A.N. Greetings, I know the chapter is a little overdue but unfortunately I had other engagements to attend to. Also I feel that I should mention that only those who regularly review will receive e-mail alerts from me. Apart from these two notes I have little to say and therefore will allow you to read the latest installment in this saga.

Goodbye and good fortune

Fallen Saga Creator

Zidane turned to the genome as he dropped down, he did not need to ask for his report as the genome began immediately, *There's Alexandrians two days foot ahead. I just met a border guard who's got a mate that he left with em. He reckons they're advanced scouts, since there's been a couple of other groups.* Zidane swore silently and gripped the hilt of his dagger. However the genome was not done speaking yet, *Wait boss, there's something else, this guard, he says that there's something weird about the Alexandrians.*

*Weird how?*

The genome shrugged, *He didn't say exactly, he just said they smelt wrong. They didn't smell like Alexandrians.*

*What? Mercenaries?*

The genome shook his head, *Naw, not like that… he said they barely seemed human. Like nothing he'd ever smelt before. But they looked human, at least that's what he said.*

Zidane frowned thoughtfully running his hands through his hair before he looked up, *Yo, Blank.*

A genome answered his call, slightly taller than Zidane his hair was cropped short in an unruly mass that halted above the strange device that covered his eyes. Dropping from the trees he hung from a vine, *I heard, you want I should get a couple of the boys together and go see?*

Zidane nodded and the genome was gone in a moment a whistle calling two others from the branches to disappear into the shrubbery behind him. Zidane stared after them with a thoughtful frown on his face until a gentle hand on his shoulder called his thoughts back to the present. 'Zidane, is there something wrong?'

Zidane looked up at Dagger as she sat above him. He hesitated, how was he supposed to tell her what the genome had said, that her countrymen weren't human. He took her horse's bridle and began to lead it along a track, 'Well, that guy just said that he'd got news of some people two days ahead. Now he thinks that they may be Alexandrian.' He paused and he could hear her curiosity as she spoke,

'Thinks? I thought genomes could tell.'

Zidane frowned nervously, 'Yeah well that's the thing, they look Alexandrian but they don't smell it. The genome that brought the news said they barely smelt human.'

'Barely human? What do you mean?'

He shrugged apologetically, 'I don't know exactly, the border guard couldn't stop so he didn't give much information. Blank will be back by nightfall. We'll know then.' Dagger looked thoughtful as she rode Zidane obviously itching to follow Blank to know exactly what approached. After a second Zidane spoke, the way he chose his words hinting that he did not want to say this, 'Um Dagger, there's something you should probably know.' He turned to her and bit his lip before continuing, 'Well, she the queen hears the news she probably won't hold back the troops for long. It could only be a couple of days before she lets loose. I just thought you'd want to know… just in case they are Alexandrians.'

Dagger looked down at her hands as they clutched the reins. A war? Between Terra and Alexandria? No… she would not let such a thing occur. Her mother would listen to her and the troops that were already in the forest would fall under her command. She would not let them attack the forest. She laid a hand on Zidane's shoulder and smiled reassuringly, 'Don't worry, if they are Alexandrians then I'll just join up with them and lead them out of the forest. Don't worry, I won't let them provoke the queen.'

He smiled back at her. 'Yeah. But… I'm worried. If they were Alexandrians then there's no way they would have seemed like anything else. If… they weren't Alexandrians then who were they? And why are they coming out of Alexandria?'

Dagger felt her mouth go dry, 'I've only been gone for Alexandria for a few months. There's no way anything could have happened. Our armies are the strongest on the continent. They would not be overwhelmed so easily… they just couldn't be.'

Zidane nodded and patted her hand, smiling for her sake as he turned back to face the forest ahead, 'Yeah… you're right. There's probably nothing wrong. We'll know tonight anyway.' But when Dagger turned her eyes from him the frown returned and Zidane knew that several of the genomes that swung through the trees around him also bore the same looks and had thoughts that ran parallel to his.

They were proved right that night when Blank returned. His expression was grim as his party swung into the centre of camp, their ragged breathing telling that they had rushed back as fast as they could carry themselves through the trees. Blank drank deeply of the pitcher that was offered up to him, water running from his mouth in his haste to speak.

When he did his hand gripped the dagger at his side as though he restrained the urge to draw it and use it upon anything in range, *The border-guard was right about one thing Zidane, those things up ahead aren't Alexandrians. They look human but they seem more like undead. They walk like they're in dreams or something and the stench… ugg, the genome that was watching them said it had got worse almost by the hour. It smelled like rotting flesh.*

Zidane's face had got steadily darker as the report progressed and he whirled to one of the genomes, *You, take the news back to the queen, tell her that the so-called Alexandrians that were invading aren't Alexandrians. Half of you go with him, guard the princess and make sure she gets back to Terra.*

Blank sniffed and sensed the rage rising within the young warrior, he fully understood, undead in Alexandria was a travesty of all that their atonement stood for. *And what are you gonna do?* He asked with a knowing smile.

Zidane's hackles rose as he clenched a fist tight around the dagger sheathed at his belt, *You and me and the rest, we're going hunting.* The announcement sent up a wild cry of elation from the warriors, the genomes immediately casting lots to see who would get to fight and who would get to guard.

Dagger set her hand tentatively on Zidane's shoulder, a transformation had come over the young warrior and he seemed to stand taller as he turned to her. His expression softened a little as she spoke, 'Zidane, what's going on? Is there any news on the Alexandrians?'

Zidane shook his head, 'They're not Alexandrians. They're undead. If they're roaming Terra then it's too dangerous to bring you with us. I'm sending you back to Terra along with some of the boys.'

Dagger did not know why but concern filled her more over the fact that he would not be returning to safety rather than the news of undead. 'What about you?'

His feral teeth showed in a wolfish grin, 'I'm going hunting.'

Dagger reached out a hand and laid it on his shoulder, her fingers feeling the iron of his muscles beneath his vest, 'I… be careful.' He nodded once and then turned as the first genomes began to swing into the trees toward the undead, genomes did their planning on the way and the warriors saw no reason to delay the attack by waiting for anyone.

He turned back for a moment, 'Goodbye Dagger. Don't worry, I'll be back in Terra in a couple of days.' And then with that he was gone, swinging through the trees as the campsite disappeared behind him. As the last spark of firelight was closed off from his vision Zidane looked over his shoulder and sent up a silent prayer that the warriors would be able to see her safely back to Terra. He knew it was a foolish thing to worry about but he did it anyway, he just seemed to feel that he should be back at her side to protect her. He turned as a wild hunting cry sounded through the forest as Blank led the party. His hackles rose in a grin as he joined the cry, the wild echoes drifting through the forest and telling every creature that the genomes went to war, but against who?

A.N. Short I know but the next chapter will be longer and also will develop the story a great deal therefore I ask you to be patient and review this chapter to tell me what you think of it. The target I have set for this chapter is seventy-five reviews. I know there are enough of you to make that number easily and none of you have any excuse not to as it only takes a few short moments. Anyway, the next chapter will be up soon, if you have any questions or comments that you do not want to put in a review my e-mail is Fallen_Saga_Creator@hotmail.com so feel free to contact me. I will reply as soon as I can..

Goodbye and good fortune

Fallen Saga Creator