FSE

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Gentle wind blowing across the field, tall grass swaying and bending to the breath. Silence ruled save for that near silent, hushed whistling. The light of the late afternoon, early evening sun gazed down upon the area.

Two furs, identical save for the color of their fur, stood with ten meters between them, fierce looks in their eyes as they gazed upon each other.

One was a white wolf, white as the clouds that floated across the sky above them. He stood at just shy of two meters, his eyes a brilliant blue. Dressed in his light brown leather armor, a paw rested upon the hilt of the blade by his side, his breathing slow and calm. The sheath of the blade was hidden by the grass, but the hilt was a unique design, a small finger hole at the base of the blade, designed for one handed and lightening quick strikes.

Around his neck rested a necklace, hanging outside of the armor, glinting in the light of the sun. The pendant was a simply made triangular looking item, an upside down triangle in the heart of pendant. On his ring finger on his right hand he wore a noticeable-but-plain ring, its silver glimmer overshadowed by the emerald that shone in the light of day.

Across from him stood his foe, and he gazed upon him with a fierce tension that could be cut with a blade.

Leaning upon his drawn blade, the black wolf took slow, deep breaths, his body relaxed but ready. He also stood at two meters height, although he was just slightly taller than the white wolf. His fur was pitch black, a stark contrast to the bright green of his eyes, the pearly white of his teeth; his armor was darker than the white wolf's, with some chains holding the shoulder parts onto the chest piece.

His blade was larger than the white wolf's as well, designed for use with either one or two hands. The blade itself was inscribed with runes that seemed to glow red, even in the light. Around his neck he wore a necklace whose pendant was a simple cross, as what the Templar's cross was like; upon his ring finger he wore an identical ring to the white wolf, save that the jewel was a brilliant sapphire.

For many long moments the two gazed at each other, not speaking.

Finally the white wolf spoke, his paw gripping tightly on the hilt of his blade. "So it has come to this, Syn..." He said quietly, his stance slightly spreading as if readying to leap.

"So it has, Arial," the black wolf responded, his paw gripping the blade with his thumb facing the base of the hilt, "I truly wish that it hadn't, my brother."

The white wolf Arial winced when Syn had said brother, and he leaned forward, now getting ready to unsheathe his blade, hand masterfully sliding into place. "We lost the right to call each other brother long ago, Syn," he growled out, his blue eyes narrowing, "all we can do now is reconcile with blood."

Bowing his head, the black wolf let out a long, slow, almost sad breath. "Very well," he whispered, snapping his eyes open and rightening his grip on his blade as he leapt forward, both hands on the hilt of his blade as he sought to bring it down upon the other's head.

With a roar Arial ripped his blade from its sheath, revealing it's one sided blade to the air and parrying the powerful blow with a ring of metal. Grunting at the force of the blow, the white wolf used the momentum of his foe against him, pushing him to the side and past him, agilely spinning on his foot to keep the black wolf in his sight.

Letting out a growl, the black wolf quickly rightened himself, spinning to a face Arial once more, holding the blade out in front of himself, both hands on the hilt. Still breathing slowly, he let out a soft growl, barking out at Arial. "Why do we fight!? We are blood, Arial! Brothers!"

"We are not brothers!" Answered the white wolf, holding his blade out with his body turned sideways. As soon as he shouted that, he leapt forward, thrusting with the tip aimed right at Syn's heart.

Growling softly, Syn quickly thrust his blade to push his foe's away, side-stepping in the opposite direction, spinning around and bringing his blade towards Arial's now exposed back. Using both his hands to get as much force as possible, he roared out, seeking to end the fight right then and there.

The white wolf would have none of it though, spinning around and deftly spinning his blade to push his opponent's down into the ground, metal ringing out again. With this opening presented, he twisted his wrist so that the sharp side of the blade would slash up across Syn's chest.

Instinctually the black wolf arched his back, just barely avoiding the blade that sought to end him. Releasing a single paw from his blade he rolled away, tucking down and to the left, letting his shoulder take the force of the tumble and then springing to his feet, hands on his blade and ready again.

Just barely in time as the black wolf was forced to bring his blade up to parry a downward slash from Arial, the sheer force of the attack making both wolves grunt. Pushing back up with his blade, he knocked the white wolf off balance just slightly; taking advantage he swung his blade around, trying to catch his foe off guard.

Now it was Arial's turn to masterfully dodge, leaping back and falling into a backflip, his hands bracing against the ground as he pushed off. Once again landing on his feet, Arial readied his blade, tip facing his foe and leapt forward quickly, hoping to catch Syn with the quick thrust.

Once again Syn parried away Arial's thrust, but this time the white wolf pulled his blade back and pushed the blade forward once more, grunting. The unexpected switch-up Forced Syn to parry again, and then sway to the side, using his blade to keep from being impaled.

The flurry of thrusts continued for several seconds, Syn ducking and weaving out of the way of the oncoming blade, using his own sword to parry and deflect the repeated blows. Arial simply focused on his form, each masterful attack blending into the next, his body leaning back and forth as he sought to destroy the black wolf.

With one bad parry by Syn, Arial soon grasped the opportunity. Syn had been forced to swing his blade down to push away a thrust aimed at his thigh, leaving his chest wide open. With a growl, the white wolf leaned back and pushed forward with his blade.

Syn, unable to bring his blade up in time could only weave to the side, the white wolf's blade piercing his left shoulder. A shout of pain left the black wolf as Arial withdrew his sword, not hesitating as he prepared to deliver what he thought would be the final blow. It was not to be, though, as the black wolf dove to the side, using his good shoulder to roll back up once more.

Resting with one knee on the ground, sword in his left hand and right paw on his shoulder, he looked up at the other, breathing heavily now. "Is this really how we shall end it, brother?" He asked, blood dripping down his shoulder.

"If this is how it must end, this is how I shall end this," Arial responded, flicking his blade to whip the blood off of it. "This ends today," he said in an eerily calm voice, glaring at the black wolf, his blade by his side. A moment later he raised his blade and rushed forward, bringing the sword back and getting ready to impale Syn.

"Then you leave little choice," whispered the black wolf, bowing his head, bright red runes suddenly appearing all over his face, trailing down under his armor. Letting out a loud roar, he vanished with a dark flash, surging forward with his blade coming to slash Arial from waist to shoulder.

Eyes growing wide and then narrowing again, the white wolf masterfully changed his charge to a defensive stance. Parrying his foe's blade, he locked weapons and brought the blade up, both swords now hooked at their hilts. "There's the darkness in you," Arial hissed, matching blue runes flowing over his fur now as he leaned forward and almost butting heads with Syn. "I shall purge the world of your darkness," he growled, the conviction in his voice terrifyingly firm and calm.

"Then I bid you come and try," muttered Syn, pushing on his blade with all his force to shove Arial away. Stepping back and swinging his blade out to the side, he held it in one hand as the red runes traveled down to the back of his paws, now glowing brightly.

All around them the grass blew even stronger as winds started to whip up, as if summoned by the power these two wolves were releasing. The sky slowly started to darken, storm clouds thundering down the valley. A single, ominous, crack of thunder echoed through the field, brightening the world once more; then the rain began, cold and constant, a rain that soaks even the most water-resistant clothing.

Having quickly rightened himself, Arial growled loudly, sounding over the pouring rain. His blue runes were glowing just as brightly as his brother's red ones, their combined colorations giving an dark, disturbing feel to the field.

"By the grace of the light, give me flight," Arial said to the rain, two angelically white wings sprouting behind him, spreading and slowly settling down as he glared at Syn.

"By the beauty of the night, grant me to soar with the clouds," Syn responded, standing tall and leaning forward, two luminescent black wings shooting from his back as he watched Arial, seemingly without emotion now.

Still watching Syn, his white wings spreading out behind him, the white wolf spread his legs, shifting his stance once more. In a similar stance as before, he let loose a slow breath, eyes closing briefly as he made ready to thrust.

Before he could though, Syn was charging forward again, blade behind him and palm of his right hand pushing on the pummel. Roaring out a ferocious battle cry, the black wolf sought to bring his blade up as before. What was different was that his blade crackled with energy, seeming to fill the air with its cracks and snaps.

Letting loose a surprised grunt, Arial twisted his wrist and swung against the oncoming blade. A loud, thunderous crack echoed from the clash of the blades, blue and red lightening sparking out from the enjoined lengths of metal.

With a surge of strength the white wolf pushed Syn's blade up, carrying it with the side of his own blade, more blue lightening shocking and flickering from the sliding length of blade. Continuing his momentum and keeping his grace, he then suddenly unlocked the blades, swinging out his leg to kneecap his brother.

Knowing exactly what he was doing, Syn allowed his blade to be carried up into the air, grinning grimly as Arial swung his leg out. Instead of leaping over the oncoming limb, which would leave him open, the black wolf simply flung his head forward, using his shoulders to push more force into his head-butt. The blow connected with the off guard white wolf, a loud crack of skull on skull drowned out by a sudden crack of thunder in the clouds above them.

Staggering back, arms going wide beside him as he tried to recover, Arial was forced to bring his blade over his head to parry another blow. His brother, having already recovered from the forceful attack, had brought his blade down, intending to cleave at the white wolf's shoulder. With a gasp and a sputter, Arial brought his other hand to the dull back of his sword, pushing up with shaking arms.

Syn was only outwardly fine though. His vision, already impaired from the heavy rain, was even more blurred from the blow he had struck, wings fluttering behind him as he pushed dow with his blade. With both hands on the hilt of his sword, the black wolf growled out into the dark, the runes on his blade flashing brightly once more.

Gasping softly, Arial could only mouth a curse before his own blade suddenly flared brightly, a rippling explosion being sent in all directions from the dueling wolves. The sheer force of the struggling blades, the expulsion of power they had sent, was enough to create a rainless moment. Both were wolves already soaked though, and neither even noticed, their gazes locked on each other.

"Enough!" Screamed the black wolf, unlocking their blades, before smashing down again, metal on metal screaming out once more as a surge of water poured on them once more. "Let this be done!" He hollered again, scraping his blade along his brother's before raising his blade up to once more smash one last time.

"Rargh!" Arial grunted at the first blow, going to his knee as he bowed his head, still holding his blade high. Panting heavily, the white wolf simply closed his eyes, feeling as time slowed around him. He could feel his wings flutter once, twitching in the cold wind.

Then, clenching his jaw, he snapped his head up, shouting in pure conviction as he slashed Syn's blade away, spinning on his foot. Continuing his roar, Arial swung his foot and connected his heel to the black wolf's head, sending the other through the air. With a graceful set he then leaped forward, holding his blade vertically, intending to slash down on the still tumbling wolf.

Syn, although surprised, followed through on the blow, rolling away and trying to gain some distance so he could recover. Just as he had done to Arial though, he was not allowed the time needed to recuperate, forced to bring his blade up to block one slash, and then another. The nigh-continuous echo of the blades colliding repeatedly was soon ringing in his ears, the very tips of them twitching from the soon grating sound.

Still trying to recover from the one-two hit of his head butt and then his brothers round-house kick, Syn's movements were still fast enough to match his brother's. He was purely defensive now, though, only able to react to every blow and swing, unable to gain the advantage and the initiative. So he did the only thing that he could.

He reclaimed the initiative.

Flapping his wings behind him, he swung his blade forward in a sudden thrust, taking the glancing blow to his right arm. In exchange, he pierced his brother's left shoulder, the white wolf having ducked to the side as he saw what was happening to keep from being impaled on the long sword.

With a loud grunt of pain, Arial swung his blade wildly at Syn, forcing the black wolf off and away, the blade being pulled out of his shoulder in the process. Gasping quietly, Arial spread his legs, his wings quivering at attention as he watched the black wolf, eyes narrowing slightly. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath, the sounds being drowned out by the still pouring rain, "but not good enough." He continued, raising his blade once more and pushing off the ground, using his wings to soar towards Syn.

Grinning, the black wolf leaped off the ground and into the sky when he saw his brother launch at him. With his black wings beating mightily into the air, his blade clenched tight in his grip, he let the runes on his body light the now-twilight sky. Reaching into the clouds, lightening illuminating the air all around him, Syn slowed down until he was hovering in position, his head swinging around as he searched for his brother.

It was not long that he was disappointed.

As Syn gazed down in the direction he had soared from, he saw the blue glow of his brother surging up into the sky, wings beating even heavier and faster than the black wolf's had. No sooner had he seen his brother than Syn was diving down, his hands clenching his blade as he sought to clash with his sibling once more.

"SYN!" Roared Arial as he saw his brother, the distinct tactical disadvantage he was in not an issue with him at all. "Why won't you die!" He screamed, his own blade trailing at his side and ready to slash when he passed the black wolf.

The black wolf didn't answer his brother's question, only grunting softly as his wings closed tight, allowing his to pick up even more speed. Using just the tips of his feathery appendages, he angled himself to the side, ready now to slash at his brother and slay him.

Both wolves grunted out as they brought their weapons to bear against the other. Once more their weapons echoed and boomed into the clouds, red and blue sparks filling the air as the two lupines passed each other finally, neither having struck anywhere near a fatal blow to the other.

Extending his wings and spinning in mid air, Arial was the first to recover as he softly hovered in air. He used his long wings, beating just lightly to keep himself in place as he watched his brother, his paw tightening on his sword as he did so. The blue runes on his face and hands only seemed to grow ever brighter, as if invigorated by the fighting.

Further down, visible only because of his red runes, Syn had spread his wings out wide. Using the drag he was creating the black wolf slowly came back up, riding a wind current so he was level with the white wolf once again. With his wings beating ever so slowly to keep him in position, Syn locked his gaze with Arial's once more, gripping the hilt of his sword firmly.

Breathing deeply, Arial launched himself forward, a soft boom echoing from the speed at which he was moving. The clouds and rain before him was shoved away, buffeting the black wolf for a moment as both of them brought their weapons to bear. Roaring out loudly, Syn raced forward, moving so fast that the runes on his body left a trail that could be followed.

The terrifying clash of metal boomed out once more, sparks of blue and crimson shrieking out form the connected blades. A visible shockwave streamed forth from the two, pushing the rain and clouds away in all directions, not even the roaring winds able to contest with the strength of the wolves.

Each was pushing forward on their blade, trying to overpower the other, wings fluttering and snapping in the rushing wind. With eyes locked, green and blue gazing into each other's, the two began to gather power in their off hand. Runes shining ever brighter and even more brilliantly into the darkness, they brought their hands together, trying to catch the other with the supposedly unexpected attack.

With red lightening streaming from Syn's paw and colliding with the blue coming from Arial's, both wolves grunted in pain. Neither gave in, only pouring more of their beings' into the attacks. They remained locked in the double conflict, of sword and will, for several seconds as they both refused to gain or give ground to the other.

Finally, Arial was forced back, screaming out in rage and pain as red lightening surged along his arm. His blade was parried away, twisting his arm in a slightly unnatural angle; that did not matter to him though, as the white wolf buffeted his brother with his wings, pushing him away and giving Arial a chance to breath and recover.

"Give it up, Arial," Syn shouted over the wind, having used his arm to protect himself from the buffet. "We both know how this fight will end," he finished slowly setting his blade back to his side and readying for another attack. "I've always won our spars," he said with a soft smirk.

Growling and whipping his blade to the side, Arial spat back "this isn't a spar! This is to the death, Syn!" He hollered, flicking his wings out and leaning forward with his sword cutting through the rain. With blue lightening sparking out from his blade, he swung it at his brother once more, destruction screaming in his eyes.

With a swift twist of his hands, Syn parried the powerful blow, red sparks screaming out into the air once again. Leaning into the parry, he gasped and uttered an oath as the resistance he was expecting failed to meet him.

Spinning around after having pushed into the attack, Arial was bringing the blade down onto the black wolf's back, aiming for the wings to send him plummeting down into the ground. It was his turn to utter a curse as Syn did a barrel role, swinging his blade up to knock Arial's away while at the same time giving himself distance once more.

The white wolf had expected this though, and was once more upon Syn, blade flashing as another crack of lightning filled the air around them, its echoing boom dull upon their ears. Neither gave any care to nature's wrath, only heeding each other and their own will. With no time to react to the speed of his brother's attack, the black wolf could only watch with wide eyes and his wings spread out wide behind him.

Crying out, Arial held his blade, tip forward and facing Syn, as he charged through the air at the black wolf. Using the palm of his left hand on the base of the pummel to add even more force to the blade, Arial impaled the black wolf clear through the chest. He continued to push his blade forward, until the hilt of his sword was flush with Syn's chest, his blade having gone clear through the black wolf. Blue lightning sparked from the embedded blade, each pulse causing the runes on both blade and fur to fluctuate.

With a quiet gasp, another crack of thunder echoing just at that moment, Syn's wings slowly started to droop. Slipping from his paw, the longsword finally fell from the grasp of his fingers, plummeting down to the earth as its red runes seemed to fall away into the night. The two of them remained suspended in air for several long moments, the wind buffeting them with freezing rain the only sound.

Then they started to fall.

With his eyes only half open, Syn slowly brought a hand up to his brother's arm, grasping it. With a weak upturning of his lips, the black wolf looked into Arial's eyes, even as the red runes faded away from his fur. "Guess you got me," he coughed, a thin line of blood dribbling from the corner of his muzzle, "you win."

With those last words, the black wolf lowered his head. His grip loosened from Arial's arm and his wings vanished in a quiet flurry of feathers. Each feather vanished into the night as the two came through the base of the clouds, the ground rushing up towards them. The white wolf, seeing this, gave a soft grunt as he turned his body, using his paw to brace against Syn's shoulder. Grunting, he effortlessly withdrew the blade, spreading his wings at the same time.

Catching the air to stop his flight, the white wolf watched from high above the ground, his wings still beating softly. Falling down to the ground, limbs spread around him, Syn simply collided with the ground. A large shockwave could be seen from the impact point, although that did not matter to Arial.

The rain was already washing his blade clean of blood, the blue runes seeming to shine ever brighter and brighter. The little bit of blood that stained his armor, he paid no attention to as he gazed down upon where his brother's body had fallen. "Why did you have to go another path," he asked to the rain, a guest of wind his only answer. "No matter," he then muttered, angling his wings and slowly flying off toward a cliff.

As he flew away, he was sheathing his sword, the blue runes fading away from the blade. With his wings continuing to beat, the clouds were slowly starting to part above him, letting the twilight sun shine upon the landscape, the brilliant colors of the sun setting filling the sky.

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Well, I hope that you enjoyed the story, *bows softly* Please feel free to leave a comment, vote, and whatever else you decide ^.^ Also feel free to take this story and do what you will, if you wish to create your own story off of it ^.^