Unconditionally - DanRos FanFic

Chapter 8

The plump little boy with round cheeks walked through the middle of the camp, cradling a loaf of bread.

"Pao-pao," Danaya called and the little boy waddled over to her. "You're eating again?"

"It's because I'm hungry again," Pao-pao grinned at her cheekily. "Would you like some?"

She shook her head smilingly and Pao-pao continued on his way, happily unaware that their short conversation had been watched anxiously by Muros and Aquil.  They had been discussing the defense of the camp but had immediately stopped when they saw Danaya and Pao-pao talking.

Both men hurried over to Danaya, went to either side of her and asked at the same time, "Sang'gre Danaya, would you like to eat?"

Danaya had been adjusting her arnis sticks at her sides.  She stared at the two warriors with astonishment.

Both encantados were now sizing each other up.  Aquil was refusing to be intimidated by the bulkier Muros and for once Muros stared right back and looked like he would not be backing down from his general.

All of a sudden, an explosion rocked the camp and shouts of "Enemies! We're under attack!" roused the entire camp to action.

At almost the same moment, Danaya, Muros and Aquil had drawn their weapons and met the attackers head-on.  The enemy's attack force was led by Icarus, a soldier of Lireo who had gone over to Pirena's side.  With him was a stranger, a young encantado armed with a sword.  The unknown stranger fought with skill and many of their soldiers were wounded.

Muros and Aquil stepped forward to meet this new threat but Danaya halted them.  She wanted to gauge his skill herself.  She fought fiercely but he parried her every blow and she staggered back.

Seeing this, Muros quickly retaliated and charged the stranger but he matched Muros, strike for strike, and then shouldered the larger man aside.

Aquil fought then but even the general of the Lireans was no match for him.

Muros quickly returned to the fight and Danaya joined him. Aquil recovered quickly and pulled the stranger's arms back to keep him from moving as Danaya and Muros pointed their weapons at the stranger's throat.  

"Stop!" Icarus yelled, "You cannot hurt him.  He is Kahlil, son of your sister, Alena."

"I don't believe you.  Who are you really?" Danaya demanded.

The newcomer glared at them and said strangely, "I am Kahlil, son of Alena and Ybarro," then right away stabbed Aquil who was behind him.

"Aquil!" Furious, Danaya moved to stab Kahlil and too late realized that Kahlil was too close and he was about to do exactly the same.  Kahlil's strike would have hit its mark in Danaya but Muros suddenly threw himself in front of her.  He roared with pain as the blade went through him.

"Muros!" Danaya's agonized shout burst out from her as he fell forward and she swiftly caught him.

Danaya was in a dilemma.  She had to move quickly and defeat this Kahlil somehow without hurting him.  She was still worried about Aquil who was hurt, and over and above all these, Muros was badly wounded. He was holding on to her and she was afraid to move him further.

All might have been lost if not for Pao-pao who came to their rescue.  The little boy who Amihan had taken in had in his possession the fifth gem and it allowed him to transform into a powerful warrior, his kambal diwa.  The kambal diwa sprang from inside the tent and battled Kahlil, soundly defeating him and Icarus.

Danaya gently placed Muros down and took out her own gem.  She told Icarus and his troop to leave.

Once they had gone, after checking that the kambal diwa of Pao-pao was seeing to Muros, she went over to Aquil first.  She quickly healed him then tended to Muros right after.

"Thank you, Muros, for saving my life."

He held her gaze for a long moment then nodded, leaned back and closed his eyes.  She left him resting.