The night's shadows were just beginning to give way to the first hints of the coming dawn. Elena and Chance made their way back through camp to their own tents. Both should have been exhausted and sore, Chance had expected it. Yet the spring's healing waters had left them both feeling refreshed.
Chance was relieved to see Jake still passed out. He laid down on his own cot and was soon sound asleep.
Upon entering her own tent, Elena wasn't ready to sleep just yet. She still had too much to do. She lit the candle on her table and unrolled a large scroll. It was a map of Shade Kat's citadel and the surrounding land. It took her and Cymric several years, and many lost companions, to scout the area well enough to make the detailed map. She studied it for nearly half an hour before her sight began to blur. Finally she gave up, rolled the map back up, blew out the candle, and laid down for a short sleep. The first rays of the red sun were just beginning to appear over the horizon.
Due to the festivities of the long night before, the kats in the large encampment slept well into the late morning. Only Cymric and his rangers were up early, patrolling the outskirts as they always did.
The front flap of Elena's tent was pushed aside as a silent figure stepped inside. Blade in hand, the figure carefully moved across the tent towards the sleeping she-kat. The talisman around her neck glowed suddenly and Elena's hand whipped up from where it hung limp off the side of her cot. The sword, which had been laying on the ground just below her, now pointed straight at the intruder's throat.
Cymric smiled and calmly resheathed his dagger. "Just making sure."
"Making sure of what?" She set the sword back down and sat up slowly, still groggy.
"That you still could tell when someone was sneaking up on you."
"Why would you have to make sure of that?" She narrowed her eyes at the ranger, her friend for more than ten years. He had a knowing smile on his tawny-furred face.
"I just found it strange that you didn't seem to notice you were being followed last night when you left."
She knew that he knew that she often sneaked out late at night, though she wasn't sure if he knew where or why. She never saw him last night though, but that wasn't unusual. He could hide in the shadows nearly as well as she could, and without the aid of magic.
"What is it you think you know, Cymric?"
"I simply find it ironic that you've kept a shield around your heart for all these decades that you've been here. And that it took someone from another world, like you, to make you take down that shield."
She glared at her friend, but while her eyes stayed cold, her smile betrayed her amusement. She could never be mad at him.
"Don't worry, Elena. You know I'd never say anything."
"I know. Thank you, Cymric."
Elena placed a hand quickly over her mouth as she tried to stifle a yawn. Stretching, she stood and walked back to the table. Pulling out the map, she opened it again and placed it back upon the table. "What news of Shade Kat?"
"He knows something's up. He's positioned a massive encampment of koblins around the castle." The ranger pointed to the map, showing the positions of the enemy. "There must be hundreds of them. Perhaps even thousands. We're greatly outnumbered."
"Great... Well, our whole plan relies on getting inside that castle." She pointed with a claw to the back wall. "What about that entrance here? Where the SWAT Kats got me out?"
"I don't know. It doesn't appear any different, but..."
"Appearances can be deceiving." She finished his sentence. "Yes, I'm sure he's found it by now. He'll probably be expecting us to try it."
"I can lead a group of my rangers and try..."
"No! I'll not risk lives on a possible trap. No, I want you and your rangers to hold back, here." She pointed to the forest to the north. "Birman and I will lead the initial attack, with my calvary waiting here. We'll cut a path as best we can through the koblins."
"That's risky. Especially with kats manning the artillery on the walls, here, here, and here."
"How many wyverns are there?"
"At least six. Maybe more."
"Hopefully the SWAT Kats can keep them busy and out of our way. I'm counting on it. But if they can so something about these ballistas and cattapults, that'll increase our chances greatly. When I give the signal, try to get in over the walls, here. By then, the majority of Shade Kat's army will be too busy to notice you, and too far to do anything. You've got to get those gates open. Once you do, I'll signal the cavalry. They'll charge through the path we've cleared straight into the gate and into the castle."
"Even if we get them in, we still have to get you to Shade Kat."
"I know. And I have an idea about how to do that."
She rolled up the map again and walked back to her cot. Untying her wrap skirt, she buckled a heavy belt about her waist in it's place, her sword attached at her left hip. The belt had several other items attached to it as well: pouches, daggers, and various other tools and equipment. Taking up the map again she left the tent, Cymric following behind her.
A half hour later, Elena and Cymric repeated their plan in the command tent to Mau, Birman, Chance and Jake. Making their own suggestions, refining the plan, the group finally concluded a definite method of attack, and a way to get Elena inside. It was now mid-afternoon: time to begin preparations for the battle. At sunset, the army would march.
Evening was drawing near, only a few more hours. Elena had spent the time with Cymric and his rangers, going over the use of her "bolt guns". With a design similar to a cross between a crossbow gun and a pistol, the guns could fire up to eight small arrows, or bolts, in succession. Back in her tent, Elena unbuckled the sword from her belt and laid it, still sheathed, onto the table beside her cot. Though she herself had forged it, it wasn't any different from the rest of the swords her soldiers used. She knew she needed something better, stronger, to defeat Shade Kat. Dropping to her knees, she gently pulled a bundle of cloth from underneath the cot, setting it then on top of it. Slowly, she unwrapped the finest weapon she had ever crafted. The sword's blade was long and thin, but the steel had been folded more times than even she had thought could have been possible. Gently, she unsheathed the blade, seeing her own reflection in the polished metal. She balanced it on one finger. The balance was perfect, and it was so light, that she barely felt the weight. Returning the sword to it's sheath, she then buckled it to her belt in place of her old sword. Turning, she walked back outside, heading towards the smithy, and the path behind it that led up the cliff to her training area.
Once there, the warrioress unsheathed the blade once again and began her 'dance.' The sword made no sound as it slashed through the air. It's speed was increadable. She was able to maneuver with it more ease and precision than any other weapon she had ever used. Her practice took nearly ten minutes, a realitively short time to her. At length, she lept into the air, flipping twice and landing several yards away, bringing the sword down onto a small boulder. The rock split as easily as a melon, a loud ringing sound emitting from the collision of steel on stone. Looking back at the sword, Elena ran two fingers gently down it's edge. "Not even a mark." Satisfied, she sheathed the blade and returned back down the cliff to the camp.
She found Chance and Jake, or rather, T-Bone and Razor, getting the Turbokat ready for action. Razor was running a final system's check while T-Bone was talking with Cymric and Birman.
"It's almost time."
The four turned their attention to Elena as she spoke. Birman nodded to her. "We are ready, m'Lady."
"Good. The infantry will move out presently. The calvary and rangers will follow soon after." She looked up to the moon. The red sun was still setting, but the moon, bright and full, already hung low in the darkening sky. "The eclipse should begin near our arrival. SWAT Kats, I want you to keep Shade Kat's forces occupied to the southeast as we march. Buy us as much time as you can. Don't worry about engaging, just keep them busy."
T-Bone smiled, he couldn't wait to finally get some real action in the jet again. "No problem."
"Oh, Elena, here. I finally got it working." Razor, standing up in the cockpit, tossed down a small communicator to Elena.
She caught it easily. "Thanks. Be careful, you two."
"You too, beautiful." T-Bone smiled to her.
She smiled back, then took a step forward and kissed him gently, which he returned.
Razor's jaw dropped, as did Birman's. Cymric shook his head with a slight chuckle, not at all surprised.
Elena then turned and walked back into the camp, towards the cavalry and her own warhorse. Razor and Birman stared after her for a moment, then turned their surprised looks to T-Bone, who simply shrugged and jumped up into the jet.
Birman turned to Cymric as they also turned and left, back into the camp. "You knew?"
The ranger smiled. "You didn't?"
"I try to stay out of her personal business."
"Please! You've known her since you were born. I know you're as close to her as if she were your own sister."
"And you're her best friend. But I still don't see how you noticed when... oh nevermind. I don't know how you know even a quarter of what you do!"
"I'm a ranger. It comes with the territory. Besides, you know how independent Elena is. I make it my job to watch her back even when she doesn't want anyone to do so."
"True. For which I'm grateful. Stay safe, Captain."
"And you, General."
They split up. Birman headed towards where the infantry, the vast majority of the army, was preparing to march. Cymric broke into a slow run to rejoin his rangers.
Back at the jet, T-Bone fired up the engines as the canopy closed. Razor just had to ask. "Okay, exactly where did you go last night?"
"Heh. None of your business, buddy."
"Away from camp?"
"Yes. And your not getting any more answers, so stop asking."
The thrusters kicked on and the Turbokat rose up onto the air above the trees. T-Bone then put the two main engines into half power, saving the third for when they would really need it. They sped off to the east, towards Shade Kat's citadel. Below them, the army moved out quickly into the darkness of the forest below.