A Nagas tale

Grief and strife

The attack delayed the trip to Yyvonnes base visit. Since The leaders were all gathered in the same location Yyvonne was given some grace. I sit in the van leaning against the window watching the world move past me. I feel so numb holding the baby blanket with little bears on it. I noticed Kogen was also rather distant since I woke up in the hospital. The pain of losing this little life has created such a numb shell of me. I wanted so badly to smile and say everything was fine. I wanted to laugh it off like I used to when something bad happened. I wanted to make Kogen smile for me and chuckle for me but my body just felt numb and my mind felt too empty. I can't find the motivation to do anything other than breathe. 'I was so scared when I found out, and now I am so depressed that it ended too quickly.' The three leaders that ran the base Yyvonne wanted to go to were chatting with her. They asked her about what her goals were and how her grades were. "Are you tired?" Kogen asks. I look at him and shake my head "You should rest." I offer him my shoulder. He had not slept since the entire mess happened. He shakes his head "I'm alright." He answers I grab the color of his shirt and pull him onto my shoulder. "Sleep," I order not wanting him to collapse from the lack of sleep. He sighs giving in to my demand. He closes his eyes and tries to sleep. I look at him as he tries to sleep. The dark circles ruin his handsome face. He lifts his head and pulls me onto his lap before taking my spot. He leans back on the window and sighs. "This is better." He states I look up at him and smile. "Alright, get some sleep," I answer before turning my eyes to the now-silent car. I see the leaders watching us curiously. I say nothing and rest on Kogen's chest touching his arms regretting how badly I'd hurt him. I know he's fallen asleep because of how relaxed his hands are. I grab his fingers and examine them before tracing my fingers along each line where his knuckles fold. I press my palm on his finding the difference in size comforting. These large hands of his always make me feel safe. These hands are calloused with years' worth of training and battle. These hands that surely have ended many lives only serve to protect me. I tangle my fingers with his fingers. 'I feel selfish for the way I acted. I feel horrible for only thinking of my pain when I know Kogen is hurting just as much as I am.' I sigh wishing there was a way to heal this numbness I felt. "What an odd sight." I turn my eyes to the three leaders sitting with Yyvonne. 'Are they going to say the same thing as the others!?' I feel my skin prickle. "To think The Kogen Zer would ever settle down." I look at the brunette man with an unkempt beard. His green eyes watched me closely before chuckling. "Well, Kogen has been a rather picky man." I look at the other man with a more tidy beard and braided dirty blond hair. I feel a little curious knowing the past he's had from his mother and the little bits I've heard here and there. I was curious as to what his co-workers thought of him. 'Kogen? Picky? MY Kogen?' I wondered "You don't believe us?" I turn to the younger guy who looks like an earnest guy. His blue eyes trained on the world outside of the van window. "W... Well no," I answer after all we did end up together really fast compared to what I thought would be normal dating standards. "hm, why is that?" they ask. "Audrey and Kogen hit it off really well from the start!" Yyvonne answers for me. They nod "I assume it has something to do with your tribe." The younger guy answers turning his eyes to me. 'with my tribe?' I wonder "Why do you say that?" I ask turning my eyes to the ceiling of the van. "I Assume your elder might have had a deal made with Kogen and his mother for the favor you say he did for the elder." The young guy answers. I frown "I doubt my tribe had anything to do with it." I answer honestly not believing that something like that would be the case. "Well, the elder was aware of your existence enough to bring you here so it might have been arranged." He answers. I giggle "That would be stupid, Grandpa had no Idea my gender before I came here." I answer finding their assumptions laughable. "So you think it was not arranged and you just so happen to be Kogen's type?" I turn my eyes to the young guy. Yyvonne had pulled the other men's attention with questions. I frown "You know it's not nice to poke at somebody's insecurities." I retort. "So you are aware of that much?" he asks. I narrow my eyes getting annoyed with his sentiments. "I am more aware of myself than anyone else around me." I agree. "I understand I am not what somebody would look at and deem beautiful enough to want. I understand I am not knowledgeable enough for somebody to need me. I understand there is nobody in their right mind to think I am enough to settle for." I explain with a deep huff. 'All these doubts I carry, All these insecurities I have, they are all seeds planted into my mind. Seeds I am trying my best to get rid of.' "Troy, I think it's enough with the harsh harassment." The man with the dirty blond hair scolds. "I am simply explaining how it's hard for me to believe an oaf like Kogen would settle down instead of continuing his barbaric way of life." He answers. I frown "Barbaric way of life?" I ask ready to punch that pretty little face of his. "He is so lustful for fights, it's insane to think he could think of anything other than fighting." The guy answers. I hear Kogen grunt in his sleep. I looked up at him to make sure he was still sleeping. "Troy, please." The brunette pleads. I feel like all they know how to do is insult those who do not carry themselves the same. I sigh "You need to be more aware of yourself if you want to go knocking people down." I mutter. "Condescending words only make your pretty face a sham." I scoff. "What!?" the guy raises his voice. I glare at him "I said what I said. If all you know how to do is talk shit behind somebodies back. You need to grow a set and speak your mind to his face." I sigh "Oh I am regretting letting Yyvonne come to this base." I mutter "What do you know!?" He asks. I turn my eyes back to him. "I know a lot more than you do. You think Kogen is only looking for fights without thinking of what he needs to do to protect what he's sworn to protect. You call him an Oaf without having spent a second watching him and his daily duties." I frown. "Just because you think a person is 'Barbaric,' and 'lusting for fights,' Does not mean they are emotionless beings." I grumble. "Why are you fucking around with Audrey." I flinch looking up at Kogen. "Oh, sorry did we wake you up?" I ask he frowns. "I've slept enough." He sits up dropping me onto the seat. He keeps his arm around my waist and turns his eyes to the pretty face. "If you need to say something to me." He looks at me "Say it to my face kid, otherwise, I recommend you leave Audrey alone." he scoffs. I look at the three leaders and Yyvonne who seem on edge. "I make my choices as I please, I do not need the approval of those around me." He explains. I sigh wanting to avoid this situation from the start. 'I should have just ignored them.' I flinch feeling the healing scab get pulled by the bandage. "Are you alright?" He asks. I nod "Yeah, just... the bandage is sticking to the skin unpeeled a little." I answer. He groans "We should stop so I can check how it's doing." He states. I shake my head "It's alright, it's just the sudden movement." I refuse wanting to get this base visit done and go home. He sighs "We need to make sure it's treated properly." he insists. I look at him again feeling guilty for somehow making him worry about me. I frown and grab his face "I am fine Honey, I am worried about you more than anything right now." I twist my body kneeling on the seat to hide him from the others. He frowns "I am fine." he tries to lie but I refuse to believe he is fine. Remembering how excited he was that day we were shopping and how cute he looked. I hug him holding his face to my breasts "I don't believe you." I whisper my doubt. He sighs letting me hug him to my heart's content. He presses his face against me his nose poking my ribs uncomfortably. He puts his hands on my sides squeezing the wound. I hiss pushing him away in pain "W... what was that for!?" I demand "We should stop in an Inn to rest for the night." He speaks up to the driver taking his order without hesitation. "We don't need." He pokes the wound again forcing me to shut up. I frown headbutting him in annoyance. He looks at me and my body shivers seeing how dark his eyes look. 'He's not okay.' I give in and sit down understanding he needed to get out of this van. The driver took about an extra hour before he stopped at an Inn. The others got out with Yyvonne following them. Kogen gets out of the van and carries me out. "Kogen I can walk." I argue but he ignores it. I sigh sinking into his arms knowing I was not getting away from him. He asks for two rooms so Yyvonne can sleep in her own room.  I thought I would be in trouble for what happened in the van. He sits me on the bed before finding his spot on my lap. I looked at him wondering how he was feeling. "Are you alright?" I ask quietly too afraid of what he would answer. 'is he angry? is he upset? displeased with me?' I touch his hair combing my fingers through his thin black hair. I jumped when he started sobbing at first I couldn't hear him but once he turned to face my stomach his cries grew louder. I feel panicky unsure what I am to do to help. I remember how he would help me calm down. Always wordlessly but reassuringly letting me know he was there. I look at Kogen his broken sobs and tear-stained face rips my heart to pieces. I put my hand on his cheek unable to say much to calm him. All I could do that night was listen to his broken sobs and suffering heart. 'How I wish I could help him. I wish I knew how to assure him.' I did not hold back my own tears but did my best not to sob. The next morning I woke to the sound of knocking on the door. I open my eyes seeing the light of morning shining through the curtains. I feel Kogen nuzzle his nose against my skin poking at my ribs. I look at my sleeping husband finding how small he's made himself cute but heartbreaking. "Kogen! It's time to leave!" I hear the guy from before bark. I frown not happy he was sent to wake us up. I move to get up only for Kogen to pull me back down. I look at him curiously just then a bullet creates a hole in the wall. My eyes widen as he rolls us off the bed. I gasped falling onto him as more bullets were fired into our room. He rolls onto his side and lifts the bed to create a blind spot. I grab my bag "Go!" He shouts I nod quickly rushing to the door. I trip on my feet only for Kogen to grab me lift me under his arm and rush out the door. "What are these things doing following us this deep into the mainland!" he growls as he wraps his free arm around the guy's throat and pulls him out of the opened door. I have not been able to recover my aura as quickly these days due to the taxing spells I used while summoning the ancestor. I hear the people of the Inn screaming as they try to get away from the gunfire. "What the hell are they using guns for!?" I ask. Kogen frowns "The snake tribe has been manufacturing guns for a while now, Yuri's been investigating them and making some for us but... they are weak against aura." He explains as he flares his aura. I flinch feeling his aura swallow my body up. We spot the others holding up a barrier to protect the civilians that had taken residence in the Inn. Kogen shoves me into the barrier. "Don't get out of it!" he orders before rushing out fighting whatever idiots were still following us. 'Audrey! watch out!' I step out of the way as a woman lunges at me. I fall onto my ass shocked by how she managed to hide with the others. "The Naga that will restore our clan!" The woman shouts turning back to me. I shiver seeing the insanity in the woman's eyes. I get up and try to get away from her 'Audrey!! we are surrounded!' The Ancestor shouts I stand in the center of eight people. Their eyes looked crazy and not right. I grab the sword 'You have no aura left to fight!' The ancestor scolds. I nod 'I can use you as a bat!' I answer. One of the men jumps at me. I slam the sword into his head sending him to his ass. I rush for the opening 'Where is that brunette? we saw him!' I rushed out of the circle 'It was a trap! there was no leader here!' The ancestor shouts. 'a trap!?' I am suddenly tackled onto my front. I scream wanting somebody to hear me. I throw my head back trying to get the person holding me off. I feel my head slam against somebody's nose before I am freed. I quickly get up not wanting to waste time. I run to the barrier slamming into the hard wall. I realize this was meant to keep us in. I press my back to the wall watching these people all turn to me with malicious grins on their faces. "K....K..KOGEN!!!!" I shout feeling terrified. "Audrey!" The barrier shatters as Kogen pulls me out of it. I grab his arm feeling the panic settle. I tuck my head against him as he fought. 'Oh god.' The sound of flesh being sliced sent shivers down my back. I close my eyes and try my best not to scream or cry. I try to block out the sounds of the killing.