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In the western hemisphere the Feline are the majority and have been since the early ages as the continent became inhabited. The most feared of the races were the Lions were the first to leave the desertous heart of the land too fairer regions. The Lions set themselves not far from the desert but on the boarders lands between it and and grasslands further northeast. Contradicting them the Tigers moved westward towards another green regions. Unsure of their place in the world the Leopards divided half remaining in the desert oasis they called home and half headed straight east towards sea. Alone the Jackals moved south east finding an empty peninsula with resources abound that they would come to call home.

However the founding of these countries did not happen overnight and certainly without its share of bloodshed and war. Warlords came to power as each race began to form their own nation and vie to take control of the region as a whole. Not long after the construction of cities and allocation of resources the nations turned their attention to the annexing of other city-states. In a short time the desert land became host to a massive conflict between the nations of the Lions and Tigers.

Neither side stood completely united in the conflict; each sported groups of rouges who only sought to cause chaos and take the reins of power from the hands of those attempting to manage the burden. Just as well their sat more meager villages who remain demilitarized with no intent to take part in this war. The Lions fiercely detested those who would not fight for self or country but were typically plagued with rouges rather than non-violent groups. The Tigers stood united though had a share of city-states who distanced themselves from the conflict seeing no purpose for the bloodshed.

"Hold brethren, hold!" Orion shouted over the stampeding feet that were headed for his regiment. Impact was imminent but the soldiers would stand strong in the face of destruction so long as they followed the Warlord. Blades and tips had become dull, stained, and caked with dry blood and dirt. Their shields no longer shown the shine of fresh metal work instead they wore the marks of heavy usage with their many scratches and dents. Orion too shared this appearance as it was substantially clear to all he had seen hard times in the war but had not given up.

Layers upon layers of scars covered his body most notably was that which sat upon his brow marking an x over the rest his face. His tired eyes were dimly lit a dull and drab orange that bordered a faint red with cracks that ran towards the pupil. His mane was frayed and thinning making his otherwise hulking stature seem diminutive when next to another man. The golden hue of his fur had seemed to have been muted many battles before and had now seemed a tarnished version of its former self. Despite his appearance his stance told all that saw him that he still had enough life in him to fight on for as long as he would need.

The Rebels' arms slammed against the wall of shields that stood between them and their opposition. "Now!" Orion's voice bellowed above the jarring noise and with haste and precision the army struck. Spears and blades came thrusting through the breaks in the wall slicing, stabbing, and skewering the unlucky renegades at the head of the charge. Following this came a hail of spears that decimated any remaining enemy forces that could still stand. In such few precise moves Orion's forces were able to fell their adversary with out a single casualty of their own.

"Search for survivors, normal proceedings, kill those who refuse to see change," the Warlord's voice echoed across the battlefield. "Sir, we have their leader," a young voiced rang out. From the pile of rebels he pulled a man who had seemingly survived the attack with out a single scratch. "Finally," Orion spoke softly to himself as he made his way to the men. "We surrender," the man fell to his knees, "you have taken our best men... left our homes.. desolate. Too much blood has been shed over this worthless title, it must end else the Tigers will be our end soon enough. Kill me if you must for what I have done but leave my men alive. Please they are the last.. you have killed the resistance.. sir." In the end Orion would spare the men and even their leader to the dismay of his own troops who's hatred for the rebels burned as intense as the sun. However the Warlord knew best, being completely certain that if they were to stand a chance against the Tigers that they would need to take on even the most devote of the resistance.

That night Vieson was alive with the songs of unity as the day's victory marked the final insubordinate group's defeat and assimilation. The entire Lion race now stood strong together as they set their sights on the Empire of the Tigers. Orion was again alone after another of his decisive victories his mind muddled by the past and the world of his youth. He had made it a habit, after a victory, of thinking of the bad times and even worse the ones who had been lost over the years. "Vesa... you damn fool." he breathed quietly while a puff of smoke slipped past his lips.

Vesa was Orion's elder brother who had taken command of the army after his father's reign was ended on the battlefield. In his predecessor's time the then vast united nation of Vieson had crumbled from it's early form which was followed with the creation of the sovereign states and marked the beginning of the Rebel War. After their father's death Vesa coordinated the city's defense as Vieson erupted into a chaotic battleground between the military and newly formed resistance. Nearly avoiding total devastation he would then lead the army against their weaker foes managing to take a number of the resistance's strongholds. Under Vesa's leadership came many victories alongside these victories however were many bloody and brutal executions for the enemy.

"Warlord, we have a runner who has reported an attack on one of our cities," a messenger's voice called to Orion. Orion remained as he had been, "Did they report who has attacked us?" "Yes, they claimed it was the work of the Tigers, however it seemed unlikely as they left no one alive and even burnt the city to the sands," replied the messenger. Stupefied the Warlord's voice turned from a calm to rage, "They left not even a single woman or child alive?!" The messenger became timid in the face of the enraged warrior, "It is my unfortunate duty to report that indeed they slaughter every last living Lion in the city." Orion rose to his feet flipping the table before him onto the floor, "They will pay for this injustice! We have spared their kind during our raids! What gives them the right to murder the innocent?!" Orion's roar shook the walls of the city and silenced all within from their joyous noise making. In the wake of the bellowing the messenger stood frightened, "Gather all of our forces boy, for tomorrow we do not settle this score we trump it infinitely," Orion uttered before exiting.

Orion learned much from his brother his entire life but never as much as when he was the Warlord. He found Vesa's tactics poor at best noting the lack of technique and the use of sheer force to control battles which had been won only through luck. Among this flaw he also found it to be entirely senseless to slaughter those who had survived or surrendered. These problems between the two began to tear the army apart internally leading to Orion and others abandoning Vesa and the army in their hour of need. Facing the full force of the resistance Vesa turned to his brother for support in the battle but when even as he begged and pleaded for Orion's aid he simply said no. A massacre followed as Vesa's meager following was quickly outflanked and completely out numbered. The Rebels would be kind in their victory however, sending the soldiers home as their commander was beheaded mistaking him to be the last in the ruling bloodline.

Orion returned home his fury still overfilling him to the point that he was nearly shaking from all of the tension he held inside. "Father is there something wrong?" his son's voiced greeted. "The Tigers have attacked one of our cities, we in turn must bring the fight to them," the tension in Orion's voice spoke volumes to his rage. "Does this mean you will be sending him into the battle front now?" his wife's voice came from a corner chair. The young man became excited, "Yes father, will I finally be allowed to fight as you do!" "Son you must stay here in case we need to defend Vieson, I do not want you to risk your life so recklessly as I have," the man's voice began to sound slightly submissive in contrast to his tone earlier. "But father I want to follow in your footsteps, I want to lead the army and slay those who stand against us," the boy seemed disappointed in his father's reply. "Son one does not enjoy war and murder, a true soldier lives to survive the fight and revel in the peace that comes at the end of it all," Orion's voice took soulful quality.

The boy was unwilling to remain silent instead voiced his frustrations, "Peace is boring, I want to fight and kill like you!" Orion had tried to force his fury to subside but had not the control, overwhelmed and enraged by his son's demands he struck him with a heavy blow. "Do you want to die like your uncle! A coward who killed those he feared because he was afraid of looking weak! I raised you to be a man of peace, one who understood that war was only the answer when violence could not be avoided! It shames me to call you my seed if you only dream of the destruction of others," Orion's voice shown no remorse for his actions. An endless silence came over the room as none of the family could conjure a reaction to what had transpired. Slowly the woman came to her sniveling son who remained upon the floor until his father had exited to his quarters for the evening.

Orion seized control of the military once his brother was gone and proceeded to implement the use of his strategy and techniques in battle. It did not take long for Vieson's forces to take out large pockets of the resistance with the use of these tactics. The use of the shield as a weapon as much as for defense is how they were able to turn the tides with such ease. Orion had taught this idea to the men of his battalion during Vesa's rule and even tried to convince him to use the idea. Vesa of course ignored this request as he with his brash mind took to offense more often then defense and saw the shield as merely the embodiment of weakness.

The door closed gently her footsteps a quiet patter across the floor to his side as he stood looking into the dull bronze piece. "He is very upset you know," her voice echoed. Orion's heavy sighed fogged the metal, "I know, I did not want to but he needs to understand that life is about living in peace not dying in war. Everyday he reminds me more and more of Vesa and it breaks my heart to have to think that he may never change and make the mistakes my brother had when he lead Vieson." "Orion is not your brother, he is your son he knows what is right and wrong, I am certain he will see it your way some day soon the youth are not known for wisdom," she tried to convince the weary man. "We can only hope that one day he will and relieve me of this relic too. I wish so much that I could bring myself to destroy it but that may have to be his duty as I can not," a somber mood took Orion. "Come to bed, I see the weariness in your eyes and the longing that supersedes it," she said taking his hand in her own.

The bronze piece had once been a masterpiece, beautiful, shining a reflection back to those who looked upon its face. Over the course of the war it's brilliance had faded with the addition of the many scratches and dents from overuse. Two of kind were the shield and it's owner as Orion too acquired his many markings during battle. Despite the flawless tactics and ingenious technique Orion had failed to instill the discipline into his men who's insubordination caused him the wealth of these wounds. In the early period of his reign it was not uncommon to see soldiers break from their formation and disregard every bit of their training putting the entire unit at risk. These instances would send the army into a frenzy with others deciding to follow tow and charge the enemy with a complete lack of concern. In this chaos Orion, being the leader he was, would remain composed and order his men to maintain the formation however more often than not it would fall on deaf ears and result in injuries, casualties, and the aforementioned unpleasant reminders sown into his flesh.

With the rising of the sun the army departed their loved ones in Vieson and marched west to face off with the Tigers. Not a single man was missing from the military with even the newly converted Rebels among citizens who had previously never served so furious at the events that occurred. They marched all the day long with the rest of the rest of their scattered forces joining to the main power as they came across them. The embers of the lost village were still warm as they passed it by as the last outpost before entering into the Tigers' domain. "Men we may all very well die in this war," Orion addressed the massive legion of men at dusk, "but we will have our vengeance! We will show these monsters that this atrocity will not go unnoticed, they shall reap exactly what they have sown! Tonight we will decimate one of their cities and tomorrow fall their mightiest, Aion will fall!" The crowd's roar was more powerful than an earthquake as they stood ready to lay siege to their enemy.

As the moon began it's ascent into the heavens the Lions came upon the first Tiger occupied city in the territory. The city was defenseless as the Lions overwhelmed it before any had a chance to respond to the calamity in the streets. Many were slain by hand, other robbed, and even more unspeakable acts were committed to all of which Orion would turn a blind eye. Screams and cries filled the night sky and the sands dyed red before it was over. Fires were started torches thrown into houses and building that remained occupied. None were allowed to leave their homes as the flames engulfed every corner of the city and as the moon came to the apex of it's arch the entire city lay in ruin.

"We have dealt a serious blow to our enemy, now how do we proceed Warlord?" one of Orion's officers inquired. "This warpath does not end with this city, no this was simply revenge. We continue forward deeper into enemy territory come tomorrow and will march further and further until our foe is banished from this land," Orion spoke sharply. "Rest now men for from here on out they will be ready for us, it will be a true war to finally end this feud." Orion's men were still energetic and enthusiastic in the face of war and death even after the atrocity they had committed.

The stomping of feet had began before the sun had even peaked over the horizon that morning as the Lion's marched onward. At this time the Tiger army was preparing for battle on the messenger's word they received the brief time before. Both factions were ready now to permanently do away with the other with no regret or fear for the outcome. Each race was steeped in fury as they envisioned their own victory while waiting anxiously for the first battle. The Lion's target stood on the horizon as each soldier held tight to their weapon anticipating the ensuing fight.

From the diminutive village before the charge came a Tiger messenger who sought to find Orion himself. "And what do you want boy? Make it quick," Orion snapped at the young man. Nervously the boy presented his message, "The city before you is one of peace that is not aligned with the Tiger Empire. Please spare us, we harbor no soldier or have access to any military equipment, we wish to stay neutral to this activity." "Neutral, like you are any less guilty then the rest of your race. ...Alas I will grant you our mercy, the mercy of a quick death before we burn you to ash in the sands," the Warlord spoke with a voice filled with hatred. The boys eyes grew wide, "But sir please we beg you we are not..." "All I have come to expect of your kind is lies and deceit. Be you neutral or against us is not that matter because I know when it comes down to it you will help your brethren slaughter us just as easy as we would you," Orion said with certainty as he sunk his knife into the boys belly. The sand stirred as he writhed dying a slow death while the Lions marched on past him to his home.

It was not out of violent savagery that Orion demanded the town destroyed but solely to insure the safety of his men from a rear attack. The village fell like the one before it had with barely any effort on the part of the Lion invaders. Orion would once again pretend his men were above the lowly and disgusting acts they preformed on their prey as he searched the horizon for the next location. Children screams pierced the Warlord's ears something he did not want to hear for it made him think thoughts he did not want to think. Soon the fire consumed the village and as it did they would be on their way once more without another thought of the city and the people they had destroyed.

The massive fortress blocked out the sun as the Lions entered the narrow crevasse that lead to the entrance of the dreadful place. Stretching great lengths to and from the stronghold the canyon served as natural defense for the Tigers to use to trap their adversaries making battle difficult for the attackers. "Stay in a tight formation men, be prepared to draw your shields and swords at any time," Orion called to his men as they entered the crack in the earth. Meanwhile the Tigers sent forth their first wave of offense who would proceed directly through the ravine against the invaders.

By dusk the two armies had found themselves face to face in a dimly lit however slightly wider portion of the gorge. "Charge!" cried out the Tiger leader as the onslaught of enemies filed through the narrow passage towards the Lions. "Shields ready!" Orion shouted as the men formed an unbreakable wall and began to push forward. The Tigers crashed unto the bronze barricade trying desperately to work their short blades into the tiny gaps between the shields. "Spears out!" the Warlords voice came again as the living armored shell became punctuated with the shining tips of spears ready to tear into their targets.

Orion's army pushed forward piercing the flesh of those foolish enough to attempt to attack them. Ever more unlucky were those who had fallen before the legion as they were trampled as the men proceeded forward. Their lead could see that they stood only to lose this more men if they were to stand their ground, "Retreat!" he cried as he too took flight. "Could they have been defeated so quickly?" a soldier questioned. Orion had been certain of his technique and his men but he was equally certain the battle was not won yet. "This was no attack, they were studying us trying to learn our technique to find a way around it. They will strike again and we must be ready. We will take shifts for sleep so as we may remain ever vigilant," the Warlord announced. Few slept that night though weary from the march many were too on edge to relax for even a second in fear of assault.

Before the sun's rays could shine upon the day the army had begun movement again the soldiers exhilarated despite the severe lack of sleep, Orion especially having not slept a minute the entire night. A decent stretch of ground was made as the Tigers still slept comfortably in their homes certain the Lions would not be up until daylight. By the time the Tigers had began their offense movements the Lions progress had reached a considerable and alarming leap from where they had nested down for the evening. Wasting no time to strength their forces units of archer were sent to back the main forces while a second division was sent to flank the Lions.

The first contact of the day came with considerable losses for both factions as the Lions were caught off guard by the hail of arrows that came before the troops had even began rushing. With the first volley calamity ensued forcing Orion to regain control, "Everyone shields up!" The booming voice returned a sense of duty to panicking men who upon regaining their composer followed directly forming the metal canopy over head. "Settle in men! Wait for my signal!" the Lions immense roar came again echoing within the shell. The Tigers waited still to charge, searching for any break in the shell while still peppering the shields with arrows that broke on contact with the heavy bronze plates.

On and on the stalemate continued as the Tigers would stop to wait for the Lions to begin to move before again raining arrows upon them. This continued the entire day and into the evening when the light began to fade. Finally the cycle broke as Orion found as they moved much further than they had in any earlier attempt. The archers had depleted their supply of arrows and had disappeared from the battlefield leaving only the infantry behind. "Now!" screamed Orion as he lifted his spear and let his shield fall. In turn the rest followed taking their spears in hand and readying to throw. "Retreat!" called the Tiger's commander as the sight of their enemies armed and ready to strike register in his mind. Row by row the Lions hurled their spears taking out more and more as each row took their turn. Before long the path had become cleared with only the shafts of the weapons sticking up from the sand and their opponents' bodies.

"Onward we go, more will come whilst we wait, no point in stopping," Orion ordered. They had lost a decent number in the first hail of arrows with more injured in the fray. "Sir the men would like to give those we lost a proper ceremony before continuing," one officer spoke. Orion was one who would typically be understanding and approve however, "There is not time, we will honor them with victory and thereafter they will receive burial." "But sir the men will be..." the officer was stopped quickly. "The men will be dead if we stay mourning for the fallen!" he shouted and turned carrying on as if it had never happened. The officer and his men would follow form but harbored a resentment which made tolerating their dictator a chore.

In the time of his reign over Vieson Orion had suffered greatly from the criticisms of his own countrymen as well as the agony of war. However despite all he faced whether foreign or domestic problems he managed to go about his business without defeat. The military had excelled in combat with his training and in their prosperity had never failed to rise to the challenge against even the largest of armies and come out dominant. Although regarded highly for his fearlessness and valiance in battle the peacekeepers of the city thought him a renegade making war for fun with out concern for the people he was to be protecting with the military. Though it was obvious war was Orion's element and that he had much to gain through offensive campaigning many reasoned he always had Vieson's best interest at heart.

The following day grew endless as undeceive skirmishes paused the progress made breaking any bit of marching into only short burst between the battles. Tension had seemingly disappeared until the Lions had happened upon a battery of troops headed their way. The soldiers looked well equipped and sported thick well worn armor, that mirrored the state of the Lion's shields, with a cover layer of scratch marks and dents to the point the metal no longer shined in the light. "Ready your shields men," Orion's tone came across seemingly daunted by the foes which stood before him. Behind the shields a quiet chatter ran through the shell until an officer inquired, "Sir is there something wrong you seem, dare I say it, frightened." Orion had become lost nearly entirely distracted by his own thoughts, "No it can not be..."

Orion's father, Ares, had establish Vieson when the world still managed to be peaceful and the races upheld a truce between one another. However in his time he would see the truce fall apart between his race and the Tigers. War quickly ravaged the region and Ares was force to lead his people against the Tigers in fear of annihilation. Ares was not prepared for war when it had come knocking at his door and was forced to maintain a ragtag defense until the legions of Tigers had been deterred. After fierce weeks of attack after attack the assault finally came to an end. The Lions left the safety of the city to go on the offensive against their adversaries and that is when Orion first saw the armored warriors. Their armor shined bright without a single scratch to tarnish their shine. They lead no strike on the city or were presented as an offensive front; they instead had apparently come to cripple the kingdoms forces as much as possible. In battle the group displayed impressive skill and technique which allowed them to sweep through the unit that had chased after the Tigers.

Ares stood alone as his men fell to these brutal killer, he faced one that had been distinguished from the rest. He had never been proficient as a fighter and now faced one who had skills that dwarfed his own. By the end of the brief fight Ares had fallen, he had been decapitated, his body dragged to the city gates for all to view in horror. Orion was not spared from the sight of his father's battered and shredded corpse, the image had become permanently plastered in his mind. Ares' head was never reclaimed and it was thought that the warriors had taken it as a souvenir for their efforts.

"Orion what do we, you have to lead us!" the officer tried to break the trance he was enveloped within. Orion's words came short and quiet, "They killed my father..." The warriors waited patient for an opening to strike as they examined the shell from afar. "We will destroy them... every last one of them will burn for what they have taken from us!" Orion had conjured the confidence he had left in his heart. "For Vieson!" the Warlord's voice reverberated through the canyon as he lead the shell forward. The warriors' skill were on par with the Lion's as both sides held their ground. However the warrior's style was far more independent and fluid allowing them freedom from moving as a unit. This freedom allowed them to split the group with some standing their ground, others scaling the wall to leap down upon the shell's top, and the most daring using the shield as stepping stones running across them until finding breaks in the armor.

The warriors better known as the Ivory Demons were devastatingly powerful and their technique honed to a point of perfection as fluid and autonomous combat. These Tigers had been trained from birth to fight, to kill, and eliminate any target they had to on command. Against the Demons the Lions had found adversaries who presented actual challenge and possessed true battle prowess. Those at the front held strong while the interior of the shell was faced with a heated battle with those that had penetrated the bronze exterior. In the close spaces the Demons were king as the Lions sword skills were terribly matched to those of the attackers. During the chaos within the Demons had yet to pull their blades before casualties began to mount as their quick movements lead to accidentally deaths between the Lions. As those under the canopy pulled their daggers a booming voice came from the Tigers side, "Demons return!" In an instant the Ivory specters had disappeared without a trace as though they had never been.

"They are just playing with us those bastards!" Orion shouted. "Warlord, we must turn back now, too many have been lost and more injured!" the officer demanded. Orion would not accept the Demons escaping without a single fatality, "We must go after them!" "You go then sir, death awaits us if we continue!" the officer argued. Furious Orion struck the man, "Coward, I will kill every last one of them myself, while you run and hide like a weakling!" The Warlord rushed after the Demons leaving his army to tend to the wounded and conclude with great certainty their leader to be completely mad.

Orion had found the warriors waiting with in a recess of the canyon seemingly unconcerned of their enemy lingering in their tracks. "Bastards! I will make you pay for my what you have taken from me!" he shouted. The Demons were quick to circle him, their weapons drawn and ready they waited to strike, the tips of their blades nearly touching the Warlord's throat. A faint noise broke the frenzy; the Demons stood silent staring as their master stood facing away from them his mask laying upon the dirt beneath the platform where he was positioned. "Leave him to me boys. Go on run home you are no longer needed," the leader spoke in an calm soothing tone. Without debate the warriors had disappeared in the wind leaving the two men alone in the corner of the crevasse.

"It is very admirable that a man of your rank and title is willing to forgo the standard means of battle and come to face your opponent by yourself," the man professed. Orion was not moved by these kind words however, "I am not here to talk, I have to come to take your head." The Demon was curious to the thought, "Behead me? Why so personal?" "You killed my father and took his head as a prize!" Orion screamed. "Quite so, that was merely business however who am I to deny vengeance," shot back the Demon, "then you should very well know this name Nicademis, your nemesis." Finally turning to face Orion the warrior revealed the terrible truth behind his legion's name.

His faced was as white as the sands with splinters of true black running across the canvas of his face and body. The Ivory Demons were defined by this tone of fur though they were true blooded Tigers as any other of the kingdom. After being shunned by society the grouped had formed into a militant order who would not serve the orders of their kingdom without gain for their own. Nicademis' eyes shined a vibrant watery blue as he stared deep into the heart of his foe, reading his every thought and trying to predict his actions. This warrior was no ordinary warrior, no, he was unique and special in every way making him exceedingly dangerous. "Let us begin," Nicademis' voice came through the drawn out silence.

The two combatants charged one another, neither with weapon in hand they instead began with rapid hand-to-hand combat countering one another's moves perfectly. "You have skill," Nicademis spoke in the midst of the battle, "and determination," he evaded Orion's grip with haste, "unlike your father, however what do you lack.. patients." In a quick motion the two had dodged the other's blow but together fell headlong to the ground below the platform. Disoriented the two furiously rushed for their weapon hoping to end this conflict with greater ease by use of their tools. The battle raged on as Nicademis struck his short sword repeatedly against Orion's shield both constantly moving energetically around the area. End seemed as though it would not come, the opponents were equally matched and armed and neither side shown any bit of weakness or weariness.

With hasty thinking Orion decided to switch to the offensive and began ramming back against each strike in an attempt to disorientate Nicademis. Not fully daunted by this Nicademis began to change his technique as well by utilizing the walls as a means to strike from above or behind Orion. The stalemate had continued until the sun hung low in the sky and the canyon began to grow dark with both fighters reasonably exhausted. Orion had one last ditch effort he could make as he felt the toll of the battle; with great speed and strength he hurled his shield like a disc at his enemy. The shield smashed into Nicademis' midsection sending him across the ground with a series of rolls and tumbles. As Orion lunged forward attempting to finish his nemesis he found himself at the end of Nicademis' dulled blade.

"You have fought with honor, Lion," Nicademis' was shaky from his injury, "and it is a shame to have to kill such a worthy adversary." Silence permeated the landscape as the two stood waiting for Nicademis' final move. "However I have decided to let you live," Orion was befuddled by this, "I want to defeat you when you are at your strongest, not like this, not after you have been tired by legions of weak soldiers." Nicademis began to leave his sword sheathed and his mask in hand, "Why did you kill him?" Orion asked calmly. "Orders, plain and simple," Nicademis called back. Orion waited for a moment thinking on all that had occurred and then realized that his rage was misplaced, that those who truly deserved his wrath were those who lead the Tigers.

Returning back where he had left his men he found now few squads remaining, waiting for their leader to return. "Did you kill them Warlord," a young soldier inquired. "No they are simply mercenaries, they do not deserve the hatred I hold, those that hold their payments are those whom have wronged us." Orion stated softly, "What has happened to army?" The boy proceeded in informing the Warlord, "Split, those who were injured to greatly were lead away by the ones who were to afraid to continue. They also took those who had fallen, which means we are less than half our original numbers." Orion seated himself by the fire and rested himself against his shield and tried to sleep for even the most fleeting bit of time.

The marching started early again that following morning with most of the men having only a brief period of sleep during another paranoid night. Orion's body had become far to weary to maintain his point at the head of the charge and found himself in the back amongst the younger men. Their path had been unusually clear for the distance that stood between them and the city's gates. "The gate is insight, Warlord!" an officers voice came from the front. The sun sat still above the army as they reached the gates which stood infested with the Tigers who had built a monumentous defense at the wall.

"Which of you calls yourself the leader of this army!" a Tiger demanded from the gates heights. "I," Orion called back with as much strength as he could, lifting his shield as high as possible. The leader of the Tigers, Cion, waited atop the gate, "I have decided to be lenient to you and offer you, simply, your lives. You leave now and you will leave without another scratch, however if you stay and you fight you will surely die." Orion looked to all his men and saw none that shown a bit of regret for their decision to follow his lead into the den of their enemy. "Defensive positions!" Orion ordered as he returned to the shell. Aion laughed at the futility of this effort, "You will die Lion and for those you allowed to retreat, I will ensure you my men will not be merciful!" "Warlord, if we do not survive this battle then it has been an honor and privilege to serve you," the man next to Orion stated.

Immediately after Aion's word the infantry rushed the Lions meeting with the same fate that await the others who tried to break the bronze shell. The infantry was supported by a hail of arrows coming straight down from archer units placed at the ledges of the cliffs. Luckily the Lions were prepared and the shell provided nearly unlimited protection from the points of their enemies weapons however that was a lesser concern. From the towers to the left and right of the gates came two scorching rivers of hot oil that worked its way through the Tiger's offensive line and into the Lions shell. Following the oil's appearance the archers began using arrows tipped with burning rags that would ignite the oil streams. Entirely caught off guard by this new threat the Lions formation was fractured as they tried to avoid the oil's path. Many were cut down in moments by way of fire and others by archer, the army was slimmed down nearly half it's size in able bodied men. "Orion what are we to do!?" the men called in panic.

A sudden shriek came from behind the gates and with it the archers ceased their assault and the ground troops pulled back. "What is happening?" Orion was entirely puzzled by this occurrence. His eyes came to gate where he found the answer to the noise and the battle's end. Nicademis stood high holding the head of Aion, his face contorted into one of utter terror. "It would seem even the Tigers are not without renegades," a Lion spoke with an empty inflection. "Your father has been avenged Lion! I implore you take your leave and let this mark the truce between the Tigers and Lions to stand once more." Nicademis spoke as he cast the head down to the Lions. "Why have you...." Orion began to shout before being interrupted by Nicademis, "Orders, plain and simple."

The dead and wounded were pulled from the fire and carried off by those who were able it was then that Orion was confronted with a shocking truth he had been oblivious to all along. As he lifted up body after body he came across one who still drew breath though his face was burnt halfway, leaving one side intact and the other a horrid mess, he recognized the boy. "Father," the boy cried weakly. Orion could not believe his eyes, "Son?!" His only son had posed as a soldier and followed him to the deepest depths of war completely unnoticed. Orion would say nothing to his boy nor even look in his direction as they began their journey home. "I wanted to kill, father, unfortunately I was unable," the boy said shamefully. Orion still shut his son out his rage was unbearable but would not release it upon him again.

Though tired and weak from their work the men marched onward day in and day out as they tried to make as much ground as possible everyday. Eventually they caught up with those who had retreated from the fight with the wounded and dead. None had survived the flanking attackers who stood victorious over the bloody corpses. Orion held Aion's high as their attention turned to him, "Your leader is dead, his replacements orders your return immediately." The Tigers were shocked at the sight of the decapitated head however their expressions became more mundane as they passed the Lions. Low voice whispered discontent and violent ideas as both groups filed past one another in the narrow pass.

A weak cough came from a Lion lying deep within in the pile, "You are alive, so you surrendered as well?" Without a thought or word Orion pulled the man from the ground and pummeled him over and over until he fell lifeless in the dust his blood slowly pooling before sinking into the earth. "Traitors die at the hands of the victors!" Orion shouted his fury felt in the hearts of all present. "Leave his body where it lies, traitors will receive no funeral!" he added without stopping his march.

After days the army had finally reached Vieson hungry and weary from their travels the celebration would wait until it could be enjoyed wholeheartedly. All but Orion rested easy upon reaching home as he finally had organized his thoughts enough to talked with his son. "Orion, I am ashamed at what you have become," he started. "Father I..." he was silenced quickly by his father. "You went against my order as a father and a leader and now look at what has become of you. You do not understand and will not when it is your time to lead that you must never look upon killing as a source of entertainment but a last resort. I do not choose to fight these wars, my son, they are simply the only option we have less we let ourselves be annihilated. So let your scar be a reminder of this son, life is precious and the taking of it does not come without consequence." Orion left his son who sat speechless on his bed slowly grazing over the burn across his face.

"Father I am sorry.." the boy's voice called as his father stood at the threshold. Orion sighed a heavy sigh, "I understand son, why you followed, why you were so intrigued. I have been trying to protect you from the sight I was forced to see when I was a boy of your age. You see there was a war between the Tigers and the Lions one in which the Tigers attacked Vieson. After a long assault they gave up but when they did the Lions tried to counter their attack. The Ivory Demons appeared and slayed all that stood in there way, including my father... I have been trying to spare you from seeing the death of your own father all this while." "I never knew.." his son stated as Orion left his room.

That night at dinner Orion II was kept close to his mother as she endlessly scolded and lectured him for what he had done. He went along with it following her every step as she rarely stopped for a breath in her endless rant. Orion remained removed as he ruminated all that had transpired on the battlefield, finding himself still holding on to the past. Slowly he worked trying to let go of the vendetta he had formed towards Aion and all who had supported him. Orion brought himself to the conclusion the war had made for him, Aion's death marked the end of his vendetta and the sealing of the wounds of the past.

"Father this is for you," Orion II spoke holding forth a cup of wine. "In honor of our victory it is a drink to commemorate our success and those we have lost." "That is quite noble of you son," Orion took the cup to his lips, "you may make a good leader someday my boy and I will be so very proud of you come that time." Orion drank the cup dry in a moment but as he moved to set the cup down he found himself overwhelmed with pain. He crashed to the floor from his chair as his muscles locked and quickly released repeatedly. Orion writhed as he crawled, every bit of his body felt as though he were being burnt alive. In mere seconds Orion's body began to shut down as he rolled to his back he saw Orion II's sinful smirk. "You were a fool to trust the Tigers father but do not worry in my reign we will right the wrongs of the former empires. With the military under my command with your training we will conquer all that stands in our way. I love you father but you are weak and there is no place for weakness in this world." Orion felt his body slowly going cold as he turned his head to see his mate dead on the floor across the width of the table from where he lay. He shut his eyes softly as his son's footsteps and maniacal laughter faded into the darkness that surrounded him and in that blackness he felt his final breath slip slowly from his still lips.

This was not the first time he had tasted death only now however was he unable to wash it from his pallet. But as his body became his lifeless his mind carried on and began replaying the memories he had made on the battlefield from years past. His mind brought him back to times of war amongst the sovereign groups of Lions. He was still young not young enough to be lead by his brother but new to leading his men in battle. There was not a flaw in Orion's technique but his men who had been so set in the old ways they could not seem to be broken of them. The formation had fallen apart as the rebels attacked leaving any trusting enough to stay in the unit exposed.

Orion leading his men as always was the first in their way and suffered immensely as they tore him apart. His shield did so much yet so little as his arms were shredded by swords and knifes while his chest was perforated by spears. Luck spared him a killing blow as he kicked aside as the rebels moved on to his more loyal men who only now broke formation. The others flanked the rebels forcing them to battle of their attackers from every direction. All the while Orion lie near death close to conflict believing this victory to be his last sight.

He watched his men fight with all their valor and strength to crush the opposition before their kind could poison their own. Red filled his vision as he rolled head back to gaze into the unforgiving sun that cooked him on the hot sands. Orion thought of his son growing up with out his father, knowing what he must second hand from another. He could not let it happen and would not if he had the ability to choose still. What could be done at this point with his body destroyed and his army in chaos trying to fight a larger force then he commanded?

Fighting was out of the question but he still drew breath and was certain he could still speak so he could command. By shield and spear he lifted himself to his knees and slowly to unstable feet a task he would never consider to be such a labor. He opened up his mouth and let forth a thunderous roar, "Return to formation on my location!" The men fell in as Orion commanded with a new strength that overpowered his urge to fall to the dust. "Shields up! Wait for my mark!" he came again as his men surrounded on all sides insuring their leaders safety. The clattering and striking of metal on metal rang loud as Orion pushed the distraction of pain from his mind. "Now!" he screamed with a voice that overcame the sounds all around and frightened a few of his own standing too close.

As it should have been from the beginning the men followed form and struck in unison taking down the majority of rebel troops. The rest would surrender and they lucky few survivors would be taken to Vieson for medical attention. Spent but still standing Orion watched as his men carried out his every command despite their deep rooted loyalty to his late brother and his ways. As the medic rushed to dress his wounds Orion looked on into the distant lands thinking of all that could be if only there were unity, harmony, between his people, the Tigers, all who inhabit the land. All he could be certain of was his hope for a future that would see these things come to fruition not for himself or his own but for all to be free of war.