Final Moments

Letting that complaint fly into the wind, Xilo protected himself against the little fox's attack. "Around my level." From that attack and it's aura from before Xilo had a good idea of its strength. Pushing back it's tiny body, Xilo knocked it across the room. Since he didn't want to hurt the beast, that made this fight harder than it really needed to be. With it back up on its feet already, Xilo couldn't escape through the door in time to get out of its sights. "Maybe I should talk to it?" Astral Beasts were far from stupid creatures that couldn't understand human speech. All Beasts however varied in their intelligence, he just had to hope this was a smarter one.

"I'm not here to bring you any harm."

*Grrrrrrr*

"I just kinda ended up here by accident."

*Grrr*

"Figures..."

It just ignored him though as it got back into a defensive position. "Nope, nothing." With no changes Xilo was forced to assume that this fox wasn't a smart Astral Beast. "Alright, what's the next Idea." Going through the a list inside his head, he ended up landing on one that would be his best shot. Standing there Xilo stopped moving as he waited for its next attack. He didn't really want to waste his energy chasing it around so he decided to let himself get attacked again. "Let's end this quickly." Waiting for it's next attack Xilo watched it pounce at him once more.

Bringing up his arms he opened them up this time as it flew at him. Instead of defending himself he would just catch the fox between his arms and calm it down. Feeling its fur run past his arms Xilo closed his arms as he hugged it against his chest. "Ow." Feeling it's claws dig into his chest, Xilo tried to stop it from struggling. Grabbing at it's head Xilo felt himself fall to the ground as the beast nipped and clawed at him. Rubbing it's head he tried to talk to it in the most calming voice he had as he stopped it from moving.

"See? I'm not going to hurt you, In fact I'm kind of curious as to why you don't seem to be poisoned....Wait a second."

The sign said every Astral Beast they had in here was sick but this beast didn't seem to be either at first glance. After checking it's body though Xilo found a slight trace of the poison. "Might as well." Taking out the vial in his pocket he poured it down it's mouth and waited. Usually it would take longer but since Xilo caught it early this should stop it. "It's quite lucky." Feeling it's body stop shaking a bit, Xilo kept talking to it as he ignored the pain. Slowly it stopped clawing at him until eventually it sat in his arms like a docile cat. Rubbing it's head, Xilo felt it's soft fur as he let it have some room to move as he brought up his head and looked into its eyes. For the most part it seemed calm but there was still some fear there. Standing up, Xilo dusted himself off as he went to go check on the rest of the Astral Beasts.

"Let's see just how many of them are really sick."

Hoping over the counter that was blocking the way to the back room, Xilo carried the Beast in his arms. Opening the door, he peeked inside to see if anything was there. "Just a hallway." Walking through it he started to hear sounds of animals a little ways away as the fox in his arms started to freak out again. Growling in his arms, Xilo looked down at it as he pushed open a door where the noise was coming from. Inside was a medium sized room filled with animals of all different types. "Some of these aren't even for travelling..." Ignoring the smell of animals he looked around at all of them as they laid on the floor.

"With about twenty or so animals here, all of them are sick...except you now."

Looking down at the one in his hands, he was really curious as to how this one had escaped their condition. Sighing, he was slightly disappointed that there weren't any Beasts here that could give him and the girls a ride. "What do I do with you?" About to turn around and leave he heard the soft whimpering of the fox in his hands. Before he could even wonder what was wrong he felt it leave his arms. "It's going to get sick again!" Following it he tried to stop it from going any further but it ignored the food and water that was still left out and made its way straight for the back.

"Hmmm...maybe it is smart."

Walking behind the Beast Xilo watched it poke its head against a door on the other end of the room as it whimpered some more. Turning the knob, Xilo felt two faint presences on the other side. Letting the fox in, Xilo followed behind it as two Astral Beasts entered his vision. "I knew it." Looking at the two human sized foxes laying on the ground barely breathing. The Mother had a heart symbol on it's head just like the one he was carrying and the Father from the looks of it had a red star with completely different coloured fur that was grey. Staying where he was, he watched as the small fox went up to its parents before returning to Xilo. Nudging his palm, it tried to get the medicine that Xilo had used on it the best it could.

"I'm guessing you want me to help...however what makes you think I can do anything..."

*HmmmHmmHmm*

Feeling around for the vial he was carrying with him Xilo released a long sigh as he walked up to the Beasts. Ignoring the father's growling, he took out the vial as he gave it to the two beasts. "I know it wont work...I know it won't." These two were far too sick for the medicine to actually do anything. He only used it on the fox since it was just starting and easily curable but these two were different. "I...don't think I can help them." Their bodies were hot and all the Astral Energy in them had faded into nothing. Xilo was positive any minute they would die and that was something he had a hard time admitting. Their pulses were slowing down along with their breathing but still, he tried anyway.

ignoring their hesitation at the unknown human approaching them, the little fox assured her parents as he gave it to the Mother first before the Father. Once he was done and the vial was empty Xilo sighed. "That was enough to help about twenty people." He still had a spare vial but it wouldn't do anything. Watching the fox go up to her parents with a slight happiness in her movements, Xilo felt pain in his chest. "I'm sorry." Pawing at her parents she gave them a lick on the cheek each as she waited for them to feel better just like she did. The Mother fox gently moved her paw as she touched her child and noticed the sickness gone. Smiling, her eyes turned to the man standing in the room with them. Even the Father noticed the difference in their child.

"I'm...sorry, I don't think I can help you two."

Taking a deep breath Xilo steadied his voice, in this moment he felt powerless. Like all of his years of training were for nothing. He felt like a kid again alone in his room shut off from the world. Before these three Astral Beasts he felt a huge weight crashing down on him. He almost couldn't believe it but here he was crying as he looked at the Astral beasts in front of him that he didn't even know. All the death he saw before came crashing down on him as watched them actually smile at him. "I didn't do anything...so why." Wiping the tears from his eyes he heard a voice call out to him.

"Human, there's no need to cry for us, you helped our daughter and that's more than we can ever ask for."

"But..."

Hearing a man's weak voice, XIlo looked directly at the Father as pain filled his face. He didn't even care that the Beast could talk to him. Looking at the human, the father chose his words carefully. He knew that he didn't have much time left better than anyone else. Standing up on his four leg's he wobbled over to the human with the last of his power. Before the man who saved his daughter he wanted to face him like an equal, even in death. Ignoring all the pain he felt as his life left his body he stood in front of Xilo as he had his last conversation. The mother stood to the side as she held her child back from moving and comforted her.

"Human...What's your name? You may call me Rola."

"X..Xilo. My name's Xilo."

"Xilo..I wish we could have met under better circumstances but as you can see...we won't last long."

"I'm sorry."

"Quit saying sorry, you're not responsible for our passing. It's the bastard who captured us that I blame…..and myself. if I wasn't weakened at the time....maybe things would be different. However I have a selfish request to ask of you, When we're gone I'd like you to take care of our daughter. She's too young and while I don't know you well, you've done something for me I can never repay....yet I still ask something more of you. I'm sure she could be of use to you…."

Looking at the silver haired man, Rola only had one hope. If he wanted his daughter to be safe after they died then Xilo was the best option for him currently. "I hope my instincts are right this time." Standing tall he tried to move but only fell. Seeing Rola fall, Xilo grabbed his body and lifted him up in a panic. "Why...." Asking that question to himself he found no answer as he looked at the giant fox in front of him. Looking down at the mother and daughter pair he saw her gently nod at him as well. Feeling a weight crash down on him harder Xilo sighed.

"If that is what you wish....I'll do my best."

"Ha....thank you."

Within the next moment Xilo felt the life leave Rola's body as they both fell to the ground. The mother slowly closed her eyes as she silently whispered something into the small foxes ears one last time before saying her thanks. Just like that two lives passed on to another life. Silently, Xilo cried as he looked at the small fox's confusion. Poking around at her mother and father she didn't know what happened. For a couple minutes she tried to get some form of response until eventually she gave up. Alone in the room two voices could be heard as a human and a fox cried. Watching the fox cry, Xilo didn't even have the heart to move.