The Shadows Book One: The War for EarthEnd.

Chapter Six - Living Shadow.

Liki Wolfspirit.

"You place alot of faith in them Visry..." A dark figure commented at the small round table. Two other simaliraly dark figures sat with him at the table, overlooking a small arena.

"I have no one else to place my faith on for our victories, Tetren." The one who must have been Visry hissed back in a growl, his red eyes gleaming pleasingly as the gates of the areana opened and the first Beast entered the areana. A non-discerning Otter who looked nothing special, wearing no armor or carrying no weapon, only in his short haired fur and fists clentched. The Otter stared up at the table where the three Anubian Leaders sat, until the other end of the areana opened up and four large trolls came charging out right at him.

"Even Gaia knows that our generals are too bound by their own glory to see when they have a bad situation. How many of our people have perished becuase the commander continues to fight for his own 'glory'?" Visry snapped at the other hottidly, ignoring the sounds of a starting battle below them. "Our encampments have all needed these two's prescene to keep it secure and you know it, EarthEnd will be no different."

Visry moved his attention down to the Otter, who was surrounded by the trolls and staring around himself as they closed in. "Without them we would have lost our war a long time ago."

Tetren laughed lightly, "And that is why that faith will be our downfall. You forget that your two creations have minds of thier own, and that they are both growing up. Each of them are twenty years old. Despite how uneducated they are, eventually, they will see how much our lifes depend on them, and they will turn against us."

The other Anubian finally spoke, quietly, clearly unable to watch the massacre below that was happening, "As I've mentioned many times, why are we fighting our way to survive? War doesn't lead to much..."

"Becuase a huge majority of Anubian people do not believe in peace, Letry!" Visry snapped, making Letry shrink in his chair, "You are lucky such thinking is so rare among our people, otherwise you would not be here as the Inner Heart!"

Letry stayed silent a moment, until he found enough courage to whisper, "Like you had a lot of combitition for your own seat as Inner Mind right? I'm pretty sure you just threatened all other candidates behind everyone's back...some way to win..."

Visry rose angerily but Tetren raised a hand to silence them both, "I neither agree nor disagree with either of you or judge how it was you came into these positions. As Inner Soul, my position is just to tell my thoughts and try to influence the Inner Mind, just as it's Letry's to provide counter measurements against war, such as peace, which he does very well though it is admittidly, not very popular with our people." Tetren stared at Visry, "But here I am adament Visry, sending those two to EarthEnd will end in us losing the war and destroying any chance at peace as well. And if we lose, peace might be our only option left. All our resources are on the EarthEnd invasion, several legions are sailing there now to bolster the occupation. We have no other ultimatum, if we lose here, that's it."

The Anubian of Inner Mind listened but slammed a fist on the table, "That is why I'm sending them in! As commander of the army, I have the greastest authority becuase our military is larger then our political stations," Visry glared at Letry, "Or our social order," Visry turned his glare to Tetren, "I command the larger section of our culture, and that is war. It is how we survived for so long, it is how we will continue to survive!"

The Inner Mind grunted and turned away from the table, leaving the area. Inner Soul sighed while Inner Heart whimpered pathetically.

"We're all going to waste away into nothing aren't we?" Letry whispered, "He doesn't see how much war is hurting us now. As more and more of the other Beasts create peace between themselves, their species flourish, while we sit on our withering land and starve, too proud to except outside help unless we take by force..."

Tetren thought, using his superior intellect to discern the situation. He gazed down at the Otter, standing amongst four now dead trolls. The Otter was bloodied but otherwise he was unharmed, continueing to stare blankly up at Tetren. Visry's 'creation' licked his lips hungerily, clearly relishing the taste of blood as he stared up into the observation deck.

"Visry complains about how his generals are too proud but it seems he's been corrupted by that same pride," Tetren placed his hands on the glass that was between them and the areana, "Something tells me Letry...that one of Visry's two trophies will not survive the battle for EarthEnd...and perhaps then he'll see that we are outmatched by the united power of other Beasts..."

"What could beat them? One alone is a handful and together they are unstoppable."

"I have no clue...but I've heard the reports of our prelimary inscursion attempt that was balked...There's someone there right now, someone with enough power to stop these two Otters, he kicked back the entire inscursion force almost completly alone...and I hope to Gaia, for our people's sake and for all other species of Beast, that he or she and thier possible companions have the power to stop one of them..."

The Otter below them, Skip, turned around stiffly and marched out of the areana. The Otter was not able to hear his leader's words, but he knew he was being sent out to war again - he always was when they brought him to the Arena, it was like a warmup - and this time, it was really important.

An evil grin split across his face, and he cracked his knuckles and licked his lips for a taste of troll blood agian. He savered the taste while seeing his sister Jaklya imerge for her turn in the areana. They past and gave each other a thumbs up.

This time, it was really gonna be fun.

Liki stood in front of the Female Foxen as the Anubian glared. He drew out his two daggers from their holdsters. Their half foot long blades gleamed as the large general laughed.

"A rogue eh?" The Anubians large hand went behind his back over his shoulder and drew forth a large sized claymore from a sheath on his back. "Seriously kid, you need to get the facts of war straight. Your kind is more suited to fighting mages and druids. Those puny little blades of yours will never penetrate my thick armor."

Liki grinned at that, "You see, that's where you're incorrect. It's not about penetration, it's about hitting just the right spot. That, with your bulky armor and your large ass sword there, you're incrediably slow. I'm fast and agile and I have more endurence then you. If I can't beat you through offense, I'll just dodge all your blows until you fall."

The Anubian glared, "Imputent little pup, you think your training amonts to my entire career? Have you ever fought with the danger of death in your face?"

The wolf only continued to grin, "No, I haven't, I've only been training since I was about one. I'm pretty sure my specific training does bring me up to your level though. Probably higher."

"You little-" The Anubian jabbed his large claymore toward Liki.

There was a loud clang as it met the resistence of Liki's two half foot blades. Liki had placed them perfectly to stop the blade by it's own tip, and held as the Anubian pushed against him. Liki grunted, using his Shadow magic to increase his strength and abilities to push against the Anubian's already great strength. His daggers were crossed in an X like fashion, supporting each other agianst the force behind the claymore.

It was then the Anubian noticed Liki's glowing blue eyes, and his own red ones narrowed. "A rogue with magic ability?! Impossible!" The Anubian removed his claymore and used both hands to raise it above his head to slam it downward on Liki.

Again the claymore met the same riduclous resistence behind Liki's two blades. The rogue had crouched and was using his legs as power to add to his block. Liki grunted and actually managed to stand back up, much to the Anubian's astonishment. To think this little kid was actually holding against his sheer strength, even when Liki was only one-third his size, was overwhelming his brain with rage.

"Liki!" The Foxen gasped behind him, also not easily believing what was happening.

"Find PyreFox!" Liki told her, "Get out of here! I'll catch up after I keep this big brute busy!"

"GRAHHH!" The Anubian raised his claymore again but this time Liki spun and moved to the right, the Claymore burying into the ground in front of the Foxen.

"Go now!" Liki cried and the Female Foxen he had rescued tried to dashed past the Anubian before he could rest his blade back out of the ground.

"Wrech!" The Anubian snarled and used one hand to grab her wavy hair.

She yelped in pain as she was halted, nearly falling at the force as the lower part of her body flung foward a bit in her momentum.

"Let her go!" Liki growled loudly, securing his daggers and launching himself at the Anubian's head, covering his face with his body. The Anubian releashed both his weapon and the Foxen to try and pry Liki's body off. The female watched as Liki's claws dug into the back of the Beast's neck, holding on and clawing him as both large hands pushed on his sides. "Go! Don't worry about me, find PyreFox!"

The female stared a moment longer, but she nodded and dashed away once more. Liki was left to deal with the Anubian general, who was trying to pry Liki off his face with his two massive hands. As he did this, he began to stumble backwards, his growling voice muffled by Liki's body over his muzzle.

"Woah!" Liki yelped as the Anubian tripped on one of the two guards he had tranced to sleep earlier. He was forced to jump off the Anubian's body and roll away to avoid injury. The Anubian general huffed and rose himself, the poor Beast he had fallen on probably had a lot bones broken but still he snored away in his trance induced sleep. The general turned and ripped his claymore out of the ground, taking a large clod of ground with it. He pulled it off then turned to face Liki, who had already taken a fighting stance with his daggers, bending his knees so his body was closer to the ground. He held one dagger close to the ground while the other up near the right side of his chest.

"We shall see just how powerful you are, welp." The general mused.

Liki twitched his eyes in confusion when his magic increased senses felt several other Anubians rushing toward them both from several parts of the camp. He narrowed them back to focus on his enemy, still not particuraily worried about his situation. He could handle this.

I hope...

PyreFox started surprised as his tent flaps bursted and a Beast came through it only to clasp him tightly and squeeze him in a tight hug.

"PyreFox! PyreFox I'm so glad you're here!" She said.

"Dang it Cammy!" He said her name with anger at her, yet still he could not help but hug her back to him just as tight, "I told you not to follow me. I told you not to leave the clan, I would return when I felt ready."

Cammy shook her head feverishly, "I promised PyreFox, I made my promise during my ritual back home that I would see you again, as soon as I did I swear my hand was aflame! My mark burned so much...I knew if I stayed there I would never see you again. PyreFox I-"

"Shhh Cammy..." PyreFox whispered and stroked her back, "It's okay. I understand..."

The Female Foxen buried her face in PyreFox's chest, sniffling, "I'm so happy to find you." Her muffled voice vibrated through his chest, "Please, I don't want you to leave again...please don't leave me..."

PyreFox's flame mark burned him, "Cammy...I...I can't...not yet..."

His friend - no matter how much he wished her to be more than that right now - stiffened in his arms and she could only whisper, "But...why?"

The male sighed, "Cammy, my promise during my ritual...I-" He was interpted by the sound of clattering armor and orders being given, He could here a multitude of yowls coming from somewhere in the camp. He knew both yowls. Liki and the Anubian General.

PyreFox looked down at the face of his secret love, and his mark burned again. They had to leave.

"Cammy...I swear I will tell you more later...but right now, if there's to be any chance that we'll be together at all, we have to get out of here. Okay?"

The Female stared at him a moment before nodding slowly, and PyreFox and Cammy pushed out into the camp, ignoring the Anubians that were too distracted with desire to aid their general to notice that their commander was leaving with their hostage.

Liki dashed to the left just in time to avoid being cleved. He had to admit, he realized while he jumped up and ran his right hand dagger across the Anubian's plate armor on his shoulder and causing a very loud scraping noise, that his opponent was very skilled as a warrior, but he knew he still had an upper hand.

He could feel numbers of other soldiers charging toward their location, brandishing weapons and chanting a war song of some kind. Liki landed from his jump, ready to dodge again, but the Anubian just stood there. If the large Beast didn't move, his armor covered his whole body except his muzzle, leaving no opening for Liki to try and dig his dagger into to at any moment. Liki was left to stand stupidly while he was quickly surrounded by soldiers and the general grinned.

"I told you kid, it takes more then guts to win. A runt can't stand up to me in the end."

"I noticed they were singing a battle chant," Liki said non-chalantly, "Do you mind if I do my own?"

Before hearing an answer of any kind, Liki placed his hands together, closed his eyes, and focused, beginning a chant of Shadows.

"In every soul there is light. In every soul there is darkness," The Anubian soldiers started closing in, "In my soul, the darkness wishes to be more, to join with the light in both thier search of righteousness," Liki's hands began to glow with purple smoke, some of the Anubians becoming weary but still enclosing, the general only continued to grin.

"I embrace the darkness," Liki continued, "I embrace it to know what I must not be." The aura on his hands began to crawl down his arms, and now his hands suddenly seemed to become infused by the smoke, seeping into his hands, his very fur and skin, and changing into a solid purple color. Even the gloves he wore became purple and dark. The smoke continued to envelope and change his body as he continued, "I use the light in my soul to change it, to seperate it from its own evil."

The changes to his body became evident now, as the pure inky purpleness wrapped around half his body all at once, leaving only his legs to remain the same. Even his teeth and tongue and fur changed, perhaps even the inside of his body did as well. The daggers in Liki's hands also became infused with the strange aura; becoming blades of purple instead of silver. With his body mostly covered, Liki began to glow a shadowy purple whose light diffused around his body eerily like he was a ghost.

This was one of the greastest powers of a Shadow, a form that increased his abilities by bounds and leaps, with no repricusions and no limit. A final trump card. He had only used it a few times before, usually his skills on thier own was enough without having to call on this form. Becoming one with the Shadows. A living creature made of magic, pure living Shadow. Uriay hinted to him though, that there were many powers to be found, yet now Liki would have to find that on his own.

"And thus I use both the elements," Liki continued, his voice had now taken on some echoing quality, which made the Anubians falter and become nervous around him, rethinking who it was they were dealing with here. "The Darkness yearns to be more, it seeks out the Light, and I..." His legs were wrapped with the smoke before joining the rest of his body in the glowing form. Liki opened his blue eyes, the only part of him that remained the same like a intimidating blueish glow in the dark.

Liki removed his hands from eachother and took a ready fighitng stance agian like before, his body shimmering in his new form, the shadowy aura he gave off dissapating around him. He grinned, his purplish teeth showing while the Anubians stared at him like he was a demon. Sure he looked evil Liki knew, but it was more of an intimidation tactic, he was still him, he had only embraced his magic in the ultimate way, letting it change his body and fuel his abilities. He could do that all at whim if he wanted, but he felt that saying the whole thing aloud instead of just willing it all at once so the Anubians could witness it would be more effective.

"I am that Light." He finished and a few Anubians wavered at how he said it with the echoing quality, again he sounded like some kind of demon.

He could feel the Anubian general's own fear too, "What's the matter?" he smirked again, waving his Shadow covered daggers through the air which left a trail of smoke where they went, wifting eerily through the air. "I told you I was more than I looked didn't I?"

He looked around himself, his blue eyes making each Anubian cringe as they stared at them in that inky dark form. "So, who's gonna try to fight first?"

The general shook his head, trying to banish his fear, "It has to be a trick! An illusion! He's still the same kid! Kill him!"

The Anubians mumbled to each other a moment, but in the end they apparently banished their fear in favor of believing it was only a trick, that he was only trying to freak them out, and they all surged forth to attack.