by Melanie Ray
"Well, I can blind you in a different way?" Yed couldn't help but offer his assistance, of course, growl included.
Ezra felt like covering her face, what a predicament. She put her hand on Yed's chest, a signal for him to stay back. "You better go already Marni."
Marni looked sadly at Ezra but nodded his head as he walked away.
Yed growled more as he watched him leave. “Jerk.”
"Come on Growly," Ezra said as he patted his back. "For being less barbaric than the average male, you sure do have an animalistic side,” she teased him. “Go on, you better go work on your paper some more."
"He drives me crazy," Yed said as he headed over to his papers again. "Now Xiam's helping him. He hates me so much. He's never going to like me again, is he?"
Ezra shrugged her shoulders. "Only time will tell, Yed."
Yed sat down and worked on his paper some more. No more interruptions surfaced. Yed worked on his paper through lunch, supper, he even stayed up later than Ezra. Whatever he was working on, it wasn’t just special.
It was important.
Ezra was humming and fiddling around with the second crib that finally arrived. "That looks nice."
"Yeah, they go together well," Yed said as he wiped his forehead. "Tricky putting together though." He looked down at the crib. "Blue blanket. This one'll be for Tigeravich?"
"Yep, and I put the pink blanket in the other one," Ezra said grinning. "For Carressela."
"Well, how are they doing?" Yed knelt down and put his ear on her tummy.
"Hey Carress, Tiger, you ready to come out yet?" he said as he poked her tummy.
Ezra laughed as she felt a poke back.
Yed poked her tummy again.
"Yed," she said, laughing as she felt a poke back. "Are you going do this all day?"
Yed shrugged his shoulders, smiled and poked her tummy again.
"Knock it off, or you'll get more than you bargain for," Ezra said blushing. "Trust me, Zaria learned the hard way."
"Oh? Oh yeah," Yed laughed. "Thar she blows is not good." He stood up as he heard his phone ring. "Yello? Yep." Yed looked over at Ezra. "On the way."
Ezra looked at him sadly but tried to smile. She knew that expression. "Have fun."
Yed knelt back down to Ezra's tummy. "Now you two stay in there while I'm gone. I’ve got an emergency meeting. You can come out when I get back but not until then. Got it?"
Ezra felt another poke in her tummy. "Don't be gone too long?"
"Of course not," Yed said smiling. "You take care, okay?"
"Agreed," Ezra said with a sigh. No one had ever called him on his phone for a meeting, it worried her. "Tell me you’re not going real far?"
"Not too far, don't worry.” Yed winked. "Don’t tell anyone, but around Noisy Falls somewhere, okay?"
Ezra nodded, "Alright, but don’t be gone too long, I don't know how long they'll stay in."
Yed nodded and headed downstairs and back to his car. Luckily it started this time. Good thing because there's no way Zaria would come this time. Muin was too close herself. Yed quickly drove off. Got everything ready, I've gotta get picked. I've done the best job I could on this, I couldn't have done it better.
Still, he stopped one last time at his hiding house. He went behind the walls and through the doors. Everything still looked good, but he wanted to see if the other stuff arrived yet. He grinned from ear to ear as he looked at the cribs. He even saw a stuffed kitten and tiger he ordered for the up and coming children. No, his children.
Family.
Yed stood and stared at the room. He walked over to a crib and looked down. One day soon... He smiled as he gently laid the stuffed tiger toy on the inside....I'll have a real family again. He may have escaped the wrath Ezra had dealt with, but his family would still get caught, only two years later. His baby sister and his mother were taken while his father tried to get away with him.
Yed looked around the room and saw the fake pink flowers running across the room with the blue. Half the room was decorated in lovely shades of pink and red, while the other half was decorated in two different shades of blue. He wandered over to the other crib and laid down the small stuffed pony. "I can't believe this is actually happening. I'm gonna have a family again." He looked around the place one more time. I'll be back real soon.
He headed down the stairs, deep in thought. When the babies finally come, they are really going to be targets. Maybe I shouldn't wait? I should bring her here now. He continued to think as he left. Yes. If things get heavy then the others could come. I mean everything's here, I could take really good care of her and the kids. Why would she even need an unconditional? They're all lousy and she doesn't love them. She loves...or thinks she loves... and I... He grabbed his forehead. "I should not be thinking about that. I need to get back to win that spot and go to the Waryes Kingdom." He headed for his car. "I'm so close, just a little longer." He got in the car and tried to start it up. Well, what if I do get them back? He leaned back into his seat. Then they'd be here and I wouldn't have to be a Protector anymore. Then I-maybe I could. He stared at the steering wheel. "I could stay?"
Nuts. Insane. Yet, somehow, Yed still ended up stopping on his way to the meeting, at a gaga store. A store where only the most expensive, exquisite, luxurious items could be found.
He stepped out of the car and saw the overdone sign in gold. Just looking, nothing wrong with looking. He stepped through the doors and looked to his left. He’d been in gaga stores enough times to know the layout. He headed to the left and soon found his destination.
Yed looked at the rings in the display cases in front of him.
"Anything in particular, sir?" The female behind the cases asked, smiling. She grinned even wider as she saw Yed's uniform. "I-I mean, Protector?"
Yed could tell by the look in her eyes she knew she hit the big bucks. "Looking." Yed continued to look at the rings.
"Looking for something special, Protector? For a mother or a sister?" The female smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Anything at all, Protector?”
"Just looking female," Yed repeated. Shoot, it's not like there's a real good chance that even if I am picked that I would be able to find mom and mis. Although, I mean if I could, then that'd be it and I could stay. Not a couple years or a few. I could watch Tiger and Carress grow up and I could-
“I need help, I need something very special!” A warno darted in with thick sweat on his brow. He didn’t even notice Yed as he went up to the counter. “My wife is an emotional wreck. Her sister’s children have so much waryes in them, that we got the notice that they have to go to the waryes kingdom, but her sister and her husband are just falling in the mix percentage and....” He patted his forehead with a handkerchief. “And they can’t go unless they are fixed, and they can’t ever come back and-” He moaned as he looked at the warno behind the counter. “Is there anything here that can help? Something to let her know even though her sister isn’t here, I am? Maybe? I don’t know.”
“Hang on, it’s okay.” The warno from behind the counter walked to the right. “Perhaps some inhibitor? It is pricey, but for the cost of love, the relaxing essence of it should make her feel better.”
They were putting inhibitors in rings now? Xiam had said it was all the rage. “Don’t buy that.” Yed stepped closer to the male. “Your wife is losing contact with her family, a tiny inhibitor piece won’t make her feel better.”
The male clearly felt uncomfortable around Yed. “I-I have to get her something. I have to do something. My wife, my dear female, means the world to me and she needs something. She’s worried that she’ll never see her sister or her nieces again. She’s worried about what ‘fix’ means. What should I do P-Protector?”
“Tell her to be happy,” The store warno chuckled, “I would love to go to that kingdom. Everyone has a teleporter machine like we’ve got cars. They also have the technology to stay young forever. Ooh, I even heard a rumor they were developing a time machine. Can you imagine, no more
worrying about wrinkles?” She giggled. “Anyhow, like I said before, buy her an inhibitor ring.” The store warno smiled again, still apparently trying to bag an expensive sale. “I’ll knock ten percent off for you and you can pay in payments.”
“Don’t,” Yed said gesturing to the glass. “What color is her hair?” He noticed the uneasiness in the male. “Pardon,” he winked. “What’s her favorite color?”
“Orange,” The male said softly.
Yed looked at the glass and saw an orange jewel on a ring. “Using the power of the inhibitor in a petty ring makes you look bad, and no matter what the sale person says, it won’t make her feel better. She is going to feel bad no matter what, but it’s your job as her male to remind her of the good things.” He pointed to the ring. “The color she has in her hair makes her uneasy now with the law, but the same color in a ring will bring her more peace.” He glanced back at the husband. “Don’t forget a dinner, and words. Letting her know you’re concerned and care can go much farther than a simple box of sweets and jewelry.”
“Oh,” the husband said and smiled at Yed. “You really know women.”
“I studied females for 80 years, but that doesn’t mean I know them,” Yed corrected him.
He watched as the husband bought the ring and left. He decided that he needed to get going too, there was no need to be in there.
Until he saw it. The special Protector seal was carved into garnet and was mounted on gold with precious diamonds surrounding the edges. It was no ordinary ring; it was a Protector ring. A ring of promise to be with someone when their duties were over. "Can I see that one?"
The warno behind the counter beamed as she unlocked the display case and presented the ring. "One of our finest Protector rings actually. Thinking about giving it all up in the name of love?"
Yed stared at the sparkling ring. "Oh, I know she'd love that."
The warno chuckled. "Begging your pardon Protector, but any female would love this."
Yed continued to stare at the ring. I can't do this, not now. Chances of getting my family out are so thin that I can't do this. He pulled out a wad of wiggles. "How much?"
Yed heard the price and gave her the money. He pocketed the ring and left. He headed to the car and got back in.
Yed stared at the ring while he sat in his car. I'm nuts. Why did I buy this? I can't even give this to her. He snapped the box it was in tight shut again. "I've got to be nuts. Ezraponia Cattral is driving me nuts. I haven't been the same since I met her. I never will be the same again." He groaned and started his car. It wasn't cold outside, so what gives now?
Yed blinked as he saw his tank. "I forgot to put energy in?" He grabbed his head. He became so obsessed in all his thoughts he didn't even realize his car was running out of power. "Oh no, the meeting!" The one chance to get back to his family, the once chance to finally be happy, maybe be able to make use of that ring.
All his chances were fading away...
He yelled as he hit his steering wheel. "I need to make that meeting, I've got to." He got out of the car and looked around. Surely there was someone who still had power who could help him?
He pulled out his yo-yo from his pant pocket and looked at it. If he was getting out, he wasn't going to walk around with the ring in plain sight. He unhinged a lock in the middle and watched the yo-yo break in two. He took the ring out of the box and stuffed it deep into the left side. He screwed it back together. It wouldn’t work now that the string was in shambles, he’d have to fix it later. Right now, he had a much bigger problem. Where was he going to find help?
Ezra hummed as she sat on the couch watching TV. Her chores for the day were done and she wanted to do nothing but sit back and relax. She rubbed her tummy, "I know you two are coming out soon, but you really should wait. Your daddy doesn't want to miss you."
Then, the simple news broadcast she had been watching suddenly changed into the worst nightmare of her entire life. Ezra’s eyes glued, transfixed to the TV as she could feel her hairs on her tail stand on end.
"Citizens of the Warno Kingdom," King Sheward said strongly on the television. "We have bowed down too long to the Waryes Kingdom. They have come in and destroyed us, one by one, just to come back out and act like nothing happened. They continue to wreak havoc upon us and, with the new laws in play, I'm sure they mean us nothing but harm. Well, we shall not take it anymore! As of this day, we shall no longer allow Waryes into our kingdom!
Ezra stood up and stayed close to the TV, changing channels rapidly, but all the reports were exactly the same. Places were being overrun and bombed by what many believed to be the waryes.
"Yes, it is confirmed. Warnocrest, Hilltop, Wakky lake, and Noisy Falls have all been bombed." The warno giving the news said sadly. "Rumors are that these are where the Protectors met, but this is as yet unconfirmed. Our most heartfelt feelings go out to the families involved in this tragedy."
"Noi..noi..." Ezra couldn't finish the word as she listened. Yed's meeting was near Noisy Falls. It was a very important meeting and he'd never miss it. He never missed any meeting if he could help it. "Yed."
As more and more places were struck, news poured in. Protector destinations were the confirmed targets. So far, none were found alive.
The warno giving the news didn't even know how to keep going. "The...the queen has been found... dead outside the castle... as well as several more P-protectors. Citizens, please, lock your doors, move to safety, find safety if you can! More places are falling that are not Protector related!" Another paper was handed to him on air. "This just in. Twenty Dens and fifteen hospitals are now rubble. This is a state of emergency, please, find shelter, somehow! There's no telling what could be-!"
Then, the channel was filled with nothing but static.
"Hang on, hang on!" Zaria yelled through the door before bursting in. "It's okay Muin, I'm getting her. Easy, it'll be alright." Zaria looked in on Ezra. "Come on, sis, we gotta go now."
Ezra stared at the broadcast. "Yed."
Xiam entered the door after Zaria. "You take Muin, Iri and I will take care of Ezra. Go."
Iri came in and went over to Ezra. "Come on honey, we're going to Grammy Fornotia's. She's got a hidden area in her house no one can find."
Ezra stared at the receptionless screen. "Yed."
"I know, I know," Iri said as he gently gave her a hug. "We need to take care of ourselves though. It'll be okay, even your parents will be there."
"Grammy Happy went on vacation with Grammy Fornot but she said she was safe," Xiam said confidently. "Come on Ezra, we need to go. There's no telling what those waryes will do." He pointed to her tummy. "Think about them."
Ezra cried as Iri and Xiam pulled her away from the TV This wasn’t happening. This wasn’t happening! "Yed!"
Chapter 16
THE FIRST ONE LOST
“Back, back, back!” Zaria held Muin up behind the neighbor’s house. His breath was uneven as he heard the familiar sound of a waryes. The walking, always a march with the sound of something dragging behind them: Their ghastly skinned tail. He slowly peeked out to see what was going on, but ducked his head immediately back.
“Zaria?” Xiam whispered as he continued to hold onto the shocked Ezra. “How are we going to get to Happy’s? The cars are out front.”
Zaria couldn’t answer that. Warnos weren’t fighters, not unless they were bred from a young age. Yed would have no problem maneuvering everyone around, but Zaria wasn’t him. He barely knew how to throw a punch. “I don’t know,” he whispered back. “We should wait-”
A high pitched deadly scream rang out, then quit. Zaria gathered his courage and peaked out from behind the house again. He whipped his head back so fast, he almost gave himself whiplash. His heart pounded, and his legs trembled from what he witnessed.
A warno lied on the ground, his body sprawled out and his eyes unmoving. A bloody hole was pierced in his head with a shock of surprise left upon his face. Piled on top of him was another warno, their
furry tail covered in blood.
“Zaria?” Xiam whispered.
They’re piling up bodies. A sight Zaria wished he could erase from his mind. The waryes were killing everyone and piling them in a corner as mere trash. He felt his legs give out as his body dragged downward from the house. “We’ve...” He gulped. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
“We need to wait,” Muin insisted as she tried to help him back up. “They’ll leave soon and we can-”
“No, we need to get the hell out of here now.” Zaria rarely opposed her, but he had no time for the ‘I know best’ routine.
Xiam nodded, appearing to understand the severity of the situation. “Let’s stay behind the houses, we’ll travel by alleys. It looks like the waryes are only on streets.”
So far. Zaria agreed though and turned to Muin. He grabbed her hand and held it firmly. If only Yed were there. He tried to hide his watery eyes to be brave for his wife. For his female. He could tell from her sparkling eyes she was scared out of her wits. “Move fast, but don’t make noise everyone.”
They continued to stroll down the alley, but they ran into other warnos trying to do the same thing. Soon, a group of twenty warnos were traversing the alleys, while some were jumping the fences and running across the yards.
“Too many warnos,” Muin said with worry. “We’re going to make too much noise.”
Zaria agreed and turned to Xiam. “Muin’s right.” He gestured toward his left. “Grammy Happy’s house is past the forest, I think our best option is to get through it.” He saw a warno’s car in the back of the house they were by. “If that’s got energy, we could book it out of here.” He and the others strolled into the yard.
Xiam headed for another wheel, but a group of ten warnos already had the same idea. They all clamored into the car, trying to start it up.
“There goes that idea,” Xiam said in defeat. He looked toward Zaria. “Now what?”
Damn! If Yed had been here. Yed was never going to be there though. Zaria looked back at Muin and Ezra. He looked back toward the warnos trying to start the car. Groomed or not, he had to do something, there chance at survival would plummet if they didn’t get that car. “Xiam, we’ve got to fight for the car.”