Kaze: Guardians

Shadows in Combat

     I wandered the streets, taking a moment here and there to look at Backdrop Mountain. It was majestic in it's own mysterious way. It's snow-capped peaks shined down on the kingdom, the mostly cloudy sky bathing it all in a blue, silvery light. I shrugged my jacket further up around my shoulders. With the sun sleeping somewhere beneath the Earth, it was much colder. I turned a corner and found someone I didn't expect to see.
     "Priestess?"
     She whirled around to face me, her features contorted in what appeared to me as grief, hidden behind a hastily glued-on smile. "Oh, Kaze. I didn't see you there. Why are you here?"
     "I could say the same for you. Don't you have guards to keep you entertained?" She turned around and refused to comment. "What's wrong? What happened?" I asked.
     Her fake smile faded. "I think I know what the future holds. It's not good."
     "Care to enlighten us poor, puny mortals?"
     She hesitated, as if the whole kingdom listened in on this conversation. "My father has perished, so a huge army is probably advancing toward us. If a horrible doomsday is coming, it'll be a terrible disaster. A circle of death and destruction with no defendants. I failed my kingdom." Rain started to pour, soaking into my jacket and my hair.
     "We should get out of the rain." I said.
     "Did you not hear me? What does it matter if we get wet?" She cried, shoving me. "We could have a battle right now, and it wouldn't matter the outcome."
     "Then let's do it. We'll find out if it truly makes a difference." I offered her my hand. "Everyone else is asleep. It's not like your image will be ruined."
     She nodded and stepped back, glowing orange wings unfurling from her back, "I suppose," she said. The cool rain pounded the earth, soaking everything in the sky's tears. Priestess Yara seemed determined to win this fight.
She charged and I quickly drew my sword, ready to attack. However, she swooped out of reach. "Cheap shot." I muttered. She attacked again, but I grappled to her shoulder before she could soar out of range.
We flew above the darkened town and towards the heavens. She dragged me past the Eternal Kingdom, perpetually glowing lights shrinking with each millisecond we went. The lights then grew bigger. And before I knew it I was thrown from her back. "Get off!" She shouted. "I'm not your ride!"
I landed harmlessly at the gates of the Eternal Kingdom. "Tired yet?!" I shouted.
She landed softly in front of me. She used her wings to try and swipe at me. I rolled out of the way before she could make contact. I got onto my feet. I quickly jumped out of the way, the priestess occupying the space I had just been in. She swiped again and I dodged out of the way, allowing her to chop down a pillar. The silvery white archway began to collapse.
I could hear her gasp with fear and shock. She had partially destroyed the gods' hideout in the clouds. I grabbed her hand. "Come on!" I shouted, dragging her away from the crumbling entry hall.
Terro, Kimura, and Jet appeared, but were swiftly driven back by the raining debris. A huge chunk of debris too high to climb over appeared right in front of us. "Grab on!" Yara shouted, lifting off from the ground. I was airlifted through the entry hall, slashing at anything that came too close. Eventually, I summoned the wind to help her, but she didn't take it very well. "Thanks, but I must do this alone. 'Tis my duty and my destiny."
"You don't have to do everything alone. I'm going to help you. I insist." I said as we flew through the final archway into the rainy night. The view below us was the one that had made me fall in love with the humans in the first place. It was eight or so years ago, on a night just like this in late August. They looked so peaceful, as if the world had pressed pause in the middle of the night. When we returned, we quietly acknowledged each other and slipped back into the shadows.

      And Kasumi, being curious, had followed me and seen the whole thing.
23 Hours Before Disaster
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     Dun dun dun! I accidentally published it when I wasn't done yet, so sorry about the double publish. I'm also sorry about the crazy cliffhanger stuffs, but don't worry, it'll all work out. We're looking at having a rival battle with Kasumi then wrapping it up.
Thanks guys! Happy reading!