The Paladin's Hatred of the Sun (Explicit Violence)

 An alfar woman leaned against layers of stone, bleeding from a wound that refused to heal. Vulpine knew she needed to be quick, or their enemy would find that abandoned animal den. The longer they waited to get the ranger to safety, the more her life ticked away. The battle mage's teeth sunk into her cheek; the reinforcements should be here by now. Vulpine struggled to get up. The alfar reached and grabbed her hand tightly. 

"You'll die," she murmured. 

"I'll die inside if I lose you anyways, Ladia," Vulpine muttered, turning around and caressing her cheek. Her forehead pressed against the blonde's, a confident smile on the mage's face as her lips met the alfar's. "I will save you. Just hold on. Help is on the way. Focus on breathing and stopping that bleeding." 

Vulpine went on the move, grabbing her greatsword and running away from their hiding spot. The human woman made a reasonable distance for someone injured, the soldiers spotting her and chasing after her. They all ran past her fallen comrades, her heart racing in her throat. She had no plan, only knowing she needed to protect her. Vulpine had to wait until the others got here. Suddenly stopping as she passed a body, she slid across the ground and dropped her blade as she grabbed a javelin jammed in the dirt. The woman pulled it out with all her strength and threw it with all her might. It sailed through the air. It pierced through one of the man's shoulders, sending him backward, blood spewing from the blow. Vulpine picked up her weapon, launching herself back up towards another soldier. A war cry leaped from her throat, her body shaking from the pain of her wounds. She slashed upward, sending the warrior sliding back from the blow. 

A soldier sneaks from behind and grazes her side. The woman winced, opening a deep wound on her back more as she twisted her body and cut him down with a side swing. The other man comes with her back to him as she collapses to one knee. Her eyes shut tightly, waiting for the blow that never comes. An arrow flies from the darkness of the trees, followed by the crash of two bodies. Vulpine head bolts to the side, Ladia's bow dropping as she slumped against the tree. The man on the forest floor choked on his blood as the arrow pierced through his neck. Vulpine ignored her pain, dragging her sword as she limped to the alfar woman. 

"Ladia, why? You shouldn't be moving." Vulpine felt angry at her for disobeying, yet she couldn't stay that way with the weak smile the blonde gave her. The human's heart cracked. 

"Don't give me that look. We still have time. They will be here soon." The alfar smiled weakly again, opening her mouth yet hesitating to speak.

"Vul.. you know they aren't coming. Stop being so reckless."  

The silence stretched between them as Vulpine's hands moved to rip a piece of the alfar woman's clothes. Her hands trembled as she pressed the cloth against Ladia's stomach wound. Applying pressure, the battle mage looked at her in the eyes. Had the alfar always been this.. delicate?

"They'll be here. They will. Salarios will guide them to us."  Tears rolled down Ladia's face as she shook her head. Her cold hands reached for Vulpine's hands softly. Ladia's hand looked so much smaller than the human hand...so weak. 

"Vulpine, please."

Vulpine gave a reassuring smile, pulling out her sun amulet. She started muttering a prayer, eyes shutting before being surprised by Ladia's lips against hers. Tears began to pour down the alfar's face, the water hitting Vulpine's face as they held that deep kiss. 

"Vulpine, enough. You don't have to be the brave one every single time. Hold me. Just stay here with me for now." Ladia pulled Vulpine into her arms. The mage's eyes went wide, tears free-falling from her face. The human's arms wrapped around Ladia's waist, the alfar leaning against the tree as she held her. Vulpine started to sob. "I love you, Vulpine. I will always love you." 

"No, I don't want the world to turn without. I... I don't want the sun to burn without you. I need more time with you. Please. Please! SALARIOS, HEAR ME, PLEASE! Ladia, don't leave me. I love you! SAVE HER!"

Silence. Vulpine bolted up, grabbing the alfar woman with her hands. The woman's head slumped, and her eyes shut with a peaceful expression. The human softly shook her shoulders, a lump in her throat. There was no response. 

"No, no, no. Please no. Please, please. Come on. Come on! Just once more, give me the power to heal her one more. Please! Just once more!"  Vulpine tried to focus on her connection with Salarios. Just a little magical energy. Just a little bit of his power. Just a little. Just enough to save her! 

"It would take just a drop of your will. Just a single drop. Have I not done enough for you!? Have I not killed enough people for you!? HAVE I FORSAKEN ANY INNOCENTS!? WHY FORSAKE THIS INNOCENT!? SALARIOS! SALARIOS PLEASE! PLEASE!"  Vulpine's screams reached no one. Her breath was heavy. More silence followed as she pulled the body close to her. Cradling it as she sobbed, forgetting all about her own wounds. 

"I don't want to live without you. I.. I will... destroy the sun without you." Vulpine muttered, her grip tightening. "Mercy for the weak. Liar. Murder is not good. It is evil, yet I murdered in your name. Hypocrite! Compassion? Where is yours!? YOU LIAR!" The hatred devoured her sadness. 

"You dare speak ill of our mother?" A deep voice called. "When you have been so indecent with a woman and an alfar as a human? Have you no shame?" 

Something inside Vulpine snapped. Her head slowly rose to look at the reinforcements. The commander sat upon his horse, with the holy knights behind him with their bows and swords drawn and aimed in her direction. So this was what this was about? This is why Ladia died? Was Vulpine to blame? Vulpine looked between her dead lover and the other battle mage. 

"So what if she's a woman and an alfar? Why does my relationship with her matter to you? I do my job. I follow the teachings. What does the holy mother care about me and Ladia? Of our love?" Vulpine hissed her words, the man raising an eyebrow at that comment. 

"Modesty. She cares for modesty." He hummed the words