Strays: A Romantic Fantasy Adventure

A fire crackled, the domesticated blaze licking at the darkness and consuming all within its meager proximity. The motley quartet sat in silence with the exception of the group’s celestial being who laid on his back, one leg bent with the other resting across it. His dangling foot bopped around as he hummed a cheerful tune and whittled away at a fat, stumpy branch with the knife he had swiped from Sakura. He gleefully ignored the visual daggers that were being shot at him from the vixen mere feet away. She dared not throw any more actual daggers, least he steal those away as well.

The woman had never been a graceful loser. Nothing ate at her more than the heaviness of failure, of not doing well enough, not being good enough. She had spent a large portion of her life rubbing dirt in her wounds and pushing herself further and beyond her capabilities in order to avoid the terrible sensation. Yet here she sat, a loser, pouting and cursing her newest companion to his glowing delight.

Ivy curled around herself and focused her attention on the flames dancing before her. It was foreign to be in the company of so many people. Of course, she’d been around plenty of people and even spoken with a handful of them from time to time whenever they came upon a village or town. Sometimes they would venture back to the outskirts of Sakura’s old village along the Northern Mountains to look for assistance from a witch who was extremely talented and capable but ancient, crotchety, and exasperating to be around. Ivy mostly kept her head down, trying not to cry at her snide and terrible remarks while the demon took the brunt of the crone’s vile attitude. They would also make short visits to a married ogre couple who were much more pleasant to be around. But never had she truly been with others and not just merely in their presence. It was odd and she didn’t quite know how to hold her body or what words to say or even if she should say anything at all. Still, a pleasant calm settled over her and she was grateful for the change.

The girl glanced over at Zero who was slouched against the broad trunk of an aged oak. His chin rested on his chest that was rising and falling slowly in rhythm with his shallow breath. He had been asleep for a couple of hours, having laid claim to the spot when they settled down for the night. He looked serene and child like, disconnected from the tension around him. The girl admired him, studying his stoic demeanor, when she thought she saw a sliver of crimson peek out at her. Her eyes darted back to the fire as she told herself it was the flame’s shadows playing tricks.

A low growl joined in chorus with Ren’s humming. “Will you stop already?” Sakura had finally reached her breaking point, her thumbs massaging her temples as her fingers dug into her forehead. “You’re so annoying!”

“Oh! Sorry,” the angel apologized, remorse overflowing. “Would you prefer I sang? The river winds through the town…” he belted, completely off key.

“Damn you, Ren!” the woman shrilled. She snatched the closest rock, sadly only the size of a walnut, and threw it into his thigh as he roared with laughter. “I’m going to bed.”

The man instantly perked up, “I’ll go with you! You never…”

“Shut up!” Another rock was launched into the man’s shoulder. “Don’t you dare!” The demon stalked off like a flame of destruction through the trees.

The girl scrambled to her feet and went after her. “Good night,” she chirped at Ren, giving Zero one last fleeting look.

“Sweet dreams, Little One,” the angel smiled kindly. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called after the fox. “Sleep well! See you in the morning!”

“Fuck you!” a third stone collided with his chest.

As Ivy hurried to catch up to Sakura, she pulled the cloak from her shoulders, freeing her lithe and dainty body from its prison. The woman had stopped a short ways off and as Ivy met her she tossed the cloak ahead.

“Tent,” she uttered and the cloak grew and transformed, landing on the ground as a sturdy shelter.

The woman dove through the opening and collapsed onto a nest of luxurious bedding. She snuggled down, drowsily watching as Ivy lay next to her. She covered the girl’s hand with her own as her eyes slid closed.

“He’s such a jerk,” she mumbled.

“Ren?”

“Mmm.”

“Who is he? How do you know him?” Ivy prodded but it was too late, the woman was already lost in the land of slumber. She was dumbfounded at the ease in which the fox had slipped into unconsciousness. It was strange seeing her fast asleep instead of her normal, lightly dozing state. Ivy questioned whether it was from exhaustion or if, perhaps, she actually felt safe enough to let her guard down.

It was evident that the demon and angel knew each other well. Sakura had conceded so quickly after her defeat to the man, stunning the girl. She had expected the woman to continue to fight, she was still unharmed and all her limbs intact after all. Instead she had stomped away from the delighted angel upon landing, moping as she snatched Ivy’s hand with a disgusted scowl towards the devil, and dragged her away back towards the path with the two men following behind, Zero silent as Ren alternated between whistling and humming until they set up camp for the evening.

Ivy laid there motionless, listening to the night around her. Gently, she squeezed the woman’s hand, partially in affection and partially in testing the waters. A small snore escaped the demon’s mouth, a confirmation that it was safe to flee. The girl rolled away and swiftly crawled out into the darkness. She tiptoed her bare feet away from the tent, stopping now and then to listen for any movement behind her before continuing on.

She found the two men still in their respected places, the fire freshly stocked with dry kindling.

“Welcome back, Little One,” Ren greeted, the piece he’d been working on taking an undetermined shape as he continued etching into the wood. “Looks like you’ve successfully escaped.”

Ivy smiled shyly and sat down, choosing a spot closer to the angel now that she was free from Sakura’s watchful eye.

Amusement played on the man’s face, “Brave, aren’t we? Have you forgotten that I threatened to kidnap you earlier?”

“You’re a terrible liar,” the girl softly challenged. “It only worked because Sakura never thinks before she acts.”

“That’s very true. She is a woman driven by desire,” he chuckled. “You’ve been with her for some time, haven’t you?”

She nodded, “I have.”

“And when did you find her?”

“She found me,” Ivy corrected. “I was asleep in some bushes and she woke me up. She wanted to take me home but I didn’t know where home was. I barely remembered my name.”

“That must be hard for you,” Ren stated empathically.

“Not really. It’s hard to miss something you don’t know.” She looked down at her hands, tangling her fingers together nervously. “I think it affects Sakura a lot more than it does me. She really wants me to have that family and place I belong, I guess. But I was young, only twelve, and Sakura has always taken care of me. So, for me, she is my family. It’s not always easy being bounced around but I know she cherishes me and that’s a lot more than some people have.”

“Do you like being bounced around?”

“Not really,” the girl admitted softly. “It used to be kind of fun. I’ve seen a lot of interesting places. But lately…” her voice trailed off, the truth being difficult to say.

A stick snapped and crumbled in the blaze, shooting sparks towards the stars. The man pushed his tongue against his cheek and nodded, eyes focused on his small blade, waiting for her to continue.

Ivy watched him work. She didn’t want to talk about herself. She needed to gather all the information she could while in Sakura’s absence. The silence was deafening and the girl could barely contain herself as she leaned forward and blurted, “Who are you to Sakura? Have you really been looking for her? Why?”

His hands ceased. The angel tilted his head towards Ivy, his eyes deep pools of wistful azure. “Because I love her,” he smiled before turning his attention back towards the small sculpture and continued scraping away.

The unabashed confession set Ivy back and her eyes went wide with shock. Sometimes she would read books with lovers in them and the idea seemed so enchanting, romantic, and alien to the girl. Two people who gave themselves and dedicated their lives to one another was like an unattainable fairy tale. And yet, this man sat before her so forthcoming and sincere in his words.

“Since when?” Ivy had spent years with Sakura but she knew that the demon had undoubtedly had a life before finding the sleeping child. A past life that she kept tight lipped about. One that the girl knew very little about and was often too timid to press the woman too hard on.

“Hmm,” Ren chewed it over. “I’d say since the day I met her but I didn’t really see it that way at the time. After all, I was only seven and her five. Just babies.”

“Did you live in the same village?”

“We lived together. My uncle raised us. Poor guy ended up with two strays when he wanted for none.”

“Why’d you leave?” Ivy felt a twang of guilt at Ren’s gut punched expression but her curiosity was relentless. “She said that earlier. Why did you leave when you love her?”

He raised his hand, showing off the onyx stone bracelet around his wrist. “This bracelet conceals my wings. You saw them earlier. Do you know why they’re black instead of white?”

Ivy shook her head.

“Because I’m a Fallen One. My mother and father weren’t suppose to be together. It was a betrayal against God. I was created from their sins and my black hair and wings are a representation of that. I’ll never be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven. But, despite being castaway at birth, the Celestial Guard still came for me when I was 16 to force me into service. A year later Raz, my uncle, died. I couldn’t be there and Sakura was alone again. I wasn’t released until I was 20 and by then she was long gone and I’ve been searching for her ever since.”

“That’s not your fault though,” the girl reassured. “I don’t understand how she can be angry over something that you had no control over.”

“She’s not angry,” Ren corrected thoughtfully. “She’s hurt and like the wild woman she is she bares her fangs and fights back when in pain.”

“She just seems so hateful towards you.”

Ren laughed at this, “She doesn’t hate me. She might be throwing a temper tantrum and taking it out on me but she doesn’t hate me. If she did I wouldn’t be here talking to you still in possession of my life. But let’s keep that secret between the two of us. Sakura typically has to find out things for herself the hard way. In her own time.” He slid the dagger into his belt and made his way to his feet, extending his hand to Ivy to help her up. “Besides, I enjoy seeing her be the one to flounder around for once,” he winked as he turned her hand over and placed the piece of wood in her palm.

“What’s this?” Ivy asked, looking down at the figure.

“It’s how I envision you,” the man grinned.

The girl ran her fingers over the intricate carvings in the butterfly that sat lightly in her hand. Swirls and spirals decorated the delicate wings. She closed her hand around it, half convinced it would spring to life and flutter away.

“It’s late, Little One. Go get some rest and be careful not to wake the beast.”

Ivy beamed brightly at Ren, “Thank you! Good night.” And with that she bounded back to the tent and disappeared within.

He watched her vanish and sighed dramatically, “She sure is a pretty thing. I can see why you’re so entranced by her.” He turned and walked to where Zero still sat unmoved, plopping himself down next to him and rested against the trunk.

“You talk too much,” Zero muttered, his eyes still closed.

“That’s because you talk too little.” The angel stretched out his long limbs, joints popping like the fire. His eyelids dropped, a yawn escaped. “You’re gonna have to do more than feign sleep if you plan on winning her over.”

Zero didn’t respond but he opened his eyes and looked into the distance where the lovely girl was laying peacefully. His heart tugged in his chest, tempting him closer. His body willed itself forward instinctively, but he was carefully pushed back in his place.

“I wouldn’t recommend doing that, boy,” Ren warned gently. “It will not go well for you. You’re going to have to learn how to control it.”

“Is it hard?” the devil asked, acknowledging the suffocating feeling that had been plaguing him since before the book store.

“Oh yeah, it’s fucking awful. But just go slow. Sl-ow,” he drew the sounds out at snail’s pace. “Now go to sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Zero nodded and finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep, listening to the night and the whisper of its song.