Of Blood and Loss

VII. The Sanguis

"You pass out after every one-liner?"

Morgan hurt. Bad. He woke up aching from every inch of his body. His head was gracefully held by a pillow, something he hadn't had for a while. Morgan's body was warmed by a crackling fire, small twigs snapping in the middle of a stone pit. Morgan forced himself up and opened his eyes. It was night, the sky was an array of lights. Paint strokes of Lilac, Azure and Ruby graced the great black canvas, dotted with firefly sized luminescence. He brought his gaze back to earth, and opposite the small campfire sat Venus. "I make an effort." He growled, his voice course and exhausted. "Morning." She smiled.

Morgan looked around. Hercules was sleeping like a baby, curled up and clinging to his axe. Then, Achilles. Morgan's eyes widened, "Is he-"

"He's fine. He woke up a little after you went out." He nodded. "And the old man?" Venus smiled "He was worried sick, wouldn't leave your side until he passed out"

Morgan lay back down and sighed a breath of relief. "That was fucking terrifying." He laughed nervously. "You took its claw and punched it through its own head. I think we should be the scared ones. How did you do that?"

Morgans smile faded a little. "Well as much as I've trained and fought, a lot of my strength just comes from Mars. We share strength." Venus smiled "That's nice, maybe he knew you would be a great warrior." Morgan stared into the flames "Maybe he wanted more strength for himself." Venus' smiled died down. "Mars always talked about wanting a family. I don't know what changed over the years."

Morgan just hmm'd.

"Why are you here?" Morgan asked suddenly. "When I was younger, I made a lot of mistakes. I've regretted them for years, but I lost everything. Only now I can try and be better." Morgan poked the flames as she talked. "Only after you had no choice?" He asked. Venus seemed confused. "If you came to him when you were left with nothing; Why did you wait so long?" Venus seemed upset. "I was afraid." She curled her knees up, and wrapped her arms around them. Morgan smiled a little "Yeah I understand that." Venus laughed "Funny how a boy who took down an ancient in such a glorious fashion is so bound to fear." He smiled too "I can fight crabs the size of a castle but still can't talk to girls." Venus laughed so hard she almost woke up the others. Morgan smiled too. Venus finished her chuckle with a yawn, Morgan remembered "Oh shit, I keep you up? I can go to sleep or train or something". She smiled "I think that'd be nice. Thank you, Morgan." She wrapped herself up in a blanket and lay back down.

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Hercules woke up, he drifted off while staying close to the fire. Morgan wasn't there. He got up with a growl but looked behind to find the boy in front of the carcass of Niruith. The boy sat cross-legged, fiddling with the old gauntlet. The Orc walked up behind him "Finally awake, boy?" he said. "Been up for a few hours. Can't sleep." He replied. "You have been asleep for a fuckin day. Not surprised." He slumped down next to him. Morgan's parry gauntlet was twisted, ripped and crushed. "That crab fucked me up." The boy said, trying to bend it back to shape, Hercules just laughed and replied with an "I think you fucked the Crab up more." Morgan laughed and nodded "I guess so huh."

Hercules sighed "Guess Mars did the blood transfusion then. I wasn't sure he really would." Morgan tilted his head "Transfusion?"

"That thing he did, when you were a baby. Took half of your blood, and put some of his own in." Hercules explained. "I thought he did some kind of ritual?" Morgan said, but Hercules replied "Well there's something like that too. I don't know too much about that shit though." He just nodded. The ground was stained red, the moonlight illuminated the grass and revealed a small pool of Ancient blood. Hercules took an ugly sniff, "Been up long then?"