The moon had risen higher into the sky as Sion and Mira had ended their 'little meeting'. As Mira opened his front door, Sion offered him a small smile. A hand raising to push some hair behind his ear. He wore one of Mira's pairs of trousers. A tad loose but nothing a tie could not fix.
"Until next time…Mira" Sion said softly. It made Mira blush ever so gently along his cheeks. He offered a gentle nod and watched as Sion walked through the threshold and out onto the stone path.
Sion's eyes gazed up at the stars along with the moon. The fall air nipped lightly at the tip of his nose. "It's almost midnight." He said to himself before picking up his pace into a sprint. He needed to make the meeting before the moon was at its highest.
Roughly 20 minutes had passed before Sion had heard a rustling in the leaves. The smell of sulfur filled the air along with his nose as he began to move faster. His breath began to pick up as the distorted sound of a beastly howl echoed behind him. A fear began to well up in his chest. Whatever had made that noise, it was not of the surface.
Footsteps began to get heavy against the forest floor behind Sion as he ran. The sound of the wind whipping past him mixed with the sounds of the breathing of whatever was hunting him. Quickly, he turned his head to gaze behind him. His eyes widened as he turned back and pushed his body harder.
The beast that had begun its hunt was a giant hound from hell. The military of the King was often used within the capital to keep people in their place as they towered the common hellspawn. Why would it be chasing him? Did someone know of the meeting? Did they anticipate it?
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His mind raced as his feet danced along the fallen leaves. A sense of relief washed over him as his eyes landed upon the Soul Tree. He knew just beneath it, the others were waiting for him.
His head whipped backwards one more time as he neared the towering Oak. The hellhound would seemingly be called off from the chase. Its speed slowed down as he got further away. His eyes are still able to see its drooling maw and sharp rows of teeth. Though still visible, Sion would breathe a soft sigh. His feet still carried him backwards away from the threat.
Who could have sent that beast after him? Why are they now calling it to withdraw? This perplexed him as the adrenaline still coursed through his veins. Yet he wasted no time.
Spinning on his heels, he found himself at the Soul Tree. His eyes struggled to see through the darkness. Usually, there would be some indicator of others residing within the dugout underside of the tree. But there was nothing from which he could see. His head turned from the left and right as he gazed around him. He could only see signs of a single person.
"Hello?" Sion called out. In return he was met with an eerie silence. One which made the hair along his ears and tail stand on end. Just as he was turning to leave, something had an iron grip on his hair, yanking him backwards. His voice cried out to the forest which surrounded him.
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The grip was strong. Stronger than anything or anyone he had fought in the pits. It was like iron had been braided into his hair. It felt as though the hair would be ripped from his scalp.
"Well, look what I found. The little leader of the resistance." A voice rumbled behind him. The large hand lifted Sion from the ground, his feet swinging as if the ground would be his only hope. Frantically, he lifted and swung his elbow into the man behind him. The strikes were ineffective against the man's torso. A diabolic laugh came from the man's throat.
Light began to fill the woods as men clad in armor began to step from behind bushes. Their torches sparkled to life one by one. The fear in Sion's eyes grew as he realized his fatal error. He should have run in a different direction. This crossed his mind a split second before a fist found itself colliding with his jaw. Knocking him to the ground, his body bouncing on the forest floor.
Slowly, Sion began to lift himself onto his hands and knees. Blood spilling from his mouth and nose as he coughed. His body shook as the adrenaline came full force. His vision blurred lightly from the trauma. Through the blurring trees, Sion could see the guard from the gate that did not speak to him.
A foot found itself slamming into Sion's stomach. His body lifted from the ground for a moment before falling back onto the soft grass and stiff fall leaves.
"You and your little friends are to be brought before the King. He heard rumors of your treason." The man spoke again. It was General Finra. He was dressed in silver and green royal armor. His helmet spoke of his rank as it housed a feather tucked neatly into the side along with the capitol's crest of two swords crossing and a dragon acting as the circular frame.
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"Save me the trouble of killing your family and tell me where your friends are." He said as a sadistic grin spread along his face. His hand gripped Sion's throat. Lifting him from the ground again. Sion's breath was heavy and hard to catch. In a last effort, Sion's fist launched itself toward the General's nose. If he could just get out of this man's grasp, he could get away. However, there would be no escape as Finra's forehead slammed against Sion's hand. The sound of snapping would echo as Sion cried out once again. His fingers dislocated from the force.
"I gave you a chance." Finra whispered. His blue eyes glaring down at Sion with sadistic disgust. His hand began to squeeze the breath out of Sion's throat slowly. The grip tightening. With the last bit of breath Sion had, he spat blood onto Finra's cheek.
"Fuck you."
With his free hand, Finra wiped the blood onto his thumb and slowly licked it as his eyes did not break contact. "I'm gonna enjoy watching life fade from your eyes. Let your death send a message to your people." He said softly before his grip threatened to snap Sion's thin neck. Sion's hands gripped helplessly at the man's forearm and his feet kicked the man's stomach wildly. He was going to die. He could feel death drawing closer. His life started to flash before he would be dropped once again.
"We are to take him in, Sir. Don't kill him." A soldier stated as his hand had grabbed onto the General's arm. This made Finra angry, yet he held his composure. "The King wants answers. To try and sentence him. His death would be pointless." The soldier finished.
"Fine, slap him with irons and let's be on our way." Finra responded as he turned away from Sion. Walking away.
"Yes Sir." The soldier responded. The others gather around and lift Sion to his feet. Dressing him with restraints and forcing him to march.