The Shards Of Darkness

Shards Of Darkness Chapter 10

Gear POV 

The rest of Vixen's forces were all captured and brought to a small area outside the main gathering spot and they were all made short work of by the spears and javelins that were thrown and stabbed into them. Most of them had been slain instantly except a large fox by the name of Bushtail. He had survived the first wave of javelins and spears. Had he not moaned out in pain, despite surviving the spear graze on his neck scruff and a javelin buried deep in his shoulder blade, no one would've thought him alive. However, the keen ears of the folves weren't out of range of the large fox's cries of muffled pain. They found him and stuffed him full of arrows, silencing him for good. 

He hadn't been well known or anything but he was a strong guy to take two volleys of projectiles. What had happened to the two sentries, the ones assigned to guard me was a different matter altogether. Cosmos was most dearly dead. The spear that she had once wielded proudly was what she was now impaled on, eyes glazed over in the same shocked expression she had when she had been murdered, and the crows were already picking at her eyeholes. Her brother Occulus had miraculously and mysteriously vanished, not a trace left where he was thrown out of the way by Shadowshard. 

He knew he was probably alone if he had escaped without his sister. He was probably also en route to find Vixen and tell him of the terrible plight that destroyed the Pack and possibly to rally reinforcements. I knew that everything Vixen had built over the seasons had been ruthlessly slaughtered in a day and I was sure he was probably well aware of Shadowshard's betrayal. Nevertheless, I didn't count on him trying to find me first thing. He knew I could take care of myself perfectly under normal circumstances, but these weren't any "normal" circumstances by any means. I bet that Shadowshard was going to keep me alive as bait to draw Lord Vixen into a trap. He would then kill me and take advantage of Lord Vixen's known rage, which was his biggest strength and weakness all the same.

 I had told him myself, "You live to protect others with your fueled hatred in hopes no one will ever die by your side." And I knew I was right.

But Lord Vixen certainly would rather die than confess his own flaws. I admired that in someone, truly. But I myself had come to realize that no one is going to be with you forever. Sometimes, even the gods themselves had to walk alone and that was another hurt of Lord Vixen's. He constantly struggled with a deep dark loneliness he carried with him wherever he went. It was sort of like this invisible aura he had around him, yet those who were connected with him in his special little way knew what that was like. I honestly didn't know how to think of his "timely return". I feared it, in much honesty. Not so much what he'd do to Shadowshard for such a bold, but foolish act of betrayal. He would exact his revenge more than likely. But what then? After Shadowshard was dead, what would Lord Vixen do to reclaim his pride and his horde's trust again?Or maybe he would spare Shadowshard's life as humility and have the remainder of the clan serve under him to the death. Lord Vixen was a very unpredictable beast and that's what made his stature and success. Whilst thinking about this, I hadn't noticed Shadowshard speaking to me. It was only when the sharp blade of a familiar dagger tickling my nosetip that I keened into reality. 

He was saying, "...do you hear me, pup?" I answered nonchalantly. 

"Oh, aye I hear you enough you great bottom feeding coward! Your mouth is larger than your brain and louder too, I daresay. But please, for the sake of making yourself sound cool and fail miserably, do tell me again. I'm awfully fascinated."

 I smirked to show my lack of fear to this incompetent mortal.

"You still got jokes, huh, you insolent little whelp?" He slashed at my face and a few whiskers fell. He leaned in and whispered dangerously, "Next comment like that and it'll be your ears. Understand?"

 I nodded, my silent hatred growing for him. I prayed Lord Vixen would come soon, kick his ass and free me so we could live to fight another day. I really didn't want to leave without a fight but I didn't wish Vixen to claim victory easily, even though he could do it. He worked better when he had learned to be patient and strike when his rationale was high and his lust to slaughter was not. He could be a fierce opponent both in his little "savage" mode and in his composed and cocky form. But he could not be both at a time or situation such as this, where he was looking for me and time was on the line.

I tuned in to what Shadowshard was saying again. "...soon we will find your master and kill him as well. What do you say to that now, fox?" 

I shrugged, playing it off. "Well first thing's first. You would be better to set me free if you want Vixen to be hunted. He's not just gonna sit around while I'm captive. You may have sent your assassins to deal with him but if you haven't noticed, they haven't returned and your squads are never not punctual when it comes to your specific missions. They're most likely dead. You wanna be smart? Let him come to you and ambush him then. That's what he's trying to make you do. Every second, he prowls closer and closer to us. You'll be wasting lives and resources hunting the hunter. Surely you must know he will return, regardless of whether you send your squads to hunt and kill him or not. He's not gonna let you or your regime get in his way."

 Shadowshard snarled, "You're a cheeky one all right. But here's the thing. Vixen doesn't need a squad to take him down. It's just a barrier to slow him down while I torture you and get his blood boiling. Then the real fight begins. Hahaha!" 

He summoned two of his folf guards who were holding electrical spears. "Jab him enough to make him scream, but don't let him fall unconscious, understood? We're gonna keep his cries as a beacon to lure Vixen into our lovely trap. Now, begin!" The spears jabbed into my side and I grunted. Then they punctured deep into my flesh and my screams indeed echoed for miles.