Crimson & Clover {OC x GUTS} Berserk

11. Not Elves

I thought Puck was going to slow him down.

Marcella had walked for two days straight. She only stopped at nightfall. Perhaps this was where she failed. Of course, during the night Guts would push forward, slaying all in his path. She came to a complete halt. Still, he had to stop for rest somewhere. So she pushed forward.

Without any belongings, she had no way of collecting herbs and other items. Frankly, she didn't care to. She ignored her hunger as long as she possibly could and followed the occasional trail of blood left by Guts.

As the trees began to thin, she saw a small village in the distance. Her stomach rumbled, begging for food and her legs screamed for rest. Surely Guts would need to stop any chance he could and get supplies, perhaps he would be there.

~~~

She had gone straight to the village's tavern with no luck of finding Guts or Puck. However, it was in the tavern that her luck shifted. Once she sat down, she began to listen to what men and women said.

A weapon like that? In a place like this? Uncivil!

Her poor mother, who does that girl think she is? Bringing in strangers like that.

"Excuse me? Do you mean there is a man with a giant sword here? He's tall, with a scar here," Marcella used her finger to motion a slit across the bridge of her nose.

"And who... are you?" a drunk man mumbled, standing up to face Marcella.

"I am just passing through, but I am looking for a man who seems to attract the very sentiments you just expressed," she asked.

"Where are you from? You talk funny."

Marcella pressed her lips together, taking a deep breath in from her nose, "I –"

She was interrupted by a commotion that came from outside. Everyone got up and rushed outdoors to see what had happened. Marcella stayed put, finding that fear was swelling within her once more. Her wrist began to bleed and ache.

But, it's daylight still.

She could hear their screams and as much as she hated the idea of going outside, she knew that's where she would find Guts.

When she opened the door, it was worse than she was imagining. Elf-like creatures flew about, attacking anything and everything. Sitting and creating her protective bubble wasn't an option. Marcella had to fight.

She began to weave her fingers, making sigils in the air. What she created was an intricate bow made out of air. Truth be told, she hadn't the slightest clue on how to use the bow. She only recently learned the spell and practiced in the cave on an unmoving target without hundreds of innocent people around her.

Chaos ripped through the town and the elves terrorized the people. Marcella took a deep breath in and let it out as she pulled a wind arrow back and released it, hitting the elf-like creature. Even though it was air, the arrow was highly concentrated magick with deadly power. The elf was slain and fell to the ground.

Pure luck.

There wasn't a moment to celebrate her win. Instead, she began to run down the main street trying to find Guts while still warding off the elves.

She came upon a barn that began to smoke, flames could be seen through its windows. She didn't stare long before she saw a massive sword cut through the air. She rushed to the barn and saw Guts using a kid as bait. He lured the bug-elves to flame, trapping them in the barn and killing them.

For a moment, Guts met Marcella's eyes, only to watch as glowing arrows missed each and every target she aimed at.

Giant wings rose above the flames. Marcella looked up to see a strange child-like body morphed with a moth's head and wings before her. Their queen. She sent wind arrows flying towards her but the queen dodged each arrow and laughed as if it was all a game.

"These aren't elves," Puck said, pulling on Guts's cape.

"Shut up and get outta my way!" Guts yelled.

"No, listen! These are the children!" Puck pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Guts looked around in horror. The elves flew around laughing and taunting Guts's sword and Marcella's bow.

"Rosine! No!" a small girl shouted, jumping in between Guts and the queen.

Rosine spread some of her dust before flying away with the smaller elves – the children.

Puck flew to the girl, "Jill! Are you okay?"

The attack was over and all that was left was a destroyed village. Marcella, her bow dissipated, was lightheaded and on her knees. Guts collapsed, poisoned by Rosine's dust.

"Did you do this?!" a man yelled, running towards Guts, and motioning to the rubble and the burning barn.

All of the villagers gathered around and began shouting insults and accusations. Marcella, was still processing Puck's statement, these are the children.

Just then, the barn collapsed, no longer able to stand the heat of the flames. As it fell, hundreds of charred bodies could be seen. The villagers screamed in horror.

"Those are children!"

Guts, ignoring the effects of the poison Rosine had used on him, got to his feet and pulled Marcella up by his side. He grabbed Jill and pointed his sword towards the villagers. As they tried to attack, he used Jill's body as protection. Any action taken against him would be met with a dagger cutting deeper into Jill's flesh. Guts dragged Jill and Marcella both until they were well outside of the village and sure no one was following.

A full night of fighting, a day of fighting, and now dusk was upon them once more. Guts left Jill and Puck. He had no idea what to do with Marcella who was now collapsed in his arms. He also had no idea how she fought off the demons each and every night.

Either way, she was now just another thing he had to worry about.

Guts found shelter by a large boulder that blocked the wind. He took off his cape and made sure Marcella was as comfortable as she could be for being unconscious. He then began to work on his own injuries. He had lost too much blood, been poisoned, and now had only minutes until the sun set beyond the horizon.

As he threw up, Guts caught sight of Marcella. She looked like hell. Her cheeks were a little sunken in. Her hair was dirty and tangled. Soot and dirt covered her clothes and skin.

He found himself thankful she didn't hear the way he had treated Jill.

~~~

Slashing.

Slashing.

Slashing.

Tonight they came in the form of children. Children set on fire.

He puked as he fought them off. His back was to Marcella, where she lay still and unconscious. At least the boulder was a natural barrier. But, he was surrounded and cornered. And the idea of slashing at tiny bodies, bodies that never had the chance to fight for life made him sicker and crazed with rage. He hated what he was doing.

Hotter and hotter. The burning bodies closed in on him, on Marcella. He lifted his sword and just as he was about to swing, Jill appeared in front of his path.

In his sea of rage, a calm was brought. She started at him in horror. He couldn't tell if it was from the children or the fact that he was cutting them down.

Either way, Jill was about to be attacked. Guts lunged forward, taking on the flames and shielding her. In his lunge, he tackled Jill and rolled off a cliff with her, leaving Marcella unconscious and all alone.

~~~

She woke to an intense heat. As Marcella opened her eyes, she saw Guts lunge forward, almost as if he willingly jumped off the cliff. She sprung up and quickly began to weave her spell. Her bleeding wrist caused blood to drip all over her as she cast her spell just in time as a flame child reached out for her.