Inheritance of Chaos [Invite]

[TheRoguePrince]

The question hit him hard, but the reassurance of the fact that Delano didn't intend on leaving him now was of great assistance to the damaged Keto, who was hurting badly from the retelling of his fall. "I have no idea what I am going to do now... There is so much wrong in me, and so much pain left to even consider a path, vengeance seems obvious, but I don't even know who they were..." He shuddered as he remembered the attackers, demon like, driven to kill without so much as a thought of self preservation. It was a nightmare, and Keto, after long nights of rage fueled strength, now found himself absolutely terrified of the world around him and inside his head.

He whimpered silently as he fell to the ground, no longer the unbreakable beast he had been just moments before, deep in the recesses of his mind it lingered, but he was broken now, the emotional floodgates spilled forth his pent up trauma as he lay there in the dirt. He was a grown lion, former heir to a throne, the self reliant killer who had survived, though somewhat by luck, the greatest destruction the world had ever known, and yet he lay there, like a cub after a bad day, letting his horror be shown to all who could see him.

It grew dark as he lay there, almost too fast, and he didn't care to move, immobilized by the feelings of grief he felt. He had been so furious, so pent up, that he had failed to grieve for his loss, and now he was paying for that in the purest fashion, feeling all at once the pain that should have been spread out over the time between the day he woke up and now. He cried himself to sleep that night, painfully aware that the rogue was watching him, concerned over his sudden break down. It should be him sitting there, strong and resolute, the provider of care for the victim of his inner beast, yet it was not. He was still mortal it seemed, and all it took was the truth to prove that again. For the first night in days he dreamed, and he regretted every moment of it...

[DGFone]

Delano stared at Keto. "I don't think that vengeance will be a good thing. Not right now, and the way you are. It might only make things worse..." He watched in shock as the lion collapsed to the ground, and for the first time, Delano found himself wondering who was worse off. He himself had a very broken body, no thanks to Keto, but he still felt like his mind was for the most part solid. But Keto seemed to be the opposite, with the worst wounds effecting his mind.

Not knowing how to help the crying lion now, Delano crawled away as quietly as he could, so that he won't disturb Keto. He lay down somewhat away from the other, but still within earshot. As he waited for himself to fall asleep as well, Delano watched Keto quietly cry to himself. No more than a few feet apart, both lions felt helpless and unable to do anything about it. When Keto's breathing slowed down to a steady rhythm and the crying stopped, Delano allowed himself to close his eyes and catch some much needed rest.

He wondered what lay in store for him the next day, and how Keto will be the next morning. Now he was not only afraid for himself, but for Keto as well. But Delano's last thought before he fell asleep was, I'm glad I didn't eat all of that Ostrich. Keto will surely be hungry tomorrow...

[TheRoguePrince]

He woke up the next morning, the weight of his nightmares weighed on Keto as he rose from his curled position and went to get a drink at the pool. It was early, and he did not feel rested at all, but ravenous hunger forced his hand as he gorged his trauma wracked form on the meat of yesterday's kill. The meat was beginning to get old, but Keto did not complain as he felt the calming effects of a good meal stabilize him, and shore up his still weak emotional barriers. The last thing he needed was another break down, and he was not planning on letting himself fall into that pit again any time soon. Delano needed him to be strong, even if he wasn't. Too much was at stake for him to give up.

Keto lay back down and prepared to go to sleep again, a repeat of yesterday's hunt was in order, and that meant a long day of nothing to do but talk. As Keto was loath to discuss his past for the moment, he felt that he would gain far more by simply taking the rest denied him the night before by the horrors of his vivid nightmares. Delano still hadn't woken up, and by the looks of it, he had not suffered the same pain in his dreams. The wounds on him were starting to seal a little, showing signs of improvement as he rested peacefully in the shade nearby. So much agony, and yet he was the one who could be judged as the more solid of the two at the moment.

Keto turned his scarred cheek toward the other lion and rested his chin on his dark paws, falling back into a light, and far more beneficial sleep than before. No more waking nightmares of the dark form, no more agonizing memory of his family being mauled and ripped to shreds, just the blackness of his empty mind. It had felt very good venting his story to Delano, but more than anything he wished it had never happened to begin with. Those whom he had loved were gone, and he knew, deep down, that avenging them was nearly impossible. The only purpose in his life now was the daily care of his companion, and despite his thankfulness at having a purpose at all, Keto couldn't bring himself to be content with this. There was a reason he was alive, and he was going to find it. The last thought in his mind before the darkness took him again was the question running rampant in his head now, What was he going to do?

[DGFone]

When it was Delano's turn to wake up, Keto had already fallen asleep again, although to him it looked like Keto was simply still sleeping from the night before. Not wanting to disturb Keto, Delano carefully sat up and walked over to the pool. It still hurt quite considerably, but the fact that he no longer had to crawl everywhere made Delano feel somewhat better. He examined his reflection in the pool, frowning at the numerous cuts and bruises that were covering his body. While most were relatively minor, some were quite serious, including the one on his chest that had hurt him the most. While it too began the slow process of healing, Delano knew that it will be a while before it would stop troubling him.

He then examined the wounds on his neck again, amazed that he had managed to survive receiving them. Keto had not held back when he tried to strangle him to death. He looked over at the sleeping form of Keto, wondering again how a lion who was capable of so easily killing him was at the same time so troubled as well.

Feeling restless but now knowing what else to do, Delano slowly walked away from the pool. He would like to explore the immediate area, to see where Keto had brought him while he was unconscious, and perhaps to figure out where they are. While walking still made him wince and groan with almost every step, Delano was glad to be able to walk again, and tried to enjoy his exploring as much as he could. He slowly walked out of eyesight of Keto, but as he turned to examine his surroundings, he made sure that wherever he will be, that he will be within earshot of of the other lion, should either of them need help.

[TheRoguePrince]

Keto knew when Delano left the clearing, but didn't bother moving, he was about as stealthy as an elephant with his constant groaning from the injuries he had received. He certainly wouldn't be hard to find should Keto feel he was wandering too far, but it was concerning that he knew if he could hear him, anyone else in the environs could hear his just as easily. No, it wasn't the easy sounds of the damaged rogue that Keto paid heed to as he snoozed in light slumber, it was for the sounds of other things that he scanned. The sounds he had heard not long ago, a low growl, a light cadence of feet against hard earth, or worst of all, that throaty chuckle that had burned hatred into his heart.

For all the world Keto might have been nothing more than a piece of scenery, but he was farthest from it, passive as he seemed, his subconscious was racing in instinctual processes. He knew he needed sleep, but he was deeply concerned for Delano, whom he now knew could actually be counted on as a source of security should his rage decide to put on another showing. Dignity had nothing on the necessity of maintaining the fragile peace he had secured the night before, and Keto was certain to make absolutely certain nothing happened to the source of his balance. Besides, he knew too much now to be permitted to be taken, no other sentient being in the world knew who he was, or what he had seen.

It was shortly after midday when Keto decided the noises emanating from his compatriot had gotten too quiet for his liking. He got up with a great yawn, and shook his mane with vigor. Orienting on the barely perceptible sound of Delano, he loped off with concerned intent, rather like a dedicated parent, but with far more need of assurance. His query could not defend himself in the slightest, and despite the apparent peace of the area, they were not far removed from the devastated land he had left shortly before. Images of death and worse filled his mind as he began to worry about the lion, who was proving to be more elusive than his state would suggest.

[DGFone]

In his walk around the pool, Delano would every now and then have to stop and catch his breath. A few times, he thought of returning and lying down to sleep again, but the thought of lying about all day long didn't sound very inviting. So he continued walking around, looking at the savanna around him, trying to see if there were any familiar landmarks he could see.

In his mind, he was once again going over what Keto had told him. While he didn't really know if it was a good idea or not, but Delano felt like, as soon as he will be strong enough, that fir his own safety, he should leave Keto and run away. But Delano also knew that if he would do so, Keto would almost certainly lose his mind completely, and should the two of them meet again, Keto won't hesitate in killing him for real. With these things in mind, Delano was at a loss to what to do. Should he run away and avoid Keto for the rest of his life, or should he try to help the other lion?

Suddenly, a branch on the ground behind him snapped at something stepped on it, and Delano froze. He slowly turned around, hoping to find nothing to worry about, and found himself staring at non other than Keto. "Seriously, Keto. Don't sneak up on me like that..." He looked over the other lion, trying to see how intact Keto looked. "So what's up?"

[TheRoguePrince]

"Don't you think its a little strange we're on such good ground, and yet we've seen nothing remotely resembling an owner?" Keto said, ignoring the obvious look of concern Delano was giving him as he scanned the tall grass again. "We're not twenty miles from the conflagration's furthest extent, and yet we're somehow safe from attack..." Keto didn't like at all, they were too vulnerable to have been left along for long unless something was wrong here. Where was the threat? Something should have happened by now, especially as the wounded member of their companionship had been wandering around all morning without so much as a scratch.

"We better get back, its not that I think you'll do something, its that if I don't keep my eye on you our incredible luck might run out. I am far too aware of fate's ability to be spiteful. I'm here aren't I?" he said with a wry smirk. He stayed vigilant as he waited for the other lion to make a decision, technically Keto had no real control over his decisions, but what he did would have a direct impact on both their immediate futures. It was by no means certain that the rogue would honor their agreement, especially now that he had seen Keto's vulnerability.

He looked back over his left shoulder at the direction he had come from, growing restless at the unusual silence forming around them. He couldn't hear birds, or any of the usual grazing animals he would expect. It was as if the whole world was taking notice of their development, and that was exactly what Keto didn't want right now. Their lives depended on anonymity and cooperation, but they had by no means settled their differences, and it seemed they were about to lose any suggestion of stealth they might have had.

[DGFone]

The way Keto spoke made Delano feel like they might be attacked at any moment. He unintentionally took a few steps backwards, not willing to believe what Keto was telling him. ”What do you mean? I didn’t see anything or anyone out here…” He hesitated, beginning to understand what Keto was implying. Normally, there would be some birds at least, their calls distinct and easy to make out against other noises. But right now, even the birds were silent, if they were even around. Keto was right: something was wrong with this place. ”What are we supposed to do? Leave? Where can we go?”

Knowing that at best, he will only be able to walk slowly, and at worst, will not be able to continue moving, Delano took Keto’s advice to return to the pool. He nodded slightly and hobbled back to the edge of the water, lying down to let his limbs get some rest after his walk. He didn’t enjoy being the source of Keto’s discomfort, but it would be childish to complain. As long as Keto will be in charge of protecting him, Delano should at least make the job as easy as possible.

”How long do you think it’s safe to stay here?” It was a question that Delano didn’t want to learn the answer to. He dreaded the idea of being forced to run for his life in the state he was in, but he knew that if anyone who might attack them will find them here, and Keto would get overpowered, he won’t stand a chance in a fight. ”And when we will leave… how far will we need to go to be safe?” Once again, the feeling rose in Delano that told him that if he had never met Keto, things would have been much better off for him.

[TheRoguePrince]

"No, thats not what we need to be thinking about right now. You're in no condition to be moved, at least in the immediate future..." Keto felt a bit of annoyance as he looked back on his training on political affairs, disgruntled that he should have to fall back on his father's lessons. "If, and only if, there is actually something out there, they obviously don't have an immediate desire to kill us. When or if they make themselves known we will have a chance to negotiate." It was all too simple, but it was obvious that Delano wasn't really feeling too confident about it. Life alone had obviously changed his view of potential enemies.

Keto turned back toward the pool, but made sure to keep within a few paces of the injured Delano, lest they should be confronted by something. A plethora of scenarios ran through Keto's mind as he kept his senses tuned for hostile movements, and yet it was what he didn't hear that continued to bother him the most. The air was still and the birds were as silent as they had been before. Not a single sound penetrated the air around them, making the soft steps of the two lions sound like they were stomping across stone with their claws.

The short trip seemed to take forever, as Delano's injuries kept him moving at a snail's pace, wincing at every step and deep breath. No, they wouldn't be going anywhere in either case. Keto had already decided he wasn't leaving the rogue to save himself, that would inevitably result in the resurgence of the monster he had almost become, and he would much rather die defending the object of his guilty conscience than save his hide to the result of losing his sanity. Fortunately for his racing mind, the pool finally came into view in the waning light, it seemed everything was going to be alright after all...

[DGFone]

He really wanted to ignore the feeling, but Delano knew that his slow walking was placing Keto on the edge of his patience. Delano tried to force himself to walk faster, but even when his pace lead to the pain nearly becoming unbearable, they were still very slow. When the pool finally came into sight, and Delano saw that no one else there, he felt somewhat better, knowing that he will only have to walk a bit further.

Forcing himself to cover the last bit of distance, Delano gratefully lay down on the soft ground next to the water. He gave himself a few moments to find his breath again before he looked over at Keto, who had sat down next to him. "You think we're alone now? Or is someone out there?" At his state, he didn't know if it was better to say and potentially fight whoever might or might not be here, or to try and make a run for it.

There was another option that Delano though of, but one that he hoped that will not happen. "Keto, if someone is out there, and they find and attack us... if they will be too strong for you, just leave me and run." On his own, Delano will never survive, but at the same time, he didn't know how he would react if Keto would die saving him.