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Hejira: Sanguine Wave

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 48: Turning Point

“Learning anything?” Sarvah asks, looking over Gareth’s shoulder

“Quite a bit. The note was a summary of our movements, and warning him that you and I were still alive. Apparently, that village was a trap; thank God we didn’t attack it.” He begins.

“Always trust your instincts, my love.” She coos, rubbing his shoulders.

“Hey, look at this!” Steve chirps.

Stepping out from Claire’s tent, Steve and Madina return to the others whilst Steve holds a large, covered box. Removing the covering, it reveals that the box is, in fact, a cage containing a trained raven. A little collar around the bird’s neck bears a golden disc, with the number ‘1’ etched into it.

“This is how she’s been passing the messages along.” Madina remarks.

“I wonder how she kept this a secret?” Steve thinks aloud.

“How many times have any of us been inside of her home before Wildwood was destroyed?” Emma remarks.

“I’ve been studying her book too. It’s her journal, or one of them anyway. According to this, Claire and her parents came here over one hundred years ago. Her mom died when she was about thirty and remarried a woman in their new tribe, the Night Watchers. Claire didn’t like her and so he just... Left her. At some point, decades later, he came back with his own small tribe called the Silver Teeth, with an infant son he named Adelram. Claire made an effort to get to know him. They’ve been sending messages with trained ravens for some time.”

“So, what are we going to do?” Emma asks.

“This writing looks pretty sloppy... Hey, Rin!”

“Yeah?”

“You’re the best with a quill. Can you copy this handwriting?” Gareth asks, handing her Claire’s note.

“Heh... Of course I can.” Rinahra grins after briefly glancing at the parchment.

“Looks like I have a plan.” Gareth glances to Emma and then Sarvah.

“That’s my Gare.” Sarvah coos before leaning in and kissing him.

After drafting a new note and slipping it into the tube attached to the raven’s leg, they release the bird. It promptly flies away and toward Adelram’s kingdom.

“What did the note say?” Madina asks.

“Oh, just that Wildwood is gone, Goldenrod’s been destroyed, Sarvah and I are dead, the alliance has fallen apart, and his army is ready to make their next move.” Gareth smirks.

“What do you think he’s going to do?” Emma asks.

“Send riders to every chieftain in ECTO. Adelram’s going to make his move to end this as soon as possible. We’re going to be ready when he does.”

Landing on a special perch built into the solitary tower of Adelram’s cozy fortress, a guard collects the bird and retrieves its note. With wide eyes, the excited guard races down the tower steps and toward his king’s study. Barging in without notice, he startles Balian, who stands and reports to his master. Drawing a sword, Balian swings and the tip of the blade nearly pierces the guard’s flesh.

“Heh.” Adelram chuckles.

“Don’t you know how to knock?!” Balian snarls.

“I’m sorry! But... My Lord! Look!”

As Balian sheathes his sword, the guard passes him and hands Adelram the note. As his eyes scan the short and simple note, they grow wide with excitement. He turns to Padina with a look of joy on his face that cannot be described. Turning his head to the guard, he issues his orders.

“Send the raven back to my half-sister. Tell her to come home right away. I also want you to send orders to Faye and tell her to wait for Balian.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

“As for you, Balian... Prep your soldiers and get some rest. Tomorrow you’ll take your legion and march toward Faye’s position. From there, attack the strongest ally of this now dead alliance; Sightless Eye will fall, and everyone else will surrender to me or join them.” Adelram grins sinisterly as he speaks.

“Yes, my Lord.” Balian nods, his lips curled into an evil smile.

Walking through the refugee camp, Sarvah appears nervous. She looks down at the ground and seems quite distracted. Gareth glances over to her several times, the sight of her plight cutting deeply into his heart. Before he can open his mouth to speak, a familiar white she-wolf with long, crimson hair and ruby eyes emerges from around a corner. Beside her is her boyfriend, the black furred canine with amber eyes.

“Hello there. How are you two doing?” Gareth asks.

“I’m alright.” Naomi nods. “Are you?”

Glancing between each other, the young adult lovers share a pantomime.

“We’re fine.” Sarvah nods.

“You used to be a lot better at lying.” Naomi smiles.

“I’m tired of it.” Sarvah sighs.

“I heard about your loss, Travahn...” Gareth says, quickly changing the subject.

“It’s alright. I just...”

Stepping closer, Gareth wraps his arms around the teenage boy and gives him a hug.

“It’s not alright. I know how much it hurts; I’ve felt loss too. You’re a good man; a far better one than me... The final battle is just over that horizon; I don’t want you to succumb to anger the way I did.” Gareth continues.

“So long as I have Naomi, I’ll be just fine.” Travahn replies.

“Aww!” Both Naomi and Sarvah gush.

“Sarvah saved me too.” Gareth grins.

“Oh, Gare!” Sarvah coos.

Releasing the boy, Gareth pats him on the shoulder and gives Naomi a hug as well. Saying their goodbyes, the two adults leave to continue their business; they have much to do if they are to win this war. Walking through the refugee camp, they approach their tent and slip inside. Sarvah sits on a bed, just big enough for her and Gareth. Sitting beside her, Gareth slips an arm around her waist and scoots as close as he possibly can.

“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong now?” He asks.

“I don’t want to lead the Feather Fingers anymore. I don’t even want there to be a tribe to try and con me into leading. They should just join Goldenrod so that I can have a quiet, peaceful life with you when this is all over.” She admits.

“Is that what you really want?”

“More than anything.” She answers, turning her blue eyes toward him.

Brushing strands of long white hair from her face, he strokes the gray fur of the she-wolf’s cheek. Leaning in, he kisses her lips very tenderly and hugs her. She squeezes him tightly, enjoying the warmth of his presence.

“If you want, I can spread some rumors for you. Maybe make it easier for us to walk away when this is all over...”

“You’d do that for me?!” She asks with a sniffle.

“I’d do anything for you! I love you, sweetheart!”

“Gare... I love you so much.” She grins. “Okay.” She nods her head. “Spread the rumors.”

After being away for a few days, Raven #1 returns to its cage at the refugee camp. Swooping in from the sky, it lands beside the cage which sits where Rinahra had left it, just outside of Claire’s now abandoned tent, sitting in front of Goldenrod’s walled village. Rinahra, who sits outside and examines Claire’s journals, places the bird back into its cage, but not before retrieving the note it carries. Reading the message, her eyes grow wide and she races to find the others. They must learn the news as soon as possible.

Sitting by a large campfire with all of their friends, the leader of the Feather Fingers and her lover cook a stew in a comically oversized cauldron. Emma, Kelly, Vahna, Naomi, Travahn, Steve and Madina all sit with Sarvah and Gareth.

“Hey there! Would you like some stew, Rin?” Emma asks.

“Sure!” She replies, gasping for breath.

“What’s wrong?” Madina asks.

“The raven came back! I have a note from Adelram!” She exclaims, holding up the parchment.

“May I?” Sarvah asks.

She passes Sarvah the note. Her lips curls into a delighted smile as her eyes scan the slip of paper.

“So, what did little brother have to say?” Emma asks.

“Oh, just that he wants Claire to slip away and return to him as soon as possible, and that he’s launching a full-scale invasion; they’re marching against Sightless Eye first.”

“Looks like we’d better make this lunch to-go.” Kelly quips.

After taking a day to reach Faye’s position, Balian and his men meet, and the two army groups fuse together. Marching in a somewhat disorganized fashion, the two leaders walk side by side. In only a few days’ time, they’ll be standing before the strongest of the members of the alliance, and this war will soon come to an end.

“So, what are your plans after all of this has ended? Find a good man and have a horde of children?” Balian asks Faye in a somewhat mocking tone.

“Hah! Hardly... Few men are even worthy of looking at me. To find one good enough to have sex with me would be a true feat.” She replies.

“Then what are your plans?”

“Who says I have any?” She retorts.

“This war won’t last forever.”

“Don’t remind me...” She grumbles.

“Typically, I love strong women.”

“You aren’t going to ask me out on a date, are you?” Faye chuckles.

“I’m being serious. Everyone needs some sort of peace, and if you can’t control your bloodlust after this is over, it’ll see you dead. Regardless of your power, you can’t fight the entire world, and I don’t want you to die.” He says with a surprising amount of warmth.

“Well... I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” She smirks.

Sarvah sits beside Gareth on their small bed; it isn’t nearly as comfortable as their old one, but the couple make do. Cuddling with each other, they share several impassioned kisses and nuzzle with their snouts.

“I wish we had more time.” Sarvah sighs.

“I know. We hardly have time to breath, let alone plan our strategies.”

“I wasn’t talking about that.” She winks.

“Oh... Well, that can come after.” He smirks. “Come on, sweetheart. We need to see Dahvor.”

Rising to their feet, Gareth takes Sarvah by the hand and leads her from the tent. Walking together through their camp, which now sits on the outskirts of Sightless Eye’s village, the couple prepares to meet Dahvor, the tigeresque Sahvorai man who leads them. It’s time for them to prepare a battle strategy. As they walk, Emma and Rinahra, along with a crowd of Feather Fingers, suddenly confront Sarvah and Gareth.

“What’s this horrible rumor I’ve heard spreading throughout the camp for the past few days? You don’t want to lead anymore? You want us to join Goldenrod instead?” Emma asks.

“Is it true?!” Rinahra looks devastated.

“... It is.” Sarvah nods.

The crowd jabbers behind the secondary leaders. Emma turns and holds up a hand to silence them.

“I’m sick and tired of all of this; I enjoyed being in charge before, but it’s lost its luster. I just want to be like everyone else.” Sarvah continues.

“But you can be! Once this is all over, life will return to normal!” Rinahra pleads.

“She’s right. Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, I’m not even half the leader you are. You just can’t walk away.” Emma interjects.

“I can do what I want, and I just want to have a life and family with my future husband.” Sarvah replies as she looks to Gareth who stands be her side.

“Then why don’t you?” Emma asks, as though confused.

“I didn’t think Red Claw was still welcome.” Sarvah retorts.

“Red Claw? Who’s Red Claw? I only see Gareth.” Emma says with a smile.

Sarvah lowers her head, her lips curling into a pleased grin. Turning her eyes toward her lover, Gareth shrugs his shoulders.

“There’s no convincing you, is there?” Sarvah asks the group.

The cacophony as everyone replies ‘no’ is startling.

“Fine... Why don’t you two join me? You can watch how stressful it is to lead you children.” Sarvah quips.

“Please teach us, mother.” Emma teases before following along.

After a couple of days of marching, Faye, Balian and their combined forces stand on the outskirts of the Sightless Eye’s village. As they suspected, it appears ripe for the taking. Marching forward with a massive force of nearly one thousand men, the enemy soldiers that stand atop watchtowers of the walled village blow horns to warn the occupants within. Scrambling to man their defenses, Faye can’t help but laugh at the pitiful sight.

“Balian...”

“Yes, Harbinger?”

“Lead the attack.”

“Shouldn’t we offer them the chance to surrender?” Balian asks with a raised brow.

“If we’re going to end the war, I’d better get all of the killing out of my system. Besides, for every life we take, I’m sure the men will be more than happy to replace them with the aid of the women we capture.” Faye smirks.

“Understood.” Balian nods.

Marching forward with over three-quarters of their forces, Faye stays behind with only a small detachment, eager to watch the show. Adelram’s warriors draw their swords and ready their spears. Archers line the tops of the walls, armed and ready. The front gate is sealed tighter than a drum. As Faye watches with a collapsible monoscope, she notices something amiss. A man who appears to be near the rear of the Sightless Eye village waves a red flag, his back turned to the army that bears down on them.

“Charge!” Balian orders.

His men rush toward the gate, firing arrows and holding up shields to protect them. The defending archers unleash volley after volley as they move closer to the wall. Faye’s eyes grow wide with horror. From behind their targeted village, a wave of bodies flows around it, like a river around a boulder. At a glance she can see many banners: Crooked Trees, Iron Lion, Orange Veil, and even Goldenrod and Feather Finger. The force is nearly double the size of Faye’s entire army; the alliance has clearly been busy.

Surrounding Adelram’s men, who break in confusion, they struggle with a fight on all sides but one. Some of Adelram’s men begin to retreat, leading them right back to Faye’s position.

“What should we do, Harbinger?!” A captain asks with fear in his voice.

“What kind of stupid question is that?! We fight!”

“But we’ll all die!” The captain exclaims.

Glaring at him with fire in her eyes, the captain falls silent. Leading her detachment, Faye quickly reinforces the men. As the warriors scream and their bodies clash together in a confusing mass of flesh, fur, sweat and blood, she notices something peculiar; a swath of her men are slashed by a whip-like, cobalt blue aura. Cyan and purple bolts of light streak across the air and into more men, and even a crimson red aura seems to lob rocks upon her soldiers. Recognizing each color, she knows now that whatever information that Adelram was given was most likely false.

If he’d known that Gareth and Sarvah had survived, and that the Feather Fingers and Goldenrod were still a threat, he wouldn’t have ordered such a foolish assault. Or would he? His potential incompetence makes Faye seethe with anger. Up until a moment ago she would have gladly bent over a table for the king, allowing him to be the first to ever enjoy her body. Now, however, she would like to kill him herself. Her men smash into a thin line of soldiers who now wrap around the rear flank of Balian’s troops.

She struggles to fight her way through, eagerly burning and throwing the poor souls who stand in her way as she forces herself into the fray. Balian is now the only person she can trust, and she must find him or die trying. Nearly reaching the center of the skirmish, she stops when she sees Kelly squaring off with Balian. Balian skillfully throws a spear that would easily have struck Kelly in the face, but he raises an arm and activates his aura shield. The spear breaks against the translucent blue barrier.

With shock upon his face, Balian sees Kelly as his cheap looking blade, the katana machete that Gareth had bought him years earlier as a Christmas gift, is swiftly covered in the gleaming blue light that imitates the curve of the blade. Balian raises his sword and slashes, but Kelly blocks him with his aura shield. Pushing his arm and leaning in with his bulk, the surprisingly strong Kelly forces Balian back. Stumbling, he holds up his sword. As if to taunt him, Kelly swings his sling-blade to the left and then right, cutting Balian’s blade into three pieces.

Without his sword, Balian throws the stubby blade and handle at Kelly, who blocks it. Raising his shield, he charges Kelly. Their shields slam together. Repeating the charge, Kelly tilts his arm and upon a second strike, Balian’s shield slides over Kelly’s and he stumbles and falls. Raising his arm to protect himself, Kelly cleaves through the shield and severs his arm. Rising from the ground and suffering from shock, Balian tries once again to fight back. He draws a dagger with his only remaining hand.

Kelly twirls his blade, chopping off Balian’s other hand at the wrist before swing from left to right and decapitating him. It’s a startlingly swift battle.

“KELLY!” Faye screams in a rage.

Turning to the sound of her voice, Kelly’s eyes bulge out of his head. He barely has the time to bring his shield up to protect him from the scorching orange aura that tries to burn him to ashes. He kneels down to protect his legs as she holds the flaming aura on him. Kelly feels his powers growing weaker. Faye is amazed that Kelly has lasted so long; he’s stronger than she remembers. A purple holy bolt wizzes by, just over her arms and in front of her nose. It grazes her right arm, which is raised slightly higher than her left. Her aura flamethrower ceases and she turns toward her attacker.

“Fuck, I missed!” A stumbling Gareth growls, having tripped over a fallen warrior.

Faye raises a hand to burn him as Sarvah helps Gareth steady himself. Taking aim with Vetra, a purple holy bolt flies from the golden barrel of the modified Glock pistol, though he barely has time to take proper aim. The round blasts through Faye’s right side, missing all vital organs and gouging out a small chunk of her flesh. Before she can collapse from the pain, she is slammed by a powerful tackle. Faye flies back several feet as Kelly charges into her with his shield still held before him.

Lying in the dirt, she quickly rolls backward as he hacks into the ground with his sling-blade. Faye kicks his forearm and he drops the host weapon. He brings up his shield, only to be blasted back by the force of an aura push. Landing in the dirt knocks the wind out of him, but Kelly is otherwise unharmed. As the soldiers of the ECTO alliance crush Adelram’s army, Faye realizes that she has little choice. As Gareth and Sarvah shoot holy bolts at her, she swerves around her own men, who unknowingly shield her; they die by the dozen as she makes her escape.

“Retreat!” Faye shouts to her men as she reaches the rear. “Fall back, now!”

Faye trembles as she scrambles up a hill, panicking for the first time in years. She’s never been so scared in her life. Reaching her camp as a few hundred of her warriors join her, they are pursued by ECTO’s army. Not waiting for her own men, she keeps running, shouting back her orders.

“Return to the capitol! Return to Adelram!”

Seeing their Harbinger abandon them so easily, many lose heart. With their morale at its lowest point, some of them attempt to surrender. In a rage, and knowing what they’ve done, nearly fifty of Adelram’s men are swiftly executed by their horde of pursuers. It isn’t until Gareth and Sarvah reach them that the carnage stops. As Faye and nearly four hundred of her remaining men flee back to their master, the alliance claims nearly one hundred prisoners, dragging them back to the Sightless Eye’s village.

As they walk back, Gareth sees a group of cages on the back of a horse-drawn cart. He pauses and looks at Adelram’s little messengers.

“What is it, my love?” Sarvah asks.

“Let’s see if we can find some ink.” He replies.

Waiting for word of their victory, a raven eventually swoops down from the sky. Taking the slip of paper, the guard doesn’t even bother to read it as he races to give Adelram the note. Knocking politely, Adelram invites the guard into the study, where he spends most of his waking time. Sitting with only his wife, Padina, by his side, Adelram sets down a book and reaches out a hand.

“Word of our victory?” He asks, taking the parchment.

“I did not read it, my Lord.” The guard bows.

He turns and leaves before Adelram can open the letter, eager to return to his duties. Opening the thicker than average roll, Adelram is instead left only with this...

“Dear Bastard,

I have taken it upon myself to destroy your little kingdom and shit on your dreams of utopia. Your last note was a ruse, as I discovered the spy. I’m happy to inform you that your half-sister, Claire, is dead; she’s been gone for nearly a week. Faye and a handful of beaten warriors are fleeing home like the dogs they are and the alliance is stronger than ever. Please come back so we can kill the rest of you and be done with it.

Yours truly, Red Claw.”

Thrown into a rage, Adelram rises to his feet and shouts. A startled Padina jumps, dropping her book. Storming toward the door, Adelram stops, grabs a chair by the backrest, and begins slamming it down onto a table to vent his anger. Padina looks down at the note and takes it. Her blue eyes read the terrible message, a clawed hand covering her snout in shock. Grabbing the door, he pulls it open and barks at the guards standing outside, who look curiously toward the room.

“Fetch every captain you can find and bring them here!”

“Yes, my Lord!” They chirp, quickly darting off.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Faye? She’s retuning with more men.” Padina suggests.

“Fuck her. She can’t handle this, so I must.” Adelram growls.

“Is that really such a good idea? Shouldn’t we regroup and protect the power we have?” She pleads.

“Our children will rule this world and make our utopia, or we’ll die trying.” He growls.

Standing there in horror as Adelram effectively throws their army away, Padina considers leaving him. As much as she desires power, she doesn’t want to die for it. With only one pleasant option left, she appeals to her husband. Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezes him tightly. At least as strong as her mate, she uses it as a subtle cue; While simultaneously comforting him, Adelram knows that he couldn’t fight the Sahvorai. He glances back at her. She leans in and kisses him lovingly.

“Please, my love. Just be patient. When Faye returns, we can regroup and finish this. Don’t throw away all that you have. I love you too much to lose you.” She coos.

“Aww.” He turns around and strokes her cheek, before kissing her. “I love you too... Alright. I’ll be good.” He hugs her tightly. “Thanks for being here for me.”

“Where else would I be?”