Number Wars

Leo and Strings

Quattro's P.O.V.

"How much further?" We had been walking up this mountain for a good while now, and I just wanted to be at the top already.

"We're almost there." Merag assured me.

"Good, because I want to see my Numbers." I forged ahead.

"What do we do once we reach the top?" I heard Quinton ask.

"We'll find Quattro's Numbers..." I heard Merag reply. "And the rest is up to him." I stopped and turned to them.

"You're no help." I kept going.

"Makes sense." Quinton shrugged. We all stopped once we reached the top.

"Where are my Numbers?" I asked. We all looked around.

"Quattro. What brings you here?" Said a voice. Everyone looked at me, waiting for my answer.

"I was wondering if you were all right. I got worried when you disappeared."

"How kind." The voice replied. "But we're rather busy at the moment. There's a war going on."

"Ani-sama." Said another voice. This one sounded younger. "You should rest. You're not healed yet."

"I'll be fine Strings. It's just Quattro and his friends." The first voice replied. Someone stepped out of the shadows.

"Strings?" It was a young boy, with blue hair, and gold eyes. His skin was night black, and he wore red shorts. There was two things sticking off his back on the left, and a wing came out of the right side. His Number, 40, on his wing, and he had metal braces around his legs, with a robotic right arm. The other figure also stepped out of the shadows. This one was taller, and looked older. He also had gold eyes, but had a wild, yellow mane of hair. This figure's skin was white. He wore an ankle-length cape, that was white on the outside and red on the inside, and two shoulder guards. The left one was broken, and the number had been partially scratched off. His whole left arm was armoured, and his right hand wore a metal gauntlet. His legs were also armoured, and his chest plate, along with the rest of the armour, was white to match the cape.

"Leo and Strings..." I gasped. They bore some resemblance to their Number forms, but they looked much more... humane, now.

"Yes?" Strings asked. He sounded so much younger than he looked when he was a Number. Leo was by his left side, his right hand on Strings shoulder, keeping him close.

"Are you guys all right? Have you been fighting many Numbers?" I asked them. I had noticed the plating on Leo's left shoulder was broken, and it shouldn't be. Unless someone broke it. Leo looked down at Strings, and Strings looked back up at his brother, before both of them looked back at me.

"No. We were ambushed and my older brother got hurt." Strings explained.

"Are you ok Leo? Who ambushed you?" I could feel the anger rising, and the worry as well. It was like they were fighting inside me over which one was more important; Being worried about Leo, or mad at who ambushed my Numbers.

"I'll be fine Quattro." It was like he could see the anger in me. My emotions settled down a bit. "No need to get riled up. I'm still here, right?"

"We don't know who ambushed us... It was pitch black." Strings looked down. Trey frowned behind me.

"Well, as long as you guys are all right. What side are you on?" I asked them.

"We are loyal to Astral." Leo answered. Strings nodded.

"That's good." Said Trey.

"But that means you two are going to be targets." Merag said, her voice worried. Her, and my brothers came to my side.

"We'll be fine." Strings chirped.

"Here's an idea." I thought. "Why don't you two come with us?" I took a step forward and turned to my friends. "Is that ok?" I looked at all of them to see if there was any objections.

"It's fine with me." Trey said. Merag nodded.

"I think it's a good idea." Quinton agreed. I turned back around, and Strings looked up at Leo.

"I'm not leaving unless my brother agrees." Leo sighed.

"Well, if you're all ok with it, I guess it might be worth it,"