Novel Excerpt: Ranga

Excerpt from Ranga; The Cat with Two Souls

Drow shifted lightly in his slumber. A siring pain began to eek its way up his spine. The pain slowly spread around his shoulder blades. It crawled its way though his hair causing ever fiber of his body to began to ach. He winced as the pain began to reach though his skull. His aching fingers tightened just under his temples.

He could feel his heart throbbing again like it had before. His breathing became quick and harsh as he restrained from screaming. His golden eyes shot open, vision blurred from the shocking pain. He quickly stumbled from his hammock. Pressing his hand to his mouth tightly to hold back any scream then might try to escape. He then slunk away though the ship hale. His stomach was now creeping its way up his chest as the burning in his skull became greater. His trembling hands came to rest on the heavily locked door. He slumped sharply on to it causing all the locks to rattle.

“Hisiat….opeenrit….mili…” Drow breathed out weakly.

Suddenly every lock along the door released and the door swung inward. The sick captain forced his tremulous body in, pushing weakly at the heavy door trying to close it. The heavy door had only move halfway before Drow let out a half scream. His quickly bite down on his arm to muffle the sound. Tears ran down his face as he stumbled to the soft warm bed that lay with in the chamber. Collapsing on to it Drow lay taking a few deep breaths. He could feel his blood being to boil as two loud cracks met his ears. He screamed into the pillow his fingernails sinking so deeply in to his bed they could not be seen. From under his hair thin almost spin like tip began to push though his skull. Blood spilled down his hair, turning it a sickly dark purple color. A few more crack sounded and the captain screamed out silently. He felt his body began to tighten as a sickness rose in his throat.

He rolled to his back gasping for breath as pain shot though him again. There was a sickening rip as a large amount of blood ran down his hair flooding his pillow and shoulders. By this point the young captain was almost fully blind. The pain then slowly began to die. Drow lay in bed his body twitched from the after shock of pain. He rolled to his side feeling something move along his head. He whimpered in pain as he reached a hand up feeling something delicate and soft. Two black cat ears rested lightly along his head. His body was slowly starting to calm. Drow winced again and quickly sat up feeling his stomach fighting to get free. He leaned over the bed, hands resting on his knees, he felt his body slowly began to retighten as water dripped out of his mouth. He coughed half choking on it. Suddenly he felt a rush of vomit and let it do what it pleased. Hacking loudly he breathed weakly feeling his world start to darken. He lay back along the bed not caring his would be sleeping in his own blood. He curled up softly a few beads of blood running along his face. He breathed in and out deeply as the world became white.

“Big brother…” Drow shifted softly, he was a child now lying softly in bed. He shifted then flinched feeling how stiff his body was.

“Glad to see you’re awake…” He glanced to his right to see a young girl about the age of 5 sitting on the bed beside him.

“W-what?” Drow muttered but she gently placed her hand to his lips.

“Shh. Nexus found you passed out in the cold you ding bat!” she crossed her arms glaring down at him. Drow smiled softly.

“O-oh…” he sniffled feeling sweat run down his face.

“You could have died.” She looked down at him her glare softened slightly.

She then suddenly hugged him tightly around the neck. Drow blinked as the younger girl latched on to him.

“….Emerald?” He muttered feeling her tremble against his burning shoulders.

“I’m sorry I made everyone worry.”

“D-Damn right you are!!!” she sobbed looking up at his face with tear brimmed eyes.

There was a knock on the door as two more children entered. One was dressed in royal’s armor with a sword along his belt, he appeared to be the oldest. His blond hair was short much like Drow’s. The other boy was only slightly younger looking maybe by four years. He wore a soft robe and had his own blond hair pulled in to a high pony tail.

“So his not dead…” The mage  young remarked.

Drow sat up giving a half cough-snort to him, before it broke in to full on coughs and Emerald move away from him quickly, giving him room to breath. The oldest of the four tapped the mage light on the head with his fist.

“Now, Yuff, be kind…he’s not feeling well you know that.” The armored elf then gently stepped over and sat down.

His gloved hand reached out and he began to gently rub Drow’s aching back. Drow slowly calmed down relaxing into the rubbing and his breath became normal again.

“There now you see, better right, just go back to sleep okay.” The oldest elf said softly laying Drow back down.

“Yuff.” The mage looked up at his older brother.  

“Yes?” The young mage straightened up a bit as he name was called.

“I want you to take care of him while I give Emerald a bath, understand” Yuff looked off as he was given instructions.

“I will brother...” “Excellent. Now you two play nice now come on Emerald, bath time” He then quickly scooped the young girl up and carried her off.

The two brothers were left alone in the room. Yuff looked down at Drow and sat down in a chair.

“You heard him quit staring at me and close you eyes. It’s your own fault you got so sick.” Yuff snorted not thrilled to be watching over his younger brother like this.

Drow blinked at him, he was feeling to sleepy and sick to fight back for once.

“Hey Yuff?” the younger elf muttered softly.

“What?” Yuff snapped his thin eye narrowing behind his glasses.

“Thanks…for telling Nexus I had gone out like that…” Drow smiled to his brother rolling to face him, he cuddled in to his pillow and closed his eyes.

Yuff felt his face redden with embarrassment.

“And what makes you think I was the one that told him.”

“Because you where the only one that knew….” Drow’s voice trailed off softly as he fell in to a peaceful sleep.

“Ohhhh Drow. Damn it!! Drow come on wake up!!!” The soft cat ears along the captain’s head flicked weakly.

He groaned weakly as his eyes opened. To his shock and surprise a tall white hair elf stood over him looking down though thin rimmed spectacles. The thin elf wore beautiful robs of gray silk, lined with warm sheep’s wool. His soft looking white hair was pulled lightly back in a ponytail as he glared down at the stunned captain.

“Y-Yuff??!!” Drow gasped as he moved to sit up. He paused half way though as a wave of dizziness struck.

“Don’t move yet idiot.” The mage forced the captain flat again.

Yuff snorted as he turned to get something, stopping a moment, to pull the small bow holding his hair in place, tighter. He then began to dig though a few things. Drow suddenly realized he was no longer on the ship. He now lay in a beautiful looking room. It was rather dull to his tastes mostly white but there were a few interesting looking masks and picture along the walls. He recalled how Yuff always liked to paint as a child, he had always though the paintings to be wonderful, Yuff him self never seemed to think so.

“Open your mouth.” He blinked back to reality hearing Yuff’s voice.

Drow looked crossed eyes at the large spoon in front of him. The color of it made his stomach turn and he looked away from it.

“No way…” The older brothers eyes narrowed as snapped his fingers and Drow’s head jerked unwillingly to the spoon.

Drow glared as he felt the mage easily pry his mouth open. The liquid was then dumped in to Drow mouth. Drow moved to spit it out but felt magic hold him fast. He felt as if something was holding his nose.

“Swallow or I won’t let you breath.” Yuff said darkly.

Drow growled then gulped it down fully. The hold was then released. Drow smacked his lips trying to get the taste out as quickly as he could having little luck till Yuff handed him a mug of water. Drow took it drinking it down quickly.

“You were lucky this time brother, you where almost out of blood.” The mage spoke as he picked up a thermometer and shoved it force fully in Drow’s half open mouth.

The captain winced then shifted the thermometer under his tongue holding it there till Yuff said other wise.

“Oh? L-like that really matters to you!!” Drow said as best he could with out making the thermometer move too much.

“You think it doesn’t matter to me???” Yuff snorted loudly, he then pulled back his sleeve showing a fresh wound that had just been sew up but a few hours ago.

“Who’s blood do you think I used??” Drow stared a moment.

“Well its no wonder I feel so nasty, your bloods in me” The mage moved as if to strike the captains cheek but paused and snatched the thermometer instead. Yuff looked at it a moment

“Its not as bad as I had expected but, a fever is a fever you are to not leave this bed, heaven help you if you do.”

“What if I have to pee?!” Drow quick protested.

Yuff paused.

“Fine! ONLY, to use the bathroom. If you need any help Kay will be with you shortly, he busy explaining what happen to you, to the rest of your party. Be lucky Jack still knew the pass words to get in this place.” Yuff was then gone with a swoosh of his robe; he headed out the door causing them to bang loudly behind him.

Drow sat a moment in bed the drug Yuff had given him was quickly making him drossy. He yawned lightly his eyes shifting around the room one last time, soon he saw his hat by the bedside. He took it up and placed it on his head careful not to hurt his delicate ears. He then shifted back in the bed curling up like some kind of huge cat. He gave a soft purr as his eyes slowly dropped closed, being at peace for once.

© 2007 and 2009 Elary Wakefield