Chapter 47: Epsilon's Side of the Forest

MIDNIGHT

    Theta was running towards the flying creature. "It got Blaze! It got Blaze!" she shrieked, and Midnight was trying her best to keep up.

    "It's useless!" Midnight screamed, panting. "Blaze... has been taken away!!"

    She knew it's true. She knew Theta was concerned, but both knew that it was impossible to catch up.

    They know that it would be impossible to catch that thing, and once they step outside, they are vulnerable to any threats. Midnight's running started to slow down. "I'm sorry, Theta, we know what's going to happen..."

    Theta stopped running too. "Still... Blaze..."

    Midnight noticed tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry..."

     They stood there in silence, gazing at the sky. No longer was there even a speck of Blaze or the creature. Outside, the magical feeling seem to cease, and that the wind shifted, blowing the grass and their fur.

    "Why...?" Theta asked, and howled louder, "WHY??"

    Midnight didn't want to see tears, or more enemies. She coaxed Theta to return to the forest. At first, Theta didn't want to, but after hearing a beast call, Theta called Midnight to hurry up and take shelter in the woods. Despite her magic, she was not eager to face in battle with the brutes.

    Neither was Midnight, after she seen their power. The two rushed back into the forest.

    "What are you doing here?" a voice addressed.

    "I-!" cried Theta, looking up from her panting. She gasped. "E-Epsilon! I'm so sorry, I-!"

    "He asked you a question," an icy voice followed. "Answer."

    The voice seemed familiar... Midnight looked up. The magnificent white deer stood proudly, his long caramel horns crowning him. At once, Midnight recognised him as Epsilon. Beside him, a chestnut doe stood, her jade eyes glaring at Theta.

    "I was-! Iota!" cried Theta again, straying off topic.

    "Answer him!" barked the doe.

    "No, it's alright, Iota," said Epsilon. "It's been forever since one of you come over, except for Iota, of course, I'm glad you do drop by."

    Epsilon's friendliness never did waver. Midnight though he would chastise the two of them for trespassing, but that seem not to be the case. Epsilon was in his deer form, his regal and polite form. However... Iota...

    Midnight frowned. She remembered the doe apologising... right? Why is she so cold now?

    "Why are you here?" Iota asked instead.

    "We were chasing after Blaze," Theta explained.

    "Pray tell who this Blaze is," scoffed Iota.

    "Iota," Epsilon sternly said. "This may be my part of land, but they are welcome here."

    Iota didn't continue to ask, but hung her head down.

    Epsilon smiled. "Come, let us venture the woods. What worries do you carry?" he said. "I might be of assistance."

    "An outsider wolf... he was by the corner, the edge of the woods, and a creature carried them away," Theta said.

    As they paced forwards, Iota tried to keep pace with Epsilon, but he was interested in Theta's story. "Go on," he prompted.

    "We tried to catch up, but it had wings, the beast... It was out of a dark wispy material..." Theta continued.

    "Like beasts lurking outside the woods," Epsilon said.

    "Yes, those," Theta said.

    It was silent aside for the sound of their steps. "Pray tell why such a foolish creature would venture around here, and yet not enter it?" asked Iota.

    Theta shook her head. "I kept him too long waiting for nothing, he must have been starved," she said.

    "Sad lives, that they carry, like our friend here, Midnight," Epsilon said, remembering the black wolf, and she seemed to be surprised.

    "Secrets," scoffed Iota.

    Theta nodded slowly. "Not all is the same anymore. More secrets, more dangers..."

    She turned to face Epsilon. "Can I tell you something... Epsilon? It's not light, it can lead to our next war, and it be the reason to all our troubles."

    Midnight swallowed. She knew Theta was talking about the truth of Shadow.

    After a hesitant silence, Epsilon said, "Go on..."

    Iota tried to look uninterested, but it wore off as Theta said the words. "Beta has returned."

    "B-Beta!" cried Iota. Midnight knew she had heard stories.

    Epsilon suddenly stopped walking. "Beta..."

    He swung his head towards Theta. "You mean Rune...?"

    Theta nodded.

    Suddenly, the sound of laughter filled the air.

Author's Note: Guys, this one is a complete chapter. The ending is abrupt, I know. Also, I no longer am able to keep up with the story and studies, so I will be posting once in two weeks on Sundays.

In addition, chapter 45 has been updated, it has somehow been cut half way through at now the chapter is complete.

Chapter 46: Wounded Unicorn

DUSK

    "So, how was it?"

    Dusk looked back and saw the stern face of Lambda. He was walking towards Dusk with an unfamiliar gleam in his eyes.

    "It went OK, I guess," Dusk replied. If Lambda was looking for any wind of Shadow- err- Beta, he won't be getting any from her.

    Lambda nodded. "Did you find it?" he asked.

    Dusk shook her head. "No, not yet."

    "Well then," Lambda said, "if you're so persistent to find out, then I suppose Chi would have to spend more time with you."

     Dusk stiffened. It wasn't the best experience, but she suppose it was the only way.

    "Anyway," Dusk said, desperate to change the subject, "where's Midnight?"

    Lambda shrugged. "We of the Silver Woods do as we please within the safety of the woods if we have no desire to harm it," he said. "I do not keep tabs on anyone, not even Midnight, so perhaps there might be someone who had run into her."

    Dusk nodded. Somehow, she wanted to engage in conversation with Lambda, but also avoid him. He's like Shadow before Dusk knew him.

    She knew it.

    She wanted to impress him.

    Impress him so he respects her.

    "I'll be on my way now," Lambda said. "Until next time."

    "Yeah..." Dusk said as Lambda walked off.

    Suddenly, a loud cry came, "CHI!"

    Surprised, Dusk rushed towards the sound- where Lambda headed to. Dusk gave an audible gasp as well when she saw the sight.

    Chi was on the ground, lying on her side, seeming to pant. Lambda was regaining his composure, taking in deep breaths as he chanted something inaudible to Dusk.

    Something twisty, embedded in Chi's side, and with a spell, Lambda carefully removed it. Then, he cleaned her wound very carefully before closing it.

    Even so, Lambda was still shaking when the procedure was over.

    Dusk could hardly hear him whisper, "Chi..."

    "Ungh," Chi groaned.

    "What happened...?"

    The unicorn looked at Lambda. "Someone from the skies attacked me."

    Dusk was unsure if she should remain. When she was going to slip away, Lambda firmly said, "Remain here, Dusk."

    His voice suddenly scared her.

    With help, Lambda helped Chi up onto her four hooves. However, it was made clear that Chi could not travel at the moment, but she managed to sit up. Sighing, Lambda looked at the twisted item.

    So did Dusk.

    It was brown-black, almost as if shining in the little light present, and it was barbed in addition of being sharp. "With a spell on it..." Lambda mumbled.

    "What... spell?" inquired Chi warily.

    "It's a spell to weaken one's body for days and days," Lambda said.

    Chi's expression showed she was horrified.

    "I-! I can't go weakened!" she cried.

    "No, of course not, but one can't oppose the power of a spell either," Lambda responded.

    Lambda shattered the item and magic grounded it up into fine powder.

    "We've been using so many magic in the past days," Lambda growled, "it's impossible to track whose this is."

    Chi moaned. "I guess I'm as well good to die," she said. Facing Dusk, she said, "Sorry, no more memory scouring unless I'm stronger."

    Lambda swung his head towards the two. "You two should stick together. Dusk, try to protect Chi- is that OK?"

    "I don't even have powers!" Dusk protested.

    Lambda smiled. "If magic is everything you need to protect, how did you survive so far until now?"

    "I mean! I'm a non-magical wolf here! You all do magic, and if I'm going to protect her from this magical attacks, how can I even survive through that?" cried Dusk.

    Lambda casually walked away, towards Chi.

    "I will tell you a secret, Dusk," said Lambda. "Look at me- I'm a wolf."

    "So?" snapped Dusk. "So am I!"

    Ever so quietly, Lambda responded, "The wolf is the weakest form a powerful mage like me can chose to remain in. Do you know why I remained in such a form instead of another?"

    Dusk and Chi were silent.

    "It's because I'm weak."

Author's Note: Yay! Delays, delays! You guys probably think: Eh, Rainbow's gone again. Sorry, was busy with family reunion last week!

YOU WANT LAMBDA'S BACKSTORY? Nope, nope, you won't get it yet ahahahah.

Sticking Chi and Dusk for the moment. Chi can do more than memory search you know. You'll see in the next few episodes...

Whoa, it's been a while since I did Dusk, actually.