[Mkguild] Warmth in Darkness Part 1

[Stealth]

Well I think it's finished.

This originally started out as a brainstorming session between me and Misha
about how to get something in one of my cycles to work and it ended up going
in it's own direction so we went with it.


Warmth in Darkness

Copyright (c) 2008 Chris O'Kane and Michael Nastov





September 707

Two weeks prior to the Harvest Festival





            The grass stirred in the cool afternoon breeze. The cheetah
found relief from the wind blowing past his tears, though he soon had to
shut an eye to the sting of dirt floating into it. Stealth came to a halt
and tried to brush away the obstruction with a fore paw while he sat on his
haunches.



            Despite the discomfort, he took the time to look about to get
his bearings and a moment later after some vain blinking and rubbing at the
watery eye he started off once more and hoped to walk it off. The atmosphere
of that day seemed so calm and dull. More so out in the open with only the
odd farmer, traveller or soldier about and none of the clamour of the towns
and cities.



            Stealth would note the contrasts on his journeys throughout the
place he thought of as the inner valley region; the area within comfortable
and practical single days travel to and from the keep. Most if not all of
Metamor and the nearby Midlands and Giant Downs had the same geography
though the cheetah need not travel that far to see the differences in the
land's natural features.



            Many times his path would lead through dense woodland that
Metamor's regular army patrols liked to set their checkpoints in. The ones
where some beautiful lass would stop and question a caravan while her furry
=96 and disconcerting =96 compatriots would lie in wait for trouble. Should
trouble arise however, pests, be they louts or even bandits can be
discouraged with some 'sound affects'.



            Stealth wondered at the reaction the non-cursed humans would
have to an animal running around with a backpack, then again he didn't need
to as he didn't travel on the main road south.



            Other times, and rather a great deal of the time, the cheetah
ran on paths leading through lush, green meadows like the one he currently
trotted through. These he felt were far nicer than the woods as he could see
the snow covered mountains, rolling fields, the sky, the forests in their
combined forms and the tall spires of Metamor Keep, his home, in the
distance. And fortunately for the cheetah all five were in shades and
colours he could make out in this form.



            Most importantly, he could see everything and it put him at
ease. Though the northern lands did not agree with his thin-spotted-coat,
the hilly region did give him a sense of being propped up as opposed to the
relatively flat regions his adopted species made their homes in.



            After some time on the road, Stealth eyed a morph sitting in a
tree by the path. The tree appeared quite large and reached over the road,
though with a high clearing. The cheetah could make out the figure as some
sort of long, sleek mammal. Though among the leaves and with the cat's
limited colour vision, it was hard to make out what he or she actually was,
perhaps some sort of ferret? He paid the creature no heed though as he
approached under the tree.



            Suddenly, Stealth felt a sharp, terrible pain. The quadruped
crashed into the ground and slid to a halt on his side, gravel grinding
against his flank and limbs. He had been hit square on the head by a blunt
object, courtesy of the tree-dwelling stranger. As the animal lay sprawled
on the ground, a mongoose dropped down to the sound of approaching hooves.



            Dazed Stealth could only dimly hear the gravely clopping and
tried to move, prompting a hoof-like fist to slam into his sensitive feline
stomach, inducing a coughing fit and causing the cheetah to clench his body
in agony.



            "Nice kitty." The warthog said as he ignored the animals
discomfort and opened the bag, sliding out its valuable contents.



            The cheetah struggled for air as pain laced and swelled in his
abdomen. Through the blood trickling down his face, Stealth opened his eye
to see a large, sharp tusk hovering just millimetres from the sensory
appendage. Itch gloated over his victim while his accomplice waited
impatiently with folded arms.



            "Hurry up, get the statue and leave It." The mongoose ordered.



            "Whatever." The pig grunted and turned back to the cat. "Now
we're even for pilfering my crossbow." With the rare and expensive heirloom
in their possession, the thieves unceremoniously ran away leaving the
cheetah with his new injuries, empty backpack and large debt.

* *

*--------------------------------*

* *

            Time passed as Stealth lay sprawled on his side. He had a dull
pain on his side, a deep pain in his long, slender chest and a sharp,
throbbing headache. Gradually he tried to rise and stand up. The cheetah
made weak, fidgety movements on his legs as he swayed somewhat but he
managed to stand. He took a few deep breaths through the pain and fought
back nausea.



            After a time he opened his eyes to the world and tried to focus
his vision. The first thing that came into sight was a small pool of blood
in the dirt, probably originated from the wound on his head. The feline
staggered a bit from his spot and quickly noticed another throbbing pain in
his foreleg from when he'd slammed into the ground.



            After a few moments, the cheetah became aware of the fact that
his backpack lay open and his clothes had partially spilled out. Stealth sat
on his haunches and tried faintly to nose the contents back in. He gave up
and began to tiredly skulk back towards the keep. Eventually, some clothing
fell out and he realised the wisdom of actually shifting back to morph form
and dressing in them. But his head hurt too much to risk it... Stealth took
the shirt in his mouth and tried to place it back in the backpack though he
soon dropped it in the dirt again.



            Unwittingly, he moved toward the grass on the side of the road
until he found a sharp decline and collapsed in the most concealed part.
With the feline feeling somewhat safe from danger, he tried to rest and...
What would happen next, he didn't know.

* *

*                *Some time later the cheetah flinched and cowered in his
hidey-spot at the sound of more hooves. The sounds stopped and he could hear
nothing of them for a long moment but the clopping soon recommenced. It
became muffled as they trod on grass and then stopped again when they got
close enough. Through the ache in his head, and the dust in his nose,
Stealth was mildly relived when he was able to smell the scent of a human
and a horse.



            He could only hear their breathing for a time but nothing more.



            "Hey... are you okay?" A masculine voice eventually asked from a
short distance away.



            'Ugh'. The cat sighed inwardly.



            "This is a keeper, right?" A more animalistic voice asked some
moments later from further away.



            The injured animal groaned, though it sounded more like a long
'chirrrr', then closed his eyes tight to the world.



            His visitors regarded him; from where they stood they saw a four
legged animal sprawled out on his side... with a backpack. The pack had been
opened and some clothing spilled out of it onto the grass. Nearby, a shirt
lay on the path just near the side of the road. Further up the path, the
dirt had been stained by a small amount of blood.



            For a time there didn't seem to be any sound of movement or
speech from the pair...



            "So... what?" The horse asked unsure.



            More silence followed. Had Stealth cared at the time, he would
have wondered what was at the core of the strangers' attitude towards him.
The first thought would be of general apathy but then there was the obvious
confusion, not to mention it could be attributed to fear of getting
involved.



            "...He needs some help." The man eventually figured.



            For a time, the two were silent again until the human spoke once
more, "I hate to ask this but..."



            "...But?" The stallion asked followed by yet more silence, then
a sigh. "One work horse coming up."

* *

*--------------------------------*



                The pain in his head, both physical and mental, threatened
to overwhelm him. Some dense noble thought it wise to send an heirloom
'express' to a departing relative who'd begun on a trip and forgot their
treasured inanimate object. To make matters worse, on top of the debt, the
clients went on a tirade when they received demands for a ransom by the
guild that took it.



            Stealth hadn't been allowed a great deal of time for recovery
before the Watch questioned him on something he was barely conscious for and
the nobles scolded him for the ransom they now had the prospect of paying.



            He reflected on the past few days as he stood in the hallway,
facing a large window looking out over the keep's grounds. The cheetah felt
a dull ache all over. He'd surly sustained many bruises under his fur. He
clenched one side of his throbbing head with a paw. Stealth felt trapped and
conflicted; he preferred the open plains to the imposing stone walls, yet he
just had no desire to head out there. Tilting his ears back and his head
down, the cheetah turned his back to the window.



*--------------------------------*



            "Greetings Stealth!" Edmund said cheerfully.



            "Uh, Ed..." Stealth flinched at the knight in the dark hallway.
He didn't pay attention to the signs his nose or ears gave him and
practically walked right into the paladin.



            "How are you doing? I have not seen you about as of late." At
best, Edmund had heard about his kin appearing in the Mule on the off
chance. He'd be sitting on a stool with a good view of everything.



            "I...'ve been busy." The cat lied and looked away.



            The paladin was silent for a moment as he examined his friend.
"Is there anything wrong?"



            Stealth didn't look or speak.



            "You look a little unnerved. What's wrong?" Edmund persisted in
a firm tone.



            "I've just been feeling tense lately. Just don't worry about
it." He quickly said dismissively.



            The paladin just looks at Stealth with a hard penetrating gaze.
"Are you so sure of that?"



            The cat wilted under his gaze and mumbled something incoherent
and inaudible, even to the Knight's sensitive feline ears.



            "How is your head feeling? Is the wound healing fine?" Edmund
asks.



            "It's fine." Stealth Mumbled and looked away.



            "Are you sure?" He reached a hand up to Stealth's head. "I could
examine it if you want-"



            "I'M FINE!" Stealth shouted. He evaded the Paladin's hand and
then turned and rushed away before Edmund could stop him.



*--------------------------------*



            The bell tolled the end of yet another training session and
participants, be they novice or veteran, went their separate ways as they
removed gear and sheathed swords. Alex exchanged some pleasantries and
farewells with her colleagues and departed past a sparing area. The gender
morph noticed a familiar feline heading out of the grounds.



                "Sir Delacot!" The woman called out to the distant cheetah.
Edmund swivelled his ears then his head about to the approaching female
human. He removed a gauntlet and waved with the free paw to acknowledge her.



            "Hail, Alex." The knight greeted her. Since April when they met,
Edmund became familiar with Stealth's friends. Even with the dragon, Rugger,
who seemed friendly enough though mostly distant. "It's a pleasure to see
you again."



            "And you, Sir Knight." She scratched her flank in a very un-lady
like way.



            "Just Edmund." He corrected with a toothy smile. "I saw you out
there today; almost all your shots were perfect." The cheetah nodded over to
one of the targets.



            "Just from practice." She shrugged.



            "And each arrow was already notched after its predecessor
scarcely left the bow." Edmund added.



            She grinned, a toothy grin at that for a human. "I've been at it
since I was five."



            "Five?!" He looked surprised. "I guess the Northern Midlands are
close enough to Metamor and the north for its children to train early."



            "How did you do out there?" She asked suddenly, "I caught a
glance but no more as I was preoccupied, I am loathe to say."



            "Not at all." He assured. "I did well in my sparring and taught
some of my people their powerful forms can be their demise; no matter how
much time passes some still fall into preconceptions and bias to their new
strengths and weaknesses." Edmund explained. It was another of the Paladin's
tasks in the cursed valley, he felt, to see past the curse to its true
meaning of each change.



            "It is a slow lesson for some." She intoned.



            "Which can be helped along, but tell me, how are things?" He
asked in a more cheerful tone.



            "To be honest, I have grown concerned." She started.



            Ed frowned, "What's wrong?"



            "Tell me, when did you last see Stealth about?" She asked though
it sounded more like a comment.



             "Quite some time, honestly, almost a week ago as my duties have
kept me occupied." He conceded. "He seemed very weary. I think the attack
still had him troubled." He explained, sounding concerned.



            "He's been getting worse." Alex stated candidly. "More and more
since he was found."



                The knight stroked his chin in thought. "I see, I
understand."



            "...what?" She furrowed her eyebrows.



            The cheetah gave her a pat on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't
worry about him, Alex, let me try something. Good to see you again!" He
walked away, continuing to remove his gear and prepare for mass.



*--------------------------------*



                'THUD, THUD, THUD...'



            "...who is it?" A nervous voice asked from behind the portal.



            * *"It's Edmund. Please open the door." The knight ordered
bluntly.

* *

            Stealth opened the door slowly and sniffed at the air just in
case. The voice spoke the truth; the paladin stood at his door wearing
armour and was fully equipped with his weapons. Despite his menacing
appearance, Ed had a friendly smile on his muzzle.



            Stealth stared up at him with his mouth slightly open. "What's
wrong?"



             "This must end." He said firmly. "I am leaving the keep on a
trip and you are coming with me!" He nodded eagerly.



            The spooked feline looked wide eyed for a moment. "Are you mad?
I can't fight in a battle."



            The knight shook his head. "This is not a draft and I am not
heading into battle, I am dressed like this because we are leaving the keep,
today."



            Stealth narrowed his eyes. "I can't do that; I may be called
upon to-"



            "You have been given time off to get this sorted out, now pack
your things." Edmund ordered and brushed past him into the apartment.



            Stealth sighed and left the door ajar before turning to face the
knight. "No, I'm not packing my stuff because I'm not going... where ARE you
going?"



            Edmund tapped his boot on the floor. "When we head out, I will
tell you. And it looks like you won't be packing because it's already been
done for you." He nodded to the backpack stuffed full with clothes and a
sleeping bag on the bed.



            The indignant courier groaned loudly. "Kyia, you will be the
death of me." He said to the ceiling.



            "So far she's done very well to protect you from yourself."
Edmund pointed out, probably referring to the warm coat on the bed from when
the cat strolled the keep in anguish one cold night. "Now put your shoes on
and follow me out before the nice lady throws you out."



            Stealth brushed his hand over the slowly healing bruise on his
head. He then looked sadly at the knight.



            Edmund gave him a cold hard gaze. "Trust me." He emphasised both
words. "Shoes, bag, door. Now."



            The hesitant feline seethed at Edmund yet reached for his
plantigrade shoes, quickly slipping them over each foot though wriggling
slightly to un-chafe the fur on his toes and feet. Stealth walked over to
his closet to retrieve his leather armour and was mildly surprised to see
that it didn't open out into the keep's gardens. He slipped the armour on
then the backpack which his friend handed to him. Stealth paused one last
time to look up at Edmund who gave him a comforting smile then they headed
out. The trip to the ground was much more brisk than usual.



*--------------------------------*



            Stealth reflected on how he came to be in his present situation.
After some 'gentle encouragement' the cat descended from the castle's upper
floor with an eager Paladin in tow. Edmund quickly hustled the agoraphobic
feline to the stables, newly rebuilt after the assault. He led Stealth to a
large section housing the steeds for his troops.



            Stealth didn't have his own horse and since he wasn't looking
forward to the trip he didn't particularly find that a bad thing, however
Edmund merely lent the cat one of theirs.* *The Paladin cheetah saddled up
his own horse and the coalition soon headed toward the gate to the lower
ward.



            Metamor town and Euper were a blur and before he knew it,
Stealth had begun on a trip yet he didn't know where to. Edmund said he
wasn't heading into battle yet he wore armour and carried all his weapons,
but why? If Edmund intended to go hunting he wouldn't wear all that armour.
He had thought it an unusual sight. The cat finally collected his wits and
built up his nerve.



            "...Ed?"



            "What?" The paladin asked as the two rode down the road.



            "...Where are we going?" Stealth asked, mildly irritated.



            "Didn't I mention that? North to the woods." He answered simply.



            Stealth frowned at Edmund, "Where? Why?" He asked more
insistently.



            "We're headed into the place called by many Haunted woods."
Edmund explained.

* *

            "...I see." The other cheetah raised his eyebrow.



            "That's all you have to say? We are headed into a place known to
be haunted and all you say is 'I see'." Edmund commented, not getting the
reaction he had probably been hoping for.



            "Well, I'm just trying to understand this trip is all." Stealth
sighed inwardly.



            "You are on this trip to get out and back into the world.
Myself. I am here for my own reasons." Edmund answered vaguely.



            Stealth struggled for what to say, it did sound quite odd.
"You'll exorcise the woods?" He pondered for a moment. "This is safe,
right?"



            "You are safe with me. Exorcising is for daedra and evil
spirits. I am trying to put the lost souls in the woods to rest." He
corrected and answered.



            "How?" The cat asked.



            The paladin shrugged. "I have not discovered that yet but I will
not stop trying till I succeed."



            "You've done this before? Made this journey?" The feline asked.



            "Several times over the last few months," Edmund explained.



            "Hmm." Stealth commented. "Tell me about this forest."



            The knight shrugged, "The forest isn't very large but it is deep
and it hides a dark secret. It holds the ruins of a large city destroyed
many years ago." He explained.



            Stealth looked at Edmund for a moment, "Why did they build it so
far up? Didn't they live in the keep?"



            Edmund shook his head. "No they didn't. There was a large town
around the Keep but the Keep itself was closed to them. Kyia it seems did
not like them. Back then all this area was heavily settled. Farms, towns,
cattle."



            "Ah, I don't blame her; weren't the original inhabitants taken
as slaves?" Stealth narrowed his gaze.



            He nodded. "The Seuilman when they conquered an area would kill
all the men and take the women and children as slaves. But to be fair, with
time they did mellow. Most of the Seuilman who settled here wound up
marrying into the local families. Intermixing the two groups."



            "But the locals were enslaved, what choice did they have in the
matter?" Stealth persisted.



            "True but they didn't enslave everyone. There were just too many
locals and too few Seuilman." Edmund answered.



            The cheetah shook his head, "If these souls belong to conquering
Seuilmans I don't see why we should care..." He turned his head down, "I
hate slavery."



            "So do I, but the Seuilmans took the valley centuries before it
fell to the lutins. By that time the people here were all one society. No
more conquer and conquered." The knight offered.



            "Yet they never renounced the trade." Stealth pointed out.



            "True, that evil practice only ended when the empire did." He
agreed.



            "Humph, Metamorians were almost taken by slavers, just recently.
Our own people." The cat seethed.



            Edmund nodded his head. "During the Yule attack they took all
the people of Tarrelton captive and were leading them away into slavery." He
began, "I remember that George slit the throats of the slavers when they
caught up to them. So many people were upset about that."



            "I'm upset they got off easy..." Stealth said contemptibly.



            Edmund gave a chirp of laughter. "Having their throats slit was
an easy death? I think they deserved that painful death."



            "They were given a quick death. They should have paid for their
crimes." Stealth said, "Let them rot in the dungeons, in shackles for a few
years, then kill them." He detailed with heat in his words.



            He nods. "I can understand that but I am bound by the code of
the order and chivalry to show honor to all. I wouldn't have slit their
throats. I would have hanged them for a fast death. Let the Great One give
them their final punishment."



            "But that will happen eventually anyway." The cat pointed out.



            "True but I would speed them along to that final punishment."
The paladin offered.
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