FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 20 - He is what?

"Markus?" Spyro said half surprised and half in disbelieve. Markus hesitated first. He didn't recognize Spyro in all that hurry getting hidden and trough darkness in middle of long grass. And before he could even lower his sword something black with scales leaped on him from side. Even with all that armours he wore, air fled from his lungs and he gasped for air once he have been hit on the ground. Markus struggled to free himself from whatever hold him down but with little use. Pair of narrowed emerald green eyes stared right at his brown eyes and those green eyes hid fire of hatred behind them.

"I told you if you ever, never hurt Spyro again you're very... very dead..." Cynder spoke with deep and cold voice. Markus stopped struggling once he heard Cynder speaking and stared back first chocked then quickly regaining his determination tried to push Cynder off him but she still had him pinned down.

"Liiku! Meidän pitää paeta!" Markus shouted and tried to get up even harder but with his hands pressed on ground by Cynder all he really could do was raise his back from ground only few inches.

"We don't have time for this. Let him go, Cynder!" Spyro told to Cynder with strict voice. Cynder turned her eyes briefly on Spyro before she backed off of him with faint growl coming from her throat. Ranger picked himself up and got his sword from ground.

"Over here!!" Came shout suddenly behind them and trio turned around to see the very orc Markus has paired up with, now standing before them few meters away from them. Cynder still upset resent event opened her mouth and shot out barely visible dark mist which looked much like Spyro's normal flame breath and which shared same speed than Spyro's. Orc didn't have time to realise the upcoming when he already felt his breastplate being ripped apart from the force of her attack and once plate was gone intense pain engulfed in his head as the dark mist hit on his chest and yelled from intense pain before fell on ground lifeless and his eyes still gazing into emptiness. Heavy footsteps came quickly louder and from the menacing voice of them you could tell orcs where coming in with large numbers. Markus turned around with haste and began to run on opposite direction and pass the still angry Cynder and Spyro who was awed by Cynder's sudden demonstration of her power upon unlucky orc. Her shadow attacks has only thus far made only minor damage on her enemies as it's main purpose where to handicap her enemies instead of killing them instantly. Spyro shook his head and spread his wings in order to take off into sky.

"Cynder let's go! Markus has better changes to hide up if we distract them!" Spyro shouted before he flapped his large wings and lifted himself slowly into dark sky.

"He better hide up or I'll finish him off by myself." Cynder whispered for herself before he followed Spyro's leisure and went after him. Markus kept running low thought tall grass which normally would have barely grown on level of his stomach but keeping himself low while running in order to be unseen left him with troubles seeing forward by himself. Sounds around him where turning around, seemingly going after silhouettes of the dragons. Not really knowing where he was going he came on edge of the tall grass' patch and before he noticed this his head already collided against something metallic with loud bang and he fell backwards on his back. Seeing stars for a mere second he opened his eyes to see what he hit against his eyes widened up almost instantly from horror once he saw what or who it was. Huge orc staring down on him like he was one pathetic orc. One staring at him was no-one else than Edgard himself. Edgard opened his mouth to say something when voice behind him grunted.

"It's him! He is the one who killed the guard and set Cynder free!" one of the many orcs behind Edgard grunted and pointed Markus. Edgard turned his head back on Markus with slowly narrowing eyes. Ranger quickly stumbled back up. Edgard began drawing his huge sword from it's holster but stopped on his tracks on halfway. Normally he would have slain anyone shifty without any remorse but something kept bugging his mind There was something familiar about this odd orc standing before him, yet he could not tell why.

"I am good with faces of my subordinates yet you're not one of them and still I find your face somehow too familiar. What is your name traitor?" Edgard grunted anxiously and with lack of response from Markus his eyes narrowed even more from frustration and he drew his sword all the way out and lowered it's tip on the ground before him, challenging him on duel which surely would be leaved short-lived.

"No reply? You know how we do handle traitors around here? With quick death!" Edgard shouted and without visible warning he rose his sword to his side and swung it horizontally towards Markus. Ranger was quick to reply to his actions and ducked away from Edgard's huge sword's path and backed away from Edgard back towards the grass wield behind him. Not wanting to test his skills against such powerful foe He kept dodging his furious strikes to left and right. Other orcs accompanying Edgard stayed behind and laughed to Markus pathetic attempts keep furious leader at pay. Edgard leaped forward and slog his sword upwards. Markus brought his shield up to block it but power of the strike was far more that he could handle and although shield kept sword away from him he was sent flying few feet backwards and hitting on ground on his back.. Huge leader laughed at him and swung his death bringer down on him. Ranger rolled out of it's path which hit on ground with deep thud after barely missing it's target. Edgard rose his sword once again above his head when bright flameballs started to rain from sky around battling duo and explosions hid the voices of roars of pain of orcs who where burned alive and very last one of these fireballs hit Edgard dead-on on his breastplate and shockwave pushed him violently backwards but he managed to keep standing although he had to stumble backwards many steps to keep his balance. After he recovered from blast he gazed into sky to see silhouette of purple dragon turning around to take another fiery sweep over them. Spyro's scales reflected now rising sun's light brightly showing his amethyst scales on its full majesty against dim orange sky.

"Gimme that crossbow!" Edgard shouted and one orc threw familiar bow to him. Edgard grabbed it from air, hit the sword on ground upside down and aimed steadily on approaching dragon. Seeing Edgards intents Markus jumped up as fast he could and ran towards him to stop him. Edgard saw traitor on corner of his eyes and turned to aim Markus instead and he pressed the small trigger half second later. String pushed heavy bolt with sharp whamp and bolt whistled thought air. Ranger saw new threat but failed to dodge it in time and he felt piercing pain on his left thigh. Markus crashed on ground and held his wounded leg.

"Aaah! Saatana!" He yelled from pain. Edgard let slight laugh to escape from his mouth before he readied crossbow once again and turned to take aim again against approaching purple fury. Running out of options Markus grabbed his shield and threw it at the great orc. Just in the moment Edgard where about to press the trigger once again shield hit him to his hands and he released bolt accidentally and Spyro dodged the misguided bold with ease and as for response he released huge fireball he have kept emitting inside his mouth for a while now and send several smaller ones after the general direction of the first one before pulling up again. Losing his consecration Edgard snarled angrily towards Markus moment before huge fireball collided on ground mere inches away from his feet. He groaned from pain while he flew backwards several feet and once he hit the ground again several small firebombs hit the surroundings sending rest of the orcs near Edgard to their demise while some hit Edgard over and over again, pushing him harder against the ground and causing more injuries onto him.

Spyro landed softly next to Markus with satisfied grin before he saw that Ranger's leg where pierced by one of those strange arrows he was not familiar with, end of the bolt still poking out from the wound.

"Can you move?" Spyro asked. Markus placed his hand on Spyro's back to get some extrabalance and stumbled up setting his weight on his unharmed leg. Screeches of paint still echoed behind them where Cynder kept last of the Orcs brave enough to face her at pay with lethal force. Markus looked around himself still leaning on Spyro and saw camp in ruins, dead or badly injured orcs lying around and rest coward orcs fleeing the area. Markus sighed from relieve when he felt this hide and seek game he have kept doing for years now is finally coming to the end and he could leave relatively in peace.

"Come on, We should leave." Spyro stated and helped Markus to walk. After few steps they both heard familiar sound calling them.

"Spyroooo! Cyndeeeer! Creepy assassiiiin! Little help over here! Hellooooo?! Anyone there?!" Golden dragonfly yelled under one of the Orc corpses. Duo walked slowly pass the seemingly very dead Edgard who's armours where obliterated from Spyro's attacks and his chest where almost fully burned, smoke still rising from his badly pattered body. Markus hopped with one leg next to lifeless body.

"Tänä kuulunee minulle..." Markus spoke rather coldly to Edgard and took his crossbow left intact from heated battle and examined if few seconds before joining to Spyro who where trying to find out where Sparx have been shouting from.

"Sparx? Where are you my little glowing friend?" Spyro shouted and kept looking around himself.

Spyro finally! I'm over here! Under this smelly thing which stinks almost as bad as you do." Sparx shouted and acted like he was sick from the smell of the dead Or on top of him. Spyro chuckled a bit before he moved over Sparx who had his tail section under corpse's right leg and he kept tapping his small fingers on ground. Spyro laughed from mere sight of his situation.

"Ha ha ha... go ahead and laugh. What a real brother you are. Don't just stand there, help me!" Sparx said sarcastic.

Meanwhile the outskirts of the ruined city resting on base of the lone icerock mountain where orcs have now settled in. Small group followed thin figure wearing clothes made out of different animals belts and wore unknown creature's skull acting like helmet, yet it didn't hide his face at all. Holding staff what looked more like old tree branch than actual staff. Small group walked to nearby orc-made large stable of sort which didn't hold horses like one would think. Orcs stopped few meters away while slim orc kept walking inside the stable. Behind the cages where huge creatures whose eyes followed carefully lone orc walking pass them. He continued walking paying no attention on hungry eyes towards end of the small corridor where another orc, clearly working here.

"Is it ready?" Lone Orc said, half proudly, clearly expecting to be honoured.

"Yes sorcerer Fiendan, your warg is saddled." Stable'boy' offered rein of huge wolf looking creature what growled loudly, showing nothing else but pure hostility in it's voice and yet it obeyed everyone holding it's rein without a question. It smelled terrible and it's long grey and white fur where dirty but orcs didn't pay much of their thought to the smell. Fiendan's mood dropped once he saw he was not welcomed sight. He grabbed reins roughly and walked back outside warg following him obedient. When he made outside under morning sky he saw his companions climbing on their wargs' saddles. Few of them where clumsy doing so but they managed to get up without too much of hassling. Being more agile than common warrior or berserk orcs Fiendan jumped on his warg with ease.

"We will travel to South-West two days, over the sapphire river, mid-speed without stopping for a rest in the middle!" Fiendan shouted to others. Many of the Orcs looked each other and few cursed quietly.

"It is a time I pay a little visit to Edgard." Sorcerer whispered to himself moment before he whipped reins which made warg snarled under him and beginning to run.

"Onward!" He shouted and others followed him.

Group of four has now gathered round each other near the orc whose under Sparx where trapped in. Spyro was still amused from Sparx situation and tears where still in Cynder's eyes from the outburst when she saw Sparx before Spyro had him 'rescued'. Sparx where gaining his pride back and where his usual cocky himself. Markus was, in other hand, More like content than amused but even from him faint smile have escaped involuntarily. He have been able to remove bolt from his leg and made bleeding to stop. He have also removed unconformable orcis armours off him but was unable to clean green dye from his face.

"We should so away from here. This stink is getting to my nerves" Sparx said holding his nose.

"Yeah you're right Sparx." Spyro replied

"For once." Cynder whispered to Spyro and both chuckled again.

"what was that?" Sparx asked anxious

"Nothing." Both Spyro and Cynder said simultaneously

"Markus! We are leaving. Can you walk?" Spyro asked from Markus who was still trying to get rid of the green face of his. Markus stopped rubbing his face and stumbled back up. Now when bolt was taken out standing and walking where much less painful but he still limbed more or less. Dragons turned around and began to walk with very slow pace so Markus could keep on with them. Sparx turned around and flew back to Edgard's body

"So long sucker." Sparx said to Edgard and turned around to take a leave but stopped on tracks when strong inhaling breath came behind him. Sparx turned his now pale head back on Edgard Who was clearly everything else but dead. His dim green eyes shot open and he stumbled back up slowly. Breathing heavily and yet steadily

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Sparx yelled in terror when he flew back to the trio and hid himself Spyro who has now turned around to see what was going on like Cynder and Markus has. Everyone saw large, strong and injured Edgard standing back towards them, still breathing heavily.

"Hehehe... Hehahaha... HAHAHAHA!!!" Edgard laughed between every breath almost maniacally. He dropped his half obliterated chestplate and turned around to show his naked chest what was badly burned, wide grin with exposed fangs and his eyes. Burned in level of insanity and madness.

"HAHAHAHA!! You... You thought.... I was dead?! BWHAHAHA!!" Edgard laugh maniacally. Clearly he have lost all his sanity and he would do anything now. Trio prepared to fight against this berserk. Spyro and Cynder lowered their heads and spread their legs a bit for better stand while Markus took his crossbow and readied it and began to take aim. All three of them felt very nervous from the fact that Edgard was still actually alive and well and still very dangerous.

"Hahahehe... You know..." Edgard began to speak to trio and pointed them with his finger. "...you know... you have something I want... That thing of yours, That creature of yours, or should I say human?" Edgard spoke. Both Spyro and Cynder where surprised of his statement. Human? Markus is a human? What is that? Where is he from? Are there more? More and more questions flooded their minds but both dragons shook their heads to focus back on Edgard.

"Hehe... You mean you didn't know? A human yes. Last of his kind. In fact only one seen in ten of thousands of years! A thing that shouldn't exist and yet it stands before us! I give you two choices... Cynder, the serpent of the Dark master; You don't pass that human to me and I give you slow and painful death and take it over your ripped bodies, OR You'll pass that thing to me and I grant you QUICK DEATH!!" Edgard shouted from bottoms of his lungs which produced voice what could be felt in very bone. Edgard ran towards trio barehanded furiously. Something told to the dragons this fight would be hard even if Edgard where unarmed.

Markus shot his bolt towards Edgard and it hit him to shoulder but he didn't even stir from the hit and kept running towards them Like madman. Both Cynder and Spyro kicked the ground behind them and began to run towards approaching furious orc and leaped towards him with exposed talons. Edgard grunted and did uppercut to Spyro's chests. Air fled from Spyro and he was sent flying above and behind Edgard. Cynder who was slightly behind Spyro saw Spyro being hit losing herself to rage she dodged Edgards attempt to do same on her and she managed to wound his flank before momentum forced her to pass him. Surprisingly unaffected from the deep wound on his side made by three sharp talons he turned around to continue fight. Another whistle where heard and bolt struck him to his back. This time Edgard fell on one knee but got back up effortlessly to face Cynder who was now striking against him with various melee attacks. Both she and Edgard kept dodging and attacking each other fiercely. Spyro recovered from Edgards punch. ' No wonder he is called strongarm.' he thought for himself. His punch has caught him by surprise and it really hurt like hell even it was just a fist what hit him.

Cynder kept attacking Edgard with all her skills she have learned. She jumped just above ground and swept air front of her with sharp blade on end of her tail to hit Edgard on chest. Edgard instead grabbed her tail on middle of her strike and lunged her on ground before he tossed her on side. Before he could do anything else to her thought he felt another sharp pain on his back caused by yet another bolt fired upon him by ranger. Barely having enough time to recover from hit Spyro lunged on him with headput. Edgard fell backwards on ground and Spyro tried to use this to his advance but where kicked out middle of his leap on Edgard. Orc jumped back up only being hit back on ground by Cynder who has fired her windblast on him. She jumped on Edgard and tore his chest with sharp talons of her before she was forced to jump off to avoid his punch. Berserk shot back up with amazing speed and where exchanging attacks and doges with Cynder again. Spyro used this to his advance and shot strong earthbomb on him. Edgard stumbled to regain his balance but failed and fell on ground head first when Spyro fired another bomb on his back. Cynder emitted black cloud from her mouth and sent her shadowy attack on Edgard to paralyse him but watched confused when despite it was direct hit orc stood back up. Spyro leaped on Edgard's back and kept tearing his back finally kicking him to send him to Cynder who take over where Spyro left off, striking him with her sharp tail, creating long deep scar across his broad chest. Edgard roared from pain and stumbled backwards only to meet Spyro's flameocean coming from his mouth which engulfed him into it's fiery embrace. Edgard groaned from pain trying to wave his hands to get the fire off him. Once the flame died off Edgard fell on knees before falling all the way on ground. Spyro and Cynder kept staring Motionless body of Edgard's before they both sighed from relief and walked to each other.

"Are you okay?" Cynder asked from Spyro shoving slight concern of his well-being.

"Yeah it was nothing... you feel okay?"

"I'm fine." Cynder said and nuzzled Spyro.

"I'm fine too... heheHAHAHA! Came voice behind them. Both dragons turned around alarmed and their eyes shot wide as they saw Edgard standing right before them holding both his fists above him in order to deliver one strong strike of crushing power on them and there wasn't anything either of them could do before his attack would have been delivered. In a blink of the eye it was surprisingly Edgards turn to let his eyes go wide open. He groaned from pain as bolt has appeared on his throat. He tore the bolt off from the wound and blood poured wildly out from it. Edgard held his hands on the wound and well on his knees again, eyes showing great pain as he fell on ground fully. Spyro and Cynder stared Edgard chocked before Markus yelled in.

"Oletteko kunnossa?" Markus shouted holding one arm to amplify his voice next to his mouth while other still holding empty crossbow. Spyro and Cynder snapped out from their state.

"Lets go before he comes up with another surprise." Spyro said and Cynder nodded nervously and they both walked quickly to Markus.

"is it okay to come up now?" Sparx whispered under the Markus' cloth before he flew between the trio.

"Thanks Markus. We would have been done for if you wasn't there." Spyro thanked Ranger. Markus nodded slowly and felt suddenly very weak. Adrenaline ruining inside of him where now dying off and his previous wounds and long day and night where demanding now their toll. His bow slipped out from his grasp on ground.

"Markus?" Cynder asked when she noticed sudden change in him. Markus followed his crossbow when his limbs went limp. His field of vision went black before he fell unconscious.

"Oh great... now the all we need is more bad guys popping out from somewhere." Sparx said and as for reply they heard distant yells behind the hills.

"Ok... me and my big mouth..." Sparx finished his statement.

"Cynder, help me get him on my back!" Spyro said swiftly and without hesitation Cynder grabbed Markus from his shoulder with her mouth and dragged him on Spyro. It took a while to get him properly on Spyro.

"Sparx can you get his bow?" Spyro said.

"What? I am Super-Dragonfly now?" Sparx said with folded arms after he have given glance over crossbow lying on ground.

"Forget it, I'll get it." Cynder said rolling her eyes and snagged it in her mouth and they both walked quickly out from the camp area towards East. After they have walked over the distance several orcs who has previously fled the scene came back and surrounded their leader. Edgard opened his eyes.

"Go Cynder and run... Since soon... Soon we have... opened the vault of ancestors and we take... take what you have taken from us..." Edgard whispered before his mind drifted beyond the borders of unconsciousness.