Welcome back to Lap of the gods, everyone. I hope that you enjoy this chapter; I worked hard on it. Please remember to VOTE and COMMENT, it means a lot to me, plus I love chatting with you guys. Also, please remember to click on the video. It goes with the chapter. ~XOXO BUTTERBALL~ 

The song is: Blessed child by PeperonP sung by IA.

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-Lila-

I opened my eyes slowly as a strange wave of terror grabbed hold of me. It was so intense that for a moment, I thought I was going to faint; I fell to my knees, gasping for breath, almost choking with each sharp intake of air. Bright, white, pure light surrounded my body as I gripped my chest. The area around my wings started throbbing and burning.

White glowing liquid began to run down my back and pooling in copious amounts beneath me.

Somewhere, something spoke to me. Its voice sounded like a faraway echo deep inside a cave.

I squinted into the darkness that surrounded me; however, I saw nothing.

"We have... to go to...Lishca Temple... in Olakator's lake...he's coming for us!"

I-I know this voice from...somewhere. I-I remember feeling like this before.

I closed my eyes tightly and shook my head; a low moan escaped my mouth. I could feel warm liquid gathering in my eyes and stinging them before dripping down. I rubbed under my eyes, my pale hands coming back covered in a dark liquid.

As I stared at the liquid, a strange chill ran across my skin. "W-what is this? No, I...please stop it, just leave me alone!" I screamed.

A throbbing pain shot through my skull as the glow around my body grew in brightness, expanding to fill up the darkroom.

I awoke with a start, my eyes instantly snapping open, my tail and wings fluttering, flailing as I tried to regain my awareness. I froze as my eyes met five enormous, bright orange-colored ones set in an enormous scraggly furred face.

I flinched away from Varuun before I let out a sigh and glanced around.

Via...I'm still in the old demon city...right?

I let out a shuddering breath as Varuun moved forward slightly and licked me. His large rough tongue glided over half my body as a worried glint reflected at me from his equally large eyes.

I shuddered as I nudged him; my small hands did little to push away his snout. It was like trying to push away an excited pet. Varuun had somehow managed to push his head through the broken roof of my already dilapidated home and was currently looking at me with a curious yet eager gaze. Two long, thick fangs protruded from his mouth like tusks.

"You can't keep doing this. One day you're going to get stuck, and I won't be able to help you," I warned him as I stood up.

I wonder when he came back, it's not the first time he's left me for weeks on end.

His snout wrinkled as he shrunk away slightly, but he stayed in place, watching me quietly as I shook myself off. Lifting one arm, I sniffed it before flinching back from the smell quickly. I turned to face Varuun. "Have you been eating Skyfish again? Your breath smells like a rotting carcass," I asked, my voice taking on an accusatory tone. His large eyes slid to the side as he refused to give me any indication of an answer.

I let out a sigh. "Looks like I'm taking an early bath," I muttered to myself, my tail flicking out.

At the word bath, Varuun looked back at me, his ears flicking forward and twitching. He let out a huff, the sudden rush of warm air nearly knocking me off my feet.

I crossed my arms before giving his nose a gentle pat. "No bath for you, big guy, but I do need to gather some mint and water to wash out your mouth. I'm not letting you give me kisses when your breath smells like a horse's unwashed arsehole," I informed him.

He whimpered, his eyes going to the ground before he began to remove himself from the hole. First, he pulled back his face puffing up as his grayish-brown fur bunched up around his neck, the house rattled almost violently, and for a moment, I wondered if it would hold.

I bit my lip as my wings twitched, and my tail flicked out, ready to flee at a moment's notice if the building started to collapse. However, miraculously my home managed to remain standing. I let out a sigh of relief as I gathered a nearby ragged cloth, an old curtain, and a small bar of soap. As I stared at what little soap I had left, I frowned.

I need to make more; I don't have any animal fat leftover either. Which means I need to hunt...

"I usually don't let it run out," I mumbled as I walked outside.

Varuun stood in my path, blocking the way with his imposing size. His large, leathery, flame-colored wings stretched across a nearby tree. I fluttered my wings, allowing myself to slowly ascend into the air until I was face to face with him. A cool breeze washed over my skin as I stared at him.

"Come on, big guy, you have to move," I informed him, but he continued to stare at the sky. "I'll tell you what, let me take a bath, clean your mouth out, and we'll play hide and seek this afternoon," I offered.

At that, his ears perked up as his eyes widened, and a strange lopsided smile spread across his face. It took a moment but eventually, he shuffled back and to the side carefully until he leaned slightly against a large nearby tree. Once I descended, I grabbed another dress off of the impromptu clothesline I'd made long ago.

As I headed to the lake, I could feel Varuun's large eyes on my back, almost as though he was begging to come with me.

Since no one comes here, he's usually gone before I even wake up. That or stuffs himself full of food then demands that I play with him.

~~~

I scowled as I scrubbed at my skin; lifting my hand, I sniffed it before my face instantly twisted into a look of disgust. Underneath the faint floral smell of soap was a putrid odor of rot. I shuddered and glared at my skin. It was bright red in the areas where I had nearly scrubbed it raw.

"Maybe mint would work better. It is a great deterrent for the odor of a skyfish egg sack," I mumbled.

I trudged through the water, making my way over to the nearby grassy river banks. As I got closer to land, I noticed a strange mewling. The moment I laid my hand on the grass, a green tint rolled over my skin.

Slowly I crawled out of the water, lifting my tail so that it wouldn't drag through the grass.

It sounds like a litter of thorn rabbits.

I stopped when I approached a bush where the sound was originating from. Kneeling slightly, I carefully parted the bush. Nestled inside was a little group of bristly furballs with small, thin bristle-like thorns on them. They were slick with a yellow and red liquid that smelled of rust. In the center of the group was a larger looking ball of fur with rose-like bristles in its tangled fur.

A single horn sat in the middle of its forehead. Its eyes were open and staring into them caused a chill to run down my back. It was like looking in an empty dark hole, with white milky colored mist curling around the entrance. Its mouth hung open, revealing a few yellow teeth and pink mouth.

"A thorn rabbit," I whispered.

Pain...it was in pain but couldn't cry out...

I lifted my hand and stared at it for a moment; as I brought a claw to my palm, I froze. It was as though my body locked up and refused to move.

"No...this is the way of the world," I whispered, but it was as though my voice was not my own.

I was snapped out of my trance as a sharp pain whipped through the area between my wings. Quickly I closed my hand and squeezed my eyes closed before I released a soft sigh.

"That's right...I can't save every creature I come across," I whispered as the mewling began to echo in my head.

I brought my claw to my palm again.

But there are barely any of these thorn rabbits left up here. Not to mention, it's children can't get food.

I jammed my claw into my palm before I quickly dragged it through the flesh, making a shallow cut. As blood welled up in my hand, a small burning sensation ran through the wound. Carefully I leaned over the body of the thorn rabbit. Slowly I allowed my blood to drip into its mouth.

Its eyes shone with a bright light, and its body twitched, convulsing on the ground as it let out a high pitched screech. I flinched, covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut. The screech seemed to echo through my body.

However, the screeching ended abruptly, as did the mewling. Slowly I looked back at the thorn rabbits, my eyes widening as I took in the scene before me. The mother rabbit stood on her hind legs, her body shaking and shivering as though a cold wind was shaking her frame.

She stood upon the bodies of her newborn children crushed beneath her large feet. A ragged, raspy breath dragged in through her mouth as her chest slowly inflated. Her milky eyes darted around before focusing on me.

"It-it was too strong for you...I'm-I'm so sorry," I whimpered as I reached out toward the creature I'd created.

My fingertips glided across its sticky, wet fur. The rabbit let out a wheezing, rattling breath before its eyes rolled back into its head, and it fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Just like some of the children I used to play with. But some were able to survive after receiving my blood. Especially if they had mortal injuries...

I frowned down at the bodies of the rabbits, an ache growing in my chest. I scrutinized my hand where the cut had been; other than some redness, no trace of the cut was left.

"I shouldn't let their bodies go to waste," I whispered as I carefully gathered the wet carcasses in my arms.

Slowly I trudged back to the side of the river where I'd placed my things. Waiting, there was Varuun. He was sitting against a nearby tree, which caused it to bend as though it were about to break; his large eyes stared at me completely unblinking.

"I'm not done bathing yet. I have to go get some mint to scrub myself and your mouth with," I told him as I knelt to place the bodies on the grass.

Varuun leaned forward, his wet nose pushing at my hand slowly. I opened my hand, already knowing what he was looking for. "I'm alright Varuun, it healed quickly like it always does," I reassured him gently.

I looked down at the thorn rabbits. "These poor things, however...it happened again. Just like those children from the village," I whispered.

My body sighed of its own accord. "I told you that this is the way of the world." As I spoke, my voice once again did not sound like my own.

I shuddered as Varuun lent forward, even more, to stare into my eyes. I let out a shaky chuckle, "What do you think is wrong with me, big guy? I'm probably cursed; everyone leaves me. It's only by the Maker's will that you're still here. I wonder when you'll leave," I said more to myself than him. I stretched my tail and wings flicking out. "Well, at least you won't have to worry about me; you'll be able to eat all the skyfish you want," I told him as I forced a grin.

Varuun opened his mouth, and instantly I stumbled back, throwing my hands up. "Wait, please don't lick me! I already smell awful!" I exclaimed. However, he wasn't having any of my protestings; seconds later, he dragged his giant tongue over half my body.

I stumbled further backward at the force, and then I was tumbling into the water. Almost immediately, my skin turned blue as I panicked slightly, my arms flailing before I rightened myself. As I floated in the water, I glared at Varuun, who, in turn, practically refused to look at me.

~~~

As the sun set, I returned to my home for the day, having dealt with the awful smell that had been on Varuun and I. "I'm home!" I called out as I picked up a few pieces of firewood from beside the door. I placed it in the fireplace before I also grabbed the flint that sat beside the fireplace. After a few seconds of striking, I was able to get the fire going; I sat back, lifting my hands to the new source of warmth.

As I yawned, I couldn't help but feel slightly content and comfortable at the moment. In the distance, a large whooshing noise entered my ears. Even though I was familiar with the noise, I couldn't help but jump a bit, my tail smacking against the floor as my wings twitched.

"I wonder where Varuun is going this time?" I whispered.

I looked up at the night sky through the hole in the roof. Multiple white pinpricks shone back at me from the dark black abyss; not a single cloud was visible.

Good luck, big guy and have a safe trip.