Shadow's Hunt, part nine
#9 of Shadow's hunt
Alrighty here we go, the absolute last part of Shadow's hunt. I hope you enjoy it. And yes, before you comment on it, I know it is short. Comments are appreciated as always.
Continued from part eight... Though the light from the tendrils of power seared her eyes, Jen refused to shut them; refused to look away. The gem fell from her hand, dropping into the grass at her feet, but the tendrils of power did not fade as she felt horror growing within her heart, worried that she had killed the man she loved. The glowing figure of the burly tiger was barely visible within the ever shifting power that surrounded him, but she tried to look at him anyway, shading her eyes with one hand. At first, it appeared that nothing was happening, that the gemstone's power was doing nothing. But then, gradually, his outline began to fade. One outline was slowly shifting apart, becoming two that stood side by side. Gradually, as if her eyes were at last adjusting to the brightness of the light, Jen began to notice details within the two new outlines. They were standing side by side, and moment by moment, they were becoming more definite in shape, resolving even as the larger form of the tiger dissolved. The one on the left was obviously human, for it lacked the tail and muzzle of the figure on the right. The figure on the right was also becoming more and more feminine as the moments passed, becoming much more shapely. And then, suddenly, the light of the gem's power began to fade and more than their shape became obvious. The tiger woman was primarily black furred, with faint stripes of color spread out across her. She had a slight build, though she was obviously very strong, her muscles well defined. She looked lithe and flexible, and yet solid and deadly. But there were a few differences from the descriptions that Cyr had given during his account of her. Her stripes were not just orange anymore. A few of the stripes had taken on the light blonde color that Cyr's hair had been the last time she had seen him. And when the tiger's eyes opened, Jen gasped, for her eyes were not a single color anymore either. They must once have been crystalline blue, but now, there were four swirls of bright emerald, spiraling down into the pupils of her eyes as if they were black holes, sucking the color into their depths. It was an effect both startling and oddly pleasing. The tiger woman smiled and looked to her right, examining Cyr as he stood beside her. Cyr himself looked different than Jen remembered, though she recognized him instantly. His body had grown broader and more muscled since she had last seen him, a consequence of the hard training he had endured. His once lean body was now muscle-bound, the body of the warrior he had always wished to be. But that change paled in comparison to several others that had appeared. His shoulder length blonde hair was now horizontally striped with black, like a tiger's fur. His emerald eyes now bore the same swirling effect as Lania's, blue on green. But one more change made it stranger still. His pupils were only slits in the light of the sun. But, as she examined him once more, she found the effect was somewhat pleasing; it fit somehow with the stronger body that Cyr now inhabited. Both were clad in the dark blue uniform of the Moontigers, and both bore only one sword. Cyr carried Seigi in his belt, and Lania the shorter sword, Yuuki, the same blades they had carried before they had been blended. "It would seem that we cannot be truly separated after all." Lania commented, examining Cyr with a critical eye. He smiled and nodded his agreement before embracing her. The pair held that embrace for a minute before they finally separated. Jen expected to feel jealousy rising within her while they were embraced, but she was surprised to find that the feeling would not come. These two friends were perhaps closer than any others in the world could ever be. For years, they had lived within the same body, experiencing the same things, the same feelings; and, hearing each other's most intimate thoughts as well. It was an experience that no one could share without becoming close. Besides, she reminded herself, they were soul-bound, like her and Cyr. When the pair separated, Cyr turned to Jen, his expression a mix of elation, longing and love. Jen found herself mirroring his look a moment later, as the barrier behind which she had walled her feelings for him came down. They stood still for a moment longer, then Jen ran to him, the love she had thought lost forever flooding into her heart once more. Cyr flung his arms open wide and scooped her up in one motion, kissing her as he lifted her from the ground. The rest of the world faded into the background for them as the kissed and held each other close, as they once had, all those long years ago. Neither cared how long a time passed before they broke off their kiss; it might have been a span as short as minute, or as long as a thousand years. But finally, they broke off their kiss and they turned to face their two companions, remaining as close as they could. "You are the luckiest woman in the world to have found so devoted a mate." Lania commented, smiling warmly at the pair. "In all the years since you parted, he never once thought of straying." "Thank you." Jen said, returning her smile. "For everything you have done to keep him alive." "You are more than welcome." Lania replied, sitting down on a log. She looked at her hands and sighed after a moment. "It feels good to have my body back, to be separated at last from you Cyr. And yet, I feel as though I have lost a part of myself." "I know what you mean. I think I will miss having a constant companion who knows what I am thinking." Cyr replied, guiding Jen to a seat on another log. All were silent for a few moments, considering everything that had happened. And then, Jen gave voice to a question that had been lurking in the back of her mind ever since they had discovered the valley. "What happens now?" She questioned, looking around at the others around the circle of fallen logs. "Well, first things first." Cyr answered, taking the Soulbreaker gem from where Jen had dropped it. "This is far too dangerous a weapon to be allowed to remain without the protection of the dragon. Even if we were to take it and hide it away, there is too great a risk that it would be discovered and used by an enemy. Hul, if you would do the honors." "Gladly." The minotaur said, taking the stone from his outstretched hand. He laid the sparkling gem onto a boulder before him, on the edge of the fire pit, then lifted his great hammer into the air once more. He raised the huge hammer high, poising it above the gem. The gem gleamed benignly, as if it were harmless, but Hul hesitated only a moment. Then the hammer stroke fell. With a sound like shattering glass, the hammer smashed into the gem, breaking it into a hundred glittering shards with a brilliant flash of magic. He struck again and again, heedless of the release of the jewel's power, until the glittering gem was nothing more than so much white powder, scattered by the wind. Soon, nothing remained of the powerful artifact from a world long faded into memory. Hul smiled in satisfaction and shouldered his hammer before sitting back down on his log. He seemed thoughtful for a few moments, then he spoke again. "Well, now that that is done, I have no idea what to do with myself. I have spent most of my life hunting the slavers who had destroyed my life. Now they are dead, and things have been set right once more with Cyr and Lania. What quest shall we undertake next?" "Well, I plan to return to the village of my ancestors." Cyr stated, looking at Jen. "That is, if Jen has no objection." "I will go wherever you do." She answered, resting her head on his shoulder with an affectionate smile on her face. "I don't know where I am going to go." Lania put in, looking as thoughtful as Hul. "It has been so long since I had any idea where I wanted to go. At the academy, it was always just wanting to go out and fight. But now I think I have seen enough of war to last me a life time. But what else can I do?" "Why don't you both come with us?" Jen asked, and both Hul and Lania looked surprised. "Why not put your strengths to good use? The village will need to be rebuilt. And the warriors will need someone to teach them to fight." "That sounds like a worthy task to me." Lania said, smiling. "Hul?" "I agree, but first, I have to go north. My people need a new place to live, and I think your village sounds like as nice a place as any." He replied. "Will you come with me?" "We will." Cyr replied and Jen nodded in confirmation. Lania also agreed and with that the quartet lay down to sleep. Jen snuggled up to Cyr as he lay and the pair drifted off, whole at last... *** Jen walked beside Cyr at the head of the long line of travelers. They were in the midst of the plains, on a road that had once been well traveled. The road had once been the main route to their village, and it had bustled with trade and travelers. It was overgrown by grass and weeds, its beaten track swathed in green. But it would be a road once more soon. She paused a moment in her walk to look back along the plodding line of travelers. Hul had freed a great many of his people from slavery over the years, and had gathered even more to him through his great deeds. His wandering clan now numbered in the hundreds, and they all walked along in high spirits, for they soon would have a home. Even now, she could hear them singing a marching song in the fierce language of the minotaurs. And, among them in the line, were hundreds more humans and others of many races, some driving great wagons laden with supplies. About half were freed slaves, or the battle brothers of Shadow. The rest had joined them on the road, looking for a new place to make their homes. All had agreed to come and make a home for themselves in the town that Moontiger had founded, all those centuries ago. She smiled and looked back to the front. In the months since Cyr and Lania had been separated, she had gotten to know the tiger who also shared her love's soul. She had a kind spirit within a warrior's body and she bore her no ill will for Cyr's devotion. In fact, in the time they had been journeying together, Lania had settled into the role of the sister Jen had never had. They were the best of friends now, and she walked on the other side of Cyr from Jen, two swords in her belt. The quartet had spent the winter months in a village where the blacksmith had allowed them access to his forge. They had labored together to create the companion blades that they had lacked, and they still looked like the warriors the blades proclaimed them to be, though they had not fought a battle in many days. The memories of this journey would be something she would never forget, for it had been the best time of her life. And then, the trio came over the rise of the hill they had been climbing and Jen traced the line of the road as it ran on before her with her eyes, towards the distant woods where the village had laid. Already, she knew, the survivors of the village had returned and were rebuilding the shattered town. The caravan that followed behind her would be a welcome addition in the village, but she found herself in no hurry to get there. Smiling to herself, she reached over and took Cyr's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. The road carried on before them, an endless green ribbon barely visible against the green of the plain around them. As long as she followed it, with Cyr at her side, she knew she would be happy. She took a step forward onto the grass covered road, the road that would lead them home...