Hetalian Protectors

A Fight Through the Woods

Aridan stood a few feet from the stair's entrance, outlined by the last traces of light that filtered in from the long skylight above. Her hair was slightly more highlighted with red, making her hair seem much more intense. She gestured through the indoor forest. "My room is that way, along with yours Ivan, Natalia's and Irunya's. The rest of your rooms are in the opposite direction, as is the balcony." At our concerned looks she smiled, rather dearly.

"Don't worry, there's nothing here but you guys and myself." Her eyes then took on a mischievous glint, "Well...Maybe, nothing." I couldn't help but grin at the shocked gasps behind me.

*****

Russia's POV: The sun shined through the pine needles, lighting up the snow and making it shimmer. It crunched under my feet, my boots leaving deep foot prints behind. My coat trailed through the powder slightly, revealing just how many inches had fallen. Aridan's home was reminding me of my own country more and more everyday. It made me comfortable, and more relaxed as well. It was rather pleasant.

The past week had been, needless to say, eventful. Aridan had arrived with some of our belongings days ago, bringing up the question of how she got into our houses, but she would only say that it was Kyoko's magic we had to thank. I didn't know if I wanted to thank her for snooping through my house but I was glad to have some of my stuff. Made things more like home. That was probably the goal.

Then you had the fact that we couldn't leave the property. Aridan said that this was the only place we were safe. That if we left TLPC would find us. In all honesty I didn't believe her completely. She said that they'd been after us for years now, but we weren't that hard to find, especially if they had infiltrated our governments. Why hadn't they come after us sooner? Why have they waited? Why did they want the girl's to capture us? There were so many questions and not enough answers.

The snapping of a branch made my head jerk up. Looking around, I caught sight of a deer through the brush. Its fur stood out from the white background it stood against, making it quite easy to spot. I smirked, though it wasn't very happy. The poor creature probably wouldn't last very long if it didn't try to blend into it's surroundings. I tried to get closer, only to have the deer's head shoot up. It ran off into the distance, leaving me far behind. Just like everyone else.

Sighing at my newly discovered depression I leaned up against a tree, its bark pulling at my jacket. How long are we going to be stuck here? Don't get me wrong, I actually liked Aridan. She wasn't afriad of me, or my sisters, and she reminded me a lot of myself. That was the problem though. No one had ever started off acting like that towards me. Well... there had been one person. Just that thought was enough to sour my mood.

"Sit Delta." The familiar voice made my icy heart flutter for a second. Confusion washed over me as I turned and barely made out Aridan's form through the trees. Why do I feel like this...? It was true that I had felt... Something... While in Aridan's presence. Something that made my heart open slightly. I almost felt like I've known her from somewhere. A place lost in the past.

But every time I reached for it, it slipped from my grasp, disappearing into the fog where it had come from.

A undeniable urge drew me forwards as the brown haired girl held out her hand, "Highfive." She was rewarded with the paw of the grey haired dog sitting at her feet, it's black tipped ears perked up in a form of attention. I felt a little burst of jealousy. There had never been a animal that could stand my presence for a long amount of time, let alone live in the same house as me. But of course, no human could do that very well either.

I thought about walking away, leaving us both to our devices. But my voice spoke up before I could stop myself, "Aridan."