How's it going, everyone? Wow, this story has really gotten along further than I ever thought it could. Sadly, it's almost the end. I've written Silver Snow completely up to the last chapter. But don't fret! The prequel will be coming late after the finish of this story, so look forward to it (Which will be aptly named "Silver Snow: Candice of Memory" unless I change it later)! Oh, and I guess I should take this time to announce I'll finally be trying to publish my own book in the distant future. I've been playing around with the idea and I think I'm finally going to go for it, so maybe in a few years, I'll have something on the shelf. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter, everyone!
Chapter 7: A Fate Larger Than Death
Silver panted hard, not really out of feeling winded, but more so from a rabid sense of anxiety. Even though he was running like hell, the sun was slowly beginning to creep over the horizon like rays of forlorn hope. His powerful leg muscles literally propelled him to race the sunrise, but also made for a very uncomfortable ride for Arin and Bianca. The bird and otter clung for dear life to Silver's fur. Every literal gallop of the midnight wolf could have easily been equated to a bucking bull, and in time, they found their rumps starting to numb.
"W-whoa, Silver! My butt's starting to feel like Bianca's been kicking on it again." Arin stated.
"Oh trust me, you'd know that pain." Bianca chirped as she dug her talons and wings into Silver's fur.
"Charming, Birdy. What I mean is can we slow down just a little?"
"You know we can't." Silver gave quick, darting bounces amongst overgrown tree roots, and then a mighty leap over a ravine that should have been impossible for anyone to jump. But at this point, everyone's perspective of the possible and the not was a jumbled mess. "Koda gave me until sunrise to get to Snow and it's already daybreak."
Arin took the opportunity to gaze around. There was something strikingly familiar about the land they were tearing through. Lush waterfalls spilled over gargantuan cliffs as far as the eye could see, and in the lower valley below, pools of fresh water converged like rippling gems in the sunlight. Arin winced at how close he knew the territory of his former tribe was to them. Memories of his cannibalistic family chasing them through the falls haunted him and he tugged on Silver's fur.
"Silver, do you even know where we're headed?"
"Yes," Silver stated, "The Sacred Bastion."
The area had become painstakingly familiar for Bianca too, and when she accidentally let go to stare, it was Arin who reached out and grasped her wing. The land's verdure only lasted for a fleeting moment and they were suddenly trailing through the dead, ashen forest that used to be Silver's home. Swirls of ashy debris gathered in billowing clouds, but the midnight wolf was moving way too fast for them to catch up to them.
"The Sacred Bastion is an old structural ruin that was built along the mountainsides near my old village." Silver continued to explain, "We think humans built it and then abandoned it a long time ago, but we aren't sure—humans pretty much isolate themselves from this area."
"So even someone as old as you doesn't know?" Arin asked.
"Whenever I'm reborn, it's always in a different place—I couldn't possibly have been here before the last time it happened." Silver answered, "But it makes sense. What better place to house an army of subjugate wolves than in a vast, isolate fortress up in the mountains?"
"Which is weird."
"Weird how?"
"Silver, you said that when he found you, Garnet left you for dead. And yet, he chose to set up base in a place so close to your home—how could he not notice you weren't dead? Couldn't he have killed you right then? Followed you to Jasper Park, even?"
Silver's ears perked up. Bianca had asked a good question. If he had been that close, Garnet would have surely known Silver wasn't dead and could've caught up easily. And yet, he let him live; let him grow up before showing himself again. But Silver shook his head; the sun was halfway up , time was ticking, and his focus was crucial.
"We'll figure it out later—right now, we have to focus on saving Snow." And with a sudden burst of already supernatural speed, Silver soared through the rotting trees of the forest. It hadn't taken long before the burned, charred land of his village faded away to uneven, rocky earth of the foothills nearing the mountainside. The rocky cliffs were easy enough to scale (albeit Arin and Bianca screaming for dear life when it seemed they would go flying off of Silver's back) and Silver made his way onto the mountain face. Even though the sun was starting to blare, the drop in temperature and the blankets of snow chilled the three to the bone. Silver made a thick trail through the frozen white as though it were nothing. Before long, as the sun peaked over the horizon, Silver, Bianca, and Arin could see it over the snow-bound hill. The structure was a magical creation of ice and rock intertwining within the face of the mountain. Grand pillars lined the sides of the courtyard, some still standing tall, others so dilapidated that they had toppled over. A grand stair case lead out of the snow up to two massive twin doors, and the stair cases to the side lead to doors further up into the frozen buttresses and wings of the ruins.
"Wow…." Was all Bianca and Arin could say as the three of them watched the sunlight dazzle the structure in shimmering light. Silver bit his lower lip. There was nothing inviting about the Sacred Bastion's beauty. To him, it was like someone calling him to lay in what could potentially be his own grave. Still, there was no use in pondering it. The time was now and all roads lead to here. Silver slowly made his way down the hill with Arin and Bianca following after him. Their paws (and talons) made loud crunches in the fresh snow as they stepped into the courtyard. He stopped in the middle, his wings disappearing. Silence, cold and dark, wrapped around the area horribly and Arin could feel the fur on his back stand on end. There was no sign of life at all, and Silver took it upon himself to make their presence known.
"I'm here!" Silver's voice echoed in multiple octaves before the cold wind snatched it up. At first, nothing happened. The three friends let their eyes dart around the snow-covered area. The silence was so thick that it was sickening to their stomachs. And then slowly, quietly, the first burn-furred wolf stepped from the shadows of a fallen pillar. Her lips were curled back, showing her fangs, and she was emitting a growl almost too low to hear. Another wolf appeared high atop one of the landings leading to the main door. Wolf after wolf converged out of every corner and every shadow until Silver, Arin, and Bianca were facing down a whole battalion of subjugated foes. Silver's frown was stern but also spoke that he wouldn't tolerate having to deal with the small potatoes if they stood in his way. He felt Arin and Bianca trembling slightly on his back and calmed them with a pat of his tail.
"Silver," Koda's form suddenly appeared on the highest landing in a flicker of flames. The passive wolf glanced casually to the rising sunrise, then only let his eyes shift back to Silver without turning his head. "Cutting it somewhat close, I'd say."
"No more games!" Silver stomped his paw on the ground. Every second they wasted made his anxiety rise to a boil. He had to see Snow—know that she was alright above anything else. "Where is she? Where's Snow?"
Koda grimaced just enough to show his annoyance for a hot second. Still, he reluctantly obliged to incline his paw upwards to the sky; upwards to the towering wings of the bastion that seemed to never end into the sky.
"As promised, she's here."
"Good," Silver started forward, but had only gotten a few steps ahead before one of the wolves stood in his way. He barred his fangs at Silver and didn't flinch when Silver's glare transfixed on him.
"Silver, you're more than welcome to come in after Snow." Koda brandished his paw to one of the side staircases leading to the only door that wasn't too collapsed to walk through. "And you're more than welcome to walk to your fate, however, you are the only one who may enter here. I forbid you to bring trash into our Sacred Bastion."
"Trash?" Bianca's feathers ruffled the moment Koda looked at her. She jumped down and started forward, fist raised and rage trumping her fear. "I've got a word that rhymes with trash and I'm not afraid to kick yours!"
"Easy, girl." Arin grasped Bianca's tail feathers and slid her behind him. Bianca pecked his paw a bit harshly and glared at the wolves who were eyeing her, namely Koda.
"Charming." Koda said.
"What is up with everyone saying that?"
"Bianca," Silver put his leg in front of her, hid her from view, and shook his head at Koda. He knew perfectly well what would happen the moment he let Arin and Bianca alone. He wasn't stupid enough to ignore the hungry growls and intense stares of the drooling wolves around him. "No deal, Koda."
"You can debate it, Silver." Koda said matter-of-factly. "But I wonder…is it really worth the time? " At this, all of the wolves edged forward, growling, ready to spring on the attack at any moment. Silver swore, torn between rescuing Snow faster, or ultimately leaving his two friends at the paws of lord-knows-how-many snarling wolves.
"It's alight, Silver." Arin said, stepping in front of Silver. He brushed his finger across his cheek and grinned—a fool's grin full of bravado. "You go ahead and go. We've got this."
"But Arin—"
"Haven't you wasted enough time?" Bianca moved from under Silver, "Or have you forgotten that Snow still needs you?"
"Go on ahead Silver—I'll take care of Bianca."
"Ha! This coming from the otter who's butt I've kicked enough times to own." Bianca grinned at the wolves, hoping her own puffed-up self would keep them at bay.
"…" Silver clenched a pawful of snow out of frustration. They were right and he had no choice. A solemn wind blew across his face; whipped his headfur wildly as he gazed up the twisting staircase to the bastion's only open door. He sucked his fangs and reluctantly moved forward. "Arin, Bianca…don't die on me." And with that, Silver rushed off up the stairs and through the doorway. Arin and Bianca huddled closer to each other. Sure, it had been easy to talk big—give the grand heroic sendoff to Silver as they held down the fort. But now, standing amidst the icy wind and snow, facing off against more steely-eyed wolves than they could possibly count, the two had begun to realized just how badly the odds weren't in their favor.
"Do whatever you want." Koda said simply. Arin staggered when a wolf suddenly plopped down in the snow before him. One by one, the wolves started to move, nearing their prey in all directions. Their mouths drooled with hunger; their eyes transfixed like a sniper's sights; and deep, dark growls rumbled from their throats.
"Shall we run now?"
"No, I think we should sit and see if the drool on their mouths freeze over. Of course let's run!" Bianca tweeted and bolted through the air like a feathery blue rocket. Arin slid in his scramble up, but the moment he was on his feet, he tore through the snow as fast as he could. The wolves were already on them, snapping so wildly at Bianca that she could barely fly high enough to get out of their range. Arin swerved and slid, narrowly escaping the powerful jaws that could have easily snapped his neck, all the while trying to catch up to Bianca. The two pulled head by mere inches. The battalion of wolves let out murderous howls, becoming a trail of red and yellow that streaked across the courtyard and out onto the mountain trail. Snow flew in wild chunks in Arin's face and his toes were already starting to get numb—winter weather was not something either him or Bianca enjoyed in the slightest.
"Arin, don't run in a straight line, you idiot!" Bianca chirped down to him as they began to pull away just a bit more.
"I-I know that!" Arin dropped down on all fours and started snaking his way through the snow. It was a lot worse, having chunks of frozen mush slapping his cheeks till they were red. But it did manage to create space between him and their rabid attackers. "B-Bianca!"
"What?"
"I-if we don't make it, there's something I have to tell you."
"Spit it out!" Bianca said.
"I think I love you."
Bianca's left eye twitched. She suddenly dropped down from the sky like a bullet and crashed down into Arin. She chirped as she mercilessly pecked and kicked the otter so wildly that he was rolling and tumbling like a ball in the snow.
"Ow-ow! H-hey, Bianca!"
"Shut up! Shut up! Sit there and die in the snow!" Bianca's cheeks were lit up a bright shade of red as she pummeled Arin harsh enough to bury him into a pit in the snow. She rubbed them desperately, dropping her foot repeatedly on Arin's head when she couldn't stop the color.
"Bianca!" Arin grabbed her cheeks and tugged on them. She squawked and grasped his own, pulling even harder till both of their faces look distorted. But the sound of beating feet had come up quicker than they had thought, and the group of wolves were converging on them once again. They snarled loudly, obviously unappreciative of the chase they were forced to give. There were so many of them; droves of hungry wolves all waiting to fight over every scrap of the bird and otter.
"Oh crap…" Arin sighed.
-()()()())()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(-
It was always like that; a house on the outside was always something much bigger on the inside. Was he even going the right way? Silver sucked air through his fangs as he darted across the blackened stone floor of the Sacred Bastion. It was surprisingly warm inside. Pillars and statues of some ambiguous figure were either littered or toppled in a vast disarray among the dimly lit rooms and corridors. Steps were cracked and broken; debris was strew all over the floor, and an eerie icy blue glow only came from the sun poking through fragments of ice. But the place was so huge, with winding corridors leading to vast dead-end rooms; large hallways trailing into a collection of recently used dens; clusters of more areas than even seemed necessary, that Silver found panic once again. What room would Snow be in? Which way was the right way? The midnight wolf rubbed his paw through his headfur until it was a mess.
"Waugghhh!' He barked in frustration. Silver ran forward once again, passing through random doorways and praying he wasn't going in the wrong direction. True, he had known of the Sacred Bastion, but it never crossed his interest to ever explore it when he was a pup. And now, he was paying for it. After a while, Silver slowed to a stop upon passing through another doorway. This particular room was much different from the others. It was completely barren—just empty space with two stairways on either sides of the wall. The stairs converged high up to the landing on the north wall, leading to yet another door. And then, there were footsteps. Low, distant steps shattering the silence from beyond the doorway, coming closer and closer. Silver braced himself.
"So, we meet again, you face-ruining dog." The wily wolf slowly emerged onto the landing. This time, his expression wasn't hard to read, not at all full of confidence as before. He looked positively livid. "If you thought you could just barge into our house unchallenged, you'd better think again."
"I was invited—"
"Be quiet, you perfection-sadist!" The wolf barked. He slowly reached his paw to his neck. His finger ran along the scar line that now marred his neck. "You don't deserve to see Lord Garnet. You, who ruins great beauty, doesn't even deserve to live."
"Get over yourself." Silver sighed, having had enough. He made his way towards one of the stairways.
"Cocky bastard." The wily wolf glared. "Let's see how mighty you'll be after you see this." He glanced back beyond the entrance. Another echo of footsteps filled the room and Silver couldn't tell which was worse: the evil grin on the wily wolf's face, or the thought of an additional wolf coming to serve as another obstacle. As the footsteps got closer and closer, Silver tensed himself for battle.
Only to have his jaw drop in shock. She slowly stepped out amongst the landing, her head hanging low. The icy blue light of the room melted onto her black and gray fur, but more so onto the flame insignia burned onto her shoulder. Anna didn't look at Silver directly. As happy as she was to see him alive, shame kept her muzzle aimed at the ground.
"Mo…Mother…" Silver's voice cracked, "…you sick bastard! That's my mom!" Rage threw Silver up the stairs at an impossible speed. His claws were posed for the kill and he lashed out at the wolf—only to have his claws stop just inches from his neck. Silver's body seized with a forced tension when he saw that the wolf's claws were aimed at Anna's neck. His body trembled; screamed to tear the wolf limb from limb. But even the slightest movement would give his grinning foe the just opportunity to slice his mother's neck like butter.
"Oho…not so mighty now, are you?"
Silver answered with a deadly glare. The wily wolf raised his other paw and carefully moved Silver's to the side. His fingers sparked before igniting in a roar of flames of which Silver could easily feel the heat from. And then, the wily wolf's fist was crashing into Silver's cheek, paining his flesh with blazing heat, and sending the midnight wolf sprawling back on the vast, empty floor.
"Silver!" Anna gasped. The wily wolf let out a laugh—a rolling laughter that started out simple, but escalated to something maniacal. His pupils shrank in amusement, his voice filling the emptiness of the room as he sneered down at Silver.
"How does it feel when your own pretty face is struck, huh! How does it feel, you mutt?" The wolf exclaimed. Silver rose to his feet and spat blood from biting his tongue. A cut appeared across his cheek and stung him like tons of tiny burning needles, but his focus was more on the intense glare he was giving the wolf; the intense hatred he felt for his enemies once again using his family as leverage. The wily wolf placed his paws on Anna's shoulder, who winced.
"Do you like the gift I was given? Oh how delicious it was when I found out that our latest addition was your very own mother." He said.
"Let her go." Silver snarled.
"Ha! Let her go? Why when we're about to have so much fun?" The wily wolf dug his claws into Anna's shoulders, ignoring her whimper of pain (and Silver's growl). "I swore I'd get back at you; been waiting to get you alone so I could have my chance. I'm sorry, but this room is going to be your grave. I don't care what Lord Garnet said—" The wolf's eye twitched and his face was suddenly overwhelmed with sadistic excitement, "I'm going to enjoy clawing off that pretty face of yours!" And then he sprang, his claws outstretched and his grin as wide as his cheeks could possibly allow. Silver gasped and leapt back; the room shook and a deep crater now formed where the wily wolf had punched the ground. He swore and sprinted at Silver. His paws became ablaze with flames as he lashed and snapped at Silver with all the ferocity of a wolf gone mad. Swirls of windy energy billowed off of Silver's paws and the two of them danced wildly along the floor. Loud cracks filled the room every time their paws clashed or connected. Silver felt himself being forced back. It was as if the wolf was throwing absolutely everything he had at the midnight wolf; each blow flowed with reckless abandon and horrible force that he knew one solid hit would be dangerous. He had to end it now. Silver deftly dodged the wily wolf's natural weapons, waiting, watching. And then he seized it; his claw raised straight for the wolf's throat when a blow missed Silver's face. All he would need is one hit.
And then Silver's claw stopped just barely from Anna's throat. He gasped, having not seen her suddenly materialize in a flaming sprint between his charging claw and the wolf's throat.
"M-mother—"
"Wraaaa!" The wily wolf clamped his fangs deep onto Silver's shoulders and he tensed in sharp pain. Flames erupted from the foe's mouth and sent Silver rolling dramatically across the floor in several harsh thuds. The wily wolf took in a deep breath, and then forced another wave of roaring flames around Silver's body, tail wagging viciously. Silver's body ached and he groaned as he rose to his feet. The flames were nowhere near powerful enough to actually burn his supernaturally resilient fur, but the heat and pain shocked every nerve in his body. He closed his eyes and a violent wind erupted from around his body; it clawed the flames away and tore across the ground at break neck speed straight towards the laughing wily wolf. Anna struggled. Her body shook and trembled as she tried to resist the involuntary movements; tried to fight the urge to obey. But every time she fought, the weight on her will would become like dense lead, and she found herself becoming the wolf's shield once again.
"No!" Silver exclaimed, and the wind that was literally breaking the ground towards the wily wolf suddenly veered off to the sides and crashed into the walls. The wolf leapt at him, throwing his flaming paws at Silver like a madman so that they were at it once again. Though this time, whenever Silver found an opening, Anna would present herself, resulting in numerous cheap and painful blows from his attacker. But what could he do? Silver certainly could not—would not—bring himself to attack his own mother. His enemies had played him well, setting up hindrances in which they knew he full well could not avoid. He found himself calling out Anna's name; trying desperately to talk sense to her whenever he stopped her from torching him with flames rolling off her tongue. But he knew full well that it was all in vain. As long as she had Garnet's mark, she belonged to him. Tears rolled down Anna's face as her uncontrollable body threw her at her son, striking him where the wolf had missed; stopping him when he had a favorable chance to end the violence.
"Gotcha, you dog!" The wily wolf suddenly dropped down on Silver with such force that he surfed the sliding wolf across the floor until they collided into the wall. His paw pinned Silver down forcefully to the cold stone by the throat. The wily wolf's sadistic grin grew sharper, more expressive, like a crazy psychopath going in for the kill. He raised his other paw and pressed it so firm to Silver's cheek that the claw was digging into his skin.
"Silver…" Anna's voice cracked. She had never felt so helpless in her life. She thought that not being able to find Silver was the worse feeling in the world. But she was wrong. It was nothing compared to knowing she had a hand in her precious son's demise. Anna raised her paw slowly, as if to reach out to him, whimpering his name. Silver snarled underneath the wily wolf. He could have torn him limb from limb were he not dreading the next time Anna would chance to take the hit instead. The wolf slowly ran his claw along Silver's muzzle—then suddenly slashed the top hard enough to leave a gash. Silver howled in pain, blood rushing across the pure white fur of his muzzle form a cut that would definitely leave a scar. The wily wolf laughed giddily.
"What fun! Oh, how fun it is to ruin this pretty face of yours. What should I ruin next? Your ear? Your nose?" And then, the wolf's expression turned terribly dark. He slowly raised his paw over Silver's head. His fingers once again became alit with flames. "Or maybe I'll gouge those pretty silver eyes of yours out…" Silver clenched his fangs and swore in his head. He couldn't do anything! He couldn't fight back; he couldn't run; he could only sit there, tasting salty blood running from his muzzle, watching the crazy wily wolf drop his paw towards him.
"Stop it!"
BAM! There was a loud thudding against the wall, quickly followed by tussling sounds on the floor next to Silver. The midnight wolf gasped and quickly rolled up to his feet. Anna rolled across the ground with the wolf, struggling to try and overpower him while keeping a hold on her own sanity. Both of them were spitting flames like blazing flowers dancing across the stone floor.
"S-Silver! You have to kill him now!" Anna whimpered when her shoulder became caught in the wolf's fangs. She slammed her paw into his neck. "Finish him quickly, son!"
"But…" Silver hesitated. There was no way he could openly attack the wolf while she was that close to him. Even if he tried to be precise, their tumbling and wrestling could bring Anna easily in the way. She was strong, yes. Strong enough to resist the wolf's command, but only because it was not him who she was ultimately loyal to. She was not, however, strong enough to take a direct hit. He shook his head slowly. "I…I can't…"
"Yes you can! You have to!" Anna shouted.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" The wily wolf struck Anna harshly. "I am your commander! Get off of me, woman!"
"S-Silver, do it now!" Anna raised her paw, and then brought it down as hard as she possibly could. Her claws raked across the wily wolf's face and silence quickly fell within the room. His eyes widened in horror and disbelief at the mother wolf who had him pinned under her. His paw slowly reached up to his face; his fingertips grazed the lines of blood that now marked his face. A tremble of shock racked his body, so much so that Anna could feel it beneath her.
"You…you wench!" The wily wolf slapped Anna harshly, sending the older wolf reeling into the wall. The moment she hit the ground, he was on top of her. His paws clasped around her neck tight, not even budging when she tried to pull them off. "LOOK AT ME!" He roared through her coughs and sputters. "YOU OLD HAG! LOOK AT ME! I'LL KILL YOU!" His claws dug into Anna's neck and she whimpered loudly, warm blood trailing down her shoulders. The world spun and her lungs begged for oxygen in vain. Her grip on his paws were starting to slacken and she muttered her son's name.
"S-Silver…"
"I WANT YOU TO D—" The realization came way too late for his own good. The wily wolf's head turned in what seemed to him like slow motion. The wind had come careening from Silver's direction so fast that all he could do was watch. The gale made a sickening slicing sound as it passed both him and Anna, crashing into the wall behind him and leaving a dreadful sea of cracks and gashes along it's face. At first, nothing happened. The wily wolf stared at Silver with almost what looked like fear.
"…." And then, flecks of blood suddenly burst off the wolf's body from cuts unseen on his skin. He made a loud gasp, his pupils shrinking down to the size of a pea. His body teetered, then slowly fell to the ground with a horrible thunk. He lay there next to Anna, a puddle of crimson forming still form cuts that never appeared on his body. And Silver knew they never would. The energy was special; a wind that delivered cuts on the inside that would never show outside the victim's body.
"Uhhhh!" Anna gasped for air, coughing and writing on the floor.
"Mother!" Silver's serious resolve shattered and he flung himself over to his mother's side. He curled up around her and leaned her against his body. Blood rolled down from cuts in her neck—and from cuts unseen in her forepaws. Silver's ears lowered at the punch of guilt. "Oh mother…"
"D-don't look at me like that. I'm still alive." Anna coughed, but it was obvious pain was hammering nails into every nerve ending she had.
"But why, mother…?" Silver's eyes trembled sadly.
"Because I finally found my baby boy. I couldn't let him take you away from me. You're the only son I have…" Anna said to him. Silver sighed and shook his head. If Anna had it her way she would have died for him, and he couldn't have that. It was a long shot, but he had to get her out of the bastion, or at least find a safe place to hide her.
"You can leave her to me." A voice answered Silver's unasked question. The midnight wolf and Anna snapped their heads up. The female wolf was unmistakable as she slowly walked into the room. Ophelia looked dead at Silver, only stopping once she was in front of the wily wolf. She looked down at the dead canine, not with pity, but maybe amusement.
"Stupid idiot. Ein was told not to attack you and look what happens—he gets himself carved like a damn turkey." She said. Silver let out a dangerous snarl. Of course another enemy would come as soon as the first was down. He stood before Anna protectively, who stayed laying on the floor.
Ophelia held her paws up in surrender. "Whoa, there, puppy. I don't fight—don't like to get my paws dirty."
"Leave!" Silver barked. Ophelia looked offended.
"Honestly, I came down here to help and you thank me like this?"
"Liar!"
"If I'm a liar, then here." At first, the movement put Silver on edge. Ophelia carefully and slowly nuzzled her head under his paw until Silver could feel the tips of his claws pressing her neck. She closed her eyes, "You can kill me now. All it'd take is a push from you."
Silver wretched. The thought of him killing the willing was sickening, and the innocent look on Ophelia's face was pissing him off. He raised his paw away. She smiled.
"Thank you. Now watch." Ophelia walked over to Anna. She tried to ignore Silver's glare, tried to ignore how readily he would end her if she did anything malicious.
"What are you doing?"
"Just stay calm." Ophelia felt Anna wince as the tips of her claws burned red. She slowly traced over Anna's skin, burning the fur, but effectively closing the wounds. She then took up Anna's forepaws and looked them over. Ophelia shook her head when Anna had no reaction to her claws digging into the flesh.
"Oh yeah, these paws are shot. You'll probably never use them again, and if you are lucky enough to do so, it still won't be the same. But it's a small price to pay for your life, I suppose."
"…" Silver closed his eyes. Terrific. He had hurt yet another loved one.
"It's okay, Silver." Anna smiled sweetly at him, but it didn't really work. Ophelia left Ana's side and walked over to Silver. She forcefully grabbed his muzzle (gaining a snap from him) and started heat-sealing the cut on his muzzle. With the blood gone, his pure white fur was now marred with a pink scar. "You cut this very close. You aren't convicted enough to kill Lord Garnet if you keep holding back like that."
"Shut up. You don't know—"
"What, that your mother was in the way? I saw, Silver. You think Lord Garnet is going to take it easy on you like that? You think he's going to make sure the keys to controlling you are out of sight?" Ophelia exclaimed. Silver sucked his fangs. "Lord Garnet is merciless and calculating—something you should already know. Fighting him is like throwing yourself at him with all you've got. Can you do that?"
"I have to. I have to so I can save Snow." Silver said.
"And if he puts Snow in danger like your mother was?" Ophelia looked at him. Silver glared, but the realization did hit him. No, it was always there, the thought of Garnet using Snow as a lure to fish him out. He would never bring himself to hurt Snow, even if it meant costing his life. He knew full well that he was probably going into a battle he was never destined to win. Still, as long as he could get Snow away safe…
"I will save her. I promised." Silver stated sternly. Ophelia looked at him, into his honest silver eyes. They burned with resolve—actual belief that he would find a way to rescue his beloved; belief that screamed he could do anything.
"And say you do. What of people like us?" Ophelia pointed to the flame insignia burned on Anna's shoulder. "Should you kill Lord Garnet, all those under his power will die as well. Are you prepared to do that?"
"Of course not!" Silver exclaimed.
"Then how will you save Snow if you don't kill Lord Garnet?"
"I'll figure it out."
"You know the answer."
"Look, I said—"
"Stop playing around the subject!" Ophelia stamped her paw loudly on the ground, effectively silencing Silver. He glared into her hard frown as she nonverbally pressed him to what he already knew. There was a way to do it; a way to kill Garnet and save his mother from suffering death as well. But the way was equally risky and against every moral muscle in his body. And to think that it would go so far for him to come to this. Silver turned his gaze to a quizzical-looking Anna.
"If she still has Garnet's mark, and you do kill him, she will share the same fate of death alongside him. However…" Ophelia said quietly, "Mark her yourself; make her life yours to own, and she will live…provided you don't die yourself."
Silver felt his claws digging into the cold stone and he felt as though the frown on his face would soon become permanent. If anything, he had wanted to avoid giving this fate to anyone; to take away someone's freedom and make them totally dependant on his own survival. And of all people, his poor mother…
Anna looked up to her son. She could easily see the tense feeling of reluctance making his body tremble with anger and confusion. Her eyes went soft, loving like a mother's eyes would always be for her child. It was difficult, but Anna slowly slid her body along the floor using her hind legs. The ground had already been cold enough to numb her stomach and when she had begun moving, needles of pain pricked it back to life. She stopped in front of Silver.
"Silver, it's alright…" Anna said.
"But—"
"I understand, and it's better this way. Silver, you coming to me as a pup was the happiest moment of my life. You're the son I could never have and I'll always love you. I couldn't bare the thought of you dying…but…" Anna looked down at her paws, "But…if anything did happen…at least I wouldn't be alone again."
"Mother…" Silver eyes trembled. She looked at him with such conviction in her words that it almost frightened him. But Ophelia was right. Anna's fate was no longer hers, and all he could do was try to make the best out of a bad situation. Silver slowly raised his paw and placed it to his mother's head. He still seemed very reluctant, but Anna closed her eyes, completely and utterly relaxed with full of faith in her son. Silver took a breath, and then it started. He felt his energy starting to pour form the tips of his fingers, at first in tiny bursts that gradually became pulsing waves of power being forced into Anna's body. She gasped sharply and a strong gale suddenly spiraled around her and Silver with them as the epicenter. Ophelia braced herself, the wind whipping around her fur wildly. Silver closed his eyes, and Anna suddenly let out an ear-splitting howl. He could feel the waves of his power clashing against a shield of Garnet's influence inside his mother's will. It fought back against him, her body rejecting Silver's own influence with such an animosity that Anna's claws had dug into the ground.
"Just hold on…" Silver mouthed to his mother. He focused harder, the waves of his power pounding and tearing at the hold his brother had over her. He made sure not to completely overwhelm her; not to send his power crashing so hard against the barrier of influence that the shock rendered poor Anna a lifeless heap on the ground. Instead, he focused on ebbing and flowing, like that of a wave across the ocean's surface.
And then, Silver felt the wall suddenly shatter. With no opposition, he felt his energy greedily flow into Anna, driving out any and all traces of Garnet's influence. Anna's ears shot up and she let out another loud, painful howl. The wind around them whipped so hard that Ophelia felt as though she would topple over. Flames escaped from Anna's body; they poured from her mouth; her nose; from the many cuts she had received from the attack her son had clipped her with; and even from the very air around her body. Anna's body burned on the inside even more intensely than when she had been marked. It was as though the flames were a cornered animal, savagely snapping at the invading force driving it out of her. The fire surged and spiraled above Silver and Anna like a billowing cloud of heat before slowly dispersing. Instead, a wispy, cerulean-tinted wind began to waft from Anna's body where the flames used to be. The once surging heat inside the older wolf's body died down. Once her howls of pain had ceased, and her back claws stopped trying to borrow into the cold stone floor, Anna felt a sense of cool relaxation come over her. Silver's power wasn't like Garnet's; when he had marked her, the flames were like a raging force that beat her will into submission. But Silver's—once not competing for control—was like a blanket that slowly enclosed itself around everything. The flame insignia on Anna's shoulder vanished. Instead, she felt the air tickling her left thigh, painlessly carving what looked like the wind taking the shape of a wispy, cloudy harp marking into her skin. Silver let his eyes open and took his paw from her head. The wind ceased immediately—and Anna slumped down into his lap.
"Sorry, Mom…" Silver whispered.
"Now me," Ophelia said. Silver looked at her skeptically, but she didn't budge.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to die." Ophelia said. She walked over to him; made sure that she was able to press her head under his paw once again. "I'm tired of this, but if I have to be a part of it, then I'll play for what I think will be the winning side. For once, I'm going to decide at least one thing for myself."
Silver grimaced. Marking Anna was out of dire necessity. He had no desire to turn a second wolf. But Ophelia kept her head pressed firm under his paw even when he tried to move it. She looked up to him, her eyes pleading, yet strongly resolved that this was her honest choice. Silver sighed and closed his eyes. A roar of wind kicked up around them, but his power met with very little resistance. The barrier within Ophelia was flimsy and almost gave way immediately, painlessly, so very unlike the raging tug of war within Anna. Was it because she was used to being Garnet's subjugate for so long? Or did Garnet feel that she wasn't even worth having a tight grip on? Ophelia's flame insignia vanished and Silver's own mark appeared on her left thigh. She didn't faint like Anna, though she did stagger with a slight fatigue when she drew away. She gave her mark an almost admiring look, stretching her leg to see closer.
"Awww, yours is cute. I like it better."
"This isn't a game." Silver frowned.
"Of course not," Ophelia bowed her head, "Lord Silver."
"Don't do that. I'm not your master." Silver nudged Anna up, ignoring Ophelia's mocking giggle. He rolled the older female wolf onto his new subjugate's back. "Can I count on you to keep her safe, err…" Silver felt a rush of embarrassment maul his cheeks. He hadn't even asked for her name. Ophelia grinned slyly.
"So you decide to have your way with a girl before getting her name? I didn't know you were that kind of guy."
"Hey!"
"It's Ophelia. And yes, I will take care of your mother." Her mocking smile annoyed Silver, but as it stood, she was the only one he could count on to keep his mother safe. Ophelia nudged her head up in the direction of the landing high atop the wall. "It's a long way up to the top, but if you keep on the northernmost pathways, they'll take you where you want to be. I've never been in myself, but Garnet's hall is at the highest point."
"Right," Silver nodded and turned to run off.
"Silver," Ophelia damn near made him trip over his paws. She ignored it. "Do you know why I decided to join you?"
"Loyalty issues." Silver answered honestly.
"Because I have faith in you; because you're different. Garnet…a life is nothing to him. We were all expendable from day one. But if you survive, I know I won't be thrown away. And you also have Snow to protect…"
Silver's ears perked up. Ophelia's look had gone unnaturally soft—almost appreciative—for the first time since they've met. It wasn't at all like when she was waving Snow's bracelet in his face; he could tell that by the way she was looking at him, she truly believed in what she said. He smiled and nodded.
"Thanks,"
"Get going, She's waiting for you."
"Right," Silver turned off to sprint up the wrapping staircase towards the landing. Ophelia watched him until he vanished beyond the threshold. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.
-()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()—
"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!" Arin had never been so cold in his life. His whole body rattled wildly as he slid down the cascading hill squarely on his rump until he felt it start to get numb from the snow. He clutched a screaming Bianca to his chest, trying desperately to toboggan as far away from the team of pursuing wolves behind them. The canines spat flames like bullets, sending chunks of snow flying in Arin's and Bianca's faces with every near miss, and making the two of them cling to each other for dear life.
"Bianca, are you oka—whoa!" Arin threw his head down just as a flyby flame darted over him.
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't ask me that. Can't you go any faster?" Bianca exclaimed.
Arin frowned, "Well excuse me for not having a jet engine installed in my tail!"
"You idiot! Move!" Bianca slid down to Arin's lap. She gripped his fur tight with one talon, then gave his foot a swift kick with the other; the otter's tail flopped in the snow hard enough for them to swerve, leaving a puzzled-looking Arin gazing stupidly at the extended muscle.
"Whoa, that was new. How'd you do that?"
"Nevermind that!" Bianca rapped her foot across Arin's. His tail flopped and twitched, until it was unnaturally beating against the ground. The two braced themselves as they suddenly lurched forward, bouncing and gaining momentum down the snow-covered hill. Slush battered the air behind them, slapped the wolves red in the face, and slowly pulled them away from the battalion behind. Arin's tail rattled like a motor with no control, and by the time they had seen it, he and Bianca were already being thrown off the steep edge of the hill. The cold, winter air sucked the screams right out of their mouths and Arin landed on top of Bianca in the thick snow with a loud plop.
"Auggh! Why am I always on the bottom?" Bianca shoved her foot into Arin's gut and rolled him off. She coughed and shook the snow that was already clinging to her wingtips. Arin looked at his tail, which was still twitching ever so slightly.
"That was weird. Should I get the nerves checked?"
"Stop being stupid, we have to keep running or they'll catch up." Bianca stated, trying to inch herself enough out of the deep snow to fly. Arin glanced around as he rolled up to his feet. They couldn't keep running, there was no doubt about that. The team of subjugated wolves were many and could afford getting tired out. So he desperately scanned the now flat landscape. Pine trees reached up high towards the sky, but awkwardly scattered to the point that they wouldn't provide much of a good hiding place. All except for one…
"Bianca, better idea." Arin grasped the blue-feathered bird and practically dragged her kicking and screaming towards a fallen tree. It was half-buried in the snow with limbs scattered about in an untouched heap. As he rounded it from the back, he found space—just enough for the two of them to wiggle under. The roaring wind would sweep their tracks and scent to the air, but just in case, Arin put his paw over Bianca's beak to keep her quiet. The silence around them hadn't stayed so for long; the rapid pounding of many wolven feet beat into the snow like crazy. They let out rabid snarls as they poked around the trees with their noses literally buried in the snow in their search for their pray. Arin felt his knees tremble. He was always led to think that a cornered animal would always become some wild force to deal with. But he felt nothing like that right now. He felt scared out of his wits, praying that they wouldn't notice them.
The wolves barked and circled the area. Once, twice, three times they loped over or past the fallen tree, making the bird and otter hold their breaths. After a while, with defeated growls and hungry stomachs, the wolves walked off beyond the trees. Arin and Bianca froze, unmoving for a long while. When Bianca could hold her breath no longer, she shoved Arin's paw away and gasped for air. Stinging cold filled her lungs with each dramatic breath she took and she had to roll over on her back. Arin leaned over his knees, panting. He hadn't realized just how tired he really was. He looked down to Bianca, who looked up at him. And then the two suddenly burst with laughter. Loud, stupid laughter that echoed in their little hiding place till it tickled their ears.
"H-How dumb can you get? They really had no idea we were in here!" Bianca exclaimed.
"I-if I had pants, I'd have peed them. I was so scared."
"Whaaghh! Arin, not in here!"
"I didn't actually do it!" Arin said when the small bird started treading the ground like hot coals. However, it wasn't long before the two of them were cracking up again.
"But…" Bianca giggled, but looked to Arin with a softness she had only shown him once before; the look that she had given him when she told him the reason why she ran away from home. "I have to admit you were kinda brave back there, making sure I kept up okay."
"Why Bianca, are you complimenting me?" Arin poked her and she ruffled her feathers.
"Arin, don't make me regret saying things—" It had happened fast, way too fast for her to react. Arin had lifted Bianca off the ground, drew her close, and practically smashed his mouth against her beak. The bird's body surged, feeling his maw fighting her, wrestling her like some wild animal. And all she could do was feel the tension leave her muscles, feel her eyelids start to get heavy, bring her wings slowly up to his cheek—and then sock him right in the jaw bone as hard as she could. Arin recoiled into the wall of the tree with a loud thud.
"Wha-what the hell is wrong with you!" Bianca tried to sound angry, but at that point, she was more worried about her disobedient legs that wouldn't stand and the horribly vibrant blush standing out on the white plumage of her cheeks.
"Well, if we survive this," Arin rubbed his jaw, but spoke with a straight face, "I think we should give this relationship a try."
"What relationship, you dolt?" Bianca exclaimed, flailing her wings wildly, "A-Arin, look at us. We're too different—way too different; it wouldn't work."
"We'd make it work."
"Oh….my…god…you're really serious about this, aren't you?" Bianca rubbed her head. If it was even possible, her blush got even brighter, "What about when we wanna…uhm…you know…?"
Arin's ears perked up. He scratched his cheek almost as though he were in deep thought, to Bianca's annoyance. "Just think of how wild the ride would be for you."
"Get serious about loving me, dammit! Biacna's foot dropped down on Arin's head. The moment he crashed face first into the ground, she once against started pecking and rapping his head wildly in an endless array of attacks.
-()()()()()()())()()()(()(-
Silver panted as he sprinted up yet another winding staircase. He knew the Sacred Bastion was large, but now it was starting to wear on him. Or maybe it was the fatigue he had already sustained from his battle with the wily wolf, Ein. But he wasn't going to let it stop him—he wasn't going to let anything or anyone stop him. Even if a whole army stood between him and Snow, he would fight till the last soldier was down. The spiraling staircase finally ended at the foot of a long landing. Unlike the cold, stone and ice structure before, this particular hall seemed cut off from the original design. White marble and alabaster sent a rage of light back at Silver from the sun reflecting through the ice. A long, velvety carpet stretched from the mouth of the hallway all the way to a pair of large double doors. Silver felt his heart start to race. This was it, the point of no return. Through that door, Garnet and Snow were waiting. Through that door, his fate was waiting, deciding whether or not to make the Sacred Bastion his sanctuary or his grave. Silver closed his eyes. It didn't matter if he died. As long as he took Garnet out with him, Snow would be safe. Fully resolved, Silver cast his fears aside and charged forward. He shouldered his way through the doors with such force that they slammed against the wall and Silver had to slide to a stop on the smooth, polished floor.
By now, the sun was filling the grand hall in spades, bouncing light from the windows and pillars. The smell of beautiful flowers ensnared Silver's nose, almost giving him a foreboding sense of relaxation. Immediately, the midnight wolf's eyes scanned the vast, rather empty chamber. They glided towards the far wall; up the towering steps; resting on the throne seated in the middle. Silver felt his heart give one, hard, anxious thud.
The wolf looked like him almost down to the very core. But something about him was off; the air around him wasn't pure and honest, but rather sharp, cold, and very calculating. He sat atop his throne with what seemed like a look of utter boredom, leaning over the right side arm of the chair. The sight of Garnet was alarming, but it wasn't the meeting of his brother in the flesh that made Silver start trembling. On the contrary, it was the snowy female wolf of whom laid obediently at the front of the throne. She didn't look at Silver immediately. As a matter of fact, Snow seemed to be averting her gaze from him entirely. Around her neck was a black collar, studded with silvery spikes and her tail had a black satin bow branding the middle. Silver's trembling had become more pronounced and he felt his fangs clenching tight. Snow looked like someone's lap dog; an obedient wolf that couldn't even jump at the sight of her beloved out of fear of repercussions. Fear and anger roared like twin dragons inside of Silver as he took a harsh step forward.
"Snow….SNOW!" Silver's body reached; his wings flared from behind his back, and he found himself launching directly towards Garnet and Snow.
And so it starts, ladies and gentlemen; the ultimate showdown between Silver and Garnet! Will Silver defeat his brother and rescue Snow? Or will he be doomed to a fate worse than death? Tune in next time for the next chapter of Silver Snow!