The Shards Of Darkness

Shards of Darkness Chapter 9

Vixen POV 

As I was headed back to the main encampment, after swiping some more herbs to bring back to Gear, I caught wind of a deadly omen in the air. I sniffed and realized something was disturbing the seemingly peaceful wind. 

I heard a voice ahead of me and I unsheathed my sword and growled out, "Who goes there?"

More rustling turned my attention behind me and I smelled a familiar scent. There was a chilling aura of fear laced in the atmosphere, so strong I could have tasted it from where I stood. I relaxed slightly, still on guard. I knew if someone wanted to hunt me, they'd have tried. But now I listened more keenly and the rustling was all around me, moving very quickly, and my primal instinct told me I was being hunted. No doubt it was a trap. I was about to move into one of the bushes when on the opposite side of the grove burst out a group of Shadowshard's company from some foilage, yelling war cries and whooping. 

"Death to the Packmaster!" one yelled, rushing me with a spear. 

I sidestepped over the young one and stuck out my footpaw almost lazily, tripping him easily, where he sprawled past me in an undignified manner. The others were all carrying short swords and shields that bore a new mark I hadn't seen symbolized before. It was much like mine, but with the black and grey Shards of Darkness colors emblazed crudely on them.

"Hey! What are you lot doing? Been sent out to kill me, have you? Where's your master?"

The one in front, a tall orange and black folf with scarlet eyes and a striped muzzle snarled, 

"Oh, aye Great One. Shadowshard, or as we now proclaim him Lord Shadowshard, wants a word with you when you return back to camp. We figured you wouldn't come on his terms so we were sent to deliver them ourselves. Ain't that nice?"

I raised my eyebrows in confusion. "So... you want me dead, or alive. You haven't answered my question folf." 

The leader snarled, "Alive, preferably, but Lord Shadowshard said if we couldn't deliver his prize back alive, your head would suffice!" 

He laughed nastily and the other folves joined him. 

I narrowed my eyes. "Lord Shadowshard? He may be a lord to you lot but he's no lord of mine."

 The leader growled, his hackles raising, "Touche, fox. However, in the timeframe you've been away, you've missed out on a lot. You have no Pack to go back to, whether you come back to us at your own will or not. We've slaughtered everyone who was in your Pack, save for that soppy little upstart Gear." 

My blood ran cold and seeing my expression he grinned, "Yes, we have him in our custody. Even now, the boss is probably torturing him nicely and--" 

I didn't let him elaborate further because I slashed out with my sword and opened up the folf's eye with one savage stroke. He wailed and the others leaped at me, snarling aggressively. The first one I parried and flicked his sword out of his paws with the wave of my own. He looked mildly surprised, frozen for a second as I advanced on him, torn between trying to go for his weapon or for me. I made the decision for him by moving in quickly and decapitating him swiftly. 

He fell and the second folf yelped in shock and looked uncertainly at me but he regained his posture, knowing he had to do better than his fallen compeer. He swiped at me unexpectedly, transitioning into an upward slash. I blocked it and swept out a kick that connected with his wrist, sending his weapon flying as well. It landed a few metres behind him and he took his chance and dove for it. I grabbed his tail at the last second and flung him in the other direction, his yelp of surprise and fear clear. I saw him crawl pitifully away from me and I bent down and grasped his neck firmly, squeezing mightily. He gasped and choked, slobbering for breath. His last attempt was to spit in my face. I did not take kindly to that. I ran him through with my dirk and threw his body aside with the other one.

 I didn't forget about the folf who initially charged me, as he leapt on my back from behind and dug his claws in, tearing through my back in attempt to slow me from reaching their leader. I gave a yowl of anger and grabbed behind me, seizing his arms and I gave an overhead throw, wrenching him from my back and sending him ahead of me. He tumbled and came to a stop beside a fallen sword and he feigned exhaustion before suddenly leaping out again towards me. I waited until he was arm's length from me, but this time I lashed out a kick that sent him flat on his stomach knocking the wind out of him. He whimpered as I drew closer to him. I unsheathed my sword and pinned his tail with my footpaw. I gave a yell and plunged my sword in to him, once! Twice! Thrice! And then for good measure, I lopped his head off as well adding to my decapitation tally. 

The leader was still incapacitated, his wound giving him a completely fiercer look than any warpaint would have. His eye was a bloody mess, the eyelid slashed vertically and the eyeball itself completely crimson. His surrounding facial features were pretty rough too. It was hard to tell if he had more than one cut, due to the fur becoming plastered slick with blood. He growled when I appraoched him and I paid no mind to his feeble attempt to ward me off. I grabbed him and pushed my muzzle into his, my eyes blazing with hatred and cold-blooded murder.

"Hey! Folf! Tell me about your glorious little regime that's now run by Shadowshard, will you?"

 The folf quivered despite trying to act calmly in the face of certain death. It was kind of hard to do that when your backup became worm bait in three minutes. 

"I-I-" he stuttered, his good eye darting ceaselessly back and forth while the other was sort of rolling around aimlessly in its socket mindlessly, as if unsure where to look on its own. 

I gripped him tighter and gritted, "What have you done to Gear? Answer me, scum!" I shook him and the folf said in a raggedy sob, "I know not! I'm not sure!" 

I snarled louder, "Listen here you piece of ungrateful excuse for an assassin, I want to know where your leader is. WHERE IS SHADOWSHARD??" 

The folf fainted with fright, a low moan issuing from him. I yelled in anger and wrung the folf's neck savagely, breaking it instantaneously. He was no use to me in the blubbering cowardly sense he was in. I took a deep breath and stalked off, not even bothering to hide the scene of the mangled, headless bodies.

 That would be just the beginning of paying back for stealing my Pack, my trainee and

—oh gods!

 Gear was probably scared to death. I couldn't let him suffer through Shadowshard's cruel torment, or his journey to godship would've been all for nigh. And Shadowshard, if he killed Gear, he would absorb Gear's properties and powers which exceeded my own by almost double. Though he was mortal, with Gear dead, Shadowshard would have enough power to bring me to my knees with ease. 

I raced back to the camp, my head pounding, my heart aching and tears barely surfacing my eyes. Saving Gear was my utmost priority and he wouldn't die on my terms, all alone. 

"Hold on, Gear" I thought desperately as I ran. 

I ran for my Pack; I ran for justice and I ran for Gear. Shadowshard must die and he would die by my paws and mine alone.