AN: New Chapter. Another Armello Character appears and some action

Disclaimer: I do not own Armello

Winterblossom Woods was on the northeastern side of Armello, not far from the nation's borders. It mainly had remained untouched by past conflicts with little sightings of the Rot or any other form of danger. It was mostly known for its lumbering industry and foreign trade with the few nations with which Armello interacted. One of the things that Amber had hoped would come in time would be a more open borders nation that would allow itself to be exposed to the culture and trade of other countries. Before and during King Tau's reign, the clans of what would become Armello had always self-isolated themselves from the world and were quite xenophobic to outsiders, even if they were of the same race. Ironic, considering King Tau was an outsider himself but had won the respect and admiration of the people by uniting the clans to make their own kingdom.

While normally, it would take at least a week to get to Winterblossom Woods from the capital, riding with an army takes even longer. Despite being sure to travel light with enough supplies to last a month, moving a thousand troops required careful discipline and order. Thankfully, there were no problems along the way. There were no threats from bandits, and the villages and cities they stopped to rest outside were more than welcoming. Thane made sure to avoid any special events held in his honor so that he wasn't delayed and always made sure to check up on the troops to make sure that they were well.

After eleven days of traveling, they finally managed to enter Winterblossom Woods, but they saw strange sights along the way. Just as Mercutio had said, every village they passed was empty. There were no signs of life nor any signs of destruction. It was like everyone had just gotten up and left without warning. It made Thane worry more that Scarlett was right about something happening in the area, but there was no sign of Rot infestation. Even the clerics had detected nothing.

After three days of wandering around the Winterblossom Woods area, they had yet to see any sign of others. Especially the Bandit Clan. There were no messengers, scouts, or even signs of them appearing. It made Thane worry that something might have happened to Scarlett and her crew. It only made him want to find them faster.

They were at the edges of another town not that far from the great woods, where Thane had planned on entering. Knowing Scarlett and her ways, they would no doubt be camped inside under cover of nature itself to keep them safe. It would be hard to find her with such a grand army, but all they needed to do was get the Bandit Clan's attention, and they would establish contact.

And maybe get the answers we've been waiting for, Thane thought to himself as he sat down on a large rock, looking over the village from the hill they were on.

"Coin for your thoughts?" Sir Horace asked, walking over to his king.

"No sign of Scarlett or her clan," Thane muttered, twirling his sheathed sword in his paw as he rested. "Think that's a bad sign?"

"We've seen no signs of battle or corpses. I'm willing to think that's a good sign," Sir Horace muttered as he patted his king on the shoulder. "Scarlett knows how to take care of herself. You and I both know this better than anyone."

"I know, but I still got a bad feeling about this," Thane replied as he sat up and held his sword. "I don't know if I'm feeling this way because I'm worried about her, or I might not get answers if I cannot find her."

"...What do you plan on asking when you find her?" Sir Horace asked. "And I don't mean regarding the possibility of another Rot infestation. I mean between the two of you."

Thane sighed and shook his head. It's obvious. Why did she choose to leave me after we won? Why not stay and be my queen like I wanted? Did she really stop loving me, or was there something else? Was she threatened? Was she ashamed? I just… I need to know."

I need to know why she didn't stay, Thane thought as a small tear dripped from his eyes.

Thane knew it would do nobody good to see their new king a depressed mess, so he hid it well in the early years of his reign. Only his closest friends could see what ailed him, and Amber especially was the one who helped him heal. It was how he fell in love with her in the first place. By the time the fourth year of his reign had come, Thane had finally accepted that what he and Scarlett had was gone and adequately focused on Amber, who had come to love him back. He even held a miniature recreation of their wedding in private with their friends to make it official in their eyes. The previous one had been a convenience and ceremony to unite the entire nation. The second one had been for them and them alone.

By Snow's birth, Thane had thought less of Scarlett and their past with each passing year but never entirely forgot her. Yet, all those years of burying his emotions had returned, and he felt almost half lost now. It's like she has a spell on me whenever I think or hears about her.

"My liege?" Thane and Sir Horace turned around to see a female badger knight, one of their scouts, walk up to them and saluted with her fist across her heart. "We've checked every section and house of the village. Same as the others. Nothing."

Thane turned to the village and narrowed his eyes. "I want to stay here."

"Your Majesty?" Sir Horace asked, tilting his head.

"Order the men to make camp inside the village. Town center. We'll set up sentries and barracks around us for protection, but make sure we have an exit point," Thane ordered as he pointed to the village. "I want regular patrols as well. We'll plan a schedule out. We'll head into the woods in the morning to look for the Bandit Clan."

"As you wish, My King," The scout said as she went off to convey his orders to the others.

"Are you sure you want to make this move?" Sir Horace asked, getting serious. "Whatever could have caused the villagers to disappear could also affect us."

"I know, but not only is it a good defense spot right next to the woods, but it's also a means to draw whatever this thing is out to us," Thane commented as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "Be vigilant, Sir Horace. I feel we will get visitors eventually, and I have a plan just in case."

Sure enough, the entire village was void of life. Every house was empty, and it was clear it had been for at least two weeks since most of the food was rotting. Setting up camp in the center of the town, the engineers got to work making quick but strong barracks that would surround their entire campsite. Others made roadblocks using whatever they could find, while sentries made a home in some of the houses in various blocks of the village, including the edges. Patrols were set up, and others were sent to find any supplies they could use. Most of it was junk, but there were some potions, spare unrotten food, drinks, and barrels of oil that Thane wanted to put to good use.

He was currently in the mayor's office that he had claimed for his own sleeping quarters while going over a known map of the nearby woods they had found in the town's records. Sir Horace and several officers were looking over it on the table with him.

"Most of the forest hasn't been fully explored save for the outer areas, which the village uses to get lumber," Sir Horace pointed out as he poked the map's center. "However, it does point out an abandoned temple in the center here with a known path to it. The map doesn't say what kind of temple it is, and we've found no records about it."

"That could be where the Bandit Clan is making camp," Thane suggested.

"Or it could be whatever threat is in the making that has Scarlett all worked up," Sir Horace pointed out. "Remember, the Dragon Clan used to use many abandoned temples."

"Wasn't the Dragon Clan wiped out?" asked one of the Captains, a male heavy gutted red pig with a battle ax behind him.

"Yes, but they've always been a tricky bunch," Thane commented, remembering the numerous trails he and his friends had when dealing with them. "Plus, the Dragon Clan wasn't the only Rot-worshiping cult. Merely the largest and most influential. Most of the others died out or are currently in hiding. It could be someone old or someone new. Regardless, we won't know until we get there and find out."

"You intend to head to the temple tomorrow?" Another Captain, this time a lizard with a bow, asked.

"Yes, but not with the entire army," Thane said, shaking his head. "I'll take a group of thirty soldiers to scout it out. We don't know if anyone is in there. I'm sure the Bandit Clan will have scouts, so they'll see us coming easily, and we can meet up with them that way. After all, it will be easier to find them by having them come to us."

"Beg your pardon, your Highness, but are you sure you should be going into the forest?" Sir Horace asked with worry. "You are the king. It would be wrong to place you in such danger."

"Sir Horace, I might be king, but I am still a warrior," Thane assured him with a sigh. "I know it has been long since I've battled, but I am not one to stand aside and let others do anything while I sit in the back. I didn't during the rebellion, and I will not now."

"There is also something I wish to ask, my King," A female skunk commander asked, getting eyes on her. "Are you sure we can trust the Bandit Clan? I know they allied with us against the Rotten King all those years ago, and you were friends with them, but they are still thieves and cutthroats. Plus, it has been years since you saw them. What if this is a tr-"

"It's not a trap," Thane said firmly, but his eyes spoke an even harsher aura that made the camp suddenly colder. "Scarlett would never do that to me. Regardless of our current standings in life, she is my friend. I have shed blood with her and trust her with my life. Understood?"

"Yes, my King. I apologize," The skunk commander replied with a bow.

"It's fine. I understand the reasoning," Thane assured her as he sighed. "We have a plan, and we'll execute it tomorrow. For now, see to your troops. Dismissed."

Everyone but Sir Horace saluted before leaving the tent one by one. Thane went for a jug of water when the two were alone and poured some for them. Handing one over to Sir Horace, Thane asked, "How many others do you think have wondered what she was wondering?"

"A few," Sir Horace stated as he drank a bit before smirking, "but I agree with you. Scarlett would never betray you or lead you into a trap. Prank you and humiliate you at times, but never hurt you outright. Her actions with Sylas proved that."

"That was one person I was glad to see gone," Thane muttered with a snort. "The bastard almost ruined the alliance by trying to kill me and all of the nobility with those explosives. We all would have been dead if it wasn't for Barnaby and Twiss stopping him."

"That I don't disagree with," Sir Horace nodded before drinking his water. "Yet, I felt sorry for him. So twisted by his hatred from the loss of his family. He wanted not just the death of the King but also all of the nobility as revenge for them. Scarlett kept him around because he was that good at fighting, but she always kept him on a leash. I guess the idea that he was helping you become the new king was too much for him and broke something inside of him."

"I didn't expect you to actually care, considering you were the one who split him in half when he tried to attack with force with his followers," Thane pointed out.

"I didn't feel sorry for him that much to spare him."

Thane nodded in agreement before drinking more water. "Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow."

"Are you nervous?"

"...Yes," Thane whispered while shaking his head. "But I can't give an honest answer as to why."

Thane led his thirty soldiers into the forest with Sir Horace the following day. They didn't take the horses and instead walked in with their weapons and enough food and water to last them the day. Even though the forest looked no different than any other, years of traveling on the roads had made Thane more aware of his surroundings than most. Mainly the fact that it was too quiet. There was no sound of birds or insects you would typically hear in the air. It was almost as silent as a graveyard. Because of this, Thane made sure that everyone had their weapons ready in case of an ambush or something.

They traveled into the woods for nearly two hours toward the temple with no problems ahead. Only stopping once in and while for a few breaks before beginning the march again. That was when Thane quickly smelled a scent that he had never forgotten ever since he first got a whiff. It was hard to describe the smell of the Rot besides the smell of death and decay, but the most honest response was that it felt wrong. It was like something that wasn't supposed to exist and was the anathema of life itself.

Thane had known this smell on the bodies of innocent beings, the dead, banes, and even the various cults that embraced it. The worst was the scent of the Rotten King, who smelled like the living avatar of despair and ruin. Thankfully, this wasn't a super strong scent, but it multiplied in different directions.

And it was getting closer.

"Circle formation! Now!" Thane ordered as the troops' training quickly kicked in, and they formed a circle. Each was carrying a spear, a tower shield, and a longsword, currently sheathed yet prepared for battle. The five mages they brought with them, talented in combat and healing, stood in the center as their hands began to glow with magical power. Thane and Sir Horace, weapons drawn, were with them, staring at opposite sides in anticipation.

"I smelled it too," Sir Horace grumbled with disgust. "Looks like Scarlett was right."

"But it's still daytime," Thane muttered, knowing that anyone infected with the Rot, alive or dead, suffered under the sun. Upon looking up, he saw that the trees were thick enough to keep most of the sunlight out and grumbled. "Clever."

"Let's ready the troops," Sir Horace suggested as he drew out his ax.

"All of you listen up!" Thane cried out as the scents of their quarrel were coming. "We have Feral incoming. These poor souls are already dead, with the Rot taking control of their bodies and minds! They are mindless, but they are ruthless. They will not stop until you are dead. Aim for the heart, spines, or head to take them down. Anything less will only weaken them. Avoid their bites and scratches to avoid being infected by the Rot! Mages, do not use fire spells or lightning spells! We don't want to start a forest fire with us in the middle! Now prepare yourselves! Wyld guide us!"

The soldiers all shouted in unison and steeled themselves for the attack. They didn't have to wait for long as the Feral soon appeared, screaming and hissing in their maddening state. Their entire bodies showed signs of infection, with purple spots and shadowy tattoos all over their fur and skin. Their eyes were pure purple, and their mouths were foaming with saliva. Like a horde of mindless zombies, they descended on them from all directions, but the troops held firm.

Using their spears, the troops stabbed the upcoming Feral by getting them in the face or heart. Any others that came close were quickly pushed back by the large shields, smashing them back before the mages fired Spirit Strike spells that blew up their heads or knocked them back further. Despite killing them as they came, the horde was growing larger, and it was only a matter of time before one side of their circle wall was to fall. That came when two ferals grabbed the shield of a shocked otter before two more dived at him and tore open his throat with their fangs. The two to his left and right, a male and female dog, were distracted by this. It proved a fatal mistake as they left themselves for an opening before being attacked too.

Seeing a possible breach, Thane and Sir Horace lept to the fray without hesitation. With large swipes of their respective weapons, the two had carved the bodies in half, splitting them from their waists and severing their spines and organs. The Ferals soon saw them as the nearest threat and raced after them.

Thane howled as he stood his ground, the warrior's blood pumping in his veins as he slashed left and right with ease. His blade, Thunder Wolf, was like a streak of lightning as it sliced and diced limbs off of any Feral that dared to come close to him. His style was similar to his old one, but with a few elements of his wife's sheathing style incorporated into it. Amber might have preferred diplomacy to solve problems, but that didn't mean she wasn't talented with a blade. She was, in fact, one of the few people to ever beat Thane in a one-on-one duel, but he won more than he lost.

Sir Horace, however, had shown that age had not made him weaker by any means. His great strength was still hearty as he could split bodies in half whichever way he wanted without hindrance via his armor. His ax was swift, deadly, and thorough in decapitating any feral that came near him. Yet as he did so, the famous Warrior Poet hummed a minor tune to himself. No doubt from one of his many written soliloquies that he did in his spare time. Despite the minor setback, the group could hold their own against the tide of ferals who were starting to pile up as corpses as time went on.

That was until a particular "tweeting" sound echoed in the air, making Thane and Horace's ears turn up. Without hesitation, Horace repeated a similar tune as loudly as he could. Knowing what was coming next, Thane and Sir Horace retreated inside the circle while the former shouted, "Shields up! Mages, protect us!"

The soldiers and mages obeyed a second later as the magic users muttered a few spells before raising their hands. A multi-layered dome of light green energy enveloped the soldiers while the Feral bounced off and tried smashing it down with their hands. They only got a chance to try for a short time as the entire sky soon became clouded with arrows from multiple directions. The Feral screamed as they were filled with arrows that rained death upon them. The arrows didn't stop until the last Feral was no longer twitching on the ground.

Once it was clear, the mages ended their spell as Thane and Horace walked out with smiles. From the trees, both behind and on top, figures appeared dressed in forest green or dark black clothing. Some with hoods, others with masks covering their faces. They ranged from all races, but each carried a token, buckle, tattoo, or badge with the Bandit Clan's mark.

Marching forward, smirking with excitement, was a female squirrel who had grown quite a bit since either Thane or Sir Horace saw her. Her clothing had remained the same, save for wearing gray now instead of black, and she still had that daring cocky smile that reflected who she was deep inside.

"Well, we were wondering when we were going to see you, but it looks like we had to rescue your sorry butts as always, Thane," The squirrel said with a chuckle. "Some things never change, it seems."

"Good to see you again, Twiss," Thane said as he knelt down and shook hands with the squirrel. "Glad to see you're still alive."

"You kidding? I'm gonna live forever," Twiss cried out with a laugh. She rushed to Sir Horace and practically lept into his chest with a hug and nuzzle. "Horace! You old badger! It's great to see you again!"

"You too, Twiss," Sir Horace said to his old comrade with a hug of his own. The two continued their reunion for a bit before Twiss jumped off and nudged one of the dead Ferals.

"Had a feeling it was you guys that got these poor bastards' attention. Must have missed them despite our best efforts to contain them."

"So there are more of them?" Thane asked with a serious growl.

"Yeah, we'll fill you in on the details when we get to the main camp. I assume you'll be wanting to talk to Scarlett for answers?" Twiss asked as she turned to Thane, who nodded. "Don't worry about the bodies. My guys can take care of them."

"Make sure we get the names of those that fell on our side," Thane said to one of the mages. "That way, we can compensate the families when this is over."

The mage nodded and got to work while Twiss gave orders to her group. Sir Horace folded his arms and asked, "You seem to be taking well to being a commander."

"Well, ever since you left, I've practically been the second in command here," Twiss groaned as she rubbed her forehead. "I like the respect and all, but the work is overwhelming sometimes. I don't know how Scarlett does it."

"Try being a leader for an entire kingdom," Thane snorted. "You'll wish you were just commanding a bandit army again in a heartbeat."

"Yeah, but you've done a great job, Thane," Twiss said with a grin. "Far better than Tau ever was, even in his good years. And three kids with Amber?"

"Four," Thane smiled warmly as he thought about his family. "Five months in with our next born."

"Jeez, are you trying to ruin the poor girl?" Twiss joked.

"Don't look at me! She's the one who wants a big family," Thane proclaimed.

"Don't know why anyone would want to have kids," Twiss said, rolling their eyes. "They whine, cry, make a mess, and always grab things that don't belong to them."

"Sounds like someone I know very well," Sir Horace teased, making Twiss turn red.

Turning to her old comrade, she pointed at him in anger. "I do not cry!"

"What about when Barnaby accidentally destroyed your entire multi-colored acorn gem collection with his new Rock Smasher 2.5?" Horace pointed out.

"That was different! I spent years collecting those!" Twiss yelled as she stomped her feet in anger. Thane and Horace chuckled a bit before Twiss growled, "Stop laughing, or I'll steal your underwear again and replace it with thongs."

That quickly shut them up. It was a most embarrassing moment for all the males in their party. They didn't want to go through that again.

"Anyway, I know you have a lot of questions, but Scarlett can tell you everything," Twiss said, getting their focus back on the matter. "I assume you brought more troops with you?"

"They're in the nearby abandoned village not far from the forest," Horace answered.

"Good, we're going to need them for Scarlett's plan to work," Twiss replied grimly.

"Just answer one thing, Twiss," Thane said, stepping forward. "How did the Rot even come from here?"

"You know how Amber killed Nazar by playing dead when she made it look like he killed her, got him close enough, and stabbed him in the gut when he was mocking her before leaving him dust on the ground?" Twiss asked.

"Yeah?"

"Well, it turns out Nazar can play dead too. Because he's still alive and has his own little Church of the Rot in the nearby temple of this forest."