Arcane Rising: Prologue
#1 of Arcane Rising
Arcane Rising: Prologue
Like a dark thundercloud, a crowd gathered around the palace. They struck with rage that burned like their fiery torches. Their ringleader, a black panther with a white streak onhis head, lead the crowd.
" You will die for your crimes against the people today, Valarians!" He shouted with a deep hate that resonated in his voice. He foamed at his mouth and clenched his paw in anger, his claws digging into his paw. " Your reign of terror ends today, tyrants. I, Merikh, leader of the Northern Rebellion Front, swear that your death will be today!"
Captain Verkand was not pleased. An angry mob was approaching the palace and his archers were not prepared. "Come on, you lazy sons-of-bitches. My grandfather can work faster then you, and he is on his deathbed!" An unlucky guard happened to pass close by to him. Verkand lashed out at the innocent lynx, the white wolf's claws raking against his face. The lynx screamed in pain. Blood ran like a river down the lynx's face, turning his tan face a crimson red. The guard house was filled with its irony stench. Verkand shouted out a warning. " That is what will happen to anyone who is caught off their guard tonight! This will be a long night, and if we are to defend the king then we must not make any mistakes."
"Sir, yes sir" The guards echoed. While the captain was certainly a force to be reckoned with, they knew that the consequences of letting the rebellion into the castle. One of the guards spoke up. The rabbit shook with fear. "Sir, the rebellion appears to be setting up a catapult. Is it really safe to stand on the walls?" Verkand barked at the rabbit, spit flying from his muzzle as he spoke. " Didn't I give an order? These walls have not fallen in 50 years. They will not fall tonight, am I clear?" The grey-haired rabbit nodded furiously. " Yes sir."
Outside the palace walls, the crowd was preparing for an assault. Merikh paced nerviously across the cobblestones. His fur shed in anxiety and he could smell the fear in the scent of the troops.
This is going to take a lot of luck to pull off. Everything i've planned comes down to this.
A jackal approached Merikh and saluted. " Comrade Merikh! The catapults are ready. Shall we fire?" Merikh gave a quick nod. " Let's show those imperial bastards what we are made of, shall we?"
The wall trembled as the fiery boulders slammed against the stone wall. Dust and mortar flew into the air, causing the guards to cough and rub their eyes. " Althea, where are you? I can't smell a thing." The black rabbit grasped in the dark for the grey-haired rabbit. A voice responded in the dark. Fear and pain was etched into it. " Luke, I'm over here. I hurt so much. Help me" Luke ran over to Althea and beheld the wound left by a shard of broken stone. The sickening smell of blood rushed into his nose and he held back the urge to throw up. " Althea, my dear. Hang in there! It is all going to be alright. I'm here and I am not going to let you die. Just don't give up on me."
Althea grasped her husband's paw. Tears trickled down her face, cleaning off the dust in her fur. "Luke, it is getting so dark. The pain, it is gone. I love you so much, my dear." With those final words, she closed her eyes and fell limp in Luke's arms. Luke shook her. " Wake up my dear. Wake up, please." Tears came down like a fountain. " I promise to avenge you. I won't let your loss go unanswered!" He stood up and yelled into the dark. " You will pay for this, you bastards!" He felt a quake as another boulder hit the wall and felt the ground crumble beneath him. He ran for solid ground, but felt himself falling into the darkness.
Adrenaline pumped into Jeremiah's blood, fueling his blood rage. The siberian tiger spun and slashed at the masses of guards streaming out of the gates. " Yaaaargh. Die you imperials!" A spear thrusted towards him, but he parried it and countered with a kick. The rat guard screamed as the tiger's sharp claws raked his muzzle. The rat's suffering was brought to a quick end when the tiger's blade stabbed into his heart, felling the rodent. Jeremiah side stepped an arrow shot from above and glanced over to his leader, Merikh. The panther was wielding a massive oak longbow that spanned half his height.
" Comrade! I need some help over here. The archer's are cutting down my squad!"
Merikh shouted back. " Longbows-men take care of those targets! I'll take out the ones on the right."
Jeremiah cut down an iguana with a massive axe that had charged at him. The iguana's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body fell. Jeremiah panted, his arms getting tired with each swing of the sword. Another sword thrust out at him and he parried it. The panther countered with a thrust, but found it knocked away by the black rabbit standing before him. The rabbit snarled. " You all will pay for Althea's death. Scum like you dare to disturb the peace and slaughter innocents."
Jeremiah smirked. " So you think you can take me on eh? Bring it on, leaf eater." The tiger spun and delivered a strike towards the waist. He found his blade stopped by the rabbit's blade. The ringing of the steel echoed around them. Jeremiah snarled, foam dripping from his fangs." Scum. You will perish like this Althea you talked about." Rage flashed in Luke's eyes and he charged the tiger. Jeremiah sidestepped and slashed the rabbit's chest. Blood flowed from the wound, bringing its metallic scent into the rabbit's nose. Luke panted and turned around to face the panther. He screamed and charged at the panther again. The panther attempted to sidestep again, but the rabbit was faster.
Jeremiah let out a gasp as he felt a blade go right through his leather jacket and into his heart. He looked up into the rabbit's eyes and hissed. Pulling fiercely away from the rabbit, he managed to break the rabbit's grip. Jeremiah slashed at the rabbit's neck with his remaining strength and fell to the ground. The blade managed to pierce the throat and then fell with its master to the ground. Luke grasped at his neck, struggling to breath. He felt blackness envelope him and collapsed on the ground. As he died, thoughts ran through his mind.
I'm so sorry Althea. I've let you down.
Captain Verkand watched with horror above the melee as his guards dwindled.
" Men, Fall back to me!" He yelled out in desperation. He glanced around and saw his personal guards slumped against the castle wall with arrows sticking out of their chest. Verkand's eyes widened and he took a step back.
This can't be happening. I thought this wall was unbreachable. What has this world come to?
Verkand felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He looked down and saw a barbed arrow protruding from it. He grasped at it to pull it out, but felt another pierce his shoulder. He dropped to his knees and looked at his blood soaked paw.
This is it. Everything is all over. I'm sorry Your Highness. I've failed you.
Fire spread through the castle. King Daemon yelled for his guards when the scent of smoke entered his nostrils. When they didn't come, he began to panic. Icy fear rushed over his body and permeated his scent. The arctic fox hid behind his throne as he heard the doors come crashing down. Two coyotes entered the throne room and looked around. Daemon quivered, his white fur shedding onto the floor. The coyotes sniffed and grinned when they caught his scent. They slowly advanced on the throne, each step echoing in the mind of Daemon. He cowered before them. " Please, have mercy. I didn't mean to cause you harm." The lead coyote growled and swung his axe, beheading the king. The head flew across the room, landing next to a bookcase. The other coyote bent over and picked it up. " Finally, it is over."
Amid the confusion, a robed mouse with a length of rope wrapped around his shoulder scurried through the halls. He clutched a small fox kit in his paws and ran through the smoke and fire. Seeing a wolf running towards him, he ducked into a side room. His heart beat fast against his chest as he heard the wolf run past the door. Slipping back out, he proceeded with his escape. Climbing up a staircase, he found himself at the top of a castle wall. The mouse took off the rope and tied it to the wall. He jumped off, using the rope to slow the fall.
The fox kit bawled in confusion. The mouse cradled the kit and whispered to him. " Come on little lad. I am going to get you somewhere safe. But I need you to be quiet for me." The fox kit blinked at him and sucked on his thumb. The mouse smiled in relief and ran off into the darkness.
Master Shen had just settled down for the night when he heard a knock at the door. Grumbling, he lit a candle and stumbled down the stairs to the door. He opened it and shook his head in surprise. " Gendu! What are you doing here at this late hour?" The brown mouse gravely looked at his old friend. " I need to ask you a favor, Shen. I have this cub here and I need you to take care of it. I know the guild will be assistance in teaching him to defend himself." Shen crossed his arms in irritation. " Why do you expect me to take care of the welp?" The black wolf growled as he spoke.
Gendu let out a deep sigh. " I can't tell you who he is, but I can tell you that the fate of the empire depends on this boy. Protect him at all costs old friend. If not for the empire, then for me." Shen nodded and bowed in respect for his old friend. " I will do as you wish Gendu. I will raise the boy as my apprentice." Gendu handed the kit gently over to the wolf. "Goodbye young kit. May you survive long enough to fulfill your destiny." With those final words, Gendu disappeared into the night.