A Nagas tale

Distrust and unrest

I stand next to Kogen seeing the large number of dead people and the deep red that colored the walls and floor. I turn to the others who are reporting the incident through a messenger. 'What did that girl mean by 'the naga that will restore our clan.'?' I look at the bodies curiously. 'So The leviathans have poisoned the snake tribe against us.' I look at my sword. 'poisoned?' I ask. "We should get you out of here." I look at Kogen. Although he is covered in blood I can't see a single scratch on him. I turn my eyes to the snakes and nod "Yeah, I think we shouldn't take any stops from now on." I mutter. He grabs my wrist and leads me out of the building. "How did they manage to make such a trap?" He asks. I shake my head not sure of how. "Audrey, I need you to stay by my side at all times." He orders. I look at him and nod "I will." I answer knowing how vulnerable I am at this point. Yyvonne runs over to me hugging me tightly I can feel she is shaking a little bit. I ruffle her hair and follow Kogen who is pulling me along. I gasp feeling his aura wrapping me in his heavy yet calming aura. I lift my hand seeing how his aura shook and thrashed slightly. 'he is upset.' I look up at him as he walks past the others. He stops once we are by the van. This is the van we came in. I turn my attention to the other cars seeing they had been destroyed in some way or another. Kogen opens the sliding door ready to put me inside. I step away 'How is it that the van is untouched?' He turns to me not happy that I refused him. "Audrey we need to go." He orders. I shake my head "Something is not right with the van." I answer pointing to the other cars that were parked there. "I can check the van if you are not comfortable with it." The driver offers. I nod pulling Kogen back with me. 'Those trucks are rigged with bombs and trackers.' I remember what Sam had told me before. 'Could they have advanced enough to make bombs with their guns?' I watch the driver only check the engine block and the outer shell. "Everything seems fine," he answers. Kogen seems satisfied with the search. My gut was not sitting right and I refused again the others already gathering to load up the van. 'Audrey, why are you hesitating? if we stay here any longer more might catch up.' The ancestor warns. Kogen grabs my waist ready to stuff me into the van. I shake my head "No! Kogen! Check under the car! I have a bad gut feeling!" I protest holding onto the sides of the open door. My ears perk up at the sound of a click. "KOGEN! GET ME THE FUCK OUT THIS THING!" My outburst seemed to catch his attention. He pulls me away "MOVE! GET OUT OF THE WAY!" I shout slapping my palms on his shoulder. He clears the area the others following us. "What you making a fuss about!? The vehicle is safe!" Troy retorts. I turned to the van seeing it did not explode I felt like an idiot. "See! it's safe." the driver opens his door. My eyes widen as he is blown into bits with the car and anything that was inside of it. I cover my face gasping in horror at what I'd just seen. "What the hell!?" Troy shouts as Kogen steps away from the hot blaze that used to be our ride. "How did you know!?" Troy demands from me. I shake my head 'I felt it was weird how the only car that was untouched was ours.' I feel my body shake horribly. "Audrey! answer me!" Troy demands. I turn back to the car and feel my anxiety spike. 'We could have been turned to nothing like the poor guy.' Troy grabs my arm which earns him a kick from Kogen. "what the hell!?" he shouts at Kogen. He puts me down "How did you know?" he asks. I frown looking at the other cars. "Back in the other world, While we were researching the ancestor." I point to the damaged cars. "There was a huge war in the small town the group that was attacking would create traps for anyone trying to flee," I explain. "I read a lot of reports of soldiers dying to booby-trapped cars with explosives under the engine," I explained some more feeling like I was going to puke. "They damaged all but one vehicle to trick anyone trying to flee the warzone," I answer. Kogen frowns "So you noticed the pattern." He whispers. I nod feeling sick to my stomach. "I didn't think they had advanced enough to make bombs but... I guess I was wrong." I murmur. He turns to the burning van "We should find a different way to get out of here." He tells the others. Troy stared at me for a while before agreeing. "The Inn has a phone line." The brunette points out. Kogen nods "Alright." He nods and turns back to me. "Are you alright? you look pale." He points out. I shake my head "S...so many guts..." I whisper gagging in disgust. He sighs rubbing my back "I forget you don't do well with blood." he grumbles. I cover my mouth trying my best to calm down. He crouches down to my size "I'd offer a hug but..." I look at him seeing his clothes coated in blood. I frown annoyed that something so annoying was blocking my way to the best scent. "We can stay here for you to calm down. I'm sure Roy is adult enough to order a ride." He chuckles. I see some blood on his face. I wipe the blood off with my hand before kissing him on the cheek. "hm, what are you trying to taunt me?" He asks. His eyes looked murky with what I felt was anxiety. I smirk "Take it as you like." I answer not confirming nor denying the meaning of the kiss. I gave him a quick wink before Yyvonne walked over to us. "Audrey, are you doing okay?" she asks. I nod "Yeah, I am fine. How are you, sweety?" I ask turning my attention from Kogen to her. She frowns as I cup her cheeks "Why are so many bad things happening?" she asks me. I feel bad for ruining what should have been an exciting outing from our home. "I'm sorry sweety, had I known I would cause this much trouble I would have stayed home." I apologize. She shakes her head "It's not your fault." she answers "Those snake beasts are annoying." she grumbles. I nod "Yeah, I agree." I answer sadly. I look at the burning van remembering I'd left my bag of clothes inside with everyone else's things. Yyvonne escapes my hold and hugs me rubbing her face on my clothes. I hugged her tight knowing she was feeling uneasy about everything that's happened. Kogen stands up "All of our things are gone." he huffs annoyed. I nod "Yeah, but I am just happy we are still alive." I murmur. "Yeah, that's what matters." He agrees. I watched Troy and the blond try to stop the fire with water. I sigh 'idiots, that's an oil fire, water will only spread it.' I watch them throw water at the car only for the fire to splash onto the ground. "Oi! you idiots!" The other guy rushes outside. "That will only make it worse!" The man scolds. I lean on Kogen feeling tired still from the rude wake-up. "Do you want to sit down?" He asks. I nod "Yeah, I still feel a little tired." I answer as he turns to lead me away from the car. This place is hot but Kogen insists on having me sit on his lap. After last night I didn't have the heart to refuse his demand. I lean against him although the smell of blood was annoying I did my best to focus on the smell of pine coming off his sweat. Yyvonne leaned on him to hide from the sun as well. 

The three leaders of Juniper City stand by the burning car. "How do you think we should proceed with the trip home?" they ask turning to their co-worker and his small family of three. "I agree with Kogen, that we should avoid being stationary for too long." The older of the three answers with a deep sigh. "I thought this meeting would be less stressful than it has been." He chuckles. His eyes fell on the now-sleeping Audrey. "How troublesome this little Naga has been." He shakes his head. "that isn't by any fault of her own." The blond answers. "You are right Ulysses, just a string of bad luck." he shrugs. "I still find it hard to believe she is not the one causing her own hunt," Troy speaks up with a scoff. "Creating her own hunt?" Ulysses asks turning to his younger co-worker. "How do you think?" The older one asks. "Well, the way she knew about the explosive in the car just doesn't sit right with me," he answers suspiciously. "I don't think anyone would want to kill their own child Troy, and if she is saying the truth about what she's learned then I doubt she had anything to do with the explosive." The older one scolds. Troy nods "I understand you're train of thought Roy but how have they been able to pinpoint her location so well during both attacks?" Troy asks. A question that neither of the three had an answer for. "Could there be any way they are tracking her?" Ulysses asks a possible answer. They turn to Kogen who is sitting still for his sleeping wife. "We should check right now that she is asleep." They walk to the group. "Is our ride here yet?" Kogen asks quickly offering his arm to his dozing daughter. "Kogen, do you think these things are tracking Audrey?" they don't beat about a bush. He looks at them before looking at Audrey. "I have thought of that." He answers honestly. "There is only one way they managed to find us the first time." He answers lifting the black sword resting on his lap. "the ancestral sword." Roy mutters. "Audrey told me on the ship they had pin-pointed the aura it gives off." he explains and frowns "But since the attack at the venue both Audrey and the sword have not recovered much of their aura," he explains. The three looked at each other. "So if it's not her aura they are tracking what else could it be?" Kogen jolts as Audrey tries to stretch out. He lifts her legs onto his other lap. Troy frowns looking at Audrey and narrows his eyes. "Has she ever come into contact with these things physically?" he asks. Kogen nods "Once, with that behemoth that attacked the venue." He explains. "Do you think it might have placed a tracker on her body?" Roy asks. Troy nods "Have you seen anything odd on her body?" He asks. Kogen shakes his head "No, other than the new wound on her stomach nothing is out of place." he answers. "Do you mind if we check?" Kogen glares at them not liking the idea of his co-workers seeing his wife naked. Ulysses raises his hands defensively. "We just want to check anywhere that behemoth touched." He clarifies. Kogen frowns but agrees holding up her arms. They examined her wrists like Kogen had confirmed there was nothing odd on her skin or under it. "It grabbed her ankles." He explains showing them her ankles but just like before there is nothing out of the ordinary. Roy frowns curious about what they where missing. "Audrey can you pick your chin up," he asks her. She opens her eyes slightly doing as Kogen asked. They checked her skin but there was nothing on her. "Audrey, is there anything that's been bothering you?" They chose to ask her seeing as there was nothing obvious on her skin. She frowns "My neck hurts." she whispers sleepily reaching for the back of her head. "Can you show us?" Kogen asks. She nods sitting up and curling down picking up her braided hair. Kogen frowns spotting a needle stuck in her skin. "Could that be it?" They ask "We are going to touch." Roy warns Audrey. "Uhm j..just don't pull it," she whispers nervously. Troy frowns already not trusting Audrey "Why?" he asks. "I... It hurts when you try to pull on it," she answers. Roy looks at Kogen before he touches the needle. His eyes widen when the needle sinks into her skin. Audrey yelps quickly covering her neck. "I...I said it hurt!" she slaps the hand away. "Audrey, we need to get the needle out," Kogen tells her.  She shakes her head "I've tried it hurts when I pull on it." she protests. He looks at her watering eyes "We will try not to hurt you but, this might be how they are tracking us." He explains. She frowns and nods "C..can I hold your hand?" she asks. He gives her his hand after adjusting his sleeping daughter. Audrey holds onto his hand "It's already gone under her skin how are we going to pull it out?" Troy asks. "I...It comes out when I use my aura, I almost got it out last time when we were attacked but, I fainted before it got out." she whispers. "I haven't been able to recover my aura since then and I'm worried it's because of it." she whispers. Kogen nods "I will use my aura then." he offers. Audrey looks at him and nods "All right," she answers ignoring whatever thoughts she was thinking.