Silver traveled for two weeks before he made it to the summit of the mountain. There was still a long journey up and down. It would take another week to reach a well-used path by merchants. He might be able to hitch a ride if he paid.
He went east, trying not to stop too much. Hopefully it wouldn't be long before a merchant cart drove by.
What he didn't count on, however, was the fact that it was much, much colder up north--the mountainside and the surrounding area was covered knee deep in snow.
He gripped tightly at the thin cloak he wore, trying to keep the blistering, howling winds out.
And to make matters worse, he was already starting to get thinner, the child he carried already draining him of his energy. And if he carried more than one that would simply speed up the pace of his energy drainage.
But fortune shined on him once again. A merchant caravan was approaching. He hoped they'd let him go with them, maybe spare a blanket or two. He had his own food and drink so he wouldn't take any of theirs.
He managed to flag them down and pleaded with them to let him get a ride to the other side.
They weren't too convinced until he tried giving them coin. They were easily convinced with that. He was sent to the last cart with the livestock they planned to sell. He had bought a comfortable blanket and went in. Besides the horrid smell, it was warm. And that was what he needed.
And so, with a rather bumpy ride, the lonely pregnant male was carted off and up the mountain side with the merchants and their livestock.
He was resting for most of the trip, hardly ever leaving the warmth of the livestock. His rest, of course, was suddenly ended when they came to an abrupt stop.
Silver frowned upon looking out the place where he was resting. They weren't in the city yet...?
Screaming came from outside, but he stayed where he was. He couldn't exert too much energy. Burly men peered into the livestock cart. They weren't a part if the merchant group. They were definitely highway bandits.
Silver tried to hide in the furthest corner of the cart, but the animals around him were getting restless and agitated. He had to do something soon; otherwise he'd risk getting trampled to death.
The bandits soon moved away from the cart. Not seeing anything interesting. Silver moved around the pigs and sheep. He peered outside; they were looting the rest of the caravans. They had their horses standing in the snow by the edge of the pass. He could probably hijack one and hurry off the Emerald City. He had a pretty good idea what they would do if they found him. So he'd have to be quick. At least these men looked slow. He hoped out of the caravan, creeping gently along the ground. The blanket he had still draped over top of him was a light blue. So it would keep him slightly camouflaged.
Quietly and carefully, he crept towards the nearest horse.
While they were distracted, he guided it by the reins as far as he could. He needed it to look like the horse was just wandering from the corner of their eyes as long as he could.
And once the horse was far enough away, he stealthily crept onto it before making the beast take off.
He had it run as fast as he could. There was only so far he could get it to run anyway. He needed to get as far as he could.
A good ten minutes later, the horse slowed down. But he kept it walking. He would stop and rest once they made it to the bottom of the mountain again.
But, what he'd thought would be a small break for his already weary body was soon reversed when he heard pounding hooves, shouts, and neighs quickly approaching from the bandits from earlier.
They were after him!!!
He got his horse moving again, they weren't far from the forest below. Silver was aware he couldn't run from a full hoard of bandits, so he'd have to get away with trickery. He forced his horse to scale the mountain, not letting him stop. The bandits were nearing as they reached the ground. As the entered the brush and surrounded themselves with trees, he got off his horse, went a safe distance and flung a rock at the horse's ass to get it running. He clung to a tree as the bandits ran past him, unaware of him on the ground. He'd gotten away for now. He hurried in a random direction, and climbed a tree, so he was surrounded by leaves. This may save him, they'd eventually call off the search a while after they got their horse back.
He waited for a whole hour before he deemed it safe to come down. Slowly, he came back down to the ground, but sighed heavily when he saw how far he had to walk before he reached the summit to make it down the other side--the city deep in a valley below.
Wrapping his cloak around his small, thin form as the wind howled around him, the pregnant male began his slow trek up the mountain.
Silver hurried the road he had seen before. He needed to get to the town soon.
The city was about half a mile up ahead, and even from where he stood, he could see that the place was truly beautiful.
He hobbled along, his body still stiff with the cold.
He had to hurry up and seek shelter, otherwise he was going to get sick from all this...
He started to run as he reached the gate. It was closed and was guarded. But he didn’t care; he was so close to safety and security.
He didn't even get 3 feet away from the gate before he was surrounded by guards, swords and spears pointed at him in warning.
He bit back a whimper of fear.
"What is your purpose here, stranger?" the captain of the guard asked warily.
"I-I've come seeking refuge in the city," he stammered nervously. "Please, I need shelter. I'm pregnant and I have been out in the elements all day..."
"If you're pregnant, where is your mate?"
Silver clenched his eyes shut and gripped the thin cloak desperately around his thin form as the wind howled angrily, a snow storm on the way.
"I....I have no mate," he sadly admitted in shame. "When he found out he was mated to a half breed...he rejected and threatened to kill me."
"Please," he begged, "I have very little money, but I can work as long as I'm able to support myself and be of use to anyone."
"I just want to give my pup a better life..." he mumbled shakily as he trembled from the cold.
The captain was obviously a demon. They all held an instinctive hate for hanyous. But by oath, he was supposed to see all people equally. If this boy were any other species, he'd give him shelter. "Let him in and take him to the guards’ infirmary. They'll check up on him there, and in the morning, I'll take him to the council. See what they have to say." He muttered to a guard, he ordered the guards to lower their weapons and let the hanyou in.
Silver gave a visible sigh of relief and gratefully told the guard, "Thank you..."
He was shocked by the largeness of the city when he entered. As he smelled, it was mostly hanyou and mortals. But a few demon scents were there, still a great deal of their kind not wanting anything to do with his kind. He had a guard's hand on his shoulder, guiding him through the shuffling streets, a lot of them getting home to wait out the storm. They weren't far from the entrance as the guard put him in the infirmary and told a nurse to check him over.
Nervously, he waited and after a span of about 15 minutes, a kitsune nurse entered his portion of the infirmary.
Thankfully, the fox demoness gave him a kind smile which helped him relax immensely.
He greeted the nurse. "Hello." He murmured, trying to be polite as he could.
"Hello, darling," she smiled kindly, greeting the small male as she knelt before him where he sat on a small futon/cot.
"Now, what seems to be the problem?" she asked as she went about giving him the routine checkup: looking in his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.
“Nothing... I'm just worn out, freezing, and pregnant." He murmured, most of that being an everyday thing.
"Oh!" she gasped, surprised at the pregnant part which she couldn't see because of the blanket held in such a death-grip around him.
"Well, let me go about checking you to make sure the baby is alright, okay?" she asked as she told him to lie on his back, her hands now glowing a soft blue color.
"This will show us how healthy the baby is and if there's anything wrong," she explained as she slowly moved her hands over his abdomen.
"Then, if everything is alright, I'll see what I can do about you," she murmured, eyes focused on her task, "You are way too thin for your condition..."
Silver nodded. "I don't eat much... I've been living on the road for a long time." He murmured, he was often starving nowadays.
"Well, that's part of the problem," she realized, her 'scanning' of the pup now complete.
"The good news is that your baby is healthy and growing at a descent pace...for now," she warned. "The bad news is that unborn pups rely on not only physical food from their birthing parent, but they also need a constant supply of energy from both the mother and father. And while the mother's energy is consumed most by the infant since he/she is the one doing the carrying, it is the father's responsibility to provide the mother with more than enough energy to help make up for what he/she has lost."
"If not, then the pup will continue to drain the carrier of their energy until the mother has wasted away and has no more to give, this usually resulting in both the mother and pup dying before full term."
"And energy consumption is only escalated if the mother is pregnant with more than one baby..." her eyes grew saddened as she looked at him, "which is what you are right now..."
"If I'm going to live... I have to find someone willing to give me their energy." He murmured; that was a priority. He wanted to have his children. "The father is a demon.... Will another hanyou have enough energy to supply my children?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted, "But if that is the case, the energy drain will be very taxing on him as well since he'd have a limited amount of demon energy to give in the first place..."
"So it wouldn't be a good solution." He murmured. He knew a lot of hanyous wouldn't have the resources to be able to afford losing so much energy. He would have to find a demon eventually. But who would be willing to give a hanyou energy ad keep him in close contact for nine months?
"I'll leave you to your thoughts for now," the kitsune sighed as she stood.
"I'll be right back with something warm for you to drink."
Silver nodded, getting up so his back would rest against the wall. He didn’t know what to do, or how to find a temporary mate.
And like she'd promised, the nurse soon returned with a nice cup of warm tea for the pregnant male.
"I hope this helps," she said, offering the cup to him.
Silver drank up, this being the only thing he had nourishment with in a long time. It was gone pretty quick.
The kitsune smiled kindly, "Another cup? I also went and got someone to bring a meal to you. It should be here shortly."
Silver nodded giving her the cup. "Thank you." He murmured, resting a bit. He needed time to think. He needed a game plan. He needed a good idea on what he was going to do.
The next time the nurse entered, it was with a tray of delicious food and his warm cup of tea.
"The guards will be called once you are done so that you can find a place to stay," she smiled.
Silver nodded, once she was gone, he dug in. He hadn’t felt so full in a long time after that meal.
And having been told prior to eating to leave the plate where it was, Silver then went to the entry of the infirmary where, true enough, a few guards from before waited.
Silver followed them, having no idea where they were going.
After being guided through the crowds, they came upon a large building and they entered inside after getting authorization from the guards at the entrance.
Silver was nervous, he didn’t like this, but only because he wasn't used to big places like this.
Once they were inside, Silver realized that he was meeting up with the members of the Council.
There were three of each species, so he'd get a fair trial. He gave his argument pleading for a place to stay, until he found his own.
The members of the Council consulted one another and called for a 15 minute break, in which they would come back with the answer to Silver's fate.
The silver uke was on pins and needles by the time they came back.
It didn’t sound good for him when the issue of his pregnancy was brought up. When he told them he didn't have a mate, they didn’t look convinced, not even the hanyou councilman.
They decided to leave Silver at a farm house where he could work for a farmer in their farming district of the city. But to stay, he'd have to find a willing mate to give him energy, or he would be kicked out.
Silver, readily accepted their terms, all the while trying to figure out how he was going to find a temporary mate.
He was taken to a small farm; it was a mortal living on his own and no farm hands. He had a small house, and looked pretty rough. When he was told, it took a fair sum of money to convince him to let Silver stay.
When the guards left, he showed him where he would sleep.
In the barn.
Silver sighed sadly, at least it was somewhere inside, so that's all that matters.
And so far, this dream city wasn't all that he thought it would be.
Silver made a makeshift bed with straw and his blanket he slept on. He put his belongs under the blanket so they were out of sight. He didn’t want them stolen. As he left the barn, he was out to work right away, weeding his small field. It was a very small, dwarfed by the pasture he owned for his livestock of sheep, goats, and chickens.
It took a while, but eventually the small field was free of weeds, and there was one dirty and tired Silver.
He was put to work again, milking the man’s five goats. The farmer just sat on the deck, watching him. He was tired by the end of the day, and the farmer didn’t have much to give to eat. So he went to bed pretty hungry.
A week of this went on, and he grew tired and a bit dehydrated. The farmer rambled on about a demon trying to by his property while he worked. He wasn't really listening though, he just wanted to find a mate but with the work he was being made to do, he never got a chance to look, and his pups were weakening him with each passing day.
After nearly three weeks of working for the farmer, Silver—now thinner than ever and equally fatigued which only lengthened his time working—was out harvesting vegetables from the field as the farmer relaxed out on the porch one day when a demon male approached the man Silver worked for.
He watched him from a distance, but soon going back to work. Uninterested. He could hear the farmer's protest, but it was silenced eventually. He just continued working, fearing his fate.
He frowned a bit in confusion from where he was knelt on the ground surrounded by dirt and tomatoes, when a shadow came to stand over where he was knelt.
Pausing from what he was doing, the pregnant uke slowly turned and looked over his shoulder to see just who was there.
He saw the handsome demon, stare down at him. He glanced behind him and saw the farmer weighing a bag of money in his hands. A big grin was on his face. He’d sold his land. The demon was probably here to kick him out.
Sighing tiredly, he slowly stood to his feet--having to stand still for a moment when a wave of dizziness hit him.
"I take it that you own all the land now?" he asked as he brushed at the dirt covering his fur.
Receiving a kind smile from the other and a nod, Silver gave a tired smile of his own as he went to move around him.
"Well, I'll get out of your way as fast as I can," he sighed, wiping at the sweat on his forehead. "I'll just go and grab my things..."
"Excuse me," he said politely to the now confused demon male as he walked past him and towards the barn.
The demon followed him into the barn. "How did you end up working for such a bitter old man?" He asked, standing over Silver as he grabbed his things.
"I...was sent here, by the council. It's where I am living until I can find somewhere else." He murmured, feeling like he could faint from exhaustion.
"Ah, so you're new here," he purred. "But why could he leave such a sweet creature to sleep out in a barn with the beasts?"
Silver looked up at him in confusion, why would a demon say that? Let alone speak to him? "I uh... Don't know... He doesn't have much, I suppose." He stated cautiously.
"No... He doesn't. It didn’t take much for him to sell me this pig sty." The demon inspected him, seeing how thin and weak he looked, he smelled horrid because of all the work he did, but he could smell his pregnancy on him.
He took a good whiff of Silver. "Oh, you poor thing… Working in these conditions, pregnant, sleeping in a barn... What was your mate thinking?"
"That the dirt beneath his shoes is worth more than I'll ever be," Silver mumbled to himself as he packed, though the demon easily heard him.
"I have no mate; got the scar to prove it," he said sadly, his belongings now in hand as he motioned to the ugly scar on the junction between his neck and shoulder where a mating mark should’ve been.
As he started walking around the demon, he was stopped with gentle hands on his shoulders. "Wait, I didn't get your name."
"It's....it's Silver," he answered, confused as to why the other was so curious.
"Silver..." He murmured, rolling his name over his tongue. "Would you like to come home with me? I'll have you looked after, well fed, and since you don't have a mate, I'd gladly sacrifice my energy for you and your pup." He stated, motioning to his carriage, seen from the open barn door.
To say Silver was stunned speechless was an understatement.
"A-Are you serious?" he asked in disbelief, to which he got a nod.
"But...why me?" he couldn't help asking, "What will you have to gain from having a lowly hanyou around your home?"
The demon smiled. "There wouldn't be much gain, but I would have the opportunity to spend time with such a sweet creature." He murmured, guiding him to the cart, hardly any protest coming from Silver. "I have tea and rice pudding in my carriage."
Silver, blushing deeply from the totally unexpected compliment, smiled and nodded, saying, "Tea sounds great right about now."
The demon chuckled. "You must be hungry as well. When we arrive to my home, I will prepare a feast for you." He murmured, helping him up into his carriage, pouring him tea.
"U-um...thank you," Silver murmured, blushing as he accepted the cup. He had to admit that he felt a little nervous and self-conscious since he was dirtying the carriage with...his filth.
"I...I don't think I caught your name," he asked shyly to the handsome male sitting before him.
"My name is Manic." He stated. "One of the most powerful figures here in Emerald City."
Instantly feeling even more like he didn't belong now that he was sitting across from a male of power, Silver just gave a small nod and took a sip of his tea as the carriage moved along.
"I live in the royal district; I think you'll like it there very much. I have the largest house in the district, as well as a very luxurious garden."
Silver gave a polite smile, "It all sounds very beautiful...."
"I never would've thought I'd be allowed anywhere near someone of high status, let alone be allowed to live with them..."
"It's still hard to believe this is happening," he smiled shyly, "Thank you, I...I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"We don't need to worry about that right away, we'll find a compromise eventually." He murmured, having tea himself.
Silver nodded and the rest of the ride was made in comfortable silence.
As they arrived, Manic sent him off with a few of his servants, taking him for a bath before anything else. He was washed clean with jasmine scented soap, and a hard bristle brush to get all the dirt out, his silvery fur slowly becoming smooth and shiny. They groomed him and rubbed soothing warm oil into his skin. His quills were then washed with goat milk to make them nice and sleek. His claws were filed and his teeth were brushed until he shone all over from his cleanliness. They then, darkened the rings around his eyes and reddened his lips, making him attractive for his master--the servants very aware of their master's intentions. They then fit hair pieces into his quills to accessorize him and dressed him in a red silk kimono.
And when the blushing uke returned to Manic, the Lord was blown away by how the hanyou truly was beneath all the dirt and grime of hard labor.
"My, what a treasure you are." He murmured, moving closure to smell him. "Mmm.... Jasmine and almonds."
Manic then pulled away to focus on all of him.
"One more thing..." He muttered, digging in a small chest and pulling out a necklace of jade beads. He put it around his neck, "Jade for beauty."
Silver blushed, feeling uncomfortable. He hadn’t dressed like this ever. He never smelled so good. Manic took his hands and brought him to a hall with a large dining table. There was a huge variety of meat, vegetables, and noodles. There's was pork, beef, and chickens, even stir-fry and soup. There was so much.
"Dig in."
Silver's stomach cramped painfully at the prospect of actually eating a full-course meal.
He blushed and smiled kindly when Manic pulled out his seat for him.
Waiting for Manic to take the first bite once they were served, Silver picked up his chopsticks and tried to eat as politely as possible.
The young lord chuckled. "There's no need to eat politely, my dear. You are so small... You need to eat."
Silver's ears lowered a bit in embarrassment as he momentarily said, "I-I'm sorry, It's just...I don't want to bring shame to your household by having an uncivilized half breed in your home..."
"I don't want to mess up a good thing with my old habits," he pouted as he fiddled with the silk sleeve of his kimono.
Manic gently pet his cheek as he smiled, saying, "We will worry about your wellbeing before your manners. Eat up, and then I will give you energy."
Silver nodded and immediately started to eat a little bit more sloppily. He was starved and it was hard to control himself around so much food.
"So who was your mate if you don't mind me asking? Would it be anyone I know?" The young lord decided to ask.
Silver, once he had his belly happily full of food, was able to talk more--although he didn't want to talk about his pup's father.
It was the least he could do since Manic was being so nice, though.
"My m- -...." he sighed heavily and corrected himself, "My pup's father is Mephiles, Lord of the Western Lands. He's been tormenting me and after my head for as long as I can remember."
"It's just..." his eyes sadly lowered, "mating season came at the wrong time for the both of us..."
"One thing led to another and once we both snapped out of it...he left me with two things...this," he pointed to his scarred over mating mark.
"And this..." he mumbled, a thin hand coming to rest over his still flat stomach.
"He threatened to kill me if I didn't leave his lands and I was hoping I could have a better life here..." he concluded quietly, his eyes displaying his hurt and moist with tears as he stared at his lap.
Manic brought his chin up till his eyes met Silver’s beautiful amber gaze. "Well, unlike him, I promise you a peaceful life for you and your pups,” He murmured, thumbing his tears away. He pulled Silver up, guiding him to his quarters; he wanted him to rest while he gave him the energy he would need.
The saddened uke quietly followed along, leaving against the other for emotional support, though the unique splendor and beauty of the other's large home was able to distract him from his depressing thoughts.
Manic sat him down on his bed. "Don't feel so down, you'll have your own pups soon, and someone to look after all of you." He murmured, stroking his cheek. "You won't need to worry yourself over that horrible demon anymore."
"I hope so," he said, giving Manic a beautiful smile as he placed his smaller hand over his own where it rested on his blushing cheek.
Manic let energy out his hands into Silver through his stomach. So the pups would get the energy directly.
Silver closed his eyes and let out a slow sigh of relief, feeling better and rejuvenated with each passing second.
Manic eventually had to stop. He was getting dizzy and he needed enough energy for himself through the day. But regardless, Silver hadn’t felt this full, and healthy in a long time.
The silver male gazed into his eyes gratefully, his own now shining more brightly as he smiled.
"Thank you," he smiled in relief.
"You look so much better already," He whispered, stroking his cheek. He enjoyed seeing the hanyou healthy. He looked a lot more appealing this way. Now, this was just how he wanted it--an adorable little hanyou in his house.
"I feel so much better now," Silver giggled happily.
Manic visibly looked a little worn out, though he smiled tiredly as he said, "Rest with my dear; I'm feeling fatigued and will need regain my energy."
"Of course," Silver readily agreed, looking concerned and feeling guilty for putting him in such a state.
Manic then reached out and held him close; he wanted to have this hanyou for himself. But first, he needed to build trust.
Nervous and blushing, Silver curled up under the covers with the handsome demon male, Manic's arms around his thin waist.
Manic purred quietly as his eyes closed, stroking Silver’s quills.
A small smile and purr eventually left the hanyou as well, his eyes slipping closed, enjoying the petting.
He could get used to this....
Silver, feeling comfortable and safe for the first time ever, contently lay there and let himself find the comfort of being in someone else’s protective arms.
"I find you very attractive Silver," Manic then murmured, deciding to go out on a limb and just say what was on his mind.
Beautiful amber eyes instantly blinked open in surprise, Silver staring at him in shock.
"Y-You do?" he asked quietly, receiving a kind smile and nod.
"But I don't understand," he frowned in confusion. "There's nothing attractive about me...."
Manic laughed quietly. "My dear, there is everything attractive about you. You have a slender body, gorgeous silver fur, astonishing amber eyes, soft lips..." He traced his thumb over his lips. "It doesn't matter how you were treated before, because of your species. It doesn't matter to me... I would treat you right…and your pups, if you let me..." He murmured, continuing to trace his jawline.
Silver, shocked speechless and touched by the other’s confession, gifted the green male with a beautiful smile.
Manic’s eyes then widened in surprised shock when Silver's lips connected with his in a deep, grateful kiss.
When it ended, Silver gasped, eyes wide and filled with fear that he'd done something wrong as he quickly apologized.
But with both hands, Manic pulled him back into the kiss, feeling a deep desire burn within him. The hanyou had thought he had made a mistake, but he had not. This is exactly what Manic wanted.
Silver closed his eyes and hesitantly kissed back, letting him hold him close.
Manic pulled away, smiling. "You are so beautiful...." He gasped, kissing him again and repeatedly. When he was done he stared into Silver's eyes and asked, "Will you be mine, Silver?"
For the umpteenth time that day, Silver was stunned speechless.
"....You want me t-to be your," Silver swallowed a lump of hope in his throat, "…Your mate?"
"Yes..." Manic murmured in reply, kissing him again. "I will do everything I must to have you..."
Silver gave a cry of happiness as he wrapped his arms around Manic's neck, crying tears of happiness as he said yes over and over--all the while kissing Manic over and over.
He was just so happy. If this were all a dream, he never wanted to wake up.
Now, to a mortal, this would seem way too fast of a courtship, but to demon and hanyous alike, this was pretty average in speed. This is ironic, in a way, since they stay mated/lived long longer then mortals.
Silver relaxed into the kiss, still trying to comprehend that he finally had a mate that would love him. He now had a real father for his pups. And by the end of the week, both would have come to know one another a whole lot better before they bonded together and bore the other’s mating mark to make it all official.
And in the end, Silver would've never believed that when he woke up in that barn earlier during the week, that he would be mated to a loving and kind demon before that week’s end.
It was all surreal and practically too good to be true...
