Chapter 6

Anaya’s head was throbbing when she came to, the blurred vision of ugly, sneering faces shoving their way into her mind brutally. She moaned, and her ears were now keen enough to hear the mock laughter that ensued afterwards.
“Aw, the lil’ pony’s awake, look!” Came a harsh voice, followed by several others, interjecting their own ridiculous comments that almost didn’t make sense.
“That’s enough.” Silence followed this new voice immediately, but Anaya recognized it with a cold dread.
“X.” She groaned, lifting her head in time to see the Lead Human grin.
“Yes, Princess. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Huh. I seem to recall telling you that if I ever saw your ugly face again, it would be too soon.” Anaya retorted coldly, her body responding quickly to the adrenaline that was coursing through her muscles. X wasn’t smiling anymore.
“You ought to watch your tongue, Highness. I could have you killed as easily as I blink.
“Do it, then. Give me some damned dignity.” She snorted. X laughed in admiration. He looked at the beautiful mare with an eyebrow raised, almost as high as her head. Even in such life-threatening situations, she was still a Princess. He put his tongue in his cheek and shook his head. Anaya frowned. “What is it now?”
“Well, I actually don’t want to be killing you.”
“And that’s because?” Anaya hissed, ears pinned. X grinned and moved closer to the bars which surrounded her.
“Can you keep a secret?”
“No.”
“It’s because if we killed you, then we’d have no bait for Aethanyc to snap at, would we?” All the fire that was burning in Anaya’s eyes vanished, along with any color in her cheeks.
“Aethanyc?”
“Yeah…that guy.” X laughed, and turned to his entourage, which followed suit, cackling horribly with their fake laughter. Anaya looked downwards, thinking furiously. What could she do? Her heart sank as she realized the obvious: she could do nothing. X leaned forward once more. “Do you know the price on his head? If I get Aethanyc, well, I get all of Valencia!” He laughed again, as Anaya looked at him with a cold yet burning hatred, tears welling in her eyes.
“You’ll never get Aethanyc. Never.” She sneered, and for a brief moment, X looked disconcerted. He spat into her cage, turned, and walked back to his tent.

*

Aethanyc watched Shayza silently, a knowledgeable grin plastered on his face as he watched her talking with Windblade. Shayza shifted uncomfortably, and eventually, Windblade turned to him and frowned.
“Cut it out, Aethanyc.” His voice was level, but to Aethanyc’s enormous surprise, a wink followed the threatening statement. In no mood to argue, he just shook his head and sighed, playing along with whatever Blade had in mind.
“Fine. Fine. Traitors aren’t worth my time until their execution, anyway.” Shayza gulped. Windblade pinned his ears, and raised an eyebrow, his gaze almost pleading with him. Aethanyc could read his expression. Please…I’ll explain later. Aethanyc sighed again exhaustedly. He walked to the edge of the forest, where a cliff marked one of the borders. Confusion filled his entire body and mind. He collapsed onto the edge of the cliff, his forehooves just dangling off. Windblade found him about half an hour later, but he was in a daze. All he could think about was Anaya…he closed his eyes and ignored everything else, including Windblade.

*

“Aethanyc? A-a-a-aethanyc…” Nyth opened his eyes suddenly and raised his head quickly, unfortunately colliding with Brightsun’s chin.
“Oww! What was that for?” Brightsun rubbed her head on her knee to ease the pain.
“Sorry…what…how long have I been asleep for?”
“Coupla hours? Why? Jeezus, Aethanyc, you’ve a damned hard head!” Aethanyc laughed, relieved.
“I’m sorry, Brightsun. I thought I’d been asleep for days.” Brightsun smiled and nosed his cheek.
“No, but you’d need that much rest…you haven’t slept for ages. That’s why we let you sleep. We knew how much you needed it.” She smiled again, jerking her head away from the cliff. “Come on, Windblade said he had something he wanted to talk to you about?” Aethanyc perked up.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. Where is he?”
“Just grazing in the Willow Clearing. Said it was the ‘best place.’ I think he’s going mad, Nyth.”
“Going mad?” Aethanyc laughed, joined by Brightsun. Aethanyc felt infinitely better. Brightsun had the ability to do that to him, God…it was nice to have her around when he was feeling like shit. They said their farewells as Aethanyc headed off to see Windblade. He was pacing frantically near the Ancient Willow, and looked flustered and busy when Aethanyc appeared.
“Oh! Good! Where have you been? I’ve been waiting! Yes, and I needed to talk to you! Why were you gone so long? What were you doing? I’ve been waiting here! You ignored me on the cliff! What’s going on?” Aethanyc blinked and pinned his ears.
“Whoa whoa whoa! Shouldn’t it be me asking you those questions?” He frowned. “What do you have to tell me that’s so incredibly important?” Windblade had broken a sweat, and Aethanyc almost felt sorry for him. But he could only think logically; why had he gotten himself so worked up? Blade looked from side to side, up and down, everywhere his vision would allow him to look, he looked. Aethanyc was beginning to feel unnerved.
“Hey, cut this detective shit out, alright? What’s up with you?” Nyth was treating his friend cautiously. He had heard of the human Hypnotica, and wasn’t about to be caught off guard merely because they’d brainwashed his friend. Windblade gulped.
“It’s Shayza.”
“The traitor?”
“Yes.” Windblade looked squarely at Aethanyc, who seemed surprised that Windblade had agreed with him, but strangely satisfied as well.
“So you believe me?”
“I didn’t need to.” Windblade was looking nervous again, and Aethanyc narrowed his eyes.
“Go on…”
“Nyth, I saw her. I saw her with a human…that human.” Aethanyc pinned his ears. He knew exactly who Blade was talking about. X was well known to the stallion, on account of X trying to kill him on many accounts. He mentioned for Blade to continue, though he already had an idea of where this was going.
“He…kissed her, and she kissed him back. They…they had Anaya, on the ground. He’d shot her. With a gun.” Aethanyc perked up and snorted.
“She’s dead?!”
“No, I don’t think so. I think she’s sedated. Or was, when they shot her. That’s all I saw. I felt like going after Shayza and ripping her lying little throat out as soon as she told you that story, but I knew you wouldn’t believe it.” Blade lowered his head in conclusion. Fire burned round Aethanyc’s heart. At any other time, Aethanyc would have immediately suspected Windblade of lying, and secretly being involved with the humans himself. However, Windblade was originally a Hysalla Pegasus before he became a Valencia Pegasus. To lie meant death, they swore to that, and honor was everything. Windblade was incapable of lying. Aethanyc nodded.
“Thank you, my friend. Anaya has some hope now, thanks to you.” Aethanyc smiled and took to the air. Windblade smiled feebly, and watched him leave. He sighed and shook his head.
“Hold on, Anaya, Aethanyc’s gonna get you out. And if he can’t, by God, I will.”