4

Crud fell down on the ground with a sickening thud. He had trouble walking while having his legs bound with chains and his paws behind his back. It was just a while ago that he was captured by Darkstripe. He tried reasoning with his captor. C'mon matey, wud do you say ya let me go. I haven't done anything to you and besides, you saved me from that mad squirrel. Wutsisname now, Prowler?' Darkstripe responded to the request by viciously bashing the rat in the face with his golden armlet. Crud yelped and gurgled as Darkstripe throttled the poor rat with his own paw chains. He then held him close and hissed into his ear. The only reason I saved you was cause I need some fun and I knew that would be impossible by slaying a slobberin' fool like you.' He then vehemently tossed Crud into a bush of poison ivy. He laughed hysterically as the rat ran around screaming holding his burning face. He finally tripped and once again fell on the ground hard. As he nursed his jaw, the wildcat turned on him. Why did Grimpaw talk him into capturing this fool? He had insisted on chasing him back into the forest after their raid on Salamandastron, and have some fun with the pathetic rat.

Darkstripe cursed under his breath. The battle had gone completely wrong. He had greatly underestimated the numbers of the badger. Out of his seven faithful wildcats, all he had left was Grimpaw, his strong right hand. He looked at his messmate who wasn't at all watching his master but tossing a large curved dagger into the air. The skilled killer would throw the knife into the air until it wus just a spinning blur, then he fluidly caught it by its handle. He would then repeat the process. The cat wore a vest made of mouse fur which was filled with his favorite daggers of all shapes and sizes. When it came to throwing knives, there simply was no better than Grimpaw. He instantly slay any target anywhere, anytime. Darkstripe thought that he could even slay him if he wanted to. The cat chuckled. No one was quicker than him with his twin swords which he had acquired from an old badger lord he killed a long time ago. If it ever need be, he knew slaying Grimpaw would be a simple task. His problem was that he was much too confident about his abilities while Darkstripe never left anything to chance. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he caught sight of Crud sitting up in the grass, his burning face forgotten. He held his head high as he sniffed the air unwary of his watching master.

What are you doing now, addlebrain?' Grimpaw spoke for the first time. He walked over to him and cruelly kicked the rat leaving him sprawling back in the poison ivy. The cat cackled evilly as he watched Crud crawling out of the bush as quickly as his bruised body would allow him. His hide burned but he didn't cry out. Why did ya do that for, aye? I was just sniffin' the air. I thought I smelled one of them fires from over yonder.' He said pointing to the west, the direction of the village Stella. Darkstripe cuffed Crud's ear with his claws and lifting him up on his paws, causing more screams from the badly battered searat. 'Let's go messmate,' The cat said to Grimpaw. Maybe we can have some more fun.' He sniggered his face a picture of cruel glee. Grimpaw grinned. Let's!' The two warriors headed in the direction of the bonfire in Stella, while hauling the whimpering Crud the whole way.

~~~~

The bewildered Dusk bolted through the forest, completely lost. What happened to Prowler? He was an old battle buddy of Crono when they first headed off to war from Stella. Crono would be maddened if he found out what happened to his friend. Sure, the squirrel was a little bloodthirsty okay so he was very bloodthirsty but he never deserved what happened to him. The otter continued racing through his forest trying to find his home, or his brother. Either one of them was good. He could not help dreading what might happen if he was too late. A single tear ran down the warrior's cheek as he sped up. Soon Dusk was out of breath so he sat down and leaned against a tree. He would just rest for a little while. Maybe a couple of minutes. Maybe Before he knew it, his eyes closed and the otter drifted into a deep slumber. A battle death blurring images swirled in Dusk's mind and the last thing he saw before everything turned to black was a courageous looking mouse, clad in shining armor and brandishing a beautiful sword. He said one word. Rise!' At that moment the otters eyes snapped open. He stood up swiftly and continued to dart through the forest. Something about the mouse in armor stirred him. His loved ones might be in danger! It was morning now and birds chirped undisturbed as Dusk fled the mysterious forest. Somehow he knew the way home from the instant he awoke. What a strange dream.

Soon the trees cleared and the young otter came screeched to a stop in front of his home. But what met his eyes was not what he had hoped to see. Tears ran freely down the otters face as he looked up at his destroyed village. He was to late! He stormed through the burning houses in search of the beasts who caused such chaos. But there was no sign of the villains. Instead, the ground was littered with scattered bodies. Horrified, he ran over checking the hearts of his friends. They were all dead. His head hung as he got up after checking the non beating heart of a fellow otter. Sarina? Where was Sarina? Dusk threw burning doors open in search of his best friend. Nothing. Just more bodies. He tightly gripped the reed flute in his fox fur pouch. The last memory he had of his best friend. Weren't there any survivors? the otter tried thinking logically. Sarina was probably dead and buried under the masses of carcasses in the village. It wasn't what he wanted hear but it was very likely. Besides, he had already checked almost every house in town. He drew an axe from his sheath and angrily split open a supporting column from the hut he was in. As he ran out the door, the entire house collapsed, burying the empty shells of his comrades for good.

Suddenly, a thought came to Dusk. Ruby! Was she alive? The love he had almost won was nowhere to be found. He had checked every house in the village except hers. He threw her door open and stood still. A cold chill swept up his spine and enveloped his body. He froze completely. He was looking at his brother crouching on the floor holding Ruby in his arms. On sight of his brother he dropped her still body on the floor and stood up. Dusk still couldn't move. Crono wordlessly walked past him and gripping his jewel studded javelin as he walked out of his hometown. Dusk finally fell to his knees. His love was gone from this world. He felt the burning guilt in his heart. Crono loved Ruby. He truly loved her. How could he try to take his love away from him? As the final thoughts of the ottermaid faded from his mind he remembered Crono's face as he walked past him. This was not his brother. This was not the Crono he knew so well and loved so dearly. The look on the scarred otters face ws indescribable. His eyes were calm yet burned hatred. Dusk knew his brother had gone off to slay the evil that took everything away from him. His dear Ruby, and his entire hometown. He truly had nothing.

In the following hours, Dusk had created a proper burial for his beloved in her backyard. Stone faced, he dropped her still form into the deep, dark pit. He then shoveled all the dirt back into the hole and carefully placed a gravestone on top of it. I swear on my blood that I will avenge your death, Ruby.' He whispered as he reached for his axe. The otter created a deep gash on his right paw and smeared the blood on the gravestone. A pact he knew would be fulfilled. No matter what it took he would destroy the evil that had wiped away everything he had. The determined otter than left the burning house and was just on his way out of the village when he heard a noise. Here! Over here! Please don't leave me!' A pile of wooden spars and splinters moved aside to reveal the bruised form of Brookfin. Dusk didn't smile at the sight of his friend. Instead he grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. What happened here! Tell me!' Brookfin struggled from Dusk's grasp. Calm down I'll tell ya everything! While we were singing and dancing, two wildcats set light to the village with torches. Two of them! I saw them with me own two eyes! They killed the ones that survived the fire and took the rest as prisoners. I was running away until I tripped n' was covered with these spars so the vermin couldn't find me. That's how I survived. That's all I know.' Dusk face was a picture of anger. He lifted Brookfin over his head by his collar and tossed him back into the spars and splinters. Do you take me for a fool?! Two vermin destroyed this whole village?! Start telling the truth or I'll slay you! I'm not in the mood! Ruby's dead, my best friend is gone and my brother just turned on me!!' As he advanced on the otter Brookfin covered his head with his paws.

I swear! Why would I lie? Please spare me!' Dusk turned his back to him and cursed under his breath. He gripped his two axes and walked towards the burning wooden gates that lead back into Mossflower. Where ya goin'? Don't leave me here!' He scrambled up to his feet and jogged up to his friend. I'm going to follow my brother and slay the scum who did this, what else would I be doing!' He hissed angrily. I'll go with you. I lost my wife and kids in the fire. I feel so useless' Brookfin muttered. Dusk simply nodded. He understood what the otter was going through. The two left the collapsing village. But they left more than that behind. They left behind their memories and let them turn to ashes in the flames of their town. Now the young warrior finally understood his brothers words when he said that he would live his dream. The only thing wrong now, was that it just wasn't a dream to Dusk. It was a brutal reality.