21. Not A Hero

21. Not A Hero
I stop and begin to shake. For I realized they all had taken a step back with Taewon brandishing his weapon at me.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” His voice shook, his eyes wide and hard.

I frown in his direction, then I look to the young trainees who were frightened out of their minds. I swivel my head to the other side to see both Rudina and Lucian be just as wary of me as the others. They just didn’t broadcast it as rudely as Taewon had just done.

Lucian slowly takes a step towards me, his hands out like trying to calm a wild beast. “Azure, listen to me carefully, because I don’t think you’re fully aware of what’s happening with you.” He says calmly.

I was confused at what he was saying. Fully aware of what? What was he talking about?

He takes another step closer. I unconsciously take a step back from him making him falter in his steps.

“Hey, its alright. I’m your friend. I’m not going to harm you in any way. But I need you to look down at yourself.”

I do what he says because I was way to curious and freaked out to do otherwise. But freak out I did. Because where my body should have been was replaced but mounds of fur that had too many colors to distinguish. And big, large paws where my hands should be. I quickly back up, turning around to see myself, but all I could find was a large swishing tail and another set of paws.

My growls instantly turned into whimpers.

What the hell was this?! Why was I no longer in human form?!

I wanted to scream, shout, but instead I lie down to the ground, my ears folding to my head as I curled in on myself, freaking out completely.

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay my friend. Its going to be alright. I promise. I’m going to guess this is the first time this has happened to you, right?” Lucian crouches down to my level, still holding out his hands in a protective gesture.

I couldn’t even speak to let him know that it was. His eyes showed a bit a of sadness yet fascination as well. He looked at me all over not knowing what to do.

“Can you…can you shift yourself back?” He asks.

How the hell should I know if I didn’t even know I shifted in the first place!

He chuckles nervously. “Right, that was idiotic of me. My apologies.” As if he understood what I had said in my mind.

“Perhaps it will wear off on its own?” Rudina asks cautiously.

Then I smell it.

The blood of my two dearest friends.

I ignore everyone as the events come crashing back to me of just moments before. My fear of my condition quickly fades as a new fear slam into me. I quickly stand back up, causing those around me to flinch and be on guard. I couldn’t be bothered with that right now, however.

“Azure, where are you-” Lucian starts off only to stop when he sees where I was heading off too.

I trot, like literally trot, over to the two men that were lying on the ground now surrounding by Julien and Lumiere. They were bending over them with tears flowing on their faces. Julien hunched over Jacques as he cries his heart out.

I nearly crumble right then to see his eyes wide open, blood still oozing from the gaping hole where his heart had been. Whimpers came out of me, tears flowing from my own eyes. But neither man seemed to be frightened of my new look as Julien looks up to me, a gash on his left cheek that was going to scar horribly when it heals.

“I told him not to face him. That it wasn’t our job. I told him! I told him!” He burst into new tears as he spoken back into his native tongue.

All I could do was whine my response.

“Azure, is that…you?”

I look over to Pierre who was heaving every single breath that he could manage. I quickly come to his side, panic racing through me to see the four ugly deep slices that was now his chest and stomach. Lumiere was holding it better than Julien was at the moment, but I could sense his tension, his grief, and his vulnerability.

Even though Pierre was in so much pain, that he was slowly dying, he still gives me a grin. “Look at you. I always…knew there was something special about…you.”

Blood seeped out of his mouth and a coughing fit racked his body. I quickly lay next to his side, urging him to rest instead of talking, but without being able to speak to him to tell him that, he continues on.

“So many…colors.” He reaches a hand to the fur that was now my body.

“Don’t…look so sad Azure. This…is a blessing. You’re different, but a good different. Don’t ever…let anyone tell you otherwise. You even look like…an adorable pup.” He chuckles only to start a new fit of coughing.

“Pierre, please. You’re only making it worse.” Lumiere quietly chastise him.

He just pushes him away and looks back to me. “Don’t you dare do it. You understand me? They…can’t know that…part about you.” His eyes become stern and the fact he already knew what I was thinking only sank my heart more.

I whimper again, scuffling closer to him with an overwhelming emotion going through me.

“No.” He states firmly. “Promise me, Azure. You…cannot do it.”

Lumiere leans over to pet the side of my head getting my attention to him now. His eyes were sad as he says,

“We always knew this could have been our last day. We all promised each other that we would never allow you to use your abilities for us. We’re not your friends because of what you could do, Azure. You’re so important that we want to protect you always. If you show them now…” His words trail off and I understood.

But how could I possibly not do it, when I have the ability to do so? To possibly bring back Jacques, to completely heal Pierre. I had that power, but they didn’t want me to use it. Because they were afraid of what would happen should the wrong kinds of people found it and exploited me to their advantage.

But how could I possibly let him die?

He smiles again as if hearing my question. “I may be young, but I had a fulfilled…life. I have my brothers and I have…you to thank for that. You have…no idea the joy you brought to us, Azure. A young one…who was like my own child. Don’t let this grief…and anger define you. You are the most powerful being among us now. Show them…who…you…are.”

His voice fades as he says those last words, his pupils becoming large as the life leaves his body, his hand falling to his side. Before I knew it, the immense grief racks me to my very core and I was back into my human body sobbing my heart out as I lean over his body.

Julien and Lumiere joining me as we grieved together of the two we have come to love and cherish. I didn’t even care that I was now stark naked in the cold air. I didn’t notice someone placing a robe against my back and kneeling next to me as they rub my back.

“Life and death are a never-ending phenomenon. All life must perish, but all life never has the same ending. Death is just another crossroads we all must bear.” Shenzu quietly says to everyone who was listening.

“Let us mourn our dead and treasure their sacrifice. They are the true heroes of today’s battle. And we will shoulder the burden of their untimely deaths while victorious embracing a hero’s welcome.”

He then stands and bows to Pierre and Jacques. “May you rest in the paradise of your choosing. May we all meet again in another life.” He looks around the glade with sadness marking his features. “Let us take the dead and pray for their safe journey into the afterlife. For those who need medical attention, I am a trained healer. I can help heal your wounds.”

He walks away after saying that, going to another person who was silently crying over a person who can no longer be saved. And that was when it hits me. Clutching the fabric close to me, I stand up fully and graze my gaze all around.

My hair was now down in front of my face, the clip holding it place long gone. The field was in mourning as dozens of men were slain, and those of their own tribes mourning their loss. We should be victorious, but it was anything but that.

Achak comes out of the forest pulling a rope with a few others as they drag the Lycans that have ran off. On the other side I see some of my people along with Lucian’s and Rudina’s pull out a tied up twisted form that used to be Lycaon. I didn’t have the strength to go over and assess the situation with him. My heart was breaking for everyone involved.

A Hero’s welcome he says. But none of us were heroes.