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"They're coming over the walls! There are too many of them!" the soldier's voice called from the midst of the chaos. The Pagans had begun their assault on the west and one of their first targets was Aion Byakko's home. Fighting with all their might the Ivory Demons tried to buy time for the civilians who remained defenseless but also for Byakko. She was coming to from a brief rest after being restless for days as she felt something coming through the air. With her sword in hand she left her home and made for the gate exiting towards her attackers.

She knocked through the door and came out swinging her blade consumed by fire illuminating the twilight scene. These Pagan were only soldiers, nothing special, they possessed no unique skill nor powerful weapon they were weak. Their numbers were the sole advantage they had as they began to surround Byakko despite her best efforts and continuous slaying. Her skill and technique had improved over the years but she was never truly built for war. The power, the flames, that gave her the winning edge in such a battle she would have otherwise surely lost.

Wave after wave of Pagans came from the darkening horizon and they shown no sign of stopping despite the stern opposition they faced. Hills of bodies began to pile all around as those who had not been fatally wounded waited to die and fade away like the fortunate others that had not suffered so greatly. Eventually there came a rumble louder than the stomping feet of the charging infantry that bordered on infinite. A massive stone came crashing down into the torch lit field followed by a second both perfectly rounded and shining with the gleam of a fingernail.

A freakish fiend pulled itself forward on these stones that lie at the end of its deformed arms taking the place of hands. It's body looked contorted as the elbow came to a point then shot down to shoulders which lead to the back that arched low with the tailbone sitting at the some height as the shoulder blades the legs coming in and bending at the knee coming back out and bending at the heel leaving the feet flat on the ground. Horns curled into tight mounds on each side of the head with eyes the shined with a green glimmer in a crescent. The body was malnourished enough so to see the skeleton in the torso and its thighs. The creature came closer to Byakko indiscriminately crushing his own that still stood in his path.

There were no words exchanged or time to ready into a fighting position as the beast merely knocked Byakko across the field and into the brick wall behind her. She knelt wounded and winded trying to feel for any injuries while the creature only moved closer. The Pagan was nearing her, she couldn't feel any broken bones yet could not rise to stave off the attack. No one was around anymore, the civilians had fled led by the army and protected by the Ivory Demons. One of the massive stones hung above her but she could do nothing to stop it from crushing her into the sand. The wind picked up out of the east and blew a hot gale through her fur as she waited for destruction.

The stone slammed to the earth but there was no blood or cracking bone to be heard as it left its mark on the ground. No the wind had picked up and the gale's force became more and more powerful until it blew Byakko from her place. A shadow came from the east swinging his chained ball over head forcing the wind from around him like a tornado. The spotted hand let up its grip on the chain sending the ball flying to collide with the massive stone. Cracks were made surrounding the crater the ball had made but it did little to stop the monster from continuing on and breaking through the walls of Aion.

"Pulsar, what took you so long?" Byakko questioned as she struggled to find her feet. The Leopard helped pull her to her feet, "Readying my army, Lyria will be taking in your people so we've readied for any possible attack following them." "We have to stop this thing here, before it can reach Lyria" Byakko said as she began to come back around from her injuries. The meteor hammer began to spin once more, "You read my mind but first the underlings. Fire now!"

The two worked in tandem combining their powers to make an even greater destructive force. With ease they cut down the massive horde of Pagans that had encircled them as the cyclones from the hammer's spinning produced picked up the waves of Byakko's flames. Few would not be felled by such awesome force but were no match as Pulsar began to flog and flail them to death with the hammer. Byakko slashed apart the last few that charged her way, "Now for the big boy." "We're going to need to use every last drop of energy in our bodies, are you ready?" Pulsar asked as he wound the chain in his hands. Her sword began to flash as the flame turned white hot, "You know it pretty boy."

Breaking into a sprint each took a separate path across the ruined walls as to flank the creature on both sides. Byakko swung her blade projecting a stream of fire that coated the brutes back however it soon burnt out on its rough hide. Following up the unsuccessful attack Pulsar would resort to a more physical assault on the beast. He flung the ball across it back and leapt down the wall, skimming his feet across the ground, before swinging back up and onto its back. Blow after blow rained down upon the Pagan but without showing anything more than slight annoyance from it. Pulsar was bucked from the beast but sustained little damage as he hit the sand barely clearing some rubble.

"Time to double-team him," Byakko said as she lifted her ally back to his feet. Pulsar looked at the destruction around him, "Set the rubble on fire and get out of the way." She was quick to oblige as he did not wait a moment to began creating the twister that would lift the masses of flaming ruin. They chased the creature and slammed into seemingly having an effect. The attack enraged the creature that turned to face his aggressors to find one on the ground far from him but one much closer on the wall. It began crush the wall where Byakko had been only seconds prior. Pulsar wouldn't allow his friend to be injured and with haste he made his way to the brute, wrapping the chain around its back legs he pulled it down to its belly.

Byakko made her way down as the wall deteriorated and collapsed onto the Pagan's arms that had just touched ground. "Burn him now!" cried Pulsar as his grip began to weaken. Flames cascaded down onto the face and limbs of the beast, burning brighter and hotter with each second. A very peculiar noise came from the mass of fire causing Byakko to let up for a moment to see the flesh the stones had been grafted to was coming loose on one arm. The Pagan must have known as it wriggled the other limb loose from the rubble and destroyed the platform the Tiger stood on.

Pulsar freed his weapon and came to Byakko's side, "Are you hurt?" "Its arm, its left arm is damaged. You could destroy it, just move quick," she said as she caught her breath. He was quick to move on his foe but could not predict its movements. As he went in to strike he was caught by the second stone, not crushed or thrown but instead caught by his own chain on the back swing. The Pagan swung the hand back down and sent Pulsar sailing over the remaining bit of wall. Byakko knew she was alone now whether he survived the fall or not she would have to finish this on her own.

Again she let loose the hottest of flames she could and burnt at the stones hoping some could reach the weak arm it tried so hard to stand on. It blocked the fire with its good hand as it tried to proceed towards its prey minding the injury however meant slower movement. Byakko took advantage of this and with ease found higher ground within reach and took it hoping to get the right angle for her fire. She was in luck but it would last quite briefly as she began to release the flames the healthy hand crashed into the half ruined building and robbed her of her advantage. The move was a costly one to the Pagan as the hastened movement caused the bit of flesh holding the other stone to the arm to rip and tear from it.

Sand blew in waves as the creature fell not supported by either stone for just the slightest moment. The fiend was as good as dead and Byakko was ready to leave it fade away when the wall collapsed on it once more. Pulsar stood atop the downed wall with blood running down his face, his hammer in hand ready to fight still. He noticed the severed stone and the other sticking out from under an edge of the wall and could figure what had happened in his brief absents. However still filled with rage he decided it wasn't good enough yet. He summoned the winds to lift the severed stone and dropped the massive weight onto the ruined wall. Blood shot out in every direction, splashing on both of their legs, excessive however they had certainty of the brute's death.

"That was a bit excessive don't you think?" Byakko asked as the two made their way to Lyria in the dark of night. Pulsar was dragging his hammer through the sand, "What do you mean? It was a demon like any other and like any other demon it should be entirely dispatched of, who knows they may not be dead when we leave them like that." "True but couldn't you have done so in a less violent matter, you got blood all over both of us," she returned noting the blood blending into her fur. He pulled the chain up bringing the ball to rest on his shoulder blade, "I could have but that's just not the way I am. Anytime I get my hands on a creature like that I just lose myself a bit and only desire to destroy the beast in the most cruel way I can imagine. When I had chained it's legs I wished to tear them off, when it was down I wanted to mount its head and smash its skull apart, I wanted to take that stone and spin it with the creature until there was nothing left but blood and pulp. I don't know why I get such a desire for destruction when they cross my path but oh how I wish it so badly that I do when it all is happening."

"Aion is utterly destroyed and honestly I don't think this will be the end of it, they may have lost scores of soldiers tonight but we lost an entire city. Worse still is that due to the attack pattern and the lose of Aion we are cut off from assistance from the Lions," Pulsar informed his high ranking officers. One man spoke up from the rear, "What about the Jackals? Their territory is closer than the Lion's, couldn't they help? Surely they too are afflicted by this blight." "We can't count on that for many reasons, one they are very isolated, they have little concern for the Lions, Tigers, or us, and as far as we know they can't be trusted in this situation. I mean not imply such an idea but it is a possibility that they are in league with these demons," Pulsar spoke seeing the disdained looks on the older men he addressed. Byakko seemed to naturally contrast Pulsar, "We can't go about this as paranoid pessimists we must try to seek help from these Jackals. They may not be our ally yet but they might be our only hope in defending this land from these monsters." "Then how do you suggest we begin any such diplomatic relationship, send a few of our own in and hope they come back?" Pulsar asked in all to condescending tone. Byakko was of course not deterred by this, "Yes. As you said they are very secluded, maybe they don't even know what is going on out here. They might even be quite pleased that we had come to ask for help as it also stands to save them from fighting on their own land." "Very well we will assign a delegation to the task, I however expect you to be among them as a show of your faith in this plan," he spoke with a semi-frustrated tone.

"I see you have your delegates chosen," Pulsar spoke as Byakko was preparing to leave for the Jackal territory. She sheathed her blade and added it to her pack, "That's right, I think bringing a good cross section of both Tigers and Leopards will give them I good idea of who we are and why we need help." "I just hope you know the relations between us and the Jackals have never been great despite only interacting with them very rarely. They seem to have a hatred for us that I can't seem to put my finger on but then again I don't like thinking about them all that much," he added as Byakko neared the exited of her bungalow. Byakko turned back to him for a moment, "Doesn't matter as of now, we need help. If they come at us again we might not be able to stop them, especially if they keep throwing beasts like that at us. They only get stronger and we weaker, we need to stop them for good and soon. This city is your home and I would hate for what happened to mine to be relived here."

"Another failure, all of you failures!" Paga screamed at his underlings now back in his abysmal abode. The stone-fisted giant was knelt at the alter but his many pleas for forgiveness and a second chance fell upon deaf ears. "No more of this graveling you joke. Take him away, imprisonment, use the pins and lower his hands into a crevasse," he ordered as the Puppet Masters came to his sides and escorted him away. Paga was furious wrecking what sat around him, "I need someone stronger, someone with power they cannot stop, they cannot ignore, I need someone unbeatable." "Might I try my hand at this task Master?" a voice came from a cloaked form. Paga looked for a moment as his expression slowly faltered from fury to one of joy, "Yes my darling you shall go now. Bring honor to the Pagan name and destroy our enemies. Leave not a single soul to tell the tale of our conquest."

"What was it like.. to be back again?" Maxin questioned Zero as they moved the orb from the sanctuary to its own sovereign place in the land. Zero was carrying the orb, unaffected as it was without power, "It was... I just wish it could have lasted or known how it happened." "That thing was after the stone you gave your wife. The creature had to be after it for good reason so maybe that was the cause?" Cerberus said from the alter he had made for the orb. They placed the orb inside and Zero powered it, "Possibly, but she had that necklace for a long time and even after I arrived here she held it in her hands, so why didn't it do anything before?" "We'll just have to figure it out a little at a time like we did our powers, there's no race to understand it after all," Maxinimus contributed as he rested his hands on the orb.

"So Imfay, that old bastard, is still alive?" Zero said looking into the vision that surrounded the three men. Cerberus was furious, "Leads an attack against us, hides when help arrives, and he is the one who outlives us all." "He was always a crafty one, he knew when to fight and when to run," Maxin admitted. Zero broke back into the conversation, "He knew how to use people too. But at the end of the day he knew when to be strong and who he really needed to help. Imfay saved me from dying at the hands of Orion's son and he is one of us, some day he will join us." "Oh yeah, what is it that he can do," Cerberus questioned in a tone of disbelief. The vision shown the Elk exerting his power over his own, "Fear. The ability to strike it into any who crossed him but to take it from those he would aid. Fear and courage are powerful things indeed and his gift will make a grand addition to what has been built here."

"I wonder why he's readying for a journey north, it's not as though the Caribou are particularly fond of either Elk or Deer," Maxin said as they watched on. Zero stared at the man who had once saved him from death, "Unification. He likely saw how we the Wolves, Foxes, and Coyotes were united when we battled Orion II. Now with the news that Seras was attacked by a powerful creature he probably has realized that a grand unified force will stand stronger than sovereign nations." "He'll have a time convincing the Caribou, they are stubborn folks and they have a hatred for Elks from long ago," Maxin replied to Zero. Cerberus left the two and Zero sat next to Maxin, "You know I have never admitted it to anyone and find it hard to think of myself but when I got the nerve to go and fight Orion I feel that it was influenced by him. I didn't notice it at the time but as he left I felt it being drawn away and disappear, the courage I had when I defeat the Lion. He could give them all the courage they needed to not feel afraid of him and trust him or he could twist their minds into nightmares until they beg of him for their own end." "What do you think he will do when the time comes," he asked with a hushed fear of the answer. Zero looked to the Deer, "As you died he was a coward yet as he lives he has become a very brave and noble soul."

"This is the edge of their territory then?" Byakko asked the Leopard who had acted as a guide for the group. He nodded, "Yes this wall was built before the Legion tore through the land a decade ago. It weathered many assaults and did not fall before the might of the army. This has been the boarder between our lands and theirs for longer than any can remember." The massive wall seemed to stretch to eternity in both directions without any obvious entry anywhere in sight. "So how do we get passed this? Is there a door or guards to let down a ladder," a Tiger asked quite foolishly. The guide laughed, "They built the wall to keep anyone and everyone out. There are no doors or ladders for anyone here to climb it and I would pray no one is around to notice us doing so."

The wall wasn't the hardest climb as many bits of brick and mortar had fallen out of place making usable gaps for foot holes. Atop the wall they could see a vast field of monuments built of stone and sand that stood at incredible heights. "It's quite the vision. Breathtaking really," Byakko remarked as she laid eyes upon the sight. A flash of black shot by an sent a Leopard over the wall as blood shot out onto where he had just stood. In moments the sky was darkened as spears filled the air and began to cascade down on the groups position. They were quick to seek shelter beneath the railing of the wall as the rain of weapons crashed onto the wall.

"They're going to kill us, we have to run while we still can," one of the members said panicked as another volley slammed not far from him. Byakko was worried as well but knew she would need to be the one to calm the others, "We can't give up now. Sure it would be easy and the safe way but if we're not willing to risk our lives now to protect those we care about then how will we be able to return and hold our heads high." "If you insist but you're going to be the one to get this madness to stop before you get us all killed," the Leopard retorted sharply. Her blade ignited, "Well this will either get them to stop or possibly make them more furious."

Byakko stood and slashed the air sending a wave of fire at the latest barrage of spears and arrows reducing the wood to ash in seconds. The attack halted for a moment as she stood atop the wall waiting for a response to her actions. Cold steel pressed against her neck as she realized why the attack had ceased, they were surrounded and outnumbered. As she turned to her captures unsure of her fate she received a quick blow to the face and everything went black.

"Now before I kill you, what are you doing in our lands?" the Jackal demanded of the Leopard as Byakko was coming to. He looked injured like he had been beaten for quite awhile before Byakko had the chance to see him. His head swung in her direction before falling low, "I'm not even in charge, I told she is, she's our leader." "Not just some sorceress but the leader too, how nice. So you tell us, why are you here? What makes you think you can come here?!" the supposed leader of the few Jackals shouted. She was still not entirely composed but didn't have the luxury of time, "We need help, there are creatures coming and they're going to destroy us all."

The Jackal slapped her hard enough to pop her jaw for a moment, "So you come here? We built that wall to keep you, your kind, and your kind's trouble out of our land! If you die so be it but you have no right to bring trouble to us!" "They don't care who you are they will come regardless if we had come here or not! Now if you don't want to help us then we will do it alone but know if we fall you won't be far behind," she spoke enraged from the pain shooting through her jaw. A blade pressed against her head and ran down to the corner of her mouth, "What makes you think you're going to be doing anything but burning in a pit after we're done with you? You came to our land, we don't let outsiders go, because no one touches our sacred grounds without permission so long as we draw breath." "You mentioned burning, well have I got a surprise for you," Byakko said as the binds that held her burst into flame and she was freed.

She fought off the Jackals that came at her leaving only their leader waiting with Byakko's blade in his hand. "Impressive but you would never get out of here with your life no matter what power you may have my men will reduce you to embers," he said smugly leaning on the sword as a cane. Byakko growled under her breath staring at the sword analyzing the situation trying to find a safe way out. Her eyes fixed on the blade and she concentrated with her only hopes relying on something she had done only once before then. The tip began to glow red hot and soon the rest began to glow as it raced upward in a wave before combusting as it hit the handle. A scream was let out of the Jackal as he dropped the burning blade to quickly have it taken from him by the rightful owner. She held the flaming sword to his face, "We will leave and you will survive.. for now."

A phantom like character appeared in the cold desert night just a stone's throw away from Vieson as it pulsed with life. "Ah the first prey of the evening, a perfect warm-up for what is to come for this world," her ghastly voice uttered. She headed for the town moving as though with out feet she seemed to hover forward. Behind her she left a cloud of impure green gas flowing through the air and trailing not far from her. The city was blissfully unaware of the horrors that would soon ravage it and how helpless they would be in the grips of these hideous blight that would strike them in the night.

"They're in ruin," Imfay spoke as his convoy made its way through the Caribou's city that had seemed more a ghost town than anything else. Jia'Nac was not only the main center for Caribou but the only city they were able to build in the harsh northern lands. Their leader came forward to greet the Elk; the old raggedy man was as thin as a young tree and was going grey in the horns. "What ill fortunes fall upon your town old one?" Imfay asked as he dismounted from his cart. The old Caribou looked to him with tired eyes, "Famine, starvation, greed, crime, and scores of curses and evil spirits. We have fought through the hardships of the cold and built our world here to see it now come crumbling down around us. It is the end for my people, you will need to carry on for there be no shelter here." "You have me all wrong oh brother, I have come to mend fences with you our distant relatives as we have with the Deer south of us," Imfay confessed. The tired Caribou laughed, "Of course you have come to try and reacquire us to serve beneath you. Now we may be in dire straights but we know enough about what your kind is all about, you are nothing but tyrants and power hungry bastards with only one beneficiary in mind, yourselves."

Imfay could see looks of despair in the eyes of all whom he could see before they turned their gaze to the dirt. "You would sentence your own to die in fear that we may bring control and order to your lives of chaos and debauchery. Sir you know not what you do or whom you deal with, I am a good and honest man who wants only to bring unity and brotherhood to his kin," he responded with the fury of his conviction. The Caribou began to leave now, "You'd be no more different then your forefathers, a leader who promises us safety, security, and salvation for no price and then once we have it we come to find that such things do not come for free." The stench of fear began to radiate from Imfay and attached to the Caribou who breathed deep of it.

A silence filled the air as he waited for the effects to take hold yet there was nothing, the old man's face was unchanged, his eyes still looked on in their dead way. In the silence the sun became muted by some unknown darkness that seemed to turn the dusk hour to midnight in only moments. Torches were lit with haste revealing a shining beacon behind the head of the Caribou's leader. His horns shined of pure black while his face was bathed and washed in the same shade contrasting his neck and shoulders dipped of cream with waves of black rippling through his otherwise brown coat. All were in awe to see this strange man armed with a morning star ready to murder the King in cold blood.

"They told me you were the one who left us for dead. So are you ready to meet your maker or do you want to gravel a bit before in that way only cowards do," the Caribou questioned pointing the end of his weapon at the leader. He tried to move back but was tripped by a stone, "No, no you're just an apparition a nothing, merely my mind playing games again. Go away, you're not real!" "He seems pretty real to me and it seems he's not to happy with you but I imagine you get that from most anyone around here," Imfay chimed in as he stepped forward holding down the end of the man's robe. He stepped closer and slid a point of the star along his prey's leg, "You should have made sure we were dead. If you had even spared the extra moment to even make sure all but I were dead then you still would have had a fighting chance but no you left me alive and you left those alive who reminded me who you are and what you did. I held them in my arms as I watched them die, I may not have had any real emotional tie to them but I can feel it all the same and it has left a burning hatred for you in my heart. Any last words you coward?"

Blood splattered against the ground, "Nevermind that, no one wants to hear anymore of you, you lying bastard." The Warblade extended from Imfay's forearm, "Do you mind explaining yourself?!" "He told me that he unveiled some plan to us all that he claimed would save our society before we crumbled apart. It was all a scheme to drive us to attack the Elk kingdom in the south and make off with as much of their resources as possible. He died worried that his death would go unavenged while knowing if this plan were to be put in motion that many of us would die," the Caribou finished his weapon still dripping with blood. Imfay was a bit puzzled, "Who are these people you keep referencing, who are you for that matter?" "The last of his lords; when we disagreed with his orders to lead our own into the slaughter that he called an attack he tried to do away with us. I came to in a ditch surrounded by bodies, there had been thirteen of us and when I came to we were three. One of us died not long after I awoke, the other held on for a time as I brought him food and water but he perished all the same. I thank them for when I awoke all was blank and I could not even recall my name. I am Amirot, last of the lords of Jia'Nac," he finished flinging the last drops of blood onto the corpse.

"Well then that would make you the one in charge at the moment so I'm going to address this to you. We the Elk are trying to restore the empire that once consisted of your people, my own, and the Deer in the south lands. I see your people are without food, your shelter is poor, and all looks to be in need of much help and assistance. I want to extend our aid to you so as to not only help rebuild your city but as a show of good will towards you and yours," Imfay laid out his offerings to the new Caribou leader. Amirot hung his mace from his belt, "We don't need your help. This man may have had wicked intent for you but I know what he said to be true, the stories past down always told of the Elks cruelty. If we accept your offerings we betray all our forefathers by making our greatest tyrant once again our ruler. Leave these lands, if we die then we die fighting for our sovereignty not graveling beneath one no better than us." "Listen to reason kid, you'll all die without our help. We don't want to be your masters we want to be equals, allies, friends, and family. I've seen error of those before me, Do reconsider before it's too late," the Elk wasn't about to plead but his powers were a different story he would see what fear could do. Amirot's eyes looked in a worried way but he fought to keep strong, "There is no way we could trust you, after all we've been taught, after all you did to our ancestors." "Those were the actions of my ancestors not me and not those who answer to me. We have gone through a many hardships from when your kind left us to now, we as a people have come a long way and very little reflect the policies of our forebears. Put your faith in me as you would a kin or friend, you shall not see such terrible things as you've been told of us," Imfay would not move from his appeal, working at the lord as much as he could.

"He is another of us," Zero spoke as he watched the vision play out, "and the man he slayed was hardly a man any longer, he had been corrupted, not entirely a man yet not a demon." Maxin looked up, "How can you tell, sure they both have telltale signs but how could you be certain at all?" "Since I returned my vision it seems to have changed in one way or another. I can look and see someone as anyone else could but as I look there is an aura about them. I can sense these aura as I see them, all seem to be different however similar. At any rate as I look to those two I sense similarities between us and that Caribou and the other I can feel much negativity," Zero stated watching the Elk and Caribou shake hands. Orion stepped in, "Maxinimus, are you quite finished with the orb? I would like some time with it." "It's all yours, friend I've seen enough for a time," he said leaving the orb's sanctuary. As Orion stepped to the orb he could feel Zero still lingering behind him, "Sirius is looking for you, best go find her." He was perplexed as to why she wanted him but Zero hadn't anything else to attend to so he was off in a moment.

"Sirius? Sirius, Orion said you needed to see me. What did you need?" Zero wandered blindly in the sanctuary Cerberus had begun to mason with stone and metal as Maxin's vines intertwined through the work holding tight to the stones. She lie scantily clad on a bench that sat behind him from where he had entered. "Over here," her voice was sweet, sensual, and all too inviting to Zero's lonely ears. Her tails were flowing elegantly uncovered from her robe while still not drawing attention away from all else that was nearly exposed. "Siri....," he tried to speak but she stopped him as she rose and put a hand to his lips. She touched her hand to his chest, "I know what you are going to say, in your position I'd say it too but.. well none of them, the normal ones, ever come here. We are all we have and that is how it is. I understand if you still say no, if you deny this it will change nothing between you and I or you and her. I would never dream of breaking your heart but I have to tell you that it is and always will be impossible to get what you want, what you had back again. I know the pain all too well, I suffered it once I left and all the while here. You can see her be it only just a vision, I could understand if you say no." "You are a beautiful woman, like none before you and like none who will follow, and you have a beautiful soul..," he held her close his mind clipping back and forth between the present and the past, "I shouldn't." He let her go, backing away with saddened eyes that would not cry yet not break there depressed lock on the floor.

The two were in a dead stare with one another for what could only be described as an eternity before the sound of foot steps were heard. Sirius disappeared and Maxin came in, in a hurry, "Orion says we all need to come see what's happening in the orb." "Right away, we will be there right away," Zero answered calmly before Maxin made his leave. Siri stepped out from behind a pillar, "I'll be right along after I change but think about it will you? Without any such warm embrace it feels quite alone here." He nodded and left her sanctuary to return to the orb where within Orion was in a terrible way screaming and wailing at the visions that were presented.

"What's the matter now?" Zero inquired as he entered the sanctuary. Orion looked at him with a great fury, "What is the matter?! Look at this, look at what is happening to my home, my people!" What was happening in Vieson was unbelievable, bodies littered the streets and none seem to still reside within the city. "A war?" the Wolf was befuddled and dumbfounded by the sight or the reasoning behind it. The vision revealed little but removed the possibility of any such assault with the absents of bloodshed nor signs of pillage and destruction. He shown nothing but disbelief for what had become of his home, "What is this that kills my kind? We have to stop it, there must be a way, and I must find it now!" "Calm down, there is nothing we can do, even if we were there they're gone and there is no helping that," Cerberus chimed in from his distant location on the side wall. Orion came face to face with him as though he were going to threaten him or even strike him yet he did neither, he did nothing but walk away after a moment of tension.

"Where is he off to, isn't he the one who summoned us here?" Sirius asked as she passed Orion on her way in. Maxinimus remained to fill her in as Zero tailed Cerberus who was off to continue work on Siri's shrine. "None of us are exactly sure what has happened but it has him torn up inside. My bet, from my own experience, I would say illness, massive poisoning, or maybe and hopefully not the Worms," Maxin spoke as the vision remained in its still state. Sirius wanted little to see of the vision, "The Worms you think then? Let us hope not then. I have to ask you something important, regarding Zero." "A strange request being as you know him better than I do. Anyway what do you want to know about him?" he responded surely confused. She was silent for a second mulling over her thought, "Nevermind."

"I don't want to hear about your personal problems, boy, so either shut your mouth or leave me to my alone," Cerberus was in an annoyed way with Zero's inquisitions into Sirius's life before coming to this world. He continued to help build up the walls in silence, "Sorry. I was only wondering why she may have come to me in such a way?" "Why do you think? You may only have one eye but she happens to find it to be the grandest jewel she has ever seen. She sees how much you care, your capacity for love, you're everything she ever wanted," he explained in his mundane tone as he continued working. Zero looked skeptical, "She sees that I love those I left behind but does she ever consider the show of affection is not to entice her but because I have genuine feelings?" "I am not going to explain the workings of a mind that is not my own, take it up with her," Cerberus ordered agitated by Zero's constant talking.

They were on the run after leaving their captures with the promise they would be allowed to leave in peace. Byakko had hoped it would go so well though was uncertain until the first arrow struck the sands. She took the rear making certain the other were ahead while she did her best to knock bolts from the sky that would otherwise have struck one of her party. "It was a ridiculous notion," she thought, "to think people so closed off from the world around them would be willing to lift a finger to help another. They can go on bury their heads in the sand and pretend the world is only them because when it is they will see how wrong they were. Let them all just hide behind their wall until it comes crashing down at the hands of those much less friendly."

It would be a long way back to Lyria even after escaping the clutches of the Jackals and they were tired, hungry, and robbed of their few supplies they had left. Luck would not shine greatly upon them as they knew no water could be found close from their designated route. No signs of Shren or edible vegetation was the final nail in the coffin for the hopes of finding food. They soon found themselves changing their schedule, moving at night to keep from overheating in the desert heat. Starvation and dehydration loomed yet they were not far from safety as they moved through the night with unrivaled speed certain that the death would find them if they could not make it soon.

Night was coming soon and the group was not far from Lyria, they would perhaps reach it within the night if they started out soon. A noise came as they were nearly leaving their spot, the noises moved closer and a black mass could be seen in the distance. They waited as the black mass became a group of Tigers and Leopards looking ill prepared for a journey and panicked beyond reason. "What are you doing out here?" Byakko was inquisitional at what had been presented to her. They seemed nervous but after a moment one spoke, "Are any among you sick Lady Byakko?" "No we are tired, thirsty, and hungry. We have nothing more for supplies, do you have anything we may have?" she pressed for anything she could get over information.

"You must stay away from Lyria, it is unsafe for anyone to inhabit," the Tiger spoke as they settled down all very weary after making their escape. Byakko sat nearest to the woman, "Did Pulsar stay behind to fight the demons off?" "Demons? No we couldn't be so lucky for something so simple. There are no demons, only refugees from Vieson who claimed to be escaping a mysterious wave of death. We let them in, one of them was ill not noticeably so, yet sick all the same. It spread like wildfire and soon we found ourselves chased from our only home. Pulsar told us to evacuate, that we would meet again outside of Lyria in three days," her tone was without the slightest sound of hope. It was silent for a time before Byakko stood, "I'm going to Lyria, this is no coincidence that his happens just on the heels of Aion's destruction."

They met at the gates to Lyria both knew exactly what the other would do soon enough it being only a matter of time. "There is something inside, neither of our kind or even a Lion. It looks like a woman dressed in a hooded cloak with a veil," Pulsar whispered. Byakko ran her fingers across her blade, "Do you think she is here to take her fill of flesh or keep us away?" "Not going to wait to find out, as far as I'm concerned it is all the same to me. One of us should go in while the other waits here in case this is a trap, right?" he asked fully aware of the usual tricks. She nodded back, "You stay, if one of us is to risk anything it shouldn't be the leader."

She slipped inside and with silent steps moved around the city making certain to keep hidden no matter where she stood. Byakko crept through homes and alleys as she followed a trail of a stagnant stench that appeared visible as a cloud of green haze that filled streets. At a fountain on the main street of town she found whom she stalked sitting with her hands in the water turning it a malignant brown hue. Decorating the fountain was an array of marked, mutilated, and destroyed bodies that seemed to have been done so intentionally. Blood dyed the brick road red all the way to the fountain, the noise would surely be audible in the silent night. It was avoidable, Byakko slipped through homes and shops to the other side of the street and proceeded doing so until she was at the fountain. From a second story window she saw the wraith, it was giggling as it peeled the flesh from a poor souls body. Removing her hood and veiled it placed the severed face of the victim over her own and made fake cries until erupting in laughter.

As it came closer to Byakko's end of the fountain she readied her blade, having her power ready to let loose anytime. Step by step it danced around until coming to a cadaver that seemed almost intact before she set her eyes on it. With a kiss the flesh began to melt from bone and following not far behind came muscle tissue and organs. Byakko leapt from the window setting fire to her blade as she did so blindsiding the wretched creature. It was in two and burning to nothing in only a matter of seconds. Though unbeknownst to Byakko as she cut through a cloud of the dark haze erupted from the lifeless corpse and surrounded her.

She felt weak, her stomach soon spilled onto the ground, and it felt like everything was closing in around her. Pulsar came through on the road but was in the midst of battle as a horde of demons were chasing after him. He was keeping them at bay but they were showing no signs of stopping until their eyes fell upon Byakko. It was an easy kill but they all so badly wanted it to be their kill and gathered around her giving Pulsar time to escape unwittingly leaving his friend to die. The demons were of no consequence as she felt her life slipping away, all would soon be dark. Fighting, there was no fight left in her, it felt as though her insides were turned to liquid ready to burst from her once she was overflowing. The bickering of the beasts was driving her mad as she sat in such grave pain so she was decided to insure herself a quiet death. White hot flames consumed her and spread outwards to the Pagans and turned a rich green as it mixed with the polluted air while turning them in piles of ash. Byakko lied waiting for death with warmth of the flames keeping her company as the blood leaked from her until the last drop.

Pulsar was breathing heavily as he exited the city now with the cloth removed from his face with no fear of sickness looming in the fresh open air. There was a commotion that became audible as his heavy breathes ceased and return to normal. From the south it came but he wasn't sure if any had fled south he couldn't be entirely certain as he too was in a panic at the time. It was the sounds of violence and the scent of death wafting on the breeze to him. More demons most likely, he would need to move fast to have any hope of helping those in trouble.

Shadows slipped away into the darkness as he arrived to find the group of Leopards and Tigers entirely demolished. Sets of eyes floated in the dark lit only by the fading light of the fire that had been started by Byakko. "Creatures of the night you have crossed me before and still I fear you not. You are no burden the sickness that makes my land its home is the true terror. However since I can not very well kill a disease you will do fine," Pulsar spoke as he begun spinning the meteor hammer. It was silent a moment until the sound of the wind hit his ears and with haste and ease he shattered the projectile. More came after it, spears, darts, arrows, knives, and axes all came from the dark and were as easily deflected as they were thrown.

It hit him in a moment, these were not demons that waited beyond his line of sight but people, why were they attacking him? "Whoever you are I am not your enemy nor do I want to be. Why have you attacked my people?" he searched for one to answer him. A pair of eyes moved forward until a muzzle was slightly shown, "Yours came to our land, they climbed our wall, and expected our help. We remain removed from the dealings of your kind because we do not want involvement. But now we know you are weak. This illness will need a remedy, one of blood and destruction." "Leave these lands or I will drive you from them," Pulsar knew this to be true and now knew they were more dangerous than he ever considered. He could stay and fight but more would come, more and more would be on there way soon and he could never hold his own against an army. Pulsar swung his hammer as fast as he could and created a tornado, a perfect distraction for him to slip away during.

Dawn was coming and he had many to rally and direct as he moved from encampment to encampment. He told his people along with the Tigers to move west as fast as they could, to abandon the homes that they had once known, and to look for life in new lands where he would join them soon. Pulsar passed his home multiple times finding it burning, smoldering, and fallen to pieces finally after the blazing inferno of Byakko's end had attempted to cleanse the city. The pestilent cloud still hung heavy over Lyria and seemed to be spreading. His people were scattered but in time would be reunited as he sent each group on their way not warning of those who would prey upon them. The Jackals were out there waiting just south of Lyria but they would see no Leopards nor Tigers as they headed do east however the Pagans still lurked about waiting for the time to strike.

Days had pasted and the groups had begun to reunite into a whole as they reached the edge of the known, the frontier lie beyond them. Pulsar was not far from the last group which was host to a majority of Ivory Demons. It was with great fortune they traveled with him as during their journey west they encountered foes out for blood. A small group of Jackals and two demons caught them off guard as they both sprang from different directions. Neither side stood by the other but together sought to crush the travelers into the ground. The Jackals were the duty of the Ivorys and the Pagans went to Pulsar.

The demons were weak and fell quickly below Pulsar's hammer the Jackals however put up quite the fight. The Ivory Demons were trained well but found this unknown fighting style far too unpredictable. Pulsar stood idly by and watched the two sides clash for a time; as the Jackals made quick moves trying to counter attack their foes while the Tigers struck with caution unsure of their every step. He decided enough was enough and released a gale that swept the Jackals off their feet followed by a twister that would pick them up and carry them away. His route was not lethal but that was his intent, to keep the ties between his kingdom and that of the Jackals unmarred by bloodshed on his part.

"I know you are not all my people and that is why what I am going to say will be hard," Pulsar began as he gather together the masses of Leopards and Tigers that evening. "Byakko is gone, taken by illness yet went down fighting, and in her last breath tried purging Lyria of the illness. It was a bold and grand effort yet this illness is not yet gone but it is a lesser concern as now we could be facing war, not from the demons but of the Jackal. We went in search of help and they have not only refused but attempted to wipe us from this earth. It is not a war we could fight and not one we would even if we could so we will run, we will build life anew on the frontier. We do not cower, we are without choice, if we stay we well die, instead we leave behind this home our ancestors built. Our only choice is to carry on southwest, by the sea, where we must hope we can build this new life."

The crowd was in an uproar as the once revered man now sat lower that a vagrant lying half dead on the road side. Order could not be maintained, Pulsar tried but none could be reasoned with, all wished to speak and none to listen. The wind whistled a screeching cry that hushed the shouting for a moment as Pulsar stood still in front. "This is no choice, there is no arguing about it! We will find a new home and this will all go away. The Jackals will be far from us, the demons have lost us, and the illness can not follow. And if that is not good enough I am happy to leave you for slaughter at the hands of the first to come along," he shouted at the disorderly crowd. An Ivory came forward, "We are Tigers, not of you, we do not follow you. I will lead my kind to a new home not one of your choosing." "Then take your kind north to the mountains and be free as we will from these plagues of misfortune," he finished as the crowd became docile.

"There isn't a thing we can do from here. He was able to return, once, for about a minute but we don't know how or why," Maxin explained as Byakko watched the vision. She was distraught and beside herself, "No that can't be. We loose our homeland, are hunted by demons, and that grave illness still raging I have to do something." "Try as you will it won't help. We all wanted to help those left behind and we all had to admit we couldn't do a thing to help," Orion spoke in a gloomy tone. Zero came forward and rested a hand on her shoulder, "I will try my best to help figure out some way to assist you but I myself have no understanding of how I did what I did."

"A more pressing matter, however, is your contribution, I won't bother going in depth as to why but you need to give this offering sooner rather than later," Orion informed from the other end of the sanctuary. Byakko's eyes adjusted a moment before she made a realization, "I know you. I knew I had seen you before and it's starting to come to me. You fought Nicademis, he let you live and I always wondered why. You were one of the Lions that destroyed my village, you killed my mother, you killed my father, you killed my people, raped me, and burnt our homes to the ground!" "I never ordered my men to do any of that. We came to disarm anyone who could fight us but after losing one of our villages they wanted revenge, they wanted blood for blood and I was not going to deny them. So a little a mindless destruction, at the time I was blind and thought your people were responsible for the destruction of that city. I was wrong," he returned honest and true to his belief. Byakko was furious, "So you thought you had the right to murder anyone you chose as revenge! That's not right and you know it, you coward!"

She collapsed as eyes rolled to the back of her skull and flames shot out of her in a quick burst, dismissing in just a second. They all sat back in confusion as none could explain this strange fit she had seemingly gone into. Zero drew attention to the vision where a bizarre being had appeared before the Leopards and Tigers. Emerging from the night's fire a form outlined by flames came and stood before the congregation drawing all attention to itself. From behind them appeared demons snarling and ready to kill as many as they could. As Pulsar noticed this he stood ready with his hammer but as he turned his back to the fire he saw it shoot past him. The flames engulfed the demons burning so hot not even ashes were left once it was over. It was inexplicable yet inside Pulsar could answer the how of it all so simply, he knew that it could have only been the work of Byakko.

As the morning came the two races split from one another; to the mountains in the northwest went the Tigers and to the southwest with its massive forests went the Leopards. They were like kin yet neither could agree on where they would be safest from the trouble they had so narrowly evaded. It was a sad fate as they acknowledges that they would never meet again but they would face this truth with strength and carry on. Pulsar watched his allies disappear over the ridge wishing them luck and that the spirit of Byakko would watch over them in the travels.

The time past with little to anything to show for it, there were no battles, demons rising, or even dispute amongst the ones beyond. Byakko had remained distant from the others keeping to herself in a secluded location at the edge of the abyss. She had scorched the earth and left a ring of fire always burning around her. Cerberus took interest in her as his interest in Sirius died as it had become so abundantly clear she was in love with Zero. He approached her circle going unnoticed as he moved in his silent way as though he wished to remain invisible. For hours he stood motionless simply watching her as she sat in a meditative state thinking of what he could never know.

Cerberus finally decided to break the constant silence, "So you knew Orion in life?" "Don't startle me like that!" she shouted holding her chest as her heart raced inside. He felt guilty for the unwarranted surprise, "My apologize, I will leave you be miss." "You're quite fine. I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was there and well simply none of you have wanted anything to do with me since I arrived so I figured you didn't want me," Byakko seemed nervous as she spoke. He could read it so easily in her, "I know I am not quite a pleasant feast for the eyes. I just came over here to meet you as you have had little to do with the rest of us. I was beginning to think you didn't like us or maybe were not the friendly type." "It's not how you look, I'm just a bit shy I guess, meeting someone who is of an entirely different world it's hard to know what to say. I'd like to get to know you so we could be friends though," she said with a faint but true smile. Though rare to any situation Cerberus smiled back at the girl seeing that she wasn't afraid of him or as unfriendly as he thought.

Pulsar had found home for his people sitting not far from the hills they had reached after such a time of nomadic living as they continued to evade their pursuers. It had seemed the Pagans numbers had thinned and the Jackal's offensive scaled back however each still remained deadly. If they could make it into the dense forest not far beyond they could use it as cover to finally give them the slip but it would take at least a day's travel and none would take such a journey with nightfall so close at hand. "Brothers and sisters, it has been a long road from home but now I believe we have found our safe haven. Tomorrow we venture into the forest and with any luck we will need not venture out in search of a home once more. The Jackals are turning away from us and the demons seem to be after them now. We have survived the plague that had stricken us and we have survived the ravages of hunger and dehydration to the point of near death. At eve tomorrow we will raise our heads high and know we earned the paradise we have found," Pulsar proclaimed to his people weary but hopeful.

The speech was punctuated with the opposite of the message the Leopard had so boldly spoken without thinking of the looming possibilities. Blood shot out onto those who looked on in horror as a spear tore through the chest of their leader. A hand caught him before he fell a blade came forward and was set in his path as his fall resumed. Pulsar's head rolled across the ground to the fire that lit the gruesome scene in an even more frightening light. "You are all infected by plague. For public safety you must be eliminated," the Jackal holding the blade announced as more joined him. A fierce gale picked up and sent debris and bits of burning wood flying at the Jackals.

As the Jackals descended from the ridge onto the level the rest of the Leopards stood another party entered the fray. Pagans stood on the hill that sat above all who looked so anxious to battle regardless the foe. One emerged from the pack, it walked on all four with its front pointed to the sky and face wrapped to a point it would be impossible to see. It growled and flipped itself upright before putting its nose to the air as though hunting by smell. The Pagan looked to the Leopards however seemed to dismiss them in favor of the Jackals. For a moment there was no motion until the creature leapt from its spot and landed claw first on top of one of the Jackals.

They were quick to focus their efforts on fighting this distinct demon however it moved with grace and speed as it contorted its body in unbelievable ways. It seemed to slither down its victims body and slid below any attack before popping back up. The creature dug its claws into the next Jackals and flipped him into the others leaving only two unaffected. As they swiped at it he jumped and spiraled his body down into one tearing him open with its talons. The other was stabbed in the eyes as the other two claws worked in unison to penetrated the muzzle entirely and open the skull at the forehead. Throwing their friend off them the other two rose to find they were all that remained of the unit. Both charged the beast but with tack it clung to one and used him as a shield against the other's sword. The stunned Jackal rose and called to the final man to retreat a task easier said then done as he knew one moment of wavering could allow his opponent to strike. With a quick jerk he pulled back and was up the ridge following the officer who lead the way. The creature was not ready to stop and was fast on their trail leaving the Leopards in confusion and despair.

Their noble leader was gone and there remained nothing of him to cling to as his body was not cast to the four winds but became of them. His hammer remained and it would alone serve as the physical memory of the man and all he had done. The noble men collected the artifact and stood talking amongst each other as they determined their next action. They would remain as they were until dawn and on the morrow make for the forest where life would begin anew as Pulsar had planned. As it would seem the Jackals had been driven away and the hunger for flesh and blood thirst of the Pagans would be satisfied by their people. The Leopards were now free of their burdens but to their home they vowed never to return, to not jeopardize what Pulsar had died to protect.

"Puls, wake up, come on darling," Byakko spoke shaking the unconscious Leopard with only Zero and Siri's company. His eyelids squinted open as though he feared to see where he was, "By, is that you? Is this all a dream, what is happening?" "Sorry to say friend this is real, you're dead and so are we, yet we live on beyond," Zero spoke as Byakko helped him up. He was very much confused by everything he saw, "What is this place, who are you?" "It's kind of a long story but you're here now, safe and free of all the burdens we once knew," Byakko assured him as they walked together to Orion's sanctuary to sit and talk.

"Who's the new man?" Cerberus asked Zero as he walked with Sirius back to her shrine. Zero looked deep into the blood pools of his eyes seeing a hint of weakness in him, "Friend of hers, just got here too she's probably relieved to see a familiar face." "I see, I'll leave them be I have no place with them," he said sounding destroyed inside and sulking away pitifully. Watching him go on his way to his own domain Zero nudged Siri, "Go with him, console him, he needs someone right now." "What do you mean he's fine, isn't he?" she was unsure of why exactly he requested her to do so. He began walking towards the sanctuary of the orb, "I don't know everything about the man but if I were to guess that look in his eye was one of heartbreak."

"Anything new to do with our old friend, Maxin?" Zero asked as he sat beside the Deer watching the scene playing out in the north. He pointed to a page sitting on the table as Imfay and Amirot spoke, "They signed an agreement of sorts; the Elk will help the Caribou regain order and stability in their homeland on the agreement that they stand united against foreign threats. I believe the issues of the past have been put to rest finally and we all as one can move on." "Very good. We have a new one here now, one of Byakko's friends it would seem," he informed leaning back against the wall. Two orange orbs illuminated across the way but before words could slip from the Lion's lips Zero stopped him, "And I did not tell him about the offering, it's your business."