17 Chapter 16

"Brother?.. big brother, please don't leave us. Don't leave me. I need you Bro". Araminta cried as she held Rufus' hand tightly. "Whose going to take me hiking.. or sand boarding on the desert? Please don't... go!".

Aisha tried to hold her back but the sadness rolling off of Araminta was contagious, she was crying as well, her hand on Araminta's shoulder squeezing it gently. Plutonic and Hamlin we're standing on the doorway, looking at Aisha and Araminta. There was nothing else that could have been done, Rufus was going to die either way. Unless a miracle happened.

"Bro... bro.. please wake up and answer me!". Araminta cried.

"She's breaking my heart". Plutonic whispered to Hamlin who just gave a small sad smile without looking up at him.

"Where's Lucky?". Hamlin asked.

"I don't know but I bet he's looking for a solution to this". Plutonic answered.

"He should come say goodbye to his best friend". Hamlin replied with a sharp intake of breathe. He had already lost hope in Rufus' getting better. He didn't want to hope for more. He was trying to come in terms with the lose that was already evident. It was hard but it was the only choice.

Plutonic said nothing.

"He's in so much pain". Hamlin said slowly in a small voice, looking over where his son lay.

"I wish we could take his pain away". Plutonic said also looking over where Rufus was.

"I have a solution". Lucky announced, standing a few feet away from the two men. They quickly looked at him. Aisha stood up and practically ran to where he was, hope in her eyes though she looked exhausted and worn out.

Aisha held his arms, "Tell me please. Please Lucky".

"Calm down Aunt Aisha". Lucky said as Aisha shook him a little. Hamlin pried away the hands of his wife from the young boy, holding her back not to shake away the breathe out of the boy.

"Tell us what you know". Plutonic ordered.

"Rufus' Phoenix is the most injured here. He's like this because of it". Lucky started shifting on his feet to reduce the nerves that he felt.

"Go on!". Hamlin urged.

"We all love Rufus no matter what. Why don't we separate his Phoenix from his body? We'll have a chance to save his life". Lucky suggested. Aisha's hands dropped from her chest, her mouth agape and eyes wide open. Hamlin's grip on his wife tightened.

"Are you crazy?". Hamlin asked at the same time that Aisha exclaimed, "What?".

"Son, are you serious?". Plutonic asked, walking to where Lucky was and placing his hands on Lucky's shoulders.

"Yes. I'm not crazy. I know what I'm saying". Lucky replied, peering over his Father's shoulder to look at Aisha and Hamlin. "This is the only way to save his life".

"Rufus without his phoenix is not Rufus". Araminta said from where she was still seated, crying.

"Rufus is used to his Phoenix. How will he live?.... ho-how will he survive without it?". Aisha asked, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't bear that thought of loosing his son's phoenix. She was used to his animalistic nature... side... and she loved it.

"So what do you guys prefer?. A half a loaf is better than none. Do you want to loose Rufus completely?. Is this what you want?". Lucky asked. "I better have Rufus here even if he'll be hurting from the lack of his Phoenix than loosing him completely to death. Think about it".

Plutonic's hand slipped off his shoulders. He was right. This was the only way. At least, they wouldn't have lost Rufus completely, they'd still have him and that was what mattered most.

Hamlin and Aisha looked at each other. Thinking of the same thing. There was no other way out and they were all stuck and now, they were about to loose something... No! someone precious to them.. This was the only way through. They'd go through the risk.. they'd take it and face it just to make everything okay.

"Tell us what's to be done". Hamlin said with a small nod from Aisha.

"We need a bit of our blood, some herbs that grow only in NightWing clan and..." Lucky paused, his eyes meeting and holding with his Dad's for a brief moment before looking over at where Rufus was.

"And?". Plutonic questioned.

"And what?". Aisha and Hamlin asked, growing impatient... time wasn't on their side anyways. Plutonic's heart had already approved of this crazy idea his son though he had no idea such a thing could be done.

"Blood from a SeaWing and a NightWing". Lucky added, looking away to avoid all the eyes in the room.

"Excuse me?". Aisha asked.

"Blood from a SeaWing, that's easy we could just ask one of them since we are in a treaty with them.. but a NightWing? Son, they don't like us.. how will we get blood not to mention, just a drop of blood from them? Where will we get one to draw blood from?". Plutonic questioned.

"How will we get the herbs from their woods?". Aisha asked.

"Are you sure you got it right?". Hamlin asked as well.

"Don't worry about the blood nor the herbs. I'll... I'll take care of it. And yes, Uncle Hamlin, I got it right". Lucky answered, trying to sound firm.

"How? Do you want to start a war with them?". Plutonic asked.

Lucky took in a deep breathe, "Father, please trust me on this". He then turned to Aisha and Hamlin, "Please"

Hamlin slowly nodded, Aisha turned to weep on his chest. Plutonic just stared at his son who slowly turned and walked away. He trusted his judgement and he hoped that whatever his son was planning to do, that. it'd work out.. this was their only hope.. the last chance!.

"Hamlin, Rufus is going to hate himself. He doesn't know how to be human". Aisha sobbed.

"Hush my love. We shall help him through this. We shall be by his side, we all got his back". Hamlin replied, his voice soft as he ran his fingers through Hus wife's hair, his other hand holding her waist firmly, trying to soothe her. "Hey, think of the brighter side, we'll still have our son".

"But he won't be the same anymore. He won't be the same and that hurts. He won't be able to fly like us, he won't be able to produce balls of fire or morphe into a Phoenix.. how will he be able to. protect himself?".

"Look at Lucky, his Phoenix isn't active but he's still able to protect himself.. he flied using magic.. Rufus could learn". Hamlin tried.

Plutonic didn't want to look at them, the ache in his heart and the heat from his fireball was unbearable. He was jealous of them, they still had each other and their closeness made him more envious as he remembered his wife Ninah who was long gone. He regretted all those days... months he spent away in his company instead of home, he regretted all the time he had missed to spend with her and he just wanted to die and be with her. He missed her company, her smile, her eyes, her voice and touch... he missed the whole of her and the ache in his heart was getting worse with nothing to lessen it.

"Excuse me, I'll be in my room. Call me in case of anything". Plutonic announced not looking at them. He didn't want to look at them and he was so lucky that he could conceal his emotions away from the noses of the three present phoenixes around.

He took a few steps away from them. trying to head on the other flour which he shared with Lucky but it was as if something was holding him back. It was as if he was trying to walk past an unseen force that was holding him in to place preventing him from moving.

His brows furrowed, wondering what could be holding him back but nothing clicked in his mind. Hamlin seemed to notice that something was wrong.. he asked only to receive a small shake of the head as an answer.

Plutonic felt strange within his body. Something he had never felt for the past twelve years since his wife's death, something he had never allowed himself to feel before because he was still mourning his wife and he wasn't ready to move on... he didn't know what it exactly was but there was this feeling at the back of his head and in his heart...

Maybe, he was just exhausted..

Plutonic tried to move again but he fell on his knees and his fireball moved.. he felt it move, something he had always avoided from doing because it reminded him so much of Ninah. He felt his Jade move also, going round like a wheel from behind his chest. He was panicking now not knowing what was going on.. Aisha and Hamlin were now there squatted in front of him trying to know what was wrong but their voices were just a distant echo, he couldn't hear them well.. all he was focused on was the strange feeling that he was now feeling.

"Breathe Plutonic. Breathe!". He finally heard Hamlin say but his could he breathe with the way he felt?. He wasn't himself now and he couldn't tell what was going on.