Shadow Song Part 2

[Ziriman]

Our stories are forever entwined. I'm proud of you Tary.
~Ughnaught

Friday early evening, April 18th, 29464

Ughnaught lay prone on the top of a hill in Newland Desert, smiling to himself. He'd been doing that a lot lately... smiling, that is. The laying prone part was because this girl was better than most at eluding any would be followers. However, the wild was Ughnaught's home, his friend in fact. It's where he grew up and where he was most comfortable. It would be hard to hide from him here. He was pretty sure she didn't know he was there, but after 2 days of watching her he'd learned not to assume anything.

So why was he following this girl anyway? He'd asked himself this a million times. It was a good question with no answer... and yet a hundred answers. He was fascinated. He felt drawn to her like nothing he'd ever experienced. But was that a good reason to be stalking a stranger? He wondered what she'd think of his reasons. With careful questions he'd uncovered her name to be Tarynali. He called her Tary in his head, a fact he was sure would drive someone as tough and guarded as she was crazy. That's why he did it. He wanted to drive her crazy. He wanted to know her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to be the one to make her smile, to make her laugh. He wasn't sure why, but he knew walking away was not an option.

Right now she was skinning a reet for her supper. She had the lost look on her face that made him want to grab her and guard her from everything that might hurt her. The look haunted him. However, as usual, it didn't last long. It was as if she didn't allow herself the luxury to be sad or lonely or feel pain often, and when she did, it was so strange she couldn't do it for long. Or maybe she thought it was a weakness and reprimanded herself at those times until she'd hardened up her feelings again. Ughnaught's thoughts continued to circle, wondering. When was he finally going to make his move? What would he say? He sighed heavily and Rufus, the sabretooth who was often his companion, stirred against him. Ughnaught idly reached out and scratched the beast's head while he relived the day he'd first seen Tary.

Ughnaught slipped quietly into the back of Doc Flint's home outside of Stret West Bank. He heard the old man's voice from the back room he used as an office. Voices were loud and angry.

“If you don't give us the stims you'll be sorry!”

“Threaten all you want, my answer is the same.” That was Doc Flint's voice.

The first voice paused, perhaps in response to Doc's calm voice and lack of fear. “Your Omni-Tek supplier will cut you off if she finds out you are treating clanners here,” the youth tried again. He couldn't be much more than 16, only a few years older than Ughnaught himself.

“Go ahead and tell her,” Doc replied, “but you'll only bring trouble down on yourself.” His voice changed and although he spoke no louder, the tone caused chills to run down Ughnaught's spine and he was glad he and Doc were friends. “Now get out of my home!”

There were more threats as the stim fiend and his companions left, but these were more words thrown out to show they were tough and not backing down than they were anything to really worry about. Ughnaught waited a few minutes than moved slowly toward Doc's office.

“Come in Ughnaught,” Doc called quietly.

“Never can sneak up on you Doc. You don't miss much do ya?” Ughnaught smiled and Doc smiled back.

“What have you brought me today?” Doc asked.

About an hour later Ughnaught left through the door he entered. He whistled for Rufus, but got no reply and saw no movement. Ah well, he thought, he's probably asleep or off hunting. He always manages to find me. Ughnaught continued on toward the city of Stret West Bank. Before long he sensed he wasn't alone.

He kept walking but his nerves were on high alert. He wished Rufus were with him, although inside the city people often didn't appreciate his presence. Ughnaught suddenly stiffened and his senses were screaming a warning at him. He got his swords in his hands before he saw the first attacker.

They'd been hiding in an abandoned building just outside the city. Ughnaught kept his eye on the one in front of him, obviously the leader, although he knew there were at least 5, maybe more, gathering around him.
“If I can't break the Doc, I can break his delivery grunt for sure. Ain't that right Atrox scum?” It was the voice he'd heard at Doc's.

“Killing me will get you nothing,” Ughnaught said quietly. He'd love to think he'd learned from Doc's example, but in truth he hadn't been going for the quiet voice that seemed to squeak out of his throat.

“Oh, we don't have to kill you,” the stim fiend sneered. “Just hurt you to send a message, then we take whatever Doc gave you off your hands.”

Ughnaught was quiet, and he tensed, trying to focus on where the attacks would come from. His mind stretched out trying to call for Rufus. The sabretooth always seemed to know when he needed him, and this time he desperately needed him. The first attack came from behind, cheap shot though it was, and Ughnaught parried and fought back seemingly in all directions. After what seemed like forever but was really seconds he realized he was only being directly attacked by one fiend. He suddenly registered a program had been loaded into his NCU and his health was enhanced.

Then he saw her. A wild thing. A girl, but hardly worthy of such a childish and gentle term, wildly taking on all the attackers. And winning. Obviously an enforcer she took their hits and kept going, down from the 6 to only two standing now. Ughnaught shook himself out of his surprise and loaded a healing program into her NCU. Then he rejoined the fight, until the group stopped fighting and ran. The girl looked like she was about to finish off those laying at her feet when she caught Ughnaught looking at her. She stared at him, her eyes wide and wild.

“Roar!” They both turned and saw Rufus tearing down the road toward them. As Ughnaught turned back to the girl she'd gone. Stopping briefly to assure Rufus he was okay, Ughnaught hurried off to find her. He caught glimpses of her a few times before he lost her. He considered sending Rufus after her, but having seen her fight, didn't want her mistaking Rufus' attentions and trying to kill him. Rubika was a rough place to live sometimes, and this girl knew how to survive.

Ughnaught had tried to forget her, but her face as they stared at each other after the fight was in his dreams and in his mind almost constantly. And thus began his quest to find her. Which he did, although it took every trick he had ever used and almost all of his contacts. He looked at Tary again, cooking the reet over a small fire. Her face looked fierce, like nothing would dare harm her. Then she glanced toward his hill and he saw her eyes again. Tomorrow, Ughnaught promised himself. He'll talk to her first thing in the morning. First, he wanted to clean up and eat and check in with his contacts in Newland City. She'd probably be here all night. If she wasn't here when he returned in the morning he'd find her again. He somehow knew he'd always be able to find her.

Several hours later, Ughnaught left Neuters'R'Us slightly unsteady from drinking. It was good to see his old friends. They didn't treat him like a child; he didn't remember ever feeling like a child, let alone living like one. Tonight they'd given him Hit the Floor Jack and thought it great fun to see how many he could slam back. Turning down an alley behind the bar towards the whom-pahs, he heard scuffling and a raspy cry that set his neck hairs on end. He hurried toward the sound, swords drawn, making sure his nano pool was full on the way.

Rounding the bend he saw her. He could only see part of her, but he knew it was Tary. Why was she here? Why wasn't she safe in Newland Desert where he'd left her? And abruptly it was clear the five thieves in front of him, surrounded by wares carelessly dropped in their excitement, were trying to violate her.

Fury exploded inside him like he'd never felt before. He let out a yell that felt to him like it must feel to Rufus when he roars. He fiercely began pulling the attackers off of her and when he reached the one closest to her, who'd been about to violate her, he knocked him away from her and each sword drove into his chest, killing him instantly. Blood gushed and the man fell as Ughnaught removed the swords. He turned to see Tary had rallied and injured two of the men, and the four left hobbled off as quickly as they could manage. He stared down at the man he'd killed, and sorrow at taking a life engulfed him. Tears streamed down his face. He could fight, was good at it, but not to kill, only to survive. It wasn't the first time he'd killed, but he never liked it. And all the emotion he'd felt at seeing Tary being hurt and taking a life himself overwhelmed him.

She spoke and it took moment for the words to penetrate. “Thank you.”

Ughnaught just looked at her, and with his eyes said everything he'd felt since he'd first looked at her this way outside Stret West Bank. Time stood still and he could tell she was affected too.

“You'd better go.” She said, and then he heard what she'd heard, the sound of guards coming.

Ughnaught knew there was no way he was losing her now. He nodded but said, “You're coming with me. I'm not letting you go now.” He took her hand, and they began to run.

[Anamelle]

((Glad to see your and Tary's story More please.))