Unlikely Heroes-Draft 1

Chapter 5

Nocturne ran towards the source of screaming, still in his demon form. As he kept hunting for the source of the sounds, rain began to fall, causing the heated ground to sizzle and steam. It seemed that the fire was targeted, what looked like a couple of rounded huts had been selectively torched. He sniffed around, if there were any signs of the children or their parents is was lost in the fire, but he hoped he would pick up a lingering scent somewhere...

Meanwhile, Chimney sat away from Nocturne's eyes behind a burnt out stump. He hurt badly, but he wasn't going to let himself be seen in a vulnerable state any more than he could help it. The stomach mouth chittered hungrily and started to pull at his shirt. It had been awhile since they had eaten. That put him in an even worse mood, but also was starting to worry him. The parasite would not go unfed for long without creating trouble for him that he could not afford right now. He needed to come up with a solution, and fast, before things got even worse.

After pawing through ash and ember, Nocturne had turned up empty. Cursing under his breath he turned, his eyes darting to and fro among the rubble. Fire still made him nervous, but if there was a child around, he was determined to save them.

But what if there wasn't? What if this was his mind playing tricks on him? Or another accursed hallucination brought on by the past? He shook himself, water spraying off of his horned head, "Stay focused old man", he whispered to himself.

He looked up, only to see a faint glowing light bobbing and dancing over the scorched grasses towards him. He remembered seeing similar lights in the forest earlier, they seemed harmless enough, but he was cautious nonetheless. This was a world beyond his previous knowledge, and it didn't make sense to let his guard down considering what happened already. And what if it was just another trick of the mind, or of something worse yet?

The wisp came to a halt, then zipped a circle around him before hovering in front of him once more.

He snorted, furrowing his brow, "What do you want?"

It veered off a few feet ahead of him, and then stopped again.

"You...want me to follow you?"

It bobbed up and down.

Noc sighed "Fine", he pulled himself up to his feet, giving himself a final shake and folding his wings above himself to hold off the rain.

He followed it, wondering if it was going to be a huge waste of his time or if it was going to lead him into more trouble. He missed home already. Home, where Kira and Dracul lived, the only family he had now.

Dracul, the outcast dragon who hid in human form, worked as a bartender, his 1500 years of knowledge hidden to all but those he trusted the most. Nocturne had found a brother within him, someone who listened without judgement. Kira he felt protective of, as she was the one who had saved him from his imprisonment in Hell. Whatever she saw in Chimney that was worth loving, he couldn't begin to understand...he just hoped the bastard wouldn't hurt her in the end...

Chimney, noticing Nocturne wandering off, pulled himself up with a groan, "Great, that idiot better be heading towards food.", and began to slink behind him. Not being able to slip into mist was irritating him greatly and he was barely even in the mood to taunt Nocturne. So bad was his mood that he had completely forgotten the soul he had stored away for safekeeping. "Worst vacation ever."

Before long, Nocturne heard the crying again. Running past even the wisp that was leading the way he caught wind of one of the foul demons like the one from before. The stench was enough to make him gag but he kept going, driven on by the crying. The wisp zipped along beind him, with Chim in tow,