Tale of Two Hollows

Ch.14 Shark of the Sand Sea

Pain, All Kenjiro felt was pain. His body burned and ached with such profound pain he couldn't even scream. His very existence slowly being consumed by suffocating darkness and sheer unfathomable pain!

After what felt like an eternity, the pain suddenly ceased. Kenjiro felt body slackened as the pain disappeared and was replaced by a strange feeling of warmth, that seemed to fill his entire body like hot drink on a winter night. It was then as he began to relax that he heard what must have been faint whispering. In his blurry and confused mind, he seemed to float through endless darkness until light met his gaze.

Kenjiro's eyes slowly fluttered open as he blearily tried to study his surroundings. His vision was foggy and he could feel a faint pain along his body again. As his eyesight cleared Kenjiros eyes locked with a set of bright amber colored orbs only an inch or so from his face.

With a surprised hiss Kenjiro lurched backwards away from the pair of unknown eyes. With his eyesight cleared Kenjiro could see that he was sitting on a large slightly raised platform of grey stone covered by a thick layer of blue-green moss. The platform was against the curved wall of a large circular cave like chamber with glowing lichen and moss growing on the chambers ceiling and walls that gave an eerie almost ghostly green glow to the chamber.

The amber eyed culprit was standing a few feet away were it had jumped back in surprise. The creature, an Adjucha class Hollow, was deer-like, with its mask sporting a pair of blunt antlers, a singular horn in the middle of its forehead, and red lightning bolt markings under its eyes. Its body was covered in grey skin with bone plates covering its shoulders and thick bristly brown fur covering its rump and back legs.

"What did you jump for moron?" Said the Deer in a feminine and tomboyish voice that sounded annoyed and a tiny bit frightened. As the deer finished its sentence two more Adjucha appeared through a previously unseen passageway and joined the Deer.

The first newcomer was a tall snake hollow with bright emerald eyes, a wide frilled mask with several small beads hanging from it and square bluish-grey scales. Kenjiro recognized the second newcomer as the Lioness Hollow he and Kyou had run into when still Demi-hollows.

Almost on instinct Kenjiro bared his long sword like teeth and raised his mace ended tail warningly behind him. He knew he was weak and wounded right now and as far as he knew these three weaker Adjucha had dragged him to their layer to eat him. He wasn't going to let himself get eaten, not without a fight, not today, not ever!

The three Adjucha backed off slightly as Kenjiro hissed warningly and a set of thin previously unseen scale plates around his neck raised into a frill around his head and his other scales puffed out. Kenjiro was trying his hardest to make himself look as menacing and unhurt as possible, it wasn't working. After the initial shock the three Adjucha growled back at Kenjiro. Clearly they knew Kenjiro was still too wounded to pose as much of a threat as he would have.

It was then that two more Hollows entered the chamber behind the three Adjucha. To Kenjiros relief the first newcomer was none other than Rica, in all her raven feathered glory. Behind her however was a small humanoid figure, the same size, if not smaller than the Vasto Lorde before.

The figure was lithe and feminine, with short wild blond hair, brilliant aqua marine eyes, and tanned olive skin visible beneath her masks eye holes. The rest of her body however, was covered by blue shark like skin and white bone with a long fin-like tail extending down he back. Finally, her mask was unmarked and the normal white yet only extended to her hair line.

Kenjiro tensed up as his eyes locked with the aqua marine ones of the Vasto Lorde. Within those blueish green orbs resided raw unmatched power and of all things, kindness. Unlike the previous Vasto Lorde he had encountered, Kenjiro couldn't make out this ones intentions.

"I'm so glad your finally awake!" Cooed Rica as she rushed over to Kenjiro and began checking him for any wounds. As Kenjiro began to relax as Rica's spiritual energy soothingly washed against his senses his peripheral vision alerted him to the Snake Adjucha moving towards them. Before he knew what was happening his defensive instincts kicked into overdrive.

With almost unimaginable speed Kenjiros tail came swinging around from behind him, missing the snakes face by a hair. The snake gave a surprised squeak as it reflexively lept backwards narrowly avoiding a return swipe. In response, the Lion, and Deer Adjucha growled and started to advance on Kenjiro until the Vasto Lorde raised its hand causing them to stop immediately.

"Mila Rose, Apacci, Sung-sun, restrain yourselves." Said the Vasto Lorde in a calm and mature feminine voice. "This Adjucha has been through a very traumatic experience, please, give him some room."

The Three Adjucha bowed their heads respectfully as they filed out of the chamber down the passage. Once they were gone the Vasto Lorde still with her eyes locked with Kenjiro's began to approach calmly and slowly as Rica finished checking him.

"You and your friend are quite remarkable, fighting and wounding a Vasto Lorde as just Adjucha is no small feat." Said the Vasto Lorde with a calm and praising voice. "My Name is Tier Harribel, what is yours Adjucha?"

"My name is Kenjiro Oyaji, Noble Lady." Said Kenjiro as he bowed respectfully towards Harribel. "Forgive me for asking my Lady but why did you save my companion and I?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't have saved you two if Rica here hadn't asked me." Said Harribel plainly with a small sigh. "Rica here has been traveling with my followers and I for some time now trying to look for you. Come I will take you to your companion." Continued Harribel as she gestured for Kenjiro and Rica to Follow her.

As they walked Kenjiro noticed that the passageways and other chambers they passed were illuminated by strange glowing crystals in small stone alcoves in the wall. As he looked closely at the passage walls bathed in the strange fiery glow of the crystals, he noticed that they were unnaturally smooth and chiseled, almost as if cut by a hand.

The trio continued walking for several more minute until Harribel broke the otherwise tense silence. "You are surprisingly quite Adjucha." She said turning to look back at Kenjiro. "I would have expected you to have asked why you were no longer wounded severely, or where your companion was."

"I am in shock My Lady. For someone as powerful as you to risk yourself to save a couple lowly Adjucha is truly unexpected." Replied Kenjiro with a slightly tense voice.

"Is it truly that strange for someone of my caliber to help those weaker than I?" Said Harribel with curiosity as the group continued down the endless passages.

Kenjiros armored head drooped as he nodded. "I am butt a simple Adjucha, compared to you my lady I am but a flea before the very ocean. From what my companion and I have witnessed, all the strong Hollows rule over the weak like Kings." Said Kenjiro as he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"You and your companion are by far the strangest Adjucha's I have ever encountered." Said Harribel matter-of-factly. "Having seen you and your companion fight and this short discussion leave me glad that I saved you. Though truthfully, you two had already saved yourselves." Said Harribel, her eyes softening slightly.

"What do you mean by we saved ourselves my lady?" Asked Kenjiro confusedly as the group stopped as Harribel turned fully to face Kenjiro.

"When I arrived on the scene of your battle, both you and your friend had already lost consciousness from blood loss. Your assailant however was standing frozen above your unconscious bodies with his remaining blade raised for a killing blow. It appears as though your friend's fangs have a type of toxin or venom that paralyzes an enemy if enough is injected." Explained Harribel to a shocked Kenjiro and Rica.

"Honestly if either one of you had still been conscious you could've killed that Vasto Lorde due to his paralysis." Finished Harribel as she led the group into another large cavernous chamber filled with the same glowing green light as the one Kenjiro had been in.

On the far side of the chamber curled into a ball and snoring soundly, was Kyou. Upon seeing his companion, Kenjiro suddenly broke into a sprint and rushed over to his friend. As Kenjiro approached Kyou's eyelids slowly fluttered open and he sat up, stretching with a small groan of discomfort. Before Kyou had even become fully aware of his surroundings Kenjiro slammed into him with a tight and awkward hug with his front limbs.

"Your alive!" Shouted Kenjiro as tears of joy started to well up in his large red eyes. "How did you survive, I saw you run thru with that Vasto Lorde's arm blade?" Said Kenjiro excitedly as he began to barrage the still half asleep Kyou with question after question.

"Kenjiro let Kyou have some breathing room he only just woke up." Said Rica with a chuckle.

"Rica? Kenjiro? What happened? Where are we?" Asked Kyou as he blinked the tiredness from his eyes and shook himself awake. As Kyou finally became fully aware of his surroundings he sensed a powerful and unknown presences. Turning his eyes towards the source he locked eyes with Harribel's aqua marine ones. "Who's the fine looking lady you brought with you guys?" Said Kyou suddenly with an almost casual curious tone.

Harribel raised her eyebrows slightly at Kyou's comment and once again turned her gaze towards Rica. Rica however was trying hard to hide her furiously blushing face under her wing and not make eye contact with the Vasto Lorde.

"Don't be so rude Kyou, this Is Lady Harribel, she's the one who saved us from the Vasto Lorde trying to kill us." Said Kenjiro as he nudged Kyou slightly with one of his front limbs.

"How dare you talk to Mistress Harribel like that!" Shouted a familiar trio of Voices from the entrance to the chamber. Sure, enough Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung sun entered the chamber bristling with anger.

As the three Adjucha entered the chamber Kyou quickly jumped off the moss platform and looked curiously at Mila Rose. "I swear I've seen you before?" He said as he scrutinized the lioness intently.

"Ooh look, a man from your past." Said Sung sun with a small feminine chuckle. "Looks like you have some explaining to do." She continued with a teasing snear at the lioness.

"What are you implying snake? I don't know who he is and I don't remember seeing anyone like him." Responded Mila Rose as a muscle in her temple tensed in anger.

"Oh my, you truly are a tramp, even forgetting the poor fellows name." Tutted Sung Sun as she shook her head in a disappointed manner.

Before Mila Rose could counter back with an angry retort, Apacci shouted "Will you both Shut the Hell up!".

"Yes, Mila Rose please do quite down your making yourself look weak in front of our guests." Said Sung Sun with a snicker.

"That's it!" Shouted Mila Rose with a roar as she made to pounce on Sung Sun.

"Enough." Said Harribel with a calm almost disappointed sigh. The moment she said the word the three female Adjucha instantly ceased their bickering and bowed their heads.

"Forgive us Mistress, we have caused you embarrassment." Replied the three Adjucha as they departed.

"Excuse me, Lady Harribel. What is this place?" Asked Kenjiro lightly as he walked cautiously up beside Harribel.

"Honestly, I don't have the slightest clue what exactly this place is or was." Replied Harribel simply. "The catacombs and chambers where already here when I first found this place. It was then that I found the healing properties of the glow moss, I admit I found it odd the way the mountain had been turned into a set of tunnels and the strange crystals in the walls."

"When you were taking me to Kyou I noticed the catacombs go even further down, what's down there?" Asked Kenjiro in a more curious and inquisitive voice.

Harribel thought for a moment, she couldn't recall going further down into the catacombs than this level. "I have never ventured down there myself so I don't know. Perhaps when you and three have rested for a while you could travel down there. It will be very dangerous to venture above ground for a while with King Barragan's forces looking for you." Said Harribel after a few moments of thought.

At this both Kyou and Kenjiro bowed to Harribel. "Thank you for rescuing us and giving us your hospitality Lady Harribel." They said in unison. With that Harribel took her leave and Kenjiro, Kyou, and Rica settled down for a short rest.

And as always

I will see

You

In the next chapter