Chapter Text
Wemmbu woke up slowly, with a throbbing head ache.
He felt weak, and tired.
He tried to wrap himself in his wings for comfort, but just felt them being held back by something.
He reached to grab whatever it was stopping them, and pulled his hands back immediately, burning pain shooting through his hands.
That woke him up, his vision finally cleared and he got up from where he was curled up.
Where was he?
He remembered the hunters, he had passed out in the burning sun.
He looked around. He was someplace dark, and…and he was in a cage!
He put his hands on the door of the cage trying to open it, but screamed when he grabbed the metal, go figure it was made out of silver because of the cores it was!
He held his hands close to himself. They were burnt even worse than what they had been, angry, red blisters appeareing, it burned like hell.
He clinched his teeth, hissing through the pain.
He tried to pull his wings once more, and realised they were bound by rope.
"Great!" He thought.
He felt exhausted, and weak. The sun had taken a lot out of him, and he hadn't eaten yesterday either.
Part of him screamed to just go back to sleep, and the other part screamed how bad of an idea that was.
“Bro, like I think it's a wake.”
“IT” Wemmbu thought, I’m a sentient being!
But that quickly left his mine as the two hunters walked inside the tent. Wemmbu squinted his eyes, raising his hand in front of him to block the light coming in through the tint door.
“Ya bro, no kidding I could hear it clear across camp.”
He scooted as far back in the cage he could without his wings touching the metal.
They walked in front of the cage, the one Mane, carrying a small lantern for light.
“So you're finally awake huh? I see weren't too smart, you think we wouldn't use a silver cage?”
Wemmbu's throat itched from hunger, he felt weak and tired, but he knew he wasn't getting any food here.
He hated himself for asking but the words left his dry mouth before he could stop himself.
“C-can I have some water?” His voice was raspy and dry.
“Water?” Mane question, puzzled.
And Wemmbu snapped; he was at his wits end; he had been kidnaped for no reason, his best and only friend could be in danger, his hands were burnt in throbbing in pain, and he had been left in the sun to bake alive!
“Ya water, you know, the clear see through odorless liquid, W-A-T-E-R!” He spelled out. “water!”
Even with the blind folded on, the man's expression looked so confused, and on any other day Wemmbu would have laughed, but not today.
“Uh… ya, Flame?”
The other, Flame, left the tint to get some.
“I didn't know vampires drink water.” Mane stated.
“We don't," Wemmbu said annoyed, being vampire hunters you'd think they'd know basic vampire knowledge.
“Vampires that drink human blood don't have to, but ones that just drink animal blood don't get enough nutrients so will drink water, and eat fruit some times to help.”
Wemmbu had stopped drinking human blood when he met Egg, partly because vampire attacks would draw in unwanted attention, and the other more personal reason no one new about, was because after meeting Egg he didn't want to hurt any more humans, because he new how he’d fill if the same happen to his friend.
In vampire culture it was laughed at, and looked down upon to just live off animals. Wemmbu could hear his sire now if he knew what he was doing, he’d be called a disgrace to the coven he came from. He had basically sealed his fate of ever becoming a coven leader, no vampires would take him seriously now.
“You only drink animal blood?”
“Ya.” it was a rare thing the main reason most did it was because they couldn't hunt. Of course Wemmbu's reason was different from most.
Flame came back with a metal canteen, and handed it to the other.
“Alright I'm make a deal with you bro, we'll give you this water but first you answer our questions."
Wemmbu thought about it for a moment, he didn't want to tell them anything, but what would it really hurt? And at the same time he really didn't have a choice, they were going to question him either way might as well get something out of it. As long as he didn't mention anything about Egg. (he still wasn't sure what they'd do if they found out about him.)
Wemmbu finally nodded in agreement.
“Okay, time to hold up your end of the deal” Mane said. “Will start with an easy one, how old are you?”
Wemmbu sighed. “I've been a vampire for 25 years, and I was in my early twenties . . . “ He thought for a moment. “twentie-two I think, I didn't really care enough to remember."
The hunters nodded, accepting the answer. “Are you still with your sire?”
“No, I was kicked out years ago.”
“Where's your new coven?"
“I don't have one.” Wemmbu answered, a little shame pouring into his words. He never joined a new coven after meeting Egg, he didn't trust other vampires around him, and he wouldn't be accepted unless claimed or turned, which Wemmbu refused to do. Just being friends with a human was against vampire law.
So Wemmbu didn't join another coven, as far as he was concerned Egg was his coven.
“You have a territory, but don't have a convent?" Flame question.
“What is this bro, 21 questions about my personal life!?”
“No I just don't trust you vampires, you all will do anything to protect each other.” Flame replied.
“Gee, I wonder why! I'm locked in a cage and was left to burn alive in the sun!” He was getting really agitated. He hadn't attacked a human in years, but he was thinking about making an exception.
“If you blood suckers didn't rib people's throats out, we wouldn't have to!” Mane growled.
“I already told you I don't do that! I live in the middle of nowhere so I can be left alone!”
“And we're just supposed to believe you?”
“Ya you're right, if I had one I wouldn't tell you, but I don't so the answer is still no!”
“Any other vampires in the area?”
“No, just me.”
“Have you claimed any humans?”
“What part of I only drinks animal blood do you not understand! Just let me go, I ant going to hurt anybody."
Mane scoffed. “Ya right bro, as soon as you get a chance you'd drain us without hesitation, without a bit of sympathy."
“You think I don't have sympathy. Bro, I’m not a heartless monster, I'm a sainted being! Just because some of my kind are bad doesn't mean we all are!”
“Whatever bro, since you answered all are questions.” He grabbed a key off a hook, and stepped in front of the cage "Don't try anything funny.” He warned, unlocking the door. Wemmbu noted the other Flame, now had a cross bow in his hands, aimed directly at him, no doubt the arrow had a silver tip.
He reached out his hands to grab the canteen, then pulled away.
“This isn't made out of silver is it?” He questioned cautiously. The canteen was a shiny metal and he couldn't tell.
“What? No bro, I'm a man of my word.”
Wemmbu decided to trust him and took the canteen, snatching it out of the mans hands.
The cool metal (that was not made out of silver) felt good on his burnt hands.
He undid the cap and chugged the water down. It didn't fully relieve the itch in his throat but it helped.
He poured some into his hands to help the burning pain, and put the cap back on.
“Alright then.” The hunter said, turning to leave. The two hunters both walked out taking the lantern with them leaving Wemmbu alone in the dark. He really should be trying to escape, think of a way out, a plan, but he was to exhausted, he was in pain, hungry, and just wanted to curl up and to sleep.
against his will his eye lids when shut, and fell asleep with the cool canteen grasped him his hands.
***
Egg had followed the hunters to their camp; those lessons Wemmbu had given him in fighting and stealth came in handy.
He had kept his distance, and was afraid he had lost them a few times.
But he wouldn't, couldn't let them get away with Wemmbu, he was too weak to defend himself, (luckily they had put a blanked over the cag to block any more sun) and if he didn't get him out soon, Egg knew they'd kill him, it didn't matter if he was hurting anybody or not.
Their camp was small with a few tints, one they had taken his friend in, at least he was better out of the sunlight, he thought.
A camp fire in the sinter, some crates of supplies, and a small wagon where a few horses were tethered to a tree.
There were also multiple traps, cages, nets, and other stuff used to hunt vampires.
The sight of it just made Eggs anger rise; his friend had done nothing wrong to deserve all this!
They were happy and living in peace together, and Egg would be damned if some low life hunters were going to ruin that.
Egg had his bow with the silver tipped arrows for use against vampires; it was his best weapon; he also had a few silver knives and daggers he had grabbed.
Unfortunately when he left he wasn't thinking, and didn't grab anything Wemmbu could use. All these Weapons had been gotten with the mine of protecting him from rogue vampires.
He was ripped away from his thoughts when he heard a scream, Wemmbus scream. It sounded like he was yelling in pain.
Egg wanted to run and help his friend, save him from what was ever happening, but didn't when he saw the hunters going towards the tint.
He had to play it smart. He wasn't the best fighter, and if he was screaming that mint at least he was alive.
Egg climbed one of the large oak trees when he saw the hunter go into the tint they had taken Wemmbu in; he could hear them talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. No more screams came, and he couldn't tell if he was more grateful for Wemmbu’s, or his sake.
Not too long later the one hunter wearing black and red came out of the tint, and went into another, coming back out with something he couldn't quite make out. Egg’s vision sucked.
He went back in, Egg heard more talking that he still couldn't make out. Finally they came out and went about doing chores around camp.
Egg popped his head back deeper into the tree's leaves to hide, leaning back on the trunk while sitting on a large branch.
He had his bow in hand loaded with an arrow. His hands were shaking slightly while he held it tight.
He let out a deep sigh.
He had no idea what he was going to do! His best, and only friend was going to die soon if he didn't do something quick!
He just hoped Wemmbu was strong enough to walk when he got to him, maybe fly?
He peered out at the hunters, doing chores around camp.
He decided he’d wait for them to go to sleep, then sneak in and save Wemmbu, and then get out!
Egg leaned back against the tree. It was already mid-day and it was getting hot. He was already tired from the miles he had followed the hunters and once night came, he was going to need his energy, so he closed his eyes to get some rest, bow tight in his hands.
He dozed off, completely hiding in the branches of the tree.
***
A few hours after dark Egg made his move, he had waited an hour after the hunter headed to bed to make sure they were asleep.
He carefully made his way down the tree as quiet as possible, every little sound felt like glass shattering.
He tiptoed his way around to the tint Wemmbu was in, watching the others just in case the hunters emerged.
He pushed open the door, soft light from a lantern poured out, and he saw a large cage in the middle with Wemmbu curled asleep inside.
He walked in quietly crouching in front of the cage, with closer inspection he could tell it was made of silver.
Hot anger started building again, but he calmed himself, he needed to get Wemmbu out!
He still looked pale, and he was clutching something in his hands tight, a canteen? But with a closer look he could see his hands were dark red. He had been burned by the silver, that must have been when he heard him scream.
When Egg got his hands on those hunters!
“Wemmbu?” He whispered. “Wemmbu wake up bro.”
Wemmbu jolted awake with a gasp.
“Calm down bro, it's just me.”
“Egg?” Wemmbu whisperer shouted, calming down “what are you doing here? The hunters . . .”
“Relax bro, I know, they're asleep right now.”
Wemmbu sighed in relief.
“The key” He said “it's on a hook over there.” He said, pointing.
Egg rushed over and grabbed it, crouching back down undoing the lock, swinging the door open.
Wemmbu crawled out trying to stand, but his knees gave out on him.
Egg caught him by the shoulders. “Are you good bro?” Egg asked, worry in his eyes.
“Ya, I'm fine.” He said roughly, having to lean on Egg to stand. “I'm just weak from the sun, can you get my wings un bound?” exhaustion bled into his words, his knees shaking slightly.
Egg reached to un do the coures ropes, letting them fall to the ground.
“Okay lets go.” Egg said, throwing Wemmbu's arm over his shoulder to help him walk. “You're going to have to tell me where to go, I can't see anything.” Egg said, implying to Wemmbu's crazy vampire night vision.
They made their way out of the tint and towards the deep woods back home, Egg supporting Wemmbu the whole way.
They made it back right before the sun rose.
***
Egg sat Wemmbu down in the living room.
“Wait here I'll be back.”
They were both completely drained, Eggs shoulders and legs aced from supporting the extra wait of Wemmbu's body, and Wemmbu was clearly exhausted and weak, (even if he denied it, and said he was fine) not to mention the awful burns on his hands.
Egg made his way down stairs to the basement, Wemmbus part of the house. It was nice, and kinda cozy, it had its own little sitting section with a comfy coach, book shelf. In the corner was a large bed with purple blankets.
It even had its own kitchen, and frig for obvious reasons.
Egg opened the frig. Grabbed one of the glass wine bottles that was filled with dark liquid, and headed back up stairs.
He stopped in the bath room and grabbed a med kit, and to his freezer and grabbed an ice pack. Then went back to Wemmbu who was slumped in his chair trying to fight sleep.
“Here bro.” He handed him the ice pack, Wemmbu grabbed it, instant relief washing over his face as it calmed the angry burning on his hands.
Egg sat next to him. “Bro what happened?” He asked as he opened the med kit, grabbed a tub of burn cream and un-screwed it.
“Well basically, I got caught in one of their traps, go figure the thing was made of silver so I couldn't get out.” Wemmbu said, with a scow. “Then they left me in the sun until I passed out, then took me to where you found me. How did you find me anyway?”
Egg began rubbing the burn cream on Wemmbu's hands gently, the angry red started to calm. “I went looking for you when you didn't come back, found you when the hunters were putting you in that cage, followed you and waited till dark to get you out.”
“Why didn't they kill you anyway?”
“Something about using me as bait to trap the rest of my coven?”
“Bro, that's messed up.” Egg grabbed the wine bottle he had set down, and un-did the cork and handed it to Wemmbu.
Wemmbu grabbed it. “Thanks bro.” He said, before taking a small drink, the noaing hunger settling a bit.
“No problem bro, have to repay the favor after all the time you saved me.”
Wemmbu chuckled at that, taking another drink.
“So what are we going to do?” Egg asked.
“Well they questioned me, didn't seem to know anything about you or this cabin, so that's good.” He sighed. “We might need to leave."
“Bro, and go where? It's almost daytime, and you're in no shape to go anywhere. If we run into anybody else there is nothing you can do! ”
“Ya, your right but if they do come, stay hidden I'm not sure what they'll do if they find out about you.”
Egg settled in the chair opposite of him, and they talked a while about really nothing, just enjoying each other's company while Wemmbu finished eating.
After that Egg helped Wemmbu to bed, he had regain some of his strength after eating, his skin turning back closer to its normal shade, and his hands to a light pink instead of an angry red, but he still didn't trust him going down a set of stairs, so against his friends complaint he helped him down and into bed.
Egg headed to his room exhausted, grateful that his friend was back safe and sound; he doesn't know what he would have done if he lost him.
Outside as the sun rose over the mounts casting gentle rays of orange, the two hunters stocked the cabin.