THE LAST GATEKEEPER

Man Eaters I

            Azlyn had thrown a fit that had ended with two casualties, Jack and Weaver, both of them with swelling bruises, Jack’s eye and Weave’s cheek. She threw a good punch, Crow thought and then grimaced. She’d thrown a few good punches at Crow after her fight with the two Baxter’s but Crow had caught both of her fists and she’d stormed away. Even though she had been through all this torment, he was amazed by her abilities still. He glanced at Andrea who’d tried several times to speak with Azlyn but all of those times she’d received a standard and dull no. He wondered if she was any good in the fight.

            “Crow!” Fiona called from behind him. He turned with one hand resting on his scabbard.

            “Yes?” He asked and observed the brown haired Apothecary catch up with him. It was storming in the distance but Crow had spent his time worrying about that already, it would pass them without actually meeting them. Reggie had said it was a shame; he ‘liked’ the rain.

            “Is Jimmy really dead?” She asked and they continued to walk.

            “It’s hard to say, but I doubt it. Dibala probably orchestrated the kidnapping and she’ll probably use him as a hostage when it comes to our next encounter.” He looked sideways at Fiona and continued. “She’s not under The Sentinel’s command right now, she failed and if she returns she’ll suffer.”

            “So, what will we do when she offers Jim as a hostage?” She asked, trying to seem just as monotone and blunt about the entire ordeal as he was but failed to a degree.

            He didn’t respond for a while and when he did it was a quiet voice.

            “Jimmy… He might die after this.” He said trying to hold her feelings in consideration.

            “I see.” Fiona said and swallowed hard. “You weren’t kidding, when you said some of us would die.”

            Crow didn’t comment on this. Instead for miles they went with silence and a great distance between the others. It was getting to be late evening and the storms made the mountains look beautiful. Soon they would be in the shadow of the mountains where they would camp before it got dark.

            “These mountains have legends.” She said out of the blue and he was suddenly very interested. “Legends of man eaters, Corthus says they’re just myth, Jack seems weary about it all.”

            “Man eaters? Are you sure?” Crow’s black eyes met hers and she nodded.

            “That’s what they say.” She replied and Crow nodded and then seemed to contemplate the situation they’d drawn themselves into. He obviously considered the possibility very likely.

            “Don’t wander from the camps, or you’ll end up like Jimmy.” Crow added. “But it might not be Dibala who takes you…”

            “You can feel it too, can’t you?” She asked and stopped him to look him in the eyes. “Corthus.” Crow smiled.

            “It’s not exactly hard to see, when it comes time to find out what he is, I’ll use him to tell me all he knows.” Crow bent his eyebrows and glanced at the others ahead. “We should go but yes, be hesitant when it comes to Corthus; we don’t know what kind of demon he is yet.”

            “Who said he was a demon?” She asked and he gave her a ‘really?’ look.

            “I did.” Crow said and began his trot towards the others who were nearly in the shadow of the mountain. She smirked and followed him.