Of Past and Future: The Tale of a Traveller

Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Star Fox and all characters included therein. I own Skysoar/Sky, Cloudkeep and other characters you do not recognize.

Finally we´re getting somewhere. Mostly talk in this chapter, plenty fighting in the next.

Chapter 6- Departure

Early in the morning two days since he had found his new mace Zor´Schrann, the Stormhammer, Skysoar was practicing with his Draconian dual blades on the ledge. He had summoned his armor and was going through his training cycle. His blades shimmered and danced as he moved fluidly from one move to the other. Parry, left slash, thrust, horizontal swipe, crossparry..

Skysoar had begun slowly to warm up and gradually increased speed. The Draconian seemed to dance as he spun around, swiping with his tail before raising his blades to a crossparry. His cloven feet left white scratch marks to the gray stone as he shuffled his feet to a more secure position. He used his wings to stay in balance and struck with both of his blades. He leapt backwards and struck forcefully with his wings, raising a cloud of thin snow and dust.

A small flash of light caught his eye as he spun around in a spin attack. Skysoar quickly retracted his blades and dispelled his armor, dropping to his feet while looking for the source of the flash.

A rider was coming from the northern part of the valley. Shortly thereafter a large wagon appeared, following the rider. They were followed by several more riders and wagons.

"A caravan? Headed south? We are in luck.." Skysoar rumbled to himself and concentrated.

He seemed to shrink and blue fur burst out of his scales. Seconds later he was kneeling on the edge of the cliff in his fox form. He made sure the Stormhammer was strapped securely to his back. It was.

The mace was far from being as subtle or fast as his dual katars, but it was incredibly powerful as a weapon. Besides, in fox form, he was unable to use his katars, as they were a permanent part of his suit- which he could not use for obvious reasons. He would be prepared for anything.

Skysoar smirked and began to make his way to the first rider.

*~*~*

Skysoar had not tried to conceal himself in any way, but the rider seemed truly surprised to see someone appear in his way.

"Halt! Who are you?" Skysoar studied the rider quickly before answering. The guard- a hound anthro of some sort- seemed nervous.

"A lone traveler seeking refuge from bandits." he answered in a low voice.

"Could you, sir, be so kind as to take me to the caravan leader?"

*~*~*

The caravan master appeared to be a seemingly old gray-brown rabbit anthro of some type. Two (very) large guards had escorted Skysoar to him. They had allowed him to keep the Stormhammer, but the looks they gave him made sure he would not try anything- as if he had any intent to.

The hare had clear blue eyes and an aura of intelligence surrounding him.

"I am Derek Ashall, the caravan master. Who might you be?"

He seemed old, but his eyes shone clear and observant. This man should not be underestimated, Skysoar noted.

"My name is Sky, milord, and I am a warrior."

The hare seemed somewhat amused.

"Please, call me Derek. What would a young warrior like you be doing up here in the wastes?"

Skysoar had had plenty of time to think of a proper cover story and began to speak.

"I was travelling with south in a trade caravan and was separated from them with my charge from the rest of the caravan in a bandit attack."

Skysoar made note of how the guards- and the master- had tensed up visibly at the mention of bandits.

"I have been living up here with my charge for nearly two months now, waiting for a passing caravan."

"Your charge? Who and where is he?"

Skysoar smiled dryly before answering.

"'He' is actually a 'she'. She is a very young fox vixen who has been entrusted in my care. As of where, she is in our cave waiting for me."

Derek seemed to have been taken by surprise. After a short silence the hare cleaned his throat.

"A young vixen.. Might I ask how old is she?"

Skysoar blinked. He did not know for sure, as he had not had much experience from her particular species.

"I am not entirely sure, mi.. Derek. She has just had her first teeth, but she has not yet tried to move on her own.. I would say she is maybe three to four months old. It is because of her that I come seeking your aid. The journey south is long and I doubt she would have survived the travel with just me. I am willing to offer you my service as a caravan guard if you take us with you."

Derek shook his head silently. "You have put me in quite a predicament, Sky my boy. I cannot just leave you here, especially with a child so small, but our food supplies are diminishing at an alarming rate. We will be hungry at the end of our trek."

Skysoar looked up. "That may not be a problem, Derek. During my time here I have been gathering supplies for my protégéé and myself. I have nearly a month's worth of food for the two of us stashed in my cave. Most of it is dried travel food, and not exactly what I would call 'tasty', but I would be honored to present them to you."

"And I would be just as honored to accept your offer. I will send three of my men to aid in transporting your things. We will set camp here and depart tomorrow morning."

Skysoar made a bowed slightly. "This means much to me and my charge. Thank you very much, milord."

Derek snorted at Skysoar. "No need to thank me. And call me Derek."

The hare turned at the guards who had escorted Skysoar to him. "Go get someone to help you and go with Sky."

"Yes, master Derek."

Derek shot a pained look at Skysoar as he muttered "And stop calling me 'master'" to the guards.

*~*~*

Skysoar dodged a vertical slash with a quick sidestep to the left and swung the Stormhammer in a wide arc. For a fox his size the mace should have been near impossible to even lift, but some of his Draconian strength had remained even in his disguise. His strength made it possible for him to wield the heavy mace as easily as some used a dagger. The fury of his attack made his opponent step back. Skysoar changed suddenly the direction of his attack and struck the sword of his opponent. The force of the blow made him drop the sword and stumble, falling to his knees.

Skysoar swung the Stormhammer casually over his shoulder and offered his hand to the exhausted caravan guard.

"You fought very well. Now then.." Skysoar raised his head and his golden eyes scanned the audience around him.

"Anyone else up for some sparring?"

No one dared to step forth. Skysoar shrugged and turned away.

"So be it. If anyone needs me, I will be with Derek and Cloudkeep."

Derek had insisted that Skysoar should stay in his wagon with the child, and Skysoar had not objected. He liked the old hare, as they thought alike. During the few days Skysoar had been traveling with Derek they had become good friends. Derek had also taken a liking to the little girl (whom they now called Cloudkeep) and acted much like a grandfather for her.

"I saw you training with Simon." Derek greeted Skysoar at the wagon.

"I still can't believe how you use that mace of yours."

"Sometimes I cannot believe it myself, my friend." Skysoar grinned at the hare. "It is a great weapon."

Derek just nodded at Skysoar.

"Indeed. Might I have a look at it?" Skysoar unstrapped the Stormhammer from his back and handed the mace to Derek. Derek' s eyes widened as he felt the mace in his hands.

"By the gods, lad, this is heavy! And you wield this behemoth of a club with only one hand?"

Skysoar grimaced. "Only if I have to. 'Tis easier so use with both hands."

Derek just eyed Skysoar wearily and handed the Stormhammer back to him.

"So.." Skysoar began, "How is Cloudkeep?"

Derek gave Skysoar a tired smile. "See for yourself. She is asleep.. again."

"She does that often, does she not?"

"That is the way of children his age, Sky. They sleep, eat and sleep some more."

Skysoar bowed down to see Cloudkeep in her makeshift cradle –Derek's old travel chest with the lid removed. She was so small and fragile, her white fur shining, left thumb in her mouth. Her right ear was standing up like that of an adult fox, but her left was still drooped over, giving her an oddly misshapen look. Her small muzzle was pointing straight upwards, her nose a tiny black spot at the end.

A strong feeling of protectiveness washed over Skysoar as he looked upon the small life before him.

"She is a beautiful child.." Skysoar mumbled.

"That she is, Sky. I still cannot believe someone would send a child her age on a journey like yours."

Skysoar grimaced wearily. "It was kind of an emergency, Derek."

"You see, her father –a distant relative of mine- is of noble blood among my people. Sadly, his health has been faltering lately. Many believe he will not live to see next summer." Skysoar sighed deeply. He was sorry for tricking a friend, but he had no choice.

"Unfortunately his cousin, a greedy fool, believes he would be perfect to replace the old lord. As Cloudkeep would be the next heir to the throne, the situation is somewhat dangerous for her. My mission was to bring her out of the reach of any plot against her- and beyond the reach of any assassins."

Derek's eyes had grown cold. "Assassins? Against her? The no-good, worthless, slimy piece of.."

"When you have finished, I have some good suggestions of how to go on. I have been trapped up here for nearly two months before you came. That gave me plenty of time to think of fitting titles for my beloved relative. I am sure that the bandit attack that left us stranded here was an attempt against her life."

"What will we need to do?" Derek asked. He seemed truly worried for the pup.

"I am to take the child to any southern city to be left for a reliable family. I shall stay hidden close to her to protect her against any harm. There will not be very much for you, my friend, to do. You just take us to any city and forget we ever existed."

Derek blinked. "To be taken to a 'reliable family'? You are to leave her-" Derek motioned towards the sleeping child- " –to some strangers? Why cannot you raise her?"

Skysoar´s expression had grown dark. "I like this even less then you, Derek. I cannot raise her because my kind is rare around here. If her assailant hears of a blue fox warrior with a white daughter, he will quickly put the two together. That would nullify my efforts of pprotecting her. Trust me, if there were any other way, I would use it."