Saving Soul

"I can summon can't I?" Anja snipped back.

"Not right now you can't," Voltaire replied. "If my powers quit because I was tired, I'd be screwed ten times over."

"Maybe it would have saved you a few trips to the doctors," Adair suggested.

"Yeah, because I'd already be dead."

"Its not that. Its my internal balance. I'm only strong enough to summon so often. Now I have to wait longer before my balance is straightened." Anja explained

"Any way to speed up the recovery?" asked Adair.

"If it's an inside issue then maybe you could try blowing down some white flame down her throat," Voltaire suggested. "You could even pretend it's a kiss."

" 'Taire, shut up."

"Stop fighting," said Ava. "Fighting doesn't help any-"

The phoenix let out a a surprised and pained squawk as an energy blast stuck her side, nearly causing Adair to fall off.

"What the hell was that?" Voltaire cried out.

A flock of wyverns rushed out of the clouds, firing several small blasts at once.

Poor Anja couldn't hold on. "I'm gunna fall!" She protested fearfully as she swayed dangerously, her hands held close to her chest.

"Anja!" Adair called out, grabbing onto her. Another blast shook Ava and sent both of them tumbling off.

------

Adair woke up sore but with no broken back, which he was grateful for. Even with his advanced healing power a broken back would be a serious problem, possibly a lethal one.

A few feet away, Anja groaned. She wasn't seriously injured either, but being human, she was a bit more beat up looking.

(Technically Adair's still human. He's just a demonically-powered human. Same for Voltaire)

"You alright Anja?" he called, going over to her. He hoped her previous injury hadn't become worse from the fall. A pack of pink squirrels were scurrying around, not appreciating the two humans so close to their tree.

Anja groaned again. "What happened?" She groaned, opening her eyes slightly

"We fell, that's what happened," Adair answered, spitting some fire at the annoying squirrels to keep them away. The small creatures chittered back madly. He looked up to the clear sky. No sign of Ava. That worried him.

He let out a small yelp as one of the squirrels scurried up and bit him on the hand. In response he roasted it, and then blew white flame onto his hand to heal the bite.

"Mmmmm. I'm sore- I feel like I got sat on by a big demon." Anja mumbled. She forced herself to sit up. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Just some bruises and a squirrel bite. We must have not been far from the ground when we fell." Adair muttered between firebreaths. The wound was soon closed but his hand tingled strangely.

Anja looked to the sky. "We should probably find shelter." She pointed at clouds on the horizon. "That's a storm heading our way"

Adair noticed the thunder clouds and had to agree. The rain hurt him now and Anja didn't need to be out in the cold storm either. He glanced around at the plains around them. Except for the occasional tree they didn't offer much protection. Their best shot would be heading into the woods in the distance.

"I know its asking a bit much, but do you think you can carry me? I still can't walk, But after that fall..." Anja paused, sounding more worried than she intended.

"No, it's fine. I wasn't hurt that bad, and I should heal quickly," replied Adair, picking her up. "I'm just glad your ankle didn't get hurt more by the fall."

"Because I didn't land on it" Anja replied. She wrapped her arms around his neck so she would be easier to carry.

"T-That's good," Adair said, blushing a little as he found himself staring at her. Was she this pretty before?...But this wasn't the time for that!

The trip through the plains was surprisingly peaceful. It wasn't like they didn't see animals on the way there. Rather, the animals were too interested in each other to take much notice of them. Those pink squirrels were everywhere, yet Adair was no longer annoyed by them. He felt oddly at ease, actually. He wondered if he hit his head, though there was no real concern in that thought.

"You're quieter than usual, hero." Anja stated, reverting back to calling him by his old title. "Didn't hit your head in the fall did you?"

"Don't think so," Adair replied, though his mind did feel slightly fuzzy. Still, if he hit his head then it would be hurting a lot more than this, right? "Just...thinking, I guess?"

"Heaven help us. A Hero is trying to think" Anja stated dryly.

"Hey," he countered lazily, not really feeling like arguing. He hadn't felt this good for a while, and he didn't want to spoil it. He hummed faintly.

Anja relaxed against him. She was pretty sure she had hit her head. It was throbbing dully with the onset of a migraine, but she wasn't going to bother with it. "About how much farther to the woods you think?" She asked with a yawn.

"Not too much farther," replied Adair as they reached the top of a hill. "See? Just down there."

"Hm. Well we'll need to find a cave or something so you don't get drenched, Hero." Anja smiled softly. "Can you see any from here?"