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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:09 pm
Hai everybody! Here's my first fanfiction ever and it's quite dear to me.
[game] New Beginnings Fire Emblem based By ObscuredDiamound Disclaimer: I own nothing of Fire Emblem despite how much I wish I did. Notes: There are more then one chapter and also I know what a Kitsune is as well. The italics represent the Heron language.
Here's the Description:
Beorc and Laguz are never meant to be together... Or are they? Strange dreams, visions, and an unexpected pair will prove the answer. Will fate join them or deny them? Takes place during Path of Radiance /Early Radiant Dawn.
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Chapter One Introductions “Unkey Shinon! Where are you?” Rolf called as he wandered through the woods about thirty feet away from the Greil Mercenaries’ campsite. He continued to look around, still not hearing any answers from Shinon. It was time for his daily archery lesson. Gripping his bow, Rolf continued making his way past the branches and shrubs as he went deeper into the forest. A few minutes later, a loud and hoarsely shriek stopped Rolf in his tracks. He turned around to see a fox caught in a bear trap. “Aww! Poor thing...” Rolf murmured as he slowly approached it. But the closer he got, the more he came to realize that it wasn’t a normal fox. It was as big as a horse!! Two thin metal bracelets clung to each front paw, its fur as black as the night. With five tails swaying back and fourth, while the fox tried to break the trap by biting it. “Ea...easy gir..girl” He uneasily whispered as he approached its biting range. He froze when its head turned and began to growl. Eyes full of hatred and fear with a full set of razor sharp teeth only made Rolf hesitate longer. Eventually he slowly moved his left hand and placed it atop of the creature’s head. “Do not touch me!! You stupid, ignorant human! Do I look like some cute wittle fox?! Well?!” It spit at Rolf in a tone that reminded him of Shinon. “Eh…” Rolf, still in shock of the fox talking, stared at it with a twitching eyebrow. “Stupid kit!! Leave me!” “You’re not a very nice fox lady…” “Oh please! Don’t even dare compare to those idiotic beasts! I am a female Kitsune, or as your kind would say a fox sub human. I am one of the few left…” “What happened to them?” Rolf asked, watching her lick her paw. “Humans and sub humans that’s what!” She looked away as she said this. “Hmmm. My name is Rolf! What’s your name?” Rolf eagerly asked, deciding to change the subject. “Wrice.” “Rice?” “No not the crop. Wrice with a “w” in front.” “That’s a weird name…Wrice.” Wrice lifted her head into the air and began to sniff and began to growl. “Grr! He’s coming! Damn red haired archer! So persistent!” “Wait! That sounds like Shinon.” “Hpmh! He’s been trying to kill me all day.” “Yeah that’s Shinon... Sigh. Once he has a goal, he doesn’t give up.” Wrice tried to run off, forgetting her leg and the trap at that moment. Falling to the ground, she yelped in pain. “Damn it! Runt! Open this trap now!” “Uh... hold on!” Glancing towards the ground, a large and sturdy stick caught Rolf’s eyes. He picked it up and rushed towards Wrice’s ensnared hind leg and the trap holding it. He proceeded to try to pry open the trap, sticking the stick beside her leg and pushing down on it. “Rolf! What do you think you’re doing?!” A more familiar voice made Rolf stop from continuing and look up. Shinon slowly approached them, bow loaded and ready at hand. “Shinon... I was...” “Move Rolf.” Shinon began to draw closer, his bow drawn towards Wrice. “This ends here stupid sub human beast.” “Words are useless! Talk all you want. You have yet to end my life.” Wrice faced Shinon and began to growl deeply. Soon it changed into a snarl with sharp, flesh-piercing teeth revealed. Her fur standing on edge. “Stop this at once!” Two large hawks and a pure white heron came soaring from the skies above and landed between Shinon and Wrice, blocking each other from view. They reverted back to their beorc forms. Ulki, Janaff and Reyson now stood in the three bird’s places, silently gazing at Wrice. Soon Ike followed by Elincia and Mist slowly came from behind the trees from the campsite, after just hearing the commotion. Wrice glared at the newly arriving beorc, only stopping to lick her paw, still caught in the trap. Shinon, who was angered by not being able to make a final strike, slipped away into the maze of trees while everyone else was fixed upon Wrice. “Goddess damn it…” He muttered under his breath as he made his way back to the camp site. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the little Heron Prince. ( What could you possibly want here?)” “Wrice? ( How happy I am to know you are alive!)” “( Right… Just like all the other sub humans and humans!)” “Wrice… That night… ( I realize that your people were wrongfully blamed as were mine…)” Reyson sincerely looked at Wrice then at the ground as he said this. “( Pah!)” Wrice began to struggle from the trap even more. “Not true little prince!! You own so called “brethren” did not betray you!” After finally getting her leg free, Wrice took off full speed, running deeper in the forest. “Wrice!! Wait! Come back!” Reyson called after her as he helplessly watched her run farther and farther away. “Reyson?” Ike, with a confused expression, stood there, waiting for some sort of explanation. “She is a Kitsune, or fox laguz. I believe she is one of the remaining few. Like I am of the Herons.” “So there are more kinds of laguz that beorc don’t know about?” Mist asked as she watched Reyson’s preoccupied face. “Well yes, but most don’t want to be known by beorc. Wrice, for example hasn’t been seen for over twenty years.” “Why is that?” Ike’s sudden question snapped Reyson out of his trance. “Perhaps we should discuss this at the campsite. Just incase certain ears would like to hear this.” Reyson glanced over at a nearby tree to see a red fox tail flicking back and forth.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:10 pm
Chapter Two Worries, Regret, Remissness Upon arriving at the campsite, there was a lot of commotion. Reyson had requested a short meeting in just forty-five minutes. Even though only Ike, Elincia, Soren, Mist, Titania, Reyson, Tibarn, Janaff, and Ulki would only be attending, it was still a very chaotic gathering. Soren decided it would be best is he researched the “newly” discovered laguz. While Titania polished her armor, Mist and Elincia focused on making a small meal for the meeting. Meanwhile in the -Begnion Capital City Forest (only about six miles from the campsite), Wrice still running, only then just acknowledged the pain in her foot increasing with each step. Stopping, she began to glance around, scanning the area, keeping aware of any danger that might come. After seeing a rather large fox den, she cautiously approached it. “Hmm… As much as I’d love the luxury to keep going... I have to rest. No revenge comes to the dead unless someone else does it for them, and I will not let that happen as I long as I breathe a single breath. I’ll make sure of that!” Wrice gripped a small hidden collar on her neck with her jaws and ripped it off and dropped it on the ground in front of her paws. Suddenly smoked arose and surrounded Wrice. A few moments later when the smoke slowly cleared, a beorc-looking woman now stood in her place. In the place of paws were two beorc feet (the right one cut and broken badly), wearing leather sandals; long (at least down the waist), shimmering hair, black as the night. Two black fox ears on her head, instead of beorc ears. She wore a leather vest, rimmed in white fur, while the pants covering her legs were also made, of course, of leather and fur rimming it. A small fox pelt cleaving her waist, hung low enough to partially a long black fox tail as it swayed with the faint wind. Looking down at the collar with ocean blue eyes on the ground, Wrice bent down to slowly pick it up. Grasping it in her hands, she quickly stuffed it down her shirt to store it for later. It was one of the few treasures she really cared for after all. The collar did help her immediately change to her beast form in the most diciest of situations when she attached it on her neck. “It seems that you are the only one I can depend on, eh?” She patted her chest as she thought aloud for a moment and then refocused on the den. Ignoring the throbbing argument her foot gave her, Wrice sighed and decided it was a safe refuge and far away from any disgusting human that might hunt in the forest. She knelt down and nimbly crawled deep into the den. Despite its cramped appearance, Wrice found it to be very comfortable and somewhat roomy. She proceeded to ripping a portion of the bottom of her leather pants and wrapped it around her injured foot, after she’d taken her sandal off. Even though it didn’t help slow the bleeding and kill the pain, it was all that could be done for know and Wrice knew she would have to live with this “torture” for now. “Deneb could probably fix it. Ah... but he’s gone isn’t he? Curse you humans and sub humans alike!” Wrice could feel her hair stand on edge as she angrily cried this. A few moments later a short crystal-toned ring echoed though the forest and into Wrice’s ears. This caused her to look up and frantically look around. “Deneb?! No… it couldn’t be him…” She then sadly leaned back and shut her eyes. Swept away into a world of dreaming and happiness. During this time, the meeting at the mercenary grounds had just begun. Inside the main discussion tent, most of the party sat on sturdy oak chairs, with the exception of Janaff and Ulki who stood near the back guarding the tent entrance. Reyson stood before the group and waited before everyone else was ready before he made his opening statement. After seeing Ike motioning for him to start, Resyon smiled and nodded. “Everyone, I personally thank you for coming on such a short notice.” He made a short gesture towards them as he spoke. “So dear Reyson, what has happened? You seemed ill at ease when speaking to me earlier.” Tibarn, with a slight confused look, cocked an eyebrow as he watched Reyson. “Our sister fox has reappeared. It seems Wrice survived that injustice.” “What?!” Tibarn with a shocked look on his face turned full attention to Reyson. Janaff and Ulki expression’s mirrored their King’s. “So it really was her? The one in the forest?” Janaff slowly murmured. “Um.. Not to sound idiotic or anything, but who exactly is Wrice and what is going on?” Ike’s sudden question interrupted the slight discussion while he began pondering on the sudden appearance of the fox creature in the forest. Was that Wrice He thought to himself. Hmm… It’s weird…I had gotten use to the idea of there being only six laguz types…Now there are even more then that? “Well you see… ehh… How should I explain this?” “Perhaps Prince Reyson, Queen Wrice’s own kind should explain the events?” A sudden new voice made everyone jump and look around. Following the voice, a beorc boy entered through the tent. He had very short black hair with a mixture of bluish green eyes each had a small hazel brown ring around each pupil. Two red fox ears on his head jolted back and forth as he gazed at Tibarn and Reyson. His clothing almost similar in style to Wrice’s excluding a pelt and the robe worn on the boy’s back. A partial bit of red fox tail could be seen. To Ike, he didn’t seem much older or taller then Mist, but who could tell with laguz? At least Ike assumed he was a laguz. “Prince Deneb! Oh bless Goddess!!” Reyson approached the boy and knelt before him. “Deneb, please accept the apologies of all hawk! Our kind will always try to repent for our crimes against Kitsune…” Tibarn followed Reyson’s actions and also knelt down, with Janaff and Ulki soon after. “Rise I insist. I truly wish I could accept your apologies and forget. But sister must do so for there to sincere peace amongst us.” “So she is still angered? Ha. She would feather me alive if I even glance at her…” Tibarn hesitantly looked towards the ground. “Umm... Could someone please inform me? Just a little?” Ike sighed as he watched this “scene.” It was like a drama book and the conflict was yet to come. Apparently this Wrice was an important person. Very important. “Oh! Forgive me. It has been awhile since I have talked to any beorc. My name is Deneb Riseal, Prince Kitsune the Fifth.” The women couldn’t help but to silently giggle. It was very cute to see someone so “young” acting that way. This child has such formality! Titania smiled as she thought. “I, besides my sister (Queen Wrice of course), and a few survivors am the last of the Kitsune.” Deneb continued. “Fox laguz?” Ike asked. “So you know what that is. Good more time is saved then by not explaining. I assume you know of the unholy Heron Massacre?” Deneb stopped and waited for Ike to answer. After seeing a simple nod, Deneb began to talk once more. “Very well. After those events, a rumor began to spread from Begnion’s city limits. ‘The Kitsune had lied! They told others the Herons were responsible for Apostle Altina’s death.’ Relations between us and beorc were not so well at the time, so naturally…” “They repeated the Serenes Massacre?” Ike cut him off. “Yes. But other laguz took part in that as well…Twenty years ago…” Deneb shakily whispered and rubbed his left temple with his hand. “Why didn’t they fight back? A Kitsune looks pretty fierce…” Ike glanced over towards Deneb only to be greeted by his hands sheltering his eyes. “My parents... they signed a peace treaty with Begnion and they honored that… And… and…” tears began to flow from his eyes, “We just… we did nothing. Slowly we were all killed!” He fell to the ground unable to hold back the tears any longer. Everyone watched as they casted worried looks to whoever was closest to them. The best they could do to help was to let Deneb calm down and let it all out. Reyson rushed to his side and slowly knelt down beside him. He then placed his on Deneb’s shoulder. Deneb instinctively looked up at Reyson and buried his face in Reyson’s chest. Clinging to him, Deneb’s wailing did not slow nor cease to exist. “Deneb it’s alright. I know how tough it’s been. Trust me. But you are alive still and so is Wrice. I think it would be best if you were reunited with her now. Ok?” Reyson patted Deneb’s back in an assuring manner and waited for a reaction. “Yes….sniff…” Ulki, who was as lifeless as a statue (seeing as he was standing completely still and observing the meeting), suddenly felt his ears twitch as her heard a slight rustle at the tent’s entrance and decided to check the noise out. While everyone was preoccupied with Deneb Ulki decided not to disturb anyone and go by himself. After walking to the certain point, Ulki found himself standing inches away from the curtain and slowly folded the cloth over and peered out. He saw the green haired and green eyed archer in training looking up at him. Rolf, who had been listening in on the meeting flinched when the tent’s entrance opened slightly. He hesitantly lifted his head upwards to meet Ulki’s questioning gaze. “Umm excuse me…” Rolf whispered in a timid voice. He was fatigued and out of breath. “Yes? Do you want something fledgling?” Ulki’s stern expression made Rolf feel even more uncomfortable. “Ehh…. I …gasp.…have to….tell Ike something…”
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:11 pm
Chapter Three Moment of Action Back in the tent, Ike, Soren, Reyson, and Tibarn were huddle around an old oak carved table, looking over a very recently printed and detailed map of the surrounding area with an approximate of a fifty mile radius. At the very edge of the left side of the map a fairly large drawing of Begnion’s Capital city cutoff about halfway on the map. Ike had more or less just recently purchased the map from Volke when the mercenary group stayed in Begnion. But because this is Volke we’re talking about, Ike had to pay at least ten thousand gold pieces for it. Thinking back to a couple of months ago when he laid eyes upon Reyson for the first time, Ike compared the similarities that the heron and Wrice had shown when both raised their voices in anger when a beorc was close and fled from him. Ike didn’t really notice that the other three were looking straight at him while his thoughts swerved around in his mind. Only Soren’s slight cough brought Ike back to the group and the familiar surroundings, “As I was saying Ike, you were about right here right?” He placed his index finger on a small printed tree on the map. Nodding, Ike shifted his index finger east of Soren’s and laid it on the map, “She took off, running this way. Maybe she’s resting around there?” “So what if we sent a small group following Wrice’s tracks? Then a larger group could rush ahead of the smaller one and scout the forest. Then they could meet up at a rendezvous point.” Tibarn added in while placing his hand on his chin, in a pondering gesture. “Yes. But we must be careful as to who goes. Certain faces could upset and distress Wrice even more then she is now…” Reyson quietly warned. Deneb sighed as he listened to the men talk back and forth as they continued making shoddy plans and deciding that this wasn’t the right way to go or that wasn’t a long enough to walk. Standing up, he noticed Mist, Elincia, and Titania talking about Ashera knows what amongst each other. He slowly made his way towards the group murmuring a simple, “Hello.” “Umm hello Prince Deneb.” Elincia hesitantly spoke as she watched the energetic young prince. “Please I insist. Just call me Deneb. Are you really Princess Crimea?” Deneb looked her straight in the eyes, with eagerness in his own. “Well yes I am… So have you…”she began only to be cut off by Deneb’s instant reply. “In the village where we survivors live a servant of Wrice and I, named Isadora, told me about how Crimea’s princess is fighting Deain to liberate her homeland.” “Yes I suppose that’s true. So Wrice is your sister?” Elincia quickly came to regret asking this question. Guilt rapidly entered her mind as she saw Deneb’s saddened face. But it soon reversed back to his normal curious and energetic look. “Wrice… Wrice is my half sister. We have different mothers. That’s why my ears are red and hers are black.” Deneb pointed to each aspect as he spoke. “Oh….” Elincia worriedly sighed and looked down. “But don’t worry!! I’m sure Wrice’s attitude towards beorc will change once she hears what I have to tell her.” “Ike! Ike!” Rolf’s small voice and body rushed into the tent, gasping for air. He collapsed onto the ground a few moments later. Fatigue was not good on a child especially as seeing that Rolf wasn’t use to so much of it at once. “Rolf!” Ike called in surprise as he quickly dashed to help Rolf up. The group turned in shock as they watched Ike elevate Rolf’s upper chest and lift his head up, “What happened?!” “Shinon…went…hunting…forest…” his voice shaking with each rasping breath, “I… think…he was... going after Wrice! I followed… but group of hunters… after Wrice…ambushed! I ran back to tell… Wrice’s foot is injured…” Rolf began to regain his breathing after talking. “What?!” Deneb’s ear pricked up the moment he heard this, with his face in disbelief. “The information is sterling. I have confirmed it.” Ulki opened the entrance of the tent and walked into view, a serious look on his face, “I overheard a small horde of strange beorc talking about hunting a fox ‘sub-human.’ By the sound of it, they were around thirty feet away from her. But I did not hear anything from the archer. He must have been already knocked out. Unless I am just deaf or mistaken.” “Sister! We must help her!!” Deneb immediately sprung from his seat and urged the group to leave the tent. “Deneb it will be alright, trust me. Ulki, you did well by coming with the nestling to bring this to our attention.” Tibarn rested his arm on Deneb’s shoulder and faced Ulki with a look of approval on his face. With this Ulki humbly bowed and quietly thanked his king. “Very well. Soren, Titania, we’ll go ahead and stay with Tibarn’s plan.” Ike turned and faced his comrades as he began to check to make sure he had his sword and gathered other necessary items, such as a few vulnaries and antidotes. “I shall go to!” Deneb implied. “Deneb…” Releasing a worried sigh, Ike turned to face the laguz boy, “I understand it’s your sister…” “Exactly! That’s why I have to go. She’ll listen to me Ike. I promise!” Deneb’s pleas finally made Ike realize how careful they had to be around Wrice and how strong the desire for a child to see his older sister once was. “Hmm… Alright I understand. But please stay close to the group Deneb.” “Ike! Please let me go too! I promise not to get in the way!” As soon as he said recovered enough of his breath, Rolf hastily spat his plea out and grabbed onto Ike’s arm and desperately shook it. “Easy Rolf! Sigh...”Ike looked down for a moment as he thoughtfully considered the consequences of each action. If he did take him, Rolf could lead them to where Shinon was last seen, but on the other hand Rolf did still looked very fatigued. In a spur of the moment battle such as this, fatigue was one thing that each side had no time for and the others (excluding Rolf and possibly Deneb) knew this. Ike felt many eyes and ears waiting for an answer as he opened his mouth to speak, “Rolf... You have to stay close and don’t try to shoot if you don’t think your body can handle it. Understand?” Rolf lifted his head up eagerly and nodded many times. As if he was suddenly cure of the fatigue, Rolf rushed out to gather his bow that was specially made for him by Shinon (not that the others knew this) and his quiver already full with slim, light arrows. Continuing on, Ike turned his attention back onto the others, who were patiently waiting for further commands. “Soren, Titania as said before you’ll accompany me, along with Deneb and Rolf. Tibarn, you, Ulki, Janaff, and Reyson stay in the skies above near the borders of the camp while we scout along the forest grounds.” “Good. We’ll await any further orders. If you need help just call to Ulki, or have the archer shoot a single arrow into the skies for Janaff. Good luck and be wary. Wrice has been known to decapitate, so don’t upset her too much and stay on her good side. Heh heh.” With that, Tibarn followed by Janaff and Ulki departed from the tent and swiftly left the grounds, relying on their wings. Being speechless, Ike watched the tent entrance for a few moments in confusion, not knowing whether to believe the hawk. The humor of the laguz, especially the hawks, was not quite the same as beorc. “Don’t worry Ike.” Reyson stood next to Ike and patted his shoulder in ‘assurance’, “Wrice won’t do that unless she’s really angry.” He then rushed out to catch up with Tibarn. “So Deneb…You’re sister sounds... um lofty.” Ike stated as he and the little clique made its way through bush and branches of the forest. “Not as much as one would think. She was very perverse of the royal life of Kitsune. In our metropolis, a utopia of sorts, instead of sitting around relying on others to act for her, Wrice would always be the first one to decide on affairs of haphazard arrangements. For example, small battles with beorc and other laguz was one thing she mostly cared for. She would also take much need supplies to our villages. But when Mother and Father signed the Begnion Treaty, Wrice just changed. I can’t really explain it. It’s as if she had an influx of what was to come.” “I think I know what you mean. Wrice didn’t seem that mean when I was talking to her before.” Rolf timidly suggested. Deneb looked over at the young green haired archer and smiled. He then nodded in agreement, “Yes. Wrice doesn’t like to be so unbridled around children.” “Hey! I’m not a kid! What about you? You don’t look so much older then me.” “I’m over seventy-five years old.” Deneb stated in a slight irate, matter of fact tone. “Eh…” Rolf looked down in embarrassment, his face a dark shade of crimson. I almost forgot he’s a laguz after all. But you really couldn’t know that if not for the ears and tail. Rolf sighed in slight disappointment as they continued through the forest “Judging by Rolf’s directions, we should be almost there. Everyone stay alert!” Ike’s sudden statement interrupted Rolf’s train of thoughts, causing him to glance up.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:15 pm
Chapter Four Just A Dream Wrice opened her eyes and slowly glanced around. She was laying on hard cold stone ground. Gasping in shock, she quickly jumped from her spot and surveyed around for any danger. Footsteps. That's what caught Wrice's ears favor, well actually the only thing that could be heard. Judging by the pace, she estimated about two people that were quickly walking on the pavement. But immediately, the rhythm instantly changed and became louder and faster. She perked her ears for a moment and quickly turned around. Two figures were quickly approaching. One was a beorc female with grayish colored eyes. Her long black hair braided behind her with a glistening blueish-white tiara on her head, signifying of some importance in a higher ranking beorc class. She wore a blue leotard like vest with a matching color choker on her neck and unattached sleeves on forearms, stretching to the wrists. From about the waist hung a white flowing skirt that stopped just above the ankles, with golden sandals on the woman's feet. Wrice froze as she laid eyes upon the woman. The familiarity of her was frightening and Wrice couldn't help but try to guess as to who she was. “Who is she? I don't remember... but it feels as though I know her...” But upon glancing towards the other figure that held the woman's hand, leading her to their destination, Wrice felt her anger boil. It was a man that had long, wild red hair that reached to his mid back. His piercing, yet warm light green toned eyes were all but new to Wrice. They reflected worry and anger. It was him. The archer. At least Wrice assumed that until, something strange caught her eye. The man had two fox ears and a tail. He wore a shirt and black leather pants similar to an ancestrial style. Kitsune clothing at least eight hundred years old. The black leather material cloak wrapped around his neck, flapped with the wind as the pair rapidly continued on. A loud thump reoccurred each time a step was taken, a result of running barefooted. “Odin...” The woman finally spoke and stopped in place looking down at the ground. “Lia, we cannot stop. Or those Begnion bastards will catch us.” The man turned towards the woman and urged her to keep going. “I don't think I can make it...” She lifted her hand up and placed it on her stomach, while looking back up at the laguz man. “We have to. Come.” The man clutched his hands in anger and then lead the beorc to the nearest corner and turned to it. Together they disappeared from sight. A few moments later, a small group of beorc snipers bearing the Begnion insignia on their chest plates with loaded bows at hand, flooded through the hallways in pursuit of the two. Wrice decided to stay out of any business unrelated to her and simply stood and waited for anything to happen. She held her breath for a moment after hearing a large snapping sound a few minutes later. The snipers must have released their arrows. That was the only explanation Wrice could think of for the awkward sound. “They're dead?” She finally questioned aloud as she pallidly edge closer towards the hallway. A spewing reeking stench of newly spilled blood immediately filled her nostrils as she approached. Her face wrinkled in disgust as she covered her nose with the back of her right hand. Cautious and high on alert, Wrice crouched down and slowly made her down the hallway. The walls were weathered and aged, with ivory ascending from cracks on the ground to higher parts on the wall, with small rays of light seeping in from the cracks on the higher walls. Perhaps it was a temple of some sort, by the look of it. Strange symbols and what appeared to be letters etched on the walls were seemingly like the Heron's language, but also very different. Wrice stood up as she examined the writing more carefully, running her hand on the wall. Upon looking forward, a small sparkling object caught Wrice's attention and caused her to ease towards it. Using her tail to swipe it from the ground, a medallion was laid onto her palm and she turned it side to side, back to front, watching it sparkle in one of the rays of light in awe. The very light metal was shaped in a tiger lily outline, prosperous with light and dark pink jewels crafted into it. When held at the right angle, the jewels gave the medallion a boastful shimmer that not even the most purest gold could compare to. Grasping it in her hand, Wrice refocused on the hallway and began scouting with lithe and agility despite her foot. It seemed like her foot was always injured for now she was used to it's constant pain. Sighing, Wrice sunk down to the ground, leaning on the wall for support. “Hmm... I wonder where Deneb is... It's been so long... Twenty years.. I haven't even seen Isadora or Dan since then either...I remember all those years in Kitsune's little “utopia.” Deneb's birth, me finally mastering the fire scrolls, Anthea's initiation... I wonder how that old hag is doing anyway.” Wrice smiled as she conversed with herself and couldn't help but to laugh at some of her memories. A small rumble began to quiver the cracks in the walls, as a loud bang echoed from deeper in the hallway. Wrice caught entirely off guard, turned her head in shock to see what was happening. She instinctively sprung to her feet, half expecting some sort of ambush. But to her surprise, a large, no humongous wave of fire was spewing, at a high speed rate, through the hallways coming at Wrice. Actually fearing for the first time in over five years, Wrice backed away and turned around, hoping to outrun the wave. Taking off at a fast pace,Wrice struggled to stay ahead of the flames, cursing her stupidity in her mind. How could I have not seen this coming?! Of all the things!! A damn fire! The one element I have control of! Wait that's it! She turned around and held her arms spread out and began to chant. ( “Fire of pits
Consumer of life
Heed my call and
Answer with Ashera's Might!!
Fire!!”) Balls of molten flames flowed from Wrice's hands as she focused at pushing back the waves of fire. She struggled with the her flames to keep herself out of harm while small ashes the result of the two forces began to scatter in the air floating around her. Gasping for breath Wrice, her strength weakening as she was forced to stop fighting back. Conceding to the waves, she felt her body slam into the hard wall, she was instantly knocked unconscious. Letting out a large moan, Wrice slowly opened her eyes and rubbed her left shoulder before sitting up. Looking around, the den's familiar surroundings filled her vision. A relieved, yet frustrated sigh escaped from Wrice's lips as she back down and shifted onto her side. A few minutes passed before Wrice felt something underneath her. Grunting she wanted to just ignore it and go back to sleeping, but it was just so uncomfortable to bear at the moment. Sitting up with an annoyed look she examined the ground for the object. “Now what?” She froze in place as soon as she saw it. A glistening tiger lily shaped, jewel abundant medallion lying amongst some twigs and crushed leaves. The only thing that distracted her from gazing at the amulet was the new pain in her left shoulder. She glanced down to see the flesh was burned and the skin wrinkled and swelled. Blisters ran from the shoulder to the side of the neck. “What the hell? It was just a dream...It couldn't have been real..” In panic of feeling even more vulnerable the previously, Wrice grasped the medallion and crawled out from the den. Quickly standing up, Wrice tersely pulled the collar from her chest and brought it to her neck. In a spur of the moment, an unseen arrow shot at Wrice's hands and caught the collar, pinning it into a nearby tree. She growled with anger and turned towards the arrow's owner and saw him. Bow loaded and pointed at her, he stood with a calm, yet intimidating stance. The red haired archer. Shinon. “Well, well. If it isn't the little -b***h-.” (-Shinon meant the dog way I think as a joke. Just humor me folks.)
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:16 pm
Chapter Five Deadlock
Wrice stood silently as she angrily watched the archer, the wind slowly dying down. She quietly vented a low growl and curled her lips in disgust of the human. Her ebony ears folded back against the top of her head and her tail flicked back and forth as the archer slowly retrieved a slim arrow from his quiver and swiftly docking it onto his bow. Wrice knew that she currently wasn’t in the position to pick a fight even though she badly wanted to badly rip the puny human’s head from his body. She readily darted to the cover of a nearby tree the instant the arrow flew from the bow, barely missing her head and instead impacting the oak. After she heard the satisfying thwock of arrow piercing tree, Wrice peeked from her new spot and searched for the beorc. It felt as if time itself was beginning to stand still as the leaves falling from the branches suddenly stopped and the spring wind that the nearby trees swayed in hastily died down. The tension of the present deadlock was getting to Wrice’s nerves. She was getting more and more uneasy as each moment passed by. She couldn’t help to think of her eerie dream and how much the male kitsune named Odian resembled the archer, as much as Wrice did to the female beorc, Lia. “Come out, come out, sub human.” The archer hissed in annoyance and began to step closer to the tree which Wrice hid behind. “What do you want human?!” Wrice yelled in question and glanced out from her spot once more. Damn. As if I didn’t have enough problems as I stand. She cursed silently and lifted her eyes to the spot where her collar was. With a collar like that one, its special properties allowed a kitsune to revert to its beast form in little time. But since it was far from her reach, Wrice knew it would be at least three or four hours for her transformation gauge to be full at least. It was too costly to rely on her fire magic as well because seeing the fact that in her current state, Wrice was very vulnerable and would be even more so if attempting to cast a spell of the ancient tongue. Thwock! Wrice stared in shock as the sound came inches above her head and hesitantly raised her head upwards, scrambling away to another tree after seeing a single arrow only centimeters above her. “Damn you! “ She managed to snarl at the human after pinning herself to another tree for cover. “Stupid subhuman. I’ll personally mount your head on a wall.” Shinon stated in an annoyed manner and reloaded an arrow onto his bow. He squinted his eyes at the tree which Wrice hid behind and quietly moved to a spot where he had a good view of her before releasing the arrow. However, she dodged once more and the multiple arrows to come afterwards. “I can see why the price is so high. It’s irritable to hunt a disgusting half-breed like you.” Shinon curtly hissed and lowered his bow grasping hand down, deciding to try another method to lure her out. “..What price?” Wrice cried in demand and immediately jumped from her cover, into the open. “I asked you a question human! What damn price?!” “Well, well. You’re being hunted and don’t even know why? As expected from an ignorant beast like you I suppose. Someone in the Begnion government is paying a high penny for a dead sub human fox and wants the fur as proof. Don’t know why though, especially when it stinks like a wild animal.” Shinon smirked and gingerly made a step towards Wrice, revealing that he loaded the bow hidden from Wrice’s sights and aimed at her once more. “Well you don’t have to worry about it any longer though. Say goodbye.” Wrice’s ears went up at another strange noise nearby. It sounded as though others were here at that moment. Wrice darted her eyes past Shinon for a moment and saw an unknown figure distanced away. Instinctively, Wrice dashed ahead, dodging the arrow shot from his bow and halted at the redhead’s side. She greatly shoved him out of the way (which felt more like a harmful punch to Shinon), unintentionally sending him into a sturdy cherry wood tree, immediately knocking him unconscious. Wrice let her instincts take over and jumped backwards from the arrow sent by the mysterious person. “Shinon!” A young boy voice called behind Wrice. She turned her head back to see the green haired boy that she encountered before, when she was caught in the trap. He looked fearfully to Wrice and then focused back on the unconscious man. “Shinon! Wake up!” “Go.” Wrice ordered the boy and scanned to forest for signs of others, beorc or laguz. “Go now kit! There will be an ambush in a matter of moments. Whether you get help or not, I could care less. Just go!” At first Rolf began to protest, but took it back and obediently fled away after seeing a large group of men dressed in exotic furs of animals and laguz alike swarm from the trees. Some weld axes while others armed themselves with daggers and bows. He took one last worried glance and sighed. “Please….Don’t hurt Shinon…..I know he seems bad... But please. I’ll ask Ike to talk to him! Then he won’t bother you anymore.” He pleaded and continued on fleeing away. Wrice thought on this for a moment and shrugged it away. She focused back to the gathering group of hunters and the one who stood before them all. He must be the ringleader. Wrice though while preparing herself for the worst possible scenario. “Well lads! We found ourselves a lucky catch! Just because this sub human looks like a wench doesn’t mean it is one.” The heavy accented man murmured while the large group around let out a rhythmic chuckle. “What should we do boys? Skin it alive? Or maybe put the beast out of its misery?” Wrice quietly vented out a small chuckle, which eventually led into a large laugh of humor. “And you call sub humans idiotic. What kind of moron are you?! You think that just because you damn humans think lowly of sub humans that means we can’t understand you? You are a fool to tell me your plans and then simply laugh about it.” Wrice spat in disgust at the man and swiftly darted to him. Punching him twice in the face (Wrice was sure that she heard a bone crack in the human’s face) and then giving him a kick in the gut and one leaping kick. The man fell unresponsive to the ground at Wrice’s feet, looking up at her in a daze. Wrice had no time to think, only to rely on her reactions. She had to dodge swings from bulky axes or arrows from archers. She threw a heavy blow to many different faces, chests, and backs of unseen men. She even resorted to biting at one time until the chaos began to overwhelm her as . She couldn’t remember how long she had put up the relentless struggle of every throw and every swipe and every hit taken, but she wasn’t willing to give up just yet. Though it took her an unknown amount of time to put a large dent in the human’s number, Wrice definitely could tell a proportionate difference now then what it had been earlier. Perhaps now I could use fire. Even if the price will nearly kill me… Wrice hesitantly decided and took a small leap back to get some distance between herself and the remainder of the hunters. Wrice took an unphased breath and slowly began to murmur the familiar chant. ( “Fire of pits
Consumer of life
Heed my call and
Answer with Ashera's Might!!
Fire!!”) This had definitely taken a toll on Wrice’s already weary body. Even though she was pleased with the screams of horror and the smell of burning flesh, Wrice felt dizzy and hazy. She felt like allowing herself to just pass out where she stood, but grunted when the hunter’s leader body began to twitch on the ground. The man grunted and raised his head to glance around. “My men…” He cried in disbelief. “You wrench! You slew them all! You sub human beast. Damn ya to hell!” “Enough of your talking. It’s time to finish you.” Wrice stated curtly and made her way to the man’s body. She seized him by the collar and drew him upwards. Looking for a weapon she could possibly use, Wrice’s eyes were caught by a glisten on the ground. Despite the fact that it was a human’s weapon, a dagger, Wrice considered it quickly and wrapped her dark tail around the handle. She swiped the small knife and raised it to the center of the man’s forehead. She instinctively let her hand thrust the dagger down only stopping inches above skin after hearing a voice call out to her. “Wrice? Wrice!... Sister!” Wrice stood silently. Not in shock, but in disbelief. She couldn’t bring herself to turn to look at the owner of the voice. “Wrice! You’re alive!” He called again. No…It’s can’t be Deneb…..It’s not possible….Wrice thought unemotionally. She slowly lowered her hand and found her ears flattening back against her head as the dagger dropped to the ground. In disbelief she turned her head to the side and gasped at the sight, tears began to flow from her eyes. It couldn’t be possible. But it was. Deneb was standing near some trees. Behind him were gathering humans, but Wrice didn’t care. Deneb was alive. “Deneb…..You’re……All this time I thought….Oh Deneb…” She whispered thankfully and looked upwards in appreciation. It is a miracle… She looked back to Deneb and smiled to him. Wrice slowly found her legs inching closer and closer to him, but suddenly stop when a sudden pain burst into her backside. She silently gasped after seeing the hunter lying on his front side, only inches behind her. He was gurgling an evil laugh after thrusting the same dagger Wrice previously held into her back. “Die sub human scum….” The man whispered in a pleased voice. “Deneb……”Wrice weakly whispered in a hoarse voice and took a step forward. Her sight was beginning to fade away. “Wrice? Wrice!!!” Deneb cried and rushed forward to catch his sister. He struggled to hold her up but failed to do so, and was sent to the bare earth with Wrice lying on top of him. Deneb clung to Wrice’s side and vented a sorrowful sob. “Wrice wake up!! Wrice! No! Don’t leave me! Wrice! WRICE!!” Deneb glared in hatred at the hunter and began growling. The man slowly stood up and grabbed an axe from the fingers of a dead man. He slowly made his way to the two laguz but suddenly halted when a painful throbbing began to swell in the left side of his head, in the temple area. He fell onto his front. Deneb examined the man and gasped to see an arrow sticking from the left side of his head. He then looked to the left to see a red headed archer with a raised, but empty, bow. He glared at Deneb and Wrice but instantly walked away after pulling an arrow from a tree and, unknown to Deneb, Wrice’s choker. Deneb looked back to his sister’s body and began to cry even more. “Wrice…Wake up…You can’t leave me yet…”
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