--Written by Naki
General Repard and Captain Blian approached Bane's chambers. Before they reached the door, however, Demeter stepped out of the shadows and stopped them.
"Out of our way," Repard growled at her.
Demeter ignored him. "I recommend not disturbing the Master right now. He is rather perturbed at his loss yesterday. He is in a foul mood. And as will I be if you disturb him."
"You'll be in much more than a foul mood if you don't move," Repard snapped, grabbing Demeter by the throat viciously, his eyes narrowing. "You'll be in pieces!"
Captain Blian reached out and laid a hand on the General's arm. "General, with all due respect, I think we should heed her warning."
Repard scowled at the two of them, but he released his grip on Demeter's throat. "There, happy?"
"No need to be snappy," Demeter said to Repard in a sweet voice. "I was just warning you. If you choose to ignore my warning..." she motioned over her shoulder with her thumb, "go right on ahead through that door. However, some of us," she smiled at the Captain to her left, "are not suicidal."
Repard growled at her again. "Are you suggesting that I'm foolish enough to take my own life when I'm at the height of my career?"
Demeter's smile remained on her face. "No. I am suggesting that you are foolish enough no to heed a warning. This will lead to your death one day, General."
"Shut up," Repard shoved her unceremoniously to the side as he led Blian to Bane's door.
Demeter pulled herself up onto a ledge that was cut out of the stone wall. She idly kicked her legs out and called out to the pair. "Who's the more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?"
Blian stopped and turned around to look at the scantly-clad woman. She winked and blew a kiss at him.
Repard whirled around, glaring at her. "Cut that out!"
Demeter vanished from where she had been sitting and reappeared standing in front of Bane's door. She had her arms crossed over her semi-exposed chest, and a commanding look on her face. "Fine. You want it straight, I'll give it to you straight from the Master's mouth. He wishes not to be disturbed. Anyone who does disturb him, dies."
There was a short moment of silence so this statement could sink in.
"Demeter!" Bane's voice tore through the double wooden doors behind her. "Let those two in!"
Repard's triumphant smirk vanished when Bane's voice went dangerously low.
I wish to speak with them now."
Demeter carefully opened the door for them, and almost giggled when Repard walked past, whimpering. She stopped Blian and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I fear the Master is of foul temper. I wish you good luck with him tonight, Captain."
Blian ran the tips of his right fingers along the curve of her jaw. "Naturally, I would say to leave the well wishes for those who truly need it. But tonight..." his face turned from relaxed to fearful. "I truly need it."
Demeter giggled lightly as he left her standing at the room's threshold and ventured into the depths of Bane's chambers.
Erisi awoke the next morning. She yawned and blinked a couple of times. She suddenly sat up, remembering to cover herself with the blanket. Matthias was gone. The sheets on the right side of the bed on which he slept were still tossed back when he got up.
Erisi felt those familiar emotions rise up within her at full force. She put a hand over her mouth to prevent herself from crying out.
No, not again. No goodbye, Matthias? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?
Tears were beginning to creep out of her eyes when she noticed a folded piece of paper and a flower lying on Matthias' pillow.
She first picked the flower up off the pillow. This was an interesting flower that she'd seen before. It was a peculiar flower called a snow flower. Snow flowers were small and delicate flowers made of snow that were infused with Wingly magic that kept the flower's shpa and also prevented it from melting. These were commonly used as small gifts Wingly children made for others during winter time.
This snow flower was shaped like a rose. Erisi figured that Matthias must've gotten either Kurintsu or Deirdre to make it for him. She smiled as she placed the cold flower carefully back down onto the pillow.
Erisi next picked up the folded piece of paper. She opened it carefully, and recognized Matthias' messy handwriting.
She read it slowly, with a soft smile on her lips. Upon hearing a small noise in the room, Erisi's head shot up.
Sun Raye sat up on a ledge of a window that was next to the balcony doors. Sun Raye sat licking her front paws and rubbing them over her ears and face in a cat-like manner. She put her paw down and made a sound similar to a meow.
Eris wasn't expecting to see her pet here. Her cheeks turned a light shade of red as Sun Raye said, "Good morning!"
"Uh..." Erisi said, brushing her bangs out of her eyes as she remembered what had taken place during the night. "Sun Raye...how...exactly how long have you been in here?"
Sun Raye, in fact, knew what had gone on during the night. The Manoo blushed, the reddened skin showing through the dark fur of her face.
"I, uh..." Sun Raye started, looking a bit sheepish. "I came in after the fact." She paused for a moment, and seeing Erisi's expression, she continued quickly. "I didn't watch Matthias get dressed, I swear. I have no interest in Wingly men." She paused a second time, and added as an after thought, "I have no interest in any Humanoid men."
Erisi smiled at her. Keeping her back to Sun Raye, Erisi scooted over to the edge of the bed. She reached over to the chair that her white dress was draped out on. Erisi dressed quickly.
She walked over to the doulbe doors that led out to the balcony. Sun Raye had moved over to the wicker chair that was next to the double doors. She watched Erisi brush her hair.
"Otohime-sama," Sun Raye piped up. "Why are people such as you, Matthias and Dart called Humanoids?"
Erisi sat her hairbrush down on the nightstand. "I guess it's because the Humans came before the Winglies."
"Okay, here's the game plan," Bane lectured as he, General Repard, and the newly promoted Colonel Blian stood around a magic map that glowed green. "I call this 'Hand of God.'" He motioned to the map with a hand. "General, Colonel, you two and myself will each lead a small army of a hundred Winglies. Now, this map shows the outlay of Snowdrift Abbey from the bird's eye view. As you can see," he pointed to the map, "the main gate faces east. And there are smaller steel doors on the north and south walls. On the west wall, however, there is no gate or outlet of any kind, for it faces the Death Frontier." He waved both hands over the map, as if to encompass it as a whole. "We are going to use this Human design to our advantage. Now, here's how this plan is going to work," as he spoke, objects and words appear magically on the map. "I will take my men and lead an attack on the main gate. However, this is only a diversionary tactic. At this time, when the 'abbey dwellers' are distracted with me at the main gate, you two will make your moves. General Repard, you will take your hundred men and attack the north wall. At the same time, Colonel Blian will attack the south wall."
Colonel Blian scrutinized the map with a thoughtful look on his face. "So, it's a pincer move."
"A what?" General Repard asked.
Blian turned to the superior officer. "A pincer move is when two or more forces surround a common foe in attempt to defeat it."
Bane nodded. "Yes, very good, Colonel. That's precisely what we are going to do."