The alleyway is lined in blood. Clos
in his wolf form is breathing heavily. Only a part of it is fatigue, the rest of
is him trying to calm his rage. His wolf ears perk up. Without looking he
suddenly leaps off to the side landing on the wall on all fours. He's not
defying gravity, but a mere jumping against it to leap right back off. However
his reflexes are amazing allowing him to gage the situation quickly. There is
another guard behind. This guard though is wielding a silver bladed sword. Clos
growls as he leaps off the wall and away from the guard. He knows enough to keep
his distance from a weapon like that. While he doesn't have a plan yet keeping
some distance is a good start. As he glares at the guard his eyes glow with the
light of the full moon. The two of them start to stare off seeing which one will
make the first move. Suddenly the guard goes limp and falls down. Standing
behind him is another man with a bow and arrow.
The wolf's eyes glare at the man with
a bow and arrow trying to figure out who it is and why he just shot the guard. A
human helping the murderous wolf makes no sense at the moment. Finally, his mind
is able to recall the man. It's Hogorin. Seeing his old friend the wolf starts
to calm down. Clos reverts to his human form and then half collapses as he tries
to get his senses back. The transformation is not always the easiest for him;
it's not something he's ever truly given himself into. However, this isn't
nearly as difficult as the forced transformation from death. He'll recover in
just a few seconds. Hogorin retrieves the discarded red coat and covers Clos
with it. Clos looks at him and says, "Thank you, my friend."
Hogorin shakes his head no. "Do not
thank me. If I were any type of true friend I would have been able to stop that
atrocity five years ago. I am not asking for your thanks, but perhaps just
seeking redemption for being too weak to save your family then."
Clos looks at him and responds with
only one word, "Hogorin."
A squad of Janissary, led by N'Raus,
comes running up and stop as they see the carnage in the alleyway. N'Raus calls
out, "Hold it right there Esterlane! You'll surrender yourself to us from crimes
against the Empire."
Clos glares at the elf. Even though
he's slightly dazed it doesn't look like he's ready to just surrender.
Elsewhere Bacard fends off an attack
from an ogre mercenary. The strength of the ogre is starting to push him back as
his feet slide against the stone road. Suddenly a bolt of lightning streaks down
from the sky and hits the ogre. Smoke rises up from the ogre who is now slightly
dazed, but somehow still standing. Bacard stabs his sword into the ogre's chest
and then kicks the ogre off the blade. "Just die already would you!"
Daisuke suddenly runs up to Bacard
and tugs on his sleeve panicked. Bacard looks down at him, "Daisuke? What are
you doing here? It's not safe." The Globe of Daylight starts to flicker out from
lack of power. However the presence of Daisuke has distracted both Bacard and
Ilsa to notice. The face of Bacard turns grim as he comes to a realization. He
quickly asks, "If you're here, then ... what happened to Bacice?!"
Daisuke makes some motions with his
hands trying to explain, clicking away rapidly. Then all of the sudden Daisuke
just gives Bacard a push to the side as hard as his little arms can. Bacard
moves slightly as a spark hits the ground. It was the sound of metal hitting
against the stone floor. It doesn't take Bacard long to figure out what just
happened. He calls out, "Ilsa, I need more light."
Ilsa tries, but she's struggling at
the time. "I'm sorry, I'm tired. I'm having trouble focusing enough energy."
Daisuke quickly climbs on to the back
of Bacard. Then he quickly pushes down on the head of Bacard. Bacard can feel it
as a blade whips over where his head just was. He smirks, "Ah, I get it; you can
see them, can't you? All right, tell me what to do."
Daisuke gives a subtle nudge to the
right side of Bacard. Reacting to the signal Bacard quickly moves and moves his
sword. The force of another blade hitting up against it can be felt.
Bacard calls out, "Good work
Daisuke." By feeling where the pressure is applied to his blade, Bacard is able
to determine where the invisible opponent is probably positioned. He shoves the
other blade off and then quickly attacks the spot. Contact is made as his blade
slices into something. A Shadow-Walker suddenly becomes visible as its blood
drips out from the wound. Bacard drives up the sword further into the
Shadow-Walker for good measure. He then asks, "All right Daisuke, where is she?
Lead the way."
While still clinging onto the back of
Bacard, Daisuke points in a direction. Without waiting for more Bacard starts to
run off in the direction. "Ilsa, we need to move."
Clos draws his weapons preparing to
defend himself against any attack. He knows this is the Janissary, and that they
shouldn't be taken lightly. None the less, he's come too far to just give up
now. N'Raus gets ready to fight. The elf announces to the rest of his squad,
"Stay out of this. I don't want to see any more of our men get hurt over this.
I'll handle this myself."
Clos responds to him, "If you don't
want anyone else hurt, then I suggest you back off yourself. You're still young
and can have a full life."
N'Raus replies, "I'm not as young as
you may think, so don't go worrying about me."
A burst of flame suddenly cuts
between them. The flame vanishes after only a second, but it was enough to gain
both of their attentions. "Well, what if I still worry about you?" Clos and
N'Raus both look to see Elegon standing there off to the side. Elegon continues,
"There are fights all over the city. Surely you can find something more worth
your time than this one. This one is my friend."
N'Raus looks at Elegon before
answering back, "It's been a long time Elegon. You should've let me know you
came back home." Then he looks back at the rest of the troops, "All right, we
still have a lot of work to do to cleanse this city. Let's get to it men."
One of the other soldiers says, "But
sir, what about --"
"Just a case of mistaken identity,"
N'Raus answers. "Now no more questions. There are still fights going on
throughout the city and it's our job to keep this city safe."
All the other soldiers say in unison,
"Yes, sir."
Not far behind Elegon while this
conversation goes on Valice is looking off into the distance. Then he just
shouts out, "Something is wrong! I have to go!" He then just goes to run off,
headed somewhere else in the city. Both Clos and Elegon look at each other, and
then go to give chase.
