Well here's my third chapter, it's very damn long so be ready xD . I'm reveling secrets and setting up for a lot in this chapter. I hope you readers enjoy it and I appreciate all of ya'll! Don't forget to review! Some advice and your comments are always appreciated!
Chapter 3
The secrets come out.
The next morning at day break Hunter and Sparx meet up with the Guardians in the garden in front of the temple. The wind is blowing through the trees, and the colorful flowers are in full bloom. The bushes are freshly trimmed, lining the perimeter of the garden. At the entrance stands a tall arched gateway with green leafed vines growing up each side. In the center of the garden is a large fountain. It was carved to the shape of a muscular dragon standing on all fours, at his right side stands a cheetah standing up straight, holding a bow and arrow up as if ready to shoot. At his left side stands a mole garbed in armor and bearing a short sword. The fountains water runs in a drench from behind them to below their feet to make it appear like a river from the front of the garden. At the front of their feet is a drain, so the water can constantly drain through and then filter back through in a never ending cycle. At the bottom of the fountain was a gold plaque engraved on it was "The Founders of War Fang Always Noble and Brave".
"Good morning friends, are you ready to travel?" Cyril asked
"Yes sir" Hunter answered
"Good here are your coordinates through the woods, it is a large area" Cyril said handing Hunter a scroll.
Hunter unrolled the scroll to see half of it is a map and at the bottom half is writing entitled 'Mezzanotte' with a picture of a black panther with seemingly glowing gold eyes.
"What is this for?" Hunter asked looking at Cyril
"It is detailed information on your target. However, now is not the time for that" Cyril pointed at a line of mountain rages on the map
"We believe he is hiding around here somewhere. Be careful it is very easy to get lost around there. And the wildlife is not very friendly either. Stay on this path" Cyril pointed at a dotted line on the map "Do not stray from this route, it is the safest way to the mountains" Cyril warned
"Hm.. Yes very dangerous indeed. Do be careful. There's no telling what he could have created already, or what he has done by now. Horrible thoughts.. Yes just horrifying to think about" Volteer said.
"Yes, yes, Volteer we are aware" Cyril exclaimed
"How long has he been out there?" Hunter asked
"About a month at the most"
"A month?!" Sparx said shocked and now a little scared
"Yes a month.. We couldn't get anyone to go find him so we had no choice but to wait until Hunter got back. He is the only one who would go out there to face him." Terrador answered
"Cowards!" sparx exclaimed
Hunter choosing to ignore this looked straight ahead at the guardians "so am I ready to go?" he asked
Sparx cleared his throat to catch attention "we" he corrected
"Yes I believe so" Terrador answered "is there anything else you would like to add Cyril?"
"No, I believe you're all set. Again do be careful" Cyril said with great concern
"I will" Hunter insured
Sparx cleared his throat again this time a little annoyed "we!" he corrected again.
Hunter ignoring the remark again turned and started walking out of the garden and through the cobblestone streets of warfang, headed towards the city gate with sparx buzzing along behind.
"Leaving just as soon as I came." Hunter sighed looking around at the tall buildings.
As he looked at the shining buildings he thought 'Ahh. How lovely the sunlight makes the buildings shine, how it looks like gold'.
The buildings were built from a mixture of sand stone and lime stone making them appear to be made of gold. When the light hits them just right they shine brighter than anything hunter had ever seen before. He loved the city of warfang but with his job, it made it quite impossible for him to enjoy the city for more than hours at a time. And when he did get to enjoy it even for three or four hours, he was too tired from his long travels to various places the guardians have sent him.
They reached the thirty foot tall brick gate. It was made of stronger stone/brick than the houses and buildings that were made for appearance, the gate on the other hand was made for strength to withhold against any enemies that may attack it. The gate was attached to a wall lining the perimeter of the city, it was made out of the same materials as the gate but with more reinforcements behind the wall. On each corner of the wall was a lookout post, two had dragons in them and two had cheetahs in them.
The bright yellow electric dragon standing at the gate greeted Hunter and Sparx as he opened the gate.
"See ya Hunter, good luck and safe travels" the dragon said
"Thank you striker" hunter thanked the dragon and walked through the gate with Sparx by his side.
"You know that guy?" sparx asked
"Yes, he was the only one to defend me when people weren't very fond of what job I had chosen" Hunter said with a sullen look.
"Uhm….what job was that?" Sparx said confused
"That's a discussion for another time"
The two kept walking for several hours, it is now late afternoon the sun is high in the sky. They decided to stop to rest after walking through the tall grasses and thick forests of the wilderness so long, they finally came to a small clearing that looked like it had been cleared by campers not more than two weeks prior.
"We can stop here to rest" Hunter said sitting on a log that was thrown in the corner of the clearing for a seat.
Sparx yawned as he buzzed around hunter laying down on the other side of the log with a grunt
"Finally" sparx whined
Hunter unrolled the scroll looking at the map
"From what I can tell, we are close to the trail near the dangerous part of the forest" hunter contemplated while studying the map.
Sparx gulped
"If we head North-East for about ten more miles we should hit the trail dead on"
"You have to use that wording?" sparx whined again
"You're not scared are you Sparx?" Hunter taunted
"Me? scared?! Never!" sparx sat up straight propping his hands on his hips.
About that time the bush to the right side of Sparx rattled heavily.
"Ahhh!" Sparx screamed jumping and flying across the clearing and into a tree on the other side.
Then to his surprise a rabbit hopped out of the bush
Hunter bust out laughing.
"Not scared huh? You sure had a lot of momentum" hunter taunted
"Yeah, yeah" Sparx pouted
After a few minutes Hunter decided to go catch something for him to eat before they move on.
"I'll be right back I'm going to find something to eat, try not to get attacked by the big mean rabbit, okay" hunter teased
"Yeah, yeah, try not to get eaten by a bear" Sparx grinned
"Well I haven't yet" Hunter chuckled slightly, then walked off.
He walked through the dense forest to the far left of the clearing they were rested at, about half a mile out he saw fresh dear tracks.
'It was here not too long ago' Hunter thought to himself
He quietly fallowed the tracks keeping watch for the lone dear, when he heard the rustling of a blueberry bush. Hunter looked to see the medium sized dear nuzzling his nose into the bush and eating berries.
He pulled out an arrow and steadied his bow, when he was confident enough with the aim he released the arrow allowing it to fly through the air and hit the deer straight through the heart. Blood poured from the dears wound and it collapsed
"Painless kill" he thought aloud with a smile as he walked up to the dear inspecting it.
He then started to skin the dear and gather the meat from it. After he had gathered everything from the dear he laid out the skin and placed the meat on it then gathered the corners up holding them as the handle to a makeshift bag. He began walking toward the clearing. A few minutes later he arrived seeing Sparx laying on the corner of the log asleep and snoring, hunter giving no acknowledgement to this sat his makeshift bag down with the meat in it and began to gather wood for a fire. He placed a few logs in a slightly dug out fire pit that someone had prepared beforehand.
He took out his flint and made a spark just big enough to light the fire.
Hunter then took out the meat and started cooking it over the fire.
A few moments later the aroma from the meat had filled the air around the small clearing, Sparx took two tiny sniffs and woke up.
He sat up looking at hunter.
"Boy that smells good… can I try some?" Sparx asked standing up and buzzing over to Hunter.
"Sure" hunter said taking his claw and cutting off a few tiny pieces of meat for Sparx.
The two sat and ate for a few moments, when they were done hunter picked up his dear skins rolling them up and put them in his satchel.
"We should move out now. If we hurry we can make it to the path before dark and move on in the morning"
"Can't we just stay here till morning?" sparx whined with a fake tired look
"No we must keep moving" Hunter said
Hunter put out the fire and threw some dirt over the fire pit and the two left the clearing.
They walked for a few minutes and Sparx started thinking about Hunter mentioning a job but never told him what it was, so the tiny dragon fly decided to ask.
"So Hunter…" He started "you never told me what job you were talking about earlier"
Hunter sighed "do you really wish to know?"
"Yes"
"Very well then.. When I was young there were multiple hidden threats to the city, and the guardians were trying to find a way to eliminate them quietly so that the people would not be alarmed. They came up with the idea of hiring people to go out and find them and well… kill them" hunter explained
"So like…" Sparx started
"Assassins, yes… The guardians started asking around to the people they knew would take the job and keep quiet about it, and I was one of those people. I was young in my late teenage years of course I took the job and I was proud of it, still am! I'm disposing of garbage that's trying to harm good people and break down cities… But… Unfortunately some people don't see it that way" Hunter continued
"So if it was kept so quiet then.. How did people find out?" Sparx asked a bit puzzled
"Good question, some people got suspicious of something going on at the temple, people don't like it when you hide things. Needless to say it was a trader.. He came into our brotherhood and he stayed just long enough to gather the information he needed to report back to whoever sent him. It spread like wildfire all over the city, and mine, was the main name going around"
"Well weren't there others in the brotherhood?" Sparx asked
"Well yes of course there was, but I was the leader at the moment. My sniping skills and assassination missions were so successful that the guardians appointed me to lead the group, I kept a watch out for suspicious activity and chose which person would be best suited to go where on which mission. I was in charge and I liked it that way very much"
Hunter smiled at the thought of him training the various cat people and young teenage dragons, his A+ students and the newer assassins on the front row and everyone else behind them.
"So what happened to the rest of the brotherhood?" sparx asked again
"The ones that didn't get killed on failed missions, decided it was getting too dangerous and quit" hunter answered
"Well weren't you afraid they would betray you? I mean I wouldn't trust a coward that dropped out just because a few people failed their jobs!" Sparx exclaimed
"No, see they were allowed to quit, the guardians and I made sure it would be safe for them, they just had to sign a contract and take a vow of secrecy. And of course that after that they would no longer play the role of assassin… Just to make sure no one mysteriously went missing" Hunter explained
"Plus" Hunter went on "It was probably for the best anyway, if I sent those people on a mission that wasn't suited for them than I didn't need to be leading anymore… its better the way it is, just me"
Hunter gave a solemn look.
"Hey, buddy! You can't blame this all on yourself either, you don't know what happened out there" Sparx said in attempt to make the cheetah smile.
Hunter sighed and looked at Sparx "Yes, I know. But they had never failed before"
Sparx thought for a minute then his eyes widened.
"Wait!.. Does that mean we're on an assassination mission!?" Sparx asked
"Yes Sparx, we told you it was going to be dangerous and you ignored our warnings are you scared? Would you like to turn around and go back?" hunter grinned
"No! I.. I'm not scared! I'm excited! I've never been on an assassination mission! This will be interesting…" Sparx said hesitantly "If I don't die first" he mumbled under his breath
Hunter chuckled and kept walking with Sparx buzzing along at his side.
Hours had passed and the sun was setting, the two moons had just started to rise, Hunter and Sparx had just come to the trail on the map that the guardians had warned them about.
"We'll make camp here" hunter said cleaning out a small sandy spot for a camping place.
The clearing is in a kind of square shape with no more than 8 feet going either way, the ground is sandy and dry and there is a wall of trees forming around it with a small gap between each one.
Hunter rolled a log into the small clearing and dug out a small fire pit. He then walked a few feet out of the clearing and gathered some wood to throw in the fire, to which he did. He took out his flint and made a few sparks until the wood ignited.
Hunter took the dear meat out of his satchel as he threw some brush on the fire to make it bigger.
"You want some Sparx?" Hunter said holding it over the fire to warm up the precooked dear meat.
"Yes" Sparx answered rubbing his tiny hands together in a hungry manner.
When the two had finished eating Sparx fell asleep almost instantly in a soft pile of sand.
Hunter sat for a minute thinking about their previous conversation.
After a few minutes his thoughts cut off as he got tired and fell asleep on the ground.
A few hours passed into the night and Hunter and Sparx heard a female voice scream out.
"GET OFF OF ME YOU DAMN FREAK OF NATURE" the female voice screamed
"HELP!" she shrieked
Hunter jumped up to the sound and ran towards it.
Her shrill screams got louder as he approached a female white tiger that had been tackled by three mutated black ravens.
From what hunter could see in the moon light she was roughly five foot five, she was a white tiger wearing a black hooded robe with purple trim and purple lining inside the hood.
The ravens were roughly around five feet tall, they had yellow eyes and a dark purple aura radiating from them.
Hunter unsheathed his dagger running up behind one and slashing it across the back causing it to hiss in pain and turn to Hunter but before it could do anything hunter stabbed it in the gut pulling the knife upwards causing its intestines to spill out on the ground and the bird to fall dead.
He looked to see the female tiger had managed to kick both the birds off of her.
He watched as she slashed one across the chest and then stabbed it in the forehead.
Hunter grinned watching the blood pour from its head until he was interrupted by a bird tackling him to the ground.
He quickly rolled over on top of the bird holding his dagger in a reverse grip and stabbing the bird in the left side of the neck then pulling upward and to the right nearly decapitating the bird.
"Thanks if it wasn't for your help I might have been a goner" she said looking at the dead bird on the ground with disgust
"Names Celess" she continued holding out a hand to the cheetah that saved her
She looks up her blue eyes widen then glares pulling her hand back grabbing her dagger
"You?!" she yelled angrily
Hunters eyes widen as she charges forward tackling him to the ground trying to stab him
He deflected knocking her to the ground and he jumping up to his feet
"What's wrong with you why did you just attack me like that?"
She gets back up growling holding the dagger up
"Oh you don't remember me? How could you forget the one person you cheated out of becoming the next great assassin"
Hunters eyes widen as he realizes who she is "Celless?" He said lowering his arms
She lowers the dagger "Ah I see you remember now"
"But how and why are you attacking me?" He said obviously confused
She raised her dagger pointing it at Hunter again "Oh as if you don't know you took my only opportunity of becoming one of the greatest assassins for your own selfish need and gore"
"Look it's not what you think it didn't happen that way" hunter tried to reason
"I won't have any of it I'm here on a mission and now it looks like I'm here to settle a score" she said charging at hunter her dagger in a reverse grip
Hunters eyes widen he steps back with each swipe deflecting blows from left and right
"Stop this! I don't want to hurt you" he said deflecting another blow
"Oh but it will be me that will be the one hurting you" she said giving a swift kick to the side of his leg causing hunter to yell in pain and fall to his knee
She drove a punch at his head which he deflected grabbing her arm puling her down to the ground and getting back up slowly
She got back up glaring at him
"Fine if it's a fight you want it's a fight you get" Hunter said
She gets back up growling at Hunter she charges at him he side steps tripping her she stumbles but regains her balance
Sparx meantime is hiding behind a nearby tree branch hiding from the fighting cats
Celess charges at Hunter again swiping her dagger at him which he dodges but doesn't dodge a south paw as her long razor sharp claws slice Hunters belly leaving three long bloody streaks
Hunter roars in pain clenching at his stomach as rivets of blood start to ooze out.
In that short amount of time he was distracted she kicks him in his right leg bringing him down once again.
She then catches him in the jaw with her knee knocking him backwards.
When she had done this it caused hunter to bite his tongue braking the flesh blood filling his mouth he spits a glob of red fluid on ground as he gets back up
He quickly grabs his bow and strings an arrow aiming at her
She quickly ducks taking her right hand knocking his bow arm in air the string releases sending the projectile flying into the trees embedding into the tree branch less than three inches from sparx head.
Sparx screamed in panic and went buzzing as fast as he could to another tree only to miss the branch and fly right into the tree knocking Sparx out momentarily as he fell to a lower branch.
Celless then drives a left handed blow into Hunters bleeding stomach causing him to hunch forward.
Hunter quickly grabs his dagger from under his cloak he waits until she steps forward he then raised the dagger up slashing her across her right arm causing her to hiss in pain clenching the bleeding wound he leg sweeps knocking her to the ground bringing the dagger down trying to stab her in the shoulder
Celless quickly rolls out of the daggers way causing the blade to pierce into the moist ground.
Hunter looks to the right only to see her left leg coming straight towards his face kicking him in the head.
She runs forward picking up her dagger from the ground she holds both daggers in a reverse grip and charges at Hunter.
He quickly jumps to his feet and out of way from her oncoming attack but she anticipated the move and did a quick spin both blades catching hunter across the chest.
He stumbles backward but recovers as she charges at him again.
Hunter picks up his right leg kicking her in the stomach sending her several feet backwards, both blades landing on the ground.
Hunter then unsheathes his sword the blade shimmering in the moon light.
He stands over Celess who's now clenching her stomach grimacing in pain.
He points the sword down at her head "will you just stop and listen already we are not the bad guys what happened all those years ago was unfortunate yes but not my fault"
She growled at him "You know what you may think you're so great but you've never been too good about watching where you're standing" she said with a grin
Hunter raises an eye brow at this as Celless kicks up her right leg catching hunter right in between the legs.
Hunter dropped his sword and stepped back kneeling down in pain the sword fell embedding five inches of the blade in the ground right next to Cellesses right arm.
She then stands up grabbing Hunters sword looking at the blade admiring the craftsmanship.
"Nice blade you got, its nice and sharp" she then takes it stabbing hunters shoulder causing him to yell in pain gripping the blade in an attempt to remove it from his shoulder.
At that moment she pulls the blade back slicing a large slash across Hunters right hand.
Hunter yells out in pain yet again "will you stop and just listen there's no need for this senseless violence"
Celless not wanting to listen to Hunter, ready used the sword in an attempt to chop hunters head off.
Meanwhile Sparx just waking up a little confused and saw the tiger standing over Hunter.
Sparx fearing for the cheetahs safety flies down in front of Celess face his light temporarily blinding her.
"What the hell?.." she mumbles
Hunter then takes this opportune moment grabbing cellesses leg pulling her to the ground knocking the sword out of her hand and effectively pinning her down.
Hunter grabs Celless by the throat slamming her head into the ground
"will you listen we are not any threat to you we are out to eliminate a target and if we have any chance of getting out of here alive I suggest we work together unless…" hunter stopped, at that moment another flock of ravens started squawking and hissing out in the woods from an un known location "Unless you want to become bird food"
Celless scowled for a few minutes until the ravens got louder
"Okay, fine.. But only because I hate those damn birds.. Now would you please get off of me?"
Hunter grinned as he stood up "Now then that's more like it"
The two cats started walking back to the clearing with Sparx buzzing along on the other side of Hunter from Celless.
"Who is she? She scares me" Sparx whispered to Hunter
"An old acquaintance, and yes.. She is quite scary isn't she?" Hunter said not even trying to whisper.
Celless glared at hunter "don't push it… I might still kill you where you stand"
"As I recall I did get the upper hand.. And plus you need me to get out of here"
"That's the only reason I haven't yet.."
"And because you can't"
Celless laughed "sure keep thinking that"
They reached the clearing and hunter sat on the ground leaning against the log he rolled in for a seat.
He took a roll of gauze from his satchel and started bandaging his bleeding wounds.
When he was done Sparx grabbed the roll of gauze and flew over to Celless.
"W-want s-some bandage?" he nearly whispered in fear of the tiger.
Celless glared at Sparx with a low growl for a second and snatched the gauze causing the dragonfly to yelp a little and move back watching her try to bandage her arm.
After a few tries Sparx noticed she was having trouble wrapping her arm.
"C-can I help?" the dragonfly stuttered
Celless didn't say anything but Sparx flew up to her despite his fear and helped bandage her arm.
When he was finished he took the gauze and hurriedly flew back to Hunter.
Celless was sitting on the other side of the clearing leaning against a tree glaring over the still blazing fire at Hunter.
Hunter shrugged it off and leaned his head back against the log.
"Glare at me all you want I don't care"
Celless gave a slight growl and stared off into the woods ignoring the cheetahs presence.
"Well this is going to be a wonderful night" Sparx said shaken almost cowering beside the end of the log.
Well there's the third chapter hope all ya'll liked it I worked hard on it . And one man we all know as NativeAvenger told me to put more description in my story so I did, thank you for kick starting my imagination. And a big thanks to UltimateDragon131 for all the ideas he gave me on things to do, I Love You Honey.
Don't forget to leave a review guys, Thanks!