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Darkest Before Light; Hida and Shale's story
Topic Started: Aug 11 2009, 05:27 PM (353 Views)
WrathOfBambi
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CAT Mikey
Darkest Before Light
By: David M. Alvarez


Chapter 1:

Coming of Light

"Lord Praius?" The woman looked up from her kneeling position before the dais. The throne was illuminated under a cone of light. Her raven haired leader looked bored, resting his head on his fist. Quickly, she looked back down. Praius had a way of entertaining himself when bored. She was shaking, and hoped he asked for her report before her fear caused her to break the crystal screen that held it. News from below Nation always got his attention, and would lessen his boredom.

After a minute she was beginning to fear he was thinking of what to do to her. She was shaking worse and was nervous about her wings leaving feathers on the floor. Then, he spoke.

"Why are you here, Naien?"

She set her report on the floor before her and said, "News from Outskirts my Lord."

He sat up, suddenly interested and waved a hand. The report, appearing on its fine crystal, flew into it. A smile crept onto his face as he read. The smile had the taste of evil in it. He waved his hand over the screen and the report was replaced with the orders he had for his generals, along with a ruling on who had won the latest battle over Rikor. He had very new plans for the world below. He was laughing as he threw the screen back to Naien.

A new game was going to begin, and his little game pieces were only too happy to obey. After all, he was their god.


()-------()-------()


Dane didn't want to rush. That would draw attention, and that was the last thing he needed.

As he tried to walk calmly down the halls, he could hear laughter from open doors. The beautiful faces of the imperial family were free from anxiety. "And why not?" He stopped at his sudden thought. He was bathed in light from the many glass orbs with Sun flowers inside, and his thought continued. "All the Shadow Clan were safe in their capital, Dis. No light seeker would dare travel into the Northern Realms. They were safely on the other side of the Dark Mountain Range."

He shook his head free of the doubt that had consumed it. No good would come of delaying his message, and considering his source caused it to dissipate as if never having been there. He continued trying to pretend he was strolling, and looked at some of the many tapestries along the walls.

He pressed on, passing many rooms belonging to the large ruling family. Coming to an intersection, the soft carpet ended to an octagon of tiles with a spiral imprinted upon them. He nodded to the highest ranking palace guard there. He, in turn, signaled the others and they all disappeared down a different hall. With his own destination just ahead he was somewhat able to relax before walking inside.

He smiled at the guard detail there. "Ah, Tenit. Pan asked me to fetch you. He needs someone who can help him control the new pupils. They seem to need to know how a proper Guard should act. For an on-the-spot lie, it wasn't bad. Tenit would be only too eager to knock some sense into young ones who were not taking the technique they had chosen seriously. Then he sighed, "However you'll have to go without me. Lady Duan told me to tell something to Lady Emelle when she saw me walk past her room. I'll have Thalia show you the way."

"Alright then," she said with a hearty laugh to accompany it, "long as she'll promise not to bite this time."

Grinning, he brought the onyx ring he was wearing to his lips. He kissed it and a dark furred wolf leaped out from it. Tenit patted her head before bowing to her charges as Thalia did likewise to her own. After which, they promptly left in search of where Master Pan had located his class today.

Dane closed the door once they were far enough away. Turning to look at Lady Emelle he saw her stroking her son's black hair. He was asleep on the couch with his Shadow Cat purring under his arm. Lord Bausk was lighting candles to the children of Luna who were masters over their Shadow Beasts. Dane could not help but notice that Teschar had no flame before her and her mount, an elegant wyvern.

"Now Dane," said Lady Emelle snapping him back to attention, "what could be so important that you hurry off Tenit." Her own hair was Black as night against her pale face. Her soft gold eyes were ringed with silver.

Dane pulled a piece of parchment from a hidden pocket in his jacket's sleeve. He still had no idea how it stayed closed with no seal. Then again he had no idea why Lady Emelle and her husband were the only ones who could open it either.

As soon as she saw it, the lady's eyes grew wide. She put a pillow beneath her son's head and quickly took the message from Dane's hand. Taking out a pendant holding her own onyx stone from beneath the cover of her dress, she pressed it to the front part of the parchment and it unfolded. By now her husband was reading it over her shoulder. Emelle's face looked frightened and handed the message to her husband who put it inside one of the Sun flower orbs and stuffed it inside. Soon it was nothing but ash. As he turned to Dane his look was serious, "Who gave this to you?"

Dane kneeled and answered his question, "It was Hida your majesty."

"What?" Emelle was shocked. Her daughter had not been heard from since she had been banished.

"Yes milady," Dane replied, "the princess sent it to me. I would not have believed it myself....except it was delivered by Kigt." Dane continued, but he was sure he had seen Shale stir as he had said the name of Hida's wyvern, "It was sent nine days ago." When he said that he saw both Bausk and Emelle's faces fall.

Bausk spoke first, "Then it may already be too late." His voice sounded defeated and he ran his fingers through his hair. He looked back up with his serious expression restored. "We must send word immediately. The Light Nomads are coming."

Emelle whispered a prayer to Gisek, ruler of the Minao, a bird that was her Shadow Beast. As soon as she ended it by dragging her finger across her forehead, she too spoke. "Where will we go Bausk?"

He was thinking, going through all nearby planets. "I can only think of Danir. If we don't hurry, the Light Nomads will exterminate us."

Dane would have been more surprised to have found out that Bausk and Emelle were the emperor and empress if he had not heard what they had said. But he too knew that they had to leave Dis. The city that had stood for nineteen thousand years, would finally fall.
Until this tea kettle is cured, there will never be enough bread in the laundry, and...(looks around confused and wonders who all these people are).
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WrathOfBambi
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Chapter 2
Evac.

One-by-one lights went out in the many houses and buildings of Dis. Hida looked upon it from atop the edge of the canyon it was within. The city’s size had exploded out of necessity, fear of death leading the entire Shadow Clan to cower in its depths.
Hida took a silver pin from the tie that held her wild white hair. She didn’t even blink as she stabbed it into her index finger. With blood seeping out she touched it to her onyx amulet and whispered, “Come out Kigt.”
A silver wyvern flew out of the stone. Its slender body snaking through the air as its black feathered wings flapped. It landed on the ground before her and touched its beak to the ground as it bowed.
Hida rose from the earth as the sirens began. The ancient horns had never been sounded before. Hearing them sent a message no one believed they would ever hear:
The Light Nomads have found us.
Our home is no longer safe.
()------()------()
The city was in a panic, its grip even reaching past the walls of the imperial palace. Shouts could be heard of parents yelling at children to leave behind cherished possessions. They simply dragged them to the airships.
The Guard escorted the imperial family members to the hanger. The family was frightened, huddled together before their respective ships. Mothers tried to calm crying infants while young children held on tight to fathers and older siblings. The Marksmids were a proud family, but even they knew the danger at hand was out of control.
()------()-----()
In the streets, chaos was rampant. Crashes could be heard as glass and pottery items fell from rushing owners’ hands and carts. The airship hangers were overwhelmed with desperate citizens. Smaller crafts were loading people from the bridges.
Time was running out. The night sky already showed a glow coming from the mountains.
Full ships took off. Their destination was Danir, one of the moons of the nearby planet Tek.
()------()----()
Shale woke-up to shouting. His shadow cat, Q-chan, had morphed into her full form. No longer was her fur fluffy, instead it was like thousands of silken threads. She was as large as a horse and stood between him and the open door. The sirens outside were barely audible so deep within the palace.
The last thing he remembered was Dane talking about something involving his sister. At the thought of his sister her rose from the Likar fur covered couch.
He walked into his room. Quickly he grabbed the family photo on his bureau. After sliding it out of the frame he grabbed a nearby pack and stuffed it into the medi-kit. He searched for one last thing. He spotted the gold shield ring with its blue jewel near the looking glass. He put the ring on the middle finger of his right hand and left the room.
Back in the lounge he stopped moving. Q-chan was sniffing the air. Someone was coming so she was swiftly at her master’s side.
“Shale!” Shale recognized that voice.
“Shale,” said Dane as he ran into the room. He spotted Shale and rushed over to him with Thalia right behind. His face was full of panic as he spoke again, “Shale we must leave now. The Light Nomads have breached the Dark Mountains. You’re parents went with Lady Unef’s squad to help the Guard fend them off at the Main Gate. They said to get you on a ship. We don’t have much time now come.” He grabbed Shale’s hand and they were off.
()------()------()
“Bausk look out!” Vaik threw his shadow spear at a Nomad ready to strike Bausk from his side while he was fending off the blow from another. She fell as the spear sank itself in between her wings.
Lady Unef’s shadow whip slithered around another’s neck and released spikes.
An explosion left a hole in the ceiling of the palace, rocking the ground beneath their feet.
“Fall back!” The head guard took out a green horn from his belt after yelling that and blasted it twice. The Guard all rushed to the palace.
Lady Emelle let out a gasp when she noticed the hole was near her family’s quarters. At the sight of Light Nomads Flying in she didn’t hesitate. Jumping onto the bridge’s railing she bent her knees fully before launching herself high into the air. Conjuring a shadow spear she thrust it into the wall of the palace, flipping herself on top of it she jumped again. Landing next to the hole she dove inside in time to see Dane cut down and Thalia disappear to the Shadow Plains. As her form dissipated she saw Shale being carried off by one of the Nomads down the hall.
“No!” Conjuring a bow she kneeled to the ground while judging the enemies before her. Deeming it not impossible she thrust her hand into her shadow. It disappeared inside it and came up with a black arrow. She aimed at the nearest Nomad blocking her way and fired. Unfortunately she did not see the red haired one behind her. As he ran her through with his starlight sword the arrow struck his comrade in the neck. Both were dead before they hit the floor.

Hida saw her mother go down, but she could not bring herself to feel anything at the sight. She had grown somewhat excited at the bloodshed around her. Except when she saw Shale being carried off, it disappeared. She raced after the Nomad holding her brother. He was limp in his grasp and Hida saw a few specks of blood fall to the floor, and anger welled up inside her. She was catching up, but she could hear some Nomads coming up behind. It was time for a little trick.
Hida stopped immediately and face back. She touched the air in front of her and shadows crept from inside her clothes to form a solid surface in front of her hands. With it fashioned she waited a few more seconds before balling her hand into a fist and punching the object, sending shards of shadow at the group of Nomads. The one at the front was down, she was dead. The others reared back and Hida took off again after her brother’s captor. She could smell the scent of her brother’s blood and followed it. The trail led to the hanger where most of the ships for the Imperial family had left and were well on their way to Danir, but he was not quite there when she caught up.
“Put him down!” She nearly hissed as she screamed at the nomad who started to flutter his wings madly as she backed him into a corner. She could see Shale was still unconscious. The anger started to build up more within her.
“You should not be making demands, Dark Spirit.” He insulted her. It felt good to insult the enemy to its face.
“Do not trifle with me you filthy Light Seeker.” The anger was expanding and her shadow started to twitch. He had no idea what he was dealing with. But then, Hida thought deliciously, it’s more fun that way.
“Filthy Shadow Slave!” He was losing his temper and pulled out his sword and held it to Shale’s neck.
Hida was silent. Her anger was finally past its limit. And then she smiled. Looking at him with pure murder in her eyes she said, “You would dare harm MY BROTHER!” As the last words came out her breath became ragged and her shadow was dancing as if from firelight. She saw fear creep into the Nomad’s face. His expression made her feel rapturous and it mixed with her anger and as she started to laugh madly her shadow enveloped her. They became one and she opened her eyes. They shone red and then she spoke once more. “Let him go,” her voice was layered and horrific, “and your death with be quick.”
The Nomad was horrified. Then, he regained his conviction. He scoffed at the demon before him, “And what can you do? You are but a demon, and I an angel. The gods smile upon me and I will see you DEAD!” He lunged at her, dropping Shale to the floor. He was sure of himself, but his face showed wild fury.
Hida smiled a terrible smile as she gazed upon the poor, pathetic creature as he rushed forth. Steadying herself she too lunged as his sword was about to connect. She shrieked as she attacked, her body splitting into threads as it wound around the Nomad whose shocked expression only elated her more. He panicked and it was beyond delicious as she engulfed him and found the orifices of his body and disappeared within. It was then that Shale awoke.

He raised his head. Every inch was like a knife. He could hear screaming. This led to more pain, but he had to see what was making such cries of agony. He was nearly there when he heard gurgling and finally the screeches stopped. There was a muffled thump as something hit the floor. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and soon saw his sister. He then rubbed his eyes once more to make sure they were working. After he was sure he whispered her name, “Hida.”
She turned to face him when she heard him speak. Walking over to him she seemed tired. And without a word, she hoisted him onto her back and with what seemed like great effort, made a dark portal on the floor. They jumped inside, into total darkness.
Until this tea kettle is cured, there will never be enough bread in the laundry, and...(looks around confused and wonders who all these people are).
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