(A/N): Well I'm still alive… been waiting to post this for a while but I sort of wanted to make it real good though I guess that's for you to decide XD Also I got an editor now and he is REALLY good… so shout out to Atrin because he is the best person ever, so with that aside here you go chapter 5 of Dark Decent.

Life.

Death.

It doesn't matter

In the end we all face the same opposition

Because in the end of everything

Hold onto anything

- Love Jack

It was a cold and windless night and the silence was comforting, the only sounds that could be heard was the crunch of gravel under the paws of a lone cheetah who was wandering the forest road admiring the beautiful shine of the red moon, Athenus as it was called filled the sky, dominating the silver moon of Athins. Red moon light bathed the whole valley of Avalar in a soft tint that seem to shimmer off every surface it touched. To this lone wandering cheetah it was nothing short of beautiful and stunning.

'Tis a fine night' he though as his aqua eyes roved over the landscape he knew so well, he had spent his whole live in this valley and he loved almost every aspect of it. From its bountiful nature that provided him and his clan with more food than they knew what to do with, or its lovely looks, but even though he had seen many a night like this in his years he still admired it like the first time he had ever seen such a thing. He gazed up at the twin moons and gave a small smile, it was the season of fire and he could tell by the ever present Athenus and its absolute dominance over the sky, this was his most detested season… Out of them all he hated it the most and dreaded it's every coming. The memories this season brought to him where nothing short of terrifying. But he still looked up to the moons and gave his warm smile

"I wonder if she is up there with the rest" he said aloud unconsciously still gazing up at the stars, it had been a while since he had last though of that. But his attention was diverted away by slow even foot falls from behind him. His head shot back to see who it was and was relieved by who it was.(, it was only who he hoped it would be.) (not actually needed unless you think it's necessary)

"Out for a midnight walk are we?" said his companion with a bit of an edge to her voice. The cheetah that spoke was of a small, nimble build, wearing a shirt made of dark green cotton and decorated pants made of cloth, her fur was colored a solid beige, eyes shining with the color and luster of a polished green spirit gem. She walked a little closer to the relieved cheetah.

"You know it dangerous to be out here alone during the night Hunter" she asked as the cheetah in question simply looked forwards again.

"I know what risks I am taking," he said with his calm and collected voice that could pacify even the angriest of people, though it didn't seem to work on her

"Does it matter if you do or don't? You and I both know what still lurks out here during the night." She was starting to become angry with Hunter, having told him specifically not to go out tonight yet he broke that rule like the rest that she and others had put up. She was starting to think of him as a lawless individual who only follows his own path through life. She couldn't have been closer to the reality of it.

"It does not Vex," he said flatly as he began to walk forwards once more.

"Hunter just stop, I may not know what you're doing but I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow. So why risk your life over whatever it is you're doing?" she asked. He simply stopped for a moment and looked back at her. His eyes held more emotion than she had ever see before, they were filled with annoyance that shone only too clearly in his voice.

"I am going to do this today Vex and there is nothing you or anyone else can do that will stop me." replied the cheetah in a firm tone. She was left dazed and confused as to why this mattered so much to him, to her she thought that nothing could unnerve the stone hearted Hunter but that was obviously disproven today by what she had just witnessed. Whilst she was stunned, Hunter took the opportunity to continue on his path longing for his destination, it had been almost three years since he had the time to visit her and he wanted nothing more than to do just that.

"Then I'm going with you," said Vex suddenly breaking out of her stupor. Hunter paid no mind to this as he just continued down the gravel path ignoring her completely. She however didn't mind this. Vex and the rest of her clan where accustomed to Hunter's solitude and disjointedness from the rest, in fact the only real friend she knew he had was Meadow, that is if you could even call them that. Looking ahead she decided to fall into step with her mentor and so she did, but instead of trying to start a conversation like she would have with anyone else she remained silent, knowing better than trying to start a conversation with Hunter. For as far back as she could remember any attempt to start one usually led to awkward silence that was born from his short and to the point answers that left little room for more to be said. Thus, she kept quiet.
Not really wanting to upset him anymore than she already had. They walked in silence following the path that led them through the forest, it was calm as ever and uneventful for Vex and she wanted something more to do than walk so she was tempted to ask Hunter where exactly they were going, so after a small internal argument with herself she decided to ask him.

"Hunter," she said looking up at him for he was a good head taller than her "where exactly are we going?" she asked hoping to create some sort of a conversation, but those hopes fell short along with his answer.

"To Mourners clearing," replied the cheetah with a stoic demeanor. She nearly froze for the third time that night.

'Why would he ever want to go there?' was all she could think of as they walked on, now side by side

"Luna, please just let me in…" I said standing outside her door with Jax by my side, I could practically feel the worried vibes emanating from him.

"Just leave me alone Zell, I've done enough damage…" said Luna with a quivering voice that only helped to fill me with more guilt. Jax and I had just finished running after her only to be locked out of her room. I could only guess what she was doing right now, and the thought of it chilled me to the bone. I did not want her falling back on old habits, the consequences of such a thing would be too much for me to handle.

"Luna you've done nothing wrong… I was the one that overreacted I shouldn't have yelled at you like that," I pleaded. She remained silent and my anxiety worsened. I couldn't just stand around and wait any longer, I needed to see if she was still alive. I looked franticly around the hallway in hope of finding and answer to my problem, but found none so in a desperate attempt I shift my gaze to the door and with worried eyes, "Luna, please come out" again, no answer…

"Luna?" I asked with fear clear in my voice, I was beginning to lose it

'No no no not again. NOT again! I can't let this happen again!' I was panicking, was there nothing I could do to stop this? I felt helpless, useless. If I can't even protect my friends then what good am I?

Suddenly the door opened slowly, and the flickering light from the burning lamps floods the entryway and I see her. And though I was relieved to see that she had not harmed herself in any way, just by the look on her face you could tell something was very wrong with her. Her general expression of sadness and tear filled eyes where something I had never seen so bad since… oh please no.

"L-Luna" I stuttered physically taken back, I took a step forward and she a step back.

"What is it?" I asked perplexed as to her actions.

"I know why you wanted to see me so here, look I'm fine. Now just go, I don't," she paused with fresh tears spilling from her eyes, "I don't want to see you right now… It only reminds me of what I've done." Now her sadness was infecting me, seeing her like this was ripping me apart from the inside out and I knew I needed to do something. I absentmindedly took another step further and again she took one back.

"Just go!" she yelled at me with a shaking voice, but I took yet another forward and she took one back. I don't care how much she doesn't want to see me right now but I needed to calm her down. So I took yet another step forwards. Her steps where becoming shorter like she was losing the will to even move away from me.

"Just go! Why won't you leave me alone!?" she cried in-between sobs as I walked closer, my heart was breaking apart at the sight of this but I knew if I just left her here she wouldn't get any better. I don't want her feeling this way any longer than she has to, so with that I take some more steps forward. But this time she didn't even try and move away, she simply hung her head and started full out crying… she just sat there and cried in front of me.

"If you're going to hurt me than do it, we all know I deserve it…" she said quietly while sobbing, seeing my opportunity I quickly closed the gap and sat down in beside her and draped my wings over her pulling her into an embrace. At first she seemed to stiffen as if she was expecting me to actually strike her, but after realising what exactly had happened she just cried harder.

"Why, why are you doing this? I don't even deserve your sympathy" she asked me still looking down at the floor, and despite what I was feeling I smiled a bit

"Because," I started hoping my words could offer her some condolence, "I know what real pain is, and nobody no matter what deserves it," I said tightening the embrace, "and you're no exception. I can't stand to see my friends I tried so hard to protect fall apart like this. It just hurts me too much."

She slowly picked her head up and looked at me, although be it still crying she looked at me a moment before giving into my embrace and hugging me back. "Wow, here I am crying over this when you had it worse than me." she said leaning on me, I just looked right at her.

"Don't think that way, you have every right to feel the way you do. And given what has happened to you I would say your response to this was only natural." I said in a soothing manner.

"I know, I just wish I could make it all stop." she replied, still sobbing. I was confused, what did she mean by 'make it stop'?

"I just wish I could make the horrible feeling of emptiness in me go away and just forget all the memories that make me that way. I just wish I could (supress/discard) it." I stared off a bit surprised by what she was saying, I knew what she was talking about now but it was rare for her to even bring this subject up… She never liked people knowing she had weak spots

"But I just can't, I can't forget all those times he used me, I can't forget all the times he lied and said he loved me and I certainly can't forget what he made me do for him…" She was crying again, but I knew there was little to nothing I could do to stop it. This was of a matter she needed to deal with. What that horrid drake did to her was nothing short of unethical and lacking of all moral… I'm glad he died and the way he did.

"And I can't f-forget that night, that night he took me and raped me but told me it was love, or how afterwards he said it wasn't to everyone…" at hearing this I froze with anger and hatred for this foul being. It took a great deal of concentration to stop myself from cursing him in a million different ways.

"And I will never forget how he cheated on me, lied to me… and did it with another, and another, and another." As she spoke I couldn't help but skew my eyes shut in anger at what he had gotten away with… if there was a hell, I know he would be burring in it's darkest depths right now, and if there was worse that, he deserved it as well.

"I mean… even at that I wasn't enough for him, he just used me when he saw fit. If I'm not enough for even him then what good am I?" I quickly opened my eyes and shot her a glare that caused her to look directly at me, how could she even say that bout herself?

"Don't you ever think you're not enough for anyone! what happened back then had nothing to do with you not being enough Luna. If anything that horrid dragon was not enough for you." I said in a stern but caring voice. There was a long pause of silence that filled the room, and during that time I felt… something, something I had never really felt before. I don't really know how to describe it but it was something that felt amazing, my heard started to beat faster and I could feel a warmth grow in it.

"That means a lot… thanks," said Luna looking up at me. With her flow of tears easing up, she weakly smiled back at me, breaking me out of my trance.

"Hey, I'm just paying back the favour." I replied, grinning. Now fully paying attention to her, though strangely enough that my eyes were beginning to dip downwards revealing the rest of her figure, and when I did, the warmth returned and brought with it a another strange feeling that clouded my head and caused my thoughts to be somewhat jumbled and distorted.

'Wow' I though as I gazed her curvaceous che- wait what? It was not like me to ever… think such things about anyone and I don't know why I was now. I could always supress it before but why not now?

"You like it?" I quickly look back up at Luna to see her looking right at me, I knew what she meant by that…

"I-I-I..." I started but quickly found no words to say as my face burned with embarrasment. But in return I heard Luna laugh uncontrollably, it only made my face burn harder. But afterwards she just leaned in close to me and whispered, "It's okay if you do you know."

When she finished she backed away with a bit more of a smile resting on her maw… what exactly just happened to me?

It had been almost an hour now. The time had passed slowly and miserably for Vex and she had no idea how far away their destination was and that unnerved her. There was nothing she hated more than suspense. Looking around for something, anything of interest she yet again found nothing and boredom was setting in for she was more accustomed to a more lively atmosphere, but she knew full well what she was doing when she volunteered to be his apprentice in the art of bow mastery and she would be lying if she said she was not honored when he accepted her even if it was just barely. Though now she was starting to wonder if what she had done was the right choice. Not only was the physical training demanding but the mental training was more so. An example of this would be when hunter asked her why there is life and what it's purpose was. She answered with the standard 'will of creation' as Hunter called it, basically it just saying that you where he because the ancestors simply willed it. When Hunter said she was wrong she asked why but he said his reasoning was not fit for speaking and that if he did life would only be harder for him and that she must find the answer for herself, and then they can talk about it.

Hunter's answer had bewildered her more than the question. She was used to that being the right answer her whole life. She was born, raised and taught with that belief and to have one of the most respectable and wise people of her clan tell her otherwise put her whole perspective on life into question, and try as she might she could not find the right answer. She had spent countless nights pondering the question and even when she thought she had it Hunter would always say she was wrong. This above all else unnerved her. Though she was angry, it was not directed at hunter and she didn't know why. He was the one who was doing this to her yet she felt like she couldn't.

Vex wondered day in and day out why there was purpose in living now, going beyond the religious thoughts invoked upon her now and the question in her mind had morphed into why she had purpose in her own life and why she was alive when at any moment she could end it. But that was but one of many other questions hunter had asked her. They would range from deep emotional ones to timid questions like 'how was your day?' or 'have you bettered your aim?' and all those others of the sort. But even out of all the hundreds of questions, it was still that one that kept her awake at night and always day dreaming her free time away. The question had consumed her life now and she wanted nothing more than an answer to it so she could be freed of her burden with it, but the question still had her desperately looking for the answer.

'I see them staring back at me, they know my name. the faces in the sky are looking for something more, my friends have paper smiles and laugh at me in all my trials. Their eyes are everywhere, see everything why do they need me and I see them, see me and I see them, within the lines they've been burned in my mind! - The loneliness is only missed when I'm alone…' I stopped writing and lay my metal quill down beside the piece of parchment I was writing my thoughts onto… the voices stopped... I picked up the piece of parchment and got up, I strode over to my bed where I carefully placed the sheet of parchment on it and dropped to my belly to look underneath the bed, I extended a paw under the bed and fished around in the darkness for my box, which after a few moment of searching I found. I hooked the box on my claw and pulled it closer until my grip on it slipped and I was forced to hook it on my claw again before finally being able to pull the thing out. Once out in the candle light, I could see its familiar dark brown wood that was carved almost to perfection. Without a moments pause I pulled off the lid reveling many other sheets of parchment and I slid my new addition in it. One of these days all these random thoughts I have will make sense… I'll show everyone I'm not as crazy as they think…

Shutting the box and returning it to its original place, I got up and jumped up onto my bed where I curled up and sat there thinking. My thoughts as always seemed to just be scrambled and just strange, while I wasn't thinking of anything specific I could still feel the effects of whatever it was in my mind. It was just like at * points my thoughts * just seem to disappear and others are I'm watching … inserted into my Waiting thoughts, and it seems to be *-ing up. Fuck o* Don't speak like that to me! Just go away! Why won't you l* me alone? The voice bellowed deep, think laughter Because I simply will it pawn I shut my eyes in grief and pain, he was out for blood tonight… If only I was real more chilling laughter filled my head and it wouldn't stop. It just kept echoing and echoing in an endless choir of the damned. I clutched my head in pain, 'Make it stop!' I shouted mentally just barely able to make my voice audible over * demonic laughter Not in a thousand years pawn, you serve me now and you know it. Why not submit to me and make it easier on yourself. You know there is no end to this…

Tears began flowing from my eyes and I clutched my head harder now. I won't surrender to you, to Jack or to Selsius! I shouted as loud as I could both mentally and physically, there was a long pause before he spoke again, but when he did all he did was laugh yet again. I pity you pawn, to have such blind courage must be such a burden.

'SHUT UP!' I yelled again at the top of my lungs, suddenly my door burst open and the voice faded away and before I knew it Jax was sitting beside me with his wing draped over me. We both stayed quiet for a while as I cried, and I knew what he would do and say next.

"Cyth, what's wrong?" he asked me with obvious concern written on his face

"You know what's wrong…" I said still traumatized by what the voice had said to me, Jax simply hugged me tighter and looked me in the eyes.

"Have you been taking your medicine?" I pushed him away at hearing that and a painful mixture of sadness and anger arose in me, he always asked me this… Every time this happens and he won't ever believe me! No one will!

"I did!" I replied now laying away from him on my bed, and even though I couldn't see him I knew he was probably very surprised by my actions

"… T-then maybe we need to up the dosage" He said with obvious hurt in his voice… I nearly lost it and quickly turned to face him

"I don't need anymore 'medicine' Jax!" I yelled at him with something like hatred in my voice

"Can't you see it? I'm not crazy and what I'm hearing is real!" I protested while staring him down

"Please… please believe me" I said faltering when I seen his expression morph from shocked to complete and utter sadness, though my last words prompted him to walk back over to me again but this time he sat in front of me and put his forepaws on my shoulders and look deeply into my eyes

"If that is what you need then yes." He said as he brought his maw forwards to mine, I immediately despite what I was feeling before began to bring mine closer as well feeling my heart rate almost double. Our maws connected and we both started passionately kissing one another and I felt warmth blossom in me, life is good… At least for the moment.

Hunter lay kneeling before one of many wooden crosses that scattered the clearing in rows and columns, he did nothing but stare at it with glazed eyes as dead as could be… on the wooden cross engraved in it was a name and one Hunter knew all too painfully well, 'Grace' was the magic five letter name engraved into the worn down cross. For Hunter the times he went to visit her often hurt more than any battle wound could ever produce, for this pain was aimed at his heart. Memories of her flooded his mind and he was forced to remember who he once loved and who he would have had a child with…

The first clear visons of his past began to cross his mind's eye and with it Hunter was thrown back years.

[-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-]

"Hey that's' not fair!" shouted a young cheetah who could have been no older than fifteen with his bow drawn and aimed at an already shot down deer

"It's not my problem you're too slow," said a slightly older cheetah with his bow drawn and readied but his arrow still remained with him

"Besides that wasn't me that shot it." The two turn to look at the female to their side who just gave a shrug and showed them that she still had her arrow, at this everyone sighed and knew who stole their kill.

"Hunter you can come out now…" said the youngest looking behind them where about the distance of five trees away a cloaked cheetah jumped down from a tree with a smile on his face. He always loved taking his friends kills, their reactions always made him laugh

"You're all pretty slow you know right? I sat there waiting for a whole twenty seconds!" He exclaimed with a bit of a laugh, though everyone but the female looked angry. In fact she seemed a bit amused by the others reactions

"Come on Hunter we told you to at least let us get one kill this week" said the older one obviously very annoyed by Hunters need to annoy them

"To be exact Caden, you said 'if you take one more of our kills I swear to the ancestors above I will kill you!' " Said Hunter with mock anger while trying to simulate Caden's rough voice but doing so poorly, this made everyone laugh… except for poor Caden who was steaming mad at this point

"Just shut up Hunter!" he yelled loud enough for everyone to stop their laughing

"We are a team, remember that. We work together not alone" this only granted more laughter from Hunter

"Maybe I wouldn't mind working with people if they weren't slowing me down" He said through fits of laughter But Caden just shook his head and let his previous anger go, he knew he would be spending the next few years with the people he was with now and he wanted nothing more than to get along with everyone. And he did but it was Hunter he had the worst time dealing with, he seen him as a friend before but now that he was working with him to survive he seen just how unwilling he was to cooperate and where his flaws were.

"Look, Hunter I could be just like the Elders and say that one day you may need our help and we won't be there for you because of your actions but I know that doesn't work so let me try this," He started taking a step forward and looking the cheetah down with eyes that held compassion

"Given your skills you may very well never need or want our help, but please in this case don't deny us of any chance we have to get better at our own skills. You were born with them so you don't know what it takes to actually become as good as you are now, and quite frankly ever since you were born everyone has been striving to be just as good as you are." Hunter stopped his laughing almost instantly and looked up at Caden with what seemed to be anger

"I was never born with this talent, I am working hard to better it just as you are so don't try and pin the blame on me for your own lack of skill" Caden was a little taken back by Hunter's reaction, it was so unlike him to ever show any anger let alone direct it at anyone

"No Hunter I'm not trying to blame anyone, all I am saying is that you are better than us. And that we ourselves want to get better and I mean this whole shoudizigurat would mean nothing if none of us but you got better, all I am asking for is a chance for the rest of us to better ourselves." Hunter shook his head and simply looked back at him

"Then you better start getting better yourself, it's not my problem if you're not able to keep up with me" And with that Hunter spun around on the spot and started walking off from the rest, the female of the group noticed Hunters unusually cold expression

"Leave him be Grace, somethings bothering him and we all know trying to force it out of him will never work. The best we can do is give him some time to sort it out." He said calmly gazing at Hunter as he was walking away…