Breath of Fire VI (Avarice Fanfic)

[Avarice]

I hope you all like this, the styling will not translate well to this format though.

Rated R: Strong language, Exreme violence, and adult humor.

Chapter 1: The Return

The storm was ferocious as it blew over the Cedar Woods. He woke quickly, staggering in a sleepy haze over to shut the door, blown open by the hellish winds. Behind him in the bed beside his own, a blonde haired woman muttered something and sat up, as sleepy as he. “Ryu?” She muttered, “What’s going on?”
Ryu turned to face Nina with a crooked, sleepy grin. “Door came open… storm’s really bad.” He yawned, stretching and popping his fingers. She offered him something of a smile before flopping back down and presumably going right back to sleep. He had to smile, mainly because she hadn’t slept well at all when she first came to live here with them.
…’Them’ being himself and Rei, the Woren man who had taken him in as an orphaned child and raised him. He passed by the foot of Nina’s bed and glanced down to her dress, which was folded neatly and lying on the chest that contained most all of her belongings; and bent down to examine the purple stone set on the chest of the red ferment.
It was cracked. A sign of all they had been through, through most all of their lives. He, the orphaned waif… she, the Princess of Wyndia.

…Now exiled from her homeland; for the sake of his friendship.

Ryu frowned and suddenly, wasn’t very sleepy anymore. He glanced over to see that Rei was still asleep in his bed in the far corner of the room; and then turned his attention over to the fourth member of their little family… a woman by the name of Momo.
Not wanting to wake any of them up, Ryu grabbed his shirt and made his way downstairs. He couldn’t tell what time it was for the storm; but he knew it was late in the night. Sitting at the table in the room below their bedroom, he rested his chin in his palm and stared out the window. The lightning flashed violently, the thunder shook their tree-top hut, and the wind seemed to sing a dirge.
…But from behind came soft footsteps. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Nina in her nightgown. “What are you doing up?” She asked, flinching as the next roll of thunder… just as loud as the one that had woken her up, hit. “The storm woke me,” He explained with something of a smile, “Don’t you remember? I had to get up and shut the door.”
Nina nodded absently and came to sit beside him, to lay her head on his shoulder. “I saw you looking at my dress… what was wrong?” She asked, “Was there a spider on it, or something?”
“The stone, it’s cracked.” Ryu explained with another heavy yawn. “Oh, yeah… that happened when I went back to the castle, after we got back from the lost shore.” Nina replied with a frown, “I fell trying to get to the teleport.”
Ryu lowered his gaze. He felt so guilty! She had gone back home, to try and make amends with her mother… only to find that, because she had chosen to go with him and their other friends, that she was no longer welcome. Sheila, as her mother was named, had apparently had enough of her daughter’s transgressions.
“I’m sorry.” He said quietly, looking away. “For what?” She asked, turning his face around gently. “For all I’ve done to you,” Ryu explained with a sad frown, “I am the reason you’re not welcome home anymore… I am to blame.”
Nina managed a weak grin. “I’m happier this way, being Nina. Not being the Princess of Wyndia.” She said simply, “It isn’t your fault. How many times do I have to tell you that, Ryu?” “…Besides, my big sister is coming back to take my place there, so I don’t have to worry about Wyndia anymore.”
Ryu gawked… even though he’d known about her ‘secret’ sibling for over six months now, after her exile. She hadn’t said a word for as long as he had known her; and that was saying something, considering they had just been little children when they first met. He was never, ever going to get over the shock. “So… Serenity, she will become the Princess then?”
“Yes. And eventually Queen, whenever… um… whenever our parents pass away and she is married.” Nina answered with a slow nod, “Maybe she’ll let me come back to visit then. I hope so; but I’m sure my mother has already started running my name through the mud, now.”
Ryu lowered his gaze. “I wish things were different.”
“Don’t we all?” Nina replied with a shrug; “But it is what it is; and there is nothing any of us can do about it. That’s fine, as far as I am concerned… as long as Wyndia is safe in the hands of my sister… I’ll be fine.”
Even if it wouldn’t be, Nina thought, I was and I am too selfish to sacrifice my life for my people.
That wasn’t it… but, that was her thought process on the matter. Ryu would have argued with her to the bitter end, she knew… which was why she didn’t say anything to him about it. “Rei says he found a back-road to Wyndia, through the heart of the forest, you know.” She said instead of voicing her torment, “Maybe he wouldn’t mind sending messages back-and-forth between myself and my sister, you think?”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind that at all.” Ryu replied; “But then again you never know.”
Nina nodded. “I’d go with him if he wanted me too. It would only be fair, after all… he doesn’t owe me anything.” She sighed, “Actually I guess I’m the one in debt here. I can’t ask anything of you guys…”
“…Nina, you can ask whatever you want of me, of any of us.” Ryu replied with a strong grip on her shoulder. Nina replied with a smile that made him blush and turned her gaze towards a coffee maker in the corner… an old metal one they had to put over the stove to make their coffee. “How about some coffee?” She asked, pushing away from the table and rising to stretch, her small wings stretching out with her arms. “A good cup would do me wonders right now.” Ryu declared with a renewed sense of happiness as he rose and made his way off with her.
Oh Boy, He thought as she stopped and glanced back at him, Here we go again with the game.
‘The game’ being an increasingly frequent series of flirtations between them, mostly started and always finished by Nina. “Ryu…” She said, “Will you show me again how to work this thing?”

Ryu swallowed hard and nodded.

…Upstairs, then, did Rei wake. The thunder had literally bounced him out of bed! “Oh, damn…” He muttered, rubbing the back of his head as he picked himself up off the floor and looked around… to find Ryu and Nina’s beds empty. To the side, Momo was startled by the thump he made and sat up like a bolt of lightning.
“What’s going on!?” She asked, glancing around rapidly and grabbing the bazooka sitting beside her bed. “Easy!” Rei exclaimed, ducking as she turned it on him, “I fell outta bed! Sheesh!”
Momo breathed a heavy sigh of relief; but her nose began twitching. She was a member of the Grassrunner clan; and could smell the coffee below with her dog-like nose… the only thing, other than her large purple-furred ears, that told of her race. “They’re down there making coffee; and they didn’t wake us up!” She huffed, ears standing on end in anger. “It isn’t even morning yet, either.” Rei added as he stretched and grabbed his old vest, “Let’s go crash their party…”
…Back downstairs, Ryu’s entire face was red as he reached around Nina, holding her hands and guiding them to do what needed to be done. “What’s wrong?” She asked with a giggle, “You’ve got a really goofy look on your face, Ryu.”
Ryu swallowed. “I’m fine. Just… just tired, that’s all.” He muttered in response. “Oh, ok.” She replied with an all-too innocent grin… shortly before blowing him over in fright as Rei started banging on the wall as he came to the bottom of the stairwell.
“Doesn’t this just beat all?” He asked rather sarcastically, leaning against the wall and grinning like the devil, “Trying to make some coffee and love at the same time there, Ryu?”

Ryu’s gawk was priceless, as he aimlessly poured water out on the counter like a fool in his distraction.

“…Yeah,” Rei went on as he pushed off the wall and made his way over to the table, hands held up ‘helplessly’, “I kinda thought that, y’know, you’d wake us up if you were making coffee; but I guess that wasn’t all you were up to.”
Nina scowled and blushed to the side. “Shut up, Rei. He was just showing me how to make the coffee again! Go back to bed!” She barked, stamping her foot. “How many times do we have to show you how to make coffee?” Momo asked sleepily as she came to sit at the table, “I showed you again yesterday.”
“Well… I forget!” Nina huffed, crossing her arms and giving Rei the most evil look she could muster as he methodically made his way over to Ryu… who by that time had realized what he had done and was holding the container out the window to collect rainwater.
“So,” Rei sighed, leaning against the – dry – section of counter with his back and glancing over to his blushing friend, “What’s this all about here? I thought you two were ‘just friends’.”
“We are.” Ryu muttered quietly, trying to ignore him. “Ah-huh.” Rei chuckled with a glance to his nails, “Ok. I understand now, thanks…” “…And hey, make some for all of us, eh?”
Ryu glanced over his shoulder with a frown as Rei made his way back over to the table and sighed. Nina was kind enough to light the fire for him… of course not without a little ‘Woo’ from Rei; and within the next twenty minutes they were all enjoying their coffee… and the sunrise.
“…So what are we going to do today?” Nina asked, moving to the window as she finished her coffee to see the horrid storm was moving away. “We’ve got to go hunting, or something.” Rei answered with a frown, “We’re running out of food; and McNeil village is run by Wyndia nowadays, so we probably can’t go there.”

Momo sighed. “We haven’t tried, though. How can we know if we don’t try?”

[Avarice]

(Continuation)

“We can’t; but doing things the hard way is better than spending hard time in Wyndia’s dungeons.” Rei replied with a shrug and a glance to Ryu. “I’ll do some fishing off the bridge,” Ryu said, not about to talk about his stint in the dungeons. “I guess I’ll tidy up the house, then.” Nina offered, turning around and stretching, “I’m going to go get dressed… you guys better stay down here!”
Rei rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Being told what to do in my own house. Guess that’s what I get for letting royalty move in.” He sighed as she walked past. “Hey, it’s just decency.” Nina replied with a frown, “Pervert.”
“…Hey, I’m not the one that’ll be sneaking up there. That’ll be Ryu.” Rei chuckled with a wave of his hand, “Right, old buddy?”
Ryu gave him a look and shook his head when Nina turned her gaze over too him. “I gotta go set my rod up.” He informed Rei with a frown, “New string and everything, you know.”

…The only response he got was a chuckle. A rather lewd chuckle.

* * *

His walk was masculine with a touch of elegance and grace, derivative of royalty. His appearance was of perfection… dark perfection. He wore black armor and a deep blue cape that trailed the dusty ground behind him as he led his slaves to the top of the last hill separating him from the land and the people that had rejected him, the people that would soon pay dearly for their insolence.

…At long last, twenty years after he had been cast away at the hands of his mother and father for the sake of an ancient omen, Damien had returned to Wyndia.

Black wings, full and strong, spread wide as he came to see the city and the castle that had so coldly betrayed him for the sake of his wings. His cold, blue-green eyes burned with pure hatred as he stared it down. Behind him, the cat-like Worens cowered in fear, sensing his wrath as keenly as his magical grip on their minds.
“So at last,” He said, voice strong and rich with the tone of dignity and power that came from his regal heritage, “I return home, at last, Wyndia lies before me.”
Turning to the chieftain of the Worens, a seven-foot tall wall of muscle, he made a fist and brought the proud man to his knees with a hellish grip of power over his mind. “It is now time to put your people to use, Dezben.” Damien informed the Woren man with an evil smile, “You beast folk will prove quiet useful. Yes, indeed…” “…Heh. You should be honored I even allowed you fur-lickers to live. You understand your purpose?”
“…To kill all Wyndians.” The Woren man replied, almost robotically. “Yes, except for?” Damien went on, crossing his arms arrogantly. “Serenity, Sheila, and King Wyndia himself.” Dezben continued, head bowing under the pressure of Damien’s mind control.
Damien jolted him for a mistake, dropping the poor man to his face in the dirt. “…And all those that have wings!” He snarled, “Pathetic, fur-licking fool! Go forth and die, let none of the Wingless survive be they man, woman, or child! Bring the city to its very knees!”
Raising his index and middle fingers, Damien’s power forced each and every one of the fifty some-odd Woren slaves he had collected on his journey home to transform. Every single one of them became massive, deadly beasts.
With a bone-chilling laugh, Damien pointed to the city… and under his influence, the tigers charged off down the hill and to the road in frenzy. A caravan bringing goods from the Dauna region was obliterated within minutes… with every last guard, merchant, and driver left in piles of blood and gore. Not one in-tact body was left.
“…That’s right…” Damien chuckled, following slowly and casually stepping over the innards of a large man and the axe that lay near his torn and shredded body, “Do what you do best, you Woren scum.”
The guardsmen at Wyndia’s gates were totally unprepared for the wrath of the Woren tigers. They braced their spears against the wall and called for the gate to raise; but even as the men atop the wall began to draw the bridge up, the tigers began leaping. One cleared the bridge and landed atop the left wheel, slashing the head off the man operating effortlessly, raining blood from the stump left behind down on guardsmen below.
On the ground below, outside, a tiger was slain as it impaled itself on the spear of the left guard. The right didn’t get lucky enough to take one with him, as Dezben’s almighty jaws bit the head off his spear shortly before his lengthy arms reached out and grabbed the man’s arm. A shriek of agony followed, as Dezben’s claws sank into his flesh; but that scream only intensified when the tiger tore his arm straight off his body… and was silenced only when Dezben crushed the man’s skull… helmet and all… in his jaws.
In the city proper, the tigers filled the streets. The walls, they were not nearly high enough to keep them out. Men, women, and children fled in horror; but nothing could stop the onslaught. Guardsmen managed to kill five near the gates, bringing the death toll of their enemy to six; but they were all slaughtered quickly after their meager victories.
…And then came the legion. They rushed down from the palace with grim and determined faces, firing a volley of arrows that rained down viciously on the tigers, killing ten. The forces collided viciously in the café. Civilians and tourists of all genders and ages found themselves fleeing for the lives… to no avail. The tigers inevitably caught up with them and tore them apart, spreading severed limbs and tattered bodies across the grounds, flooding the drains with the blood of the Wyndian people.
Dezben by this time was soaked in blood, completely covered. The commander of the Wyndia legion alone was brave enough to take a singular stand against him. “Away, beast!” The brave man roared, bringing his bastard sword to bear, “I shall slay thee in the name of the King!”

Dezben snarled, dropping his latest kill to the ground.

…To the Commander’s horror, it was his son. “No!” He roared in despair, charging in blind rage. Dezben swatted his sword aside effortless, it wasn’t sharp enough to penetrate his thick hide; and with his other claw slashed the man across the face, taking his right eye and opening a new mouth across his left cheek.
Falling, the last thing the man saw before Dezben stepped on his head was his son’s eyes… dilated in death.
Behind it all, Damien spread his black wings and flew over the wall… shortly before obliterating it and the gate below with a hellish bolt of lightning. The explosion drew the attention of the legion doing battle with his slaves; and in horror they began to realize the true depth of the evil that was upon them.

“Damien!” One of the men cried in horror, “Damien is here! Fall back! Fall back!”

Had a tiger not ripped out his throat, he would have kept calling for the retreat, he might have even managed to save a few lives… at least, momentarily. Damien flew above the chaos and began laughing manically, both hands glowing with energy as twin balls off fire appeared above his palms.
…Raising his arms into the air, Damien cast Comet. Fiery stones from the heavens appeared from nothingness, raining down like hell upon the city. Buildings were obliterated, others caught fire, and every single member of that brave platoon that had come forth to fight the weretigers… and many of the weretigers themselves, were slain.
Damien laughed manically as his spell ended. Sure, he’d probably killed over half of his slaves; but they were nothing more than Woren scum, their lives… like the lives of the soldiers that opposed him and the innocent civilians, were inconsequential.
On the ground, Dezben looked up at Damien with the purity of hatred burning in his eyes; but could not, nor could he ever, resist the monster’s hold on his mind. He let out a roar of frustration and pain, aware of what he was doing and hating himself for his weakness… but, like a loyal dog… he kept going. He led his fellow Worens right up to the second level of the city, which like the first had been decimated by Damien’s magic… what few people were left, were slaughtered.
Damien landed again then, ahead of his slaves and at the doors of castle Wyndia. The pair of guardsmen defending the door advanced; but he erased the right-hand man with a flick of his wrist. The left guard swung for Damien’s head with his sword; but the black-winged tyrant ducked it easily, drawing his black and serrated sword through the man’s torso and effectively halving him without a trace of effort.
By then, Dezben arrived with the fifteen-or-so weretigers left; but Damien held up his hand. “You go no further, prowl the city and snuff the life out of any survivors, bring me any winged man, woman, or child you find later.” Damien ordered with a grin, “Those within this castle… their lives belong to me; and are mine to take.”

Dezben did not… could not… argue.

Satisfied as his slaved rushed back down the steps to the ruins of the city below, Damien turned to the doors… they were barred from the other side. “Hmph,” He chuckled with a shake of his head, “You honestly think you can stop me?”
…If they did before, they did no longer when he crushed them with the power of his magic, killing two men waiting on the other side. He followed that up with a fireball that erased the group of soldiers rushing to try and stop him.
Twenty years had passed since last he sat foot in castle Wyndia. He felt a rush of nostalgia like no other as he stepped inside and over the wrecked doors and the burned bodies of the men standing behind and beyond. His fireball had set the furniture, and tapestries ablaze, along with any and all other fabric and wooden objects within… including the thrones.

[Avarice]

(Final of Chapter 1)

Damien wasn’t surprised that his parents were not there, burning alive with the rest of the men and women present. He knew that they were surely fleeing for the basement, where they could escape via the dungeons to the catacombs below, the old escape route, as it were.
...But to his surprise, that was not the case. As he neared the thrones, a man in golden armor leapt out from behind a column to his left and swung for his neck with a sword of matching color. He spun and ducked beneath the blade, stabbing the fool that had dared to try and ambush him through the back of his head, killing him instantly.

“…Vincent!”

Damien paused. Her voice hadn’t changed at all.

Sheila and the King stepped out from behind the corner, a pair of large men bearing axes flanking them protectively. For all the smoke and fire, they could not make out who their assailant was.
...At least until he stepped through it as if it weren’t there. His face, so devilishly handsome, was revealed to them as the veil of smoke and ash parted in his wake. With a wall of fire burning behind him, Damien revealed himself. His eyes glowed in the shadows cast by the fire, only adding to the terror of his image as the King and Queen alike staggered backwards in horror.
“Damien…” The King breathed in horror, holding his chest in disbelief. Damien raised his gaze in response, slowly and methodically. “Yes… father…” He said quietly…

“…It is I.”

* * *

Ryu reeled the blue-gill in with a sigh and shook his head. “Another small fry…” He sighed, tossing it in a bucket of water Nina had collected for him, to store the fish before they filleted them. “Oh well, we’ve got a dozen so far…” She said, coming to sit beside him, “That ought to do us well if Rei and Momo manage to get a good boar.”
…Fat chance of that happening. Rei’s daggers tore an X down the flank of the Nue they’d caught feasting on a deer. The beast wasn’t much to him; but he could remember a time a Nue like this one had been fairly hard to handle! Momo shot the thing in the face and blew it backwards into a tree… a kill-shot; but Rei wasn’t going to take any chances with a sneak attack… so he stabbed it with both daggers and heaved the carcass aside with a sigh of strain.
“Shew… those things are so ugly.” Momo sighed, leaning on her bazooka and shaking her head in dismay. “I just want to know why they keep showing up here.” Rei replied with a frown, as he knelt down to examine the pads on the bottom of its feet, “This Nue came from, probably, the east side of Mt. Glaus. I could understand that one coming all those years ago in the drought, when harvest was so poor; but I can’t understand them coming over on this side in times of plenty.”
Momo looked around. What in the world was plentiful? Oh, maybe he was still comparing every season to that dire time in the past. “Is it edible?” She asked with a frown, pushing her glasses back up her nose. “No, no way.” Rei gagged with a shake of his head, “Sheesh, you’d eat anything!”
“No I wouldn’t! If it was gross, I wouldn’t eat it.” Momo huffed, hands finding her hips immediately. “Heh, yeah…” Rei chuckled, waving at her dismissively after he put his daggers away. “Let’s just go home. We’ll get Ryu and Nina and go to McNeil to buy supplies.” Momo offered with a grin, “If they chase us off, they chase us off… no big deal for you, right?”

Rei grinned back. “Nope.”

…Ryu was tossing back a puny, laughable fish when they returned. “Hey, guys!” Nina said happily, holding up Ryu’s bucket of fish. “Hey. I see you guys didn’t catch much, too busy with other things.” Rei responded, one of his canines glistening in the sunlight as Nina began to scowl at him. “Will you just let that stupid thing go? You’re not funny, Rei!” Nina barked, “Ryu! Tell him!”
“Better do as she says, man.” Rei said immediately, before Ryu could even blink, “She is your girlfriend after all. Gotta do what the lady says, right?”
Even Momo had to laugh at them; but their laughter faded as a rustling in the undergrowth behind the Grassrunner began to sound out loudly. Spinning with her bazooka ready to fire, Momo readied herself for battle.
…But then, Peco hopped out of the bushes; and the frown on her face turned upside down with joy. “Peco! You’ve come back!” She said happily, kneeling down and hugging him tightly… or as best she could, considering he was four-feet worth of giant mutant… onion.
Peco could not speak any known language; but that didn’t mean he could not understand them; and though they understood not a word of his gibberish, they all seemed to know what he was trying to get across. He was happy to see them too!
“We’re going to McNeil, Peco. Do you want to go with us?” Momo asked, glancing back to Rei, who in turn nodded to confirm what she had said to Nina and Ryu. “But… aren’t you worried about it?” Nina asked, “I mean… I’m the one who got Wyndia involved with the village…”
Momo held up her hands helplessly. “We can’t find a single thing to eat anymore; and those fish are puny… that whole bucket might feed two of us; but that’s it.” She replied with a frown, “We’ve got to try. Besides, we can always run away if things get… well, ugly.”
“…I guess that’s right; but…” Nina sighed sadly; “But… I mean, I don’t want to cause you guys any problems… I’ve done enough already.”
Ryu’s arm draped across her shoulders in supporting fashion. “You haven’t caused us any problems at all, Nina… they don’t bother us.” He said comfortingly. “Yeah, don’t worry… you’re not a bother to anyone.” Rei added with a nod, “Look, don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine, hey, we killed another Nue. Ryu can tell you what happened the last time we killed a Nue, yeah? Heh, they hated us before that; but then we were heroes.”
Nina offered a sweet little smile and nodded. “Thanks, guys… let’s go!”
…Of course if they were going to McNeil, there was someone they had to go see… an older man by the name of Bunyan. As they made their way down the common trails criss-crossing the forest, they came down a modest hill and rounded the corner, coming along his fence and to his house. Firewood was stacked neatly alongside; and by all appearances everything was in order.

But when they knocked… nobody answered.

“Huh…” Rei muttered as Ryu and Momo circled the house and peeked through various windows for any sign of their long-time friend. “Maybe he’s out.” Nina offered with a shrug and a confused look, “…Or maybe he is in trouble, fell down into his basement!”
Rei wasted no time in picking the lock… something he was exceptionally good at; but once inside they found that everything was neat and tidy, other than the dust that had gathered over what was becoming and increasingly obvious absence. “Where in the world did he go?” Momo asked with a shake of her head, “This doesn’t make any sense...”
Concerned, Ryu climbed down the ladder to the basement. It too was empty, it too was tidy. He was just about to check the cabinet just ahead of the ladder when he heard the others calling for him. They sounded relieved. Excited in thinking that maybe Bunyan had returned, Ryu rushed back up the ladder… but was disappointed not to see the big man present.
“Look,” Rei said from the side, “I found this paper… it says if we happened to ‘let ourselves in’ to look for him that we shouldn’t worry. He is escorting a caravan to Wyndia. He says he is going to try and get some news for Nina…”
Nina smiled. “Bunyan has always been so thoughtful!”
“…Yeah; but how long has he been gone, did he write a date?” Ryu asked curiously, dragging a finger along some of the dust on the table and seeing that it was relatively thick. “Nah, no date. Probably staying in Wyndia for a bit to catch the whole story from the locals.” Rei answered with little concern and a shrug, “Ok. I guess we won’t be seeing Bunyan today… heh. Let’s just go and lock the place back up.”
Little did they know as they exited Bunyan’s home that their old friend was dead… the first name on a long list of those lost in the wake of the coming days, as darkness descended upon their peaceful world…

(I will wait for someone to post before posting Chapter 2: News from Wyndia)

[-sparkle-]

Finally it's up !!! Yay !! I'll read it RIGHT NOW o.o

[Avarice]

Well since you posted I'll go ahead and put up Chapter 2 XD

Chapter 2: News from Wyndia

Damien stepped forward and sat the edge of his sword against the King’s neck, a cold and maniacal smile painting his face. “Twenty years, Father.” He said with an eerily calm tone to his voice, “It has been twenty years since last I saw you, since last you saw me. I was a growing boy, whose wings were finally forming in majestic, regal glory.” “But lo, the feathers… they were black, an omen of doom and destruction like no other. Your son was no longer the pride and joy of the royal family; but a feared heathen. A curse upon the Kingdom of Wyndia that would surely bring forth ruin and fear of death.”
The King scowled. “Indeed; and before us does the prophecy fulfill itself.”
Damien snorted out a laugh and shook his head in disbelief. “You fool. I was innocent once, just like Serenity. I suppose there was something wrong with her as well; and you had her disposed of as you did me?”
“Serenity was gifted with great magic and full wings as you were; but her wings were white. We sent her across the sea to the south continent, to the academy.” Sheila said with a heavy frown, “She will arrive soon and shall end your reign of terror immediately, Damien!”
Damien turned a grin her way that stole her blood. “Serenity will not survive me if she chooses to battle me.” He informed his mother calmly, “…There isn’t anything left to save, after all, nothing left to fight for. Your pathetic city and your Wingless civilians are destroyed and dead. I have cleansed Wyndia of the weak blood.”
“…Why?” The King asked with a solemn frown of credence, “It was we who sent you away, son. It is not the fault of the people. They… they never learned of your existence, of what happened…”
Damien grinned. “I did not come here for the sake of revenge alone, though indeed it was part of the sweetener.” He replied, “I came to cleanse the Wyndian race; and to take the throne so long owed to me, in the name of Agathis.”
Sheila’s expression was both terrified and puzzled. “Agathis?”
“…You could say…” Damien explained slowly, “I found… God.”
A horrific pain shot through Sheila’s stomach then, as if from nowhere. Her eyes widened to their limits, lowering down to sword that had oh-so quickly impaled her. At her side, the King could only close his eyes… there was nothing he could do in his age, he wasn’t even in possession of a weapon at the time.
Sheila’s screams echoed off the walls as Damien twisted his sword. “How does it feel, mother!?” Damien screamed at her, jerking his blade to side and exposing her intestines as the bulged outwards from the wound, “A slow, agonizing death, the same you wished for me!”
Cruelly, he twisted the blade once more. “Die for the power you so greatly desired! Die for your arrogance, your pride! Die for the sake of my satisfaction; and above all things, wretched mother!” Damien went on, his palm rising a foot away from her chest, “Burn in hell!”
The King was blown aside as Damien’s fireball slammed into Sheila’s chest, sending her flying backwards into the wall and off his sword… which her intestines were still hooked upon, effectively tearing them out. Damien laughed at the irony… in some lights, it kind of looked like an umbilical cord. He severed it, as her body was engulfed in flames; and began laugh manically as he turned to face his trembling father.
“On your knees,” Damien said to the elderly King, “You were perhaps a good man at one time; but you let a woman, of all creatures, dominate you. You are unworthy of the life you were given… it is time that it come to an end. Remove you crown!”
Slowly, the King of Wyndia did as he was told and sat his crown to the side. He had no will to fight any longer, Damien had taken it from him. All he knew, all he loved… was gone; and he would never have the chance to tell Nina he loved her, to tell her he was sorry.

Damien beheaded him in one swift movement.

With a stoic frown, Damien knelt then and retrieved the crown, examining it and smiling as he placed it upon his head. “Now, the real work can begin…” He said to himself, waving his hand and washing away the fires with a wave of magically summoned water, “Time to spread the word.”
Telepathically, he called Dezben. The proud chieftain returned shortly in his normal form shared also by what few of his tribesmen that had survived the battle… with but a handful of Wyndian survivors that actually had wings. Damien was highly disappointed by the sight…their wings were small and seemingly frail. “What little power is left in our race belongs to you then, I see.” He said quietly as Dezben and his people lined them up before him, “Are you all of one family, or many?’

The eldest male lowered his gaze. “One.”

“…I see.” Damien sighed, taking one of the children by the face and examining her like a head of cattle. “What will you do with us?” The eldest lady asked as he let the child go and stood straight. “I am goin to kill him for lying to me; and force these two here to breed.” Damien replied, his sword rising and cutting the throat of the old man beside her in on eerily calm movement, “You are not one family. These two are wed, this child be of a different family entirely, an orphan. I will not tolerate liars… or the disobedient. From this day forward, I am your King; and my word is law… disobedience leads only to a slow and agonizing death.” “These two shall go forth and procreate in the name of the King; and our race will again find itself the absolute rulers of the heavens. Let no other race stain our bloodline, all that engage with those of the other races are to be burned alive.”
Damien stopped and looked directly at Dezben to finish: “And whosever would engage the beast folk outside of the realm of ownership shall be tortured until death. I will not tolerate love for the beasts, they are not human and are unworthy of human affection.”
As they were taken away then by the Worens at Damien’s order, the four Wyndians realized then that they were the – only – survivors. All others had been slaughtered, there was not a single Wyndian left who did not sport at least a budding pair of wings.
Damien held up his hand to stop Dezben as he turned to follow the others. “You have done well, for a fur-licker.” Damien informed him with an cold smile, “You shall be rewarded with the privilege of breeding if you continue to do as you are told…” “…After all, we will need slaves, will we not?”
Dezben’s face hardened; but he could not offer resistance, he could not speak… his tongue had been removed for that. Instead, he turned as Damien began ignoring him and made his way off with the others, determined, somehow… to fight off the hold on their minds. Damien would pay dearly for these travesties, would pay dearly for the death of his people.

…Provided, of course, that the Grassrunners could make it in time.

* * *

McNeil was quiet when they arrived, too quiet for this time of year. “Where is everyone?” Nina asked curiously, glancing over to Ryu for support. “Well, it is getting on towards sunset…” Rei muttered, “So… maybe they’ve gone inside early for the evening or something.”
They made their way to the center of town… it had grown considerably ever since Nina had rid them of the greedy Mayor in which the town had been named… the thirteenth of the family that had long governed the rural lands that supplied Wyndia and the rest of the known world with produce. The center of town though remained the weapon’s and item’s shop. The Inn was just down the road and to the right (if you were coming from the north at least).
With the Inn as their target, figuring perhaps at least a few people were there now considering it had a bar. “…I’ll go in first,” Momo offered with a nervous sigh, “I mean, they might not recognize me.”
…Only the keeper of the Inn was there. The old lady glanced up from her paper and ushered them in, knowing Ryu and Rei all-too well. “Hi…” Rei offered meekly, “We’re here to – buy – some food. Or well, we came to the village to buy food.”
“Why ye actin’ so ‘fraid fer?” The old lady asked with a grin, “Ye ain’t been a problem since ye was jus’ a kid. Yer welcome hur and ye knows that.”
Rei smiled in relief. “Well, we were kinda worried considering, y’know, Wyndia overlooks everything here.” He explained with a glance to the others, “Where is everyone though? We haven’t seen a soul.”
“…We… jus’ got some news from Wyndia…” The old lady muttered, having been reading the article on the disaster when they walked in, “I want ye to ‘ave a look at this paper… the news be in it. I can’t be readin’ it no more, too tragic.”
Nina snatched the paper out of Rei’s hand as he took it and sat immediately at the bar, laying it out and reading rapidly. Her eyes were as wide as the plates sitting nearby as her finger trailed down the first quarter of the article; and filled with tears and horror as she crossed the half-way point. To the side, Ryu began frowning and subconsciously handled the hilt of his sword.
“…Aye… I’m sorry, I could ‘na tell ye meself. Not good wit’ words an’ all that.” The Innkeeper explained as Nina’s shoulder slumped; and she pushed the paper away, “It jus’ came in an hour ago lassie, as ye can tell it was wrote quick. I be thinkin’ all that ‘as jus’ happened…”
Ryu read the article as quickly as Nina, followed by Rei and Momo. All of them wore horrified expressions by the time they finished reading. “Guess we won’t be needing food…” Rei muttered with a shake of his head, “Doesn’t this just beat all? All we came here for was dinner…”
“…Doesn’t matter.” Ryu said with an angry edge to his voice, “We’ll get something on the way out. We’re going to Wyndia.”

[Avarice]

Nina remained silent, unable to speak. The article mentioned nothing on the situation in the castle, only that a raging group of man-eating tigers had invaded the village like a force of arms, lead by someone named ‘Damien’ who they had already dubbed ‘Death on Black Wings’.
It was understandable. She comes to town to get dinner, only to discover her homeland has been attacked… destroyed, by the way it was written. To her left, Momo swallowed hard and looked to the Innkeeper. “Is the one who wrote this here?” She asked with a heavy frown. “Aye, go see ‘im if you like,” The lady replied, presenting the stairwell to their right with a heavy and sad frown.
Ryu, Rei, and Mom went upstairs… Nina seemed unable to move from her seat and seemed not to even blink in her shock. They arrived on the second floor to find a battered and bloody man sitting in the corner, writing. At first, everything seemed fine; but when he looked up and saw Rei… he began screaming uncontrollably. Ryu found himself chasing the man down the hall and tackling him before the psychotically terrified man threw himself through the window. “No! NO!” The man shrieked in terror as Rei vainly tried to approach, “I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! Please, no! please! Please!!”
“Rei, go back downstairs…” Momo said with a heavy frown. Rei didn’t even bother to argue, he verily – ran – back out of the man’s sight; and only when he had gone did the man even – begin – to calm down.
Ryu shook his head. The man was sobbing now, uncontrollably. “Sir…” Momo said quietly, kneeling down beside Ryu and gently caressing the man’s face, “Calm down. It’s ok… it’s ok. You’re safe now…”
“Death…Fire… meteors, destruction… all dead… killed the… babies…Damien… Damien!” The man raved in fear-driven madness, clutching both Ryu and Momo like a child clinging to his mother’s leg in fear. “Not anymore, it’s ok…” Ryu said quietly, “We are here to help.”
The man calmed… after half an hour of relentless efforts to comfort him at least; but when he did finally calm down, he was so exhausted he could say nothing and fell asleep before answering any questions. “I don’t want to wake him up.” Ryu declared as he carried the lightweight man to his bed. “I don’t think he could handle talking to us about it anyway… so I’m going to go check on Rei.” Momo replied with a hard swallow, “He was terrified of him, so it had to be… Worens… that did this.”
“But what about this ‘Damien’ guy?” Ryu asked with a shake of his head. “I don’t know, Ryu.” Momo replied as she made her way out of the room, “You just… you just watch over him for a minute, ok?”
Ryu nodded as Momo made her way off down the hall. She could hardly believe what was going on; and was even more stunned when she arrived down on the first floor to find Nina nursing a glass of whiskey… something she had never seen Nina do before.
Rei was in the corner, leaning back and wearing a dark frown. She approached him with a frown of her own and sat a hand on his biceps. “It’s ok, Rei.” She offered first, glancing back at Nina to make sure she wasn’t too unstable, “Don’t take it personally, all that was, was trauma.”

“…Man-eating tigers.” Rei said quietly, “Weretigers. Worens, my people.”

Momo lowered her gaze. “Rei, we don’t know the full details yet. Something was definitely behind it; and I’d lay money that it was that ‘Damien’ guy they keep talking about. The man upstairs, he really started freaking out when he said that name.” She replied after a moment of thought, “Influence works to control your actions while you are a weretiger. I’d lay money ‘Damien’ was using it on them, too.”
Rei swallowed hard. “But why would they transform to begin with?” He asked with a shake of his head, “The transformation is a choice; and can be reversed at will. Why would they stay, knowing they can be controlled?”
“Maybe it isn’t a choice. Maybe he has magic to control them all the time.” Momo offered with a shrug, “That would be the only logical conclusion; and hey… another is that they aren’t Worens. They could be summoned monsters, too.”
Rei nodded and shook his head. “Nina’s the one you need to be worried about. I’m… I’m fine.” He said quietly, “I’m going outside for some fresh air… go worry about her for now.”
“…Don’t run off, please.” Momo pleaded as he made his way for the door. “I’ve got nowhere to run.” Rei offered in response as he walked out and shut the door. Momo lowered her gaze and shook her head. This was a lot to absorb! She made her way then to Nina and sat beside her, setting a hand on the Princess’ shoulder. “…All dead.” Nina said quietly, repeating what had been echoing in her mind from the moment she’d read the paper still setting before her, “Meteors destroying everything. Blood everywhere. No escape, only death.”
Momo patted her back above her right wing. “Come upstairs, Nina… that alcohol isn’t going to help you.” Momo pleaded sadly, “Ryu is up there too with him. He might feel comforted to see a fellow Wyndian.”
“…I wasn’t there.” Nina muttered, ignoring everything she was saying and talking mostly to herself. “There wasn’t anything you could have done.” Momo argued with a frown when she realized where Nina’s thoughts had led her, “It isn’t your fault. You would have died too.”
“I would have died as one of them!” Nina shouted in her face, nearly bowling Momo over with her ferocious anger, “…I would have… I would have died with my people… not… not away from them, leaving them to die alone…”
Ryu came downstairs then, to see what was happening. “Nina?” He asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs and made his way over. “Go away.” Nina growled at him, like some kind of dog. “…But… what?...” Ryu muttered in confusion, stepping backwards in shock and hurt. “I wasn’t there because of you!” Nina snarled, throwing her glass and nearly hitting him in the face with it, “You’re the reason I wasn’t there! You’re the reason my entire life is ruined!”
Momo’s ears stood on end in anger. “You wouldn’t even be alive today if it weren’t for Ryu!” She barked as she stood away from the counter and the volatile princess, “It isn’t his fault, Nina! It’s nobody’s fault!”

A crash sounded from upstairs.

Ryu turned and rushed up the stairs to see what was happening. As he topped them, he saw a strange man he hadn’t noticed before shifting through the flowers of a vase he’d apparently knocked over. “Excuse me,” Ryu said calmly, “Was that crash I heard the vase falling?”
The man, a blond-haired and boyish looking rouge, smiled. “Certainly!”
“…Oh… ok. It’s just that, there is a man in the second room there that is in really bad shape; and I was afraid he’d done something crazy.” Ryu explained as he made his way over to help the strange man pick the flowers up. “Oh aye?” The man asked with a funny accent that he was obviously faking, “Saw that one I did, aye, ran along the road like a loony! Straight from Wyndia!”
Ryu looked up then, which was exactly what the dirty thief wanted. In the blink of an eye and faster than Ryu’s peripheral vision could see, the thief snatched the jeweled necklace he knew the owner kept hidden in the vase he’d just broken. “Do you know anything about what happened in Wyndia?” Ryu asked him with a dire tone to his voice as they stood. “…Eh, no.” The man replied, his blue eyes shining ‘innocently’, “I saw smoke and that guy you’re talking about was pretty messed up; but nothing else, aye.”
…Why was he trying to fake an accent? Ryu’s eyes narrowed as a suspicious air began rising from the man; but no sooner did he move than did two fingers stab him in either eyes. “See ya later, asshole!” The man chuckled madly, bolting down the hall and leaping through the window he’d used to sneak in, which he had left open.
Rei nearly jumped out of his skin when the thief landed just a few feet in front of him and took off. He was so confused, he didn’t even give chase! “Rei! After that guy!” Ryu called from the window, holding his eyes. “Why?” Rei asked rather dumbly in his stunned state, an extremely goofy look painting his face. “Because he’s stolen something, you idiot!” Ryu snapped, shortly before making a complete ass out of himself in trying to climb out the window. His leg got hung on the seal; and the next thing he knew… he was standing on his face. “…You deserved that.” Rei huffed as he turned and ran off in pursuit of their thief.
They traced the man down the road to the fields; and saw that he’d probably taken off through the corn judging by the pattern of footprints in the dust going towards them. “I think we can circle it.” Rei offered, taking off to the right as Ryu went straight ahead.
The thief watched them both with an arrogant smile. He had stuffed himself into the ragged clothing of a scarecrow; and was enjoying the show. Unfortunately for him, the crows in the area weren’t so afraid of the things that were supposed to scare him. His eyes shot sideways as one came to land on his shoulder. “…Don’t you dare.” He whispered as harshly as he could, as the thing began to eye the shiny object in the pocket of the old shirt.
Almost as if it understood him, the bird gave him a taste of his own medicine and pecked him near the eye, shortly before snatching the necklace and taking flight. “You sons of bitches!” The thief shouted in dismay, tearing free of the scarecrow and chasing after the bird, “I stole that fair and square! Give it back!”
…Ryu spun out and fell down in the dirt trying to spin and give chase; but Rei wasn’t that clumsy. Too bad that the thief was so determined to get that necklace back he seemed to forget that humans were supposed to be slower than Worens as he outran Rei all the way to the tree the crow took roost in.

[Avarice]

“Oh! I see!” He barked, stamping his foot on the ground as a hand descended and took the necklace from the bird’s beak, “You think this is funny! You think you can insult me, huh!? Well let me tell you something! I…”

Splat.

Rei paused as the thief methodically wiped the tomato from his face and flung it aside; and nearly fell over when his apparent rival lowered herself from the tree. Her fur covered most all of her body, patterned like a leopard. Her face was slender and as beautiful as anything he had ever seen! She was a fellow Woren!
“Dammit, Sherri…” The male thief sighed, taking it back from her, “I could’ve gotten caught, you know. Those dopes almost had me for a minute! What do you think you’re tryin’ to pull!”
The sexy Woren lady gave him an adorable little smile and wink. “You told me you could fight. I wanted to see it…” She explained, leaning over and nodding to Rei with a grin that reeked of mischievousness.
Slowly, the thief turned around. Rei stood with both daggers at the ready; and Ryu was then coming alongside him with his sword shining in the last rays of the sunlight remaining over the farmland. “Heh.” He chuckled with a shake of his head, “You two goof-balls are nothing to me. Do you know who I am!?”
“No; but it ain’t gonna matter once we’ve killed you.” Rei replied with a sly grin of his own. “Hah, killed me!? The Letter R! I am Ananias, the greatest land pirate that ever didn’t sail the seas… because, err, there is only one sea; and I can’t afford a boat…” The man replied, pausing and tapping his chin with his index finger, “…Then again I mean, being a pirate can be two different things y’know. Maybe I should have remembered my hat. I might not look like a fanny bandit then… meh, whatever.”

Rei blinked. Was this guy insane, or just incredibly stupid?

Neither, the correct answer was ‘ingenious.’ Faster than either Rei or Ryu could blink, the thief threw dust in their eyes, bicycle-kicking Rei in the jaw and spinning to slam his heel into Ryu’s forehead. Both men fell straight to their backs and slid down to the road, as the thief turned and bowed to his female accomplice.
“Well that was impressive.” Sherri admitted with a nod; “But hey, you know that when they get up, you’re so dead. Right?” “I mean, c’mon… you should have just ran away, you silly little goose!”
Ananias rolled his eyes, never noticing as Ryu got back up. “I’m fine, those losers can’t touch this!” He declared, breaking out into a slithering dance… and effectively making a fool out of Ryu, whose swing missed entirely as Ananias dropped to a knee… and, confidentially, punched him in the balls.
Rei picked himself back up in time to see Ryu on his knees and chin, clutching his crotch with a tear in his eye. Ananias, as he was apparently named, was already running away again… this time, with his accomplice beside him.

* * *

The bridge from Raphala to East Wyndia was a very, very long one; but Serenity didn’t mind. It felt good to feel the cool breeze blowing across it on her face, to smell the sweet scent of the ocean. Unfortunately… a smile never crossed her face; for behind her a fat man waddled along wearing a elegant robe and bearing a golden staff with a diamond set at the end between a pair of wings. He was Arch-Bishop Randolph of the Church of Agathis.
Serenity wore the robe of a nun. It had not been her choice, Agathis was not a God she followed willingly. So many years ago, around eighteen as it were at that time, she had been sent to the south continent, wherein lay the Universal Academy of Magic. Also present on that continent was the Church of Agathis. She had discovered ‘ere she stepped off the ship she’d taken there that it was law that she submit to the deity and obey his teachings and his commandments; and become a full member of the church.
…But, that wasn’t why she hated the man standing behind her, why she hated Agathis and herself for wearing the robe she wore that day. The darkness, the brooding sadness that had consumed her once lively and joyful soul, hadn’t come until the day she met Marcus.

Serenity bit back a mild curse as her textbook slipped off the top of the stack of other texts and papers she was trying to carry to her room. “Hey, you need help with all that, lady?” A man asked from the side, stepping out of the alley between the school and the church. “Ah… yes, if you wouldn’t mind…” She replied with something of a nervous smile, not trusting him at all and fearing him to be a predator.
“Hey, don’t worry. I won’t even set foot in your room… I know it’s against regulations and all that. I’m… eh, I’m a local.” The man replied with a hard glance over to the church, “Let me carry some of that for you, please. I’m just trying to be nice.”
Serenity felt more at ease then. She’d gotten very good at reading out lies… mainly because, in this school, you had to be aware of who was a friend and who was an enemy…otherwise your life became a living hell. “Thanks… but, why would you help me?” She asked as she let him take half of the books she was carrying. “Well to be honest with you…” The man chuckled, “…Well, you’re beautiful. Sorry, I’m not trying to be a pig or anything; but I can’t help myself when I see a pretty face like yours.”
“…Heh…” Serenity muttered with an increasingly hard look. “Yeah I know; but don’t worry…” He said as they made their way down the street to the building that contained the living quarters for all the female students, “I’m not trying anything funny. Not trying to ask for a date as a reward or anything like that.”
Serenity was confused. He was being honest, still. “Well… I mean…” She stammered in embarrassment as her face began to turn red, “Uh… wh… what’s your name, sir?”
“Marcus.” The man replied with a glance over at one of the bishops, who gave him a scowl for the ages as Serenity lead him down the main hall and to the door at the end, which was her room. “Well, Marcus… I am Serenity, Princess of Wyndia.” Serenity replied as he opened the door for her; “And… well, I thank you for aiding me.”
Marcus grinned. She wanted to say something else; but was too shy and/or nervous to do so. “Yeah, I knew who you were… you’re kind of famous around here.” He replied with a smile, “You’re welcome, your majesty. I’ll see you around.”
Serenity stopped him, her hand landing on his shoulder. “Wait, you don’t have to go right away,” She replied with a smile, “I just need to change clothing really quickly; and maybe we can go watch the competition tonight!”
Marcus couldn’t hide his smile. “…Sure, that sounds cool.” He replied rather smoothly as she backed away nervously, “I’ll be waiting outside before we get in trouble. I don’t want them thinking something’s going on that isn’t…”
Serenity nodded and blushed, excited to no end that she’d finally had the nerve to ask someone out… and someone so cute, too!

“Serenity.” Randolph said for the fifth time, tapping the back of her head with his staff to stir her from her thoughts. “Oh! Yes sir?” Serenity asked as she turned around. “Ah, I am not your ‘boss’ here.” Randolph corrected with a smile and bow, “You are royalty here. I just wanted to tell you that we near the checkpoint and should ready ourselves for your triumphant return to your homeland.”
Serenity turned around again to see that indeed, the checkpoint lay right ahead. She finally managed to smile then and nodded. “Thank you, S… Ra.. Arch-Bishop.” She stammered, confused and unsure of how to address him. “Randolph will do sweetheart, go along.” Randolph replied with a shake of his head.
Overjoyed, Serenity verily ran to the checkpoint; but the closer she got, the more strange she began to feel. The guardsmen she knew were supposed to be standing guard were not present… the entire place was deserted sparing civilians and civilians alone, who were all just as confused as Serenity and the others behind her… a group of twenty in all.
“Pardon,” Serenity asked a Highlander who had apparently decided he was fit to do the work of the guards; “But where are the guardsmen, where is the officer we must see before we are allowed to enter these lands?”
The Highlander glanced over with a hard frown. “Returned to Wyndia on an emergency call-to-arms.” He explained grimly, “From what little we understand the capitol has been sacked and the city destroyed.” “…I’ve decided to take control since their gone. I understand the job well enough… um… you’re Princess Serenity are you not?”
“Yes… I am. I’m surprised you know me, to be honest.” Serenity replied, handing over the papers she had been instructed to give the officer. “Don’t bother with these. I know who you are and all that… but, who are these people behind you?” The highlander asked, pushing off the wall he was leaning against and moving to stand in front of Randolph.
“I am Arch-Bishop Randolph of the Church of Agathis.” Randolph replied with a low bow, “We have come with lady Serenity, to begin spreading the word of our God to the people of Wyndia and the lands beyond. As you can see, there are twenty of us besides Lady Serenity. We shall spread out from Wyndia to spread the work as missionaries.”
The Highlander wiggled his nose and inspected the papers offered to him by the old, fat man. Everything was in order, there was not a bad mark on his record nor any reason why he should not be let in. “Ok, you’re all clear.” He said, stepping aside and ushering them in with a wave, “I just warn you ahead of time to stay away from the capitol… because like I said, it sounds bad.”
Serenity swallowed hard, her emotions beginning to overwhelm her as she rushed ahead of the others. “Thank you,” Randolph said quickly, “I must go and catch her, Good day to you!”

[Avarice]

The Highlander watched them run with a eerie sensation creeping through his spine. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it; but there was something very… wrong… with that man. Something he just didn’t like, something that screamed of danger.

…So like a true Highlander, he started following them.
Serenity was far ahead of the main group as she passed by the old forest that was rumored to be a dwelling place of faeries. In times of old she had always stopped there in efforts to find them; but needless to say her mind was occupied elsewhere. She rushed onwards, seeing the smoke rising on the horizon. It grew larger as time passed… until twilight rose and her pace slowed, allowing Randolph and the others to catch up with her.
“Milady… we must rest. We cannot continue on like this. We will be of no aid to Wyndia if we are exhausted.” Randolph said between heavy breaths, “You must calm yourself. I assure you that we shall arrive early in the morn well-rested and ready to fight for the lives of those in danger.”
Serenity swallowed hard and nodded, moving slowly to the side of the road as the other ladies present began laying out towels to sit on… after all, they were ‘above’ sitting on the ground itself. “Fear not, Serenity.” Randolph said quietly as he made his way over to her seat when she had sat, “I am sure everything will be fine, eventually. Have faith in Agathis… though your parents may not know of him he will protect them for your sake…”
The Princess did not respond verbally; but she managed a nod. Randolph was satisfied with that and made his way off to where the other men were setting up their tents… and naturally his stood assembled first. He made his way inside and quickly tied the flap shut to keep out the prying eyes of the others. Within his shelter he could find the privacy to do what needed to be done.

The delivery would be on time after all.

(End of Chapter 2)

[-sparkle-]

Chapter 2 is sooo bloody T___T - wow *.* but I still love it ^_^

[Avarice]

I'm so glad you do Here is the first I can fit of:

Chapter 3: Extinction…

The air was cold that morning as they left McNeil inn and made their way down the road to the farmland proper. The mission was simple: Go to Wyndia; and learn what had happened, what had crippled the mind of the man who the Innkeeper had decided to keep on and take care of. His mind was broken, he could give them no useful information.
Nina refused Ryu’s every attempt to speak, refused to even look at him. Momo held the same bitter resentment towards her for that reason, unable to understand how she could be so angry with him. After all, it had been Nina who had made the decision to live with them in exile… Ryu hadn’t made that choice for her.
Rei was dealing with demons of his own that prevented him from having an empathetic feel for any of the others. ‘Man-eating tigers’ echoed always in his mind as he led them off down the road. Behind him directly, Peco hopped along as if nothing were wrong at all… but then, he always had. However, he did seem rather low in energy; and that was usually a sign that something was upsetting him.
Ryu glanced over to Momo. “Why… why won’t Nina talk to me?” He asked her in very, very quiet fashion. “Because she’s a child.” Momo replied with venom rich in her voice. “I’ve tried telling her I was sorry; but she won’t listen…” Ryu went on, trying to ignore the bitterness in Momo’s voice. “She doesn’t care. She’s just acting out because she’s a brat.” Momo huffed, hands resting on her hips. “…But… but she’s lost everything she had.” Ryu muttered, shockingly in Nina’s defense.
Momo stopped and grabbed him. “She hasn’t lost us. I don’t know if you realize it or not, Ryu; but she’s pretty much implying that we aren’t important to her at all; and all she cares about is her stupid Kingdom.” She replied with a grim edge that Ryu shrank beneath; “And besides… isn’t this ‘difficult’ for – all – of us?”
Nina glanced back and stopped. “Come on!” She barked, drawing Rei’s attention and causing him to stop as well. “We are!” Momo shouted back with a scowl. “Then hurry up!” Nina returned with a mirroring expression, “I’m not waiting for him!”
Momo growled openly and shook her head. It looked like she was about to explode, literally! “Calm down, all of you.” Rei said from the front, turning their gazes all to him immediately, “Let’s go; and let’s be quiet about it.”
…They weren’t going to argue. So with silence as their ally they made their way on down, eventually descending a hill to the famous ‘Yraall Road’ connecting Wyndia to the farmland and Dauna beyond. The road led straight to the famed Dauna mines and the city of Wyndia proper… over Mt. Myrneg as it were; and would be the fastest way they could take to get to Wyndia.

Little did Rei know as he led them east down the road towards the mountain ahead, that three pairs of eyes were watching them from the undergrowth on the slope on the north side of the road.

Ananias grinned and glanced over to Sherri and their well-trained pet crow. “The princess of Wyndia…” Sherri muttered breathlessly in her totally star-struck state, “I can’t believe it.”
“No big deal. She’s been exiled, not worth a dime…” Ananias replied with a shrug of his shoulders; “But the blue haired guy – is – worth a lot. If we catch the Princess we can lure him to home base and catch him. Then, we’ll just sell him off to Wyndia! We’ll be heroes!”
Sherri grinned devilishly… of course, neither of them seemed to understand the true depth of what they were trying to accomplish. They weren’t necessarily – bad – people so to speak… death, even injuries, were not part of their operation. They just didn’t seem to understand the fact that the Kingdom of Wyndia wanted Ryu… dead.
“Ok, send your bird down there to distract the guy in front and the chick with the big-ass gun,” Ananias whispered, grabbing a nearby vine he had planned to swing from and readying himself. The timing had to be perfect! He would sweep down and grab her and land in the next tree while the bird distracted the others. Ryu would probably not be so caught up and would give chase, all the way to the mountain.
Sherri would be further distraction for the male Woren and the ‘chick with the big-ass gun’. He wasn’t actually sure how to take Peco’s presence at all; but wasn’t really worried about it one way or another… Sherri’s weretiger transformation would surely be able to handle it.
All at once Ananias and Sherri set their plan into motion. As Rei passed by in front of them, the crow took off and dive-bombed his head. Nina stopped short in surprise; and Momo fell all over herself trying to duck as the bird swept around and took aim for her face as Ryu tried swinging for the annoying little pest with his sword.
Ananias went into action then, swinging down from the ledge. He caught Nina around the waist, drawing a shriek of surprise and fear from the princess…

Shortly before the vine broke; and he flew face-first into a tree.

Nina had been lucky enough to have missed the tree… he hadn’t pulled her in tight when the vine had broken; but she was still in a heap of trouble. She rolled like a stone all the way down the slope on the south side… and right into the rapidly flowing river. She had never learned to swim!!
“Nina!” Ryu called in shock and horror, rushing off and ignoring Ananias totally as the moron pushed himself up, wondering what happened. Behind it all, Sherri had another idea that would probably work even better than Ananias’ crack-pot scheme; and took off down the road, chasing Nina.
Sherri’s plan was far darker than the one Ananias had come up with. Her plan was to wager Nina’s very life in exchange for Ryu’s freedom. If she could beat him to the princess, she could ‘save’ her and put a good ‘ol knife to her throat… that’d more than likely get his attention and his complete cooperation.

...But then, ‘that blue haired guy’ transformed.

From the trees, Ryu rose in the form of a large green dragon, swooping down and grabbing the sinking princess in a claw before propelling himself upwards with one mighty flap of his wings. Sherri could hardly believe it; and froze in place as the dragon swept over her head and sat the Princess down safely beside Momo, who’s bazooka was aimed for Sherri’s head.
“Game over.” Momo said with a scowl as Sherri turned around with her hands in the air and a smile on her face. “Yeah, I know!” Sherri responded cheerfully, “No hard feelings right? We’re just playing around, that’s all!”
A few feet behind Momo, Rei jerked Ananias to his feet and punched him in the stomach, before bashing his face off the trunk of the tree he’d hit again. “How’s that?” Rei asked, jerking him back around by the collar of his shirt and putting his dagger to the thief’s throat, “I owe you from last night anyway. You should’ve stayed gone.”
“You can’t kill me! I’m too handsome to die!” Ananias exclaimed, squirming wildly and tangling his coat and shirt beneath in a knot. “Wait, don’t kill him!” Momo said, making the bad mistake of taking her eyes of Sherri.
Like lightning, the wily Woren lady charged Momo and tackled her to the ground, sending her bazooka rolling away. Unfortunately, it fired when it struck a rock on the side of the road. The blast hit the trunk of a growing sapling with such force that the trunk broke; and the tree fell… on Ananias and Rei, as it were.
…Ryu had officially had enough, as Ananias wormed his way out of the branches and took off for the undergrowth. He hadn’t reverted forms yet, either. Ananias was gripped in Ryu’s talons; and Sherri found herself wrapped in Ryu’s tail; and with an angry roaring hiss… they were slammed together.

And for them, that meant lights out.


* * *

[Avarice]

Totally black was the void that surrounded them as they all four gathered that… day, night? Both were the same. Time was irrelevant when one stood in the void between the worlds of light and darkness. A single ‘light’ from nothingness made grey the darkness as they gathered; but only could they see one another’s serpentine eyes.
A piercing blue-green textured as glass. A deep swirl of blue and black that somehow stood out in the darkness. A flaring yellow lined with black veins that was as hideous as could be imagined. A volcanic wave of red, yellow, and black.
“The sacrifice is here.” Cervanis, the blue-eyed being, informed the others stoically and methodically. “Beyond the known world take her.” Gereira, the yellow-eyed being, replied without hesitation. “Hold. Be the sacrifice pure?” Devion, the Fire-eyed being, asked quickly thereafter. The teal eyes flashed in anger then; and with great force did Leviathan shout: “Silence!”

None dared argue. Leviathan was their superior in every way; and in respect as much as fear they accepted the hierarchy: Cervanis, Gereira, Devion, and Leviathan.

“Serenity is the core of power; but no shell surrounds her. We must first spread the seeds of domination, draw in the followers.” Leviathan began then in a – much – calmer tone of voice, “Wyndia, Raphala, Yraall, and Dauna. All within these provinces must surround her… we have naught the souls required yet.”
Gereira was confused. “But Lord Leviathan, eighty-five percent of the populations of the other two continents follow. There are over one million followers of Lord Agathis at this point.” She dared to argue, though her efforts were tentative at best. “Two. How many continents are there?” Devion asked with a smart-elect edge to his voice that angered Gereira greatly, “Four. Myria decimated the north continent and it now be devoid of life. Therefore your efforts have been in vain… what few dozen people you have gathered… pah, their souls are useless and inconsequential. That is why we must harvest – all – of the East. That is why Leviathan himself has taken this task.”
…That silenced Gereira immediately. She was extremely lucky that Leviathan had not taken offence to her questioning of his judgment. “It is understood, then,” Leviathan said after a moment, “Cervanis… deliver her unto me. Your next task is vital.”

Cervanis’ eyes flared. “What be it, Lord?”

“The son of Ladon must be found and destroyed.” Leviathan replied immediately and with a great rage to his voice that cowed the others, “Kaiser must be eradicated once and for all. The entirety of the Light dragon’s power resides within him. He is the last hope of that sad, pathetic race. Along with him shall fall his brother Agni… lest we find the light dragon nuisance return again to hinder our efforts.”
Devion wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to jab Cervanis. “Indeed. Agni – should – be dead already, Cervanis.” He hissed, “Your failure only ads to the delay. Agathis will most certainly see fit to erase you once he has risen.”
“Silence.” Leviathan warned Devion for the final time, “Or – I – shall erase you, Devion. You guard a continent that we have already conquered, truly there is no use for you any longer; and the same applies to you, Gereira. Only be if Cervanis fails… again…shall either of you be needed any longer…” “…So consider yourselves lucky I am of cautious nature. I will not have – any – mistakes from – any – of you in the coming days… beware, Cervanis. Should you fail – again – I will not aid you. You will face death alone. Because of your weakness did Agni escape death, escape me…”

Cervanis dared not say a word.

Leviathan waited again to make sure that none of them were ignorant enough to keep talking. “We disperse now with the knowledge that our goal draws nigh upon us. We must prepare accordingly… upon domination Cervanis… if he survives… and I shall return to the motherland. Gereira, return now to the south; and beware the mainland at all costs. Eliminate any and every living thing that lays eyes upon you… or suffer the consequences of your ignorance should a pair of eyes that lay upon you live to reflect the horror they have seen.” He said with a growl edging his voice, “We shall be reunited with the deaths of Kaiser and Agni. Disperse!”

* * *

“…Ok, so…” Ananias muttered as he rubbed his sore noggin, “You guys are actually going to let us go after what we tried to pull? That’s real swell of ya! Can’t say as I blame you though… I mean, look at how sweet and innocent I am!”

Sherri groaned in dismay.

Rei gave the fool a look and shook his head. “I think maybe you’ll be coming with us, actually.” He said to the shock and horror of the others. “Why?” Momo asked first, stamping a foot on the ground. “Because I’m not going to be the one sticking my head around a blind corner.” Rei replied with a wry grin. “So we’re using them as bait, basically?” Momo asked with a frown and a shake of her head, “That isn’t right, Rei… that isn’t right at all.”
Ryu nodded in his agreement. “We should just let them go. I don’t think they’ll be bothering us anymore… right?” He asked them with an unhappy frown, “You’ve seen what I am. If you bother us again I’ll be forced… I’ll be forced to kill you both. We are in a hurry, Wyndia has been attacked…”
“We didn’t know that, we’re sorry.” Sherri offered in response, speaking for the first time beyond a couple of words here and there, “We would never have bothered you to begin with if we had known that. We aren’t bad people, we’re just… uh… misguided.”
Ananias nodded rapidly. “That’s it, daddy didn’t love me! I’m a victim of circumstance, society! Both! Circumstanced society.” He prattled quickly. “Shut up, you’re annoying as sin!” Momo groaned with a shake of her head. “Heh, yeah; but he is kind-of fast.” Rei chuckled as he crouched before the thief and inspected his… pirate… outfit, “What do you think you are?”
“I’m a pirate.” Ananias declared, his giant pirate’s hat sliding over to the side as he wiggled, “I come from Raphala, you know. I was the most daring buccaneer that ever sailed the inner sea… except, I never sailed the inner sea because the guild wouldn’t let me on the boat after I put the moves on Shadis.”

Nina scowled from behind the others. “Shadis is married to Beyd, you dog!”

“So what? She wanted me.” Ananias huffed in disgruntled fashion. “Yeah, she wanted you to go away.” Sherri spat with a hard glance. “No way. She wanted this hot body of mine. Don’t you? Doesn’t she, doesn’t the princess?” Ananias replied with a ‘super sexy’ smile. “Hot body? Please!” Sherri chuckled madly, falling over and stirring up the dust as she rolled around in her laughter.
Ananias thought that was bad; but the fact that Momo and Nina were totally ignoring him was a far worse blow to his pride than anything. “Dammit, you’ll see…” He muttered in embarrassment, turning his gaze away and towards Mt. Myrneg, “Untie a fella already, would’ja?”
Rei grinned and nodded. “Sure; but you’re coming with us. We’ll need somebody to cook for us and set up our tent. You know, make life easier for us.” He replied as he cut the ropes he’d tied around the fools arms and legs. “Great, we’re your slaves now.” Sherri groaned as he also cut her free and helped her up. “Nah, I don’t dig ‘slaves’. You’re paying us back for the trouble you caused… and almost getting Nina killed, too.” Rei explained as he lightly shoved her ahead to get her moving, “So just be quiet and walk, we’re tired of waiting around.
Ananias seemed less enthused than Sherri… but she seemed to keep him centered and in place. Momo shook her head, though… Ananias never seemed to shut up! He just kept on, and on, and on!
“And then,” Ananias screeched with gusto, “That stupid bimbo had the audacity to call me a pig! Can you believe it? I just gave her a little love tap, that was all; and that was the thanks I got!”
Nina was about to explode by the time they finally reached the foothills of Mt. Myrneg that evening. She made her way off when they stopped and came to sit on the side of a ledge overlooking the bank of the river as it curled around the side of the mountain. She was alone and finally, Ananias was out of earshot. She ran her tongue across her dry lips and shook her head as she gazed off to the south. She could see smoke rising from what was sure to be either a Grassrunner or Highlander occupied track of field; and though she didn’t know what the signal was, she could tell the timed puffs of smoke rising were a message.

…To Wyndia, perhaps?

Ryu made his way around the bend Nina had taken slowly and nervous. He hadn’t wanted to do this; but Rei hadn’t really given him a choice… that; and he’d rather be yelled at by Nina than listen to another of Ananias’ stories. He leaned against the rock as she turned her gaze over and said nothing, simply staring off at the smoke and hoping silence would keep her calm.
Nina lowered her gaze. “Thank you, for earlier…” She muttered quietly. “You… you’re welcome.” Ryu replied, his voice as soft as hers. “I know you… you aren’t to blame.” Nina went on, looking away and holding up her palm to stop him when took a step forward; “But I can’t look at you right now. Please, leave me be.”
“…But, Rei wanted me to… to come and get you. We’re having dinner.” Ryu explained with a frown. “Well tell Rei I’ll eat when I want to.” Nina returned, her tone growing sharp and impatient. Ryu, in response, let himself feel a bit of anger and turned away… and walked away… without saying goodbye. Only then did Nina turn around again and frown, realizing he had just walked away from her directly for the first time.

…And after so many years…

* * *

[Avarice]

Greene shielded his eyes from the sun as he and his force of one hundred crested the hill before Wyndia, from the south. He had no idea that he was standing upon the same ground the enemy had before the sacking of the ruined city he saw before him. “Totally destroyed it.” Greene said to Ichiro, who stood beside him, “We’re in for a helluva fight.”
Ichiro shook his little head and glanced back at Wolf. “We’ve got to be careful. My magic can only handle so much. If he’s got the Worens under mind control he’ll make them go Weretiger on us.” He warned them, “We have – got – to be careful…”
Wolf, the bulldoggish Grassrunner warrior, grunted with a shake of his head. “Damien will pay for what he has done to them; and to us.” He declared in defiance of Ichiro’s warning. “Only if we attack carefully, as Ichiro has said, Wolf.” Greene sighed grimly, his lanky body swaying in the wind as his piercing blue eyes narrowed beneath the thick white locks of fur hanging over them. “…Whatever you say, Chief.” Wolf chuckled with a hit off a bottle of whiskey, “I’m down for whatever you say is right.”
Ichiro swallowed hard. He was only three feet tall. What would he be able do, even with his magic? The gaze of his buggy little eyes lowered sadly as Greene made the solemn signal to the others… the smoke given off by their scouts declared the ‘coast was clear’; and that meant it was time to go.

…To their deaths, more than likely.

Far away atop Castle Wyndia’s highest balcony, Damien watched with a shake of his head. How ignorant were they, really? Did they think their signals would go unnoticed amidst the dark smoke rising from the city below?
“Dezben.” He said with a strong edge to his voice, that brought the broken Woren man to him like lightning, “Go forth and slaughter your allies. I will not suffer more beast-folk roaming my lands, it is enough you people exist at all.”
Dezben managed a bit of a scowl; but Damien’s ice-cold gaze stole all of his rage with a terror that shamed him. His shoulders slumped, the Woren chief made his way off and downstairs quickly. “Like a true fur licker…” Damien chuckled to himself, gazing down at his hand as it began glowing with energy, “…You rush headlong into situations far beyond your ability to grasp and understand. It is why you people are so unworthy… you are little more than beasts.” “…You are like insects. Moths, rushing to the light and somehow totally unaware that it is death until your body be consumed in flames… like, so…”
Damien’s hand rose; and from the palm shot a fireball that rocketed like a meteorite down to the city below, through one of the last buildings left standing following the destruction around it. The fireball obliterated the tower’s middle, which sent the top crashing down heavily with a thunderous crash that shook the Earth. The flag upon its roof that had stood so proud became ash in an instant… erasing the last trace of ‘Old Wyndia’ forever. He hoped they got the message… after all, he knew for a fact their force was far greater than his slaves; and while he certainly could not have cared less whether any of them lived or died… they – could – still be of some use to him.

Greene drew his scimitar as soon as the fireball struck. There was no turning back now even in the wake of knowing their presence was known and their hopeful surprise attack had been foiled. They could only pray that somehow, they could reach out to their Woren friends trapped within Damien’s magic. “Prepare!” He called to his force as they charged down the hill, as Dezben and the handful of Worens remaining charged out from the broken gates. He was stunned to see so few of them… not that many had fallen in the battle with Damien before their enslavement. What had happened to them all!?
Ichiro closed his eyes and cast Sirocco ahead, blasting three of the Worens (including Dezben) backwards. He was sure he had killed one, as it was still burning and did not move when it hit the ground. Wolf then passed him and ran alongside Greene and a group of thirty heavily armed and armored infantrymen.
The clash was horrific. Immediately, Grassrunner soldiers went flying through the air as the tigers swept their mighty claws across their ranks. Greene and Wolf however were lucky enough not to face immediate evisceration. Wolf’s sword looked a lot like a machete; but was too large and not designed as such. It swept and severed the arm of a tiger as he ducked beneath it; and with a howl of victory did he bring his large weapon up and over to sliced the head of the next in half. To his side, Greene spun around a female and severed her spine with a slice across her back before thrusting his sword backwards and into the chest of another behind her.
Beyond it all, Ichiro shed tears of horror and dismay to see the battle before him. These Worens had long been their friends! Dear, dear friends! With a cry of despair he flicks his wrist forward and pierced the heart of a tiger charging him directly with a lightning bolt, killing it instantly. He though maybe he’d be safe then; but no such luck.

Dezben broke through.

The soldiers behind Ichiro rushed to his aid and somehow managed to intercept the burned Woren chief with fury; but his massive body blasted them aside, he seemed not to notice the many cuts etching across his face, chest, and biceps. Ichiro blasted him in the face with a hellish burst of wind; but it did nothing to stop his charge.

Ichiro was bitten in half.

Greene saw the death of their friend and let out a cry of rage, severing the top half of a tiger’s head with fury as Wolf bravely managed to force his way through to the other side of the tigers. “Die for honor! Die for glory!” Wolf screamed over the roars of the tigers, severing one’s fingers as it swiped at him and spinning upon another, taking its lower jaw and stabbing it through the ear with the spike on the end of his sword’s hilt.
The Grassrunners fought bravely, the Worens were losing numbers. They were down to but seven non-crippled fighters. Greene and Wolf’s tandem was gory and brutal as they fought their way through the lines, their feet splashing in bloody mud. From behind then, Dezben roared forth and leapt over the thinning line of fighting and charged their backs with fury.
Wolf spun quickly, drawing his sword up and across Dezben’s face. Greene stabbed the tiger in his hip deeply. In response, Dezben tore his claw across Wolf’s breastplate; but his claws did not pierce the well-made armor. The bulldoggish Grassrunner responded the only way he knew how, the only way he really could; and stabbed the spike of his handle into the tiger’s right eye.
Unfortunately, the tiger’s skull was anatomically accurate to that of other big cats. The brain was protected even through the eye unlike the skulls of most humans or other animals. Dezben was blinded on that side most certainly; but he most certainly also was not dead.
…However, he was crippled. Greene, with surgical precision, sank his blade in the tiger’s hip joint proper as compared to just the flesh; and felled him. “Back!” He called to Wolf, withdrawing and turning on what was apparently the last female. She was lean compared to the others, which was one of the more obvious signs she was female in the tiger form; but she seemed different from the others.

Greene shook. He knew her…

“Hazel...” He muttered in despair, to see the woman he had loved (though she had always made it – very – clear she did not feel the same way) covered in the blood of his people, preparing to attack and kill… him. “Greene! Be on your guard!” Wolf warned him, as Dezben vainly tried to pick himself back up, “Dezben isn’t dead! I’ll finish him off, you… you kill that one!”
Greene’s knees were weak beneath him as Hazel slowly advanced forward. Either he killed her… or she killed him. “Hazel… I cannot spare you.” He warned her in a raspy voice that told the tale of his sadness, “I must kill you.”
Wolf dared not turn his attention over as Dezben pushed himself up to his hands and his one good knee. “Sorry.” He offered with a heavy sigh, “I didn’t want to make it end this way!”
…Wolf’s sword descended as Hazel pounced; and Greene spun into a kneel, drawing his sword up and through her body in one quick motion that saved both his and Wolf’s lives. Behind them, the battle neared its end… but one tiger remained, surrounded by thirty Grassrunner soldiers, which descended upon it mercilessly on the surface; but with tears of cold despair in their hearts.
Greene slowly stood and sheathed his sword, glancing over as Dezben’s head rolled a foot away from his body. Hazel lay beside him in two halves, dead. Wolf sadly clapped him on the shoulder; but they shared no words. There was nothing to say, this ‘victory’ was totally empty.

…For the Worens, as far as they knew… were officially extinct.

(End of Chapter 3)

Next: Chapter 4: A 'Family Reunion'

[-sparkle-]

So I read now all you posted (long before I posted here) and I swear to death, Ananias is such an idiot, but in the other hand, damn lovely xD. He's funny and I can't wait to read more stupid actions from him xP.

[Avarice]

^_^ Ananias isn't necessarily stupid, he just acts that way.

Now, Chapter 4!

Chapter 4: A ‘Family Reunion’

Serenity stood silently, the hood of her cloak pulled so high only the edge of her chin could be seen for the shadow. Beside her, the smoldering remains of a burned building were being dismantled. What little wood was left the followers were using to build caskets.
“Fifty people…” Randolph sighed grimly as the bearers of the mutilated and rotten remains began their respectful re-assembly (when possible, some were little more than putrid piles of gore) as they placed them all in individual caskets. “It looks as if a troop of beasts did this.” One of Randolph’s right-hand men said grimly, “I see tracks belonging to a cat; and booted feet.”
Randolph stroked his chin. “We will soon discover what it all means.” He assured the man as he waved him off and turned to Serenity. As they had came to the scene he had declared that he would venture to Wyndia alone, that he would risk his life to assure the safety of his followers. Unfortunately for him, Serenity wasn’t about to let things work like that.
“I am ready.” She said quietly, her normally light and cheerful tone as dark and brooding as one could imagine. “…Princess Serenity… I wish you would reconsider this, I do not wish to see you join these people in the ground.” Randolph sighed grimly. “I do not wish to join them; but if that is what fate has decreed, so be it.” Serenity said in response, swallowing hard and making her way down to the road.

Randolph shook his head and followed after. There was little else he could do.

Serenity turned her gaze across the fields. The air reeked of fresh death, smoke rose on either side. Wyndia’s walls were covered in soot, trails of dried blood etched down the stone. The drawbridge was crushed; and to their horror, a pile of burning bodies lay just a few dozen yards away in the fields.
“…A great battle indeed.” Randolph said with a throaty rattle to his voice; “But… those are Grassrunners and Worens…” “…Hmph. I should have know! The beast folk have once again proven their evil by attacking and destroying the fair city of Wyndia! Agathis shall truly rain a fiery death down upon them.”
Serenity glanced into the city; and upwards over the wall at the pinnacle of the castle… above which, dark clouds had begun to gather. “Let us continue on, Randolph.” She said, again finding herself having to force that name out – without – a title before it.
Greene watched them carefully, hiding with Wolf and the remainder of their troop among the ruins. “Racist ass mother…” Wolf was growling quietly as the strange fat man and his odd ball attire and staff made his way down the street, directly past them. Greene didn’t say a word, he simply covered Wolf’s big mouth and watched with narrow and suspicious eyes a the mysterious hooded woman paused… something she did often as they passed the torn and tattered bodies of the wingless Wyndian bodies that littered the streets.
“…Randolph…” Serenity muttered in horror, turning away as they turned a corner, to
find the halved body of a boy that could not have been over seven years of age. “I know,
Princess Serenity.” Randolph replied quietly, setting his arm over her shoulder as a father would his daughter, “Come with me. Look no longer upon the pain and death you see before you. It will cloud your mind and your judgment.”
Greene glanced to Wolf. ‘Princess Serenity’ was a name they had never heard before; but it was soon explained; for as she turned and her back came to them, they saw her wings.
Lush white plumage of surprising size. They were far from large; but strong enough to support her weight. Greene swallowed hard. He wanted to step out and offer his aid; but it was already clear that the old man was probably going to be… less than trusting. “I say we go introduce ourselves; and set the old man straight.” Wolf offered, sensing Greene’s conundrum. “I fear it. He may be of magical power; and we both know this Princess be of magic, like all members of the royal family.” Greene whispered, sneaking around a building to continue his vigil, “I fear the man’s reaction. She speaks little and shows no sign of emotion… perhaps they be the enemy.”
Wolf shook his head and stepped out against Greene’s wishes. The sight of him, a bloody and battered Grassrunner with a gnarly bulldog face, scared Serenity to the point she nearly fell over and set Randolph immediately on the defensive.
“Wait!” Greene exclaimed, rushing out behind his friend and holding up his hands submissively, “We are not your enemy! We have come to help your people and avenge our friends!”
Serenity’s hood fell backwards as she caught herself from falling. Randolph, she knew, wasn’t about to hear a word they said; and was preparing as the tall one spoke to obliterate them both. “Wait, Randolph.” She urged him, rushing and lowering his staff, much to his dismay. “Serenity, they are liars! Behold that they hide amidst this wreckage and do not bear the flag of Wyndia!” Randolph argued immediately. “That’s because we aren’t from Wyndia.” Wolf said with a rather sharp edge to his voice, “We are of the Grassrunner clan. We have came here in pursuit of a being named Damien… he is of Wyndia; but his wings are black. The Worens were here as well, enslaved by his magic and forced to wreak this havoc you see before you.” “…We, their friends, fought and killed them for the sake of Wyndia.”
Serenity’s face twisted in confusion. “You… must be mistaken, sir!” She responded, being as Randolph was apparently speechless and stood with a gawk painting his face like some sort of clown, “Damien has been dead for years. There is no way he could have done this!”
“…Dead?” Greene muttered in confusion, stepping in front of Wolf to try and ease the tension, “Milady, your majesty… I know this to be true. He has wings of black feathers, larger even than your own. He raided our tribes across the river, destroyed our people; and due to his power has made extinct the race of the Worens… and, from what we have gathered here, the wingless Wyndians.”
Serenity shook her head. “I am sorry; but you are mistaken. You speak of someone I know… or knew…” She explained with a shake of her head, “My elder brother, the only son of my mother and father… the King and Queen. He died of illness upon his twelfth
winter, when I was but in my fifth.” “What you say… it cannot be true; and be it that he
survived his illness he would never do such a thing, he would be the Prince, next in line for the throne itself…”
Wolf made a face. “Sorry, Princess; but we’re not lying to you. The guy has black wings and called himself Damien.” He argued with a shake of his head, shortly before Greene elbowed him dead in the stomach. “Enough, Wolf. Observe the words of her majesty and respect them. This is not our home, these are not things to argue.” Greene warned him with an unhappy frown, “Milady, Sir, please… allow us to accompany you to the castle. Therein our enemy resides, we have sacrificed much to come here and destroy him for what he has done.”
Randolph glanced to Serenity. “I be against this, I do not trust them!” He declared skeptically. “There is no lie in their eyes.” Serenity responded with a rather hard glance that rocked the old man back on his heels, “Yes. Come with us, please. We have no warriors among us… Randolph and I know powerful magic; but that is it. What are your names?”
Greene knelt and bowed his head low. “I am Commander Greene of the Grassrunner Army, at your service.” Greene replied respectfully and with as professional a tone as he could manage. “I am Sergeant Wolf, also of the Grassrunner Army.” Wolf replied simply and with a bow alone. “Greetings then to you; and thank you for your aid.” Serenity returned with a faint smile and a bow of her own, “Let us go forth, and discover the true identity of our enemy.”
Randolph lowered his gaze and started off ahead of the others.“…What’s that guy’s problem?” Wolf asked Greene quietly as they and their troop fell into step behind the Princess. “I know not; but it doesn’t matter. Ignore his words and his bigotry.” Greene responded forcefully, “Do not break the threads of this relationship. We need each other in these dark times. Allies are few and far between, be they friendly or be they not.”


* * *

[Avarice]

Ryu led them over the mountain as quickly as he could; but it was still taking forever in his mind and in the mind of his friends. “A storm’s brewing.” Ananias said in a funny voice he was ripping off from an actor he’d seen in a play. “No, really?” Momo gawked, not getting the joke at all.
Sherri grinned and glanced over to Rei, winking at him when he turned his gaze over to her. The look that came over his face as it turned red in a blush was priceless… like the scowl Ananias gave him, having caught the look himself.
“What’s the big idea?” Ananias asked Sherri as he slowed and fell into step beside her in the back. “He’s hot.” Sherri replied with a shrug. “No he isn’t! I’m hot!” Ananias huffed with a scowl. “Uh… heh. Kind of I guess.” Sherri returned casually, shrugging as if it didn’t matter, “How many times do I have to tell you anyway? I don’t love you.”
“Pah, love.” Ananias huffed, turning away to hide the pitiful drop of his eyes, “I believe in another four-letter word, if you know what I mean. Not love.” “Besides… heh, you’re not good enough for me anyway!”
Nina glanced back and rolled her eyes. Just what was his problem!? He seemed to think, in all seriousness, that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. The way she saw it, he was a total pig; and any girl stupid enough to be attracted to him was of obviously low caliber; and should be ashamed of herself.
Peco hopped along ahead of Ryu then, presumably to escape Ananias’ constant prattle and boasting; but he probably regretted that when he turned the corner and got smacked by the ragged hand of a Tar Man.
Ryu stopped dead in his tracks and drew his sword. Nina would be needed here, she was the only once with any ice magic to freeze the monster so they could actually harm it! “Frost…” Nina said with a yawn, unimpressed by the pitifully weak monster as its body froze into a solid mass, as Ryu’s sword shot through and killed it.
Ananias and Sherri shared a glance. “That wasn’t very cool at all,” Ananias chuckled with a grin. “Who cares?” Momo asked, her hands rising in confusion. “I do! I’d want to see a big fight with lots of blood. I’m totally awesome like that.” Ananias explained with a grin and a puff of his chest. “The only one who would be bleeding is you, idiot.” Sherri huffed with a roll of her eyes, “Tar Men don’t bleed; and besides… they’re totally weak.”

“We killed a Goddess.” Rei offered from the side with a shrug, “We aren’t going to waste energy on a Tar Man.”

Ananias and Sherri both gawked. “Liar!” Sherri exclaimed with a chuckle. “Not even – I – would tell such a lie, she’s right!” Ananias laughed, pointing as it he were wearing a clown’s outfit.
Rei was about to defend himself when Momo nudged him with her elbow. “Uh, Rei, secret. Remember?” Momo asked with a frown. “Oh yeah… sorry.” Rei muttered, glancing back and grinning, “Hey, I was trying to make a joke. Sarcasm must be beyond you two idiots.”

Sherri smiled, Ananias scowled, and ahead… Nina rush in front of Ryu – and – dazed Peco.

Wyndia could be seen from this point, the highest portion of road on the mountain; but all Nina could see was a mass of dark clouds and trails of fading smoke. Even from this great distance, she could see the destruction. “…Where… where are the bakery’s smokestacks?” She asked herself aloud, “Where is the bell tower? Why am I not seeing the windmills!?”
Ryu and the others paled and gawked to see it. “Whoa, they… they totally screwed that place up royal!” Ananias squawked in disbelief. “Even the fields are burning, what the hell happened!?” Rei stammered with a shake of his head that was in synch with Ryu and Momo.
Sherri glanced over to Nina. Already, tears were flowing down her cheeks. “We… we better uh…” She muttered quietly, “We better be careful… only an… army could have done that…”
“…An army wouldn’t have destroyed everything…” Momo responded after a long moment of silence and blank stares, “A monster, something… horrible… did this.” “I… I wonder if maybe it has something to do with… the plant?”
Ryu lowered his gaze. “We shut the plant down, Momo…” He said quietly, turning his gaze back up and narrowing it in growing anger, “It may have been the… Urkans. We… we did destroy Myria…”
“There weren’t enough Urkans left, you know that.” Rei said from the side. “Then who; and why!?” Nina asked with a scowl, “Let’s go! Now! We have to help them, there might be survivors!”
No-one bothered trying to argue, not that they wanted to. They ran down the other side of the mountain, the short and steep road to the flatlands beside the river, quickly. It was still going to take a day or more to get to Eygnock Road; but they’d cover that quickly enough.

…Or at least, they thought they would.

Not a mile down the road after they made their way east from the foothills did they stumble around the corner on a camp of battered people. “Princess Nina!” The sole guardsmen exclaimed in shock and joy, “You’ve returned! Oh thank heavens!”
“What’s going on!?” Nina asked immediately and with an urgent expression painting her face. The guard fought hard to control himself. “M… milady…” He stammered with a shake of his head, “Weretigers, they… they attacked. They destroyed the city and… as far as… I know… they killed… eve… everyone…”
Rei lowered his gaze; but Sherri scowled. “Liar! The Worens would never attack Wyndia, their neighbors and friends!” She exclaimed bitterly, “How dare you suggest such a thing!”
“Back!” The guard roared upon seeing her… and Rei, “Back or I will skin you both alive, back you devils!” “Princess, they, they are the ones that slaughtered our people! They are the ones that attacked us, it was the Worens!”
Nina stamped her foot. “Calm down! All of you!” She shouted fiercely, “Rei and Sherri are not the enemy, they are friends!” “…Soldier, explain! You say weretigers attacked the city; but why!?”
“I don’t know!” The soldier screamed at her in a fit, the emotion he had held in for so long exploding as he threw his spear to the ground and fell to his knees, “They came from nowhere, they just started killing! Then he came, Damien! He came and finished us off and killed our legions with his magic, obliterated the city!”

Nina’s face twisted in confusion. “Who in the world is Damien!?”

The soldier calmed slightly and breathed heavily, tossing his helmet aside. “Death on Black Wings… have you not read your own history, Princess Nina?” He asked in response, “The myth that a day would come when a member of the royal family would be born with black wings, spelling doom for the Kingdom and its people…” “…He came, at last. It was said his name would be Damien…”
Nina blinked. “I have no brother, Soldier. You know that…” She responded in confusion, “How can you believe that myth? That was written years ago; and supposedly one of my ancestors was born with black wings; but she was a heroine! She helped one of the last members of the Dragon Clan fight off the demon Deathevan…”
The soldier shook his head. “I know not, milady; but the man who led the Worens flew through the air on black wings, huge… huge… wings…” He muttered as he finally and fully calmed down; “And he destroyed Wyndia… totally.”
Ryu and the others shared a concerned series of glances. “Are these people survivors, or what?” Nina asked after a moment. “No… these people, they are the survivors of the caravan that was also attacked as the Worens charged Wyndia.” The Soldier explained as he slowly stood, “I’m… I’m afraid there are only four. Like the city, the caravan was completely eradicated.”
Rei and Ryu shared a pale glance. “Bunyan!” Ryu exclaimed in horror, bolting off without a word of an explanation to the soldier or the confused people watching. “Hey! Wait up!” Ananias yelped, taking off after them quickly; and leaving the ladies and Peco behind.

…The only thing they were going to find, though…


* * *