Alaia Skyhawk: Sorry for the long wait, I plan to put up another chapter tomorrow to make up for it.
I don't own Tales of Symphonia so please don't sue me. I do however own Krishka, Dallinius (Dalli), Aluran, the Alurannai and any OCs, except Sanaro and Annule, who belong to Mr.Who2123, so please don't steal them...
Enjoy
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Chapter 55: Unexpected Outcome.
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Birdsong echoed across the plain dotted by clusters of trees, a song that was set to the drumbeat of the racing paws that propelled their owners through the lush, tall grass that waved gently in the wind. A cloud of ground birds erupted into the sky as two large white forms swept past their place of concealment, their shrill calls silencing the birdsong for a moment before they settled back to the ground and the music of the land resumed. Noishe and Annule looked at each other with identical canine smiles as they each enjoyed the thrill of their unchecked race across the landscape. To their right to mountains loomed, seeming to look on in disapproval as the two friends challenged each other in dash after dash from one landmark to another, in an endless competition that had inspired their relentless pace towards the gorge where their friend would now be waiting for them... It was a good thing too, because the two canines in question were late.
/You just had to chase that scout... Why couldn't you have just scared him instead of driving him halfway across the continent?./
Annule pinned Noishe with a mildly reproving look, to which Noishe responded with an expression of chagrin.
He called me a 'filthy demonic dog from the bowels of Niflheim', so I decided that if that's what he thought I was then I'd prove to him that I can be a lot worse than that...
Annule shook his head in bemusement.
/Yes and in doing so you've made us three days late. The rest of the group are gonna give us the lecture of the century... and so soon after the last one too./
Noishe sniggered as they surged through the grass.
You mean the one where Vayla got so worked up she kicked that log halfway up a cliff and started a rockslide? Annule glared at him making Noishe slick his ears back. Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'll be a little less enthusiastic next t...
He skidded to a halt and turned his head to stand, ears pricked, as he looked off to the narrow road that wended its way across the land a mile or so away. On the road was a long train of transports, guarded by soldiers. Noishe's tail began to twitch as he eyed the supply caravan. Annule groaned as the protozoan began to slink through the grass with his eyes filled with the light of mischievous anticipation.
/Not again.../
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The general paced across the room, coming to a stop by the room's large window. The light cast half of him into shadow as he gazed out onto the vast military encampment that surrounded the not unsubstantial fortress and lit up the calm expression on his face. He may have seemed relaxed, but deep down anticipation burned in him like an ember hidden in a thatch, smouldering until it would burst into flame.
On the table in the centre of the room a number of incident reports lay alongside a map that depicted the path those incidents had followed. It was the work of no less than fourteen successive generals, over a period of nearly two centuries. The general glanced at the map, his face now cast half in shadow, his left eye seeming to burn with an inner light surrounded by darkness, his right washed pale by the light from the window.
"After all the trouble you've caused us, now is the time we'll get our revenge and chain you to our will."
There was a knock on the door. At the general's consent it opened to reveal a man in a courier uniform. He saluted.
"General, our men are in position and ready to respond at your signal. Confirmation has also been sent that the new guards are all present in their new posts on the supply caravans."
The general looked at him, eyes unblinking.
"Send the order. Commence the operation at dawn tomorrow as planned." The scout saluted once more and left, closing the door behind him with a small thud. The general looked out the window once more. "Once you ran free, free to cause us trouble, but now you and yours will serve us... and wipe Sylvarant and Balacruft out of existence..."
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/Noishe, we're late enough as it is! Leave the caravan alone!/
The two of them sat low in the grass less than a hundred yards from the road, the caravan was heading towards them along it and Noishe was like a coiled spring with eagerness to cause trouble.
But it's right there! Besides it won't take long, all we have to do is short out the engines and they won't be going anywhere. He gave Annule a pleading look. Please? C'mon...
Annule stared at the protozoan for a moment before sighing in resignation.
/Fine, but we're only going to short out the engines. No taunting them or anything. We just disable them and then leave for Latheon Gorge./
Noishe was clearly disappointed, but accepted the compromise with nod before the two of them leapt up from the grass and charged at the caravan, which was now only two hundred yards away. As the two of them came into sight a call of alarm went up from the lead transport which immediately began to turn. Thinking that they were trying to escape, Noishe and Annule increase the pace of their charge... They were less than fifty yards from the transport when it happened. The side door of the vehicle opened to reveal a pair of men carrying weapons neither of them had seen before. In that moment a horrified realisation came over them, these men were prepared for just such an attack, by them in particular. The two of them frantically tried to change direction, as the sound of the weapons firing resounded through the air... and they fell into darkness...
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Alaia Skyhawk: Yes I know this is short, but I decided to end it there and put what I planned for the rest of this chapter onto the start of the next. What can I say, then I typed that last bit it was just too tempting as a cliffhanger. I'll update tomorrow.
