Painted in Blood

Below__Past

Reidlos P.O.V

I was in the jungle when I hear the Tsunami warning, trying to help my dad walk home. He was limping because he'd been in another fight with the eastern traders from the Rock, otherwise known as Storms Diamond. The middle of the Hollow and home to the royal palace. My father hates the upright pricks that come from there. He may be nearing 60 but his cocky dumbass did manage to take down three before a bunch more came and rendered him gimpy and sore. I know better than to interrupt my father's fights but I also know by now when they're over. It wasn't ten minutes after the fight when the sirens started screeching. I look to dad pleadingly and he huffs.

"Damn storm screwer. Go find your weird ass girlfriend then and go on. If I'm killed before I get home don't let me ruin your anniversary." he grumbles sourly.

"Don't sell yourself short dad" I retort with a smile then I sprint off to Edaj's house. She is already waiting got me when I get there, putting her charcoal hair into a messy bun before we run straight towards the beach. Edaj and I always run into the storms, there is something about them that always energizes us. Everyone has something that speaks to their grace, a familiar in a sense. I feel the kinetic and chaotic energy pulsing around me then I see the girl on her knees by the shore, there is a huge creature lunging at her. Intruders in the storm, threats. I look to Edaj's dark brown eyes just as a flash of red white fire lights them up. I grab her arms and throw her behind one of the huge rocks dotting the beach. The wave hits the second after the strange girl erupted in fire, and it protects Edaj and me from the brunt of the flames though I hear the sea hiss in heat around us. When the first wave passes I see the girl splayed out unconscious, and another body next to her. An older looking man who if my vision doesn't deceive me is wearing three green armbands around his left arm. They are maybe 50 yards away from Edaj and I. I see the next wave coming and I wonder if the freak is still alive or her casualty. I make no move towards them until Edaj sighs then raises both of them and brings them over here quickly. I huff but scoot over to make room. The girl is strange looking, unnatural. Her hair moves of its own accord, fighting the wind and her skin is too pale. I feel her neck for a pulse and I find one but it looks as if she has no blood under her skin. Even Edaj's dark skin looks flushed. This chick has features that could look pretty but somehow look too much so. The next wave washes over us but Edaj and I work out hands in the roaring water to keep it off the two bodies. I let the water wash over me though we keep the bodies dry and Edaj does the same. I look to the elder animorph who is now struggling to breathe, then I notice why. Something had kept me from looking at him before and now I wish it had continued. He got the worst of the flames as if they were directed at him.

"Legna, Worcs" he wheezes looking at the unconscious girl then he goes still. Edaj lifts his body and sends him back out to sea. I sit there shell-shocked, only members o the gang say the name with respect, though I don't know who or what 'Legna' is I don't have much faith in this angel deal if this guy said crows with respect. As if sensing his lack of presence the girl wakes up. the next wave comes and I keep it off her while I wait for her to come to. When she does she jack-knifes up and freaks. Edaj goes forward and calms her down somehow, I don't hear what's said as I'm still standing submerged in the water. Suddenly the girl looks around for something then turns frantic. I assume it's for the dead man. I see steam coming off her as water seems to boil right off of her and I begin to fear for Edaj. When the wave passes I leap in between Edaj and the weird girl and hold my ground.

"What are you mixed up in? Your victim said angel and crows with respect while looking at you after you went all bright" I snap.

"victim?" she asks freezing and locking her unsettling dark blood colored eyes on me. Edaj smacks me upside the head. Something flashes in the girl's eyes, realization, then I hear the breath whoosh out of her as if she was punched and she seems smaller. "Naibas" she whispers, I translate to Sabian.

"Yeah precious Sabian said the crows respectfully and another name, Angel. What are you mixed up in and why the volcano act?" I retort. Instant heat lights up in her dark eyes when I say Sabian and they seem to glitter like coals now.

"Reidlos" Edaj hisses and grabs my arm with her small but iron grip. I back off but don't relent in my stare off with the freak. She rolls her eyes and breaks eye contact first then looks around as if for the first time trying to figure out where she is. Fear enters her eyes, I don't see another wave coming and it doesn't look like her most immediate fear is Edaj or me. She tales quick shallow breaths but I can see her trying to level them and calm down. I can't stop looking at her eyes and her hair.

Edaj P.O.V

Reidlos remains stiff and staring and I decide to try to break the ice myself. It's raining heavily now and I think actual ice would be easier to break. I hold out my hands then attempt to introduce myself.

"I'm Edak, the jackass here is Reidlos. Whats your name?" I ask kindly. The girl stares at me and my outstretched hand that faces palm up waiting for her to run her hand along it palm down in affirmation.

"I'm Niadraug 13. I need to find Efil, you have heard her referred to as Legna?" She asks almost timidly as if she's not sure she's speaking the right language. My eyebrows raise at the name. guardian 13? I feel Reidlos tense behind me and now even I can't defend her. No way in the Tsol is this girl nake Guardian !3 and isn't wrapped up in something very wrong. She exploded in fire, is involved with a crows member, and she reeks of being a little prisoner. not a broken one or one that's spine survived, but one that's never known freedom.  She looks around like she's not even sure how Reidlos and I operate. he moves to stand next to me and I expect him to try to take her out right away but instead, he motions for Guardian 13 to wait then he drags me off a few feet. 

"We can use her for information, then take out the crows weapon when we don't need her anymore" He hisses. a sharp bark of laughter escapes me. "you're right, if we get her on our side we could use her against them" he adds. 

"This isn't you Reidlos. This is cruel and low and half-c****d. Don't become what you hate" I snap. In his mind I know he knows I'm right. In the set of his jaw, I know his heart isn't in the proposition. The words that fly out of his mouth next though abandon all of that. 

"If I have to play the bad guy to stop the worse ones so be it, at least no one else will have to." He says coldly in an iron tone. 

"You know that's not true you dumbass. I will. You make this choice and more likely sooner rather than later I'll have to take you down too"

"As long as you do it after I take down the crows you can send me to the Tsol however you want" An exasperated sound escapes me and I make wild gestures for a second before I calm myself. 

"What if I have to stop you before-" I cut off not knowing how to soften the next bit. "before you send yourself"I snap in a fast burst deciding I don't care. Reidlos' expression doesn't change before the next words hit me hard. 

"don't get in my way, if I fall don't make it in vain by interfering or following me down." he says calmly then starts to walk back towards Guardian 13. 

"That's bullshit and you know it, stop trying to be some dumbass martyr. You're going to need an army to take down the crows and all you have is me and a couple knick in the heads up in the marshes. Even if you do get Niadraug to be your little pawn she won't be loyal. You'll have to win that or we're screwed, and one, you suck at making friends, two, we're screwed anyways we need to be smart about this!" I snap trying to keep my voice down but failing slightly. 

"All the smart people are already dead, that's why we're all that's left" he snarls then rips his arm out of my grasp.