A War Worth Fighting |DISCONTINUED|

Chapter 3: Just Maybe

  4070 words.



   Along with Gon came new experiences. Everyday errands were...exciting, to say the least. Gon was seemingly adjusting to the northern kingdoms—despite when he tried to 'bond' with the wildlife, getting attacked by a foray of snowsabers in return. Oh, and when Gon attempted to jumpscare Killua. The bald spot of burnt hair surely taught him a valuable lesson. But you can't always blame inexperience. Some are just simply idiots, and Gon happens to be the idiot of the century—nominated by Killua.

   There were numerous events Killua could depict as evidence of his declaration, but one stood out in particular. They were roaming York New City when Gon came across a dairy farmer with a sign advertising reduced-fat milk. Gon turned to Killua, perplexed, "Why would they sell something that's only two-percent milk and still call it milk? What's the other ninety-eight percent?"

   Killua didn't even bother to explain. Some are beyond help.

   As promised, Gon led Killua to the cave of malerite. Here is what Gon failed to mention: In that cave lived one of the most dangerous creatures known to man. Stupidly, Gon's loud voice echoed the cave after unnecessarily yelling, "We're here!" with a toothy grin. That, of course, woke up the beast, Gon's smile dropping to a dreaded wince, and Killua smacking him across the head before teleporting to the entrance within an instant. He couldn't contain a snicker when hearing a screaming Gon, along with several noises that sounded painful. In defense of Killua's morality, he wouldn't think of leaving Gon in there if he didn't have faith in his abilities.

   And then the cave went silent. Holy shit, did he actually die?, were Killua's thoughts as he activated invisibility and slinked inside the cave in search of Gon. Nowhere to be found. His eyes darted from each corner of the cave, the purple crystals scintillating against the gentle stream of water near the edges of stone-beared walls. Anxiety built with the quietness looming around the cavern, and he did not enjoy the atrocious snarling of the monster or the way it stalked patiently in circles as though awaiting its prey.

   Killua concluded that Gon, triggered the invisibility technique that the forest elves call 'zetsu,' Killua looking carefully for any signs of debris, footsteps, or even small intakes of air. Cautiously, he stepped closer, closer. Only meters away, mud ingrained the outline of Gon's boot. It must've clung to the bottoms of their shoes when they waded through the river to avoid the attention of following the trail. He blindingly reached forward. All types of invisibility are deactivated when contact is made, so he kept one foot turned towards the exit. His fingers latched onto something, suddenly no longer transparent to their surroundings.

   A now visible Gon whipped his head towards the direction of the opening, "Run!"

   Idiot.

   The beast turned its hideous self towards the direction of the deafening noise, and Killua wasted no time in grabbing Gon and speeding the hell out. Finally, his feet touched soil once more, a furious growl of the upset beast shaking the forest floor. "Killua, can you open a portal?"

   "Moron, that takes time! Which, thanks to your loud voice, is something we don't have!"

   Gon seemed to ignore the snippy comment, focusing hard on something that Killua had yet to understand. The mage's eyes widened as Gon's body morphed into an owl-like creature, gray and brown feathers alike. Killua was now looking at an animal that no longer appeared to be Gon but a winged beast the about nine-feet tall. "Uh," which is all he could muster, his brain trying to process: What. Since when could he do that, and why the hell has he not used it sooner? 

   The unsightly animal approached the cave's entrance. Think about Gon later. Killua got in a defensive position, bursts of mana easing to a tranquil river, a thick aura shielding his body. He needed to think, soothe his enraged heart-beat. Breathe in. Breathe out. Rythm echo will buy them time.