Chapter 13: The First Test of Evil
Nightmare began to run to the other side of the building. "He's coming," Tira said nervously, "I've lost the element of surprise." Tira removed the ring blade and prepared for battle. Nightmare was easily heard. His armor was nowhere near sneaky. Tira continued to stay still, prepared for battle.
The clanking footsteps suddenly began to get slower, but didn't stop. Nightmare was walking slower only to scare her. Tira wasn't fazed, but Alpha and Beta were scared out of their wits. Finally, Nightmare's horn popped into view. Suddenly, Tira dropped her ring blade.
"What re you doing?" Alpha protested.
"Yeah,' Beta added, "In case you hadn't noticed, that ring blade is the only thing that's going to keep the azure knight from ripping you to shreds." Tira didn't answer. She was frozen. Nightmare was almost up the steps and Tira couldn't move a muscle. As soon as he placed his foot on the floor, Tira screamed in agony. Tira began to hold her head and scream.
It wasn't an ordinary scream. It was almost inhuman. Nightmare walked closer and the screams only got louder and more inhuman. Nightmare didn't seem to care as he pulled out Soul Edge from the harness on his back. Now, Nightmare hesitated. Tira stopped screaming. It was so abrupt; it sent chills down Alpha and Beta's spine.
"That power," Tira growled. Tira's world suddenly blanked out, but she didn't fall unconscious. She still had full control of her body. Suddenly, flashbacks began to stream through. They went so fast, Tira couldn't grasp them until they finally stopped and ran at normal speed. It was the night Tira killed her. Clan. Her body was no longer in her control.
She relived every moment of it. She killed her entire clan all over again. Everything, even the tiniest detail, was relived. Tira killed everyone, painfully and slowly. Suddenly, the flashbacks stopped. In front of Tira, stood Nightmare. Tira turned to see that Alpha and Beta were dead, blood covering their bodies and allover the walls behind them. "That power," Tira growled again. "In need that power! I will do anything to get that power!"
"Anything?" Nightmare asked. Tira nodded. "Then you will get this power and perhaps I will allow you to come with me in acquiring more power, but you must do something for me."
"Anything! Anything! Anything!"
"Your flashbacks were very vivid," Nightmare explained. "You mumbled many names, and Soul Edge gets more power if you kill someone you already know, so I need you to kill Logan and Zatana, whoever they are."
"Yes!" Tira accepted. "As long as get the power, I will do anything."
Days passed. Tira traveled south towards the forbidden forest, killing anyone who dared to cross her path. After a week of traveling, Tira arrived at the forest entrance. Because of the flashback, Tira could remember her first visit here perfectly. Tira was scared to enter and Toren teased her for it. After a little confrontation with some talking coyotes, Tira and Toren managed to leave and continued on their quest home.
Now, as Tira entered, she could tell that it was the woodland creatures shivering in fear instead of her. Tira continued to walk in silence until a figure hopped in front of he from the trees. Tira grabbed the ring blade, but let go realizing that the forest was miles long and she would never find Logan unless someone took her to him. Tira remembered hat there was only one talking coyote, and that this one wasn't it. Still, he seemed to recognize had as he motioned for her to follow.
Tira nodded and followed him for what seemed to be hours. Finally, a campfire appeared in the distance. Tira ran to it, keeping her ring blade close, but let it go as she found that only coyotes surrounded it. "You've grown," came the talking coyote's voice.
"As have you," Tira replied. Tira found it very hard to pretend to be nice. She was going to kill them all eventually. She just needed Logan's location. The coyote circled Tira, which she found irritating.
"Logan will be very pleased to meet you, but when I was told that you were here, I was under the impression that Toren would be with you as well. You wouldn't happen to know where his, do you?"
"No," Tira replied. "We split paths a few years back."
"I'm sure you keep in touch, right?"
"He pops in whenever he can," Tira replied. "I'll make sure to tell him you said hello when I speak with him. Speaking of which, where is Logan? I haven't seen him in so long. I have much to tell him."
"He's out right now," he replied. Tira winced. "Of course he's out!" she thought. "If he wasn't out he'd be here. I want to know where he is you stupid freak of nature!"
"He'll be back soon," he continued. "Right now, please, tell me how you've fared these past years."
Tira couldn't take it. She couldn't stay here any longer and not kill any of the coyotes. "Actually," she began, "I feel like a taking a little walk." Tira backed away from the campsite before running as fast as she could. She stopped as soon as she thought she was away from them. Tira began to walk around the jungle aimlessly. She could remember four years ago that she wandered the exact same way.
Tira continued to walk until a familiar chirp came from behind her. Tira spun around. Tira smiled at Liv, but Liv was staring above her. Liv flew to another branch, but not once glanced at Tira. Tira began to whistle. Now, Liv turned to Tira and instinctively flew to her arm.
"Good," Tira said calmly. "I need you for something very important. If you can do this one thing for me, I promise to take care of you forever. Deal?" Liv didn't respond. She didn't even move, but somehow, took Liv's answer approvingly. Tira whistled again and Liv flew back to the branch she was at.
Tira continued to walk haphazardly until two coyotes blocked her path. "Logan has returned, "he explained. "He is very pleased to see you again."
"Oh," Tira replied, "then by all means, take me to him." Tira followed the coyotes back to camp, where Logan, shimmering with delight, stood near the fire. Logan looked noticeably different. He was still skinny, but his clothes were newer and cleaner and had a clearly happier demeanor.
"Tira!" he yelled in glee. Logan ran and gave Tira hug. Tira had to use all of her self-control not to rip his head off right there. "I must say," he continued, "It is good to see you again. Do get me wrong, my coyotes are good company, but nothing compares to good old-fashioned human companionship. It is unfortunate that Toren isn't with you."
"Yeah," Tira replied. "Don't worry, the next time I see him, I'll tell him to stop by."
Logan smiled in glee and excitement. Tira placed her hand on Aiselne Drossel, but let go. There were to many coyotes. Not even she could take them all at the same time. "Logan," Tira began, can I speak with you in private?" Logan nodded and the two left through the trees.
"Follow them," the head coyote ordered. "I have a bad feeling about Tira."
Tira and Logan stopped walking when Tira was sure she was alone. "Well?" Logan asked. "What was so important that you had to pull me away from the coyotes?"
Tira smiled devilishly. "It's nothing really. I just wanted to make sure that the last thing you see is my face." Tira pulled down the ring blade and swung it at Logan. Logan hopped back and the ring blade only sliced his stomach.
Logan stared at her in shock. "Tira…" suddenly, one of the coyotes came in and disappeared with Logan as fast as he came.
"Tira," came the coyote's voice. "I'm going to give you five seconds to explain yourself." Tira turned around and drew the ring blade horizontally. Tira charged and the group of coyotes dodged. Coyotes now surrounded her. Ira was on the defensive as the came out of the woodwork. The coyotes had a thorough knowledge of the jungle and Tira did not.
Tira got enraged. The evil seed in her mind began to take control. Tira kept the ring blade well in hand as she charged. Now, she was getting the better hand. The coyotes were dropping like flies and the remaining coyotes were getting defensive. Tira was unstoppable.
Coyote parts and blood was splattered all over the trees and jungle floor. Finally, Tira stood along around a pile of coyote corpses. "You'll never find him," came the coyote's fleeting voice. "Logan knows every inch of this jungle. You could search forever and never find him. Whoever you are, because you're not Tira, you will not find Logan." Tira lost it and swung the ring blade directly through the coyote.
Tira stared at the lifeless corpse in silence before beginning to whistle. After a few seconds, Liv came out of the trees and landed on Tira's shoulder. "Now," she began, "I have a mission for you. Find Logan." Tira whistled and Liv was off. She followed the raven down the trail and deeper into the woods until heavy breathing could be heard. How could she hear that? Logan was nowhere to be seen, but she could still hear him.
Tira called Liv back and followed the breathing. Eventually, Tira saw Logan standing on the other side of a tree. Tira pulled out the ring blade and launched it at the tree, but it got stuck in the tree only inches from his face. Logan fell and scrambled back towards another tree as Tira pulled the ring blade out and began to walk towards Logan.
"Who are you?" Logan insisted. The fear in his voice only caused Tira to move faster. "You're not Tira. The Tira I knew was kind and respectful. You are not Tira!"
Tira smiled. She drew the ring blade up and swung. Logan screamed in pain as the ring blade impaled his left leg. Tira wiggled the ring blade around for a while until Logan began to go into shock from the loss of blood. "No more screaming," Tira complained. "Awww, you're no fun anymore."
Tira removed the blade and stuck it into his chest. After a few bursts of pain, Logan keeled over, dead. Tira smiled again as Liv landed on her shoulder. "Good. Now, all I need to do is eliminate Zatana and that power is all mine."