The Coming of Shadows

[Kuffie]

In his sub consious Coyoto had nightmares of his past


In his nightmare:

Young Coyoto(6): Mommie why do all the villagers throw rocks at us?
Mother:....
Y C: Why
Mother: Because of your father
Y C: whats so bad about daddy?
( His mother Hugs him and starts crying)
(Violent bangs on the door)
Villagers: Open the Door or we will burn down your house!
(Coyoto's eyes go blood red he breaks down the door and bites a man holding a pitchfork and goes down the mob and goes into town)
Back to the real world

"Ahhhhh!" he yelled in the middle of the night he got up he felt something wrong <Somethings not right here.....but what> he looked around he heard loud stomping he saw torch light <a mob?> he thought half asleep

"Is that one!" Coyoto heard

"Who knows Fire!" another yelled bolts hit dozens of trees


<Dammit> he started losing control...too late he was controlled by blodlust he charges toward the small force drew his blade and swiped at each man with ease after 3 died they surrenderd he didn't care he killed 17 other men and drank the remaining blood that was not on the ground minutes later he woke up (spritauly) < what have I done these look like some people from marcio...wonderful.. I wonder why they came? oh well no use worrying now>

[Astral Harmony]

Even with her original estimate of how the battle would progress due to the use of the Bang Arrows, Clitonna was still shocked beyond measure at how effective Lilemi's tactics were. The explosive power of the Bang Arrows and Lilemi's forethought massacred the enemy and left the Emerald Phoenix Battalion without any serious troubles aside from avoiding the flames. Enemies had been slain by swords and arrows and spear thrusts. They were the fortunate ones. Only too many more has been taken by the flames and burned into blackened husks. Samantha was conferring with some messengers from the other two battalions.

Samantha: "They don't like what we did."
Ferra: "What's wrong with what we did?"
Samantha: "They wanted us to use stealth to take over the outpost. Our noisy and bright tactics alerted every outpost and the village."
Clitonna: "Oh, good god! What the hell did they expect? You can't take over an outpost like that silently. The planning phaze alone would take days of observation."
Lilemi: "How do things look?"
Clitonna: "Well, from what reports we got, the outposts on the other side of the city have sent their forces into the city itself. The outposts on the sides are mounting a three pronged offensive to stop us from going any farther, or at least that's what I assuming from their movements."
Samantha: "Can we use the outpost towers to some defensive measure?"
Lilemi: "I think so, but not as effectively as we could if we didn't blow the lookout chamber on the top to hell."
Samantha: "So the enemy will be able to get closer."
Clitonna: "Basically, it'll be like the fort you tried to invade, except that we're the defenders with the tactical advantage and they are the ones with superior numbers."
Samantha: "Can we win?"
Clitonna: "Sure, if we do our best."
Samantha: "Lilemi, I've leaving you in charge of the archer squadrons, since you're probably going to be positioned up there, anyways."
Lilemi: "All right."
Samantha: "Clitonna. Ferra. I imagine you'll both want to be on the front lines, and we'd welcome you there."
Clitonna: "Of course."
Samantha: "I'll stick with the magic users behind the front lines and provide support. Any idea when we expect them to come."
Clitonna: "Either now or tomorrow night, and I don't think they're organized enough for tonight. Any attack right now would be not very organized and more or less just plain reckless."
Samantha: "Right, then. I'll relay your message to rest for the night and prepare for the defensive as early as tomorrow afternoon."
Clitonna: "Thanks."

[Flarecobra]

"I don't know. It's just....." Kazi said, then the wind changed, and she started to smell a scent that she was very flimilor with. "Blood....I smell blood." She said, staring off in the direction the wind was coming from, then started off in that direction.

A couple minutes later, she came across what appeared to be a couple of bandits, though they were rather horrably murdered.

[Kuffie]

Coyoto walked in a clearing of the woods he noticed that the man that hired him "Sir Edward," the man said introducing himself Coyoto noticed that he had the Empires Emblem on his shield.

"your with the empire!" he yelled at edward "so you wanted me to kill her for what reason?"

"Not being with the empire my dear boy all vampires that are not with us are against us!" he repilied took ou a large axe and charged toward Coyoto. "join or Die!" he yelled as he finshed the sentence 25 men surounded coyoto

"join you Ha you sent drake into Ojaan!" He dodged Edward's blow and stabbed him in the back with his sword and swiped the sword up through his
head "next" he knew he was screwed he ran past them but two fired bolts right into his back "Aghhhhh!" he Cried in pain blood running down his back he collapsed in a part of the woods

[Astral Harmony]

Clitonna mounted the steps to where Lilemi was posted.
Clitonna: "Hey, Lilemi. Come take a walk with me."
Lilemi: "Hunh? Ah...all right."
The two girls moved away from the outpost and neared a cliff overlooking a rich valley.
Lilemi: "So, is there something you want to talk about?"
Clitonna: "Yes, there is, actually. I've been thinking alot about you since we fled the Gelti Empire."
Lilemi: "... ... ..."
Clitonna: "I don't really know how things could have arranged themselves to where we're rebelling against the empire and I'm left to protect this sword that they want for their own purposes."
Lilemi: "... ... ..."
Clitonna: "And while I consider all the options carefully and thoroughly, I simply can't think of what the future will bring."
Lilemi: "... ... ..."
Clitonna: "But there's one thing I want more than anything else. I want my future to eventually end up happy and peaceful."
Lilemi: "Clitonna..."
Clitonna: "Even when I was down, people like you have helped me get back on my feet and have given me a life that's my own and I treasure that very much. I do. That's why I want to give back but...more importantly, it's not like it's fulfilling some obligation when it's you."
Lilemi: "What are you saying?"
Clitonna: "I dunno. I've never been good at expressing my feelings. That's mainly because I've been forced to keep them burried since childhood, but what I guess I'm trying to say is...I don't know. I suppose I could call it love but...damnit!"
Clitonna whirled around to look at Lilemi, and suddenly finds Lilemi up against her, their lips pressed together. Lilemi's eyes are closed. Clitonna's are wide open, but she slowly closes hers, too. The kiss lasts for the better part of a minute, and then Lilemi slowly leans back. They both look at each other, blinking.
Clitonna: "That was...wow."
Lilemi: "I've been waiting to hear you say that for a very long time. It's seemed like years."
Clitonna: "Has it? I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
Lilemi: "No! It's alright! It's just perfect when it came from you when you wanted to say it."
Clitonna: "Ah..."
They kept staring at each other. Finally, Clitonna swallowed and shifted herself.
Clitonna: "Oh. My unit will take control of the watch for now. You can go tell the archers to get some rest."
Lilemi: "All right. I...guess I'll be going, then."
Lilemi backed away, still looking at Clitonna, then turned and ran. Clitonna sighed.
Clitonna: "Ferra, you can come out now. Lilemi may not have seen you but I'm a lot more observant."
Ferra: "Aww, man!"
Ferra emerged from some of the bushes, grinning like an idiot.
Clitonna: "Why're you looking at me like that?"
Ferra: "That was really beautiful."
Clitonna: "Oh, come off it. Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Ferra: "I'm a light sleeper and heard you walking up the steps of the outpost tower. I followed you and Lilemi here. I can't believe you finally told her how you feel."
Clitonna: "There's nothing concrete about it, yet. It was just a kiss."
Ferra: "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You two girls were made for each other."
Clitonna: "So you knew Ashgand and me weren't a destined couple? That hurts."
Ferra: "I didn't say it, and of course you knew it was that way even before you two broke up."
Clitonna: "Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyways, go back and get some sleep. I'll go put my guys on shift."
Ferra: "You got it."
Clitonna turned back towards the beautiful valley as Ferra returned to the captured outpost.
Clitonna: "I still think I should have waited until after this war is over before I told her how I really feel. Love is a horrible omen to expose in the tides of battle."

[Kuffie]

Coyoto rised with lust for blood <whats gotten over me? I wasn't like this much... but lately its happening more> he heard so rattleing in a bush he leaped into the bush. it was dead what ever it was, anyway it was dead he drank its blood. "more! need More!"

[Flarecobra]

"Well, well. Look what stumbled across here." A voice said from the darkness, and out stepped three armed, and armored, Dark Elven bladesmen. their serrated blads glisting in the moonlight. "Of course, now that you know that we're here, we can't let you live." The leader said, and started to head to Kazi, who broke into a run. "Kirrass!!" She called out at the top of her voice.

[Astral Harmony]

Blood erupted from the gash as Clitonna's sword danced through the enemy ranks. Then a small stinging pain resonated along her arm and the body of a dead enemy swordsman fell on her back, an arrow stuck in his spine. Clitonna turned her head long enough to see Lilemi wink before continuing the battle. It had been rough going at first, but the tactics and strategic locations employed by the allied forces broke down the enemy quickly. All too soon, it was over. Five outposts had fallen to the Free Alliance as well as the city, filled with horrified civilians.
Clitonna: "You can relax. All of you. We're not going to kill innocents, but we do have a few regulations that we'd like you to follow."
Samantha: "Regulations?"
Veteran Ex-Soldier: "I'm the mayor of this city. We ask for your mercy and will follow these regulations as long as they are not cruel or unusual for my people to follow."
Clitonna: "I don't think they will be. All we ask is that you immediately end any tasks that assist in the war. We won't ask you to begin any tasks that assist us. We would also ask that you do not leave the city unless completely necessary. We'll try to restrict serious combat to outside the city reaches. Other than that, everyone here should be able to go about their regular business here."
Mayor: "Well, then. That sounds very reasonable, actually. I'll go spread the word. If it isn't too much trouble, could you go speak to Sister Maribeth in the cathedral down the street. She's never been one to trust me and may listen to you."
Clitonna: "I shall do so. Thank you."
Lilemi and Ferra soon caught up to Clitonna and Samantha.
Samantha: "Are you sure they'll stick to the regulations?"
Clitonna: "We're not being unfair with them, but even still...anyways, I better go talk to this Sister Maribeth in the cathedral. Make sure the soldiers and yourselves are well rested. I'm sure they'll let you use the inns and taverns here, but don't expect any freebies."
Clitonna actually was good friends with Sister Maribeth, and was excited to meet her again. She hadn't changed a bit, and after letting everyone in the cathedral know that things were safe again, they began some idle chatter, which started off with Clitonna giving out her whole story to Maribeth.

[Ryu Kurai]

Kirrass sat there in the dark for a while, his drake heritage giving him the ability to see far better than the average human. He sighed deeply. It appeared he had involved himself in something a bit bigger than he had planned. A simple guard duty job, now protecting his officant from the government? He let out a low, displeased growl. He didn't like this. He knew people didn't like Vampires, but that was no reason to-

"Kirrass!"

He lifted his head. It was Kazi. He looked around, drawing his knife and his tail reaching for his stinger. Damn! He thought to himself. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed Kazi had been gone longer to suck whatever it was she wanted dry. Or at least, that was his first thought. "Eh, what the hell do I know about the feeding habitsss of vampiresss?" He said as he ran towards the voice. He ran as fast as he could, until he nearly ran smack into Kazi. He turned his body to the side, in just enough time to notice a Dark elf in armor with a serrated blade rushin after her. The dark elf just barely noticed Kirrass as he stepped in front of him, and swung wildly in surprise. Kirrass stepped back out of the way, his torso staying where the enertia put it, then snapping back to the rest of his body because of his weight. Before the elf had time to react he lashed out with tail stinger and knife at the same time. The elf managed to block the knife, but the stinger took him completely by surprise. It sunk into his arm, causing him to yell in pain and jerk himself off the weapon, something Kirrass hadn't seen before. He stepped back and growled as two more dark elves wearing the same equipment entered the clearing.

Kirrass placed his right hand on his sword, holding his knife out in font of him with his left hand in a defensive position. "Well, well, looksss like I've got a blade here for each of you, eh?" He said as he began to slowly draw his two-handed sword. One of the elves rushed forwards, trying to stab Kirrass in the stomach. Kirrass hit the sword away, the blade just barely grazing his side and leaving a small cut, then kicked the dark elf in the chest, sending his flying backwards, sword still in hand. He quickly sheathed his knife and brought out his greatsword, as the other two dark elves rushed in simultaneously. He lashed out at one with his tail, missing but shaking the attacker, and the elf he had wounded earlier tried to cut Kirrass' head off. Kirrass ducked and immediately shoved his sword into the dark elf's solar plexus, The elf's sharp reflexes the only thing that saved him from being impaled. The other elf scored a slash across Kirrass' arm, Causing Kirrass to whip his sword around and cut partially through the elf's torso and break his sword, realizing for an instant that his tail had also stuck into the elf instinctively. He pulled out both his wepaons, noticing the elf he had knocked down and the one he had stabbed were rushing at different speeds. He stepped backwards, holding his sword one-handed in a defensive stance. What are dark elves doing here? Why do they smell of blood? he wondered as the coppery smell caught his attention.

The first elf came at him with an overhead swing. A highly over-rated move for running at somebody, Kirrass remembered someone saying, as he stepped to the side and delivered his stinger into the elf's shoulder. He then swung around with his momentum and sliced inot the elf's other shoulder, nearly severing the bone. The armor might have done it, Kirrass mentally commented. He removed his tail from his oppnent and danced around a slash from his opponent. He then hefted his enemy on the sword towards the other enemy, causing him to collide with the oncoming dark elf in mid-air. He used up more energy leaping after then, flying with sword in hands at his opponents. His greatsword sunk into his enemy's back deeply, like a dart though a piece of paper, causing a bit more motion in the direction he had been going and a slightly faster trip to the ground. He heard the elf who was crushed by the weight cry out in pain. Apparenlty, his sword hadn't gone through that one, Kirrass noticed. He jerked his sword out, The dark elf's body twitching more than he would have thought for as he threw the body aside. Kirrass nearly winced and turned his head away. So that was why the elf was crying so loudly, Kirrass thought to himself. I've been in a similar boat, but not that bad, come to think of it.

The dark elf was lying on the ground, blood everywhere clutching his left arm- or rather, what remained of it. He had apparenlty been knocked to the side by Kirrass' impact and his arm had been caught under Kirrass' blade. almost directly under it. The arm was severed about five inches from the shoulder; the rest of the arm was lying near him, unmoving with a loose grip. Kirrass reminded himself that although he had not given this attacker a painless death and was therefore no better than a drake hunter, he was still employed to protect someone. He grabbed the dark elf by the collar and hoisted him up, although a bit more gently than he would have usually. He stuck his sword into the ground, next to the other elf's body. "Who isss it that hired you?" Kirrass said, shaking the dark elf a bit. The elf answered with a pained sneer and tried to stab Kirrass with a small knife he had on him with his remainig hand. Kirrass grabbed the dark elf's arm by the wrist and turned it over, using his tail to apply force and put him in an armbar. As he applied pressure, the elf winced in pain. "You can either die of blood losssss here, or I can let you go after cauterizing your wound. It'sss really your choice, pal." He said, over the dark elf's cries of pain.

[Kuffie]

Coyoto sniffed the air "Blood!" he said he ran towards the smell. he stoped in his tracks and watched the drake hold what looked like the remains of a dark elf. he noticed it was still bleeding he leaped out grabed it from the drake and ran into another bush. he threw the now dead dark elf out aof the bush there was no more blood in him Coyoto Jumped out and Awke so to speak "were am I... he felt down at his back , wound was still bleeding then he collapsed.