Drawing Near

"Hey, look on the bright side! You can retract the wings," Fulmen said from his perch on a tree branch.

Skittles, as pale as death, was sitting by the fire shivering. "Right. Bright side."

*I'm sorry I failed to help you...* Martia whispered. She was coiled up besides her bondmate. Sprite was watching them silently while cooking over the flames. Prasad was sleeping near the tent with Taeda. *Just hope we're not attacked by any heroes.*

Skittles chuckled, "You never know. I might be able to take them."

"That's not something to joke about," Sprite growled.

The werewolf blinked, "Worried?"

"Hmph."

Skittles pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on top of them. "Thank you, all of you."

They all remained silent. That was something Skittles would never say again, so they would savor the movement. The werewolf was smiling, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was in incredible pain.

There was a crunching sound at the edge of the camp. Skittles could feel the two people standing in the darkness. He could also feel his bubbling hatred for them.

There was the chink of a sword, and a faint whooshing sound. One of them was probably Pepsi judging from the silence and the lack of enthusiasm from the rest of the group. The other one was probably a girl, soft foot falls and all. Then again, it could be Reese, but why would a gay man be out to get Skittles with a swordsman?

Skittles did not bother to move. "What do the heroes want to day?" he asked them.

"The usual," said Pepsi, the worst rival possible.

"This will be the last fight," said a young woman, who happened to be named Sunny.

"Can't you see we're tired?" Sprite asked as she flipped her egg onto her plate. "We've had a pretty bad day."

"Then it's the perfect time to fight," Sunny stated in her monotone voice while extending her quarter staff and taking a fighting stance.

*This seriously isn't the time,* Martia growled, her Fury Stones glowing as her size slightly increased.

Pepsi took his fighting stance, sword held firmly with both hands, and his feet spread apart.

Skittles turned his head, glaring with yellow slit eyes. Baring fangs he rose, keeping his eyes locked on Pepsi the whole time. "You honestly," he paused with his hand a few inches away from reaching into his coat, "want to die today?"

For a moment the young red head flinched. He did not want to die, but he would never stand down.

A smirk crept onto Skittles face, Martia growing bit by bit in the background, both of the "heroes" stepped back. Neither Pepsi nor Sunny were expecting the sudden change in Skittles' and Martia's powers.

Black feathers covered in blood filled the air. A set of large wings were outstretched in front of the two heroes. A six foot, red, double winged dragon who was glowing with energy was next to them, and the person who the wings belonged to. Skittles. with face obscured, was holding a ball of blue and yellow energy in one hand and his Veecharoval in the other. The Angel of Death and his bondmate had a wicked sense of humor.

"P-pepsi... I think we should leave," Sunny squeaked nearly dropping her staff.

"W-w-when did this happen?" Pepsi said tearing up, still in his stance.

"Just an hour or so ago," Sprite said as she started to eat her eggs. Fulmen was still perched in his tree and the rest of the party was soundly sleeping.

"I am not in the mood," Skittles said growling, "so if you want to live, run."

***

*Skittles, that was pretty cool.*

"Thanks, but those wings hurt," he said while trying to rub his shoulder blades. Sprite smacked his hands away and did it herself, shaking her head at him. "What?"

"Nothing. I'm just surprised that you still need me around to help you."

"I'll need you for a while longer. Heh, maybe after this we should get married."

She smacked him upside the head, "No need for sick jokes."

"OW!" The funny thing was, it was not a joke.

"Mmmm. I hate to interrupted this cute little moment, but I have some important information for you," said En'dai, who was suddenly very small and sitting on Martia's head.

*When...?* the dragon asked without looking up.

"Just a few seconds ago," said the tiny god of death. "Now, do you want to hear my important information from Vivetal'dai and I or do you want to play some  board games first?"

"What do you have to say?" Skittles said as Sprite finished rubbing the werewolf's back.

"You know have the ability to transform freely between forms, Skittles. As in you can look normal, look how you are now, look like the Angel of Death, or shift to your werewolf form. Also, you'll be able to complete your mission of world destruction at the Temple of Heaven's Romance. Oh, and now Sprite is Vivetal'dai's champion," The chibi En'dai fluttered over to Skittles with a huge grin painted on his face.

"Well thanks," Skittles said monotone.

"You're kidding," Sprite said.

 *Temple of what?"