Warriors: The New Era.
Chapter Forty Five: Payback
Crow is taken by Poppyfrost and Co back to the house, to see what certain Resistance Members have to say about this...
(Takes place after Island of The Lost Chapter 20)
Because Motorcycles were too few to take, they were driving Brightheart's old Volkswagen van.
The ride back home was silent.
Apart from the begging of Crow to spare the faux Icecloud, no one had much to say.
Jack was snuggling next to Icecloud, leaned against the wall of the van. Fang was driving, berating Sunfield and Dusty while Lionblaze let out some soft rasps from his wounds.
Since when did they have to decide right and wrong?
Ivypool was mentally cursing herself, mostly for being of NO help in the situation. She didn't ask for these powers. Her sister bestowed them to her when she decided to leave with Tigerheart. And since Rock had decided to go Dark Raiden on them, she had no teacher.
She snapped her fingers, and a small flame erupted like a lighter. She made a fist and the flame died out.
Ivypool turned back to look at Crow in the back of the Van, being held by Jayfeather and Poppyfrost with a sword to his throat, and sighed, "What are we going to do with him?"
Poppyfrost shrugged, "I don't know."
"Oh! So Ms High and Mighty Underground Robin Hood has no plan?!"
"Shut your mouth!" Poppyfrost hissed.
Ivypool backed down, mostly cause she knew Poppyfrost didn't deserve it. She was just trying to make the best out of a shitty situation. Out of the entire family of misfits they were, Poppyfrost was the most mature and experienced, mostly the de-facto leader beside Jayfeather. She'd survived too much to be questioned or disrespected.
"Sorry...just stressed."
Poppyfrost nodded, "Just don't take it out on your friends."
"Yes ma'am."
The Van came to a halt, just outside the house.
Poppyfrost opened the back door, and dragged Crow out. Jayfeather hopped out after her, with Lionblaze slowly getting out.
Dusty removed himself from the passenger seat, as Fang launched out of the driver seat, dragging Sunfield by the ear.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DANGEROUS THAT WAS?!"
Sunfield started spluttering apologies, while Foxleap opened the door to the house, beckoning them to bring Crow inside.
Inside was everyone in the family. Cinderheart and Honeyfern rushed to their brother.
"Nice place..." Crow muttered, looking at the interior of the house, "Fir must have been living the good life..."
"Shut up," Poppyfrost warned, shoving him into the elevator.
Foxleap looked at Fang and Sunfield, raising a brow as Poppyfrost sighed, "They are with me. Fang! Come with us! Sunfield, go find Sparkpelt and tend to Lionblaze's back wounds."
"Yes, ma'am!" Sunfield nodded, as Berrynose helped carry Lionblaze to the garage.
Ivypool grabbed Poppyfrost by the shoulder, "I coming with."
"No, you've done enough," Poppyfrost responded kindly yet cold.
"I'm not asking permission," Ivypool narrowed her eyes.
Poppyfrost nodded, "But you WILL follow my lead."
Ivypool sighed and nodded, joining Poppyfrost, Fang, and Crow in the elevator.
Jayfeather, Foxleap, Icecloud, and Jack took the stairs down, while Foxleap tended to his sister, "I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry!"
"Don't make this overly sentimental Fox, it wasn't your fault," Icecloud hugged his brother back.
Ivypool smiled, her heart warmed to the sight of Foxleap and Icecloud reuniting.
The elevator shut, and Crow began to smirk.
"So...I'm going to the Foxcave? Fir said it was very cool."
Poppyfrost smirked wider, "No...you're going beneath it...where some Resistance Members would like to talk to you..."
Crow gulped.
The elevator door opened, and inside was a garage like room, where Coalstrike and Ashtooth stood, with Mallowleaf behind them. Between them was a armchair, where Jaywhisker had Fir in a compromised situation. His iron gauntlets grabbing her by her arms, preventing her from leaving.
"Nice armor," Ivypool smirked.
"Fir! You okay?" Crow asked in desperation as Poppyfrost shoved Crow into the armchair, where Ashtooth zip tied him to the chair.
Fir nodded, as Jaywhisker hissed.
Foxleap and the rest finally reached the room, while Foxleap locked the door behind him.
"Okay...now...hold her down Jaywhisker!" Foxleap growled, stomping towards Crow.
Crow stood defiantly, as Foxleap readied a swing.
Foxleap sunk his fist into Crow's cheek, and Crow'd head bounced off the headrest.
Crow groaned. Despite Foxleap's lanky stature, he punched pretty damn hard.
Icecloud strutted over to Fir, who looked everywhere but at Icecloud's eyes. Icecloud grabbed her throat, and instantly, Crow was tugging on his restraints.
"YOU HURT HER, AND I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL-"
Foxleap punched him again, eyes flaring. "MY! SISTER! MY! SISTER! YOU TOOK MY GODDAMN SISTER! RAPED HER! BROKE HER! DON'T TELL US WHO NOT TO HURT! YOU BOTH DESERVE EVERY LAST BIT OF THIS!"
Ivypool gasped. In all her years she'd known Foxleap, she'd never seen him this angry before.
"ICECLOUD! Get some payback!"
Ashtooth sighed, "This isn't necess-"
"Fuck necessity," Coalstrike growled, holding Crow's head up as Foxleap readied a punch to the throat.
"DON'T HURT HER!" Crow pleaded, "PLEASE!"
"SHUT UP!" Jack roared, "YOU DON'T DESERVE ANY OF OUR MERCY!"
"PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T HURT HER! DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT WITH ME! BUT-but don't kill her...please..."
Icecloud either didn't listen, or didn't care. Her knuckles collided with Fir's jaw, as Jaywhisker held her in place.
"STOP IT! EVERYONE!" Ivypool hollered, "THIS IS NOT HOW WE DO THINGS! They were victims too...let's just...hear them out."
Coalstrike growled, "Oh? Hear them out? I'll tell you what, I'd rather hear them SCREAM!"
"COAL!" Ashtooth barked, "Enough!"
Foxleap looked at Ivypool and then Ashtooth for approval, and sighed, "One more punch?"
Ashtooth looked at a nose bled Crow, and sighed. "Fine...One more punch."
"Jaywhisker! Give me a gauntlet!"
"No!" Ashtooth barked.
"Fine...knuckleduster?"
"Eh...fuck it, sure."
Foxleap grabbed one of a nearby desk, and drew his hand back, slamming it in Crow's forehead, giving a huge whelp and bruise on it.
"Rgghhhh...have we calmed down?" Crow muttered.
Ashtooth leaned down in front of him, sitting on his knees, "You wanted a chance to talk. So talk. Give me a reason why we shouldn't kill you right now."
"Because we're done..." Crow nodded, "We're done with this. This was going to be our last mission."
"A mission you failed..." Poppyfrost scowled. "You think you're superiors are just going to let you walk after this failure?"
Crow hissed, "I think that they don't have a choice. I did my mission. And if I die by you people, I might as well be free from their eyes and ears."
Ashtooth nodded, "So...what do WE gain? What benefits do we get?"
Crow let a smirk escape him, "How many ARS men have you ever talked to?"
"When they aren't shooting, I guess none," Ashtooth admitted.
Crow's smirk widened.
Ashtooth grinned in understanding, "Ah...you have information."
"I have information," Crow nodded.
"The most priceless material in these days..." Mallowleaf nodded, finally speaking since Crow was tied up.
Poppyfrost scowled, and drew her sword, "What information could you possibly give us?"
"What Rock needs and wants," Crow smirked.
"And that is?" Jayfeather asked.
"First," Crow scowled, "Let her go."
Mallowleaf sighed and turned to Jaywhisker, who reluctantly let go of Fir. Fir rubbed her arms, shooting a glare at Icecloud, who readied to swing again, before Jack stood between them.
While Jack settled Icecloud down, Crow began to talk, "Sky believes Rock holds an array of nuclear bombs stolen from Scourge."
Foxleap huffed in ragem, "Damn! I told you Scourge was a distraction!"
"Didn't Half Moon say that?" Icecloud asked.
"He needs Jack Graves," Crow continued, "He's the key to the bombs..."
All eyes turned to Jack, who looked just as confused as they did, "How? How am I the key?"
"You're ALL Rock talks about!" Crow said in exasperation, starting to imitate Rock ," 'Get me Jack Graves!' 'Graves is the last piece of the chessboard!' and 'Jack is the key to my plan!'."
"How?" Jayfeather asked, turning to Jack, "How are you the key to this?"
"Beats me! I'm not like you guys! How could I be the key toARRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Jack instantly let out a scream of true terror, scaring everyone to the bone.
"Jay's Wing! Jay's Wing gave me a key to something that could never be found!"
Ivypool gasped, "What is the key?"
Jack panted for breath, "It's an old Ring! With an Blood red stone in it! He told me to keep it safe!"
"What does it unlock?"
Jack shook his head, "I-I don't know! It was one of the reasons I left! He never told me, but if Rock wants it, then-"
"Then Nuclear Bombs are the least of our troubles..." Poppyfrost realized.
Garrison stood in the entrance to the empty airport.
He had been here before, not too long ago, chasing a deserter whom somehow escaped their grip. Unfortunately, said Deserter escaped to somewhere the ARS couldn't follow. He never assumed he'd be back here.
The night sky was dark, clouds covering the stars, preventing Garrison from seeing anything of beauty. The airport was empty, and they stood near a dimly lit Helipad. So dim, that the pilot would need binoculars to see it.
Sky sent him to greet an asset whom she refused to speak of. Apparently, said asset was a man whom would help them tear the Resistance apart.
"Is...is it true what they say about him, sir?" a masked solider beside Garrison asked.
"What do they say about him?" Garrison asked.
The soldier sighed, "You know..."
"No I don't. What do they say about him?"
The soldier shuffled his feet, "I-I was talking with the boys earlier, about this man who we are greeting. They said he was cruel to the bone, possessed by the damned, and is a man so evil...that...that The Devil himself kicked him from Hell."
Garrison sighed, "Normally I'd be berating you for listening and taking such idle gossip to heart."
The Soldier got nervous.
"Unfortunately...I can vouch for said gossip."
This didn't help the soldier.
"I...I think I'm scared sir," he admitted.
Garrison nodded, "Such emotion is common with this man...what else have you heard about him?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Curious if the ARS could handle him."
"Well...Helmsworth said that the man is more evil then Scourge. That he never stops searching for his prey, like a mountain lion. That he kills everything that moves, and was the vessel of a thousand maniacs. That he was so crude and so monstrous, that the grass beneath him decays and rots. That everything he touches burns will hellfire."
Garrison heard the familiar sound of a helicopter descending.
"Well...time to see if the gossip does the man justice."
The helicopter landed, the wind blowing the two ARS back, and as the engine died down, they say a man climb out from the cabin.
He was dressed in black suit with a bright red tie. His hair was a wild ginger orange, and his right eye was gray with blindness, with a deep scar crossing his eye. His left eye was a evil green. In his hand was a lighter, which he flicked on and off over and over again, watching the fire spark and die down.
Garrison felt the man before he saw him. His kin grew goosebumps, his heart went cold.
"In-Inferno..." Garrison tried to be polite, as the man walked towards him, "I...I was unaware you would be here. I was expecting Rock or Dec-"
"I was sent in their place,' he said with a slight edge in his voice. He began to walk close to him, as Garrison began to fumble with his words.
""Well this unexpected arrival has set ARS back by weeks! We must report to-"
Inferno shoulder bumped Garrison out of his way, looking at the horizon.
"I care not for your struggles..."
Inferno turned his head, letting his one good eye look back at the men, his green eye replaced by a slight orange glow.
"I will succeed where you and Sky have failed."
An new enemy, whom only several know.
And...I end this now, Because I don't know what to do with Crow and Fir. Like should they join the fight? Live happy lives and leave? So I leave that up to Res.
Remember to Review! Honestly guys, it helps!
Adios.