The aftermath
#8 of I've Had Enough
I'm sorry for how this story turns out, and I hope none of you are mad at me for this ending, but I felt that this is how it had to end. I am also regretfully sorry for how long it took for this chapter to get posted. I've been very busy. I am also looking for any artistys out there who might draw these characters for me ^.^ I doubt I'll find anyone out there that is free, but it's a nice thought. Enjoy ^.^! Kind of... >.> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Halen stood there, staring at Cheyenne in shock. "Cheyenne..." He whispered, tears forming in his eyes. "RAISE YOUR WEAPON!" Cheyenne yelled, running at Halen with his sword ready. Tears fell from Halen's muzzle as he dropped his sword. "I will not fight..." "I will kill you anyway!" Cheyenne growled loudly as he charged Halen, thrust his sword into his stomach. Halen opened his mouth in pain, but no sound came out. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks as he stared into Cheyenne's eyes. "I... I love you..." Cheyenne stood there, Halen impaled on his blade as they stood up against one another. Cheyenne's eyes wide open as he took a step back, pulling his blade from Halen's stomach. "Wh... what...?" Halen whined slightly, blood running down the front of his body. "I love you Cheyenne..." Cheyenne looked down, eyes wide as if coming out of a trance. He looked at Halen's wound and then down at his own paws, which were drenched in Halen's blood. "No...' He whispered softly, a metal clanging noise echoing through the room as the blood-stained sword fell to the stone floor. "What have I done..." Cheyenne whispered to himself. Halen collapsed to his knees, more tears running down his muzzle as the pain surged through his body. "Ch... Cheyenne..." "Halen... Oh my God..." Cheyenne fell beside him, pulling Halen to his chest tightly, crying and shaking slightly. "I'm sorry... I didn't know... I didn't know what... what I was doing..." Cheyenne sobbed heavily, holding Halen close. Halen whined and laid on Cheyenne weakly. "It's alright... I still love you... and... and nothing you can say... will ever change that..." Halen's voice was weak and shaky as he looked up into Cheyenne's eyes. Cheyenne cried harder, gently petting Halen's cheek. "I love you too... and... I knew it all along... I... I'm sorry I didn't realize it." Halen reached up with a trembling paw. "None of that matter's now... all that matters... is that... is that we are together..." He gently pulled Cheyenne down with a paw on the back of his head, and kissed Cheyenne softly. Cheyenne kissed back, holding Halen to him. He broke the kiss, nuzzling the wolf's cheek. "I love you... I love you so much..." He kissed Halen again, though Halen didn't kiss back. Cheyenne pulled back, looking at Halen's face. It was a peaceful look; calm, quiet, as if he died with everything in the world that he wanted. "H-Halen?" Cheyenne said softly, trembling as he pet Halen's cheek. "Open your eyes..." He whimpered, pawing gently at the wolf's face. "P-please! I n-need you!" The fox whimpered, tears running down his muzzle quickly. Halen lay there, dead, in his lover's arms. "NO!" Cheyenne yelled, hitting Halen's chest weakly. Cheyenne stood up, shaking violently as he cried freely. He was alone. Everyone he had ever loved, everyone that had ever loved him, everything in the world that mattered... was gone. He bent down, picking up his sword slowly. Tears poured r\from his eyes ad he lifted the sword in both paws, positioning it to his heart. "I love you Halen..." He thrust the sword into his heart, killing himself instantly. His body remained standing for a few seconds and then fell forward, landing atop Halen's corpse. Both lovers were dead. Two soul mates disposed over irrational and careless decisions. Now their spirits would be together for all eternity, wandering the heavens.
Richard kept his eyes on Helston as they circled each other. The war was raging furiously outside the ''shield'' covering both furs. ''You wretched whore son! I'll slit your throat!'' Helston raised his sword in front of himself and roared, charging at Richard. Richard raised his own sword in time, glancing his father's blade off and stepping to the side. Helston recovered quickly and spun around, forcing the blade through Richard's chest plate and into his abdomen. Richard roared out in pain, falling to his knees, dropping his sword, still impaled on his father's blade. Helston growled ferociously. ''Did you think you'd beat me?'' He gave the sword a slight twist, making Richard scream. ''Did you think you'd honestly beat me? ME! The leader of the infamous Jhariv!'' He leaned in so that his muzzle was less than an inch from Richard's. ''You are nothing...'' Blood flowed freely from Richard's wound, the blade of the sword stained with a good deal of it. Richard was shaking slightly. ''You... monster...'' Richard managed. With what strength he had left he leaned to the side, opening his wound more, and grabbed his sword. Before Helston could react the sword was thrust into the middle of his chest and then ripped back out. Helston roared in pain, falling backwards, removing his sword from Richard's chest, more blood flowing out with its removal. He hit the ground with a thud, his paw releasing the hilt of his own rapier. ''Richard!'' He gasped, shaking violently. Richard watched in horror at the sight before him. His won father, mortally wounded, laying in a pool of his own blood; and he had caused it. ''Father...'' Richard said weakly, crawling over to the older lion's side. The loss of blood was getting to him rather quickly. Helston looked up at the younger lion's face. ''My son...'' He reached up with a shaky, blood-soaked paw, cupping the side of Richard's muzzle with it. Richard burst into tears, placing a paw on his father's and holding it to his muzzle. ''I'm...s-s-so sorry...'' Helston smiled softly, still trembling from his wound. ''There's... nothing... to... forgive... It's me that... should be... asking for... forgiveness...'' Richard cried harder, laying his head on his father's shoulder, putting a paw over his father's chest. ''I... I hated you... for... for what you did... but... I still... I still love you... please... don't leave me...'' Tears streamed from Helston's muzzle, and he smiled weakly. ''I love you too... my son...'' Richard felt his father's paw grow relaxed in his grip and he looked up to see his father's eye's close. ''F-father... please... don't die...'' Helston's eyes opened weakly, his voice barely audible. ''You will.... always... be my son...'' Helston closed his eyes again, letting out a long sigh. With that last breath the barrier around them dissipated. Richard closed his eyes as well, heaving a few sobs before his own body gave in to his wounds. His own corpse lay upon that of his fathers.
The war raged on for hours. Ashaile's kingdom fell when warriors from Servinta arrived. Mounted on their fire-breathing dragons, they scorched the Fields and all of it's inhabitants. Blood lay across the battlefield as sand across a shore. Only a few hundred from Canterbury and Heradon were left alive, a good majority of them wounded. Among the survivors was King Horatio. Felix had wounded him badly, but he'd survive. Felix, however, did not. The troops all gathered back at Canterbury, in the courtyard just beyond the palace walls. Horatio looked over the swarm of furs. The survivors were there with the towns people. "My good people of Canterbury. It pains me to say that on the battlefield no more than a fortnight ago, King Richard died..." The crowd fell silent, furs were crying as a sign of their loss. "He was a good King. Honorable, dedicated, trustworthy, and more importantly he was a marvelous leader." The crowd clapped solemnly. "However, amongst the lives that were spent... there will be no more bloodshed for years to come. The Jhariv have been defeated, Verona and Ashaile... defeated. There should be no war in these parts for years." The furs clapped again, a little enthusiasm lingering in the crowd. "And now... it brings me great pleasure to introduce you to your new king." Horatio held out a paw towards the side of the stage. A raccoon walked out slowly, making his way to the podium. The crowd fell silent. "Hello... my name is Shane. I will be your new 66king." He stated plainly. "I know that I can never be as good as a replacement as Richard was... but I promise you... I will try every day to do everything I can for this kingdom." The whole crowd of furs clapped loudly, some even cheering. "But even with my crowning... we cannot forget those that have been hurt in this war." He looked over at Ignius who was standing just out of sight. Shane beckoned Ignius towards him. Ignius slowly made his way to where Shane was standing. "Ignius... I feel for your loss... it pains the heart to lose a loved one... and I will be there for you if ever you need anything." He raised Ignius's paw and kissed it gently. Ignius was crying silently as he listened to Shane. "Thank you..." He said softly. Shane nodded and allowed Ignius to leave. "My good people... I know these last few weeks have been tough... and I will personally help to repay for any damage that this war might have cost you." The audience muttered a word of gratitude towards their new king.
That night Ignius returned towards his room. He opened the door to be temporarily blinded by a bright light. Once he could see again he stared into the light. "What's happening?!" The fox called out. The light slowly took shape, a lion appearing before him. "Ignius... my love... It is I... Richard." Ignius gasped softly, standing up, moving towards Richard's transparent figure. "Wha... how?" Richard smiled softly. "I've come to get you..." He held out a paw. "Come get me? What do you mean?" Tears were running softly down his cheeks. "I want to take you with me... to the heavens... if you have no business here on earth... then... I'd very much like to have my lover back in my arms..." Richard's eyes pleaded with Ignius's as he stood there waiting. Ignius stepped forward. "Then take me..." He took Richards paw, crying happily. Ignius's body glowed brightly as Richard's did. "I love you..." The fox whispered softly. "And I love you..." Richard replied. They kissed each other softly, their bodies seemingly dissolving before turning into translucent wisps of white clouds, and sped quickly out the window, soaring into the heavens above. When their bodies returned to their natural shapes, they were standing on a huge platform, overlooking a mass of furs. "Where are we?" He asked softly as the furs cheered. "This... this is heaven..." He stated. "A part of it at least..." They looked over the furs together. Ignius realizing that they were the warriors that had perished in the war. "This... this is amazing..." He said. "Isn't it?" A familiar voice answered. Richard and Ignius turned to see Halen standing there, holding Cheyenne at his side. They were both smiling widely. "Hello Ignius... It's good to have you join us..." Tears formed in his eyes as he hugged Halen tightly. "It's good to see you... and I guess this is Cheyenne?" He asked, looking at the other fox. Halen nodded and hugged Cheyenne tightly. "I'm finally, truly happy." "And that is how we'll stay... happy..." Richard voiced. The others nodded in agreement. They were there for the remainder of eternity. Living the quiet after life of happiness with their soul mates.