{"sf1_id":224667,"sf2_id":"keNYBp41","title":"Brother vs Brother","author":"Umuntu","words":1810,"posted_at":"2011-02-23T02:53:00.000Z","tags":["Fight","Lion","Lynx","Panther","Solo","chronicles"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/224667-brother-vs-brother","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/keNYBp41","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/8f/0f/8f0f5a20-2a0a-48bb-82da-31c56e9aa220","description":"","content":"Author's note:\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nPlease note, that I have intentionally changed the names of my original characters and took out some physical descriptions.\u0026nbsp; In doing so that I don't give away anything big in my story line for this novel from which the excerpt came from.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAll Characters and Environments are © 2002 - 2011 by Eben Prentzler\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIn case you missed the introductions and other excerpts\n\n[Intro](%5C)\\\u003c--[Previous](%5C)--\\\u003eNext\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A great feeling of unease was growing over the fort.\u0026nbsp; This was the final day of battle and Mwezi was very worried about his brother and the province.\u0026nbsp; He attempted to rub the worry away from his Pride-Keeper face, but it did not help.\u0026nbsp; If the winner challenged Chaka today and he lost, then it would be all over.\u0026nbsp; Where would they go?\u0026nbsp; Would they be banished from the province by the new ruler or would they live under his charge.\u0026nbsp; Then again, Mwezi was at the point where he didn't care if a new rule came over these lands.\u0026nbsp; Obviously he was doing something very wrong and couldn't even solve a simple case of murder.\u0026nbsp; He just felt like hiding away in a corner and wait till everything blew over.\u0026nbsp; The thing that ate at his soul the most was that this was not the kind of person he was.\u0026nbsp; A few months back he would've been busting down doors and turning everything upside down to find the killer.\u0026nbsp; Now he felt like a coward sitting behind the stone protection of this fort, a prisoner of his own glory.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A sudden knock at the dining room door startled Mwezi and woke him from his daydreaming.\u0026nbsp; A Night-Stalker entered the room; he was one of Mwezi's many messengers.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Did you find him?\" Mwezi asked.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No my lord,\" the messenger said. \"There is no sign of Hadi.\u0026nbsp; He did not return to the fort last night.\u0026nbsp; We did find a note in his room though.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What did the note say?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The Night-Stalker pulled a note out of his black clothes and started to read the note with his green eyes. \"The note says: If this note is found and read, then it means that I have not survived this past night.\u0026nbsp; Please make no effort to find my body.\u0026nbsp; I know that I died with honour, serving our province. ~Hadi.\"\u0026nbsp; He gave the note to Mwezi.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Mwezi thanked the messenger and sent him on his way.\u0026nbsp; He read the note again and wondered if there was anything that could stop this murderer.\u0026nbsp; Hadi was one of Mwezi's best or at least he had proven it the past month.\u0026nbsp; There was only one more thing to do and that was to honour Hadi's last wish.\u0026nbsp; Mwezi removed the letter that Hadi gave to him from his robes.\u0026nbsp; He removed his dagger from his belt and opened the envelope. \u0026nbsp;His first removed the letter and then saw that there was a second item in the envelope as well.\u0026nbsp; Mwezi gently removed the smooth stone and stared at it in disbelief.\u0026nbsp; He immediately recognized it.\u0026nbsp; He had five stones like this as well and they were all embedded on his dagger that was lying on the desk.\u0026nbsp; After inspecting his dagger, Mwezi confirmed that the stone didn't come from his weapon.\u0026nbsp; Now he really didn't want to read the letter, because he was afraid of what the letter might contain.\u0026nbsp; But he forced himself to open the letter and he started reading:\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My Lord,_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; You are either reading this letter in my presence or I have died trying to catch the murderer.\u0026nbsp; You have most likely also discovered the stone that I put in the envelope.\u0026nbsp; There is no doubt in my mind that your brother is the murderer.\u0026nbsp; I know this comes as a shock, but this has been coming a long way._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; If I am not in your presence whilst you are reading this letter, I urge you not to pursue Chaka.\u0026nbsp; He is more evil than you can imagine.\u0026nbsp; I advise you to leave Kaskazi as soon as you can.\u0026nbsp; Something is brewing, something that you won't be able to stop.\u0026nbsp; I really have come to like you in this past month my lord and I would not want anything bad happen to you._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Heed my words and please leave immediately._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Your Faithful Servant,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Hadi._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Mwezi crumbled the letter and an immense anger grew in him.\u0026nbsp; How dare Hadi tell him what to do?\u0026nbsp; There was no way that he could believe a word that was written in that letter.\u0026nbsp; Yes, he knew that Chaka had problems, but there was no way he could go as far as murdering people.\u0026nbsp; Yet there was the small twinge of doubt that also growing.\u0026nbsp; What if Hadi was right about Chaka?\u0026nbsp; What if Chaka was the murderer?\u0026nbsp; Mwezi had to admit that Chaka has been acting very strange as of late.\u0026nbsp; The constant outbursts of anger and the immense anti-social status he had taken up after every day of battle.\u0026nbsp; He just disappeared not to be seen until late at night or the next morning.\u0026nbsp; Where was he the whole time?\u0026nbsp; Mwezi was contemplating that question, then it dawned on him...it all fits, Chaka being gone after each day of competition and the stone.\u0026nbsp; There was only one thing to do to.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Guards!\" Mwezi called out loudly.\u0026nbsp; Two Pride-Keeper guards entered the dining room and waited for orders. \"Get me the ten best guards we have.\u0026nbsp; We are going to arrest my brother for the multiple murders of the citizens of Kaskazi.\"\u0026nbsp; That was the hardest thing for Mwezi to say.\u0026nbsp; He couldn't believe that he gave that order but something had to be done.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The crowds at the arena were quiet.\u0026nbsp; Chaka was standing in the middle of the stone platform, waiting to make an announcement. \"I thank you all for watching this competition,\" he said loudly and the crowd cheered.\u0026nbsp; Once they were silent again, Chaka continued, \"May I present your winner and champion...Ricanus!\" There was a deafening roar from the audience and the small Short-Tail made his appearance on the platform.\u0026nbsp; He approached Chaka, who shook his hand. \"Many congratulations,\" Chaka said to the champion. \"Now originally you had the choice of two prizes.\u0026nbsp; The first, you take the pot of money that was collected as entrance fee by all the competitors over this past month.\u0026nbsp; The second was a match to the death with me for the chance to become the new ruler of Kaskazi.\"\u0026nbsp; Everyone waited for a reply from the champion, but before Ricanus could answer, Chaka added something else. \"There is another option though.\u0026nbsp; You can also take the money and fight me for the sport of it.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I don't want your money,\" Ricanus said. \"And I certainly do not want to be the ruler of any province.\u0026nbsp; I just came here for one reason alone, to prove to myself that I'm the best.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You deny your prizes?\" Chaka sneered.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You don't get it do you?\" Ricanus stated. \"Fighting is not about winning the big prize at the end and it certainly is not about your lust for blood.\u0026nbsp; It is about the honour and pride shown by the fighters.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"How dare you?\" Chaka was disgusted by the champion's attitude.\u0026nbsp; He was offering so much, yet it was thrown right back into his face.\u0026nbsp; He felt insulted and it also felt like his pride was being stepped on. \"Guards! Kill him.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Why don't you kill him yourself?\" a voice resounded around the arena.\u0026nbsp; Everyone looked to see Mwezi standing there with ten guards behind him.\u0026nbsp; Chaka didn't move, he just stared at his brother. \"What's wrong?\u0026nbsp; Can't do it?\u0026nbsp; Don't have the guts?\u0026nbsp; You certainly had no problem killing all those innocent people.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A big gasp came from the crowd.\u0026nbsp; They all looked at Chaka, waiting for him to at least deny it.\u0026nbsp; At first Chaka looked at his brother with a very stern face, but he quickly started to smile...this was not just any smile, but one of the most evil smiles that anyone had ever seen.\u0026nbsp; There was no remorse behind his once gentle eyes.\u0026nbsp; With one swift movement Chaka unsheathed his dagger and wisped it over Ricanus' exposed throat, rewarding him with a spray of blood on his face.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I prayed to the gods that it wasn't true,\" Mwezi sighed. \"But my prayers fell upon deaf ears.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What are you going to do my dear brother?\" Chaka asked.\u0026nbsp; His eyes started to glow an eerie yellow colour. \"Are you going to arrest me?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You are not my brother,\" Mwezi said with difficulty. \"My brother died the day he spilt innocent blood.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You are definitely right,\" Chaka grinned. \"You are not my brother.\u0026nbsp; My brother would be powerful.\" There was short silence to see what effect those words had on Mwezi, but Chaka quickly continued. \"I grow tired of this bickering.\"\u0026nbsp; He raised his hands to the sky and they started to glow. \"Rise brothers!\u0026nbsp; Show them the meaning of true power.\"\u0026nbsp; There was a light rumble in the earth and the tombstones in the graveyard next to the arena started to shake.\u0026nbsp; The ground started to crumble and all those who died by Chaka's hand and all those who were killed in the competition arose from their graves.\u0026nbsp; Ricanus also stood up, staring at the people with empty eyes.\u0026nbsp; The dead walked through the arena and the crowd screamed and ran with terror.\u0026nbsp; Chaka laughed loudly as a small army of dead rallied behind him.\u0026nbsp; He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Mwezi. \"Do you really think you and your small band of pathetic guards can stop us?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We will kill you,\" Mwezi said, drawing his sword. \"Or die trying.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It is funny you should mention that,\" Chaka said with a smug smile on his face. \u0026nbsp;He impaled one of his dead legions with his sword and pulled it out again.\u0026nbsp; The one he ran through just stood there, feeling no pain and not collapsing dead on the ground. \"How are you going to kill something that is already dead?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Mwezi didn't know what to do.\u0026nbsp; He was scared out of his mind.\u0026nbsp; His brother had power beyond any compare and there was nothing he could do to stop this.\u0026nbsp; At first he wanted to stay and do the right thing, but what was the point if you couldn't stop the enemy. \"Fall back to the fort!\" Mwezi commanded his guards.\u0026nbsp; They started to cautiously back away, until they broke into a run towards the fort.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes!\u0026nbsp; Run Mwezi!\" Chaka yelled after them. \"Watch Kaskazi burn to the ground!\"\n\n~\\*\\*~\n\n[Intro](%5C)\\\u003c--[Previous](%5C)--\\\u003eNext\n\n  \n  \n\n"}