Greetings once again, fellow readers! Winddragon here with another chapter in the bank. :)
This one goes out to my co-writer and dear pal Periosha, whose ideas came up with... well, this is his brainchild. :P
He had a blast writing this, and I hope you will too. Enjoy!
Chapter 21: Forgiveness, The Greatest Weapon
On the other side of the forest, two heavenly lights shined dimly in the pitch-black darkness.
Soron propped himself against the stump of what once was a tall redwood tree. Gasping for air, he applied pressure with a shaking paw to stop the bleeding. Ferocious teeth marks covered his skin like wolf love-bites, while his chest was raked with the slashes of a thousand claws.
In front of him, barely standing on all four legs, was the she-wolf. Despite being blessed with a thick canine pelt, her cuts and bruises – in vivid shades of purples and reds – screamed out in a different language altogether.
All around them hung the burnt, crispy stench of the rigid air, while plants lay shriveled and curled up like badly preserved cut flowers. Nothing stood taller than Soron or the wolf itself, and the ground smoked in the darkness. No one would have believed that only a few moments ago, this used to be a thick and beautiful forest.
Both warriors were motionless, too wounded to even lift a muscle. The silver-clad chipmunk grinned slyly, pushing his back off the stump as he limped toward the hazel-brown wolf.
"Seems like you underestimated me after all, babe," His words were punctured by a cough full of blood, followed by the bleeding of the wound on his chest. "Told ya I prepped myself for you."
T-this… doesn't change anything. Wracked with pain, her legs began to wobble. I-I'll still beat you… then punish you for your crimes… I intend on keeping that p-promise…
But Soron did not hear the wolf's threats. His attention was now focused up at the night sky. The stars were brighter than ever; their constant twinkling a heavenly reassurance, as though he'd just received a message in Morse code.
Why the hell are you smiling, Andrews?
The she-wolf's legs finally gave in, forcing her to the burnt earth. Still blazing with the fires of battle, she winced as her body rippled with another spasm.
"Looks like I've won, after all," he whispered, letting go of his chest as he fell onto his back. "Game. Set. Match."
That doesn't make any sense. What the hell are you talking about?
Chuckling to himself, Soron formed an orb of light in his paw. He held it close to his lips, whispering briefly before letting it hover away and towards the she-wolf's snout. On contact, a series of images flashed through her mind, and her eyes widened as they ran in sequence.
She might as well have been watching a horror movie.
Maia's fur -Marked. Her body- her chastity, surrendered completely to one not of Light. But how? Who?
Then it dawned upon her.
You… you forced me out here, so that – that mutt could have her?
It's nice to see your plans backfire, eh? He had not practiced his telepathic skills in ages, and its strain on his body was asclear as the red stain spreading further across his shredded silver hoodie. When the news arrives, the Elders are going to demand for Maia's execution, and then you can kiss your leadership goodbye.
His breaths started to slow as a cold wind swept through his fur.
So, your plans have come full circle. But in the end, the only thing you still cherish is yourself. You plan on hurting your brother by having my pupil executed, and then leave me heart-broken and ashamed.
Forcing her head up, the she-wolf glared at his near lifeless form with a hateful sneer.
You're a monster, Soron Andrews. A despicable, heartless monster!
A soft laugh emitted from his lips. Rolling onto his stomach, his body painfully turned to face hers. "W-well, that was my original plan, anyway."
Gathering what strength his tired wounded body could muster, Soron used his arms to inch himself over to her, leaving a trail of blood behind him. With every inch he moved, he let out soft moans and whimpers of pain, but he remained vigilant and continued crawling toward her. Specks of blood flew and sputtered from his lips, painting the burnt twigs and leaves with spots of crimson.
As he neared the she-wolf, he paused for a moment, waiting for a response. She kept trying to drag herself across to Soron, longing for the opportunity to sink her jaws into the traitor's neck and snap it like a twig. But eventually, her body was just wracked with too much pain.
She laid her head down to the ground, closing her weary eyes.
Any further resistance would be futile. If she were to die here, it would be quick and full of honour.
But to her surprise, she felt two arms warm around her neck, followed by a soft kiss on her cheek. Her eyes opened instantly, to the sight of the chipmunk embracing her and lifting her head off the ground.
W-what are you doing? She suddenly felt a small warm puddle, like raindrops on her pelt.
"I've forgiven you… a long time ago." He whispered in her ear. "And I only hope you'll forgive me in return. My love, I am so sorry."
He let his paws slide in between the spaces of her claws, rough and bumpy and first, but underneath it all he found soft and flawless pads.
"But they deserve to be happy, you know. Phelan and Maia… j-just like you and m-me… b-before."
The she-wolf's body began to glow a heavenly white, illuminating the forest as her body changed physically. When the light dispersed, in its place was a hazel-brown furred chipette, clad in a shredded violet trench coat.
Soron held her paw tighter than ever as he cupped her now round cheeks. Her face was a breadth away from his, and tears were flooding her bright violet eyes.
"Now there's a face… I've been waiting to see," whispered Soron.
With his newfound strength, Soron brought his lips closer to the chipette's. She responded accordingly, wrapping her arms around his body, pulling him closer to her chest. She moaned softly as their kiss deepened, igniting a flame in their hearts that had been put out for so long.
When the chipette could no longer feel Soron's lips move, she opened her eyes. Unable to speak, the former warrior of the Light gave her a sad, final look before turning his back and disappeared into the darkness.
The last of the strength in Soron's legs gave in, and he stopped to lean against a tall oak. As the cold wind pierced his body like a knife, he slid down to the ground.
For the first time in years since a girl broke his heart, he gave in to his tears, covering his face with his paws.
As he shamelessly wept, his tears glowed a soft white, and when they had left his face, they floated around him, like a swarm of fireflies comforting him.
Lifting his face to stare at the tiny lights, they gathered into a large snow-white orb, which floated daintily in his paws.
He brought the light close to his lips, as though kissing it goodbye, before it left him.
Slowly he picked himself up, groaning as his wounds began to open. He painfully panted for air, the last of his tears wrung dry from his eyes. With a soft sigh, he steeled himself, and continued limping onward.
Meanwhile, the chipette had been resting on the burned soil; her wounds already beginning to heal. A faint humming stirred her senses, and she stared in wonder at the bright white sphere that had appeared before her.
Beckoning gently, it settled into her paws as she closed her eyes, letting the light engulf her mind with warmth and comfort.
The first thing she felt when she opened her eyes was the warm summer breeze on her long auburn dyed hair.
She ran her paw over her right ear, hearing the soft jingle of her diamond earrings as she fixed her hair. She saw herself in a dazzling lavender gown, one fit only for a queen. Her foot steps were hushed, even as she walked across the rich marble flooring of the ballroom.
Suddenly, there was music playing in the air. It started with a few piano chords, then a voice – one she missed dearly – that warmed her cheeks with a smile as it passed through her ears.
The best thing 'bout tonight's that we're not fighting
Could it be that we have been this way before?
I know you don't think that I am trying
I know you're wearing thin down to the core
There, before her, was Soron, in his traditional silver hoodie and baggy jeans, playing on his keyboard. He looked at her and smiled, nodding his head as he continued to sing.
But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find
Soron had then gripped his chest, his paws finding a pointy object hanging from a necklace around his neck, as he continued singing.
This is not what I intended
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may have failed, but I have loved you from the start.
Soron then jumped out of his seat, wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her up as they spun in place, letting her laugh softly as she stared into his hazel brown eyes. As Soron put her down, they began to dance around, a band playing in the background as he sang.
Oh, but hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
It's impossible…
So breathe in so deep
Breathe me in, I'm yours to keep
And hold on to your words 'cause talk is cheap
And remember me tonight when you're asleep
Soron's eyes gleamed as he brought his face closer to her, whispering the lyrics while staring into each other's souls.
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
To her dismay, he and the ballroom were starting to vanish from sight, disappearing into an orb of white light. If only she could hold him a bit longer… Tears escaped her eyes as she strained to hear the last chorus.
Tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find…
The chippette's eyes opened again, and she sighed at the sight of the scorched earth that surrounded her. Teeth grounded in silence, she clenched her fists.
Nobody was there to see her cry, but she would not let the tears flow again – for now.
To Be Continued...
For those of you who don't know, the song for this chapter is Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade.
What misfortunes will fall upon Soron and the mysterious chipette? And what will become of a certain wolf-like chipmunk and his newlywed mate?
Until next time, please don't forget to review! :D
"Always trust in your stories"
~ Wind