How long does Kyler have?'' Desperation saturated his voice now, he didn't care.

The girl looked at the others then down at her feet before meeting Tristan's gaze again. ''Midday tomorrow would be his final hour, unless you heed our warning. When you decide, call for Lenora and I'll be here.'' Her words had entered Tristan's unbeating heart and made it jump in his chest as he recalled where he knew that name from.

He watched, frozen in place, as they left for the treeline. When they were no longer in view, he swung the door shut as hard as he could, not caring that it shook the cottage.

Pax stood at the bottom of the stairs, alarm in his eyes, as he waited for an explanation. Tristan could merely stand, all his weight was against the door.