A/N: Wanted to upload this ahead given the fact Beyond Light is dropping tomorrow. Be wary of the Dark, Guardians. Enjoy~!

Chapter 9 - Pride of Chelchis

Act VII - House of Wolves

[Asteroid Belt | The Reef | Vestian Outpost]

Things back at the Outpost were bustling along, Fireteams returning with news of key Wolves targets dead, and the system's natural balance slowly correcting itself, say for the absence of the majority of Winter operations due to their merger and the recent attacks myself and my Fireteam led on their Ketch.

Now before Petra, she brought up video feeds of the Cosmodrome in an uproar, Devils, and Wolves clashing over territory, despite the lack of a Kell and Prime Servitor, the Devils held stronger with numbers and cooperation. This was bad, I think the Devils only have an Archon leading at the moment, so if Skolas wanted them taken by force now was a perfect time.

Turning away from a Guard she sighed. "Worry not, Guardians, we found Skolas once we'll do it again. Right now, however, one of our scouts picked up on this skirmish in the Cosmodrome, seems the Wolves have sent the Silent Fang to sow chaos between the Devils and Kings, and the one leading them just so happens to be Drevis." She smiled knowingly at me, and I furrowed my brow

"Great, her again," I balled my fist tightly. "Anything we should know about them?"

"So we don't get boxed in and stabbed?" Zane remarked dryly, my hand rubbing my side at the reminder

"Well, the Fang used to do hit-and-run attacks against civilian targets during the worst days of the Reef Wars," That was just... horrible. Petra's expression wasn't too keen on the memory. "They're ruthless, I'm not sure but I think that's what made Variks turn on Skolas. Assassins unleashed on miners, on teachers. That's a long way to fall."

While Morbin inquired some insight into their cloaking tech I eyed the elder Fallen in question, his eyes to his banner while seeming lost in thought, even as I approached the hut alone. It's been work non-stop and I really was fascinated to be talking with a Fallen, and one that's seen more than most could live to tell about.

"Hey, Variks," At my timid voice the large Fallen turned to me, stepping out from under the tent. "I wanted to know since you've been around for... well, longer than most Fallen. What exactly is this 'Kell of Kells' that Skolas calls himself?"

For a lengthy pause, he looked to consider it himself, then eyed me as he switched to holding his staff in his right hands, left brought to his chin, the lower-left folded around his stomach. "Many legends left from Whirlwind, some more believable than others, Fallen remember one from House of Rain, prophets and star readers."

"House of Rain, is there..." I trailed off when he shook his head. "Oh, sorry."

"Compassion thoughtful. Rain died during Dark Ages on Mercury, lost to Vex and to a Guardian, warned of the dangers but remained until the end," He clicked, but Variks sounded disheartened by the fact. With a slow drift of his hand, he continued. "Kell of Kells was last of their prophecies, one that I believe in, and will search for."

"Before him, foes will flee or fall. But he will heal the houses, make them whole," Variks recited to the amethyst space afar. "The Great Machine will marvel, moved by might, and come to crown him Kell of Kells."

"What Whirlwind whisked away will be rewrought, and every Kell and Ketch will kneel to the Kell of Kells." He brought his eyes to mine, filled with hope and a longing for that day, the time it could become reality, and I couldn't help but marvel at the tale, maybe it could happen someday. "In a world without Kells, Dreg strength will breed nothing but chaos."

Assuring him with a smile, I patted my heart. "That's amazing, I've heard about the Kell, Chelchis, how he sacrificed himself to save everyone, as a Guardian would for humanity," Fallen. Guardian. That line wasn't so wide anymore. "Someday, I'm certain someone will be chosen, heh, maybe it's you."

That made Variks' posture rest, eyes gazing to Petra who was showing Zane and Morbin one of her tricks, the former acting as a child while observed the floating knife from below, waving a hand to check for wires. "Petra said so too, do not know, have made many enemies."

"But you got us now don't forget," That brought his eyes to me again, my smile bright as I can make it in this desperate time. "Me, Zane, Petra, even Morbin when he's not acting like a grump."

He made a few of those Fallen-like noises again before replying. "Great Machine chose humanity for reason, I have... conflicting thoughts of my people, left with nothing, and yours gifted with more," He paused again, then put a hand out. "But, you defend them, protect innocent and Great Machine, respect earned, we are friends, yes?"

He felt this way about us? I guess it was fair since Rasputin, supposedly, stopped the Traveler from fleeing again, whereas it left his home to Oryx's wrath. I put my hand in his, shaking it eagerly, a bond unlike any other. "Of course we are."

"We make a good team, no? I find Skolas, you fight Skolas. Tell Cayde he's no longer of use for Variks." I think that was a slice of humor on his part, and if so, I did end up laughing as I covered my mouth

"But then what else is Cayde going to do when the Vanguard actually lets him out of his chains?" I asked with false worry for the poor Exo, he'd always find some way to escape

"Cayde useful, but jokes can be taxing, you are kinder to Variks." That made sense

"Guardian! We have a location, prepare to be briefed!" Petra waved, and just by that alone I could tell she was making the most of her 'fieldwork'.

"Back to it then, Variks."

"Yes, let us hunt Wolves together."

[Earth | Old Russia | Cosmodrome]

We were nearing the drop-off point when Petra came on the line again. ~Before I 'earned' my post as the 'Queen's Emissary', I served her in the Reef Wars after the attack on Amethyst Station. The Silent Fang are assassins, killers. Real charmers. During the war, they went after our commanders. They'll do the same to the House of Devils, Variks and I know all their tricks, though. We'll get 'em~ She spoke that last part with utmost confidence by the time we came in close enough to land back in the rusted shadows of the Cosmodrome

Already, as my feet met snow gunfire took over the Divide on both sides. Reds clashed with Blues over the territory. A Devil Walker was deployed so the Wolves weren't gaining much ground, say for those of the Silent Fang to the far right, their cloaks active before they had a chance to slip by my sight.

~We think they're gathering at the Cosmodrome gates. Best we find them before they do what they do best~ That was good and all but getting through a feud like this might take us some time

"Hey, um, Ceres?" My head swiveled round to look at Zane, then he pointed. "We have a guest." What?

Turning around again, I was startled to see a Devil Vandal standing before me, blue eyes locked to us as it lowered its swords, one, in particular, a different make altogether. While Fallen customs weren't my specialty, it did a bow with its weapons, greeting us in its language.

~A Devil is greeting... Variks, what's it saying?~ Petra called, and soon his gravelly voice pitched in

~She said, 'It is you again, it does not surprise me you would be here, Wolves have caused more trouble than any other House, we will not fall so easily'. Guardians know her?~ He trailed off with a growl, and then I relaxed as my smile returned

"Silvis! I'm glad it's you," Thankful for her arrival, her head met the on-going attack. "Hey, do you think you can help us get to the gateway, the Silent Fang is already trying to break through if they do I... don't know how many more losses your House can take."

Her form straightened and she muttered something, pointing to Morbin as he lowered Judgement, much to my shock he still had it pointed at her. "Seriously?" Zane snarked

Morbin's fingers tapped to the chamber. "I will not shoot you." That had Silvis nod but it looked sarcastic, then she responded again

~I got it this time - actually, I'll just keep translating for her, I doubt Variks always wants to be the translator for us~ Ghost replied evenly. ~Ahem, 'Your ally aside, not many Devils would work with you, however, you... inspired many below our... superiors, they will help', sorry, some words are tough translating~

"Thanks, Ghost, and that's great, the more we have the greater our chances of hunting down their leader," I put a hand to my heart. "I know it's rather... wrong for me to say this but, sorry."

She put her hand out, then waved with a growl in her voice. Ghost was silent a moment ~'Our Archon was a jerk, so thank you actually, could have done without losing our Prime... stuff happens', well, that's new~

"I like her," Zane zipped to my side, looking between me and the Vandal. "Think we can keep her?"

Morbin slapped his helmet again, and Silvis looked slowly between us as I raised my hand. "You get used to it." But I somehow doubt she would, Zane's weird, but I liked him that way

With the aid of Silvis and a few of her own followers, we slipped by the Wolves as they focused primarily on the giant walking tank than us. Pushing back through the insides of the wall, a familiar chill ran along my body, and I felt my memories flood back of when I passed by toward the Divide.

Petra's voice interrupted my daydreaming, and I became alert to the red on my radar. ~In the war, I led an attack on the Fang during the Cybele Uprising~ We came into the large pipe room, the rusted floors littered with Wolves. ~We managed to kill or capture most of them; Only reason we won I think~

"Great, gunfire and history lesson," Morbin muttered, bringing his shotgun high to blow a Vandal's brains out, the swords clattering to the floor. He spun, the level-action smacking a Vandal across the face before Judgement poked at its chest, a spray of ether followed soon after

I ran up the left side with Zane, taking on the Shanks while Zane defended me, my gun leveled to his shoulder as Red Death's impressive recoil kept my shots on the mark for Vandals in the decimated wall ahead, any damage to my armor was patched up a second later. Pivoting down to a knee I evaded a rifle round, Zane's Imago ringing above as the Vandal flew backward.

Morbin threw down a CLG that split into a wall of purple flames, Judgement pumped consecutively into the Dregs that ran from below the grates. Then Silvis dived over him, slicing down two Dregs by the neck, using one of the bodies to take a Wire Rifle shot as her Dregs retaliated from the sides, disarming and killing the Vandal with ease.

"You know something, Ceres?" What's that, Ghost? "Remember how difficult it was for us alone to get through here, and now..." I felt his eye scan as I did across the ruins of the wall, Zane taking point with Silvis, her Dregs watching Morbin anxiously as his head followed them silently, fingers taut to Judgement. "Now we're not alone."

Silly as it may be, to walk down this line again, no longer me and Ghost but a Fireteam, even Fallen, it was... unexplainable, but in a good way. Loading a new clip with a tug on the slide, my every step was met with gusto. There was something up ahead that I needed to ensure was still okay.

"Woah, hold up!" Zane pulled my back by the collar, my chin narrowly skimmed a red laser as Silvis worked to remove the trip mines. "You okay, Titan Lady, you feel... tense? I think?" Nothing got past him

"I'm alright, just worried for whatever is ahead," More-so than the Wolves. Once the last mine was disabled, the Dregs rushed in and began the assault atop the stairs, a Silent Fang appearing from nowhere to eviscerate a Dreg, it turned, then noted all our guns pointed to it. "Get lost."

It roared, then met the end of a cutlass and longsword. Silvis and Zane shoving the corpse away from the dead Dreg as the others howled at the loss, Silvis hunched down to place a hand on its chest, then close its eyes with a growl. Raising her right arms toward the walkway, the Dregs took point with her stripping the Silent Fang of its cloak, tugging the blue cloth over her head as she too became somewhat invisible before us.

"I never thought to use their tech ~I WANT ONE~ this could be useful," Morbin rubbed his chin, then slowly traced the enraged Devils toward the Wolves, Tracer Shanks in waiting behind a Captain and its Fallen. I didn't charge in immediately, instead, I slowed down to the edge of the bridge, my gun low as my eyes softened down at the body

She was still laying there, undisturbed by the fighting all this time. I never did come back to even so much as bury her remains. The security guard with the name I took as my own, yeah, cause that makes me a good person.

"Who's this?" Zane stood with me, even as the fighting continued I... didn't want to go right now, and they had the strength to pull through without me. He leaned closer then stopped suddenly. "Oh... so that's how you got your name?"

"Yeah... I stole it," It was more than that but... now I feel like I'm just faking it, all this time I just... accepted my name as it is, I even partially forgot where I took it from. "I don't even know my real name, just hers when I passed through here."

"I mean, sure, I got lucky with mine, so did Dimi," His hand nudged my shoulder. "But hey, I know you for you, whatever your name is, wherever you got it from, the person behind it is still the same person who's put up with me for so long."

A small laugh left my lips. "Why can you always say the right thing to me..." Did I mean to say that out loud? No, but I meant it. "Thank you, Zane."

"Um... y-yeah, sure!" He stood up, then was shot in the side of the head by a trace round. His finger raised. "One sec." In a flash of gold, six stray shots of molten sunlight traversed the hollow walls as many Shanks and the Captain were silenced. "You're welcome - But you always say the right things too, I just... kinda go with the flow."

Saying a silent goodbye to the skeleton I tapped my knuckle to his chest. "Flow or not, it's sweet, just remember you don't always have to say something, just you being here is enough," It means more to me than you realize

Trudging over to the wreckage, Morbin loaded Judgement while Silvis appeared, talking with an aggravated tone. ~'One thing our House is good at is defenses, the irony is they're blocking the way' - Great, as if the Wolves weren't enough~ Never easy, is it Ghost? ~Mmmhmm~

Retracing the hallways of pipes and derelict catwalks again was tedious due to the mines placed around every corner, Silent Fang waiting in ambush but given our numbers, they were small inconveniences and we had the people responsible for the mines disabling them for us.

With a slow crawl to the other end of the wall, Petra asked the question of the day, ~Variks, why have the Devils deployed so many traps?~ I glanced to Silvis, who then looked to the hallway of mines then shrugged casually at my slumped stance

Devils can detect comm signals as well as we can. They... may know the Wolves have their scent~ That would explain her 'ironic' remark earlier. With us making our way through the balcony overlooking the bridge through the flickering spotlights, we descended the stairway

~The Fang probably helped Skolas escape, but rumor has it the Queen gave him to the Nine, how did the Fang get Skolas past... them?~ Who were the Nine? I know Xur's an agent but he never gave me anything other than vague hints to their identities

"Question, who are-"

"Nope." "No." I jumped at the immediate backlash from the boys, Silvis stopped as they confronted me

Blinking, I pushed their hands back. "Rude, but really, who are they?"

"We don't know, and I like to keep it that way." Morbin warned me, Zane rubbing his wrist

I looked to Zane. "Ceres, I have been around for nearly two years, in that time I have collected more knowledge than any Cryptarch could have a wet dream about, so trust me, no good came from looking into the Nine, those that did... never came back." He turned away, continuing to walk across the catwalk with the Devils

"I... are they really that bad?" Now I was really worried as to how Skolas got out too, if they were supposedly this dangerous

"Not dangerous, but incredibly annoying when they want to make themselves known, I've never seen them, but Xur... has alot to say on their behalf, and I don't think they like that Iron Lord, whatever her name is, after she attacked Xur thinking he was going to attack her ~Dumbass~," Morbin explained bluntly, then motioned ahead. "Focus on one crisis at a time."

"Right," Ghost, we're looking them up later

"Of course we are." Ghost sighed. "Even I've been wondering who they are exactly."

Stepping outside to the mass of rusted cars and remains of those once desperate to escape the Collapse, the howl in the wind kept me on edge while Petra's voice reached me, bringing my arm up to halt our advance, the chattering a cry of Fallen beyond the shadow of the wall. ~~

~Just ahead, Wolf coms are active, and its the Fang, perfect. Eyes up, Guardians and Devils too~ Petra ushered us forward with joy, so, with Red Death loaded, and our weapons drawn, I charged out into the open snow to our right, the clearing filled with Wolf and Fang alike

A Vandal took note of me, but my knife was already lobbed between its eyes while the Dregs panicked, shock pistols burnt past me to silence them quickly, but the damage was done, the others were alert as gunfire ensued.

"Divide and conquer!" I called, our team dividing with Zane and two Dregs with me. I ran around a large boulder, taking down a Vandal with a quick burst round, Zane dove from above, bringing his Arc-enhanced boot down on the Captain's head, disrupting his shield for the Dregs to riddle with electrified bullets.

A Skiff rolled in, deploying a small army on the hillside, so with my hand brought high, I swung myself up, bringing a hammer down between them, roaring flames incinerating the Dregs while Zane flanked from the rocks with the two Devils, distracting the heavily armored Vandals from my flaming descent, a hammer colliding with the earth, spilling flames between them and their Captain now shoved off the edge.

Zane kicked a Vandal's rifle away, bringing Imago up to shoot a foot out from under it, his hand held to its own as he hoisted the Fallen onto his back, blocking the Wire Rifle before spinning around to place a bullet between the Vandal's eyes, kicking the first off his back with a single precise shot to the chest the second before it flopped to the earth.

There was a roar of engines as two more Skiffs rolled in, deploying more Fallen near Silvis and Morbin's team. They were forced behind color, even as a Nova Bomb erupted at the center of the Skiff, leveling half of the Fang's numbers in a massive cloud of fire and Void. Silvis kept any Fang from surprising them, slicing them down into the water while Morbin and the other Dregs kept themselves together, gunning down the lesser ranks.

"Ceres!" I saw Zane with his hands at the ready, the Dregs running to join the frontlines. Hopping onto his Arc-charged hands, I was launched high into the air, Fallen chatter entering my coms as I raised Zenobia, firing a blast powerful enough to create a massive fountain of water as the rocket erupted in a Servitor's eye

~That was commander of the Fang, she just called you a... well, it was an insult~ Variks hummed while I spotted the vicious Fang responsible for the scar on my stomach. Gliding down with rage building in my fist, she took notice of me and quickly vanished, my flaming fist driving another Reaver Captain into the dirt

"Duck!" I did, a roar of flames traveling over me to melt the Vandals beside me, one in particular dodged and swung a blade at my visor. I pushed off my left foot and snapped my head back for a headbutt, shoving a CLG into its arms as it blew itself up

Hopping back from the hidden blade, Arc bolts bounced off Drevis' cloak, forcing her into hiding behind another two armored Vandals. They raised their rifles but the crackle in the muzzle was extinguished by a blade lodged in one of their throats. Zane slid in from nowhere, Bladedancer carving a large archway between us as it melted the snow, a flash of blue blinding the last of the Fang as Judgement blew a final Captain away, and a clean-cut from Silvis silenced the last Vandal.

"Then there was one," I turned slowly to Drevis, herself slowly stepping back while I raised my arms angrily. "Nowhere to run this time, no tricks, nothing."

Her handle on her swords tightened, she would fight us either way. The sun had set over the Cosmodrome, so the nightfall made this much more dangerous given her skill with stealth, she may very well escape under the cover of night, but without any Skiffs, she was without a second chance off of Earth.

Everything was tense, that was when Silvis stepped forward, putting her arm out to me as her crimson cape fluttered in the wind, a clear view of the banner. ~All of you stand down, I... will fight her~ Ghost shared my worry for that plan, but her glowing, icy-blue eyes were determined as I was

I stepped back. "Okay, I trust you." To put faith in a mysterious ally was dumb, but I found it often the ones I trust are those often misunderstood. Zane was at the top of that list.

Silvis approached without her weapons, say for a hand slowly clasped around that unique cutlass of hers. Drevis snarled, communing with the Devil with her swords taking chunks out of the ground.

~Oh-oh, I can translate for Drevis - You're not the only one who can do this job and with style and dramatics~ Rika replied smugly, Ghost only grumbled as we stood back and let Silvis eye the Fang leader with scorn in her eyes and venom lacing her words

~All Houses offered unity under Wolves, our freedom, liberty to prove ourselves to the Great Machine of our Kell of Kells~ Drevis practically worshipped Skolas, Silvis eyed her unique cutlass, drawing it from her back to face the fanatical assassin

~Eliksni were proud, honorable, kind. Fallen are pirates, scavengers who lost their way~ She snarled. ~Monsters who kill and take innocent lives, Great Machine chose Humanity, then so be it, the Fallen do not deserve it's grace as we are~

~A lowly Devil like you can't understand anything~ I was impressed by these two quick learning of Fallen language, but I feel some parts were typos. Drevis raised a sword to Silvis. ~A broken House under a cowardly Kings' eye, a foolish Devil among pirates~

Silvis just swung the blade slowly, looking more than ready to silence the Wolf. ~I hold His blade with pride, I honor His way, the heritage we lost with the same passion. I am Silvis of House Devils, Pride of Chelchis~

That one name made Drevis howl as she brought her swords down on the snow. Silvis dived back, cloaking under Wolf's own trick as Drevis spun around, swiping the air while the single cutlass parried the twin blades, thrusting through the gap to slice at Drevis' barding.

Drevis spun around, swiping low, forcing Silvis to leap into a set of arms that latched to her leg, throwing her through the water while leaving her back exposed for a twin plunge of steel. She surprised the Fang with a one-handed stand, swing her feet down to plunge the Fang in the rainwater.

Enraged, Drevis thrashed through the water, her sword caught by a hand as it was plucked from her hold, a knee brought high against her jaw, followed by a swipe to the gut as the large cutlass drew blood, startling the Fang as the Devil remained composed, grasping her sword with both hands as she mimicked a human stance, the Half-Iron Gate Guard.

The Dregs beside us were howling with glory for their Vandal, and I grinned. "You got this, Silvis!" Her eyes remained focused solely on the fury building around Drevis, but her stance loosened a little

"Cheering for a Fallen, what a strange day ~GUT THE WOLF~ oh fantastic..." Morbin rubbed his chin meticulously, Zane happily joining the Dregs in cheer

Rika giggled, ~This is fun, ahem, 'Traitors, all of you to the Great Machine! To Skolas!'~ Drevis lunged, retrieving her lost sword from the sloshing waves as she thrashing through the water to reach Silvis, her side-steps more than enough before she brought the blade up in a clean swipe, ether shooting from the Fang as she stumbled past the Devils, clutching the large wound

Silvis held her stance strong but brought the cutlass to level with her eyes, held to her right. ~Betrayed no one, I will stand by the ways of old, together or alone, I will not allow my kin to fall to ruin anymore~ She made a sound similar to that of a chuckle. ~Unlike your ridiculous Kell, so in human words, go to Hell' - Pfft, okay, I like this Eliksni~ Ghost chuckled.

Drevis roared, stomping back with both her swords raised to her left for a single stroke, Silvis was patient, and soon, a glint of silver struck from three points, the contrail fading as a single, calm ripple in the water broke from the contact. The Russian winds howled a moment, then Drevis fell, blades sank and her head buried itself in the ground.

As Silvis finally lowered her arms, the rest of us were happy for her triumph, Zane even wrapping an arm around my neck as he swung side-to-side with me, Morbin was... Morbin, but he kept quiet otherwise while I laughed, but I kept what they said in mind. That sword, it was Chelchis', wasn't it?

~Interesting, I guess we can count on some more allies like you, Variks~ Petra hummed at the aftermath. ~But good work! With the Devils help, you've denied Skolas their House, and killed one of his best. There's still one House left on Earth, I'd be willing to bet he's going after the Kings next~

I put my fingers to my helmet. "We'll move out when you give the word, Petra, thanks." The comms cut off, then Silvis walked up to me, sheaving her cutlass. "I really hope we can work together someday, all of us."

She shook her head, then Ghost appeared, "'There is much bloodshed on both sides, some agree, some won't, all we can do is try', o-oh?" Ghost was startled by the finger poking at his shell, Silvis making a few curious sounds. "Y-yes, I've been translating, can you please stop that." A reply was made, and Ghost narrowed his eye. "No, not translating."

Giggling at the interaction I pushed Ghost. "Ghost's gloomy attitude aside, I'll do what I can to shed light on you for the City, it's my word against many, but its more than worth it."

Silvis gave another gracious bow with her knives, the Dregs doing the same, then she and the Devils ran back to the empty wall, leaving us to wait for our Jumpships, and the explanation we had to give to the Vanguard looming overhead.

Variks and Silvis, both Fallen that want to restore their kind to the old ways, but a lifetime of violence stood between us, that doesn't mean we can't try. We hid behind walls but how long would that last? We rush into the unknown and forget to observe, if we ignored the selflessness of the Fallen, then what chance is there for peace? For a real Kell of Kells?

A finger flicked my forehead. "You're overthinking again," Morbin grumbled, crossing his arms while he remained fixated on the wall's rusted exterior. "I won't always trust Fallen, but that one has... potential ~I REALLY LIKE HER STYLE~ ugh..."

"Seems like someone else disagrees~" Zane sang while ducking under Morbin's lightning-quick hand. "Haha, I've learned from my - Yah!" He slipped on some ice, head-butting a car as I burst into a fit of laughter alongside Morbin. "Nevermind..."

"Yes, you are a Hunter with two left feet, we know." Rika snickered herself, earning a flick from her Guardian

To Be Continued...

Lots of stuff, from Fallen translations to new alliances forming and a rising leader among pirates and scavengers. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, and seeya in the next chapter Guardians!

Next Chapter: Of Wolves and Kings

Denied the House of Devils, Skolas' House moves on the secretive House of Kings, with Horizon in hot pursuit.