Survivor

The old trees crackle as a gentle winter breeze pulls on their old branches with invisible fingers. The warm morning sun illuminates the fallen leaves, from which thick drops slowly slide off. Loudly twittering, the birds flee from the fallen rider, who moves slowly.

With great difficulty, Alana opens her tired, burning eyes. The warm rays of the sun shine through the canopy of leaves on her face. "Daydream" she whispers. Warm blood runs down her shin. She tries to guess where the blood is coming from but the burning pain in her back keeps her down. She lifts her heavy head slowly. The spinning world before her eyes seems so unfamiliar.

A hungry jaguar appeared behind the blackened stump. The slender animal slowly stalks Alana. Too weak to move, Alana stared into the animal's golden eyes. Licking his lips, he sneaks closer. Craving for Alana's flesh. Alana closes her eyes. Afraid of the coming pain... And most of all death.

How did it come this far? Why did she go so far? She lost everything, all her friends. Her family, her home, reality... Her life... Now her back is against the wall. She is dead and broken. All she did was try to breathe, try to figure her life out. But she never had a chance. No one can save her now.

The beast's jump is abruptly interrupted by a strong black wolf. Carefully, Alana tries to lift her chafed legs. The black wolf's red eyes flashed past Alana. Howling and growling, the two predators fight over Alana.

Triumphantly, the wolf stands up and shakes itself. Shivering, Alana looked at the animal. What is he waiting for? Why doesn't he attack? With an inhuman tremor, the wolf turns into a young man. "The shape-shifter" Alana shivers when she thinks back about the bear.

She looks at the young boy. His dark brown hooded eyes, light porcelain skin, and short, neatly trimmed black hair. On the left, his hair is way shorter than on the right. A smile crept on his thin white lips. His muscular body is dressed in a nice black vest with matching pants. Under his vest, he wears a white shirt, held together by a dark tie. His lower shoes and outfit seem almost from another era. His triangle-shaped face is hairless except for his thin soft arched eyebrows.

"Well," he smiles and strokes his dark short hair. "How the mighty have fallen" he mocks, and rubs a hair from her mouth. The young man didn't seem older than Alana. However, his deep brown eyes showed differently. Wisdom rests in his gaze as he studies Alana. "Don't be afraid, I'm Drakken" he says and caresss her gently.

"I've heard a lot from you. Don't worry, help is on the way" he says, and transforms into a raven. He flies up scratching. "The raven at Venlian," thinks Alana. She takes a haunted breath and desperately tries to stand. With a loud groan, she lets herself fall again. A burning pain rages through her body. Her pounding head feels heavy. Everything she'd fought for... All the pain. All the tears... all was lost now. Defeated, she stares at the spinning treetops. She blinks weakly. She can just catch a glimpse of Heinrich bending over her before everything turns black again.

She slowly opens her eyes again. All she sees is a glimpse of the muscular chest on which her head rests. The strong arms that carry her burn on her stiff muscles. Slowly, her eyes closed again, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of a beating heartbeat.

She opened her eyes stiffly for the third time. This time she reveals a clear blue sky. Next to her, Thedon is bored playing with the reins of Daydream. "Little one," he whispers comfortingly. "We have to go" growls Heinrich's deep voice. "Albrecht and Wolf are not back yet" replies Godfrey. "Where are those two?" "Find food." Heinrich sighs, rolling his eyes. Trembling, Alana looked at Godfrey. He takes a careful look at the insides of her legs. "Hate is not going to be satisfied", he whistles between his teeth. Rogue hands him a bowl of water. He gently dabs a linen cloth over her torn skin. He stops abruptly when Alana moans softly. He looks at her with concern and smiles comfortingly. "Breath slowly" whispers Godfrey, dabbing at the narrow cut that adorns Alana's ribs. He carefully cleans the head wounds on the left and right, after which he takes care of her neck. "You can keep dabbing", Heinrich grumbles. Godfrey nods with a sigh. "I'm sorry", he whispers, and gently rubs the blood from her nose and lips. Tears sparkle in Alana's eyes. "Do you know how to take care of burns?" he asks Heinrich. Heinrich shakes his head. "I once saw Hate put something on someone's burn," murmurs Rogue. "I don't know what, though." Sighing, Godfrey puts his hand on her torn dress. "Don't give up yet," he whispers as her tired eyes close again.

"Where were you now?" Heinrich grumbles as a greeting to the lost brothers. "Wolf had to have those blackberries" Albrecht replies with a laugh. "You wanted those," Wolfgang protests. "And that couldn't wait" protests Heinrich "I was hungry"! "You're always hungry Wolf" laughs Rogue. "Here" growls Albrecht and throws a pear at Heinrich. "For her". Heinrich stands up silently and lifts Alana up. "Shh" he sighs as she takes a deep breath in panic. "You need to eat something", he whispers and places her against his chest. He clamps her against him with his legs. "Bite" he whispers and gently holds her head up. "Oh come on" he grumbles when Alana is too weak to bite. Hopelessly, she scrapes her teeth against the fruit and drops her head again. Heinrich looks at her intently, listening to her wheezing. Grumbling, Heinrich bites a piece of the pear and takes it out of his mouth again. "Here" he whispers and puts the piece between her teeth. Godfrey smiles at them. "What?" "Nothing it's pretty nice to see" he mocks. Heinrich rolls his eyes and puts another piece between her teeth.

"You are paring!" exclaims Thedon, startled. Wolfgang slaps the back of Thedon's head, whereupon he abruptly retracts his neck. "Wolf" laughs Godfrey and throws a pear at Daydream. Greedily, the animal gobbles up the pear. His lower legs and belly are black with mud. Its once graceful tail is knotted, as is its mane. Daydream shakes his smeared head uncomfortably and continues grazing. "I'm sorry little one" he says soothingly. "Godfrey can you take Alana for a while?" Heinrich asks and puts Alana down again. Godfrey nods." I really have"...

A dagger in Heinrich's sternum interrupts his sentence. "Heinrich" roars Godfrey and catches Heinrich. He looks softly into the dying boy's eyes and swallows. "Shh, it's going to be okay" he soothes as Heinrich spits blood, gagging. He lays his brother down on the grass. Furious, he grabs his weapon and stares at the knight who had been hiding in the bushes until now. "How dare you, you killed my brother!" Godfrey roars and rushes toward the knight. Wolfgang and Albrecht bravely followed his example. The boys are no match for him, however. Rogue remains protective of Thedon. With a swift movement, he slits Godfrey's throat and stabs Albrecht in the heart. Wolfgang jumps on the knight's back and tries to get him down. The knight falls backward and breaks Wolfgang's neck. Rogue growls. Roaring, he runs towards the crusader. He manages to injure him but the trained knight pierces Rogue's chest without getting tired.

Alana squeaks as he walks over to Thedon. Thedon, who has been hiding against Daydream's chest all this time, trembles and looks at the knight weeping. "Come on thief" growls the knight. "Only my voice is kind old man," Daydream threatens, hissing. You just... killed them" he roars and looks at Godfrey trying desperately to catch his breath. Blood seeps from his wound every time he does this. The knight looks at Thedon intently and drags the mask from his face. Defeated, he looked into the deep blue eyes and the young face. He drags Thedon his hood off, and looks at the boy's fluffy dark hair. He stares in surprise at his fallen brothers and looks at Thedon again. Thedon his thin white lips tremble. His upward dark blonde eyebrows are frowned. Tears dangle from his aquiline nose.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't know... that you were so young. What are you doing here? Why are you doing this?" Thedon shudders. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "Come with me boy, we'll save her and give you a good life. Promise. I'll train you." Thedon gently shakes his head. "Come on boy, I'm sorry about your brothers, we'll bury them and... I promise you. I'll make it right." Thedon shivers and looks at the ground. "Monster" he yells. "I'm sorry, I had no idea they were just... kids. I... Come with me." Thedon shakes his head hastily. "Why not?" "Because he can't" suddenly sounds a strong voice. The knight turns wildly and stares at the six demons surrounding Hate.

"You" he hisses and spits on the floor. "Come here and fight this fair like a man. You're not worthy of that robe! Not one of you." Hate smiles. "I can do that" he laughs and steps forward. "But what's fun about that?" The other demons circle the knight and hide him from view. Alana trembles when she hears his death cries and closes her eyes. When she opens her eyes again, she stares into the dark eyes of Hate.

Hate looks at her intently and places his hand on her feverish forehead. "Hate he's still alive...kind of" murmurs Vengeance and kicks Godfried. Hate nods and turns his head. "Stand up maggots" he whispers. The boys straightened up, moaning, one by one.

Hate stands up. He walks over to Thedon and looks at him mockingly. "Why are you crying like a toddler, grow up" he grumbles and gives Thedon a blow to the head. "My Lord," Godfrey coughs, "perhaps you forget, but Thedon is still a child. He is ten." Hate looks at Thedon in focus and walks back to Alana. Carefully he feels her bloodied carotid artery. "Vengeance!" Vengeance kneels next to him and looks at Alana. Hate whispers something unintelligible to Vengeance to which he nods. Hate lifts Alana. "Hate" Alana whispers, crying. "Shh" whispers Hate and hands her over to Godfrey. He looks into her eyes. She actually begged for him. Why?

"Take her to the castle, we still have something to do" he grumbles, and disappears with the other demons. Godfrey swallows and looks at Alana who is hanging weakly in his arms. A luscious scent of fresh pine plays with Alana's nose as she drops her head against his chest. Alana closes her eyes again. "Why can't they just take us with them?" "It's not that far" mutters Heinrich and shakes with Wolfgang. "Wolf! Come on Wolf stand up silly." "What is it?" Albrecht asks. "I... I don't know" Heinrich panics and shakes his brother again. "Wolf! It seems like Hate didn't work his spell. He..." Rogue crawls over to Wolfgang and feels his neck. "Cursed! His neck is still broken". Heinrich mumbles something unintelligible and lifts his brother's lifeless body. "We have to carry him." "How many times did he die already?" "This is his second time" whispers Heinrich. Rogue swallows. "Third time is the charm" he says softly knowing that he too, died twice already. "That can't be the reason. Hate... Must have forgotten him." "I cannot carry him" says Heinrich. "Together with me maybe, we'll take turns," says Rogue. "We cannot afford the extra time. She is dying" groans Albrecht.

"Dream" Alana whispers weakly. Godfrey looks up." Put him in the saddle". Heinrich looks up at the stallion and lifts Wolfgang into the saddle with the help of Rogue. "I can't believe you really wanted to leave him behind" murmurs Godfrey. "I wanted to come back for him"! Godfrey sighs briefly and continues walking with Alana in his arms. "She's all cold" he mumbles and pauses. Heinrich removes his cape. He places it over her body. Rogue sighs and removes his jacket revealing a black blouse.

"Come on" Heinrich mumbles and the boys bravely walk on. Alana swallows, eventually she had given up, and everything was for nothing. All the fighting, all the killing, all the fleeing, all the pain... A silver tear rolls from the corner of her eye. "It's okay" whispers Godfrey. He rubs her arm gently. "How could Hate forget Wolf?" Albrecht grumbles. "He's getting old" mocks Heinrich. Albrecht looks at him with a laugh and continues; "or he spends too much time with Xena". Rogue smiles at Albrecht. "What?" "Is that jealousy in your voice?" Heinrich mocks. Albrecht growls something unintelligible to which Heinrich grins broadly." Stop arguing" interrupts Godfrey gruffly. "Heinrich take her over" he continues, and stops abruptly. Heinrich grumbles and takes Alana in his arms and looks at Godfrey.

Alana moans softly as her head slides onto Heinrich's strong arm. "What is it?" whispers Heinrich. Godfrey shakes his head and leans against Albrecht. He quickly turns and spits out his stomach contents. "Great" Albrecht grumbles and continues; "Wolf lifeless, you sick. Hate has done good work again." Godfrey shakes his head and rubs the dark beard that covers his face. "This is the fault of those berries" defends Godfrey and rubs his shoulder-length brown hair from his face.

"I'm not sure. I don't feel really good also" groans Rogue." "Think about it, guys. We died, magic. Dark magic brings us back to its purpose... It can't be good for our bodies. I'm sure we will feel better after a good night's rest" Albrecht says. Rogue nods.

Thedon gently rubs Wolfgang's hand that slides off the horse's back. He looks at the moss-green hood that shields Wolfgang's lifeless face. Sobbing, he rubs his palm against his watered eyes. Godfrey takes a deep breath and stares at the dark fortress at the bottom of the hill. "Come on" he grumbles and continues. "It's time..." "Heads up" Albrecht smiles and pats him on the shoulder. "I don't understand how you can stay so positive" Godfrey mumbles and walks off the hill. The thick gates opened for the boys with a creaking sound.

The neat and tidy courtyard is adorned by wooden gallows, whose rope sways unpredictably in the wind. A young servant came running from the heavy stable door. Godfrey lifted Wolfgang off the saddle with a sigh. Grumbling, he wraps his arm around his neck. Rogue nods at him. He helps carry Wolfgang his weight and follows his brothers through the strong doors. Alana takes one last look at Daydream being led into the stables by the groomsman. I'm sorry. Daydream, she thinks angrily. "No, it is you who must forgive me little one. But I'll see you. Your pain will be gone soon, don't worry little one. I love you but you are ready, I will miss you little one. And we will meet again. If it lets me" The warm light from the torches mounted to the wall in gold holders cast enchanting shadows on Alana's face as Heinrich leads her to the double doors. Their golden door walls and matching door knockers in the shape of a roaring lion reveal that this was once a lavish castle. Now it only serves as a fortress of darkness. Heinrich takes a deep breath, whereupon Albrecht opens the door and sends them into a large bright hall.