FSE

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The setting sun cast it's dieing rays over the planes, the cool evening air carrying the sweet scent of wild Si`Laan flowers into the coming night. It had been two days since Vael and Dante left Meronna, the time spent uneventful save for the distance the two had put behind them. The trail had been easy so far and the road to Reialla was typically an easy one.

Dante was the first to notice the soldiers up the road, stopping Vael suddenly as his eyes narrowed. "Imperial soldiers," he explained quietly, his lips thinning into a faint frown, "Looks like they've taken a prisoner as well."

"Imperial?" Vael questioned, peering into the distance at the armor the soldiers wore, a curious look to his gaze. "What would Imperial dogs be doing here?"

Dante simply shook his head, giving a sigh as he continued walking, slowly beginning to close the distance between himself and the distant soldiers. "Guess there's only one way to find out." he mused with a grin.

The squirrel's approach went unnoticed at first, the soldiers taking a moment to rest, one even going so far as to pull off his helmet, revealing his reptilian features, then sandy scales and pale red eyes indicative of his Kerosai heritage. It wasn't until Dante cleared his throat that they turned to face him, hands quickly moving to their weapons, one carrying a scimitar on his hip, the other a massive battle axe.

"Good evening, gentleman." Dante started, sweeping into a low, dramatic bow, perhaps as a show of feigned respect to play on what ego these soldiers might have. "What, may I ask, has brought two of the Empire's fine men out to this back-water trail?"

The ploy worked - as it had for the squirrel many times before - in easing the soldiers away from their weapons. "Tracked an outlaw from Amaraan," one of them growled, idly scratching at his bald reptilian head. "A thief, even stole a craft from the port of Arlan's Watch."

Again Dante put his talents to the test, feigning a look of shock, "A thief you say? Surely he must be a tricky little bastard, to have evaded capture this long." he mused, eying the bound figure. "Truly I will sleep easier knowing two noble servants of our lord have nabbed this slippery devil."

Slowly the soldiers relaxed into a more comfortable posture, unaware of the slender fox creeping behind them to their captive. Dante's silver tongue had put them at ease, perhaps even lead them to forget they were so far from the loyal citizens of the empire.

Vael's deft paws silently pulled the burlap sack from off the captive's head, revealing her face and those vivid feline eyes, like two brilliant sapphires glowing with the light of some inner flame. The thin smile that danced over her expression as some unseen force slashed through the ropes binding her wrists sent a chill down his spine. Before the fox could say a word, the slender cat had a paw up, clutching it into a fist as four knives of pure energy formed between her fingers.

With a flick of her wrist, the mysterious feline sent the knives flying, driving two of them through the armor of one of the soldiers and into the soft flesh beneath, the other two finding their mark in the back of the other's bald reptilian head. Both soldiers fell dead, the blades which had killed them vanishing into mist as their bodies fell to the ground.

Vael and Dante gave each other a look in silence, Dante quirking his brow ever so slightly and Vael shaking his head. Vael's took a moment to study the feline woman, obviously guessing she was a mage and perhaps even wondering if the daggers were the extent of her power. After a moment however he shook a thought from his head and asked, "Who are you?" rather bluntly.

The young feline stretched slowly, enjoying a long yawn in the twilight air, the muscles just under her flesh and ebony fur only now standing out. It took her a moment to look again to Vael, her lips parting in a seductively thin smile.

"Mina," said the feline, the smile never fading from her lips. "Mina Nightrose."

*****

As the night drew close and the light of the sun began to fade, the three set camp far off the side of the road. Despite the obvious lack of cover on the wide planes of Ha'Lar, they kept their campfire small in an effort to keep others away.

Mina slept beside the fire, curled up and purring contently and Dante watched over her, idly working at a second helping of a stew the three had made from salted boar and wild onions. Vael watched them both from his place against a dead tree a few feet from the fire, content with the nights chill and as he slowly drifted off to sleep, he felt a gentle pull at the back of his mind.

All the world around him - save for the trunk of the tree at his back - faded away around him, leaving only the vast expanse of white marble to meet a sky of amber and fiery orange hues. Vael knew this place well and as he slowly stood and stretched, another familiar sight greeted him.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw her approaching, a massive winter wolf, her silken white fur rustling against an unfelt wind and her violet eyes - like two massive jewels - locked on Vael.

"It's been a while since I've seen you," Vael mused as he turned to face the massive form. "I assume you've been well, L'Sarrena?"

The massive wolf's lips thinned into a smile as she nodded her head low, coming to lay before Vael with a yawn. Her jaws were massive but only now - with her maw open wide enough to swallow the whole of Meronna Castle - that Vael truly noticed the extent of her size.

"I've been well little one," L'Sarrena said at length, stretching her front legs a little as she settled in. "but there are things we need to talk about."

Vael's ears almost instantly fell to the sides, drooped in fear of what he somehow knew was coming. "What about?" he managed to ask simply, his voice slightly shaken.

"I've been watching you, my little friend and I am happy that life has been good to you so far, but there is something coming. Something evil." As she spoke those last couple words, she turned her gaze to the distance, to an image of Meronna in flames, besieged by an army of thousands.

Vael looked on it all in horror, following the massive wolf's gaze over the blazing kingdom. He watched, held captive by a paralyzing sense of terror.

"Alexander is still young, his innocence of the world will lead to the fall of Meronna to the new Emperor." L'Sarrena explained as the image faded away in a flash. She gave a glance to Vael and for a moment, her ears folded out to the sides, her sorrow rivaling the foxes fear. "He will live, little one, but at a cost. You will have to be strong for him and help him with the journey ahead."

A few tears welled in the foxes eyes as he stared at where the images had been, still held fast by the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. It took a moment for him to hear the massive wolf's words; took a moment to understand.

"How?" Vael asked, his eyes only now drawn to L'Sarrena, his violet orbs pleading with her more than his words ever could. "How can I help him? I'm just one fox!" his cry wasn't an angry one but rather, it was fueled by his despair. "I don't --" he started again, but his voice was quickly cut off.

"You are special, Vael. You have a grasp of the powers of creation, that alone would be enough to guide him through the darkness to come." The massive wolf paused a moment, giving a soft sigh and a thin smile. "But you have something far more powerful than that as well. I know you love him, Vael. Love is a power far stronger than any other, with it you could shift the heavens for him if he had need of it."

Slumping to his knees, Vael shook his head and asked again, "But how? I'm just one person, how can I save him from an army?" his voice trembling. Stricken by despair, his violet eyes fell shut and his shoulders shook slightly with his silent sobs.

giving another sigh, L'Sarrena gently shifted, setting her nose under Vael's chin and lifting. Her nose alone was as tall as he and with the massive wolf's help, Vael was quickly back on his feet.

"Listen to me, little one," L'Sarrena started, her words drawing Vael's attention, bidding him to open his eyes. "You can't stop the fall, however, you /can/ help him with what's to come /after/." She stopped a moment, giving a smile and gently nudged Vael to the side, facing him once again towards an image appearing from the haze. "You must be strong for him, but don't think it will be all for nothing. There is much to look forward to, little one."

Vael's eyes went wide as he stared into the haze and what he saw, wiped away all the anguish in his heart. He stood, staring an image of himself, fine armor adorning his form and Alexander at his side. At their feet however, was where Vael's eyes were drawn, locked on the image of a pair of young cubs, one a strong son, standing proud like his father, the other a beautiful girl, her soft pink eyes staring back into his violet orbs.

"B-but, I-" Vael started, almost failing to find the words to speak. "That's impossible. I'm.. I'm not f-" again the massive wolf's voice.

"No, you aren't female, however you're not quite male either."

"Then what am I?" Vael asked, looking to the wolf in utter confusion.

"You're special, little one. A gift to this world, unbound by the natural order." the massive wolf explained with a smile. "There are many futures, many paths for you to explore. Trust me when I tell you, the pain of what lies ahead will be worth every moment of joy once the light returns."