The Wanderer

A small group of zoids loped across the desert. A dinosaur type, a black wolf, and a white liger compromised the gathering. Inside the Liger's cockpit, a teenage boy rested, with his head pillowed on a black organoid.

I rest, listening to Fury, Liger, Shadowrage, and Shadows conversation. In a lull, I doze, remembering. After I defeated Van, we went back to the Eve. Once there, we had a long conversation about what to do next.

Prozen had died, and I had my revenge. No one wanted to stay at the eve, the site of Astarael's grave. No one would mourn for her, no one would remember her for what she truly was, except us five.

So, we wander. We don't know where we're heading, we just move. Liger, Shadow, and I have a strong friendship, a bond without words. Shadowrage also likes me, because I was the only person his master had loved. Fury, he hangs around. He still doesn't have any armor, as we left the Hellion there.

The only thing that brightens my life besides the others is an old zoidian song that reminds me of Astarael. I often find myself humming the song while I lie on Ligers back, looking at the stars.

Go to the east, Go to the west, The way is hard and the road rough, When another angel falls.

The eagle soars, The wolf runs, The only way, Has just begun, When another angel falls.

The stars die, Zi will cry, Will you resist? As the wolf clan calls?

The eagle soars, The wolf runs, The only way, Has just begun, When another angel falls.

Van and his friends have been keeping tabs on me, as I get buzzed by Redlers every two weeks. I've seriously considered shooting them down, but I rejected the idea. They'd just come after me and I'd have to destroy them. :Raven?: It's Shadow. {Yeah?} : We've found a place to stop for the night.: {You have? Good.} I stand up and leap out.

Van brooded, looking at the pictures the Redlers sent back. "Van?" He looked up. "Yeah?" Fiona perched on the edge of the desk.

"What's wrong? You've been too quiet lately." He stretched and sighed. "I can't get what Raven said to me out of my head. Maybe we judged him too harshly. He hasn't done anything lately, just keeps on moving west." She looked at him with worry in her ruby eyes. "Don't worry. We'll think of something." He stood up and exited with Fiona.

:Raven?: I roll over and look into his cobalt eyes. "Yes?" :I want to battle. I'm bored. It's been three months since Astarael died.: I groan and study his face. "I'll talk to Rage about it." Shadowrage is sort of our leader.

[ Raven?] "Yeah, Liger?" [We're being followed.] I sit up and scan the darkness. Shadowrage sniffs the air. Liger zeroes in. Shadowrage tells me about the people. * A heldigunner, a desert command wolf, and a dark horn.*

I consider the pros and cons of attacking them and decide. "Shadow, take me to the ridge." I think about how I want to attack. I remember something Astarael told me. "I have a curse of bloodwrath, but you on the other hand, have something else. Something feral, barely human, inside of you. If you can harness its power, nothing will stand up to you."

I stand on the ridge with Fury, Liger, Shadowrage, and Shadow behind me, and focus on the stars coming over the horizon as the sun touches the rim. A bright blue one shines, eclipsing others in its brightness. That star is the Wolf Star. I throw my head back and stare at it, remembering. Remembering a girl who died for me, remembering the perfect warrior.

Something stirs inside me, a tentative nudge. I ignore it and focus. A wind picks up and swirls around me. I spread my arms. My shadow falls over the land, a darkening cross. "As the sun sets so will the lives of all of who dare to face my wrath." I spread my awareness over the land, and go deep inside myself.

A fire burns, my very essence. Shadow waits by me, anticipating the rise of a power never seen.

Suddenly, something erupts! A single-minded entity, intent on one thing. A thirsting to hear the enemies dying scream. I am the thing, will be the entity, and it exist only to feed iiself. I fall to my knees, trying to wrest control back.

The swirling of wind picks up, becomes a maelstrom of death. It rushes toward the other zoids. Dust picks up and gives it a shape, the shape of a dragon. It hits the zoids, and roars in anger.

I collapse, and I see that the other zoids are hollowed out. The computers and wires are gone, only the outer shape remains. My eyes close, and I know nothing more.