Half Brothers

Chapter 5: The Hunted

~.Astral/Nova.~

I wake up in the arms of Crimson, who's trekking through the forest with the cloak around us. It's gotten a little warmer, but it's still freezing cold!

"You're awake," he drawls in his slow tone. "We had to move on, for I sensed danger. It was far, but I like to be safe before the danger strikes."

I nod and snuggle closer to him for more warmth. For the longest time, nothing happens. It's the calmest my life has been since I can remember. Then, Crimson slips a piece of paper into my hands.

"Here," he says. "This came for you while you were asleep."

I inspect the paper, which turns out to be an envelope, and I smile. I take out the letter and read.

"Dear Nova,

I'm so glad he got there! I was beginning to worry that he might not have made it. I swear, if another day had passed, I would have literally marched over there and gotten you myself! Now, about the Number thing, you're actually just half a Number of the Sun, which is to say, you're a Number that possesses the powers of the Sun, which is positive energy. As for the red hands, that's where your magic comes from first. Of course, if you have enough practice, you can make it come out of anywhere. Mother wasn't a Number at all, and she wasn't my mother either. Still, she was a nice person, so I liked to think she was my real mother. Father's first wife was a Number of the Moon, and Father was a Number of the Moon, so that's how I was like this. I really don't know how you became a Number of the Sun, but okay. She and Father died in the war, the one that forced us to send you to another place to keep you safe. Mother couldn't tolerate all of the Energy, and Father died of a sword to the head. Needless to say, we won the war. Anyways, the reason everyone hated you was because of the fact that you're a half Number, and they're said to have powerful and uncontrollable abilities. They're very dangerous when those abilities and powers are awakened, so that's why they always seem to hate them. Don't worry, though! Here in the Number Realm, you'll be welcomed warmly even though it's freezing cold!

-Black Mist."

I smile, but now that I know why they've been avoiding me, it's kind of sad.

An arrow whizzes past us, embedding itself into the tree nearest to us. I shriek and bury my face into Crimson's neck, my fist curled around the note and envelope and my eyes squeezed shut.

Voices shout at us. I whimper because the voices are very familiar! I know it's Momma who shot the arrow because I've seen her bow and arrow in the house, and I know she isn't afraid to use it. Amber and Bura also have long ranged attacks that have no limits.

Crimson seems to sense my fear. He quickly jumps up a tree and perches on a branch that's covered by leaves with me in his arms. Up here, the cold is more intense.

"I want you to continue on your own," he says hurriedly, taking out the cape, headdress, and pouch of food. He snaps and makes a dark blue cloak with fur in the hood and the inside of the cloak. "Take these and get to the Number Realm as soon as possible! Hide well, and be careful!" He ties the pouch strings around my waist, tucks the headdress and cape into a large pocket of the cloak, and snaps it on me.

"B-but I don't know where-" I try as he raises the hood.

"Just follow the pull!" he interrupts. "Follow that pull to your home realm!"

Another arrow embeds itself into the wood dangerously close to my head. I whimper, knowing they're getting closer.

"Quickly!" Crimson grabs me, jumps down, and sets me on the ground. "Tell the prince that I had to hold back assailants it I cannot contact him." With that, he gives me a quick push in the opposite direction that he goes.

With no other options, I run as fast as I can in the direction of the pull.

~.Crimson.~

With a heavy heart, I feel young Astral's energy disappear as he runs away. I take out my katana to fend off the people who dare attack us. Whoever it is, he seemed to recognize them. Well, I will just have to make sure that he or she is removed from here!

"Who are you?" a woman's voice asks. It is the same woman I shot with the sleeping dart. She is holding a white and lavender bow with a sheath of arrows the same colors strung across her back.

I pull my mask up. "Why do you wish to know?"

She eyes my mask and tunic. "12?" she scoffs. "What is that, some kind of code name for a gang?"

I glare at her. "Of course not! How dare you laugh at my Number! For your information, I am Number 12 Crimson Shadow Armor Ninja, one of the best! Now, what is your name?"

"A Number, hmm? Well, my name is Sapphire, the mother of the child you just sent off. I want him back."

I shift the weight of my katana in my hand. "Why? From what I gather, you have abused the little one for all of his life. He is better off with his brother."

Sapphire laughs and fits an arrow into her bow. "What brother? His family left him here alone in a capsule. They must have not wanted him!"

"That was for war reasons!" My anger bubbles up with every word that comes out of her filthy mouth. "You would not understand!"

~.Astral/Nova.~

I pull the cloak closer to me as I run faster and faster in hopes of leaving Momma, Amber, and Bura behind.

"Oh, Astral," a haunting voice coos.

I ignore the voice I'm sure belongs to Amber and keep moving forward. I can't afford to pull away from the force that leads me to my real home! I'm not sure what would happen then!

Amber lands in front of me with her chest puffed up. My eyes widen because I know what she's going to do! I really want to turn around and run, but I'm afraid that if I do, I won't be able to feel the pull anymore!

Amber lets out a high, ear-piercing shriek like a banshee. I scream when she does because it's scary, and I don't want my ears to start bleeding. I don't want to not hear! The added sound of my scream inly adds to my ear pain, but I'm lucky that the hood provides some cover. Still, I cover my ears to keep more sound out.

My hands won't move, though. Why can't I move!?

Bura grabs me from behind under my arms and prevents me from even trying to block the sound. He even takes off the hood! I try to kick out and fight back, but I can't get my legs to move at all. Nothing works anymore, and I'm so, so scared! I don't want to go back!

My ears start hurting like crazy. It's getting hard to even hear Amber. Am I really losing my hearing like this?

Suddenly, Bura's hands feel freezing on my skin, and Amber starts choking on something. What's going on?

I look at my hands, but I find my entire arms are an icey blue.

I can move again! I wrench my arms free from Bura's grasp and run past Amber, who seems to be turning paler than normal. I don't pay attention to her, though. Why should I? She always laughed at me!

Following the pull ans stumbling along the way, I make it to the edge of the forest. Apparently, it was closer than I thought. Panting, I slide to the bottom of the tree and press my hands over my ears. I rest my head on my knees with my eyes closed.

I'm so tired...