A PALE ONE WILL RISE

PART II: CONVICTION

The trek back through the dampened woods was challenging to say the least. And with the many trees fallen during the drawn-out battle, many detours had to be made, as it isn't easy getting an injured fellow past large fallen debris. But eventually, with the Palecat's arm around his shoulders, this 'Elijah', made it back to his secure home cottage. Opening the wooden door to his abode, he set Palecat down in the closest chair in the dining room. As she adjusted her back against the back of the chair, her head lazily tilted upwards and finally got a clearer look at her old friend. He was a dark-green feathered bird with a yellow beak. He sported a brown cloak for warmth. And his eyes, a piercing aqua blue, were gazing down at her with an agonizing worry.

While Elijah ran back further into another room for something, the Palecat couldn't take her thoughts off of what transpired outside just a few hours ago. It was turning surreal again. But a quick jolt of pain from her side kept her reality in check.

Elijah took the long strip of cloth and carefully wrapped it around the bleeding wound that resided on her waist area. Sealing it in place with a well-tightened knot, he stepped back and

"The war...is lost, it seems..." Elijah noted, knowing he was stating the obvious. But in truth, he simply couldn't find the words. He had nothing else to say. "Palecat..this isn't your fau-"

"Of COURSE it's my fault, Elijah!" Palecat sharply cut in, rising in her chair; but her eyes twitched, abruptly lowering herself back down due to her injury pain. "I-I was responsible for leading them...I was the one who promised THEM victory! And I led them straight into a trap I should have SEEN coming!"

She weakly slammed her fist against the wooden table, lowering her head. "The Blood Thief. That damned Blood Thief...he ordered his soldiers to kill them all while they were down! Down! Right in front of me. And I deserved it." Tears began forming in the white cat's eyes. How much she hated tears, she couldn't even describe to herself. She was a gruff and no-nonsense type of feline. When something needed doing, she tried everything in her power to be there to do it. But this was a failed moment on that behalf. All she did was cause more preventable death. And now the tears were finally coming up to speed with that.

Palecat's fists slammed against the table once more, nearly toppling the cup of water next to her.

"Evelyn..."

"Don't CALL ME THAT!"

Elijah backed up, blinking in shock.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Elijah. I...didn't mean to yell."

Elijah, once wide-eyed, sighed deeply and closed his eyes. "Palecat, you're under a lot of stress. You've suffered a lot. And we're not safe here. Not for long, at least. And we need to get you to a real doctor; your wound looks pretty deep. You were lucky enough to have been knocked out instead of skewered right through. We have to leave soon."

Elijah was cautious getting Palecat back on her feet, her left arm around his shoulder once more as he supported her to his room. Softly, he laid her upon his bed, earning a restful sigh from her as he backed up to in between the door frame. "I have a few things I can scrounge up from my inventory to help with the bleeding. We must make haste. There's no telling or time to guess what that retched tyrant and his army will plan for their next move. Please, bear with me." Just as the bird stepped out of the room to gather the aid, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something shine against a nearby flash of lightning that came from the now-receding thunderstorm.

It was her blade, still tightly gripped in her right paw. And the grip was only getting tighter. Worry of what might come next was no longer dormant in Elijah's mind. Nevertheless, he continued on with the task at hand.

Palecat held her breath, tuning in to the feint noises coming from the main part of the home. She noted that Elijah was fully focused on the gathering of medical supplies and alternatives to said medical supplies. 'This is the only chance I'll get,' she thought as she struggled into a sitting position. Using her sword as a makeshift cane, she wobbled to the single, circular window to her left and raised her sword's edge, pushing it's sharp edge against the latch that locked it in place. Grateful for the small wooden desk just below it, she took as little time as she could climbing onto it, opening the window, and climbing through. "Sorry, Elijah." Palecat said in nearly a whisper as she readied to jump. But she failed to register the coming footsteps that re-approached the room. The door to the bedroom opened, revealing Elijah and his arms full with miscellaneous supplies.

"Alright, Palecat. I think-"

What Elijah saw unfolding in front of him froze him in place. A look of sorrow and irresolution was cast upon him as Palecat turned away and lowered herself outside. The distance from the window to the ground wasn't high enough to elicit worry, but the impact of her feet against the dirt did flare up the pain of her freshly acquired injuries. Only after a few steps away from the cottage and her friend's voice rang out to her.

"Are you out of your damned mind? You aren't actually going to take on the Blood Thief yourself, now are you? That's absolutely manic!"

Exhaling a long, quiet and deep breath, Palecat spun around, looking up at her ally and friend. She could only manage a faint smile. "I have to do this. I have to." She spoke this with conviction. There was an uncomfortable pause.

"Let me come with you." Elijah replied pleadingly.

However, Elijah's words set off an automatic response out of the Palecat's mouth.

"No."

Elijah's face visibly deflated.

"This is my fight now and my fight alone. No one else, Elijah. No one else needs to-."

"No one else but you, right?" Elijah dispiritedly interjected.

Palecat took a stiff step towards the window. "I'm coming back from this...and when I do, I want a full-coursed meal. And of my own choosing. Courtesy of my favorite cook." Palecat replied, balling her sword-less hand into a fist and pressing it against her chest. Hesitant at first, Elijah smiled, well aware that there was no dissuading her.

In the cat's unnaturally yellow eyes was an undying fire. She was out for the Blood Thief's life so that she herself could end it. It was her destiny too. At least, that's what she believed. But no one had ever out-bested her swordsmanship, her insight, and her skills as a tactician...not until recently. She knew she was far from immortal. She was no fool. First as a lone warrior, she fought and assisted whenever she could, preferring to work from the shadows. And naturally, word caught up with her, and interests were quickly taken upon her. From both sides. One wanting her support, and the other wanting her death.

And in short time, she eventually accepted the role of maintaining and leading the land's army against the Blood Thief's forces. Although she refused to take any official title, she on multiple occasions, led successful skirmishes and battles against the many bandits, sorcerers, and skellie knights alike that the Tyrant of Blood sent their way. There was even an occasion where the Blood Thief himself met sword to sword with the Palecat. And awhile after the small fight rang out, the Blood Thief left wordlessly with a haunting smirk, neither one with so much as a scratch. Her army cheered for her, but she knew the truth. He was merely testing her. But she smiled along with them nonetheless.

If anything, the one solid reason why she had agreed in the first place was due to one simple fact: killing the Blood Thief would be a much less daunting task. And here she was, battered and bruised, and without an army. But by the heavens, she was going to take them on again.

Most would think the Palecat absolutely nuts. It's what Elijah had thought for the moment. But he realized that very few knew her like he did. Because the Palecat was his childhood friend. A wide smile stretched across Elijah's beak. He raised a clenched fist and stopped it against his chest, returning her salute.

"Deal."

A feeling of calm and release filled Palecat's body. A low rumble of thunder set off one of her ears to twitch in the direction of the thunderclouds that drew further and further away.

In the direction of the Demontower.