Survival vs Fate (Damon&Trinidad)

[chocobeast]

Trinidad Valentino stretched lazily next to Pico. Last night had been especially exciting. They had had a good barbeque of meat. Meat that he really didn't want to know the source of. Afterward, he had enjoyed a good frolic with said leader.

"Are you awake?" Pico growled next to Trini.

Trini nodded without saying a word. Pico was known to be moody in the mornings. So it was always best to keep hid mouth shut.

"Get up and get ready. We are running low on supplies and Lycus' measly band of weaklings is just over that ridge. We can get some food from them." Pico pointed out none too nicely. "Be ready as soon as possible. And this time, you brat, you get to kill for me. You don't and you lose your place next to me and maybe your life."

Trinidad whinced. He was doing everything the huge angry Zercan wanted. But killing wasn't his thing. He had grown up in a loving family with a ton of brothers. They all were killed. He knew how much it hurt to lose everything.

"Did you hear me?! Get your lazy ass up and get dressed!" Pico ordered right before he wolluped a heavy kick to Trinidad's side.

Trini cried out painfully and sat up. As he tried to hold back his tears so that Pico wouldn't think him weak, the giver stormed out yelling, "GET YOUR LAZY ASSES UP! WE HAVE A VILLAGE TO RAID!"

[Ninia]

Damon holstered his old but trusty gun and left his tent. He had all he needed for a simple scouting trip. It was just him, Aeron, Venice and a few others. They were just going to check the nearby area for any sign of danger. After the unexpected arrival of that clan the other day Lycus was on edge. Damon too. He’d heard the rumours, about their ruthlessness and personally, he didn’t want to test them.

He was about ready to leave when Lycus stopped him. “Be vigilant, we don’t know how close they are. We were lucky to avoid them before, we might not be so lucky again.”

Damon nodded “I know. We’ll head straight back if we see anything.” Happy with the response, Lycus left to organise the rest of the camp, packing up everything they could except for the tents, just in case they had to stay at the last minute.

Damon jogged over to the others who were waiting at one end of the camp. “It’s a simple scouting job. Keep your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary and we’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

They set off, staying in a group at first, scanning the area around the camp for any dangers, Damon mainly looking for any sign of the larger group. They were out there for a while before Damon decided it’d be best if they split up to cover more ground. He paired the few of them up and they headed in different directions. He was the strongest of the group and decided he’d be the safest on his own.

[chocobeast]

Painfully, Trinidad prepared for battle. He adorned his thicker clothes, strapped on his gun holster, loaded the chamber of his rusty pistol, and tossed a napsack of emergency supplies on his back. He limped out of the warm tent without saying a word.

Outside, a smsll crowd was forming around Pico. They were all dressed in their raiding clothes and had various weapons strapped all over their bodies. Most of them were scarred or missing body parts, but this was war, survival of the fitedt.

Trinidad stopped in the back of the group. He didn't want to get close to Pico when he was like this. The burly, hairy Zercan was primed for battle and sometimes he started on the closest person to him.

"We take no prisoners!" Pico was yelling for all to hear. "We take all food. We take all water. And if it comes to it, we take all life."

Trinidad was used to these ranting peptalks. He was used to these battles. The killing. The stealing. The bloodcurttling screaming. He felt almost numb to it all now. It was almost like he was locked inside a mindless numb zombie. Would this be all his life had meaning for now?

"TRINIDAD!" Pico screamed as he slapped the small fae's daydreaming face.

Trini squeaked and jumped backwards. He rubbed his cheek and whimpered, "Sorry."

"Pay attention or die." Pico growled only inches from Trini's face. "Lycus' group is one of our strongest opponents. One wrong move and you cease to exist. Got that?"

Trinidad nodded silently.

"Good." Pico agreed and then waved for them all to follow him. "Let's go!"

[Ninia]

Damon was crouched down on a hill nearby, scanning the area. He had a good view from here. The camp was at the base and he could also keep track of the other scouts. Aeron and Venice were towards the south and the other two were north.

He smiled softly as he watched Aeron and Venice. It was clear what they had was a true mate bond. Aeron was constantly looking out for Venice while the other was on guard, probably wanting to prove himself to Lycus and the rest of the group. Not that he needed to, they would accept him and if some didn’t they would have to face Aeron and in doing so Damon as well.

Damon tensed and was brought out from his thoughts when he something in the distance caught his eye. It seemed he wasn’t the only one to notice as Venice and Aeron had paused and ere looking over too.

He stood to get a better look when his eyes widened. It was them! Without hesitating he broke out into a sprint heading to Where Aeron and Venice were. He knew he should go back to Lycus first, but this was his brother who was between them and the camp, Aeron would be the first thing in their way.

Damon whistled alerting the two others to get back to camp before quickly pulling out his gun and firing one shot up, it was the only to let Lycus know without abandoning Aeron.

“GET BACK TO CAMP!” Damon roared. Aeron, who’d been preparing to stand and fight, glanced in his brother’s direction and nodded. He grabbed Venice’s hand and sprinted back to camp while Damon took his place. He’d try to hold them off until the others were ready or could least defend themselves. He held his gun up, ready to shoot when they were in range.

[chocobeast]

Pico wasn't expecting a scouting party to mosey up on his raid. They were covering good ground. He had Trini and 4 other guys all spread out within in sight range but not a word would ever need to be spoken.

Pico spotted the scout a little too late. He shouted when the gun went off, "GET HIM!!! NOW!"

Trinidad and another named Cull jumped up from the brush and converged on the noisy and dangerous scout. They knew by the sound of the pistol that he had a gun. Now they just needed a way to tear it away from him and silence him for forever.

Trini waved to Cull to sneak up behind him as he distracted the fiesty male with some bush rustling.

Pico wouldn't have it. "STOP THE HELL OF PLAYING AROUND!!! ATTACK! AND GET THOSE OTHER TWO BEFORE THEY GET TO CAMP!!!!!!!!"

Cull nodded at Pico's orders and abandoned Trini to chase after the other two scouts. He didn't make it far though. He tripped into some sort of man trap and got hung on ropes. Trini wanted to run to his rescue, but the scout from Lycus' group was right there.

Pico instantly stop Cull on the spot. "Rest in Peace my friend." He yelled. "And you!" He pointed at the fighter, will pay for my friend's life with yours. TRINI! SHOOT HIM!!!"

Trini was barely keeping low and quiet. He was slyly shifting from bush to bush getting ever closer to to the scout. He could hear the other two of his party moving wayyy faster, most likly giving chase to the escapees. But they were not his goal. This one resistant scout. This one rebel. This was his goal.

Trini was just getting a good spot for pouncing when he looked back up and saw that the scout was gone. He looked all over. His adrenaline was pumping. His senses were on HIGH alert. And his breathing was coming in silent panicked pants. Oh God, where is he

Trini was just beginning to backtrack when he heard a sound that could only mean danger and death. The stomping of a ton of feet. He quickly forgot that he was hiding from the scout and jumped up.

"RUN!!!!!!!!!" He yelled to Pico as he bolted back to their camp.

[Ninia]

Damon held his ground as the group neared. His face was serious. He wasn’t going to be intimidated by them. He glared at their leader with such hatred. This was the man responsible for much of the suffering here. He wouldn’t let him destroy what little peace they had here.

As the group got closer Damon fired the first shoot, hitting one man in the shoulder. Damon didn’t flinch at the blood and just fired again, this time hitting him in the chest.
Damon glanced to the side when a sound from the bushes caught his attention. He was about to shoot when a cry from behind made him spin round. “Shit!” He cursed under his breath when he saw another man caught in one of their traps. That was close!

Damon snapped his head up towards the enemy leader when he spoke to him. And someone else. Damon’s eyes widened when he realised there must be someone else hiding nearby.

He fired two more shots before he hid in the nearby bushes, searching for the other man. He stayed low his eyes, searching but he was still aware of the larger group. Damon’s heart raced as he looked for the other, he knew if he took too long he was going to end up dead.

Just when he was going to give up, and come out of hiding he heard the sound of running feet. He smirked knowing it was Lycus and the others. That was when the man in hiding stood and made a break for it. He wasn’t getting away that easily. Damon jumped out meeting Lycus and Aeron who were shooting at the group. Damon only had his eyes on this one man. He aimed his gun slowly and took his shoot. It hit its target.

The man fell, clutching his bleeding leg. The others were running away at this point, knowing they wouldn’t get anything now they were ready. Damon felt Lycus pat him on the back but he didn’t want any congratulations, he’d killed another man and wounded another, death wasn’t something to be celebrated.

He turned away when Lycus roughly pulled the man up from the floor and shoved him into one of the others “Take him back to my tent. I have some questions for him.”

“But sir, He’s injured.”

“He won’t bleed to death just yet, I’m sure he can stand a little pain.” Lycus glared at the man before telling everyone to head back.

Damon glanced up when the man was pulled past. His long dark hair covered his face which hung low, Damon couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. He turned away when Aeron touched his arm.

“We should head back.” It was clear he wanted to return to Venice. Damon just nodded and they left with the group heading back to camp.

[chocobeast]

"PICO!!!" Trinidad screamed at the top of his lungs in panic and pain. His leg felt like it was sliced up by a rusty meat cleaver. He fell to the ground instantly and screamed again as he reached for his leader and lover.

Pico didn't even slow down or look back. He just continued running away thus leaving the weaker Trinadid to fend for himself.

Trini cried out Pico's name once more as he watched him disappear down the hill. He curled up around his wounded leg and waited for one of the guys to come up and end his sorry life with a magic bullet to the brain.

What he hadn't expected was to be stood up. He bowed his dizzy head to hide his tearstained face. He listened in as he heard the leader, most likely the man named Lycus talking about how he was going to die. He wouldn't let them see him at his weakest point.

As he was dragged away, he whimpered in pain. His leg felt like someone was constantly jabbing a knife into it at every heartbeat. He tried his best to keep up with his capturer on it. But he just couldn't. He stumbled a lot and fell twice. Both times, he moaned in pain as he was drug back up and yelled at, "Walk you lazy idiot or i'll kill you personally."

Trini was finally thrown to the ground after a lifetime of being dragged. He didn't even look around as he curled up into a tight ball around his bloody leg. He didn't care that he was a prisoner. He just wanted to be left alone or to be killed now. He moaned painfully as he waited for his ultimate fate.

[Ninia]

Damon was oddly silent as the group made its way back to camp. He tried to listen to one of the enthusiastic boy’s talking next to him, still high on adrenaline but his eyes kept drifting back to the man he’d shot.

He stumbled a few times and Damon had wanted to go over and help him walk, carry him if need be, but he stayed silent and just watched the others drag him along. Each time this happened, more blood seeped out of the wound Damon had caused and Damon would feel the pity well up in his chest.

After what felt like ages they were back at camp. The one’s that had stayed behind were soon hovering around them trying to get the details about what had happened. Ellis was rushing around looking after those who’d been injured, luckily there was nothing fatal but things could have been lot worse.

Aeron, who’d been standing with Damon, left leaving the crowd and headed straight to Venice who was waiting for him nearby. Damon watched as his brother took his mate in his arms. He looked away and was about to head back to is tent when Lycus grabbed his arm. Damon looked at the older male.

“I want you to come with me. We’re going to speak with our guest.” Damon had to force himself not to flinch at the way Lycus spat out the word in disgust. Damon only nodded and followed the other to his tent where the man had been taken.

They entered the tent to find the man lying in the middle of the floor. He looked pathetic, like he’d given up hope and accepted death already. Damon kept a blank face as Lycus walked up to the man and nudged his side with his foot. “Hey, Get up.”

[chocobeast]

Trini's side was still ultra-sensitive from earlier when Pico had kicked him. That nudge coupled with the constant throbbing in his leg made him cry out a little. It was a quick and muffled cry, and if he was feeling better, wouldn't have happened at all.

But Trinidad wouldn't let a little show of weakness overshadow him as a strong fighter. He tilted up just a slight bit, enough to part his long shiny black hair and spat a yellow-green wad of mucus right at the leader's leather-clad feet. Trini figured that if he was going to be treated like a prisoner that he may as well act like one. He was alsso under the distinct impression that they were going to kill him no matter what anyway. So why not get a little piece of his in while he still could.

Trini's eyes suddenly locked on with the other man in the tent's eyes. At that moment he was still filled with disgust and pain. He was still super mad at being shot at. Didn't they know that he was a bearer?

But suddenly something inside him clicked. An unknown wave of warmth washed over him. Those eyes...those eyes said safety...said actually more than that...

Just as his mind was catching up with his heart, Trinidad recognized him. That was the bastard that SHOT HIM! All weird emotions were replaced with instant mind-numbing rage. In less than the blink of an eye, he lunged full force at the scout that dared shoot him. He was all claws, teeth, and anger. He viciously used the element of surprise to knock the startled scout to the floor. Now the guilty man was on his turf. There, he wildly beat at the flailing scout's chest. His small teeth dug uselessly into the thick leather armour.

The whole time, he was was crying and growling at the same time. It was like his last harrah. His pain wasn't just physical now, it was mental, like someone had done the ultimate evil to him. To him, this revengeful beating was the only way he would make it feel better.

[Ninia]

Damon felt sympathy for the man when a soft cry escaped his lips. Lycus had nudged him so it shouldn’t have been enough to hurt him that much but… Damon shook his head, he shouldn’t feel anything for this man he was the enemy.

Then he froze. It was like he was being held in place when the man’s eyes looked deep into his. Dark Red met Light Blue. Damon was hit with the sudden urge to take this man in his arms, take away his pain, keep him safe. It scared him.

Before Damon could do anything the man was lunging at him, knocking him to the floor. He was still for a moment as the smaller man clawed at his chest, arms, anything he could. It was until a scratch landed under his eye that Damon was jolted back to his senses and he soon flipped them over so the smaller male was pinned under him. It didn’t stop the other from attacking him. Damon grabbed the others wrists and pinned them above his head. There was no way this man would beat him in hand-to-hand combat.

“Hey, you’re just making your wound worse! Stop struggling!” He was losing a lot of blood. It was then that Lycus decided to intervene. The body under Damon’s stopped struggling as Lycus’ foot was against his neck gently putting pressure. Damon looked up to see Lycus scowling down at the other.

“If you attack my men again, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” He pressed harder “Understand.” Damon had never seen their usually calm leader this angry before. His eyes showed clear hate.

“Lycus.” The man looked at him. Damon didn’t falter. Slowly he removed his foot and stepped back. Damon watched him then turned back to the man under him. He held both of the man’s wrists in one hand and used the other to gently touch the others neck, it was going to bruise.

“Don’t struggle and answer our questions. Then we can look at your wound”

[chocobeast]

Trinidad fought with every cell in his body. He didn't have any goal in this other than to cause the man that shot him pain. And if his mind numbing rage wasn't so fully focused on hurting him, he may have actually used the training he had when he was a kid. But Trini was nowhere near thinking straight.

Trini got a good hit on the man's face though. He scratched and tore at any open flesh he could find. It was like he was a wild animal untamed by no man. Until...

The shooter's red eyes suddenly glowed. Before Trini knew what was going on, the other man swiped his leg up under Trini's and flipped them over. Trini gasped in pain and then growled even more pissed off. He reached up to scratch at the man's face and both of his arms were pinned above his head. He rocked his smaller body hard to try to get the stronger male off of him at the same time as he growled, "Get the hell off me."

Trini then used his good leg to kick around wildly as he fought to push the stronger and triumphant male off of him. He wasn't going to give up. No way! This stupid man had shot him! Hurt him! And now if he gave up, he just knew that he was going to die.

Suddenly, Trini couldn't breathe. He fought even harder as his eyes focused on the man that could only be Lycus standing on his neck. However after all the fighting and the pain from the gunshot, he didn't have much life left in him anymore. His blue eyes grew dull as his vision faded at the edges. His angry scowl slacked and his body stopped fighting.

Trini pondered his death as he let the black edges close in on him. He pondered seeing his brothers again. Hugging his Mom. Playing tag and losing to his Dad. He focused on somehow sending his soul back to Earth...to the forest canopy...to where life was good and sweet and easy...

Suddenly the pressure was gone. Trini should have been able to gasp in the huge breath he was missing. But he couldn't. Something was blocking his airway. He was still pinned down by that *every expletive in the book* man. So he couldn't fight for air or lean up or even hand gesture that he still couldn't breathe.

He only struggled one more time, his eyes pleading as the man touched his neck near his Adam's Apple. It was like he knew and was telling Trini to go ahead and die now. As the world faded even more into a blur, he locked his tired eyes back with the man on top of him. If he was going to let death take him, then he would make sure that the man holding him down would watch the whole thing.

Trini's vision turned totally dark now and he saw the Forest, his brothers Venice, Berlynn, Atlantis, and Shangrila...the sun...follow the sun...

[Ninia]

Damon’s eyes widened when the other locked gaze with his. Life slowly faded from those Blue eyes as the man beneath him gave up hope and slowly let go of his consciousness. Damon glanced down at the man’s leg to see a large area of his clothes stained with red blood “Shit!” Damon swore under his breath and quickly got off the smaller male “Hey, stay awake. It’s not your time to die yet.”

He quickly scooped the man up in his arms, one arm supporting his back and the other under his knees. He stood and was about to leave when Lycus spoke “Leave him Damon.”

Damon froze. What? Just leave him?! He felt his anger bubble up inside. He spun around and glared at Lycus, surprising the older man and the few others in the tent. “Just leave him? He’ll die if we don’t do something!”

“He is the enemy!”

Damon tensed. What Lycus said was true. The man in his arms was a member of the group that had been a major danger to them, that ad killed their people…but…Damon looked down at the unconscious man in his arms. He was so light and small as Damon held him against his chest. He breathing was shallow and he was becoming paler by the second. All Damon wanted to do was protect him.

“I don’t care.”

“What?”

He glared up at Lycus “I said I don’t care. I’m not going to let him die.” He left the tent, and the shocked men, ignoring the looks the others were giving him and headed straight to Ellis’. He walked straight in and set the bleeding man on the spare bed in the tent. Ellis looked up from where he sat and gasped at the sight. He was quickly by their side with bandages putting pressure on the wound.

“What happened?”

“He’s been shot. I think the bullets still in his leg.” Damon didn’t tell Ellis that this wasn’t one of their men. The doctor was a kind man but he couldn’t help but fear that he wouldn’t help him.

Ellis nodded and quickly got his tools. He laid them down by the man and set to work. He cut the man’s trouser leg, revealing the bleeding wound. He wiped away the blood he could and looked at Damon “I need you to hold him down.” Damon nodded and held the man’s wrists down.

Ellis cleaned the tweezers before cleaning the wound. He gave Damon a look before he started to remove the bullet from the leg.

[chocobeast]

"Son," a familiar voice called like an angel from the bright lightof the Earth Sun. "Why are you here?"

Trinidad squinted against the harsh intensity of the light. Weakly, he called back, "Mom?"

"Yeah my sweet Trini." The warmest most welcoming voice joyfully admitted as it stepped forward from the glaring light of the sun. The shadowy outline and long black hair waving in the nonexistant wind was literally given an aura by the yellow-white light of the sun. "It's me."

"MOM!!!!!" He screamed jofully and ran full blast to the sun.

"NO!" He stopped Trinidad dead in his tracks with the harshness of his tone. "It's not your time my Trini."

Trini felt a sudden tugging back to where he had come from. He cried, "But Mom, I want to stay with you. I hate that place and they hate me."

Trinidad's Mom stepped all the way out of the Sun. His warm yet cool sky blue eyes locked on his son's identical ones. He smiled loving at his Trini and then hugged him real tight. "I know that you've had it hard my precious Baby." He whispered stoftly into Trinidad's ear. "But things are about to get better my son...a lot better. I promise."

Trini cried harder into his Mom's chest. He missed the strong arms that held him every time he got a boo-boo. The whispers of encouragement when he just couldn't do it anymore. The loving warm smiles and affection when he acheived.

"I don't care anymore." He announced with a hiccup. "I miss you, Dad, Venice, and the rest sooo much. I want to stay with you."

Trini's Mom leaned back gently and swiped an errant tear from the corner of Trini's eye. His own blue eyes glistened with unshed tears and love. "But Baby, Venice is with you. Look around."

Trini was about to ask him what he meant when the force that tugged him before yanked him out of his mother's strong arms. Trini literally tore at his Mom's robes as he screamed, "MOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Don't leave me! MOM!!!!!"

Trini's mom didn't try to hold on to Trini. His face turned into a painful smile as he gave a loving wave. Very clear to Trini's mind, he announced, "I love you my Trini!!! Give Venice and my Grandbabies all my love!"

Painfully slow, Trinidad Valentino cracked open one blurry eye. Everything hurt, his muscles, his bones, his leg, his neck, his side, his wrists...everything hurt. He tried to take in a deep painful breath and couldn't. It hurt too much. Something was still blocking his air. And to top it all off, he still couldn't see.

He cried a single painful tear...Why? Why did he have to live?

[Ninia]

Ellis was usually a cheerful man but as he worked, his expression was one a pure focus. The wound was clean, going straight into the muscle. He searched for the bullet, carefully taking it out of the leg.

Damon looked away from the doctor’s messy work and instead chose to watch the unconscious man. His brows were creased in what Damon could only guess was pain. Long black hair stuck to his face by dirt and sweat. He held onto the boys wrists, making sure he didn’t struggle.

Ellis pulled out the bullet, dropping it on the table, and quickly wiped away the fresh blood around the wound. He stitched up the wound and did his best to try and disinfect it before wrapping a bandage around it to stop the bleeding. He then moved to look at the man’s neck, seeing the dark bruise begin to form “There’s nothing I can do for that but his leg should heal if he doesn’t reopen it. We can only hope it doesn’t get infected.”

Damon nodded and Ellis went to clean up. He let go of the others wrists and sat down next to him. He grabbed a fairly clean cloth, dipped it in the water bowl nearby and gently cleaned the other’s face of sweat and mud. He was quiet as he softly moved the cloth over the man’s delicate features, studying his face. He blinked as a lone tear fell from the man’s eyes.

The man’s eyes fluttered open, revealing sky blue orbs. Damon smiled softly “Don’t panic. We’re not going to hurt you.” Damon could hear people start to gather outside the tent. He knew everyone was curious but it would just make the situation worse. Ellis obviously had the same thought because, after looking at the now awake man, he left his tent to let Lycus and the others know the man’s condition.

Damon put the cloth back in the bowl and looked back down at the man “I know you don’t trust me but try not to move, you’ll just reopen the wound on your leg.”

[chocobeast]

Venice still couldn't see. But he could hear and feel. The first thing he felt was a cool rag across his forehead like his mother had done all those many years ago when he was just a boy. He let the cool roughness soothe his pounding head.

He then heard an ever so gentle voice encourage, "Don't Panic. We're not going to hurt you."

He wondered painfully if Pico had somehow rescued him and was helping him to recover. He wanted to call out to him and cry. He just needed love, support, and kindness. But then he realized as the voice continued tlking that it wasn't Pico or anyone he knew. No one had this gentle but strange voice.

Venice meerly nodded slow and only once. It hurt too much to do more. His neck ached and so did everything else. But he did want one thing...Blindly and mutely, he reached up and touched his chapped lips. He hoped that the kind stranger would offer water to his parched lips and tongue. He knew also that if the stranger gave him too much right now, the man could drown him. But his body craved that which it had lost.

Venice hated this helpless crap. But for some reason, he was okay with the new stranger. The voice ebbbed calmness. His touch spoke of an endless gentility. And his presence spoke caring and protection. All he could hope was that the stranger was actually the real thing. That he would practice what he preached and wouldn't hurt him.