A Throne of Fire

Chapter 6

Oh!! Fink did well!! Yes he did!! So well! The mistress will be so pleased with him, yes indeed!! 

The rat boy got the stupid human to follow him! It was so easy too! Perhaps tonight he will get his favorite cheese! Instead of the lady’s leftovers.

“Yes yes! No time to wait!” He hurried the human along, taking him out and around the brushes further into the lively forest. Occasionally picking little things of mint here and there, they reminded Fink of his favorite witch! No time to think of her though. Sadly. 

They walked for hours in silence, well, as silent as the hallowing woods can get, and with him chittering occasionally about how well he’s done. Which to his pride he has done quite well!! The forest grew more wicked, twisted, more ominous looking trees coating the ground with dead colored leaves. The ones in the sky slowly twisting and turning down. Only a little ways to go before the first safe spot! And the Human doesn’t seem all that tired. Good, can use the rest of his strength to climb! 

They come to a very overly grown tree full of knots and weaves. Leaves of fall hues shudder in the breeze, many tumbling their way through crisp air to the ground below. What a nice little spot to rest, the top! 

Without even thinking, Fink immediately begins to scale the tree, just remembering the human for a brief moment. 

“How are you with climbing? Do the trees allow you to touch?” His ears perk forwards expecting a response to his questions, though instead gets answered with the humans own. 

“Uhm, Fink? Was it? Where exactly are we going?” The human's eyes furrow together in a look of distrust, there was no time for doubts! No time at all! 

He panicked though, trying to think of a way to get him up the tree faster without having to explain much about the situation at hand. 

“Hmmm, well you see, it’s a uh, a safe haven! Yes indeed, a safe haven!” Being proud of his immediate response he releases a small overjoyed sound. He couldn’t help it, he wasn’t very good at containing his emotions. Working on his people skills were a definite must. 

"Do you not trust in me?" Fink’s eyebrows furrow and he gives a frown. "Those, imbeciles on the surface do not know what they are doing. Let, Fink show you how to survive! Yes yes, indeed!"

The human crosses his arms over his chest, giving a slight look of disbelief. 

"With no offense intended, Fink, why should I trust you? Just because Latin doesn't like you doesn't mean I should. Hell as far as I know she could have a good reason. You are gonna have to give me a good reason to trust you, like why did you save me in the first place?"

Nerves begin to eat away at him, and he shows it with the way his teeth clatter together, now was no time for questions!!

"No time for talk! We must go! Up! Up! Before they find us!" He had no time to come up with something right now, "Just believe me when I say that the deaf one is not who I am saving you from." He hurriedly climbs a bit higher, "Now come! No time to lose, no time at all!" He lets out another laugh, though this one sounds more nervous than the others. In the short distance there is a hallowing sound, almost like a howl of sorts. Up the tree they need to go! Still so much distance, though nothing could get them up here, no no! Now there was time to save! Time to worry! The howler! No no! It could sniff Fink out for miles, but it can’t climb! No, silly mongrel couldn’t climb at all. 

The howl ripped through the skies albeit closer this time and his panic rose. 

“Then what are you saving me from!? As far as I know I am being trapped! All these weird ass creatures in this weird ass future of a world!!” 

Fink froze, Future? Surely he’s not A Summoner? No time for that!!!! The growls came near! 

Frustration rose, he was half tempted to just leave him on the ground. Let whatever is coming to get him, though he would get punished! No no! Fear overtook his expression for a moment and he looked absolutely terrified before giving a quick shake of his head and dropping down. Digging his nails into the tree bark to stop him just above Damon, goggles falling into place and making his eyes seem huge. 

"Listen to me." He Demands, "I would not waste time, no, I would waste no time in trapping you. Would be easy." He sneers, "I could easily have had you back at the entrance of the temple but no, made sure you were safe. Please, believe me when I say I am trying to help, yes?" 

Another howl rips through the air, sounding layered and closer.

 "The tree will not bite, you pitiful human. We are far from where we are supposed to be, this is just a resting stop, high in canopies, yes! They cannot get us if we are up, up!" Without another word, Fink climbs the tree yet again, letting the human make his own choice. To stay and wonder the ground, or to climb and follow the odd rat. Though Fink was not going to waste his life for some incompetent human. Even if he was a Summoner. 

He heard grunts beneath him and his sense of relief washed over him, yes so the human decided to not be stupid, good. Though he wasn’t sure the Human would be able to make it up so far. It was a decent hundred feet or so…

“Are you going to make it?” He peers down at the brunette who is slowly making his way up. Perched on his own thick branch he waits for the other to be near before scaling up another few feet and waiting. He does this, and occasionally they will stop for breaks. The howls have stopped, and all is silent. Too silent. Far too silent. Too suspicious. 

The human pants like a dog almost, sitting on a branch and looking up at Fink, “How far do we need to climb?” 

Fink just pointed his thumb upwards and gave a toothy grin, “Up and up!!! There is a flat on the top of the canopies, where the mongrel tribe cannot get to us. Stupid dogs don’t know how to climb.” He chitters and mumbles to himself, though as much as he would like to keep up this persona of confidence and fake strength he can’t help but feel just a tad bit of fear start in the pit of his stomach. 

He hears a groan from the human as he struggles to follow him, if he falls from this height he won’t be hurt too bad. Kind of. Maybe.

He would die. He would definitely die. If the fall didn’t kill him those wolves would. 

That’s another thing that would be a reasoning for all this fear bubbling in his stomach. The wolves would be none too kind if they found them wandering into their territory without their consent…