Something... Snapped.
Everything went into slow-motion. The Hunter stopped as if frozen in time. He looked down to his chest to realize a bladed lance had pierced through his body.... The lance... in my hands! I regained myself, long enough to notice it and felt a surge of adrenaline fill me. I didn't know how this lance had gotten here, but now was not the time to question it. Now was the time to fight back!
I, immediately, pulled the lance out of him. He roared and fell to his knees; holding the gaping hole. I took this chance to knee him in his muzzle and slash him, one more time, before he could fall back. I managed to knock him out. K.O.!!
Before I had time to celebrate, I began to feel really... cold. A cold chill over took my body and I could feel myself shaking uncontrollibly. I wondered what was wrong, then i looked down at the lance in my hands. It began to melt and liquify into purply red, liquidy, blood... My blood!
It suddenly became very clear to me what was happening. I tried to move, but the forest started to spin. I ended up falling over trying to lift Dhalsim up; the fatigue and blood loss catching up to me. I tried getting up once more but my body gave up on me.
I almost gave up hope when I heard the crunch of leaves and looked its direction to see another shadowy figure walking towards us in the distance. I dunno if it was the lack of blood masking my vision or not, but i couldn't make out any defining features on it.
It knelt down to me and closed my eyes. Just like that I was out, like a light. I don't know how but that was the best sleep I ever had.
When I woke up, I felt great! I sat up to see a fire burning. It was night and I was still in the same forest clearing and Dhalsim sat on a log, writing in his book.
My wounds were gone, yet again, and I was still daunted by the fact. I tried to think of what to say to Dhalsim, but he beat me to the punch without even lookin' at me.
"You're awake..."
"Y-yeah..."
"I'm impressed with how you managed."
I blinked and then realized, "Dhalsim! This dark figure came and-"
"Don't worry about it.", He reasssured me, "The guy's with us"
I looked down at the ground, trying to surmise this situation. I looked over to where Hunter was at and realized he was gone. Dahlsim explained that he had managed to escape before he could get to him.
Having enough of sitting down, I got up and start to walk in the direction of the orphanage.
"Where're you going," He asked me. I didn't respond.
"Don't tell me you're going back to the orphanage after what just happened to you.", He argued at my silence. I kept walking.
"The longer you stay there, the more you put you and your loved ones lives in danger!", Dahlsim yelled with feeling that broke his tough exterior down for a second. I stopped and turned to him.
"What do you want from me?!", I exclaimed back and gripped my fists, looking down. "I can't just leave them like this! What kind of person would I be if I just up and left!?"
"Maybe, it would just be best if you do..."
The words hit me harder than any punch and slash. I could do nothing but stand there. He was right and I knew it. If anyone, like that freak Shephard, were to come around, I don't think I would be able to defend my self or anyone I cared for. For the first time in my life, I had never felt so weak and powerless.
The next day, Dhalsim and I finalized the adoption papers and I began packing up my things. Dhalsim only told me to bring what was absolutely necessary and I did as I was told.
Saria looked on in disbelief at me and my willingness to go...
"So... you're just leaving us?", She said, her voice breaking, a little.
"Believe me when I say that I would be nothing but harmful to you and everyone around here, now, if if i stayed..."
We went back and forth, arguing the whole time. As I finished packing my back pack and threw over my shoulder, I walked by her and towards the foyer. Before I could make it to the stairs, I heard "Let me go with you!" from behind. It caught me off guard and I didn't know what to say.
"Please...," Saria pleaded, "Without you, there'd be no reason to stay, here.". I turned to her, silently, and could see the sincerity in her eyes. I turn my head to look down at Dahlsim, who was talking to the Madame. I ran down to him got his attention. He looked at me and then at Saria as I gestured to her.
He shook his head, "Sorry, kid. I just can't babysit more than one of ya"; his false smile and pseudo-positive expression sinking into my disappointment. After arguing with him, futily, I frowned as i turned back to Saria and stormed out. Tyson had just came in and heard what was going on. Hopelessness washed over me as Tyson went to Saria to get a better insight on what was going on.
When she told him, he stood there crestfallen. It would've surprised me if he didn't, honestly.
By night, we decided to leave Wallow Ridge and head for the mountains that surrounded the valley in which I lived. I hadn't heard from my friends the whole day. "Could they have already given up on me", I remember wondering as I kept a few feet behind Dahlsim. We headed up to the unmanned passage gates that stood beyond the tree line.
Dahlsim looked back at me and I couldn't help but scowl. He sighed and pressed onward.
As we made it ten, to twenty, feet away from the gate, in the moonlight, I could see two figures waving and welcoming us, there. I gaped as I saw it to be both Tyson and Saria waving with back packs and heavy coats equipped.
I dashed forward to them, "What are you two doing, here!?", I asked them as Saria hugged me and Tyson folded his arms.
"We're coming with you, of course", Tyson huffed, "Whether you like it or not."
"But, what about the orphanage? Won't they worry about you?"
"I'm sure they'd understand.", Saria winked slyly.
"So, I guess I am babysitting more than one kid.", I heard Dahlsim mumble from behind me. He came to join the three of us.
Saria, immediately, came to bow to him and Tyson just watched the event play out with me. "Please let us go with you, sir. We promise not to get in your way. Its just that we can't bare the thought of Crow leaving on his own."
Dahlsim thought about if for a second and began walking passed the iron gates that seperated us from the mountain. He stopped then turned back to us, "What? You three aren't comin'?"
That was all I and my friends needed to hear.
We dashed through the gates to join him. I couldn't help but smile at the start of a new journey into the world around me. A new adventure...
