BloodyCrystal: Okay, this is kind of an interlude chapter. Yes, I know, you all want to know what Jenrak's Jackals are doing to Etruria. Well, too bad. I don't have much time; I due to leave on a Memorial Day Weekend trip soon, and I want to get this up before Fire Fanatic goes on her trip. So, this will be about Nadi and what happened to her. Expect gore and bloodshed. I may up the rating for this chapter, but I would up the rating eventually-in all likelihood-because of what will happen in the regular story. Without further ado, I present Interlude.

Disclaimer: Fire Emblem belongs to whoever made it-and, sadly, that is not me. However, I own Nadi, Lani/Lanari, Jenrak, the Jackals, and the northern continent. A special shout out to Fire Fanatic for coming up with Jenrak's name.

Warning: This chapter is not for those who are prone to nausea by reading of blood and gore.

Interlude: Spring Becomes Winter

Lanari waved goodbye to Nadi as Nadi's corps-nicknamed Nadi's Knights-went on their way. Lanari knew they'd be back by fall-the Knights never did winter campaigns; they just weren't equipped for it.

In fact, the teenager thought, they'll probably be back before fall since winter comes earlier in the north. With that cheerful thought, the Tactician waved her friends out of the gates of the Black Fang's main headquarters. The raucous calling of a crow made her look up. The black bird was flapping up by the flags of all the company commanders who still served the Fang. Somehow, the crow had managed to tear Nadi's banner into shreds.

 the teenager thought, before With that cheerful thought, the Tactician waved her friends out of the gates of the Black Fang's main headquarters. The raucous calling of a crow made her look up. The black bird was flapping up by the flags of all the company commanders who still served the Fang. Somehow, the crow had managed to tear Nadi's banner into shreds.

Lanari shuddered, knowing exactly how bad of an omen that was. She could only pray for her the quick-and safe-return of her friends.

Nadi was nervous. She couldn't-and wouldn't-deny it. It was probably just that they were going into where Jenrak and his Jackals had gone, and Jenrak hated the Fang with a passion. If he found out they were there, well, Nadi didn't give a snowball's chance in hellfires for their survival.

Suddenly, as if summoned by thoughts of them, men wearing the Jackal's chain and pendant swarmed her and her corps, overwhelming them. They all fought like mad beasts, knowing exactly what awaited them if the Jackals managed to capture them alive.

Nadi herself was like a hurricane. Her blade bit home into necks, chests, and bellies more times than she could count. Nadi screeched the falcon war call Lanari had taught them as she waved her blade-bloodied by her enemies-aloft, calling her troops on to victory.

But the effort was in vain. Half an hour after it started, the Knights were either dead or in chains. The bodies of the dead Knights were collected and put into carts that went south. Nadi had a bad feeling about where those bodies-more specifically, the heads-were going. She only hoped Lanari wouldn't see them-she would be so upset, the poor girl.

Those who had been captured were marched north and west, until they reached the Jackal's headquarters. They were marched inside to Jenrak and his officers, then left with them. Nadi raised her head defiantly, only to have Jenrak himself grab her and start attacking her in the only way that brought pleasure and pain.

Nadi screamed, horrified, as he entered her, going again and again, as fast as he could. She briefly noted that all of Jenrak's officers had grabbed one of her people to do to them what Jenrak was doing to her. It was horrible, and made more so by the fact that, once the officers declared themselves sated, her and what was left of her corps-men and women alike-were thrown to the "grunts"-a.k.a., non-officers.

It took a long time for the Jackals to be sated. The women-some of them only girls by Nadi's way of thinking-and Nadi were used again and again for frontal sex-worse, they were being used as objects upon which one conferred sexual lust that wasn't even directed at the woman. Those men went until they had reached the climax that they wanted, not even bothering to let the women/girls have a say.

But Nadi also felt for the men and boys of her command. They were being "ridden"-complete with bridle-by men who merely wanted anyone to take the edge off and were content with males.

Nadi wept for all under her command who were still alive. She had expected torture, but not on this scale. Oh, her poor brothers- and sisters-in-arms!

After the sexual assaults were over and done with, the very men who had been using them systematically cut their heads off. They piled the heads into the cart going south and east, then urinated on the corpses before throwing them to the fire.

Lloyd and Linus stared, horrified, at the "message" Jenrak had sent back. It was a warning, obviously, about what would happen to any more Fang members who were found by the Jackals. Linus swallowed, hard, as Lloyd turned to Lanari, knowing very well that the bloody, rotting heads of Nadi and her command might just break the young Tactician's heart; after all, they had been her first command.

Lanari stared at the "message." Her prayers had only been partly answered, and she wished-a thousand times over-that it had been the safe return rather than the quick return. She wiped her eyes, determined that no one should see her cry. I will get tougher, she vowed. I will get so tough, that no one's death will bother me ever again.

At that moment, Lanari's heart went from a warmly wet spring to a biting cold winter.

However, when winter melts, it leaves spring and summer to take its place.

BloodyCrystal: Just a little insight into who Nadi was and why Lanari/Lani hates the Jackals so much. Yes, she knows what was done to them because of the stories coming down from the north-and the Jackal Lloyd and his corps caught. This Jackal had been one of the ones to participate in the massive raping, so the Fang found out everything. However, they couldn't do anything because Brendan had just remarried, and him-and his new wife, Sonia-decided that they couldn't waste anyone up there because they would be killed as well. That's why Lanari/Lani hates Sonia.

I know I promised romance, but I wanted this over and done with before I left. I hope you enjoy the chapter and the early update. Week after this coming one will be the return of the regular story. Bye!