AN: Sorry for the late update.
Disclaimer: I do not own Armello
***Twelve Years Ago***
Scarlett had done and seen some amazing things in her life. Some of the things she had done were things she would have only dreamed of doing in the imagination she had as a little kit. The books of adventures and heroes were stories her mother used to read and play along with her. It was one of the things Scarlett missed most when her mother died. She often wondered how her mother would react to all that she had done.
Becoming a bandit lord before she was the age of an adult was no small feat. She had crawled through Hell itself after what her dipshit of a father had done to pay off his debts. Scarlett had three choices: survive, die, or suffer. The last two would have been the easy way out, but she made the first her priority, and through cunning, brutality, and cleverness, she managed to become the biggest bandit leader in the central provinces.
That led to managing to one-up nobles in heists that will be the stuff of legends. Scarlett grew up in that lifestyle and knew how the rich and powerful thought, acted and behaved. They were all so arrogant with their wealth and security that they never once thought it was possible to lose it. She soon became their greatest nightmare, and no guards could stop her. Scarlett could have used her new wealth and status for her own selfishness, but she decided to stick up for the poor and needy. Having been in their shoes, Scarlett knew they needed all the help they could get.
Scarlett could have just done this for the rest of her life, but then she met Thane and his friends. That really started to change everything. She knew about the Rot, the corrupted king, and all the chaos it brought was destructive for Armello. She believed that it had to end one way or another and that it had to be done with someone of noble blood and commoner knowledge. However, she underestimated how far combating eldritch abominations seeking to take over the world could get.
In truth, the fight was bigger than she imagined, and Thane, the one who won her heart, was the right wolf for the job. He was everything Armello needed and what Scarlett didn't know she needed until he won her loyalty and heart with his actions and beliefs. With how Armello had become under his reign, she knew it was the right choice.
And yet, all of those actions, deeds, and tales were nothing compared to the little bundle of joy in her arms. It was the one event she had never dreamed of having, yet it was here at last.
Motherhood.
After painstaking labors and pushing with endless curses, her baby boy had finally come into the world. A red wolf who had won her heart the moment she saw him and vowed to love him until the end of time. Resting in her tent, alone, she hummed a soft tune to herself while rocking her little baby pup to sleep. He was wrapped up in a blue blanket, eyes closed with a cute smile to himself as the song made him dream peacefully while wrapped in his mother's love.
But this pup was more than just a simple son. He was the one thing she had left of her lover. The one being in the entire world Scarlett gave her heart and soul to yet left to protect him for the greater good. The current king of Armello: Thane of the Wolf Clan.
In her arms was a prince of the realm. One born out of not just wedlock but also a royal bastard. Yet, bastard or not, he was of noble blood, not just of the throne of the entire kingdom, but the Wolf clan as well. Thane might have given the clan's leadership to someone else, but he was still seen as their leader no matter what. And while wolves were the most honorable among all the clans of Armello, that didn't mean they were not ambitious.
And that's why nobody will ever know, except for a few, Scarlett thought as she leaned down and kissed her baby. She would not let her son become a pawn in politics. To do so would put him in great danger. And I will die before that happens.
Yet, she felt guilt worming in her heart about how his son's father didn't know he existed. Twiss had argued with her, stating that Thane deserved to be aware of his son's existence, but Scarlett was afraid. Afraid that Thane would hate her forever and take him away. Scarlett had already broken his heart by leaving him without question, and even then, she would keep the real secret to her grave because few would understand.
Yet, she couldn't help but think of herself as silly for thinking such a thing. Thane was never cruel or hateful. Not even against Fang, who killed his parents, did he ever genuinely hate him, for he buried him and wept after ending his brother's madness. Perhaps she would tell him one day, but Scarlett didn't want to think about the future. Just the present where it was just her and her son.
"You need a name," Scarlett said to herself, thinking about it for a bit before smirking. "Rory. You will be Rory."
Her Rory.
Her little red prince.
***Present***
Pain.
That was all Scarlett could feel.
Terrible pain in her stomach from the sword wound driven deep into her cut. Scarlett had her fair share of injuries before. She had even been assaulted by men many times in her youth as a slave. And yet this was different. This was not just a regular sword strike.
The infection of the Rot was inside her, tearing her apart as her blood felt like it was on fire. She knew that her time was finally up the moment she woke up. Scarlett, the Bandit Queen who had cheated death so many times, was going to, at last, die. It wasn't a surprise that she would die this way. It was the average fate of any bandit. But beyond the pain and fear of her upcoming death, a bigger worry was at the forefront of her mind.
Rory.
Her red prince.
He was taken from her.
Scarlett could remember only so much in the haziness of it all. The sudden attack from all directions as the entire clan was assaulted by both cultists in armored robes and Feral. The screams and battle cry as she used sword and magic to defend herself while issuing orders. All while trying to find Rory.
She did find him, using his sword to protect a few scared children from a Feral bunny. Scarlett swore he was like his father that one moment before he stabbed the infected seriously enough to end it. Just as she was about to get his attention, she felt the sword blow from behind. Her worries blinded her to the ambush that got her.
Everything was a blur after that. Scarlett heard Rory screaming her name. She felt her own blood coming out of her mouth. And out of the corner of her eyes, Scarlett saw him take her son and the children away as she lay in the grass. His arrogant smirk and gleeful gaze as he looked upon her bleeding body.
Nazar.
The bastard had her son.
She blacked out after that, but when she woke up, she felt the agony of his work all over her body as Twiss and the others tried to calm her down. Scarlett didn't care about her wounds; she kept trying to push her body to get up and save her baby. Rory needed her, and here she was, dying, unable to do anything to help him. Scarlett would cross through the veils of death itself if it meant that her baby boy was safe, but no matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't move far enough for her to last. If anything, it would only hasten her end sooner. In all honesty, Scarlett should have been more scared of dying, but she would gladly let herself rest within the embrace of the Wyld if it meant that Rory was safe.
Lying on her bed, the healers doing what they could, she looked down at the bloody cover wrapping around her barrel and winced. "Damn…you…Nazar…"
The tent opened, and she saw a blue and gray blur rush over to her side. Tears were dripping down her face. Not just her own but also Thane's as he looked at her with horror and sorrow at the sight. With a slight weak smirk, she whispered, "S-S-Seeing me without my cl-clothes on, T-T-Thane? What would-" She coughed a bit. "W-W-What would…your wife say?"
"Damnit, Scarlett," Thane growled as he closed his eyes. "This is no time for jokes."
"S-Sorry," Scarlett whispered as she felt his paw wrap around her and squeeze. Despite her predicament, the vixen felt relief upon touching her love again. Gazing into his eyes when he opened them, she could see his familiar love for her and knew, deep down, that she was always there in his heart. Ambur was there as well, but Scarlett was okay with that. She will help him when I am gone.
"I have my best healers on the way," Thane assured as he knelt before her and kissed her hand. "Just hold on."
"T-T-Thane."
"If…if there is Rot infection, we can search for a means to slow it down. Maybe there are Druid Ruins nearby."
"Thane. Stop."
"You have to stay with me, Scarlett! You nee-"
"THANE! STOP IT!" Scarlett screamed, making everyone go silent as she glared at him. "Thane…stop…you cannot help me…"
"No," Thane whispered, lowering his head as he began to sob. "Scarlett, no. Not you too. I lost so many. I don't want to lose you…."
Her glare softened as she gently caressed his cheek and raised his head. Despite the tremendous pain, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thane, my wolf. The love of my life. I am not going to sur-survive…." She choked upon uttering it but did her best to stay strong despite the struggle. "There is nothing you can…can…ca-can do for me. I'm… I'm done for."
"Scarlett," Thane sobbed as he slowly pressed his head against the side of her bed. "Please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all that I said. I…I…"
"It's okay, Thane," Scarlett whispered as she leaned back against her pillow. "I lived…I lived a good life…it might not have always been great, but it was good…and I did well…and I got to have you and Rory."
"Rory," Thane whispered in realization as he quickly stood up. "Where is he, Scarlett?"
"Nazar took him. Other children, too," Scarlett growled with hatred in her tone. The lizard had just jumped up to the most hated person in her life, next to her father. "You have to save him. No matter the cost. Save my son. Save our son."
"...I will," Thane growled as his eyes hardened and his voice was like sharpened steel. "I swear it by my blood and crown, I will find him and keep him safe. He is of my blood, and none shall harm hair or hide of my flesh and blood while I still live. I will find that repulsive reptile and crush his head."
Scarlett nodded and felt her worries cease. She knew that look in Thane. The face of a warrior who overthrew a kingdom for the good of his friends, family, and subjects. A king of true valor and courage. The wolf that she loved and admired so much, even in her dying breath. She turned to Twiss, doing her best to clean her wet eyes. "Twiss. Thane is in control now. Help him save Rory."
"We will, Scarlett," Twiss nodded as Sir Horace put a hand on her shoulder for comfort and nodded.
Scarlett took a deep breath before turning to her prime healer, an orange tabby, and asked, "How long d-d-do I-I-I-I have to live-e?"
"…By dawn tomorrow," She answered with sorrow. "I'm sorry. It's the best we can do."
Scarlett nodded as she turned to her lover and best friends. "Save my son. I want…I want to see him one last time. Before…Before…"
Then to her surprise, Thane put his finger on her lips. Her eyes winded as he smiled warmly at her despite the tears in his eyes. "We'll be back soon. Rory will be safe. I promise."
Scarlett nodded and closed her eyes in comfort, knowing that Thane would save Rory. He will save him. I know he will.
Thane and the others soon left but not before telling the healers that help would come. Several minutes passed before Scarlett's ears twitched at the sound of someone entering her tent. She opened her eyes to see a female of the Bear Tribe dressed in green robes approach her bed, lowering her hood to reveal mournful eyes full of sympathy for the dying vixen. "Hello, my child."
"Who are you?" Scarlett asked before going into another series of coughs.
"I am a priestess of the Wyld who was accompanying King Thane for spiritual support," the bear said before sitting beside Scarlett and holding her paw. "I am here…for your final rites."
Final rites.
Only then did the full realization of her fate finally hit Scarlett, and she wailed. She gripped the sheets and cursed Nazar, but more importantly, she felt like this couldn't happen. Or maybe she didn't want it to happen. Despite her bravery and fears, Scarlett didn't want to die. She wanted to still be around to raise Rory. Lead the Bandit Clan to a better future. Reconnect with Thane, Amber, and their children. She didn't even care if the truth about Rory was known anymore.
It was the same feeling she had when her father sold her into the arms of those bandits who raped and abused her all night. Lying in a similar position with a sense of corruption around her and scared of her fate. Scarlett wanted to live then, and she wanted to live now. But fate had finally caught up to her. Her luck was out.
This…was the end.
"… I'm s-s-scared," Scarlett sobbed, covering her face with her paw. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die."
"I know," the priestess said as she squeezed the paw. "All living things wish to survive, but we must go someday. This day, sadly, is yours."
Scarlett cried softly as she slammed her fist to the bed. It wasn't fair. It really wasn't, but she learned long ago that life wasn't fair. "Wh-What do I do?"
"For now? Speak," The priestess whispered with comfort. "The Wyld shall listen to your pleas as it awaits your final breath. For your service to them has garnered their favor."
Right now, Scarlett wanted to tell the Wyld to go fuck itself. Yet, she soon calmed down and looked at the priestess who was motioning for the healers to leave. It wasn't like they could do much now. After taking some time to calm down, Scarlett took a deep breath. "There is only one thing I want to ask the Wyld."
"What is that?"
"…To let me see my son one last time."
He had to save Rory.
That was all Thane had on his mind right now besides a battle plan to take on the Temple and its residents. Nazar and his ilk would die a bloody death for what they had done to Scarlett and their son. He would cut him into pieces and let the crows have his remains. There would be no burial or burning. Just a slaughter for the insects to feast and harvest.
Storming out of the tent, Thane continued to walk with Twiss and Sir Horace by his side. The former was still crying for the fate of her leader and arguable mother figure. Sir Horace was stone-faced, but anyone could see that deep inside, he was waiting to lash out and rage against something. Woe is those who would face his wrath.
However, nothing was compared to the feelings that were rising in Thane. Scarlett was going to die. He smelled the scent of death on her; try as he denied it, there was no saving her. Another one he loved and cared for was going to be taken from him because of the Rot, and Thane vowed that forever more his bloodline, so long as it lived, would dedicate itself to destroying it and its worshipers forever more.
Stopping in front of a tree, Thane roared and punched it hard, but neither of his companions moved to do anything. Taking a few deep breaths, the wolf king slowly stood still and drew a dagger from his waist. He slowly slid it across his wrist and pressed the bleeding paw on the tree. He wasn't sure if Twiss or Sir Horace knew what he was doing, but any wolf would know instantly.
It was a blood vow.
A sacred ritual among the wolves.
To swear on your blood upon a tree during the night of a full moon, like tonight, meant that you were to vow a deed that would have to be accomplished. No matter the challenge or task, it was to be done.
I vow to fulfill my first love's wish, Thane thought as he prayed to the Moon, the Wyld, and all other powers in the universe. I will save my son. I will deliver him to his mother. And I will be there for him. Always and forever more.
Once the vow was complete, Thane kept his hand on the tree before giving his orders. "Sir Horace. Twiss. Gather our forces. We strike in an hour. No mercy."
"Yes, my king," the two said before leaving.
Once alone, Thane slowly let his hand go before resting his back on the tree. He was silent for a while, but soon he reared his head and howled. Tears streamed down his eyes as he slowly slid down.
Throughout the camp, all hear the mourning sound of a broken heart, but out of respect, none dared to go near it.
