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[center][b][i]THE SCRIPTURES OF ODDCLAW[/b][/i][/center]

[center][b]Eighteen-and-One: The Final Anomaly[/b][/center]

[center][i]"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."[/i][/center]

[center][i]Ralph Waldo Emerson[/i][/center]

[i]"What's even inside that cave?"[/i] Radium muttered to himself. [i]"All those beasts lurking around, they have to be guarding something."[/i]

Two days had passed since Oddclaw's departure from the Hunters' Nest, the ultraraptor having tracked them over the plains and camped near the edge of the deadbeasts' territory. His black and toxic green scales blended in with the long grass, clicking his teeth to sense with his sonar every beast in the undergrowth that passed him by in skittish flight, rodents and dragonflies of equal size fading past as he waited. His eyes kept tempered towards the cliff of the sea, southwest of the Skylands where shadows loomed across its face and towered over the plains from the great pteranodons above. The clouds had partly cleared but not enough for the sun to shine through as he kept his nostrils flared to catch every scent, the monstrous undead lurking past his view as he kept deadly silent, a sphinx within the desert. His hearing strained to listen over the waves and the call of wretched beasts, rasping shrieks that filled the air with unnatural cries as he straightened his body and focused his senses all towards the sea. Then he heard voices, a human language as he snuck closer towards the cliif whilst skirting round the skeletal fiends.

"So that's it?" Kruz asked stepping out of the cave.

"Yes," Chanoch nodded carrying James in his arms, "you do not have to come back with us-"

"No no, we'll come, might need a witness testimony or something."

"Hmm." He looked down towards the now-sleeping lemming. "I am sorry for the trouble he caused-"

"Do not carry hiszh burden," Fayne waved a finger, "he can teszhtify on hiszh own behalf."

"Y-...yes."

"Fayne can I talk with you for a moment?"

The kremling motioned him to a discreet corner of the cave entrance. Chanoch kept walking to where the pebbled beach met the wash, feeling the soak of the sea at his feet.

"What should we do with this?" Oddclaw asked holding the weapon in cloth.

"Baldwin said to get rid of it yes?" said Chanoch at the shore's edge.

"But why?" He lifted it in both hands. "This is James' weapon."

"Because...yes," the knight looked up towards the fading sky, "something changed in him, when we found the other piece, in the Firesea."

"Wait, the Firesea?"

"James found the other handle, he said a dream led him to it...he became more angry, obsessed with dreams more than he was before that."

"...Firesea." The raptor blinked staring at the weapon's handles. "I put something in the Firesea once, thinking it would...no, I do not know now, you are sure he found it there?"

"Yes," Chanoch dug his heel in the dirt, "it did not melt in the lava, maybe it is cursed."

"Hmmm...where do we put it then?"

"If we cannot destroy it, put it somewhere no life can reach."

"No...life...can-OH!" Oddclaw gasped suddenly turning north. "The Death Nest!"

"What?"

"There is nothing there, Moonclaw's tribe used to live there, but all of them died when the mountain broke! Nothing lives there now!"

"That is terrible," Jarogniew shifted his grip on James, "how did she survive?"

"She...sh-she was very lucky, she got out before they...were trapped."

"Mmmm. But, you say nothing lives there?"

"No," Oddclaw shook his head as the weapon rustled, "everything is dead there, there are many deep places to hide this."

"Good, we shall drop it there on our way back."

The party of five were soon met by a ship from the sky, the Ducky landing gently on the shore whilst Radium peeked from the cliffs above flicking his tail back and forth.

[i]"That's an odd weapon,"[/i] he clicked his teeth quiet, [i]"why do they need to hide it in this...death nest they call it?"[/i]

The raptor sunk into the grass as the ship lifted in the air, watcihing it skirt round the mountain to head straight back northeast whilst he himself headed back west to the Land Before. A day and a half of steady pacing through hills of marshy water and the occasional hunt beneath dim skies brought him back to the cave of the Greatbeast's Spine.

[i]"AH, Radium!"[/i] the red raptor guard stiffened in a saluting bark. [i]"Are you alright?"[/i]

[i]"Yep,"[/i] he sat himself down on a rock, [i]"found some interesting stuff out there, you heard about this Oddclaw?"[/i]

[i]"I...Riptor mentions him sometimes yeah."[/i]

[i]"He stands like a human. Talks like one too to other humans, it's...it's weird."[/i]

[i]"The ones from the base?"[/i] The guard licked his lips looking east. [i]"Are they planning something?"[/i]

[i]"No, no but...I need to talk to her, there's something up definitely, I saw him leave the cave with others whilst carrying...something wrapped in cloth they said was dangerous and couldn't be melted in the Firesea?"[/i]

[i]"What, like metal?"[/i]

[i]"My sonar showed it was some kind of blade with two handles,"[/i] the vibrant-jade raptor tapped his toes, [i]"why would he worry about that when he has claws?"[/i]

[i]"Wait, you said the Firesea?"[/i] The guard crimson twitched his tail. [i]"Did...I think, yeah Sulphide said he got something from there, some kinda blade that wouldn't melt."[/i]

[i]"What?!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah I was on raft duty with him, he showed me it, weird thing, smelt like the lava but not even burnt!"[/i]

[i]"...well, in that case I DEFINITELY need to tell Riptor, I just need to rest up and then head back to the raft so keep on guard."[/i]

[i]"Yes Radium."[/i]

Heading down into the cavern depths, the raptor noted extra pockets of air and holes where light had been allowed to slant through from the world outside forming a series of brighter halls that the ultraraptors sculpted with their tails and chemical breaths, filing down the sharpened points and forming a smooth unnatural tunnel where other raptors barked and shrieked to each other in training fights. The further he went inside the more the sunlight faded, until it was replaced by torches of eternal flame in small hollowed vats of burning acid that cracked and fumed with a reaction that painted the walls in eerie splendour, pastels of Chernobyl green and scorching blue mixed with bitumin bronze and caustic gold.

[i]"HRRAAAARGH!"[/i]

[i]"WHUP TOO SLOW!"[/i]

[i]"KYAARGH!"[/i]

[i]"Come on are you a raptor or a rodent, HIT ME!"[/i]

Two ultraraptors faced each other in the caverns, a large room cleared out with lamps of chemical flickers sending sharp violent rainbows across the roof whilst the others looked on at the fight. One was a sleek azure beast who parried her opponent's strikes with her tail, snapcracking the steel links against a bone-white raptor that lashed with his claws and tried to break her guard to the sounds of striking metal.

[i]"Stop coming at me from the front, use your body, use the world AROUND YOU!"[/i]

[i]"HNNNGH!"[/i]

She struck him fast after deflecting a leaping strike, thwacking him in the stomach with her long-reaching tail like a whip that sent him rolling across the cave dirt as the raptors whooped and jeered at his stumbling. The pale raptor pushed himself up and came charging with a low sweep beneath her tail, kicking out her legs and clamping his jaws on her throat in vengeance, but she threw her whole weight against him before he could pin her and twisted his neck uncomfortably to the point he was forced to release until lthey both stood up again. Lashing his tail for her face she ducked and lunged to slam her body against his and rake her claws against his neck, almost grabbing him to twist him downwards before he kicked his legs out to shove her away. In a lunging strike he leapt for her as the blue raptor jumped off the wall and struck hard in a flying kick that walloped her opponent down with a heavy slam, stunning his head with a groan as the crowd cheered whilst smacking their tails like applause.

[i]"Excellent,"[/i] Radium clapped by clicking his steel links, [i]"still knocking heads Vanadyl?"[/i]

[i]"You know it boss,"[/i] she helped her opponent up, [i]"howsit going out there?"[/i]

[i]"Good, I just have reports for Riptor, but I need to rest before heading out on the raft."[/i]

[i]"Cool."[/i] The sharp sapphire beast slinked up beside him. [i]"Nothing coming at us?"[/i]

[i]"No it's all quiet,"[/i] he shook his head gleaming emerald in the light, [i]"Oddclaw's tribe are interesting, they all seem to work well together, they even talk with the humans like old friends and also other odd...reptiles I did not recognise."[/i]

[i]"Humans huh...Riptor won't like that."[/i]

[i]"No."[/i] He walked into the depths with her. [i]"She seems rather uh...too eager to know about him."[/i]

[i]"Oh that wasn't just me?"[/i] They stepped to the side rooms where raptors slept. [i]"I thought it was weird, but is he a threat?"[/i]

[i]"He doesn't know about us,"[/i] Radium curled up in a corner, [i]"he's just doing his own thing, whatever it is but I still need to tell Riptor."[/i]

[i]"So we just keep watch on this place?"[/i]

[i]"Pretty much, keep a low profile and in the cave, put more on fishing watch so we leave less presence out on the marshes."[/i]

[i]"Yes Radium."[/i] She clicked her heels against the floor. [i]"What about the feathered raptors in the forest, should we engage with them?"[/i]

[i]"No, only if they find the entrance to this cave, then you kill any who come near and dispose of the bodies."[/i]

[i]"Understood."[/i]

Settling down to take his rest, the jade-and-black raptor went to sleep beneath the light of flames flickering from the central rooms. Night and day passed above his head, the cavernous depths filled with the scent of raptor musk and vague chemical concoctions.

"Good morning."

James woke up beside Chanoch in their bed.

"Sleep well?"

"...I...I am not sure." The lemming shook his head sitting up. "Did...did everything happen last night?"

"Yes." The knight rolled beside him. "You were tired, I carried you back from Lea Monde and we called the ship."

"...so it did happen." He clutched his face. "I...I really did become mad with-"

"I am sorry." Chanoch took his hand and kissed it. "You have...you have done things I know now. You will have to tell the others."

"Who knows?"

"Oddclaw and I."

"...of course," James slumped against the pillow, "I attacked him yes?"

"He is not angry with you." Jarogniew pulled both his hands into his. "He understands you were not well-"

"No. No that is no excuse." He pulled himself away and turned his back. "I...I-i almost killed you-"

"But you stopped yourself." His hand came upon James' shoulder. "Whatever...possessed you, you managed to fight it."

"Not enough. Not enough to save my master...not enough to stop...me from unravelling."

"You are here now. That is what matters to me."

"What...what will happen now?" James turned back to him. "What will they do to me here, when they know I brought the city after I...killed...oh, t-talisman's grace Andrea will never forgive me."

"You must speak your truth," said Chanoch staring him down, "I will help you, I cannot defend your actions, but I will stand with you, just as you did for me in court."

"I...I-i don't deserve tha-"

"James." He pressed his lips to his. "I will not abandon you."

"...th-thank you."

They hugged each other tight and rested for a few minutes more, savouring the peace and solitude before the coming storm that would approach. On the other side of the base, Kruz and Fayne sat in the library with Oddclaw in the beanchairs, taking some time to read through recommended books as Anna sipped her coffee.

"So you got pirates in your world too?" asked the kremling.

"Indeed," said Kerkorian, "rather romanticised about in the 18th century but many people were attracted to the life of freedom on the seas, with even quite a few of them less bigoted than societies at the time."

"Becauszhe they szhared an identity of being outcaszht?" replied Fayne.

"Yes, actually!"

"That makes sense," Kruz smacked his tongue, "damn this Long John Silver guy's too real for me."

"Hahaha, how so?"

"Ohhh, I used to be on a ship with people like that."

"Really?" Oddclaw leaned over. "You used to be a pirate?"

"Well...yeah, yanno what yeah I used to be a pirate."

"Oh my goodness!" Anna put down her coffee and scooted forwards. "What was it like, I must admit I've never met a pirate before because you certainly don't look it."

"Even without the armour?" Kruz gestured to his undershirt and pants. "Hope you don't mind I dressed down during downtime."

"Not at all, but what about your gauntlet?"

"Oh this I can't take off," he waggled his left hand's gold-painted fingers, "lost my hand during my corsair days, I got this baby when I changed to paladin."

"Oh no what happened?" Oddclaw asked putting his book aside.

"Was working on the ropes, I used to do rigging on the ships, for the sails and such, one wrapped round my hand in a storm and POP it went."

"Oh, that sounds very painful!"

"Hahah, nothing gets past you huh."

"I admit," Fayne stroked his bearded chin, "I do not remember much of your dayszh in the navy."

"What is this an interview, alright, well," Kruz leaned back in his seat, "I was raised in a colony of other kremlings, we all were taught underneath a captain who was also our king."

"Ahhh Libertalia," Anna mused tapping her wrinkled fingers, "well, not quite, it seems rather odd to have a pirate king when the entire point was to be anti-monarchy-"

"Well, I never said our colony was perfect, it just was a home for us. I lived a good life, I worked in the theatre on the island, did ballet for years to entertain the troops with shows and whatnot?"

"Oh you're an actor too?!"

"Yep and a singer to boot."

"Pleaszhe do not aszhk him to szhing," Fayne leaned forwards.

"What I thought you liked my singing!" Kruz nudged him.

"I do but then you forszhe me into a round and I am hardly capable."

"I cannot sing either," Oddclaw shook his head, "it is fine."

"I bet you can dance though," the paladin smirked at him, "you ever danced?"

"OH, yes I have, when I come here and it is Krismuss."

"He's quite the devil on the dancefloor," said Kerkorian patting his chest, "were I about twenty years younger I would have spun you out."

"Hey now age doesn't matter," Kruz waved his finger, "I'm sixty-one and I can still kick it with the best."

"Really you don't look a day over forty!"

"KHAH, hahahaha, awww thank you my dear," Kruz bowed.

"What's your secret, I have to know."

"Scales." He rubbed his cheek. "Croc don't crack, s'what we used to say on my island."

"You have aged with tremendouszh graszhe my dear," Fayne clutched his arm with a tender squeeze, "more than I did."

"Oh come on babe don't say that, your beard's done wonders for that."

"Do NOT bring up the beard!"

"I'm just saying it looks good on you!" Kruz plucked at the beard. "Got a real dignified look on ya handsome."

"W-well...thank you," the bishop blushed twisting hairs between his fingers.

"So why did you leave the life of a corsair?" asked Anna stroking her chin.

"Well..." Kruz looked up, "I searched for my soul, but my soul was no longer mine. I searched for my god, only to find he abandoned me. But then I searched for my brother...and I found all three."

He put a hand upon Fayne's shoulder.

"I lost the only family I ever knew through hate and madness...and through a small twist of fate I ended up on Fayne's home shores and well...I never want to leave again."

"K-kruzh," Fayne choked up, "that...th-that iszh beautiful."

"Well it's true, so anyways," the kremling slapped his back, "I got a question for you Odd."

"Yes?" the raptor asked.

"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" He stood up with him. "We have enough room here, lemme show you a waltz."

"OH, yes!" He bounced on his feet. "I would love to, Jeremy taught me how to dance!"

"Khah, alright then I'll lead."

Fayne stuttered rolling his eyes as he watched his husband dance with the raptor, dressed in blue shorts as the crocodilian took three steps with him across the length of the room with hands clasped tight, then turning back in another three steps close to each other, bracing their chests to feel the other's heartbeat as Kruz pulled him closer. Anna looked on humming a little song to herself in time to the music invisible, Fayne tapping his fingers also to a beat unconscious.

"Szho tell me," he asked the librarian, "why would a librarian be accompanying a group involved with military reszhearch?"

"Oh that's my second job," said Kerkorian, "my real job is legal, I make sure everything runs in accordance to the laws of our world."

"Ahhh you are a Judge!" he clapped his hands. "Forgive me your honour I did not know!"

"Oh don't please, if I'm not wearing the wig it's casual time, also I am a chief legal officer, not a judge."

"Underszhtood." Fayne nodded. "Would that deign you the moszht powerful poszhitor of the group?"

"Not quite, I hold joint power with Major-General Brightman and Dr. Dixon, they are the leaders of the base."

"But you hold them accountable correct?"

"Yes," she pursed her lips as Oddclaw twirled Kruz in his hands, "what about you, what are your duties in the church?"

"Well," Fayne cleared his throat seeing Kruz dip the raptor in mid-spin, "I am a biszhop of Lea Monde and patriarch of the Brunhart Orphanarium in Breekheim."

"And what does that entail?"

"That I adjudicate fundszh from the Kildean faith to the orphanage, in return they acszhept my role aszh a teacher to the children on matterszh ecumenical. I educate them on the Light of Kiltia, along with white magic and itszh efficaszhy in the modern world."

"Sounds quite a fulfilling task," she clasped her hands smiling, "what is this light of Kiltia then when it's at home?"

"The prophet Kiltia came to our land of Ivalishe nearly two-thouszhand yearszh ago," Fayne took up his staff to place across his legs, "a pantheon of godszh led by Faram the Father of Light, szhpoke to Kiltia upon a mountain and szho szhpread the messzhage of faith to the people."

"And what messages are in that faith?" asked Anna sitting up proper.

"To reszhpect the land of Ivaliszhe," Fayne looked to his husband lifting Oddclaw in a graceful jambe, "to reszhpect other folk who live their liveszh and to reszhpect life aszh greatly aszh one would reszhpect death."

"Do these different gods manage different parts of Ivalice?"

"There iszh the totema, each one of which represzhent a different raszhe within Ivaliszhe. My raszhe, the Bangaa, have the totema of Adrammelech the Wroth."

"I see." She smiled at the kremling spinning Oddclaw fast and whipping him out at arm's length. "We have quite a few religions at home, I'm a Christian myself, we also have Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Chanoch follows Judaism he would love to talk with you about it."

"Oh really?" Fayne clasped his hands to his snout. "Multiple faithszh, how faszhinating! I do love to shzpeak on matterszh of theology, perhapszh when it iszh a good time I szhall aszhk him."

"Aaaaand done." Kruz stepped back with a bow. "That was pretty good!"

"Thank you," Oddclaw bowed in turn, "you are a good dancer!"

"Well, he was my first love." His eyes roved over the raptor's body.

"He?"

"UH-ahem-HEM, I mean IT was my first love, right."

He gave a look apologetic to Fayne who rolled his eyes and puffed his cheeks.

"Don't worry," Kerkorian leaned over to him, "you can always use this as ammo against him if he gets in an argument with you."

"Very true," he nodded curtly, "of which they are thankfully rare."

"Well that's good."

"Now I only wiszh I could read thiszh," he looked down to his book on children's bible stories, "I managed to comprehend the lore but the depth of which hath eluded me."

"You're not the only one dear," she smirked as the kremling sat down next to Fayne.

"So, what's gonna happen to that James guy?" asked Kruz.

"We will have to hold him to account for what he did, interfering with our experiment is basically a federal crime since we are technically a branch of the US Government by means of NASA."

"Wait, government? You guys work for magisters or something?"

"Not quite, it's legally complicated which is why I am here, our base is essentially an independent study group funded by both NASA and the European Space Agency as a clandestine operation, propped by the US Government due to previous incidents related."

"That sounds difficult," Oddclaw sat down in a flump, "will James be alright though?"

"I don't know dear, I mean I don't know everything he's done and I stress you must not tell me before his trial for sake of fairness."

"But, you already knew about him bringing Lea Monde here-"

"Because we found that ourselves, that was an independent discovery dear. Anything else he would have to tell us."

"If you require a member of the church," Fayne held up his hand, "I am well-verszhed within canon law and can be an acting attorney."

"I appreciate the offer sir Underwood," Anna bowed, "but we will not require such a witness for our examination."

"Underszhtood, but my offer remainszh szhould it be needed. Now Kruzh, can you narrate thiszh tale for me?"

"Oh gods you really gonna make me, alright."

Kruz leaned over beside him and started narrating the tale of Noah's Ark, Oddclaw returning to his own book with Anna doing the same.

"I killed Haytham Durai." James clasped his hands on the conference table. "I...I fought him in my village, at the house of my chieftain where I told him of my plan to bring the city of Lea Monde to this world by using a Linking Book and my Kinetlatives to siphon energy from the gravity well. I was...possessed by something, some incorrigible fervour had gripped me in a state of obsession but I know that is no excuse. I killed him. I killed my master, he tried to stop me, knowing that I would risk something terrible, he tried to warn me all those times but I refused. I cannot ask for your forgiveness. I can only beg for mercy."

Soon the trial would begin, or rather an interrogation as Thomas, Anna, Jane and Andrea sat on one side of the conference table, with Chanoch, Oddclaw and James sitting opposite as the green glow of the map lit up their faces. The lemming was out of his armour and back to his old cloak, a ragged thing that hung round his body like a curtain in the old mansion. It was only then that Oddclaw realised how old the humans looked, the light fluorescent from the table showing their wrinkles much greater than before as three haggard faces around their 60s, with one almost at 80.

"This is very serious," began the major-general, "despite it not happening on our base, you realise we don't tolerate those who kill civilians as part of our rules."

"I know," the sorcerer nodded, "I am only here to plead my case, and to throw myself at your mercy."

"How was he killed?" Anna clasped her fingers.

"I...we fought, and then I stabbed him."

"Did you offer to help him, give medical treatment? I must remind you that you are under oath in accordance to our rules."

"I did not." He shook his head. "I ran, and came here to escape the guards after chief Arino demanded I be taken in."

"So you're a fugitive too?" Thomas crossed his arms. "And this was-"

"Last year, when I first came without sir Durai."

"So you knowingly lied to us," Jane tapped her head, "you lied to us, and took advantage of your status here to essentially infiltrate us."

"That...that is correct."

"Alright. Well, does the defence have anything to say?"

"Yes." Chanoch bowed. "James has been different, ever since he had that relic from the Firesea. The next few years, he was...angrier, more obsessed, easier to incite and he...he spoke of dreams that told him, guided him with commands."

"When we went to Lea Monde," Oddclaw clenched his fists, "he smelt different. Something was wrong with him, his face, his scent, his voice was all wrong and nothing like him."

"I wish to plead insanity," said the knight, "I know you cannot forgive him, but I beg you for mercy, to consider he was not himself during his actions."

"Normally," Kerkorian tapped her cheek, "insanity plea is not really much better than anything else, and if this were the case we would have him in an institution for a certain number of years, without leave. As we are but a small base geared towards research, we do not possess much facilities for incarceration."

"That," Thomas added, "along with the fact your act of killing happened outside of our jurisdiction, means we cannot essentially prosecute you for murder, but we can for active interference of government-authored research, which comes down to me and also Dr. Dixon as the head chiefs of our operation."

"So that is your defence?" asked Anna clarifying. "You plead insanity on behalf of James?"

"Yes," the lizardman nodded, "James has admitted his body committed the crimes, but his mind is different."

"It was different," Oddclaw said leaning forwards, "James was different, it was not him I fought but something in his body."

"Andrea?" Jane looked towards her. "Is there anything you'd like to add?"

The doctor kept silent throughout the whole interrogation. Her hands were clenched, and even without Oddclaw's senses they all felt her fury with tensing knuckles turning white-hot to almost shake. She stood up, walked towards James around the other side of the table, and struck him with a single fist to his face knocking him off his chair.

"A-ANDREA!"

"GUHH!"

James crumpled covering his face as Chanoch stood up to grab her, the scientist throwing him back with a hard shove of his arm as she walked forth to stand above him. Her face was frought with tears as her body shook with piercing anger.

"I knew something was wrong...the third time you came back without him. You were dirtier, you walked...you looked exhausted and you kept avoiding me. I've seen that kind of look before, I know what guilt looks like. When I heard what you had done to the gravity well I was almost relieved thinking 'that must be why he looks so guilty, knowing what he's about to do to me'. But no. You've made it worse."

"Andrea," Jane stood up with her hands out, "don't, please, let's be civil-"

"[i]FUCK, YOUR CIVIL BULLSHIT![/i]" she screeched before pinching her nose. "I...have no time, for your fucking group-hug therapy shit Jane. This...little fucking CREEP, this WORM KILLED THE MAN I LOVED, OVER A STUPID [i]FUCKING BOOK![/i] I don't care what you all think, because I'll tell you one thing."

She grabbed the lemming's chest and pulled him up with a snarl of gritted teeth.

"I didn't come to this meeting with my gun. Because I knew that if I did...[i]I would have fucking shot you in the head and dumped your worthless body in the ocean.[/i]"

His face twisted up with a fearful shame as she threw him back down, stepping away with a shudder through her body as her fists continued to shake.

"I'm making an executive call, as head of this base and chief physicist. You said you were a fugitive back home, right?"

"Y-yes," he muttered.

"Then you're not welcome here. Not here, not anywhere in this world, you are going straight back where you came, and whatever punishment they put on you, that's what you deserve."

"What?!" Oddclaw gasped standing beside her. "Are you...but, can you do that?"

"Doctor please," Chanoch shuffled close, "please, I...I know he has done a great crime-"

"If I was in your home," she turned to Chanoch, "and I killed him, your lover, what would you have done?"

"I...I-i-"

"You would kill me. Don't lie, I know what you'd do, and you'd be right to, your home, your rules so DON'T fucking talk to me about mercy and punishment when I am trying SO HARD not to fucking strangle this little bitch for killing...H-haytham..."

She broke down fully as she stuttered, biting her fist until she almost drew blood on her teeth with muffled sobs with Thomas and Anna shaking their heads. They said nothing until she stopped, Oddclaw trying to console her but she pushed him back in a frenzied shout as James crawled on his back away from her in growing fear.

"I am banishing you from not only this base, but this entire world, and IF I find your fucking vermin ass hiding out somewhere here then I will hunt you down and kill you myself."

"Andrea that's enough!" Thomas barked.

"THE HELL IT AIN'T, THIS IS [i]MY BASE AS WELL, I HAVE AUTHORITY, AND THIS LITTLE BITCH IS NOT COMING HERE EVER AGAIN![/i]"

"I understand," Anna stood up with a breath, "but this is a trial, we are here to-"

"Then I move to banish him and that's final. Not only do we banish him, but he goes BACK to his home, and he faces whatever punishment they enforce. He killed his master, he's a murderer and if you both give a damn about justice you'll agree with me that he should face the laws of his own people! All he did here was fuck with my experiment, but I can fix it thanks to sir Baldwin giving me a heads-up, so that's reversible, but killing his master, the man I loved, the man who FUCKING UNDERSTOOD ME, WHO MADE ME FEEL LIKE A [i]GODDAMN PRINCESS[/i], AND RESPECTED ME FOR WHO I WAS, THAT SHIT'S NEVER GOING AWAY!"

"I know, I know this is difficult-"

"YOU FUCKING KNOW IT IS SO DON'T YOU GIVE ME ANY 'BETTER THAN THIS' SHIT! I know I don't have the authority to kill him, so don't fucking make me test that, you know damn well that you can't prosecute me, what are you gonna do, hold me to trial when we get back?!"

"If I have to yes."

"Fine." She cracked her knuckles. "Then banish him back home so he faces punishment, or I'm taking a gun from one of you and he dies right here cuz either way he's not staying here."

They contemplated this motion, Chanoch lifting James up onto his feet whilst Jane and Oddclaw stood nervous to the side. The major-general muttered with his legal counsel as she explained various codices that they briefly heard but largely were too focused on Andrea in case she went after James again.

"I am sorry," said the knight to his love, "I...I tried-"

"No." He took his hand with a kiss. "I knew this was coming, that I could not stay here after this."

"I knew it was not you," Oddclaw sighed, "I knew that...you were not-"

"It was my body that took his life. Whether my mind was there or not, I must take responsibility."

"Damn right you will." Dixon crossed her arms. "Whether your body or your soul leaves this place, I don't give a fuck what happens to you."

"I...that is fair. I deserve that at least."

James felt Chanoch hold him tight, kissing his hair and nuzzling his cheek with a soft breath before Anna and Thomas stood up from the table.

"We have decided," said Kerkorian.

"Considering how severe your crime is," said Brightman, "we cannot have you stay here, we would only have you in a prison cell, for who knows how long until we return home, and we can't take you back with us to serve the rest of your sentence."

"We also agree, albeit reluctantly, that you must be punished by your peers more than we for the grave crime of murder."

"As such, we have decided to agree with Dr. Dixon that you be forced back to your home, and face whatever punishments they have for you."

"N-no, NO!" Chanoch gasped holding him tighter. "Please...I-i, I-"

"Chanoch." James pressed against his chest. "It's alright. I knew this was coming, I know I can't escape this."

"Please just...just...let him stay for one day, just...do not take him from me so soon."

His breath started to hiccup with tears down his cheeks, nuzzling the lemming with sobs rising in his throat as Oddclaw patted his shoulder. Jane stepped towards Andrea and took her hand in a gentle nod, saying nothing but a firm look of softened eyes that breached through her fury and made Dixon sigh with a bitter sting.

"Fine. One day, you both have left before I make you leave. But."

She walked towards James with a finger at his face.

"I'll watch you leave when your time is up, you take up that book of yours and go straight back home. No more tricks, no swapping books, no whatever bullshit you pull out cuz I KNOW what book you use to go back where you came."

"I understand...Andrea." He bowed with a trembling gulp. "Thank you...for your mercy."

The meeting was adjourned. Everyone departed, with Chanoch and James holding each other back to their room for the longest walk that they ever took. They felt minutes slip by like grains of sand between their fingers, every second wasted to bear down on their backs with deeper regrets. Oddclaw returned home, promising to be there the next day as he was flown over by ship and landed on the shore of a dull-clouded evening. His shoulders were heavy, his body healed of wounds but his mind arrested with tensions that his family felt upon seeing him.

[i]"FATHER!"[/i]

[i]"Hellooooo!"[/i] He grabbed Seaclaw tight before Skyfang and Oddtooth ran up to nip his shoulders. [i]"Have you all been behaving?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah yeah!"[/i] Skyfang shouted. [i]"Whatever Oddie says is a lie!"[/i]

[i]"I NEVER lie!"[/i] her brother snapped. [i]"But yeth we are good here father, are you okay?"[/i]

[i]"I am yes,"[/i] he sighed hugging both their heads, [i]"just very tired, let me sit down for a moment."[/i]

[i]"I met Highwave today father!"[/i] Seaclaw yapped running in front of him. [i]"I-i wuz, showing her my longstone, and when I was doing stuff like HYAH, HWAH, a stonefish came by an' I HIT IT an' it went PSHEWWWWW into the water an' Highwave caught it like AHMPH!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, very good, what else did you all do?"[/i]

[i]"I counted ALL the trees around here!" Skyfang barked.[/i]

[i]"I did,"[/i] Oddtooth nipped her head, [i]"you jutht ran around in the leaveth!"[/i]

[i]"I went to each tree so you didn't get confused!"[/i]

Their father slipped into the nest, sighing as the scents of his family washed over him with Moonclaw swiftly coming over to lick over his face and nuzzle his chest.

[i]"Hello Oddie!"[/i]

[i]"Hello Moonie."[/i] He cuddled her tight with a smooch.

[i]"Thank goodness you are alright,"[/i] she purred nuzzling beside him.

[i]"Why would I not be, look!"[/i] He spread his arms. [i]"Not a single scratch on me!"[/i]

[i]"Huh...indeed there is not!"[/i]

[i]"I TOLD YOU!"[/i] Seaclaw squeaked. [i]"Father's the best an' strongest a-an' nothing can stop him!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, alright, alright I will admit,"[/i] she slipped her old grey head into his arms, [i]"I am sorry about-"[/i]

[i]"No no, no,"[/i] Oddclaw smooched her face, [i]"you were just worried, you have nothing to be sorry for."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm...I just worry, I am old, it is what I do."[/i]

[i]"Mother does the same thing too-"[/i]

[i]"Do NOT compare me to your mother!"[/i] she snapped biting his cheek. [i]"I am still younger than her!"[/i]

[i]"Only a little,"[/i] he chuckled sniffing her face, [i]"now our daughter was just telling me about the trees her and Oddtooth were counting!"[/i]

[i]"There are...MORE THAN NINETY-NINE!"[/i] she cried.

[i]"We thtopped counting after that,"[/i] Oddtooth scratched the dirt, [i]"maybe Thtonevoithe could help uth!"[/i]

[i]"OOOH YEAH, we should ask him!"[/i]

[i]"Well I am glad you all were doing well,"[/i] Oddclaw smooched each of his children, [i]"now I should tell you, I do have to go back to the hairless base but ONLY for one night, I will be back the same night."[/i]

[i]"Wha, why?"[/i]

[i]"Well..."[/i] he clasped his hands with a deep breath, [i]"Leafhair is...leaving us, forever."[/i]

[i]"Wh-what?"[/i] Oddtooth gasped. [i]"Wh-why?"[/i]

[i]"I am sorry to tell you but...he killed one of the hairless' friends. He is being banished."[/i]

They fell silent. They all understood as Seaclaw put a hand on his father's lap.

[i]"Is...i-is Stonetree okay?"[/i]

[i]"He will be."[/i] He patted his son's head.

[i]"But...b-but he loves Leafhair, he's...he'll miss him."[/i]

[i]"I know. So when he comes over, I want you all to be kind and helpful to him alright children?"[/i]

[i]"Okayyyy."[/i] They chirped softly nuzzling at his side.

[i]"Are you alright though?"[/i] Moonclaw asked sniffing his neck. [i]"He was your friend too."[/i]

[i]"Yes...I will miss him but...I think this is best, better he be banished than to be killed."[/i]

[i]"I understand...your mother understood too."[/i]

They slept together beneath the darkening sky, the father giving her a look stiffening his lips but was too exhausted to continue as the heat of his family soothed him in their embrace.

"A tremor ran through him," James narrated, "like a shudder passing over the sea; but on the sea one shudder follows another till there are hundreds of them, and Peter felt just the one. Next moment he was standing erect on the rock again, with that smile on his face and a drum beating within him. It was saying, 'To die will be an awfully big adventure'."

James sighed laying back in his bed, naked beside his lover also nude as his thick breaths washed over his cheek. Chanoch stroked his hair, resting his arm behind the lemming's head as he sighed with him in turn sharing his exhaustion. The weight of the world hung heavy against their shoulders, the night sky thicking above the base as the night shift awoke to go on duty and the day shift went to sleep, the sounds of whirring treads and clumping feet heard faintly from the halls as they took a moment of silence. The knight kissed his cheek, reciting the words of Peter Pan that James had read the past hour but without his usual flair for the dramatic. His voice had lost its strength, the wild fantastic tales of Neverland now but a sombre retelling of the last days of childhood.

"Do you want to stop?" he asked James.

"No," he rubbed his eyes, "let me just, catch my breath."

"Alright. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For stopping." He kissed the lemming's hair. "I know I said before but...I am glad you came back to me."

"Even if it means I'll be gone forever?" he looked to Chanoch.

"I...I-i will miss you yes. But I want you, to be alive, more than I want to be with you."

"At this point a part of me's wondering if it was even worth stopping, if this was the only outcome left."

"It was." Chanoch pressed his snout against his. "Your soul still remains, that is most important. Maybe not pure, but not wholly gone."

"What is the point?" His eyes of jade reflected dark crimson pupils. "I've failed my people, I've failed my master, and I've failed you. I can't save anyone."

"You can save yourself." He kissed James on the lips. "Whatever happens, you can repent and your soul shall meet Elohim where one day I shall see you again."

"I don't believe that. I don't deserve to be...I know where I am going once I die, and it will not be where you are going."

"I will pray for you." Chanoch took his hands and squeezed them tight. "I will pray every day for you, I will plead for your soul, I-i...will...h-hoh, James."

He pulled him close in a deep embrace, tears trickling down the lemming's soft sea-green hair as James broke down in turn, heaving sobs against the lizardman's chest as the scents of dry leather filled his nostrils and soothed his heart briefly. Chanoch whimpered stroking his back, rocking him gently until their tears subsided.

"I'm...I'm frightened Chanoch." James pulled back. "I don't want to do this, I'm...I feel my life is about to end."

"I do not want you to go." He kissed his cheek. "I...I wish I could keep you safe."

"I know. But this...this is it. I cannot run anymore. I have to stand firm and hope...that I still have the dignity to accept my punishment, and hope that those who remember me think of me a little better."

"I will not forget you. You...you saved my life, you stood for me before anyone else would. I only wish I could have done the same."

"But you did." He took his hand. "You stopped me, you were right that I...it, was better for me that I stopped. That duel...the voice in my head, it...demanded I kill you, it forced me nearly but I...I stopped."

He returned Chanoch's kiss to his lips.

"You stopped me from falling into the abyss completely. Whatever happens to me, I will always love you, I will not forget you and my life was...better, to have you in it."

"I...I-i-i..."

The soldier took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before speaking again.

"I am glad, to have met you James. Wherever I go next...I will never forget you."

"Thank you. We...we had fun yes?"

"We did." He cuddled him close as they laid back down. "We did...do you want to keep reading?"

"Yes," James smiled picking up the book, "chapter nine...the never-bird."

Throughout the night he continued the story of Peter Pan, finishing only when the book was done before they slept together in a sweet embrace. The more he read the more calm he became in a state of fugue as his eyes began to droop, but he pushed himself to the end and once everything had been read, James pulled against Jarogniew's body and tried to forget the world existed for a few hours of peace. Chanoch stroked the lemming's back in his sleep, his claws tender against the pale skin with hard scales brushing on his chest with each breath they took. Morning would come, but they still had time before his departure as ordained by the rule of one whole last day. They showered together, they had breakfast with some eyes seething towards James and others more sympathetic. They played a song together, Chanoch on guitar and James on bass, even gathering a small audience that appreciated their music as the day ran on with the clear blue sky outside drifting with the soft clouds, the sun reaching its height and dipping back towards the sea.

James counted the hours in his head, ticking down to the evening as they laid together in their bed, James lying on top of Chanoch in a tender embrace as they kissed with a deepened passion. The knight teased his lover with a tender stroke to his loins, drawing arousal from James with a whimper from his throat that he silenced with a thick tongue suckling against his cheeks. They said nothing, fearing that one word misplaced would ruin everything in their last night together as their bodies pressed harder with bare pink skin against dark green scales that creaked with his breath. Chanoch continued to stroke him, his own body responding with a thickness that pressed between the sorcerer's legs and pushed him up with grasping fingers soon clutching it. Tender little digits that stroked him fast as they fondled each other, kissing deep as they could with Chanoch reaching behind James' head to pull him close as he could in whimpering gasps that clouded their throats with the thickest heat.

They did not care whether they would finish. They hoped they would not, wanting to savour the bliss of their bodies in a raw tempestuous need to fill each other with love as they trickled against their bellies. James rubbed himself harder, smearing the pre against his belly til it shone, with Chanoch's scales glistening the same to form a web thickening with their gasps. Chanoch raised his legs nodding to his beloved. The lemming understood as he crawled back almost in anguish to not touch him for a moment of reprieve as he lined himself up towards the lizardman's rear, grasped his leg and sunk inside with a scream that ran tears down his face. Chanoch moaned as he felt James push to the hilt, pressing his body against the lizardman as he drove his hips forwards in a mindless lust, wanting to forget everything that came before or after this. There was nothing but this to them, here in this room, only their hearts and their names within as Chanoch grasped one of James' hands in a tender clasp, the lemming thrusting harder with a shiver in his throat and a tightening clench from the soldier who pulled him in deep with a foot against his lover's back to help him.

It wasn't long enough, it would never be enough as James twitched in his thighs when he felt his climax approach, with Chanoch pleasuring himself in tandem to his thrusts. The moment this would end they would be back to the world of sorrow as they formed a mutual oath to make it last as long as they could. Their voices rose higher, the bed shook harder as the knight felt his beloved stutter a cry in breaching through, flooding his warm depths with a thickening seed that made Chanoch soon come upon himself. They basked in the drenching heat, James tasting his lover's length that smothered the knight in himself, the lemming licking his chest and kissing his scales clean as he could. They said nothing still, the silence of their breaths gently rumbling against each other, their hearts drumming a beat towards the ending call. Twenty minutes left, they rested in peace. Ten minutes left, they got up and went to shower themselves clean in a tender embrace, Chanoch scrubbing him down of his sweat and seed with gentle rubs and sensitive claws over his naked body. James did the same, wrapping his arms around the taut muscular hips as his lover nearly towered over him, his head reaching up to his chest that he nuzzled dearly.

The door soon opened just after they got dressed, James in his ragged cloak and Chanoch in his powdered suit as the guards took the accused by the arms and lead him towards the base entrance. The sun had now set, the wind catching softly against the sands with Oddclaw standing outside of the fence with hand upon his gun, and Thomas inside the base next to Andrea and Anna.

"James of the Lemming Isle," began Thomas Brightman, "you have been banished by our ruling from the T.E.A.R. base. You may not return here ever again, under pain of death, do you understand?"

"Yes", he nodded, "I understand."

"Then take your leave."

The guards pointed their guns at him as he was marched beyond the gate and gave a last look to Chanoch beside his superior. His eyes misted with tears, trying to say something but instead pulling out the knitted talisman he wore around his neck, showing their faces on each side with a hopeful smile. Chanoch nodded with a sigh, trying to smile back as Oddclaw stood by the lemming with a severe look, seeming much taller than usual to the former scribe who kept his head low.

"I only hope your tribe have mercy on you."

"I know," James bowed to him, "I am...sorry for all of this."

"I un-derstand," Oddclaw bowed in turn, "I will miss you James. I do not hate you. But I am disappointed."

"...I said some things, when I was back down there. I should never have said those things.

He offered his hand.

"You are...a good person, one I wish I had learned from."

"Thank you." Oddclaw shook in turn. "I forgive you for saying such, but only for that."

"Then tha-...that...the secret I hid, will undo his peace."

"What?"

James grabbed his arm with a tightening breath.

"[i]The secret that I hid, a vengeance of grief against those who defy him.[/i]"

"J-james what are you-"

"[i]Your flesh he will take, your bloodline he will end and your world shall come undone when a child is born from you by the next great moon.[/i]"

"Let me GO!"

"[i]O-one..piece, now [b]remains.[/b][/i]"

The raptor shoved him back as James released his grasp, falling to the dirt as guards trained their guns upon him with Chanoch quickly stepping out in front with arms pleading.

"NO, he is fine please!"

"Wh-what...what..." he staggered up with Jarogniew's help. "H-h-hoh...no, n-no-"

"Shhhh," he stroked him calm, "it is fine. It is fine, your mind is still here."

"N-no...no. Oh, Chanoch what...what have I done?" He clutched his chest with a trembling fear. "What have I done I-i must-"

"No. Do not do this." The knight gripped his shoulders as he stared into his eyes. "Go. Stand tall, and face the end. For me...p-please."

"...I will always love you, even after I am gone."

"I will see you again when Elohim takes me...I promise...my love."

They kissed once more. James stepped back and opened the book to his home, taking a deep breath and placing his hand upon the moving picture. He was gone in a flash, his body twisting out of existence as the book disappeared with him, his footsteps in the sand drifting with the breeze. Chanoch slumped to his knees and bowed his head in silent prayer whilst struggling to speak, softly weeping into his fingers.

When he returned home on a dismal day where storms had come, there were no voices raised. No charging army, no mass of seething faces. When the guards first saw him at the gate, they drew their spears upon him as he raised his hands and went on his knees in full submission. They grabbed him by the arms, taking his satchel off to leave behind for someone else to take back, and dragged him to the village square where all of his neighbours watched him with looks of shame and horror. The elder was brought out, and the trial soon began that James had long feared yet also hoped would occur. He was put under guard and bound in public, in front of all who scowled and spat before him with no chance of escape, hands and feet tethered by ropes as the lemmings set up the tools of justice required for his sin with, the sound of stones being dragged over the plaza, the sky turning darker and the wind picking up. His father came first, wounded with a blackened eye and scars on his face. He was not angry at his son as he expected, but rather saddened and almost guilty as he felt. This upset James more than he thought, and he broke down a little with soft tears down his snout. His father offered to wipe them clean, but said nothing.

His mother came next, but she said nothing in turn. Much to his shock she was ridden with anger, starting to speak before she swallowed words that would become bitterous in her throat, clutching her face with sobbing shrieks as she fell on her knees before him, punishing her son with grief overwhelming as her howling tears filled the air before guards pulled her away. Lastly came his brother, Alistair. His presence hurt him the most, for he was the only one who had the courage to speak.

"James?" He shuffled forwards as the guards stood unflinching either side. "A-are you...um-"

"I'm fine." James smiled raising his head. "You're looking good pencilhead."

"H-hah, hah, hahhahaha, b-better than...you, inknose."

"Oh that's definitely true hahahaha...ahhh." His face drooped. "I made a terrible mistake."

"Did...d-did you really..." his brother twitched rubbing his fingers, "did you really do...that to sir Durai?"

"I cannot fully say...that I...I-i-"

"The elder said you did though, that...that you did h-he wouldn't lie would he?!"

"No. No he wouldn't."

"But you didn't...right?"

He knelt down as close as he was allowed before the guards would cross their spears in front of him.

"I know you James, I know that...you're not that kind of lemming, you would never, you loved sir Durai h-he was your best friend!"

"That's not true Ali." James shook his head. "You're my best friend, you know that."

"But, but he...you loved him more than you do our father."

"Well, I won't deny that. I'm sorry about what happened the night I left, it was...there were problems."

"I know," said Alistair looking away, "I know that...something happened between you and father before I was born."

"Wait...really?"

"I don't know what, but I won't even ask, that's not my business. I still love father, because he raised me and cared for me-"

"Alistair. Don't." James shook his head. "You don't have to make excuses, what happened between me and father is between us alone, it has nothing to do with you. All I can say is that mother and father love you very much, and whatever happens to me...I know you'll be safe."

"But...b-but," he tried to reach out before a guard batted him back, "hey, let me-"

"Do not touch the prisoner," warned the spear-wielder, "he is highly dangerous."

"HE'S MY BROTHER!" he shouted standing. "He's my FAMILY I just want to hold him!"

"You will have your chance at the trial, until then please keep your distance."

"...th-this...no, I won't believe it." Alistair shook his head. "I won't, I WON'T BELIEVE YOU KILLED HIM!"

"Alistair please," James twisted his arms against the creaking rope, "it's alright. Just wait until the trial-"

"N-NO!" He clutched his face with a shudder. "Th-this...this is all a mistake, this is, y-you're my brother, you always, you...you were going to take me...on an adventure, you promised, you promised we would go together!"

"I failed you. I'm not going to make excuses, you deserve the truth."

James bowed his head and said nothing more, his brother walking back to their house with gasping sobs in his throat. Two hours passed before everything was ready, a pulpit surrounded by large stones with archaic inscriptions upon them. On the stand was a sole book wrapped in leather-grey with a dark font made illegible, as the village gathered around the square for James' tribunal where the accused stood with his arms tied behind his back, his family watching nearby at the front of the crowd.

"James, son of Harold, son of Winifred." The elder stood with his hands upon his umbrella-staff. "You have been charged with the crime of murder, the victim being your former mentor Haytham Durai. How do you plead?"

"I plead guilty." James bowed his head to the gasp of the audience. "You yourself can confirm that as witness, chief Arino."

"N-no," Alistair whispered shaking his head, "h-he's not, he's not, he didn't do it-"

"I have proof indeed that James killed his mentor," chief Arino bowed in turn, "his body stabbed within my home that fateful night, by a blade of iron and his blood still upon one of your own books within your satchel."

"Yes," the accused nodded, "I cannot ask for forgiveness, only that I beg for mercy."

The crowd rumbled with distaste as the chieftain sighed.

"We have never had a lemming kill another in this village's short history. And I do not intend to have a second death at the hands of another, even if that be a murderer such as you. Instead, we have decided a fate just as terrible, that we had once suffered ourselves. Banishment into darkness."

"NO!"

Alistair burst from the crowd and grabbed his brother tight.

"H-HE DIDN'T DO IT, HE DIDN'T!"

"A-ALISTAIR GET BACK!" their mother shouted.

"NO, NO YOU CAN'T, H-HE'S...PLEASE LET HIM, HE CAN, HE-"

"Guards, please."

"Wait!" James cried. "Let me...let me say goodbye to him. I will take whatever punishment you bestow on me, but let me say goodbye."

"...very well."

The guards undid his ropes as the two brothers hugged. James nuzzled his cheek and kissed his hair, rubbing their fingers down their robed backs and squeezing tighter until they felt their hearts would burst from the pressure as Alistair sobbed into his chest.

"Be good to them please," James whispered, "I know this hurts...but it's not their fault."

"N-no, no I-i-i won't, I can't-"

"This is my responsibility. Do not hate the village for this, promise me. Be a good lemming, make something of yourself."

He pulled back with a tearful grin.

"Maybe you can...send me out a map in a bottle to help me find my way again."

"H-hah, h-h-hhhah, hah, h-h-hahahayou, you're s-still trying to be funny?"

"I'm serious. You're a good mapmaker Ali, you always found your way. That was my mistake."

"Hah...h-hah...I-i love you, I still love you."

"I love you too."

They hugged once again before the guards pulled them apart, the younger struggling and gasping with screams as the village chief stepped up towards the book and beckoned him forth with the guards forcing his step.

"James, son of Harold, son of Winifred-"

"NO, PLEASE STOP!"

"For the grievous crime of murder upon your mentor, the village has sentenced you to be banished from this realm."

"M-MOTHER, MAKE HIM STOP!"

"Your prison lies within this book," he gestured to the tome, "what lies beyond a realm of darkness and horrors befitting of your poisoned heart."

"JAMES, J-JAMES TELL THEM, THAT'S NOT TRUE, YOU DIDN'T DO IT!"

"By the powers vested in me, you shall never return to your home again. This book shall be burnt, its ashes scattered to the four winds and your memory shall be gone, your name shall cease to exist for the disgrace you have brought upon it."

"NO, B-BROTHER PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"Send him through!"

James stepped before the dark book as it opened upon his face. There were screams he had never known, wrathful howls of sinful hymns and shattered graves that consumed his body in a vile cloak of ashen mist that pulled him inside its cursed pages. Blood thickened in his nostrils, his eyes felt talons across their lids carving dreams from the depths of sleep. Shadows from the gasping breach embraced his body, fears both ancient and familiar he had always known since the first nightmares of a newborn's sleep. He could not see his family's faces anymore. But his brother's voice still reached with a scream that tore through his heart, before it was lost forever.

"[i]JAMES! BROTHER, [b]NOOOOOOOOOOO![/b][/i]"

Darkness. Sweet blissful darkness. How he had known the long abyss so different from that he had pursued. Not like the void that carried him so gently, cradling him between the realms of existence. The first time he had travelled through Linking, he wondered if this was what death felt like to the uninitiated. He silently hoped it was, for he now feared what awaited him at the turn of the forbidden page.

He was blinded by white and burned with cold as he fell into an endless expanse of sharp crystalline snow. Shards of ice tore through his bones as he clutched himself hard with a shuddering breath, clouded frost against his lips as he looked around to find not a single soul. First he saw the sun, blood-tinged amber, then he saw the moon of cruel silver in the same sky, staring each other down on opposite sides of eternal dusk where darkness grew in shadows everywhere he looked. It was so cold. He couldn't even cry for freezing his tears as he fell to his knees and screamed against the arctic winds. No one heard him. Not even himself when his voice was lost to the shrieking howls of this accursed place. James found his darkness. He would never leave it again.