Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

14 - Recovered

Xyder Zephyr - POV;

"Ugh," I groaned as I rested my hand on my aching head. I opened my eyes slowly and stared at the white embossed cieling. I gently raised my body and scanned the room I now laid in.

A few things caught my eye, one being that I had been warded in the Zephyr exclusive hospital within the Residential Area and more immportantly that Storm sat on a chair with his head laying back on the wall as he slept while Satella and Cheryl both rested on chairs with their heads on either side of my bed.

"Yo."

I jumped, not expecting the sudden call. I returned my attention to Storm whom had now been glaring right at me.

"You're finally awake huh?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess. How long was I out?" I returned a question.

"A week. We were beginning to worry that you wouldn't wake up in time," he replied.

"In time? For what?" I inquired.

"Eh? The tournament of course! It starts in three days," Storm told me.

"God damn it. I wanted more time!" I exclaimed.

"So what exactly happend that evening?" I questioned Storm.

"The night of the attack? What do you mean what happened? Don't you remember?" Storm interrogated.

"No, I honestly don't. I remember following you into the forest and I saw you meet up with Satella. The next thing I recall is hearing those bone chilling howls and you guys running. I sped off too but I was surrounded by the corrupted dogs. I thought I was a goner but then a pack of hell hounds emerged out of thin air and wiped out their lesser cousins. After this point, everything went blank," I admitted.

"Wait, hold on a second. Corrupted dogs? Hell hounds? Are you talking about those beasts from earlier?" Storm pressed.

"Yeah. Corrupted dogs are our typical everyday canines but that have been corrupted by demonic power and the point of their death breathing a new but evil life into them. The are often small and quite weak. While they mostly look like they did in their first life they change slightly in their more muscular builds and thicker sharper jaws. Also they lose their hair and retain a leathery appearance. Hell hounds in the other hand are demons born from hell itself. They are bigger, faster, stronger and deadlier than any normal canine on Earth. Their distinct obsidian black hair and the dark mist of black magic which seeps from their feet and mouths make them easily recognisable," I described for him.

"And how do you know this?"

"When I entered the Trials of the Persona, I saw something that made me curious. I'm sure I saw a demon and behind him he commanded a platoon of hell hounds all of whom bended to his will. When we returned, I did some research on demons and beasts just out of curiosity," I explained.

"Oh. And I'm guessing that this is when you learned the demonic language then?" Storm continued.

"Learned the demonic language?" What are you talking about?" I was confused. Storm looked equally lost by my response as well.

"Clang!" The loud soud of metal dropping grabbed my attention. Evie stood at the door wide-eyed after dropping the drink cans she once held. Satella and Cheryl had shot up as well. The three girls looked directly at me in a period of prolonged silence until Evie dove onto me and hugged me tightly.

She sobbed uncontrollably, "Thank God you're awake! The doctors said that you went into a coma and I couldn't do anything to help! I didn't know what I woul do if I lost you!"

"I'm sorry Xyder! It's my fault! If I didn't run off, those beasts never would have attacked!" Satella cried.

Cheryl held onto my hand and I wiped the tears from her eyes.

"What do we have here? You've only just recovered from being comatose and already you have the girls all over you?" Catherine giggled as she entered the room.

"Hey Catherine," I brushed off her remark.

"We were told that if you didn't wake up before the tournament, you probably wouldn't for quite some time. It's a relief to see you up," she smiled.

"Also please don't hold it against Alva for not being here," Catherine continued, "She would come see you for a couple of minutes ever so often but although she won't admit it, she cried the entire night away each time she did."

"I don't hold anything against her. Rather I feel I should apologise for worrying everyone," I told her.

"Miss Catherine, can I speak to you outside for a minute," Storm suddenly spoke up.

"Sure," she said and the two left.

"What are you going to do now?" Evie inquired, "Are you still going through with the tournament?"

"Of course I am. I have to win this thing!"

Evie continued, "Anyway, a lot happened while you were out. For starters, Seraphim made a full, miraculous recovery from his injuries. The incident with Cerberus and the demonic beasts is being investigated but no one can figure why or from where they came. The Epitomes claim that Cerberus retreated on his own after appearing for no reason snd Satella as well as Storm were unconscious when we brought them back. You wouldn't happen to know more would you?"

"No, my memories are fuzzy," I said.

"Huh. Anyway, we should prepare for the compitition. Remember, I won't go easy on you if we battle on the day!" Evie announced.

"You got it! I'll give you hell if we clash!" I smiled.

* * * *

S

eraphim Zephyr - POV;

"What?!" I boomed.

"It seems that the Epitomes were either lyimg to cover up the incident or someone made them," Catherine surmised.

"Who told you this again?" I asked.

"It was Storm Zephyr. He was overlooked on questioning because he was out when he was found at the scene but it seems that he saw everything. He told me that he saw Xyder do this when he took me aside. It also seems that Xyder has no recollection of the incident," Catherine continued.

"So Xyder commanded hell hounds against Cerberus and bargained with it in demonic tongue?" I sighed, "Things are reaching a critical level too quickly! He must not participate in the tournament!"

"I am sorry father-in-law but I forgot to mention that Xyder has awoken today and it seems he will pursue the title it the fights," Catherine added.

"Grr. Damn it all!"

*Pictured- Alva Zephyr