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This journey was cursed to ruin from the very beginning.
Amphoreus, a world that the silver rail had not been to, a world that the data bank had no information on, a world that was brought to their attention by a Memokeeper.
Dan Heng was going with them this time. He's the guard of the Astral Express, he cannot stand to see his companions in danger when he is not there to protect them. Yes, Caelus and March can take care of themselves, but-
He can't stay on the train this time.
And so, they warp jump, and March is bedridden. Dan Heng has theories, -- Six-Phase Ice and amnesia are tricks of the Remembrance, are they not? -- but that is all they are. He cannot prove them if he does not have the evidence to back up his claims.
He and Caelus climb into the emergency car by themselves for this journey. They sleep (He's lying), before they are hit, and sent crashing to the ground.
Dan Heng wakes to an apology and Caelus' face incredibly close to his own, almost a mirror of the first day they met. He would laugh, if they weren't in possible danger.
They walk, they discover, they walk some more, then they fight.
They fight, and they fight, until Dang Heng and Caelus are forced away from the enemies via a weapon they have never seen before.
A man with white hair comes into the scene, disarming Caelus. Dan Heng tries to strike, but-
Cloud-Piercer is sliced into two.
Cloud-Piercer has been sliced into two.
He wants to fall to his knees and cradle her in his arms, he truly does. He's had nightmares of things like this happening, nightmares, so why is he standing there calmly like nothing has happened?
The man that did this, he doesn't know if he's said his name yet, stands there and talks like nothing is wrong. His words are muffled, and he just looks at Cloud-Piercer.
He does end up falling to his knees by her. The talking stops, but he doesn't register them watching him as he does exactly what his instincts are telling him -- gather, cradle, keep, hide. Hide so she doesn't get more damaged, hide so he can return her to the Luofu, hide so that he doesn't lay a hand on her.
He's shifted to the Imbibitor Lunae. He does not know this, but the others see it, and his companion starts seriously panicking, now. The man and the child stare at him in awe as the other stims in nervousness.
His tail flicks back and forth. It had felt like a piece of him had shattered when she broke. How could this have happened...? This... This is his fault.
He lifts his head slowly. He did not know he was crying, but now he feels the tears streak down his face as he faces the man. His tail still flicks in agitation, and his eyes are filled with emotions that he doesn't normally show.
Not agitation. Rage. This man damaged his weapon. Even if Cloud-Piercer can be mended, she will forever have a weak spot where she was injured.
If he is growling, he doesn't hear it over his racing thoughts. He needs to get this man out of his sight. He needs him gone. He needs her in one piece. He needs-
There's a flash of gray and gold in his vision before it settles into his companion's face. Warm hands cup his cheeks and bring their foreheads together. He's breathing deeply, and he mimics, not realizing he was on his way to hyperventilating.
Closing his eyes, he focuses on the sensations. Cloud-Piercer in his arms, Caelus' hands on his face, Caelus' forehead against his, the cold concrete on his knees, the pulses of the Stellaron...
Dan Heng's breathing evens out, and he reigns in the Imbibitor, returning to his human mask. He feels Caelus wiping away his tears, before departing from the headbutt, and looking Dan Heng in the eyes.
Caelus' golden irises swirl in a rhythm that matches the pulsing of his Stellaron, creating this almost hypnotic movement. Dan Heng calms more, and finally returns to the rest of the world around them.
They stand and return to the others, Dan Heng looking at the ground sheepishly, standing slightly behind Caelus while the others continue conversing.
This is not the end for his Cloud-Piercer. She has been through previous reincarnations, and he will make sure he is not her last.
"Dan" is not carved on her for shits and giggles, after all.