Disclaimer: For the eighteenth time, I don't Neopets, Inc.
The moon shone through the dark night, reflecting on Crystal's pack. Slowly, she lept nimbly out of her window and onto the soft dirt. Her eyes flashed as she sped out into the dark night.
The sounds of war were not difficult to follow, leading her into a grove cleft in the middle of the woods. The situation was perplexing: only a few soldiers were advancing on a pack of, what Chris concluded, Hiasurn's troops. The Meridell knights were only slightly outnumbered by the forces. Apparently, the troops had split up, each one setting on a wild goose chase. Chris scowled. A team of spies were more suitable for the job...
She moved behind a tree to avoid being seen. Peering closer, she took in a better glimpse of the scene.
A Darigan Lupe, (Hiasurn, she presumed, remembering his scowling, sinister face) a Darigan Bori, and a about fourty or fifty other Darigan pets had all, suddenly, charged headfirst into battle, swords drawn and shields ready. She glanced over on the other side, noticing the Meridell troops. The troops were taken aback, but quickly plunged headlong into battle. She left the refuge of her hiding place, and cringed lower, trying to get a better look at the troops.
Her heart sank.
There, at the front of the battle, was Jeran with Danner raging by his side.
She whipped back behind the tree, her heart thumping quickly. What was she to do? Glancing back, she noticed the troops on both sides were falling fast. Whatever she did, she had to do it quickly. She picked up a stone and hurled it at the back of the Bori's head as he was advancing on Jeran. Befuddled, he looked back, and raced towards her hiding spot.
You IDIOT, Chris thought to herself as she dodged branches as she fled into the woods. She hadn't thought this far...
Undergrowth tore at her clothes, ripping cuts where she had no protection. The Wocky ignored the pain and dodged into a rotted old tree stump. God, please don't let him find me here...
It seemed like hours to her. She was far too petrified to move, but too worried to stay where she was. Tears came to her eyes, but she blinked them back.
They need you there.
"No, I'll only get captured."
They need you there.
"I can't do anything to help..."
Danner promised to protect you...
"But I'll only be putting myself in more danger!"
What would Jeran do?
The thoughts in her head fought violently with one another, until she stood up, her eyes flashing.
"I don't care what happens to me," She said tearfully, "But I've got to help." She lept from the stump, with utmost good intentions, but was seized by a hand from above. Looking up, she saw the sinister grin of her attacker, the Bori.
"Well, well. Master will be delighted to see this young urchin. He's getting bored of his other toys..."
"What have you done to Danner!"
"Well, you'll just have to see for yourself, won't you, kid?" He held her by the scruff of her neck and flew quickly to the grove. Chris stared ahead. Dammit all... Her jaw dropped. Alighting on the field, her feet were walking on blood. The corpse strewn field was unrecogniseable. Her eyes darted about for sign of her brother, but she was thrown to her knees by her attacker. She glared angrily at him.
"Where are-" Her eyes widened in shock.
There, ten feet away from her, was Hiasurn, bent over a bloody body. The blue fur was barely made out, it was covered in dirt and blood. The victim, still struggling, was trying to get a grip on his sword. The Darigan creature just laughed, and kicked it out of his reach. Then, eyeing the knight face to face, Hiasurn drew his sword. His eyes gleamed with pleasure as me mumbled these words... "Die, Mutt."
"NOOO!" Chris let out an ear shattering scream. She got to her feet, but her actions were stopped by a sickinging WHOOSH sound, and a stabbing pain in her right shoulder. She crumpled to the ground, trying to dislodge the arrow, when another WHOOSH sent an arrow right through her stomach. Ignoring the pain, she attempted to crawl to Jeran, but each movement she made brought more pain. She clenched her teeth; she would not cry. No, I'm not going to let them win...
"Aw, the little Wocky wants her boyfriend? Well, we'll wait until she gets to his side so they can sail off into the sunset together." Sneered the Bori. Deafening herself, she continued her struggle, but she could not go any further. Panting, she fell into a heap on the ground, unable to move further. Jeran extended his paw to hers, and she weakly took it.
"Jeran?"
"Chris, don't..."
"I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault..."
Hiasurn sneered. "Now, I hate to break up your little reunion, but I'm going to finish what I've started." Chris braced herself for what was coming. The voices in her head began to chide again...
Idiot...
You knew you could never do it...
You just wanted to make a scene...
All because of this silly schoolgirl crush...
What did you honestly expect you could gain by coming on the battlefield?...
It's all over...
"Jeran...? I love you-"
A flash of metal sliced the air. Her hand fell limp in Jeran's paw. Hiasurn sneered and turned to Jeran, displaying the blood-dripping sword in his face. Jeran glared at him.
"I will not let you win this battle!" He struggled to get to his feet, leaning heavily on the Sunblade. Hiasurn chuckled.
"Oh, I don't mind, it will be fun if you can fight back..."
"DIE, SCUM!" A great blow landed on Hiasurn's shoulder. Whirling around to face his attacker, another blow landed on his right thigh. Behind him, a triumphant smile flashed across Mikud's face. The Gelert drew his sword for a final attack, but the Lupe grinned and alighted on his feet, quickly moving into the woods, and skillfully dodging the arrows aimed at his neck. His echoing words barely reached their ears.
"I WILL RETURN!"
"That's what they always say," grimaced Mikud as he helped Jeran right himself. "Sir, what happened? Re-enforcements are all throughout that wood, so I doubt he can get away..." His words died away...
Jeran forced a smile, then passed out.