FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Tireal paced in front of his bunk. They had been searching for four days already. The rest of the crew was already awake and he could hear them preparing the Dodger to sail. The otter sighed; stopping at the head of the small bed. He gripped the corner of the wall there and leaned into his arm. What now? He thought. Hikage had the sapphire. He was also heading for Kathsera. They couldn't keep looking for Quint. Tireal knew that the search was hopeless. The Dodger had to follow Hikage, with or without Quint. Tireal looked up and wiped the water from his eyes. He straightened his baggy clothes, clothes that still carried the hyena's scent, and marched up the stairs to the deck. The crew had just finished casting off and the Dodger was beginning to sail from the small fishing village. Charr waved at the otter as he came up from the depths of the ship.

"What is our heading?" He asked. "Back to looking for Quint I expect?"

"No." Tireal looked out to sea as he spoke. He did not see the surprise on his companions' faces. "We make for Kathsera; to stop Hikage."

"Are you sure?" Alexis asked.

"Positive. Whether Quint is alive or... None of that matters now. Hikage will use the sapphire, and to destructive ends, that much is certain. Right now, we have the fastest ship in the world. So let's use it."

"Aye, aye!" Vicks shouted as he steered the Dodger towards the rat kingdom.

"We should be reaching Kathsera by sun down." Charr said as he approached Tireal. "Are you prepared?"

"Not yet, but I think I will be when the time comes."

Charr nodded as Tireal leaned on the ship's railing. In his heart he hoped Quint was still alive, but it was unlikely. Tireal voiced a silent prayer: Gods, angels, whatever you are, give me the strength to do this one thing without him. I love him, but I need to be strong even when he can't be there for me. Please, all I ask is for your blessing.

He waited for the voice in his head to respond, but there was none. Tireal nodded to himself and took a bandana from his pocket; tying it around his head.

***

Zas tossed on the lumpy cot that had been his bed for the last five nights. The wolf's hostile takeover had been perfect; almost too perfect. The three warriors had stormed the castle before any of the general's plans were ready for them. Thankfully they had only killed one soldier before Zas decided to surrender as peacefully as he could. The rat sat up and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes, but his vision was still cloudy when he pulled his hands away. He shook his head in a vain attempt to clear it as he slowly stood and leaned against the stone wall of his cell. He could hear water dripping in the distance and wondered when his dungeon had sprung a leak. It didn't matter. He had never used the dungeon before. Execution had been good enough punishment to all but stop crime entirely. He was the only guest of the darkness down here now. As the groggy feeling of a restless sleep slowly left him he noticed the bread and water near the gate of his cell. Zas sank to his knees in front of the food and devoured it hungrily. It was much less substantial than he was used to and his stomach rumbled in protest as he finished the last of the water.

"General," One of the guards outside his cell was speaking.

Zas looked up from the empty plate. He knew he looked like hell because he could feel it. The guard cringed slightly as their gaze met.

"Sir, a few of the men and I are going to get you out of here."

The general looked up at him dumbly.

"Did you hear me, sir?"

"What's the point?" Zas asked; looking away.

"Sir?"

"Where would I go? What would I do?"

"You could gather your forces, sir. You could plan a counter attack!"

"The citizens hate me. Who would follow me? Besides I hardly think that we have enough man-power in this entire city to fight those three."

"They are the bigger threat, sir. I'm sure you could rally the people to fight by your side. We'll never know until we try."

Zas shrugged and walked to the rear of the cell; sliding down the wall slowly until he was sitting on the floor; clutching his knees.

"There is no point. The castle belongs to them now and they are going to use it for something just as bad as I would have done. That's the way of things. I was a bad ruler, so I am replaced by a bad ruler. It's my lot to waste away in here."

The guard unlocked the cell door and walked inside. Zas looked up in alarm at the sudden noise and yelped as the guard grabbed him roughly by the arm.

"You are coming with me whether you want to or not... sir." The guard began dragging Zas out of the cell. "I made a promise and I don't intend to break it."

Zas's ears perked up.

"A promise? To whom?"

"You'll see for yourself when we get back to base."

The rat general stood up and brushed himself off as best he could. The straw and grime from the cell had smeared his tattered clothing brown. He wished he could bathe somewhere before meeting his rescuers, but it would have to wait.

"Very well. Lead on, guardsman."

"Yes, sir!" The guard replied. "By the way, my name is Merin."

Zas felt a twinge in his heart. The rat's name reminded him of Girin, but he pushed the thought from his mind. What didn't remind him of Girin these days? There were more pressing matters at hand.

***

Quint was once again in a dark place. The last thing he remembered was being thrown into the water by an explosion. The voice in his head was silent and he wondered if he had actually died. For something that the hyena had been anticipating for so long, death was very disappointing. He supposed that death wouldn't have to please the dead, though. He wondered if everyone had the same experience when they died. It would sure make the afterlife boring if they did.

"Darkness lends itself to thinking doesn't it?"

The familiar voice in his head made Quint smile.

"Hello Gabe. I guess I'm not dead yet, then."

The voice chuckled.

"Oh no, you are quite deceased. You drowned after the explosion. Your crew was looking for your body, but the water was too deep for them to find you."

Quint sighed.

"What is it?" The voice asked.

"I never had the chance to say goodbye."

"There is much we wish we could have done. Hindsight is the clearer vision."

"So, this is it?" Quint asked, "This is all that remains at the end?"

"Not entirely."

The hyena had to shield his eyes as a white light suddenly enveloped him. When he opened them again, he was lying in a field of grass. The sky above was blue with wisps of clouds in the sky and the sun shone down warm and bright. The field he was in stretched out for acres before him with sparse clumps of trees dotting the landscape.

"Welcome to my home." A voice said behind him.

Quint turned and saw a glowing bear. The ursine was wearing a golden robe and he was holding a book in the crook of his left arm. He was wearing sandals as well and his fur was a rich golden brown color. His eyes were pure blue. He also had wings folded neatly behind him and a small hoop hung over his head. He extended his right hand towards Quint in greeting and the hyena took it.

"Gabe I presume?"

The bear nodded.

"You may call me Gabriel."

"So you're an angel then."

"No, I am an Observer. I am not tied to a god or goddess or any heavenly plane."

"What is this place, then?"

"This is my Haven. A place where I can escape the universe and enjoy myself."

"So where in the universe is this exactly?"

"I would not be able to tell you even if I knew the exact location, but every being has a Haven. It is where you retreat to in your own mind when the real world becomes too much to bear."

"So this is your 'Happy Place?'"

"Mortals tend to call Havens that, but it is really the physical manifestation of my deepest desires. That is why you are here."

"What makes me so special that an Observer would desire to have me in his Haven?"

Gabe lifted the book that had been resting on his arm, but the title was in a language Quint couldn't understand.

"This is a journal of all that I have seen." Gabe told him. "It holds the destinies of many who held great responsibility in the universe. We Observers call them catalysts. You are one of those catalysts."

"I still am? Even after death?"

"Of course. You have helped to shape the world. From the first time you accepted your burden from another catalyst, you continued her path. The phial that you wear sustained you until your untimely passing and that made you extraordinary. The life that lasts for a thousand years has shaped you and made you into who you have become. You fight for justice and it is all because of your extraordinary experiences."

"What is the point of keeping track of me if I am dead now?"

"There are other Observers, Quint. They seek to break universal law by interfering with mortal lives and destinies, pushing them to do certain things when they should not. They created Evil; trying to create a force of retribution that they may control. These Observers were swallowed by it, consumed and now Evil controls them."

"But you did that. You pulled me in a certain direction after the explosion."

"I did no such thing. Perhaps in your proximity to death, you felt the hand of Fate. It was destiny that guided you, no one else."

"Well what is Fate, then? An evil Observer?"

"Fate is a universal force that creates paths for all creatures while they live." Gabe sat cross legged in the grass. "We are all moved by Fate and Fate is always watching. She even watches Observers. Fate supplies us with our destinies and we must follow her paths or be wiped from the universe entirely."

"So you're saying none of us have a choice." Quint said.

"Not true. You do have a choice. Fate lays choices in front of you and calculates all possible outcomes. She has even foreseen your unfortunate demise."

"Why let me die, then? She could have stopped me from leaping onto the ship."

"But that would be interfering. She lets mortals make their own choices and then pulls them in the direction that those choices lead them. Did you not think that you or your companions would be in danger? Had you forgotten the fear of death that is supposed to come with being a mortal?"

"I guess I had. But maybe I was supposed to." Quint looked out over the fields of waving grass.

"Who else is a catalyst?"

"In the mortal plane right now there are four: yourself; Hikage; Zas the rat; and your young lover, Tireal. You four draw allies to you like moths to a flame."

"You keep talking as if I'm not dead, but you said before that I was."

"You could still be brought back to the land of the living. The sapphire has that power, but another catalyst must make the choice to do so." Gabe suddenly looked up as if alarmed by something. "If you are not resurrected, you will be moved to an afterlife that best suits your actions in life."

Quint stared at the waving grass as if mesmerized. The field reminded him so much of the field in the harbor town of his birth; the town he had left behind so long ago in search of adventure; the town he had never returned to. He tried conjuring images of his parents in his mind, but nothing came. He saw vague outlines, but no faces or details.

"It is difficult remembering that far back, isn't it?" Gabe asked.

Quint turned back to look at him with an accusing glare.

"Don't read my mind."

"I have to. It is part of my purpose. The mortal memory is not supposed to last for one thousand years. It is easy to forget things that you once could never forget. Who was your best friend back then?"

Quint frowned, trying to think.

"You can't remember." Gabe said.

"It isn't important." Quint turned back to the clouds in the sky. "Those friends are long dead and gone."

"Do you remember your first love, then?" Gabe sat in the grass directly behind Quint; cradling the hyena's head in his lap.

"I remember her looks. I remember her scent."

"But not a name."

Quint shook his head.

"Do you know what that tells you?" Gabe asked.

Quint looked up at him and shrugged.

"What does it matter?"

"Exactly. Nothing matters. None of the mortal lives around you matter."

"That can't be true."

"It is for an immortal. The only thing that should matter for your kind is attaining power. The sapphire is something that could give you great power."

Something was wrong. The air suddenly tasted stale. The grass and clouds seemed artificial. The scenery below the hill looked almost like a painting. Quint stood suddenly and started walking.

"Where are you going?" Gabe said, startled.

"I'm seeing how big this place is."

Gabe stood, but didn't follow. Quint held out his hand as the scenery on the horizon drew closer. His hand pressed against something soft and plastic-like. He turned to face the robed ursine.

"What the hell is this?"

"That is... ah..." The bear scratched the back of his head.

"It's fake!"

"Yes well, my Haven doesn't need to be real in order to please me."

Quint narrowed his eyes.

"I don't believe you. Where are we really?"

Gabe sighed.

"We are in my Haven, but I have made it appear more soothing to you. A creature's mind can be damaged easily after death."

"Why should I believe anything you tell me?"

"I have been giving you advice. I have been trying to help you."

"All you have said so far has made me question your motives. How can none of the relationships I have had matter?"

"Because they just don't. Otherwise you would be able to remember all of them."

"But they do matter. They matter because my actions matter. What I do affects the entire world. You said so yourself."

"True, but-"

"You said my experiences made me who I am, so I've experienced the company of countless mortals. They have influenced my decisions and actions. Through me, they have changed the world."

Gabe snorted bitterly.

"And look where it got you. You're dead."

Quint stared at him.

"I think I should go now. Tireal will be wishing me back soon."

Gabe snorted again.

"You should not put so much faith in mortals, Quint. Their feelings are fickle and change in a beat of the heart."

"I know." Quint growled. "I was once a mortal myself. Send me back to the darkness. I don't like you insulting my friends."

"Fine. But you aren't realizing the bigger picture here. More is at stake than you realize."

"I won't be anyone's puppet. Not Fate's and certainly not yours!" Quint shouted.

Gabe angrily stood and waved his hand in Quint's direction.

"Pleasant dreams." He said icily as a sudden wind struck Quint in the chest; sending him sailing backwards as he lost consciousness.

***

Tireal and his crew had landed with little trouble at Kathsera. There was an ominous cloudy sky above them as they had docked the ship. The clouds still hung overhead as they waited in the emergency militia camp that the remaining guardsman and able-bodied civilians had created. The camp was inside of a tavern. It was crowded, but there was plenty of space for everyone. Tireal and the crew had been waiting there ever since the rescue team had entered the palace to get Zas and Charr was starting to worry.

"They should have returned by now." He said as he paced back and forth in the tavern's common room.

"You're overreacting" Alexis put a hand on his shoulder; trying to calm him down. "They'll be back soon. There's no way of telling what obstacles they might have encountered."

Tireal was sitting at the bar stirring a drink. He remembered when he and Quint used to go on simple jobs, but that was before Tireal really knew what Quint was. He still didn't really know. What made Quint never age? How did he know Hikage?

"They're back!" One of the guards outside shouted; breaking Tireal's train of thought.

Four rat guards in armor entered the tavern along with a much disheveled Zas.

Merin spoke first. "Sir Charr, I have brought Zas from within the dungeons as promised. What are our plans?"

"First thing is first." Charr said. "Let's get the General a clean set of clothes and a warm bath. Then we can discuss our plan of attack."

"Yes sir!" Merin saluted and motioned for Zas to follow him up the tavern stairs.

The two rats found an empty room and Merin began drawing a bath for the General.

"Why are all of these civilians helping us?" Zas asked as he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"They wish to liberate their city. Many leaders of your caliber would take this as an opportunity to boost morale among your citizens or to distract them from your tyranny."

Zas sighed. "I have been a rather harsh dictator. How do you make that up to an entire kingdom?"

"They will come around if you are honest about reform. Maybe that time in the dungeon was what you needed to truly see what your people need." Merin finished with the bath, dried his hands, and walked towards the door.

"And what do they need?"

"A ruler who respects them and will treat them as equals." Merin smiled. "I will be waiting outside if you need anything."

After the rat soldier left Zas had to snap himself out of an almost trance. That smile had almost been exactly like Girin's. Why did that rat and his dead lover look so familiar? And why did they sound the same? Was Girin really dead? Zas shook himself. Of course he was. The bath was getting cold in any case so the general stripped off his clothes and stepped in to relax.

In the tavern's main room Charr was passing out supplies and weaponry to the volunteer militia. Alexis was sitting at a table close to the bar; looking over a floor plan of the castle that was found in the tavern's back room. Tireal was sitting with her, but he was lost in thought. Vicks sat at the bar tallying the number of soldiers the militia had at its disposal. The room fell silent as Zas entered from the back room. He was dressed in peasant clothing that was fine apparel by peasant standards, but it felt like wearing rags to him. He looked around the room nervously before electing to sit at the table with Alexis and Tireal.

"Welcome, general." Alexis said, "We were just formulating an attack plan. Do you have any advice?"

The bustle of the room began again as Zas looked at the scrawled arrows and notes on the plan.

"What is the plan so far?" He asked.

Tireal spoke up this time. "We are avoiding the front gates as guards will most likely be posted there. We were thinking that the sewer would be the best course of action and then from there, the dungeons and upward."

"How many troops can we fit in the sewers at once?" Zas asked.

"We were hoping that you could tell us." Alexis responded.

Zas stared intently at the map for a moment.

"This plan won't work." He said finally; shaking his head.

"Why not?" Tireal said, taken back.

"You need a distraction." The militiamen in the room all lowered their voices as Zas's military brain went to work. "The distraction must be large enough and believable enough that the three trespassers will all go to deal with it. Even if all three do not, then it needs to draw at least two of them away from the castle."

"What kind of distraction could do that?" Alexis asked.

"A challenge of their power would suffice I think." Zas put a hand on his chin; thinking intently.

Charr spoke up from behind the bar. "Zas, you've seen what these people can do. Being part of that distraction would be a huge risk to those involved. Who would take part in a possible suicide mission?"

The room became as silent as the grave for a few moments. All were looking at each other as if to discern who would volunteer. Zas closed his eyes against the silence. Girin, I'm doing this in memory of you. He thought before raising his right hand.

"I will challenge them." He said.

All eyes turned on the general; his hand held high as he looked at the civilians in the room.

"Who will challenge them with me?" He asked.

Silence answered him.

Zas lowered his hand and shook his head.

"I expected as much. I don't expect you to forgive me for being so cruel." He said as he looked at each rat in the room. "My father was a poor role-model, but there is really no excuse for the way I treated all of the citizens in my city, nay, my kingdom. If there are any in this room who can put aside the terrible job I did as a king and follow me for one last mission as a general, I would be most humbly grateful."

Zas hung his head after speaking and walked towards Charr; holding out a hand.

"Councilor Charr, I will require a blade."

Charr blinked momentarily and then hurried to fetch a sword. He filtered through the blades at their disposal and chose the finest long sword in the pile.

Merin stepped forward and knelt before Zas.

"You have my blade, my liege."

"Sir," Charr said as he placed the sword in Zas's hands. "This is the finest blade we have available. Two will not be enough to hold them for long, but general, you have my sword arm and my loyalty in this mission."

Zas felt a small smile dart across his lips for a moment before nodding professionally and turning to the rest of the tavern.

"Are there none others who will join us in the fray?" He asked.

"I shall!" A large rat in the back of the crowd called out as he strode forward.

"I will fight by your side as well!" a female rat said as she knelt next to Merin.

Five other rats in the crowd all raised their hands in acknowledgment, bringing a kind smile to Zas's face.

"Thank you, all. Maybe with your help we can make this less of a suicide mission." Zas said as he walked back over to the floor plans. "For now, though we need to come up with the rest of our plan."

The entire tavern cheered.

***

It was passed midnight when the plans were finally all laid out. All of the soldiers had already retired, knowing that they would be given their orders the following morning. Alexis had rolled up the maps and trudged upstairs followed quickly by Charr. Vicks was asleep; leaning on his arms on one of the tables. Tireal and Zas were sitting at the bar. Zas was drinking gin while Tireal drank water. Neither had said a word since the others left and now the tavern was getting dark as each candle slowly burned low.

"Why did you volunteer?" Tireal asked suddenly.

Zas took a drink from his glass and chuckled.

"I need to do something for these people; my people. I wronged them for so long, though; that I fear this might not be enough. I'm not doing it for glory. You need to go up into that tower and finish this. My fight is below, with my people."

Tireal sighed.

"Everyone thinks it's my duty to face them," Tireal said, "But I'm not the one who should be doing it. When I think about what they can do, it sends chills down my spine. How are you supposed to fight something like that?"

Zas took another swig and put his hand on Tireal's shoulder.

"Think about those you really care about. You're doing it for them. Take strength from your passion."

Tireal was silent and gulped down his water. Zas laughed softly as he looked across the bar.

"Someone gave me that advice once," Zas said as he looked into space, "It was the last time I saw him, too."

He patted Tireal on the shoulder. "I believe in you. So does my kingdom. We have faith, so have faith in yourself."

"If only it were that easy." Tireal stared into his glass. "Everything that I've done, has been with someone else. He was always there to help me and now that he's gone, everyone is turning to me as if I was somehow given divine vision or something. I have no one to fall back on. I'm certainly not as strong as he was and the people we are up against nearly killed him."

"Maybe we are destined to fail then."

Tireal looked at Zas, shocked.

"What!?"

"Well these opponents sound formidable indeed. Granted, I never saw their power firsthand. But if what you speak is truth, then perhaps we are fated to lose this conflict. Maybe they are what we all will become some day and they are just clearing the way."

"I don't think so. Quint knew them." Tireal poured himself some more water. "I think they're relics from the past."

"All the more reason to get rid of them. I never saw the point of keeping antiques for very long anyway. Can you at least tell me what to expect during tomorrow's distraction?"

Tireal nodded.

"Well I don't think the wolf will leave the tower so he'll probably send the lizard or the leopard. If he's really threatened by you, then he may send both. I haven't seen what the leopard can do, but the lizard..." Tireal trailed off and took a drink of his water. "She can hit you no matter whether you block or not."

"Interesting. Well it looks like we have a challenge ahead of us, then." Zas downed the rest of his drink. "Well I am going to turn in for the night. You probably should too as we have a big day tomorrow."

Tireal nodded and poured out the remaining half glass of water as Zas slipped off of his stool and walked towards the stairs.

"General?" Tireal said as he put the glass away. "Good luck out there tomorrow."

Zas smiled and saluted Tireal.

"Fight well and be strong." Zas responded.

The two parted and went to their own rooms to sleep.

***

Morning crept slowly over the silent city of Kathsera. Hikage sat in the throne; toying with the sapphire in his hand. He had not slept since they arrived in the city. The trio had spent all of their time here trying to figure out how to use the sapphire, but so far none of their attempts had been fruitful. He stared into the gem with anger in his eyes.

How do you work? He thought.

Kogoe's voice interrupted his thoughts.

There is nothing in the archives that mentions the sapphire's operation. The voice told him.

What about location so we at least know where to look? Hikage asked in his head.

There are repeated mentions of the throne room. Pull us through. We are on the second floor of the archives. Kogoe responded.

Hikage sighed and reached into a slowly shrinking shadow on the floor next to the throne. He grabbed Kogoe's arm and pulled as he stood in order to give himself proper leverage. The two other soldiers rose through the shadow until they were standing in the room with him.

"Any suggestions?" Hikage asked.

"The center of the room is where I would think something like this would take place." Baki said.

Hikage walked to the center of the room and lifted the sapphire in his hands toward the ceiling.

"Sapphire, please give him back to me." Hikage pleaded. "I wish Tsukuu was with us again!"

Silence answered him.

"Why doesn't this piece of trash work?" Hikage roared as he whirled to face the throne; releasing the sapphire from his grip with a powerful throw. Kogoe and Baki gasped and moved to catch the gem as it hurtled through the air towards the throne. Hikage snorted in annoyance and shoved his hand through his own shadow; the hand rising from the seat of the throne directly in line with the gem.

None of the three soldiers caught the sapphire.

Hikage looked up from the shadow to see the sapphire floating in midair above the throne. Baki and Kogoe stared at it in amazement. The sapphire slowly started to ascend towards the ceiling.

"Where is it going?" Hikage asked; pulling his hand back through.

"I don't know." Kogoe said.

The gem rose higher and higher.

"Is there a room above this one?" Hikage returned to the throne and grabbed a book from under Kogoe's arm.

"Uh, I think the roof is above this room." Baki spoke up.

All three soldiers turned towards the arena outside of the throne room as a commotion suddenly started outside.

"What is that?" Hikage waved his hand in the direction of the noise. "Please deal with it. I have a comrade to resurrect."

The two other soldiers nodded and saluted Hikage as he moved towards the stairs, book clutched in his fist. Baki walked towards the window and pushed it open. She looked down on a small group of rats armed to the teeth.

"Get out of our city!" One of the rats shouted.

"You don't belong here!" Another joined in.

Baki rolled her eyes as Kogoe lowered them from the window with his power.

"You must have a death wish." She said to them as the two levitated down from the window and landed softly on the ground. "I could kill all of you without thinking twice."

The rats had stopped speaking and only stared at them now. Zas was having second thoughts.

"Is that really necessary?" Kogoe asked. "Can't we just knock them out or something?"

Baki turned to him quizzically. Zas was confused.

"When did you get soft?" She asked.

"I... I remembered something." Kogoe told her. "I remembered the night Quint left."

Baki spit on the sand.

"Hey!" Charr shouted.

Baki ignored him.

"That hyena can rot for all I care."

"He saved me, Baki. He left because Hikage pushed him out. Someone was feeding false information. He wasn't a traitor at all."

"Oh? Then who was the traitor? How did those troops know we were coming?"

Kogoe looked down at the shouting rats below.

"I was." Baki stared at him. "I was trying to capture Quint so that I could look good and I alerted the guards."

"You son of a bitch." Baki gritted her teeth.

"Quint knew he would be blamed because of the false reports of his actions so he left. But he carried me to the pickup point."

"Shut up." Baki looked away from Kogoe into the sand at her feet.

"He really is a good person, Bak-"

"I said shut up!" Baki's fist connected with the leopard's jaw with so much force that all present heard a sickening crunch. Kogoe's limp body sailed through the air and crumpled into a heap in the sand several feet away. The rats backed up from the panting and crying lizard as she wailed; punching the castle wall furiously.

Zas rushed to Kogoe's side and felt for a pulse. The leopard's chest was moving up and down shallowly.

"He'll live!" He yelled loud enough for everyone in the arena to hear.

Baki stopped punching the wall, her fists bloodied from the blows.

"We need to get him to a doctor, but he will live if we hurry."

Baki shook her head.

"I cannot let you leave." She said; her face a mask of determination.

"But he could die!" Charr exclaimed.

"I made a promise. I will deal with you and then see to Whisper."

"You're crazy." One of the other rats said as they drew their weapons.

"I believe you should know who you are fighting." Baki said as she raised her fists. "I am

Ghost Fist."

***

Tireal, Alexis, Vicks, and a small squad of militia emerged from the dungeon inside the main hall of the castle. Alexis had two belts strapped across her chest that were covered in explosives and two pistols at her sides. Vicks was carrying a sword and pistol. Tireal was armed in the same manner. Alexis gestured to the throne room and the militia members trotted to the door. Tireal opened the door a crack and peered through it. The throne room was empty, but there were voices coming from the arena. The group opened the door and marched inside.

"Looks like the distraction is working." Alexis said.

"Zas said the stairs in the throne room lead to the roof." Tireal mused. "You militia stay here in case the other two come back. The three of us will try to stop Hikage."

A terrible scream came from the arena outside. The militia in the room quietly crept to the window to look down. Baki was a flurry of fists between the rats below. Zas seemed to be the only one holding his own. Charr lay in the sand, unmoving. His armor was stained with blood.

"No!" Alexis gasped. "I'm going down there!"

"You can't do anything for him now!" Tireal pleaded.

"I can help them beat her. I should have been with them from the start!"

"But I need you here!" Tireal responded.

"You'll be fine." Alexis smiled weakly. "You four come with me. The rest of you stay here and guard this room. Vicks, go with Tireal."

The rats and lion saluted and did as they were told as Alexis drew her pistols and rushed to the aid of the distraction party.

Tireal and Vicks began to climb the stairs. The spiral staircase wound its way up towards the roof in darkness. Tireal found himself searching for the next step as they climbed. The only sounds were the echoes of fighting from the courtyard and all that Tireal could smell was the musty scent of the old stone. He did not know how they were going to stop Hikage. He only knew that they had to stop him, no matter what. He gripped the pistol at his waist and prayed silently.

***

Hikage, Tsukuu, and Baki were trapped. The facility's alarm had gone off without warning and the three commandos had barricaded themselves in a storage room. The moderately sized room was filled with ammunition and the three heard the rapid footsteps of guards rushing about outside the door. Hikage was fiddling with his rifle in agitation. Tsukuu looked at him in annoyance.

"Cut it out, would you?" The younger canine whispered.

"Who set off the fucking alarm?" Hikage hissed. "I bet it was that traitor, Quint! I told you that putting him and Kogoe on guard duty was a mistake!"

Baki rolled her eyes.

"You're the only one who believes he's a traitor, Hikage." She said.

"How else do you explain all of the furless being aware of our missions? Why is this alarm going off right now?"

Tsukuu sighed and looked towards the door.

"He has a point, Baki."

The lizard shrugged. Tsukuu reached into his jacket and pulled out a glowing blue gem.

"Why did the higher ups want us to get this thing anyway?"

Hikage grabbed it from him.

"Who knows? It just looks like a stone to me." Baki mused.

"Some ultimate weapon this is." Hikage scowled. "What's the point of sending us on these missions if they don't give us a reason?"

He handed the stone back to Tsukuu who stared into it.

"I know it sounds weird, but I think I see something in here." He said.

There was a commotion outside the door suddenly and all three commandos looked up as the door rattled. There was a loud bang on the door and their makeshift barricade moved slightly.

"Fuck us!" Hikage hissed as he stood and started looking for something to hide in.

Baki reached up and unhooked an air vent covering while Tsukuu helped Hikage empty out three weapon lockers. They all crammed themselves inside the lockers and waited with baited breath. The door flew open as three furless rammed into it; sending the barricade crashing against either side of the storage room. The three guards looked around the room cautiously; rifles at the ready. Tsukuu rummaged inside his jacket again; pulling out the sapphire to stare into it once more. One of the guards examined the air vent while the other two started opening weapon lockers. They were speaking in a rapid language that none of the commandos could understand. Tsukuu gazed into the stone, unable to take his eyes from it.

Make a wish.

Tsukuu blinked, startled.

"What?" he whispered to the sapphire.

Make a wish, Tsukuu, and it will come true.

The voice was soothing, not manipulative and the young canine was comforted by it despite the situation. His locker was closest to the door and he could hear the guards opening them and getting closer. He silently cursed them and stared into the gem.

Make a wish; hurry.

Tsukuu had no choice. He didn't want to die.

"I wish this war was over," He whispered, "and I want my squad to be safe."

Granted.

The light of the gem grew brighter in his hands and he yelped in surprise as the locker he was hiding in flew open. The guards pointed their rifles at the light and their guns disintegrated. They shrieked in terror as their flesh began to melt away. Tsukuu watched in awe and horror. The light of the sapphire grew brighter and brighter. The young canine shielded his eyes, but the gleam was too bright and he found himself sinking into unconsciousness.

What have I done? He thought.

Kogoe sat in the wreckage of the drop ship that had picked him up. He was bleeding badly and the surviving medics were trying to help him out of the burning remains of the ship. The furless had shot down the vehicle and were closing in fast. Kogoe was in a lot of pain and still groggy from the meds they had shot him up with. The medic who was helping him suddenly yelped as a bullet ripped through her chest and she fell forward onto him. He couldn't move now; only watch as the furless swarmed over the wreckage; shooting the soldiers who lay in the grass to make sure they were dead. One of them approached Kogoe and the medic; lifting the barrel of his rifle towards Kogoe's head. The leopard looked at the barrel through a haze of drugs, but something else caught his eye and he looked towards the trees. A blue light was rapidly filling up the jungle. The furless above him noticed his gaze and turned; shrieking in terror at the blue shockwave. Kogoe's vision blurred as the blue light overtook him and he slipped into darkness.

Tsukuu awoke in the ruins of the furless base. The sun was shining high above him and all of his squad mates were lying peacefully nearby, including Quint. Tsukuu shook himself and stood slowly on shaky knees. The sapphire was still clutched in his hand and he winced in pain as he pried it out of his own stiff fingers and put it back in his jacket. He stretched and shook Hikage. The wolf didn't respond. Tsukuu leaned down to make sure he was still breathing. Satisfied that Hikage still lived, he checked the other squad members. All of them were breathing normally. He heard a noise behind him and he crouched to the ground; turning to see what it was. A feral rabbit hopped out of the underbrush and nibbled on the very tall grass that covered most of the ruined facility. Tsukuu thought it was odd that the rabbit didn't seem to notice him and he looked down at himself curiously. His fur was green; like the grass around him. Tsukuu gasped in alarm and suddenly his fur was back to normal. The rabbit bolted into the undergrowth at the canine's sudden appearance.

"Where the hell did this come from?" He asked; holding his hand towards the sky and watching it turn slightly blue.

He smiled to himself as he picked up a long range radio and pushed the call button.

"Come in, HQ. This is Omega Two; codename Trigger reporting. The mission was a success; I repeat: mission accomplished."

He released his finger from the button and waited for a response, but none came. The canine pushed the button again.

"HQ, please respond. Mission accomplished. Omega Squad requires immediate pickup, over."

Only silence answered him. Tsukuu sighed and tilted his head back to look up at the blue sky. His ears twitched as the sound of helicopter blades filled them. He stood in hope and rushed into the most open part of the ruins. He lifted one of his flares to the sky and launched it. The orange light exploded upwards and lit up the surrounding forest. Tsukuu heard the helicopter coming closer and nearly cackled with glee. He started pulling his squad mates towards the clearing as the helicopter came into view. The black machine was something unfamiliar to Tsukuu and he became apprehensive. What if the copter was a furless vehicle? He blended into the ground to see what the inhabitants of the machine would be. The copter touched down and the blades slowed. A large door slid open on the side of it and several birds hopped out; rushing over to the incapacitated squad. Tsukuu sighed in relief and went behind a wall to reappear. He came trotting out from behind the wall, smiling.

"Thank the gods you saw my signal!" He said happily.

The birds looked at him in surprise at first and then they surrounded him.

"Who are you? How long have you been here? What were you doing on our island? Who do you work for?" The bird in charge squawked.

"Hey, easy on the questions. My name is Trigger. I'm a member of the United Federal Army. These are my squad mates."

The birds looked at each other and laughed.

"What's funny?" Tsukuu asked.

"The UFA? That hasn't existed for two years, boy!" The birds continued laughing. "Come on, we'll get you back to the mainland and you can explain who you really are, hm?"

"But I'm telling you the truth! This is where the war ended. I ended it with this!" Tsukuu pulled the sapphire from his jacket and the birds were immediately silenced.

"That's the Celestial Sapphire!" The bird in charge gasped. "We have been looking for that relic for a long time. You must come with us to Serevix if you were indeed the cause of the end of the war. We need to study that gem as well."

Tsukuu scratched his chin in thought, looking at his squad. An idea was forming in his head.

"I'll go with you, but on one condition."

"What do you desire?"

"Take those three as well. I have something to give them." He pointed to Hikage, Kogoe, and Baki.

"Of course. That won't be a problem. What about the hyena?"

Tsukuu scoffed.

"Leave him. He's a traitor."

The bird nodded and motioned to his soldiers. The birds helped Tsukuu move the three commandos onto the copter. The young canine returned to Quint's side and kicked him roughly in the ribs. The hyena's green pendant slipped out from under his shirt. Tsukuu cocked his head inquisitively and knelt down next to the hyena.

"What do we have here?" He asked himself. "Is this your secret I wonder?"

Tsukuu noticed a black plastic box poking out of the hyena's jacket pocket and he lifted it gingerly.

"Treacherous evidence perhaps?" The young canine snarled as he opened the case.

He looked at the contents, puzzled. There were ten glass vials in the case. Six of them were filled with a swirling green liquid. There was a note scribbled next to the vials that read, "One for one-thousand." Tsukuu smirked.

"So this is how you heal so fast." He removed three of the full vials and threw the case back at the unconscious hyena.

"I hope you won't mind if I follow your example. You always were a bad influence on me, older brother."

He grinned in satisfaction and walked to the helicopter, hopping in as the machine took off into the blue sky.

***

The stairs continued to climb, spiraling upward in distressing monotony. Vicks was getting agitated at the darkness of the staircase. He wanted it to end. He was itching to confront Hikage. He growled and suddenly pushed passed Tireal to run ahead.

"Hey wait!" Tireal called after him, breaking into a run as well.

Hikage was standing in front of a circular, stone dais on the roof. The tower roof itself was circular and the sky was bright blue. The wolf could see for miles; the entire kingdom of Kathsera. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down the dizzying sheer drop to the city below. It looked so far away, as if he was above the problems of the mundane world. He turned to look at the gem in the middle of the roof. The sapphire was hovering above the dais as if expecting him to do something. The wolf cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but a voice in his head interrupted him.

Before you waste your wish, think. The voice said.

"What the hell?"

Not really. My name is Gabe. I'm an Observer. You should think about the power you could gain from such a stone. The voice was soothing.

"But I want Tsukuu back." Hikage said, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I loved him."

Be smart. The voice was condescending. With the power you could attain from the stone you could be bestowed powers like unto a god. Resurrecting your lover would be simple with that kind of power and the world would, nay the universe would be yours.

Hikage was still hesitant.

"Who are you exactly?"

I already told you, my name is Gabe. I watch the mortal world for those with proper potential. You are such a being. You do not follow a destiny, you mold others' destinies. Think of what you could accomplish with the powers of a god!

Hikage backed away from the stone slowly.

"This is some kind of trick, right? I'm not actually hearing this."

Actually you are hearing this. I am very real and everything I tell you is true. Power is the only way to get what you want so take it while you have the chance!

"Prove that you're real and I'll do it!" Hikage exclaimed.

The sapphire spun in the air momentarily and a bear in a robe and sandals appeared in front of the dais. He handed a piece of paper to Hikage and the wolf took it in awe. On the paper was written Hikage's full name and birthplace.

"I have been watching you for quite some time." The bear said. "It is an honor to finally meet."

Hikage nodded in disbelief.

"Who...?"

"I will not tell you my name a third time. You promised to wish for god-like power, so hop to it. You don't have much time."

The wolf gulped and looked up at the sapphire.

"I wish-"

The staircase door flew open suddenly as Vicks burst out onto the roof.

"Stop!" he yelled at the startled wolf and bear.

"What is the meaning of this? Who are you?" Hikage angrily asked.

Vicks drew the pistol at his side and pointed it in the bear's direction.

"Don't listen to him, Hikage." Vicks growled. "He is a tricky one. He wants the power for himself!"

"What? Who are you?" Gabe asked

Tireal exited the stairway panting. He looked at Vicks, confused. The lion wasn't even breathing hard. The otter rested both hands on his knees as he tried to regain his breath.

"Oh you're with them." Hikage's eyes narrowed.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Vicks said, "but you're making a big mistake if you're trying to resurrect Trigger."

Tireal looked up at Vicks with an even more confused expression on his face.

"What?" he and Hikage both said in unison.

"Who cares?" Gabe asked; turning to Hikage. "Wish for ultimate power quickly and be done with this rabble forever!"

Vicks fired the gun; the bullet piercing Gabe's ribs just below his heart. The bear staggered back in surprise and touched the bloodstain in disbelief.

"How... how dare you...!" Gabe gasped as he tried to stay on his feet.

"The search for power is dangerous, Gabe." Vicks said. "If I want power I will keep it for myself. You don't disserve to be a god."

The bear staggered backwards until he teetered on the edge of the roof. He flapped his wings in vain; trying to keep himself upright.

"Curse you, Tsu-" the bear choked out before he disappeared over the edge.

"Did you... just kill an angel?" Hikage asked.

"You can't resurrect Tsukuu." Vicks responded matter-of-factly.

"I'll do whatever I damn well please." Hikage snorted. "You think the two of you will be able to stop me?"

"You don't understand." Vicks said as he lowered his gun and started to walk towards Hikage.

The wolf drew his sidearm and pointed it at Vicks. He looked around for a shadow just in case.

"Don't try me, cat. I lose my temper very easily."

"Hikage, resurrecting Trigger is impossible." Vicks was still walking forward.

Tireal looked from wolf to lion and back as his breathing finally returned to normal.

"Vicks, don't test him!"

"Listen to your little friend, lion."

"He's not my friend, Hikage. Don't you remember?" Vicks took another step.

Hikage looked the lion up and down quizzically as a cool, sea breeze swept passed them.

"No, I would remember you." The wolf said, shaking his head.

"You disappoint me, Shadow." Vicks's eyes lowered sadly.

"What the fuck? How do you know our codenames?" Hikage asked angrily as he cocked his gun.

"Vicks please!" Tireal wailed.

"Let me prove my worth," Vicks said as he looked into Hikage's eyes and his lion fur started to change color. "Let me protect you."

The lion before them melted away and a slightly older looking Tsukuu stood there; arms spread wide. Hikage's gun arm shook in surprise and confusion as he lowered the firearm to his side.

"Tsukuu...? But how?"

The young hyena rushed to embrace the wolf tightly.

"Does that matter?"

"It matters to me!" Tireal shouted from across the roof. "What the fuck is this, some kind of sick illusion!?"

"Then it's a good thing that you are expendable, isn't it?" Tsukuu said as he raised his pistol in Tireal's direction. The otter yelped and dove to the right. Tsukuu followed Tireal's momentum with the gun and fired. The otter howled in pain as the bullet ripped through his left shoulder. He landed behind the stone dais, out of sight.

Alexis rushed into the arena with pistols drawn. The rat fired several shots at the large lizard, but every shot passed through her. Zas was desperately trying to avoid being struck by the flurry of blows that Baki effortlessly threw at him. Charr was still breathing, but unconscious on the sand. Alexis screamed in rage and lit one of her explosives. Both Zas and Baki turned to look at her as the ball of powder left Alexis's hand. Zas dove away from the lizard. Baki palmed the ball and threw up her hands in a block.

The bomb exploded.

Zas was launched backwards and landed on the soft sand several feet away. Alexis scanned the cloud of smoke that the bomb had caused; looking for any sign of Baki. A few tense seconds passed before Alexis looked towards Charr. Baki suddenly flew out of the smoke at Alexis with alarming speed. The rat sidestepped the lizard's first punch and brought her knee up into Baki's ribs as hard as she could. Both Baki and Zas were surprised when Alexis's blow connected. Baki gasped as the air left her lungs. It was the first time someone had hit her since she woke up. She fell to the sand, wheezing. Alexis wound up to kick the lizard, but this time her foot passed right through. Baki was coughing desperately as the air gradually came back into her lungs. Alexis rushed over to Zas and helped him stand.

"We will have to work together." Zas told her.

"Understood." Alexis responded as the two readied themselves for Baki's next assault.

The lizard stood slowly and took a deep breath. She let a bullet from Alexis's gun pass through her as she turned to face the two standing combatants. She bunched the muscles in her legs and launched herself at Alexis. The rat dodged the first two strikes, but was unprepared for the kick that Baki sent towards her gut. Alexis tried to block, but the kick connected and sent the rat flying backwards. Zas jumped in to distract Baki, but he only managed to dodge one punch before she laid him out with an overhead strike. Alexis rolled over and tried to stand, but Baki was next to her in an instant; planting a reptilian foot hard into Alexis's face. The female rat gurgled in pain as blood left her mouth. Baki continued the brutal strikes; knocking Alexis around like a rag doll. Zas twitched in the sand and slowly managed to rise to his knees. Baki grabbed Alexis by the grenade belt across her chest and struck her in the face over and over. The belt eventually broke and the rat crumpled to the sand. Baki threw the belt to the side and picked Alexis back up by the other belt. She pulled her fist back to strike again.

"Hey!" Zas yelled.

Baki and Alexis turned to look in his direction. All of the grenades on the belt had been lit.

"Surprise!" Zas threw the broken belt back at Baki.

The lizard again threw up her hands to block, dropping Alexis to the sand. The female rat scrambled to get away from the explosion that erupted at Baki's feet. The explosion created a large cloud of smoke that billowed outwards, enveloping Alexis and Baki. Zas looked on anxiously. His face fell as the smoke dissipated and Baki was still standing there, looking very angry.

"Did you not learn from the first time?" Baki asked. "I can dodge anything!"

Alexis was suddenly next to the lizard with a gun barrel pressed to Baki's temple.

She pulled the trigger and Baki's head splattered to the sand. The lizard's large, lifeless body followed with a dull thud. Alexis holstered her pistol and helped Zas to his feet. The two rats looked around the battlefield.

"Let's get the injured to a doctor." Zas said.

Alexis nodded and the two began helping the other soldiers to their feet.

Hikage turned to face Tsukuu expectantly.

"You have to tell me everything!" Hikage said, still very dumbfounded.

"It was me." Tsukuu responded. "I orchestrated the whole thing. I gave you your power as a gift. I gained mine from the sapphire after I used it to crash the skyway and end the war. The birds of Serevix assisted me of course. I couldn't do it without some help after all. Do you hear, Tireal? I took out my own bounty just so I could find Quint again! I gave Zas the idea to search for the sapphire! Everything you two did was because of the plans I had laid before you. "

"But the war ended almost three thousand years ago! How are you still alive?" Tireal shouted from the safety of cover and winced as a bullet chipped off some stone directly above his head.

"I stole some of my older brother's 'medicine,' Tireal. You know, the liquid that heals him and makes him live for so long. I took three vials. I needed to in order to see my plan to fruition. How do you think I opened the door to the sapphire chamber in Serevix so quickly? And now I have my Hikage back and I also have the sapphire. Together Hikage and I will rule the universe as gods!"

Hikage pushed himself away from Tsukuu's embrace.

"What's wrong?" Tsukuu asked, his expression of triumph turning to one of concern.

"You've changed, Tsukuu." Hikage responded. "I used to love you, but this... You're talking crazy!"

"I am not crazy!" Tsukuu turned the gun on Hikage. "Don't you see what potential the sapphire has? This is the only place where a wish as powerful as mine can be granted! This is where I told you to search and this is where we will become all powerful! I did this for us, Hikage; for you."

Tireal peered over the edge of the dais to watch the two quarreling commandos. He looked up at the glowing sapphire and something moving within it caught his eye.

Make a wish, Tireal.

The otter blinked in surprise.

"Tsukuu please stop talking like this." Hikage pleaded.

"Come with me Hikage. Think of what we could do together! Our love would be unmatched throughout the entire universe!"

Tireal gazed at the floating gem and slowly stood to get closer to it.

Make a wish and it will come true. You must hurry, Tireal.

"El?" Tireal asked, but the gem did not respond.

The otter took a deep breath. Hikage's eyes flickered in Tireal's direction and Tsukuu turned to look.

"No!" He yelled as Tireal opened his mouth.

"I wish Quint was alive again and by my side."

The sapphire flashed brightly.

Tsukuu fired his gun.

Quint suddenly felt a tug. It felt as though there was a string attached to his chest and someone was pulling roughly on the other end. A cool breeze moved passed him and he sighed happily. He was grateful for the movement in the stale air. A sliver of light appeared before him and it widened until a very bright light shone down on him. He squinted his eyes and tried to see what was beyond the brightness. He saw the color blue. And two blurry figures in the distance. One of them was holding their hand toward him. They were gripping something. A gun? As Quint's feet touched stone he heard the shot through muffled senses. Instinct took over and he moved to dodge the projectile. He didn't feel any pain as he collided with another person and then the stone roof. Tireal was under him, bleeding from the shoulder.

Quint rubbed his eyes. It was a good thing he was fully clothed.

"Hello." He said.

Tireal looked up at him with tears in his eyes; partly from the pain and partly from happiness.

"I thought you were gone forever." He cried.

"You brought me back, Tireal."

Tsukuu started to walk around the dais to get a clear shot.

"Tsukuu, please just stop this!" Hikage whimpered.

"Shut up, Hikage!"

Quint drew his two pistols and stood calmly. Tsukuu stopped moving in disbelief.

"Three thousand years does crazy things to an untrained mind, doesn't it, Trigger?" Quint said.

"Don't try to psyche me out, Quint."

"I bet it was a shock to see people dying all around you. Didn't it bother you that you were helpless to do anything about it? Something in the normal mind just... snaps."

"Shut up, Quint!"

"You never were strong enough for the conditioning they put me through. Tell me, how does it feel to know that you will outlive everyone you care about? Hikage isn't immortal. Neither are your other squad mates. You and I are the only ones who will be here when everyone else is gone, little brother. Just you and me; all alone together."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Tsukuu pulled the trigger on his pistol, but Quint was expecting it; even hoping for it. He weaved around the bullets launched from his brother's weapon until he was inches from the younger hyena's face. Tsukuu squeaked in surprise before the butt of Quint's pistol struck his left temple. Tsukuu reeled backwards; holding his head as blood dripped down the side of his face.

"It's all your fault!" Tsukuu was crying.

"Tsukuu please don't-" Hikage pleaded.

"If you hadn't betrayed us, I wouldn't have used the sapphire! If I hadn't used the sapphire, I wouldn't have needed to use your cursed potion! You made me this way, older brother! Look upon your progeny and despair!"

Tsukuu vanished from view.

"What the fuck?" Quint said, startled.

Tsukuu's voice seemed to come from all around the roof.

"See what you have wrought? You can't attack something you can't see."

"I didn't betray you!" Quint yelled.

"Liar!"

A bullet cut into Quint's right thigh and he whirled around, returning fire as he cried out in pain. Tsukuu laughed maniacally. Hikage sank to his knees. The sapphire had since floated to the surface of the dais and it was no longer glowing. Tireal crawled over to Hikage and put his arm around the wolf as if to shelter him.

"How does Trigger's power work?" He asked the dismayed canine.

"I don't know." Hikage whimpered. "Light refraction maybe?"

"Then what happens if we remove some of the light?" Tireal stood and his closed his eyes.

Quint felt another projectile rip into his right upper arm and he yelped; trying to determine where the shot had come from.

"It's useless, brother! You may as well give up while I still have some compassion left." Tsukuu taunted.

Tireal held his arms outstretched as he lifted his head to the sky. A dark purple aura surrounded him and the sky slowly started to darken as heavy thunder clouds swiftly formed. Deprived of light, Tireal could barely make out Tsukuu's outline against the irregular stone. He drew his pistol and fired a shot into the younger hyena's knee. Tsukuu cried out in pain as he faded back into view. Quint tackled his younger brother to the stone roof as it began to rain. Tsukuu struggled in the stronger hyena's grip.

"You fucking meddler! I'll kill you!" He was shouting at Tireal.

"You're just making this worse, little brother." Quint told him. "Let me train your mind. Let me put everything you've witnessed into perspective. Please don't let me lose another relative."

Tsukuu's expression changed and he stopped struggling.

"Maybe you're right." He looked over at Hikage. "I... I've just seen so much death."

Quint smiled and stood up. Tsukuu lifted himself into a sitting position.

"Let's go then, little brother."

Tsukuu looked up at Quint and smiled weakly. Quint turned and smiled at Tireal; who was helping Hikage to his feet. Tireal's eyes widened as he looked passed Quint.

"Look out!" The otter shouted.

Quint turned to see Tsukuu pointing the gun at him.

"You are far too trusting, Quint. Goodbye."

Tsukuu pulled the trigger.

Tears welled up in Tireal's eyes and he covered his mouth in horror. Tsukuu's eyes were just as wide and tear-filled. Quint looked at the younger hyena, shocked. Hikage stood, inside the shadow of the clouds on the roof, in between Quint and Tsukuu. The gun was pressed against his chest and he slumped against the younger hyena, his arms resting on Tsukuu's shoulders.

"Hikage why-?" Tsukuu choked through his tears.

"It... was the only way... you would understand..." Hikage gasped as his blood flowed down his black suit. "This is the way of things... everybody dies..."

"But the sapphire... I could bring you back!" Tsukuu cried; throwing the gun to the side as he helped Hikage to the stone floor.

"No... look... It's dead. Like I soon will be..." Hikage smiled as he looked into Tsukuu's eyes. "I'm happy... I got to see you one last time... We're relics from the past, my love. We don't belong in this world..."

"Please... please don't go, Hikage. I love you! I swear I'll change back to the old me... please don't die!"

Hikage coughed; staining his chin red. He lifted a hand to touch Tsukuu's face.

"Yes, forbid me to die. Tell me to accomplish the impossible... You were always convinced that I could do incredible things... Look what I've created in you."

Tears flowed down Tsukuu's face.

"But you didn't make me this way..."

"Didn't I? I told you that your own brother was a traitor. Believing that made you do all that you did. I don't blame you. I blame myself..." Hikage winced in pain as he gurgled on some blood in his throat. "This is my punishment and justice has been done... Think of all of the pain I've caused the people of this world... This is my destiny... I pay for our sins with my death."

Tireal was crying now as well and Quint hung his head in sadness.

"Hikage please..."

"Sh, Tsukuu... Let me go in peace," Hikage choked on his last breath and his eyes rolled back in his head. His body went limp in Tsukuu's arms.

The young hyena howled into the driving rain. Quint walked to Tireal and put his arm around the otter protectively. Tireal hugged Quint as he cried into Quint's clothing. Tsukuu wept into Hikage's bloodstained uniform until he stood and roared to the heavens in rage. The younger hyena grabbed his discarded gun from the stone of the roof and pointed it at Quint and Tireal.

"Brother! Hikage may be the cause of all of my suffering, but I will cause you so much more!"

Quint moved to shield Tireal from the impending projectile, but Tsukuu lifted the barrel of the gun to his temple; laughing as he pulled the trigger. Tsukuu's body fell limp next to Hikage. Quint and Tireal both looked on with tears in their eyes.

"Tsukuu, I hope you're happy now." Quint closed the eyes of the dead.

"What happens now, Quint?" Tireal asked.

"It doesn't matter. Whatever happens happens." The hyena looked up into the cloudy sky as the rain slowly stopped.

***

Quint and Tireal left the palace in each other's arms. They met Zas and Alexis at the entrance. Both rats were injured in a bad way and it was a wonder that either of them was still conscious. Quint smiled a forlorn smile as he saw them and they nodded knowingly.

"Are the others safe?" Quint asked.

Zas looked down at the stone steps.

"We lost three, but Charr is stabilized. Merin is helping the civilians clean up the rest. It is good to see you again, Quint.

"Thanks, General."

Zas shook his head.

"It's King now."

"Hey, Quint, "Alexis asked, "What happened to your pendant?"

Quint looked startled and looked down at his chest. The medallion was nowhere to be found. The felt in his pockets, but the case was missing as well.

"I don't know." He said. "Probably at the bottom of the sea."

"What will happen to you now?" Tireal asked.

The sun broke through the dark storm clouds, illuminating the city of Kathsera.

"I age like you." Quint smiled. "Come on, we have soldiers in need of healing I'm sure."

The three nodded.

"Will you be staying with us long?" Zas asked as the group walked back towards the inn.

"Probably until our wounds heal." Tireal responded.

"And then?"

"Who knows?" Quint grinned.

END