The Scratazon Chronicles Origins

Chapter 16 AKA The Ambush At The Fangs

My Valkyrie Squad had been over the Sea of Phoolimere and across the lands to reach the Pure Ones lair. We hurried through our journey to stop the enemy's plans to take over the scratazon kingdoms. The whole way, I felt like I had feelings for Monnalissa, almost as if I knew her from somewhere once upon a dream. I hid them from her because I couldn't help but hope she won't rebuff my affection. Still I couldn't get rid of the honey glow in my cheeks.

But I kept thinking to myself, 'we have to defend the scratazon kingdoms and uphold the Guardians' oath. That is what I vow, knowing what we know now.'

(Transition to Klludd)

Klludd's POV:

I was waiting for the guardians to come right into the Pure Ones' trap. As soon as I saw them coming, I continued to savor my patience. Then the trap was sprung and the guardians' armor became a liability as they were drawn to the ground and became trapped there.

'Got ya.' I thought. I heard Nyrachnia's signal to attack, but I decided not to confront the guardians. It would break my brother's heart. I wondered where he was When I looked around, I saw a figure suddenly come out of the shadows, a torch in his grasp.

"Sorrenn."

My own brother was in a suit of armor that had wings attached to it for some reason. He went in a downward corkscrew and headed towards the trap's winch. The torch hit it's target and wood and rope burned. I saw his friend, Gylfinea and a few others following behind him. One of them looked like my mother for a second, but I shook it off as a cheap imitation because of a glass helmet. Another was all too familiar. It was Nyrachnia's brother. I would recognize his one good eye when I slaughtered his accomplice, Padlock. I quickly hurried to the fortress to warn the monarchs of the incoming attack. I just hope I wasn't too late. I made it to the throne room where Wildcat was waiting, but I couldn't find Nyrachnia anywhere. I got extremely worried.

"Where's Nyrachnia, your highness?" I asked, trying to hide my worries for her.

"She's leading the assault to hinder the guardians' progress." Wildcat answered. That had me even more worried about her, but even i knew that she could handle herself. Then I saw a shadow on the floor headed slowly towards Wildcat. Someone was about to charge him.

"YOUR HIGHNESS, LOOK OUT!"

He quickly got out of the way as an elderly guardian shattered the window overlooking the fight below and landed near us. Wildcat quickly recognized him behind the mask and laughed.

"Well, the legendary Laze of Kaal." He chuckled half-heartedly. I was shocked that he was real and appalled that he almost crashed into my king.

"And to think that I used to believe that you were nothing but mere legends and folklore." I admitted.

"That's alright, young one." Laze of Kaal said. "Not everyone believes in legends." Suddenly, Wildcat charged at him in an unexpected fit of rage and violence. Their battle was on a high note and went on for minutes until Wildcat was shoved backwards right next to me. Laze was headed towards me and I started getting defensive. Then I heard a screech that I quickly recognized. Nyrachnia! She had an instinct to defend the only family she's ever had. I suddenly sensed something coming towards her. I acted swiftly and pulled her out of the way as a shield almost hit her face.

"Hey!" A guardian with one eye shouted from the recently shattered window. "That is enough!" He got down from the glass and went between us and Laze of Kaal. Then he got into a position which Nyrachnia and I were quick to recognize. The perpetrator from St Copernicus!

"Novascorpio." Nyrachnia said with venom coming out of every syllable of that name. I was about to ask why, but I realized that he was her estranged brother. Then another guardian came in to intervene. This time a female. The one pretending to be the Noir Terror.

"If you want to get to him, you gotta go through us." She said in a valiant tone of voice. But Wildcat was having none of it. As soon as the female made the first move, he swiftly pulled out his blade and cut what looked like an air tube for life support. Nyrachnia and I realized that she was from a colony planet with a different atmosphere. Therefore, she couldn't survive without her native atmosphere for too long.

"MONNA!"

The unmistakable voice of Sorrenn rang throughout the room as he got the one known as Monna... I've had no idea what her full name was, but he got her out of the way.

"I'm not letting you hurt one more soul!" He shouted in an unnatural tone. I zoned out for a moment, feeling torn between loyalty to the Pure Ones and protecting my family. Sorrenn probably felt it as well. He wasn't listening as Wildcat rambled on about how our collective thoughts were betraying us. Our feelings for our family are strong. But I felt sorrenn's feelings for...

"Monnalissa."

That name was the one who Sorrenn cared about a lot. Wildcat still tried to break Sorrenn's spirit, Saying that his feelings betrayed her, too. Laze of Kaal and Novascorpio were wise to hide the colonist from us. But at this one moment, their failure was momentarily complete.

Wildcat just crossed the line when he said, "if you will not join the Pure Ones like your brother, then perhaps She will."

"NEVER!!!"

Sorrenn charged at Wildcat with a burning inferno in his heart, wildly attacking him without coordination and control. I had never seen him this outraged before. And I could've swore i saw flames appear on his fur and lightning flow through my veins. Maybe we had powers no one else knows about.

"Father!" Nyrachnia called out as she tried to help the only family she's ever had, but I intervened, not wanting her to get killed.

"There's nothing you could do." I said solemnly. Nyrachnia was stunned to see that I loved her so much that I couldn't bear to see her perish. While Novascorpio was trying to keep Monnalissa alive, Nyrachnia was forced to watch from the sidelines as Sorrenn, still blazing with aggression and terror, continued fighting against his unfortunate adversary. Eventually, Sorrenn tripped backwards into a wall, presumably knocking him back into his senses. But as he did, he unknowingly had his sword up and pointed at Wildcat, causing him to accidentally pierce the Pure One monarch's heart. I felt sorry for Nyrachnia that she witnessed her father's demise, but she surprisingly felt content that it happened.

"Wildcat's exile died with him." She said calmly. "With his soul cleansed, the Pure Ones are all once again free." She looked down at Sorrenn and nodded in thanks, but I wasn't sure if he appreciated it. Nyrachnia called out to the soldiers outside.

"PURE ONES, FALL BACK! WE'RE FREE!"

As I watched the retreat unfold, Nyrachnia gestured for me to follow her. I was reluctant, but she knew of my reluctance, so she waited for me outside.

Sorrenn's POV (happening mere seconds afterwards):

I was standing motionless in front of Wildcat's lifeless body after our fateful duel. Everything before this was all too blurry and pitch black. Then Klludd let down a rope to pull me up. After I got up, he was confident.

"You did the right thing, brother." He explained. I wasn't unsure what he was talking about.

"Why? Because I rid the Pure Ones of their leader?" I asked, even if he knew it was an accident.

"No. Because they have nothing left to fear." Klludd corrected. "Wildcat couldn't hide what he's done from time itself. Now he's repenting for his actions in his grave." I looked down at the corpse of Wildcat one more time, remembering what I told my brother one time in our youth: that there are some things far more frightening than death.

"I just had to open my mouth and talk." I said to myself and turned to look at Klludd, only to,find that was no longer around. I looked down through the shattered window to see him and Nyrachnia meeting with each other. They looked up to see me with a look that said, 'good luck', then they walked into the twin sunset, never to be seen again. Soon, my friends came to my position to help Nova and Monnalissa. Laze of Kaal walked right next to me.

"Sorrenn, your brother did his best to save the love of his life, and he did it well." He said, surprising me. I had no idea my brother had the hots for Wildcat's Daughter.

Laze continued, "it seems we'll have to amend the Chronicles."  I silently nodded, knowing fully well what my hero meant.