A story by guestsurprise! Enjoy and no flames please!
Amio was currently injured and panting hard; he had just released some citizens from the Nitians and he was injured in the process. His orange eyes were wide with concern; Nitians had been dispatched to destroy him and he was hiding for his protection. However, there was one that noticed him. She slowly approached his hiding spot and he growled at her and slashed at her with his claws to keep her back.
"Hey hey…" she said, now trying to keep her distance.
"Stay away from me!" he hissed.
"You Lauhinians are always causing trouble." She growled. "We needed those citizens."
"Well you can't have them you monster!" he growled, now panting harder at his wound.
"I should turn you in," she muttered.
"Then go ahead," he said bravely, now turning over and trying to reach a wound on his back. Now feeling a burst of compassion, Nitia slowly came forward.
"Your back can be infected," she said. "Our claws can be poisonous."
"Yeah, I'm aware," he said angrily.
"I-I can help…" she said lowly. Amio's ears perked up and his angry scowl softened.
"What on Earth are you talking about?! You're a Nitian! You all don't care about us," he said.
"Well, we don't care!" she scoffed.
"Then why do you care about the HHMMM!" He said in shock as she placed a hand over his mouth.
"Just be quiet and let me see; I have no idea why I am even talking to you but something is bothering me," she said, now looking at his wound more. Amio arched an eyebrow and let her have access to his back, but his eyes watched her carefully.
"No funny business," he said, now taking her hand off his mouth and bearing his teeth.
"Oh stop Lauhinian prince; you don't scare me," she said.
"Same to you; make this quick," he said, now keeping an eye out for the others. Nitia slowly walked behind him and sniffed the wound. She knew that he needed assistance and she wanted to give him a hand; she never understood why she was like this. As she began to lick him, Amio turned to her.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked.
"I don't know…" she said.
"Nitians have never helped us before; you are definitely not like your kind," he said, now eyeing her more over his shoulder.
"I am like them! I'm evil!" she said angrily.
"Licking my wound is not evil," he said, now noticing she had scars on her too. "Let me return the favor?"
"N-NO! I don't need help from anyone," she scoffed, now helping him up. But as all of this was happening, a Nitian had seen them and ran to tell the others.
"What is your name?" Amio asked.
"Nitia…" came the low reply. "You better get out of here."
"Not without you…" Amio said.
"What?!" she gapsped.
"You heard me," Amio smiled, now losing the venom he had earlier. "You helped me and I want to help you too."
"But I GAAAAAAAHHH!" She choked, now feeling something grab her neck and lift her suddenly.
"LET HER GO!" Amio thundered, now biting the hand hard and causing it to drop his new friend. Amio then quickly picked her up and his eyes widened in horror as Damus himself came into view and he had black and red blood dripping from his hand, signaling he was the one Amio bit.
"Well well…there's my little prisoner; I have been looking everywhere for you Amio," Damus crooned, making them all laugh evilly. "And you Nitia? Pity…you were such a fine servant."
"B-But I am evil your highness!" she said, now bowing in respect.
"No she isn't loyal!" Another Nitian yelled.
"She cleaned his wounds! I saw her!" Another added.
"KILL HER!" Another said. Damus only smirked and snapped his fingers. Within a second, Laviatha appeared and she grabbed Nitia by her throat once more.
"LET HER GO!" Amio yelled, now trying to rush to her aide, but he was held back by Damus.
"Oh no little Amio…you will get to witness her demise within a few seconds," Damus laughed.
"Yessssssss….demise," Lavaitha laughed, now choking Nitia harder.
"NOOOOOO!" Amio roared, now letting his roar echo through the mountains. Everyone paused when they heard a mighty roar in response to him. Then a deeper and stronger roar followed that one!
"No! He's coming! They're both coming!" A Nitian yelled.
"W-Who?" Nitia weakly asked out.
"Father…" Amio said, tears welling up.
"NO! Ecstacio is coming too!" Another yelled.
"We are being ambushed!" Another said in fear.
"Stand your ground!" Laviatha said, now running with Nitia under her arm.
"NO! FATHER STOP HER!" Amio bellowed. Within a second and right on time, Lauhin immediately ran into the clear and started to gain on Laviatha, who ran into the castle with the young one in her hands and Damus was behind her.
"Stay back! I'll kill her on this spot!" Laviatha said, now making Nitia choke as she squeezed her neck harder. Lauhin was about to lunge but Damus jumped at him and the two began to fight. Ecstacio was fighting off others when he heard Amio's call again!
"Please! Ecstacio! Father! Save her! She's killing her!" Amio screamed, now trying to wrench free pf his captors and save Nitia.
Ecstacio turned and saw Laviatha cackling as she squeezed Nitia's neck, making the young girl cry out and cough. He then saw Nitia weakly extend one hand towards him.
"P-Plea..se…h-hel..p..m-me…"she said, now losing consciousness.
"NITIA!" Amio screamed.
"HA! There will be no help for GAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Laviatha shouted as two hands got around her throat. This caused her to drop Nitia to the stone floor, where she was desperately trying to pull air into her lungs.
"See how you like this witch…" Ecstacio said, now releasing Laviatha's neck and sending a blast of energy that made her go through walls!
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" the evil queen screeched, now running at him again. But at that second, Lauhin threw Damus into her and the pair went falling into a snake pit.
"That won't hold them for long…get Amio and Nitia to safety Ecstacio," Lauhin ordered. Ecstacio nodded and picked the two up. Amio was concerned, but Lauhin only touched his face gently.
"Relax…I will be home shortly." Came the gentle coo. Amio nodded, hoping all would be ok and they then were carried out by Ecstacio to safety.
An hour later, Nitia was unconscious and Amio was sitting next to her. The other brothers came around her and crowded around to get a look at her. She was dirty and definitely not beautiful like other Lauhinian females, but she was cute. Her rags that she wore were never washed and she had scars and battle wounds all over her.
"She saved my life," Amio smiled.
"Then she does deserve some helpful treatment from us," Jocu said.
"Didn't you say that Ecstacio actually saved her from Laviatha?" Jovi asked.
"Yes; he's a hero…" Amio grinned, now wagging his tail.
"I am no hero…" came the deep voice. They all turned and saw him walk in. "I saved her for your sake nephew."
"Well, regardless…you're amazing," Amio smiled at him, now going up to him. "You saved us both, along with father. Do you think father is ok?"
"I am sure he is well…" came the response. "Lauhin has never lost a battle with Nitians."
"And I never will," a voice said. All turned and shouted in glee as Lauhin came walking in confidently. He was glomped by all of his sons and Ecstacio only gave a small smile. As the great white beast, turned to leave, he paused as Lauhin's tail intertwined with his.
"Stay for the weekend brother…we look forward to your company," Lauhin said.
"Lauhin…I don't…" he said.
"I insist," Lauhin said with brotherly sternness and letting his tail hold Ecstacio's tighter.
Ecstacio only rolled his red eyes and eased out; Lauhin knew that was his way of 'accepting' his invitation. Lauhin then turned to Nitia, who was slowly stirring. They all walked up to the bed and saw her sit up and shake her head.
"Take it easy…you're hurt," a voice said. As her vision adjusted, she panicked and slid off the side and hid under the bed. All she heard was a series of chuckles as the king knelt down and stuck his head and shoulders under the bed and his sons followed. "Come now…come on out Nitia…"
"W-What am I doing here?! This is the Lauhinian palace!" She said, her yellow and red eyes widening.
"Yes, we rescued you," Lauhin grinned.
"Father and my uncle Ecstacio saved us," Amio smiled.
"Now come so we may greet you…" Lauhin said. Bliss, hearing the commotion, came inside and gently pulled her husband's tail since his rump was slightly up. "OW!"
"My dear…who are you talking to? And why are you all under the bed?" the white queen asked.
"Come and see," Lauhin soothed, now letting his tail caress her legs. As she knelt down and looked under, she gave a big smile at Nitia.
"Hey there honey…long time no see," Bliss soothed.
"Q-Queen Bliss, I need to leave; I don't belong here," she said, now cowering into a ball.
"Wrong…you do belong here, but you just feel uncomfortable at this time. How about this…how about you spend time in the Lauhinian mountains…we have allies up there and they can help you adjust? Then when you have taken some time you can come and spend more time in the village," Bliss suggested.
"W-Well…" Nitia said.
"I think Master Vibracio could use an ally; but be mindful of this…he is a close friend of mine and he spends a lot of time here too; we consider him family…and you can also be part of us," Lauhin soothed out.
"I-I…" she said.
"I know it is a lot to take in, but think about it. Your 'masters' are killers and tried to destroy you today for helping my son," Lauhin said, now easing closer and touching her nose with his own. "You are not allowed to go back to them. I am hereby making myself your new king."
"W-What?! But that's impossible! What if Damus comes back to get me?!" Nitia said in concern.
"He will have to go through me…" came the low response.
"B-But Nitians…cannot live with you all permanently…I'm a Nitian…." She said, now hanging her head. "I still enjoy nightmares and some evil things."
"We will address that in time…but you almost gave your life to help Amio when you didn't have to. It shows that you are different," Bliss said.
"Now…how about you at least agree to stay the night; you can rest and relax here," Lauhin cooed. Nitia seemed to ponder what he said, but then heard the gentle coos and purrs around her, signaling that his sons wanted her to stay too.
"I-I guess that should be alright," she said calmly. Lauhin nodded and then gently kissed her head.
"Now how about you come out and join us for some dinner," Lauhin soothed, now ushering the others out. Nitia reluctantly followed and once she stood, Bliss gently took her hand.
"Come with me…"she said, now leading her to her quarters. It was time for a hot bath and a change.
Nitia slowly came out after an hour and saw the others looking at her. She was now wearing a tribal-like dress and her fur was now clean. Her eyes looked less red and more yellow; she was still intimidating as a Nitian, but no one was bothered. Jocu grinned as he walked forward and gave a gentle bow.
"You saved our youngest brother; we welcome you," Jocu said formally. Nitia's face turned a bright red and she only nodded.
"I-I only did what I needed to; I am glad your brother is safe," she said calmly. The others then crowded around her and gently rubbed against her; hugs were too much for a Nitian when it was too sudden. So she was fine for now with the gentle rubs and greetings.
"Welcome to our kingdom Nitia…" Jest said.
"We thank you…" Blithe said.
"In time, things will get easier," Jape replied.
"We honor your bravery," Jovi said.
"Your kindness," Amio said.
"Your sacrifice," Vivo said.
"And…we welcome you…the real you…" Jocu grinned, now seeing her slowly tear up. Nitia then turned and gave them very, gentle rubs of her own; she didn't know how to show affection.
"T-Thank you…" she said, now following them to where she could eat. Life was definitely going to take a different turn.
guestsurprise: Well, Nitia has formally met the royal family! And no…she will not be adopted by Lauhin, but someone will take her under their wing! For you see, Nitia has a lot that is going to occur. We shall see what happens. :)