Fallen to the Shadows

Before the Angel Falls

Chapter: Document from The Raven

This next week was a rather interesting turn of events for my father.  Everything in is his life was down to earth aside from the Messenger whom he was fortunate to be called brother to.  Soon his world would change, however.  He took leave from his commanding post in the south kingdom for the coming night ahead.  His brother and Father had asked for his return; after all it was always a special night for Shadows.  He left his soldiers a few days before, they had victory on the tips of their tongues and were accepting of their commanding officer's leave with mugs full of ale.  My father gave a final smirk before he left and went into the forbidden wood.

​The much awaited night was ritual night; the time for planting crops and initiating Shadows into their soul vow.  Mid Realm was given privilege for this; for they had quite a few recruits ready to take the step into true warrior hood.  Taking the short cuts only Shadows know my father arrived to his home within the hour of noon in the second day.   Snake was first to greet him with a tackle of a hug and a little of rough housing to follow suit.  This only led to Prince rubbing his fist strongly into Snake's hair before their mother greeted them. 

​"Esstoneya, good to see your return."  Their mother was a Jaguar Shadow, she stood firmly with her fine and tall structure.  Her hair was black as onyx stone like Prince's, in fact he inherited not only that but his glare and stubbornness from her.  "We have a few of our recruits that still need some training.  I thought you could do what their commanders couldn't in a matter of hours- perhaps tomorrow?"
​My father put aside Snake, both of them going into a sort of a demanded focus. "I will. How many?" He answered with her dark eyes on him.

"Only five of them. Your father will send them to you tomorrow."  Prince nodded to her once, demand taken proudly.  She smiled at her sons, finally softening her glare. "I will be pleased to see you both at ritual night tomorrow."  With that she stepped away and went back to the other Shadows preparing the area for the night to come.

Prince watched her go, blinking a couple times.  On the day the new Shadows are going to vow they still need training?  Why the hell are they behind?  God dammit...  Beside him Snake was patting his legs and looking up awkwardly before he leaned in close to his brother and whispered, "I didn't train the newbies very well, I'm pretty sure it's my troop."  Prince wanted to rubs his face irritability at my ridiculously cheeky uncle, frankly because Snake was smiling.

"Who decided you could train them, you're not ready for anything like that!"  My father snarled, his voice and expression teeming with anger. 

​"It wasn't my fault!" Uncle retorted putting his hands up before smirking a little.  "Maybe I just have a lot of awesome, that's why Commander chose me."

My father gave a smirk back, "My ass, Rattle Snake."  He threw a fist that caught all air in front of uncle's nose before going to their small cabin.  "Where is the Commander at anyway?"

Snake was following from behind, pushing past their deer skin flap of a door.  It was dark as usual inside with the warmth of the outdoors weighing the air.  "Uhhm, I think he's at the fire pit or something.  Either helping with the set up or preparing the Shadows on reciting the vow.

The vow, just those words made Prince's heart throb.  That was everything to them, everything they lived and breathed.  Hearing the words year by year they continue to soar in his moral and being.  The next Shadows should be overwhelmed but ready for it; he knows, he was there once.

Night past with easy rest.  My father was very grateful to finally be in his own bed and being able to hear the soft breathing of his brother from across the dark room.  The dawn came bringing Prince to rise with his father the Black Wolf.  Prince come out of the cabin to be greeted my new sunlight and dewy air accented by the soft songs of birds in the trees.  His father's relaxed voice came out from the sun that blinded him for a moment, "What do you have planned for the recruits today?"  When Prince's eyes adjusted he saw his father standing in the light, fully clothes in his patrolling clothes, and smiling warmly to his son.