[Mkguild] Dire Situation Part 3

[Stealth]

look out, a swear word...

=93We are in the dead of winter and unable to return to the Keep...=94 The
knight said with a grunt and dropped a large log. =93We will not touch
anything, just build a fire.=94

    =93In an ancient cellar...=94 Stealth shook his head.

    =93Let=92s just carry these down together, without damaging the steps.=
=94
Edmund ordered.

    =93Okay, I=92ll go first. You tell me which way to go... I don=92t need=
 you
loosing balance.=94 The feline scolded.

    =93I have no intention of falling! That last time was just a lapse.=94

    Stealth sat in the snow for a moment to rest. With all the running he=
=92d
been doing, Edmund knew better then to scold him for slacking off. He began
to feel better as he got comfortable. Now if only his armour could drop...

    Edmund dropped a log when he saw his friend=92s armour drop entirely in=
to
a pile of metal on the snow leaving a startled cheetah morph in its wake.

    =93Stealth! You did it! What did you do?=94 The paladin asked quickly.

    =93I... I just thought that I want it to drop.=94 He looked himself ove=
r, =93I
can command it to fall.=94 The feline stretched out and rubbed his fur. =93=
I=92ve
never been so happy to be naked!=94

------------------------------------

    That night they bunkered down in the derelict cellar where months prior
the coalition found that splodgy, golden dagger. Now Stealth had a warm,
armoured suit with the same pattern. Unlike his old armour, the gold and
silver coloured plates covered his entire front in morph form. If his
clothing hadn=92t been torn to shreds in his frantic transformations, he
wouldn=92t have bothered wearing them anyway.

    After first =91willing=92 it off, the cheetah quickly discovered that he
could summon it back on, from a reasonable distance. Though terrifying at
first he eventually accepted the fact that the suit was of no harm to him.

    Edmund had lit a small fire in the centre of the stone floor, seeing as
there was no roof, smoke wasn=92t a problem. The knight handed the armoured
cat a warm trail ration and sat down opposite. =93How are you feeling?=94

    Stealth just poked at his rations with a fork and looked down at his
legs and tail. =93I=92m fine...=94 The cheetah sighed and looked up at Edmu=
nd,
=93I=92m sorry Ed; I=92ve just been panicking and pouting all day. How are =
you
doing? You=92ve been very quiet about... you know.=94

    =93The attempt on my life? It hasn=92t been the first time.=94 He said
quietly. =93I was very troubled the first time someone tried but being a
soldier you just set aside the thought.=94

    Stealth raised his ridges, =93By the gods! How many times has someone
tried to kill you?=94

    =93You mean not counting the battles I=92ve fought in? It=92s happened =
several
times throughout the years during various campaigns I=92ve fought in; you c=
an
bring a conflict to a quicker end by eliminating the leaders...=94 He pause=
d,
=93This is the first time I=92ve been targeted personally by assassins.=94

    =93Out of greed and stupidity.=94 Stealth spat.

    Edmund looked up at him, =93You saved my life today. I=92ll never forget
that, my friend.=94

    Stealth shrugged, =93I told you during the Yule, you=92ve done so much =
for
me. All I do is complain...=94 The feline mumbled and ate some of the ratio=
ns.
The Keep provided trail rations that consisted of a large bread/pastry that
was stuffed with various fillings - beef, pork and vegetable (depending on
the keeper=92s diet). But Stealth couldn=92t tell what exactly his rations
consisted of; maybe pork, beef or lutin or something. =93Perhaps you saved =
me
last time you dragged me out here, lest I=92d still be hiding under my bed.=
=94

    =93I did that for a reason.=94 Edmund said between bites, =93You=92ve d=
one more
then you know... I said that during the Yule as well.=94

    =93...Like what?=94 Stealth asked softly.

    Edmund swallowed a large bite and looked up, =93Do you know how few wou=
ld
call a paladin a friend? Our reputation has been so tarnished.=94

    =93Hmm,=94 Stealth nodded.

     The knight took a swig of water from his canteen and continued, =93And
now I have a hunting partner!=94

    =93Thanks. I just wish I could do more.=94

    =93I do value you openness Stealth.=94 Ed offered soberly, =93You never=
 fail
to show me things in ways I never considered.=94

    Stealth smiled shyly. =93Well you=92re not that scary... now the
Questioners.=94 The feline=92s ears folded, =93They were here sometime arou=
nd a
year ago weren=92t they?=94

    =93They were but they have no power here.=94 Edmund assured.

    Stealth took a deep breath. =93What if they come back here? Will they do
anything to me?=94

    Edmund shook his head, =93Never worry about that. If they ever did come
back Misha would chase them off with that massive axe of his. If they got
past him, they wouldn=92t get past me.=94

    =93But you=92re a Follower; don=92t you answer to the Questioners?=94 H=
e asked
and licked the rations... then thought it best to just swallow without
tasting it.

    =93I do not answer to the Questioners. My order is separate.=94 The kni=
ght
answered, licking his chops.

    =93But the Questioners can interrogate Followers... and anyone else if a
priest lets them.=94 Stealth gulped his food down and followed up by eating
some snow.

    Edmund chirped in laughter, =93I think Misha would have something to say
about that. Also, Metamor is the spiritual centre of the Lightbringers.=94

    Stealth just looked at him with a frown.

    =93I answer to Eli.=94 He said simply, =93Now don=92t worry anymore abo=
ut the
Questioners.=94

    Stealth sighed in relief and began to relax. Suddenly the feline sat up
with his eyes alert. He clawed at his chest with his taloned hands.

    =93What=92s wrong?=94 Edmund demanded.

    The courier fidgeted then all of a sudden his new armour buckled and
dropped in a heavy pile all around. Stealth quickly lifted the large and
heavy loin-plate off his crotch then sighed and grumbled to himself.

    The paladin just blinked. He turned around and went to search his pack
for more pants.

------------------------------------

    Edmund remained silent as Stealth worked. He=92d only had one extra pair
of pants and they=92d been ripped apart when Stealth shifted. The courier w=
ore
a shirt and concealed his lower half in his blanket. Stealth wrapped the
blanket tight around his waist as he leaned over the armour suit and moved
his hands over them in some sort of pattern.

    =93What are you doing?=94 The knight eventually asked.

    =93It=92s a trick I learned from Fell.=94 The cat mumbled, =93I can dra=
w magical
energy from my aura and into the suit.=94

    =93But you=92re not a mage. How can you conduct such a spell?=94

    =93With... great... difficulty.=94 Stealth answered through grit teeth.=
 He
took a deep breath and paused in his work, =93A mage can do this in a matter
of minutes; this could take me all night...=94 He swayed slightly, =93And i=
t=92s
already taxing me.=94 The cheetah continued to work on the spell. His
expression became more feral until he flung his hands free of the spell,
=93Bah! I give up!=94

    =93How is this suit powered? Does that spell use your own life force
itself?=94 He asked.

    =93Well, yes sort of. It draws on my health.=94 Stealth explained.

    =93If it has health my prayers can help,=94 Edmund walked over to him a=
nd
gently placed his hand on the crystal fused into the breast plate. The
cheetah paladin whispered a few words in another language and the crystal
began to glow. He opened his eyes slowly and smiled at Stealth. =93There you
go. Done.=94

    Stealth took a breath and closed his eyes. The lower portions of the
armour began to melt and coursed across the floor and toward him. The feline
flinched as the blob-armour spilled across him but he concentrated until his
legs and lower body were once again armoured. The rest of the suit along
with the glowing crystal still waited on the floor.

    =93Only half returned?=94 Edmund asked perplexed.

    Stealth nodded and removed his shirt then stood up to look himself over,
=93This is enough for now.=94

    =93You can control it partially? I didn=92t know you could do that!=94 =
The
knight said, impressed.

    =93Neither did I...=94 The cheetah answered in distraction and sat back
down.

    =93Now you do, don=92t be afraid to explore this or your new dire form!=
 You
should always push the limits and explore new things and places! I still
remember my curiosity at the change.=94

    Stealth looked up at him, =93What was it like? What did it feel like?=
=94

    =93Physically it didn=92t feel like anything. It was more a spiritual
exploration... I quite enjoyed it.=94 Edmund saw Stealth grit his teeth,
=93What=92s wrong?=94

    =93Forget it; I shouldn=92t have brought it up.=94

    =93I know it was painful for you.=94

    Stealth shook his head, =93No, no you don=92t...=94

    =93Then tell me now. You=92ve mentioned it in the past but never come to
terms with it. Am I right?=94

    The cheetah gasped, =93I must have been in agony for ten hours... Yes, =
the
pain began at ten; it was finished at dawn, 8 in the morning.=94 Stealth
shuddered, =93I thought it was a stomach upset but... but...=94 he rubbed h=
is
wrist while staring blankly.

    =93Then you saw your new form?=94

    =93No. Then I screamed in pain... in front of everyone in the mule.=94 =
The
feline=92s hands clenched into fists. He looked at his spots in revulsion t=
hen
ran his claws along one arm, as if trying to tear out a chunk of fur. He
succeeded in shedding a large tuft which floated into the air between the
two. Stealth hoped to see it land in the fire and BURN but it floated out of
sight, into the darkness.

    =93Every . . . single . . . change, each new strand of fur, the claws, =
the
tail, ears ...m muzzle... teeth =96 the teeth were the WORST.=94 He shivere=
d and
licked his jaws as if trying to remove a foul taste. =93At one point my mou=
th
must have been full of blood. My whole body stung inside and out... maybe
the pain was as bad as it would be to give birth.

    =93The rest of the change is a blur, I must have fallen asleep.=94 He t=
ook a
deep breath, =93I awoke like this. I didn=92t enjoy any fucking part of it.=
=94
With that he threw the remains of his meal at the wall and slumped in his
armour.

    Edmund carefully walked around the fire and hefted Stealth up, into a
hug, =93I=92m sorry to hear that, I really am. It always troubles me to hea=
r the
pain people have gone through from the curse.=94

    Stealth leaned into the hug, =93Thanks. Sorry you have to put up with
me...=94

    Edmund sighed, =93Stealthy...=94

    =93No, really.=94 He sat up and Edmund sat back down nearby, =93I=92ll =
admit now
I used to be jealous of you. Then I got to know more about you.=94

    The paladin nodded and placed more wood on the fire, =93I=92ve been jea=
lous
of people too.=94

    =93Yeah but not of a friend.=94 Stealth countered.

    =93Above all, a friend...=94 Edmund answered softly and leaned against =
the
wall.

    =93Oh? Who?=94

    Edmund just looked at him and nodded.

    Stealth blinked and his eyes widened, =93Me?!=94

    Edmund sighed and rubbed his forehead, =93At the Yule party when I saw =
you
dance with Bridgette.=94 He admitted with a great deal of discomfiture.

    The courier pointed to himself, =93You were jealous of me?=94

    Edmund remained composed and nodded again.

    Stealth stared at him. Then he smirked and finally fell back and burst
into laughter.

    The paladin=92s tail thumped the ground behind him as he grumbled and
shook his head, waiting for the laughing fit to finish.

    =93Oh...=94 Stealth rubbed the tears from his eyes.

    =93I am sorry, do you forgive me?=94 Edmund asked.

    =93Of course!!!=94 Stealth laughed, =93Oh, Ed... you ARE cute when you=
=92re
grumpy!=94

    The paladin sighed and hugged his friend. =93Thank you!=94 He ruffled
Stealth=92s head fur.

    Stealth gave him a hug before settling down and flopping back on the
floor.

    Suddenly, Stealth gasped. He felt something slither over his chest and
solidify. The cheetah sat up in shock and rubbed his chest, it too like his
legs were covered in armour. =93Well that=92s the damndest thing.=94

    Edmund nodded and pondered, =93Perhaps it thought you were being harmed?
Or it doesn=92t like to be separated.=94

    After the brief fun and excitement dissipated they both settled in.
Stealth took in the fire=92s warm radiance and stared into the flames. He
eventually looked over to the paladin; Edmund kneeled in the corner of the
cellar with prayer beads in hand. Stealth watched him shift each bead in his
claws one by one. When the cheetah paladin was done praying he went back to
the fire and remained silent. Edmund=92s eyes bore into the flames, his body
remained still and even his ears and tail stood motionless, showing not even
a flick or twitch.

    =93Ed, are you okay?=94 Stealth asked concerned.

    =93Aye, I=92m okay.=94 He answered softly.

    The courier shook his head, =93What=92s wrong? Please, you can=92t just=
 bottle
up your problems and pretend they don=92t exist.=94

    =93Never, but they are MY problems. I shouldn=92t make them yours.=94 E=
dmund
turned his back and added more wood to the fire.

    =93I made them mine when I overheard the plot against you, Ed. I know y=
ou
feel personal responsibility, even I can sense that. But you can=92t shield=
 me
from this, not now.=94

    The paladin sighed and sat back down. =93Those assassins weren=92t just=
 a
ragtag group of thieves.=94

    =93Their intentions are dumb but they=92re good fighters.=94 His friend
agreed.

    =93They are but there=92s more... I felt an evil presence.=94

    =93What, another summoning? A spirit?=94

    =93No, a warrior. One like me. After much thought and prayer I am
convinced it=92s a powerful follower of the Shadow Bringers.=94

    Stealth shivered; he knew about the Daedra worshipers all too well.  =
=93A
Daedraenlui; A sword of the fallen gods... we=92re facing an =91anti paladi=
n=92.=94

    Edmund nodded. =93They have many names but that is correct. They are al=
so
pure evil... As evil a person as there can be.=94

    Stealth wrapped his blanket around his form =96 though the suit kept him
warm on its own it also drained vital energy while it did so. =93Why didn=
=92t
you tell me about this?=94

    =93I wasn=92t entirely sure and I didn=92t want to create unnecessary f=
ear.=94
The paladin reached for the Yule tree around his neck and ran his thick
padded thumb over its surface. =93Such people should not be feared but their
power should be respected. This is a dangerous foe.=94

    =93Then we=92ll fight our way out, I know how to fight.=94 Stealth answ=
ered
cagily.

    Edmund just looked at him; to say Stealth didn=92t sound confident was =
an
understatement. =93We will take a safe passage around them, not through the=
m.
Any confrontation will be a last resort.=94

    =93But they=92ll find us; they=92ll attack US if we try to slip away. W=
e need
to take them by surprise and attack THEM, isn=92t that the best form of
defence?=94 The feline hissed.

    =93We can=92t surprise them; their =91paladin=92 will sense me.=94 Edmu=
nd
countered calmly and rubbed his hands over the fire.

    =93Then we can=92t slip away. We need to fight or they=92ll hunt us dow=
n.=94
Stealth insisted.

    =93I have been trained since I was a child how to fight and how to lead.
You need to listen to me now.=94 Edmund said sharply, his tail began to sway
slightly.

    =93All your training did you no good out there!=94 Stealth hissed and s=
tood
up, =93You=92re a paladin; you=92re supposed to fight evil aren=92t you? Th=
is isn=92t
the time to be philosophical and patent.=94

    =93My job is to protect the innocent.=94 Edmund countered sharply. =93I
appreciate what you did for me but don=92t let it get to your head; these
people are professionals, you=92re gonna get yourself killed!=94

    =93Do you know how many times I=92ve nearly died running? I=92m tired of
running.=94 Stealth said coldly.

    Edmund looked into his eyes for a long moment, =93You=92re thinking with
your emotions, with your anger. These are the people who attacked you and
you=92re being blinded with hate.=94

    Stealth became silent and sat back down. =93I=92m tired of them. I just=
 want
it to end.=94 He said softly, =93But it=92s true; all I=92ve done is run an=
d what
did it get me? And you just want me to crawl past them.=94

    Edmund placed a hand on his shoulder, =93I want you to use your head,
think clearly. Being a soldier isn=92t an adventure; it is a very dangerous
and hard life. It means making hard decisions and living with the
consequences... and sometimes it means running away.=94

    Stealth nodded and sighed, keeping his head down.

    =93Get some rest, we both need rest. I=92ll take the first watch. We=92=
ll
leave before dawn and plan our next move tomorrow. How does that sound?=94

    =93Fair enough...=94 Stealth said and willed his armour to drop. The ch=
eetah
morph grabbed the side of his blanket with a humanoid hand and pulled it
over his form as it quickly melted into the shape of a quadruped that
huddled up as best it could.  =93Good night, Ed.=94

    =93Good night my friend.=94 The paladin said softly as he watched the f=
ire.

------------------------------------

    Early the next day Stealth and Edmund finalised their preparations to
leave. Neither of them had any idea of the time but dawn must have been
another three or four hours off. Being winter, they=92d scavenged enough wo=
od
for their fire to last all night. Stealth used it as an impromptu clock =96
when the last flames began to die out he shook the paladin awake.

    The coalition extinguished their bonfire before leaving though both were
conscious of leaving without cleaning up the spent wood and ashes. They
intended to return to clean up later and hoped the Shadow would understand,
for now they needed as much time as they could get before the sun broke over
the Barrier Range.

    Darkness still concealed them by the time they reached the boundary of
the Haunted Wood. In full form the coalition skulked carefully out of the
safety of the woods but didn=92t stray from the tree line. Stealth left his
amulet behind in case the magic could be detected. He left it along with his
armour and occasionally looked back =96 hoping the armour didn=92t follow h=
im.

    The cheetah saw a humanoid shadow nearby and took a step back into the
woods. Stealth shook his head when he realised the irony of where they took
shelter.

    Edmund crept low and flanked their pursuers. He sniffed at the air and
darted his head about to see over snow banks. The knight could make out
several shadows moving slowly around two or more objects. He guessed them to
be tents and next to them were what must have been horses.

    He couldn=92t tell how organised they were but they must have been able=
 to
leave at a moments notice. The paladin=92s ears folded when he paid closer
attention to the tents... he could sense the Daedraenlui in one of them.
Edmund=92s hackles rose when he saw Stealth creeping closer to their camp. =
For
fifteen very long minutes he watched the younger cheetah sneak right up to
their camp, at one point he perched in the shadow of a sentry. Eventually
Stealth had the sense to back up and return to the safety of the woods.

    Edmund grit his teeth; he wanted to chastise the feline for his
foolishness. Another part of him wondered why Stealth would even contemplate
taking such a risk; it certainly wasn=92t in his nature to leap into danger.

    Soon the courier returned to the tree line and motioned for the paladin
to follow. Edmund sighed and turned on his paws, they both snuck quietly
back into the Haunted Woods.

    They returned to the small corpse of trees where Edmund tied up his
mount. After shifting back they were VERY grateful to put on something warm.


    =93What did you see?=94 Edmund asked as he reattached his belt and chain
mail.

    =93There were two tents and six people on guard. They had around a dozen
horses.=94 Stealth answered quickly.

    =93What weapons did you see?=94

    =93Short swords, bows and an axe or two.=94 The feline shrugged.

    The paladin nodded, =93Why did you encroach so close to their camp?=94

    Stealth narrowed his gaze, =93Because we have little remaining darkness
and I can get close without them sensing me.=94

    =93If you had been discovered...=94 The knight shook his head.

    Despite his friend=92s recklessness, Edmund had a thought that Stealth=
=92s
new armour and form would aid in their escape yet the paladin remained
reluctant at the thought of Stealth going to his death against experienced
assassins. =93And please don=92t say you would have been too fast.=94

    =93Safety is a luxury right now. I just don=92t see how else we could h=
ave
gone about it.=94 The courier argued.

    =93That was too dangerous. You=92re not expendable.=94 He said harshly.
=93Recklessness is a luxury!=94

    =93So is ignorance! How do you expect to fight them?=94

    =93That is for me to worry about.=94 The knight said in a firm tone. Ye=
s, it
was best to do this alone, he thought. =93And what if they=92d detected your
scent?=94

    =93I didn=92t get close to any animal morphs; I would have sniffed them=
 out
first.=94

    =93And what if they=92d heard you? Sound travels better in the cold.=94

    =93They didn=92t here me! They were crunching too much snow under their
boots.=94 Stealth sighed and rubbed his muzzle, =93From what I=92ve seen an=
d smelt
I can tell you which ones are armed with what and how to approach them.=94

    =93Then tell me, but you will stay here.=94 Edmund ordered.

    =93Why? I=92ve fought these people before and come out of it.=94 The ar=
moured
cat answered, =93And now they=92re after you.=94

    =93And I will deal with them. I want you to remain here where it is saf=
e.=94

    =93Safe? Safe in the Haunted Woods...=94 It was difficult to comprehend=
 but
it was the truth; this place so feared and cursed had become their
sanctuary...

    =93Aye, the Shadow will protect you.=94

    Stealth gasped and shook his head, =93No... Ed, no. If that=92s the ans=
wer
then we=92re trapped here just like the spirits.=94
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