Dropping Dead

(Hope you guys are liking this so far XD I'm having fun. And this song 110%.)

Wake up, Daiya.

Bobbing his head where he still sat against the damp dungeon wall, Daiya tried to force his tired eyes open, but they refused to cooperate.

Leave the lad be, Kovash. It's best that he is not fully awake.

Daiya couldn't be sure, but the second voice in his mind sounded like that crocodile he'd met before... and also like that old woman who'd given him the glasses at the market.

I am both of them, yet not. It replied.

Somehow, the tone of their voice was soothing, lessening some of his worry.

We must get him away from here before lord Fin returns. Kovash's voice drifted through his mind. The other entity replied calmly, its words like a soft breath of wind as they moved along his thoughts. He must be healed, first. He cannot even hold his head up, let alone hold onto your back in order to escape from here.

Wait... you are here? Daiya asked.

I have not left your side, master. Kovash replied, only for the other voice to nearly cut him off. He means me, bat.

Daiya swore he could almost feel Kovash's indignation as he heard the creature grunt out a high pitched growl. A faint smile found its way onto his dry lips at that.

I thank you for remaining by my side, Kovash. He said, truly grateful. His attention then turned back to the other voice. Who are you? I appreciate all the assistance you have given me, and for listening to me when I asked you to stop the rain, but why are you so determined to help me?

The voice was quiet for several silent moments before replying.

I have interest in your survival.

That answer made little sense to him and drew his grin downward into a frown.

Do not worry, Daiya. I am no one's enemy.

He had a hard time believing that statement, and the entity seemed to be able to tell, because it quickly added.

I truly hold no grudge towards your Fin. I just do as I must.

He decided not to dwell on thinking poorly of the voice's owner for the time being. They had, indeed, stopped the rain when he'd asked and had not outright attacked Fin. They had also helped him multiple times without being asked.

Rest assured, Daiya, I cannot kill him. Even if I wished to. He is not of my making any longer.

He was about to ask the voice to elaborate further when it spoke again.

Now is not the time, nor the place, for this conversation. I am going to heal you now, but it will hurt. I apologize, but if I do not mend your bones, you will meet your end in this dungeon.

Daiya understood, but that didn't mean that he was ready to feel the searing pain that blossomed from his shoulder as he felt something akin to a dog's nose nudge at the area. His mouth opened on a silent scream as his head jerked back against the wall.

You are hurting him too much! Kovash's voice infiltrated his clouding mind.

There is little I can do about it. He must be healed now. The other voice replied as the pain intensified. Daiya could feel the bones in his shattered shoulder moving back to where they had originally been. It hurt like nothing he'd ever experienced, and when they began to physically mend, he felt his mind begin to darken.

Rest, I will wake you when you are well again. The unnamed voice said.

Daiya needed little more motivation to let the pain knock him out.

He didn't awaken until a bright light began to push away the darkness of sleep inside his mind. It is time to leave, Daiya. Knowing that he couldn't dally, Daiya made his eyes open. He wasn't really sure what he was seeing at first when his vision cleared from sleep.

You are a fox this time... He thought to the little silver fox that was balancing easily on his slightly bent legs, its nose twitching only a few inches from his own.

It was the simplest form to use in this area. It stated with a flick of one of its large ears.

Daiya simply nodded, then moved his left arm to check the damage. There was a simple soreness there, but the bones were clearly no longer in pieces. With a hesitant smile, he took in a deep breath, feeling the same similar ache in his lower belly, but little actual pain.

"I feel so much better." He whispered right before reaching for the fox.

To his surprise, it let itself be pulled against his chest for a tight hug. His vision blurred as tears began to run down his cheeks into the fox's soft fur.

Um... master?

Daiya blinked several times and looked up at Kovash, but the other voice, the fox's, spoke before he could.

Silence, bat. It is fine.

He wasn't exactly sure what was fine, but when Kovash didn't speak again, and instead just looked away, Daiya ducked his face back against the fox's soft fur.

Thank you. He thought to the animal.

You are welcome, Daiya. Are you feeling up to trying to stand? You must be gone from here soon, Fin is nearly back to normal and, no doubt, will be down here as soon as he is able. The voice replied as the fox finally leaned away, slipping from his grasp to hop down to the floor and shake out its beautiful coat.

After taking stock of his body, Daiya nodded. He slowly moved his stiff legs beneath him, then got onto his hands and knees. His mind swam a little with the movements and he sniffled a few times, but managed not to fall over.

I am sorry that I could not heal your sickness, but it is not too bad right now. If you get free of this place and warm up and eat well, you should be able to manage it. The fox thought to him as he carefully began pushing himself up using the wall for extra support.

"I will be alright. You have already done more than I could have hoped for." Daiya said as he straightened against the damp wall, his attention focused on his breathing.

It is not easy to escape from these dungeons, even with Kovash helping you. Be aware of your surroundings. The fox warned as it headed toward the bars.

"Where are you going? Won't it be dangerous for you to stay here?" Daiya asked as Kovash got up and moved closer, then lowered himself to the floor.

She does as she wishes. Do not fret over her safety. He thought to him as Daiya hesitantly tried to move toward him but ended up stumbling into his thick, dirty fur.

Kovash is right. Worry not, lad. I will stall your Fin so that you may leave. He is coming now.

"What? But you'll die!" Daiya yelled as he pushed himself back up with the help of Kovash's height.

I have died many times, and I shall die many more. My lives are infinite and mean little to me. The fox thought to him as it began to leave his limited range of vision, its silver coat dulling into darker and darker shades.

"Wait!" Daiya replied, holding his breath as the fox slowly came to a halt near the bars.

"I don't want you to die here. Come with us, please?" Daiya asked as he used Kovash to lean on while he carefully walked forward.

I will see you again outside of here as a different entity, what difference does this life make if I will be reborn again in little time? The fox asked, sitting down and flicking an ear, seemingly running out of patience.

"It makes a difference to me because you don't have to die here. We'll get out of here, even if Fin tries to stop us, so come here. I'll hold you on his back." Daiya said, his voice pleading. He didn't want the fox to give up its life for him just because it would be reborn.

It hesitated by the bars just long enough for Daiya to lunge for it. To his surprise, the fox didn't try to dodge, though he could feel its frustration in the back of his mind.

Be frustrated, but I won't let you stay here. He thought, more to himself than to the fox as he hurried to climb on top of Kovash's back and settle in with the fox beneath his left side.

He felt the giant demon bat begin to flex its muscles beneath him, its wings stretching in preparation to take off when the sound of a heavy door creaking open echoed throughout the dark dungeon.

He is here. Kovash, you must get us out! The fox shouted in his mind, making Daiya wince as Kovash lifted his lopsided wings. It was at that moment that Daiya noticed the small holes dotting the skin around the middle of his left wing and the two slashes near the tip of his right one.

Do not worry, lad. He will get us out, but he cannot fly in here.

"Wait. He can't fly in here?" Daiya squeaked out, his voice cracking on the last word as he saw Fin's tall, shadowed form halt just beyond the bars of his cell.

"No, he can't fly, Daiya."

Fin's raspy voice sent a shiver down Daiya's spine. He didn't sound the same as he had before. His throat is still healing. The fox's voice replied, though Daiya barely heard its words, his attention too focused on the man standing just beyond the cell.

"Good evening, Kovash." Fin said, nodding minutely to the giant bat Daiya sat upon.

Kovash let out a quiet grumble in response as he slowly began backing up to his right.

Get ready. He will start climbing as soon as he is able. The fox warned, making Daiya slowly sink back down to wrap his arms snugly around Kovash's neck.

The fox slipped its head between his left shoulder, allowing it to see a small amount over the giant bat's matted fur.

"You again..." Fin growled, clearly not happy to see the small animal with him.

"Leave it alone!" Daiya yelled back, putting as much determination into his voice as he could muster with his sore throat.

Fin's blurry expression seemed to change into one of surprise, his tone matching the emotion as he replied. "It?" He blew out a breath of air and chuckled.

"It." He repeated, shaking his head as he took a step closer to the bars.

"The disgustingly righteous... frustratingly interfering... and all around bitch that is the one and only god... is now called an it." He hissed with humor, making Daiya's heart nearly stop.

God?

There was silence for a few moments before the fox's voice entered his mind again.

I prefer more simple names. Do not worry.

Daiya couldn't find the words to continue speaking. He had the actual god that people prayed to and worshiped, tucked beneath his arm in the body of a fox?

Do not dwell on it now, Daiya. Hold on tightly. The fox's voice said right before he felt the muscles in Kovash's body bunch beneath him. Daiya barely had time to refocus his attention and tighten his hold on the beast before there was a sudden, harsh jerk and they were scrambling upward.

The climb was rough, and Kovash's bony clawed fingers slipped more than a few times on the decrepit stone walls, but somehow, Daiya managed to stay on his back as they ascended.

It wasn't long before the scratching and squeaking sound of the zombified rats began to follow them upward. Daiya didn't dare look back, however, and instead focused on holding on to both Kovash and keeping the fox safe.

Tighter, Daiya. Kovash warned as he suddenly leaped across a large gap and slid into an opening so dark that Daiya hadn't even noticed it with his poor vision.

The moment the bat landed it began to sloppily run, its wings fluttering noisily like a sailing canvas in a raging storm. They took a sharp turn that jarred him down against Kovash's body as the sound of bricks crumbling echoed in the small space. They ended p in what seemed to be another tunnel carved into the keep before starting to climb again.

The scratching of the encroaching rats grew louder, spurring Daiya to hold on even tighter. "Kovash, we need to go faster! It sounds like they're catching up!"

Daiya, can you grab my leg?

It took Daiya a moment to process the fox's request, then another few seconds before he was about to figure out a response.

What? Why? He asked, confused.

The fox replied right away as it began squirming beneath his arm. Just do it. If you do not, I will jump from here and be gone to the rats. It said, making Daiya scramble to carefully snag one of its back legs.

The moment one slipped into his sweaty palm the fox spun around, yelping from the yank to its leg, but seemingly pushing past that pain as it gave out a high-pitched snarl.

"What are you-" Daiya began to ask right before an abrupt stream of fire shot forth from the creature's small mouth.

How in the world? He wondered as he saw the few rats that had made it close to them drop to the floor squealing, covered in crackling flames.

Wow.

When the fire dissipated from the fox's mouth a few moments later, Daiya tucked the small creature back underneath his arm. It was good timing, too, because Kovash spoke a quick warning into his mind at that exact second.

Duck and hold on!

Daiya did just that, and not a moment too soon. Kovash rammed through what looked to be an old caved in brick roof, sending them sprawling out into the chilly night air.

Wait a second. Why are we falling?

The fox beneath his arm sneezed before replying.

He has holes in his wings. Did you think that he could fly?

Daiya started to scream his response as he scrambled to keep his grip on Kovash's diving form. "You said he couldn't fly inside!"

Correct. The same rule applies to outside, too. The fox replied nonchalantly right before they landed hard upon a balcony... only for it to crumble from the abrupt force of their fall and combined weight.

"Kovash! This was a terrible escape idea!" Daiya yelled again, holding on for dear life.

I have very few pieces of brain matter... perhaps I should not have been the one to decide upon such a thing. Kovash replied with little unease as they landed again, this time on a tilted roof covered in decrepit shingles that gave way easily, forcing Kovash to slide unceremoniously downward until he slipped from the edge of the structure.

They fell for only a short period of time afterward before they landed one final time on a patch of soggy, overgrown plant matter.

Well, that wasn't fun. Daiya murmured in his mind as he sagged against Kovash's body, too exhausted from his fever and the stress of their illogical escape to bother lifting his head as the zombie began traveling through the swamp that encircled the large castle.

We should be alright for now, Daiya. Get some rest. Kovash will bring you close to the town you saw before. There is a doctor there who will take care of you.

Daiya nodded against Kovash's fur.

Thank you.

He paused in his thoughts for a moment before adding a small bit of humor.

Should I pray to you now or later?

The faint laughter that echoed through the back of his mind as he began to let his body relax drew a tired smile to his face.

I hear enough of those, so if I may request it of you... please do not. Ever.

Daiya's smile widened for a moment as he gave a quiet chuckle.

Duly noted.