THE DARKNESS WITHIN

by RedAlphaWolf1

(Sequel to Sword of darkness) Claw is being ravaged by the fragment of Caliburn. The fragment is causing Claw to rot physically and mentally and he doesn't know of the fragment inside him. Claw must - with help - find out what is wrong with him before the fragment causing the rot kills him or drives him mad.

1. ALL IS WELL?

(Setting: 1 week after sword of darkness./JACKS FARM/1547HRS)

THE DARKNESS WITHIN-ALL IS WELL?

Claw smiles as he finishes loading the manure into the scattering device and puts his tractor (a (Modified) John Deere 3046R Compact Utility Tractor Front Loader with Cab) into reverse and turns it around to attach it to the 3 point holding device followed by the Power takeoff unit on his tractor. As Claw is going back around to climb into the cab he sees a husky pup drive up in a vehicle that looks like a modified snow mobile. Claw following his teaching as a (now fallen and exiled) knight and a gentle-pup backs down from the door and turns to the pup and says "Hello, I am Claw, welcome to Jacks farm." The pup jumps down and speaks in a perky female voice that has the first tent of teenage puberty "Hi, I'm Everest. Ryder told me that I would find you here. He also told me that you are the newest member of the Paw patrol. So as the closest member let me say hello and welcome to your new life." Claw smiles and says "Thank you for the welcome and may I say that your reputation precedes you. Ryder told me that you are a snow and trail patrol dog on a resort at the other side of this mountain." Everest blushingly grins and confirms the location. "Yep, that's right Claw." Claw asks if Everest would like a tour and Everest accepts it at once.

(TIME SKIP/1654HRS)

Claw concludes the tour of the farm by taking Everest inside and giving her a look at his armor right as there was a knock on the door. Claw walks to the door with Everest following on his heels. Claw pokes his head out the newly installed doggie door and says "Hello Mr. mailman. What brings you here?" The mailman says "I have a package and letter for someone named Claw." "I'm Claw." The mailman leaves the package for Claw after he takes the pen in his mouth and makes an "X" on the signing portion of the clipboard and drags in the package and runs the letter to Jack, who is checking the chicken coop for eggs as Claw places his front legs on Jack and whines without jumping. Jack looks down as Claw tips his head back and places a paw on the letter, causing Jack to take the letter and open it. Jack pulls out the letter and begins reading as Claw and Everest look up at Jack.

(BEGIN LETTER)

"06/23/22 - Dear Claw.

How are you? I am doing well since Caliburn has been destroyed a week ago. The day after the final battle I ordered Sparks and Acheros bones buried and sealed in Sparks cave. Duke William is still imprisoned in his father King Adolph's castle and stripped of all royal title may I add. I am sure that the package will arrive at the same time as this letter. If it is not I just wanted to say I have not forgotten all you did for the kingdom of Barking-burg, the royal family, and the world. It will be a great surprise I will give you only one hint: Look to the back for your reward. I am hoping that you are doing well since your banishment-I am sorry but I did what I had to do-I look forward to hearing how you are doing in Adventure bay. Please don't let this be the end of our friendship.

-Ever your princess (And future Queen) Catherine."

(END LETTER)

Claw looks at Jack and says "When you get done for the day can you open up my package?" Jack carefully kneels and pets Claw on the head - a pleasure he had relearned in the last week - as he answered "I would love to." Everest is now curious and says "Can I hang around? I want to see what is so important." Claw smiles and answers "It would be my pleasure Everest."

(TIME SKIP/1743HRS)

Claw sits before his large package as Jack kneels with his pocket knife to carefully open the box. Everest watches with an interested stare as Jack removes a large object wrapped in bubble wrap. Claw watches intently as he feels like he recognizes what is inside - for he sees an all to familiar blurred emblem at the front hidden though the bubble wrap - Claws is euphoric as he screams at the top of his lungs as fast as he can "OPEN IT! OPEN IT! OPEN IT!" Jack smiles and says "Alright, alright, calm down." Claw is still so frantic with joy that he is gasping madly and shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. Jack carefully peels back the layers of bubble wrap and reveals what Claw had expected from the moment Jack removed the bubble wrapped piece from the box - A copy of the storybook of Barking-burg - Claw is uncontrollably screaming at the top of his lungs after he screams once he jumps for it and takes it in his teeth while pulling it out of his hands and lands back on the floor! As soon as Claw lands he franticly opens it to reveal a book written in ancient Latin. Everest walks up and looks at the book incredulously as she says "I can't read a word on that page." Claw says "It is written in ancient Latin. The letter said to go to the back for my reward." Claw then franticly leafed through the pages to the picture of Claw riding on the back of Sparks! Claw began to read the story aloud.

"Once there was a knight named Claw who lost his status by disobeying the princess who he was loyal to. Claw then assisted a evil duke named William who wanted to rule Barking-burg and then the world! Duke William used the knights knowledge of dragons and Barking-burg castle to get the book of Barking-burg and learn the location of a evil sword named Caliburn. But the knight saw through the dukes evil plan and refused to be a part of the evil and informed the princess of the dukes evil scheme and worked along side the rescue knights to rescue Earl Richards, Princess Catherine and Royal Pup Sweetie from the duke and Caliburn. Claw and his dragon returned to confront the evil duke in a battle that took the lives of Claws loyal companion Sparks and the evil dukes dragon Acheros. Claw raced to the mountain where Excalibur is to get the pure sword and challenge the duke to the ultimate battle for the world! After Claw prevailed and Caliburn was broken the duke told the princess, earl and rescue knights of Claws treacherousness and the princess - in light of everything Claw had done for everyone - rather than have him executed she instead exiled him from the kingdom for life never to return! The fallen knight Claw chose to work along side the paw patrol in adventure as a deputy police pup living with a former solder who went through his tours of duty in the army and is now living as a farmer in Adventure bay."

Everest is sitting there listening to other stories when Jack gets bored and pulls the package closer to cut it up for later disposal and he just happens to look inside to see 2 large envelopes inside with "Claw" written it and removes it and says "Claw do you want me to open these. I found them inside?" Claw says "Yes at once, please sir." Jack opens the first and pulls out the papers containing Original (copy) text on Caliburn and Translated (copy) text on Caliburn. After placing it aside he opens the second and pulls out the papers containing Original (copy) text on Excalibur and Translated (copy) text on Excalibur. Claw looks over the pages and eagerly noses the pages back into the envelope and asks Jack to write "Excalibur" and "Caliburn" on the envelope matching the document and looks to see the inside of the book has a hidden panel on each cover; but these were less secure (Velcroed closed instead of sewing the documents inside) Claw smiles as he carefully places the envelopes inside and even more carefully closes the hidden panels. Everest says "Well, that was a wonderful evening. But I think it's time to go home - Hey Claw how about you come home with me and meet Jake. You can come too - uh - Jack right?" Jack nods and says "Jack and I would like to meet the owner of that resort on the other side of this mountain." Everest walks out the doggie door and jumps in her snow cat and Jack as he walks to his light blue and white FORD F150 1995 4X4 says to Claw "You want to ride?" Claw smiles and begins walking over to his police cruiser says "No thanks. I need to practice driving."

(PLACE CHANGE/JAKES CABIN/1822HRS)

Jakes mountain cabin where Everest called home turned out to be a large cabin from the outside. Everest disappeared through a doggie door similar to Claws and then before Jack could knock the door opened to reveal a young man who looked to be slightly younger than Jack. Jake quickly let them inside to a cabin that was even more pleasant than Jacks. Jake sit down in a cozy recliner as Jack sat down on a large love seat that was very comfy. Jack looks at Jake and says "So your Jake?" Jake smiles and replies in a chipper voice "Yep, and your the one that owns the farm on the back side of my mountain resort, it's nice to put a face with the name." Jake stands and asks "Where are my manners, want something to drink or eat?" Jack nods and says "I'm not picky." This causes Jake walks into the kitchen and in a few minutes comes back with a metal tray containing 2 cups of steaming coco with marshmallows on top and 2 bowls of warm milk. Jake sits the tray down and places the bowls of steaming milk down before Claw and Everest then places a mug of steaming coco down on the end table coaster and returns to his recliner with his cup and asks "How's the crop coming in this year?" Jack sipped the coco and places it back down on the coaster and says "I think the canola is going to get me through winter if I can keep a decent part time job in the winter." Claw looks at Everest and starts his own conversation "How's the job with the paw patrol, is it a lot of work?" Everest looks back at Claw with a smile "It has its hard work sessions but I think the paw patrols is the best job I ever had."

(TIME SKIP/2043HRS)

Jack and Claw both say their goodbyes to Jake and Everest as they walk out the door, a potential friendship in the making. Jack and Claw both head for their vehicles and Claw jumps inside the cab perfectly but as soon as he buckles up he grabs his chest with a slight wince and an "Ouch."

(PLACE CHANGE/JACKS HOUSE/2243HRS)

Claw walks up to Jack and asks "Does my chest look okay? I had a twinge of pain on the way back here." Jack grabs a small flashlight and returns kneeling and aiming the light at it while running his fingers over the front of Claws chest and noticing a dark purple spot says "Looks like you bruised it. A few days and you should be right as rain." Claw smiles and says "Thanks." before jumping onto the bed and wincing before settling in for the night.

(END THE DARKNESS WITHIN-ALL IS WELL?)