Fight or Flight, For Sky

[DemiDevil]

The first thing Mikaela noticed when she opened her eyes was pain. Everything hurt. Snapping her eyes closed, she began to take a few deep, steadying breaths, trying to compartmentalise as much as possible, so that at some level she could think again.


'OK, slowly inhale…in…Ow, that hurts!' Her breath caught as she suddenly felt an entire set of steak knives hurled into various portions of her chest. 'No, not quite,' she decided, analyzing the assorted inputs. 'There's one on my left side that's clearly a butcher knife, not a steak knife.' Her head was throbbing as if an entire mining operation had been set up inside while she's been out, and her face felt…wrong…puffy…and pulsed in time with the jackhammers in her skull. Her hip and back ached too, promising exquisite agony if she tried to shift either area, and her right arm felt heavy as well as sore.


'I need to know where I am; maybe then I can figure out what's going on.' She was rather proud of the rational way she pulled those thoughts together; she was having serious trouble concentrating, which was disturbing on a visceral level. After all, her intellect was one of her defining qualities.


Of course, it would help if she could murder the elves trapped in her skull that were escaping using oversized pickaxes…


'OK, I'm clearly hurt pretty bad; where am I, though?' She began to analyse her environment, one sense at a time. First, she could feel the firm, cold ground beneath her, and the fresh, clean scent of the environment. 'Not P.A.G.E. then...'


Through experimentation, she found that taking small, panting breaths lessened the stabbing sensations in her ribcage, with the exception of the 'butcher knife'. Ultimately she managed to wrestle her pain under enough control that she felt safe to make a visual assessment of her surroundings. Here she encountered another snag: her right eye was swollen shut. The left eye worked fine, however, even if its view was unwelcome.


Where the hell was she? She could remember escaping the cell, fighting her way through hordes of humans... That would sure explain pain that wracked her body. Ok so she still hurt, but the pain was begining to subside as the European Fox Hybri staggered to her feet. Her clothes was in tatters and the metal cuffs were still weighing on her wrists and neck, but overall, besides being in pain, she seemed alright.


She needed to make her way back to Sairan, if she could simply get her bearings she would be able to slowly make her way home. Bright blue eyes looked up as her tail flicked. No use, the sun was high in the sky and had no way of telling what was east or west. Great!

[Sky]

Crimson Sky, why he had given himself that name he really did not know. He did know, however, that his last name was Sky, how he knew that he didn't really know. He couldn't remember much from his past before the life of torture that he knew now, though he knew there was something that he was missing, something. Crimson slipped through the trees, silent enough to make any cat Hybri proud. Why was he being so sneaky? He had heard something, or someone up ahead, and he had the feeling they were hurt.

If whoever it was was hurt then he would definitely help them, if they were being attacked he probably would too. He couldn't remember where he had learned it but he knew a few forms of martial arts pretty well, and also knew how to fight dirty. He silently opened his wings and vaulted himself into the trees, his large thirteen foot wingspan working smoothly to speed him through the forest.

He treated this as one of those video games where you have to avoid the barriers at high speed. Of course his mind also worked much faster than any human alive so that he could process what was going on when he was shooting through the trees at more than 150 mph.

He landed lightly about a hundred feet from the spot he had heard the noises and was surprised to find a young Hybri. She had to be no older than he was. He blinked and stepped out of the trees, his large wings extended part way to allow the girl to get his sent if she was a Hybri fused with some kind of dog or cat, unless that wasn't one of the senses that were improved by her animal side.

Crimson approached slowly, not sure if she would turn and attack him when she realized tat she had someone near her. "Umm, excuse me? Do you need help? You look hurt, I could help you in that area, I was injured pretty badly when I escaped those bastards at P.A.G.E. a few months ago. If you want I could help you dress your wounds and take a look at any possible broken bones. Don't worry, I'm a Hybri too."

He hesitated before adding in the next part, it wasn't really his style to help people get to civilization but if she needed it then why not? "If you would like a guide to help you get out of Blackwood Forest then I'm your bird kid."

[DemiDevil]

"Where in the world am I?" There was a hint of annoyance in Mikaela's voice but it was easily mixed with worry as her bright blue eyes studied the forest around her. Eugh... nature! She grew up in the city, in Sairan! This was ridiculous, and disgusting-it smelt so fresh. Well what she could gather was that this was no longer her home nor was it the prision she had been held in for God knew how long. She was still in pain and appeared pretty battered and of course there was no civilisation in sight. Typical. Mikaela concerntrated on her breathing, trying to forget about the dull throbbing in her ribs as she tried to piece her memories back together. She could remember the humans, how awful they were to her, she could remember the life she took and a sob escaped her quietly. Blue eyes peered at her hands and she could see traces of blood beneath her fingernails, it churned her stomach and caused her to gag slightly. What had she done?


Snarling she began to pick at her claws, trying to flake the dried blood from beneath them. She was so occupied with her thoughts and the notion to get clean that she didn't hear the person approach until they spoke. She cursed her lack of heightened senses. Mikaela spun on herheels with her sharp claws at the ready, what met her light blue eyes was something very impressive, she lowered her hands slightly but not completely. She studied the other Hybri.


He was taller than her, but only by a few inches, his frame obvious lighter; where he was sinew and muscle, she was voluptious and rounded. His hair was blonde in the dapled sunlight of the forest and her blue eyes met ones that mirrored her own. He was Hybri and for that she was thankful, her apprehension though was obvious. Ears were flattened into her red hair, her tail was lax at her side and her eyes were wide and studying. Mikaela may not posses heightened senses but her physical aspects were more than enough to help her take care of herself.


"You were with P.A.G.E.?" Mikaela by-passed the whole injured conversation. Yes she was in pain, and yes she probably could use the help; but the agony her body was in was nothing compared to this revelation. He had been attacked by P.A.G.E., he was like her.

"I escaped them..." she looked at her hands before lowering it to her sides completely. "I hurt, all over. I don't remember why, I only remember fighting. There was so much pain, blood... They were awful, humans. I believed it was P.A.G.E." Mikaela cocked her head to the side, studying the other Hybri for a few moments before she shook her head. No she would not return to civilisation yet. Although it was the one thing she wanted, Mikaela wasn't sure she would be able to handle crowds again.


"I need to head to Sairan... not yet though. I-I can't face them... people, too many people."

[Sky]

"Yes I was with P.A.G.E. but I can't remember remember much about it. I can't remember anything past about six months ago, and after that until I escaped I knew nothing but torture and pain..." Crimson sighed and shook his head, wanting nothing to do with that part of his seemingly short and confusing life.

"They must have done something to me at one point that completely erased my memories of what my life was like before they had me, for all I know I had an amazing family and all but they ruined that...." He nodded to himself, obviously believing the words he had just said.

Why wouldn't he believe it? t was the most logical thing he could think of pertaining to why he couldn't remember anything from the past. He knew there had to be some reason like that, or was he just born and raised there? He didn't know and could care less. What he wished he had plenty of was food. They never fed him enough when he was in that place and only recently had found out that he never got full. His high speed must account for a need for more food than most, but that wasn't something he should be thinking about right now.

He nodded and smiled in understanding. "I can't blame you, I hate going to 'Claustrophobia City' because of that same reason. I can't handle crowds very well, especially when there are soo many adults around there...."

[DemiDevil]

"I escaped-recently." Mikaela's voice was filled with sorrow and concern as her blue eyes settled on the other Hybri. She did not suffer from memory loss, but sometimes she wished she did; to forget all that torture, pain and experiments. But she would not forget about Keith, she needed to get back to her family, to let her brother know that she was okay.


"They ruin your family whether you forget about it or not. I don't know what happened to my family, but my brother was with me when we were attacked. I don't think they took him, I would of seen him otherwise. I'm sure of it. I was imprisioned but they took me around the facility... I believe it was P.A.G.E.." Mikaela relaxed completely now, this Hybri seemed to offer her no harm what-so-ever, he was in a similar boat to herself. Slowly she lowered herself to the forest floor again, her back leaning against the trunk of a tree as she grasped at her side hissing slightly. She had to cock her head to the left slightly just so she could see the other Hybri, half of her face was still swollen keeping her eye shut.


"I don't trust humans, but I need to find my brother eventually, he would be worried about me. What is your name? I'm Mika... and it practically kills me to say this but I think I do need your help."

[Sky]

"Name's Crimson, well at least I think it is. Not so sure seeing as I just found it on a necklace and that was it. Just call me Crim, okay?" Crimson stated kneeling down to take a look at the bruising. "I hope you don't mind if I lift your shirt a little to take a look at your side. I may not look like much but I've dealt with my own broken bones and what not in the past. Sure mine are built differently but it is still the same concept right?" he tenderly touched each of the bruises, carefully examining each hit.

There weren't any broken bones as far as he could see, a few fractured ribs but that was it. She was defiantly going to be sore but she wasn't going to die or anything. "Well Mika, I'm glad to say you aren't injured to badly, only a few bruised ribs, maybe a few fractured ones, but nothing is broken. Most of this is just really bad bruising."

Crimson stood up straight turning to look out away from the clearing. He was silent, he didn't know what else to do. He wanted to help the girl but didn't know what else to do. What could he do other than help her get back to her brother, who he didn't even know. And all of those people, especially the adults....It was going to be interesting....

"Well, when you are ready I will be glad to take you to find your brother, I know how to blend in with a crowd, but then again the only thing on the outside that I have is my wings and I can easily hide those. your ears and tail on the other hand could be a problem."

[DemiDevil]

Mikaela's eyes fliskered to the necklace that 'Crim' was wearing, she could see the name printed across it and she frowned slightly. It would of been terrible to wake up one day and not know who you are or what had happened to you. She was lost in her thoughts but as he approached her bright blue eyes snapped up to meet Crimson and she flushed furiously. Her hands gingerly grasped the hem of her tattered shirt and she lifted it slightly to show him her furred skin. Mikaela looked away clearly embarrassed as he examined her wounds. At least the news wasn't too bad- she still felt like a punching bag but at least there was nothing broken. Slowly she lowered her shirt again and offered Crimson a small embarrassed smile.


"Thank you. I still feel a little worse for wear. Her fingers moved to probe her face, the swelling was going down slowly, she could slightly see out of the bruised eye which was a plus. Leaning her head back against the trunk of the tree Mikaela let out a deep contented sigh. "I can't hide my physical aspects... I escaped the facility by travelling at night and keeping to the shadows, you can see how well that worked out for me." There was a dry humourless laughter that turned into a pained cough which slowly subsided. "Why do you need to hide yourself, arn't humans more tolerable of Hybri these days? Or have things changed drastically for the three years I've been held?"

[Sky]

Crimson sighed and sat down a few feet away, folding his wings neatly against his back. What was he supposed to say to those last few questions? He didn't really know the answer to that question since he couldn't remember how it was before. The poor falcon Hybri barely knew anything about the world outside the forest. He would need help adjusting to the society, but who would help someone who has no past? All that would happen was Crimson would probably be thrown into an orphanage ad end up having to go back to the streets.

He needed a mentor or someone who would help him adjust. Maybe teach him everything he had missed or forgotten. Who knew, maybe he would find out who he was int he process. "Honestly, I have no idea how it was five years ago. I can only remember back to about a year ago, which was when I awoke in that cell. I'm sorry, I just don't trust people enough to show my wings off...." He glanced down and started picking absentmindedly at the grass in front of him, "I'm surprised I even know how to read, everything else is so confusing to me...."

[DemiDevil]

When Crimson sat, Mikaela relaxed almost completly, she hoped that even though injured, battered and bruised she could still put up a fight if the situation arose. As he fell silent, Mikaela took to the time to look over her injuries again, prodding at the sensitive flesh on her ribs as well as her puffy swelling around her eye. The Fox Hybri felt a little more comfortable so she dropped her shirt again and began fiddling with the iron cuffs on her wrists before Crimson spoke again and she gave him her undevided attention.


"I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. It must be hard waking up one day and not being able to remember who you were. It would be like having to learn something all over again. I'm glad I was not subjected to that when I was held captive... I would rather die than forget my family. They have been so good to me since I have been adopted." Mikaela looked down at her hands before her soft fur and skin turned a slight shade of pink clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, this obviously wouldn't make you feel better, and you've been so kind to me... I've forgotten what kindness is like. We do not have to leave soon if you are not comfortable Crim, I'm sure if you even point me in the right direction I could find my own way."

[Sky]

"We can leave as soon as you're ready. I've been into town many times to collect supplies. Though I suggest we go after today, you need a bit of time to recover from those bruises. Shall we head back to my camp and get you all set up fro the night?" Crimson stood up and shook out his wings, opening them slowly. He decided it may be best to walk along with Mikaela but he had to stretch his wings at least a little, check around them before the two head out.

It was always best to be sure that they stayed out of sight until they got back into Sairan. At least this way they wouldn't possibly run into P.A.G.E. if Crimson took to the sky to check around. He had seen what looked like patrols in the area a few days ago, making him a little overly cautious. "Just let me know when you are ready to head out, I have bandages and stuff back at my camp too so I can wrap up your ribs so you don't put any unneeded pressure on your rib area. It may not be a good idea to leave them unwrapped, a bruised or cracked rib is more likely to break than you think."

[DemiDevil]

Mikaela looked down at her body as he spoke about returning to camp and resting for another day. She knew she had too, it was for the best. If she wanted to defend herself down the track she would need to heal her wounds, she was a little worried though about spending a night with a stranger. Mikaela wasn't the most trustworthy person, which was quite normal for someone who had been through what she had. But then again, Crim had been through worse. She would trust him, but she would be sure to stay on her toes.


"Thank you. Sometimes I don't realise how tired I am until the offer to rest has been put on the table." Mikaela grinned from her sitting position as she slowly tried to push herself back onto her feet. It she was feeling better she would of hugged Crim for the compassion he showed, that was just Mika's nature, but she didn't have the energy or the heart to even try. Mikaela's blue eyes studied the other Hybri's wings and she smiled, a soft genuine smile that played on the corners of her lips. She had never seen anything more magnificant.


"We can go. I think I'm ready. You can fly if you like and I can follow on the ground. You look like you want to give those wings of yours a stretch. I don't mind... really." Mikaela was slow on her feet without the adrenalin pumping through her veins anymore, but the promise of being healed and a place to rest was tempting enough to keep her moving.

[Sky]

Crimsons shook his head and sighed, noticing the sluggish movements made by his new acquaintance, or would he call her a companion? A friend? He didn't really know what he should call her. They had just met but he felt as if he could relate to her better than anyone he had talked to before. Not that he had really talked to anyone before, plus, something about her looked familiar, maybe after she had healed up from her bruising he would be able to recognize her?

"I'm not leaving you on the ground alone. I had seen some patrols made by people I think are P.A.G.E. recently so I wonder if they are still looking for you. It's better if someone that knows how to fight stays near you, that way they can't overpower you or anything." He walked over and gently laid his arm across her shoulder. "Use me for support if you need to, my little camp is about a mile from here."

[DemiDevil]

"I'm fine really. I think I still have a resevoir of adrenalin pumping through my veins. If someone wants to threaten me I'll put up a fight." Mikaela wasn't sure how long she would last if she really was attacked, but she wasn't going to be dragged back to that Hell unless she was kicking, screaming and biting a few offenders on the way. Crimson was sweet, he was willing to protect her even though he didn't know her at all. They had met a grand total of a few minutes ago. Mika was grateful and she had the urge to fling her arms around the winged Hybri once more and give him the hug she wanted to share. Of course her body didn't really respond, and she was a little annoyed at that. There was the prospect of friendship right before her, and hell if she wasn't going to let this situation escape her grasp anytime soon. Mikaela felt the weight of his arm drape over her shoulder, her furred hands clutched to him in an instance, seeking the support he offered. She was going to need it if they had to navigate the forest floor for a mile.


"P.A.G.E. has been here? Shit. I'm sorry. I don't wish to put you in danger. They could still be looking for me... I thought I had lost them back at the compound." She guessed not. Mikaela looked to Crimson, her bright blue eyes dulled by her sorrow and she had to mentally sniff back a sob that was wanting to break out. She did not wish to return to P.A.G.E. but she would if it meant that another Hybri could walk free.

"You know how to fight? Like properly? I only know how to kick, scratch and bite my way through. I'm surprised I've made it this far actually." Mikaela was lucky that she had the heightened physical aspects of a European Fox. She was tough, and quick and agile, what she lacked in senses she made up for it with her will to not become a broken shell.

[Sky]

"Don't worry about it, they are probably still after me too." Crimson stated, putting his arm under Mikaela's shoulder to help support her more. Her weight wasn't anything he couldn't handle, he was stronger than he looked after all. He tucked his wings tightly against his back, protecting them from any unneeded pressure on his wing. Her started to walk slowly, guiding her gently along.

"Yeah, I know how to fight. I guess whatever fighting skills that were drilled into me before I lost my memory stuck with me. When I escaped I didn't get claw and tooth out like it sounds like you did. I left a trail of destruction. i left them with a few broken arms, rings, noses, the works." He stated, his senses trained on his surroundings. Moments like this he was glad to have heightened hearing and sight.

[DemiDevil]

Crimson's arm moved to snake underneath her shoulder and she was thankful for that extra support, as the other Hybri folded his wings close to him. Mikaela, made sure that her hands stayed away from the soft looking feathers, she did not wish to ruffle them or even make it uncomfortable for him to support her. The Fox Hybri found that he could easily hold up her light frame, Mikaela didn't exactly have the oportunities to work out, especially the last three years. They started slowly, but as Mikaela got the feel for the movement, her footfalls became more confident and faster, yet the aching pain in her ribs did not subside.


"They taught you to fight?" Mikaela seemed dumbfounded, what she chose to remember of her time with P.A.G.E. was thier lack of interaction. She was studied, everything from her blood, to her fur, yet they never taught her anything; never once tried to even interact with her. "Sounds like you gave them what they deserved. I only harmed the one, the man who held the key... I don't like dealing death, I had too... it had gone too far and I wanted out. How did you escape? I understand the fighting your way through, giving those bastards what they deserved. But initially... weren't you caged?"