NOTE: I don't own this world. I just own the story and the characters.

Ok, so answered some overarching questions in an added chapter of A Shadow and a Warrior. Please read it! I don't want to keep repeating myself.

Ranger Charlie, you asked if Serpent was evil. My answer is: Yes. Raven can be seen in either light, based on a person's point of view of his past. Serpent is and always will be pure evil. It's who he is. Before anyone asks, no Serpent does not have a reason for being evil. He cares not for power, money, or fame. He just loves seeing people suffer under his blades. He loves it when people bow before him. There will never be a chance in ANY universe or story that Serpent will EVER be good. Evil and Serpent go hand in hand.

I will admit though, one redeeming quality is Serpent's love for Raven. The man does truly care about his apprentice, as a son. However, you'll see that his evil heart and his love for Raven… (ehhh, how do I put this?) don't…really…mix. But that comes in the next chapter.

Review and Enjoy!

Raven's Story Chapter 6

Fox led the way through the cave system. Behind him was the newest member of the Hunters. The young man's green eyes studied the layout. He knew that this was now his home. Better start getting used to it. A small smile twitched at the corners of Fox's mouth. Serpent would be very pleased. After all, the young man had gone from distrust to extremely loyal in one decisive move. It had been simple for one to die and another to flourish. After suffering for so long the young man had finally gotten his revenge. Finally had his first, satisfying taste of bloodshed.

The people of Rzeka never knew what had happened. The sight of crows flocking to his old home had made the neighbors nervous. With the village guard they approached. In the front yard, hanging from the apple tree, was a body. The young man's father. His body was mutilated beyond recognition. The crows were feeding from the countless wounds that opened the man's body. It was an easy feast, one they would enjoy. The villagers had left the body to rot. Why? Sitting high in the tree was a raven. Being superstitious, they feared that by approaching the tree and disturbing the raven they would all die similar deaths. Not something they wanted to risk.

For the young man, it had been a delight to torture that man to death. Even after mutilating the body, the man was still alive. That was until Fox helped the young man hang him from the tree. He died a slow death of suffocation and blood loss. As they had rode off, the young man had looked back one last time. It was not out of guilt. It was not because he was saying goodbye to his blood father. It was because he wanted to view his bloody work one last time. With a smile, he turned and spurred his horse away.

One down.

Three to go.

Reaching the door, Fox knocked on it. He signaled for the young man to stay put. Obediently the boy took a step back. Hands linked behind his back, he waited patiently as Fox spoke with Serpent. He hoped that Serpent would welcome him, as promised. For the first time, the young man actually felt a sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging. Coming to either side of him were two other cloaked men. They bore the red sash with pride. Each looked at him, studied him, then gave him a nod of acceptance. That made the young man feel even more at home. When Fox came out and indicated for the young man to enter alone, he did so without complaint or fear.

Serpent was standing in front of his desk, arms crossed. The young man approached, eyes downcast in respect. A black gloved hand came up, telling him to stop. The man did so. Without a word, without a command, without a signal, the young man bowed low before Serpent. Unknown to him, a dark smile crossed Serpent's features. Exactly as the leader had anticipated. Calmly he stepped forward and rested his right hand on the man's head. The black hair was smooth, soft. Yet, even at the touch, the young man did not flinch or stiffen. He was a Hunter. That meant he had to trust his leader with all his heart.

"Fox hassss explained everything to me," Serpent said. "Welcome to your new home, Teller."

That made the young man flinch, "Not Teller, Master. Teller was weak, thinking that everything could be right again. I'm not like him. I'm not him."

"Then who are you?" Serpent asked, that smile spreading even further.

The young man answered, his voice as cold as a blizzard, "Death to all our enemies. Where I come from death is marked by a lone raven. That is who I am. I…am…Raven."

"A perfect name. Rise, Raven. Your destiny hassss only begun," Serpent said, taking a small step back so that Raven could rise.

Raven obeyed. Before his new master he stood tall, shoulders squared, hands folded calmly behind him. He did not know much about fighting but Serpent could see that, at a single command, Raven would kill anyone. Those green eyes were as hypnotizing as a snake's, something that made Serpent a little jealous. He quickly removed it. He did not have to be jealous of Raven. Instead, he should be proud for Raven would become his perfect creation. He wrapped an arm around the tall man's shoulders. Raven stooped a little to make it easier on him.

"Come," Serpent hissed. "Time to meet your brotherssssss and ssssistersss. Be glad, my sssson. Only a ssssselect few become my apprenticessss. Know that from now onward you will be marked by a red sssssash, a sssssymbol of your loyalty to me. From now on, you will be a Mordasin, my assassin." (Mordasin is a made-up word)

Three months later:

The small man charged him hard. Those blue eyes were shining with anger and rage. With a soft hiss, Raven spun lightly on his feet. His black cloak expanded, wrapping around him, hiding his body from sight. The man's charge did not slow. A powerful ring vibrated through the training cave as metal met metal. With ease, the two began a deadly dance. Each was a master of defense. Though small, the other man was agile. Raven has his ability to remember strategies, his strength, and his speed. They were an even match for each other. Of all the apprentices, they were the best, willing to practice constantly in order to achieve their master's favor.

Now exhausted, both separated. Raven gave his partner a smile. The other man simply snorted, running one hand through his wet, dirty-blond hair. With a sigh, Raven shook his head. This man never seemed to like him much. One they first met, he had been downright aggressive. However, a few sharp words from Serpent put an end to all his complaints. At least, the spoken ones. Stepping closer, Raven held out his hand. He really wanted to be close friends with this man.

"I don't need your help," Tiger snapped angrily, slapping away Raven's hand.

Raven shrugged, "Just offering. Didn't mean any offense."

"So you say," Tiger spat.

Raven turned on him and growled, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Simple," Tiger said haughtily, blue eyes flashing, "You think that you're so great just because Serpent accepted you into his training program without a second thought. Some of us actually had to work for the opportunity. Now you want to ruin my chances of passing."

Raven shook his head, "That's not true. I simply want to live up to Serpent's expectations. Surely you can understand that."

"Lies. All of it. I doubt you suffered from anything. I lost my entire family, my entire village when I was a boy. Then I was captured and sold into slavery. Don't talk to me about living up to expectations. Don't try and trick me into believing that you only care about meeting Serpent's standards. You want something more. You want to destroy the Hunters," Tiger spat angrily. Slowly he stepped forward, hands tightening on his weapons.

"Enough!" came the sharp command as Raven went into a battle stance.

Both men looked towards the entrance to the training hall. Stepping from the shadows was Serpent. His blue eyes sparked with anger. Raven at once dropped his gaze. Tiger, however, sheathed his blades and crossed his arms. He may be facing the leader of the Hunters but that meant nothing. Tiger still acted as if he was greatest thing in the world. At least Raven understood when to back down. Being defiant and having that much hubris was a recipe for humiliation.

"I will not have the two of you going after one another like sssssavagessss," Serpent spat angrily.

Raven flinched then replied in a soft, obedient voice, "Sorry, Serpent. I got carried away in my anger."

"You must learn to control your anger, Raven," Serpent said, his voice calming down. He gently laid a hand on Raven's shoulder. Then he looked over at Tiger and growled, "At least you know when to accept and apologize for your mistakes."

"I was only speaking the truth," Tiger snarled.

Serpent's hand was like a snake striking. So fast that neither young man saw it moving until it struck Tiger across the jaw. Then Serpent grabbed a handful of shirt and pulled Tiger closer. His blue eyes were sparking with anger. Now Tiger was tense with fear. Raven held his ground but he could sense Serpent's rage like the heat of a wildfire. He knew that no one wanted to be around when his master was angry. No one ever benefitted from it. Tiger, however, was asking for it with his attitude. Now he was getting what he deserved.

"Lesson 57," Serpent growled, eyes turning to Raven. "Always make your enemies cower before you by using your speed and strength. Only then will they respect you enough to fear you."

His fist struck Tiger in the gut. With a gasp, Tiger doubled over. At that moment, Serpent twisted his wrist, flipping his first apprentice over so he hit the ground on his back. He rolled and rose shakily. Serpent stood over him, arms crossed, eyes glowing like blue fire. A slight frown was on his face. Then his right hand came up, his fingers snapped, then the arm went back to rest. Raven, knowing it was a command for him, stepped to Serpent's right. He lowered his green eyes and bowed his head. Now it was his turn to be punished. Though, he reflected, he did deserve it as Serpent's rules were clear. One Hunter could not turn on another.

"I tired of your rivalry," Serpent growled, his voice low and dark. "Prove to me that you can be my best apprentices. Prove to me that one of you deserve my throne."

With that, he turned and left. Raven glanced at Tiger then raced after his master. Tiger staggered after them.

The beginning of winter. Two months later:

Raven spurred his white horse through the falling snow. His black cloak rested calmly on his shoulders. That red sash crossed his chest. To help with the cold, a black cloth was pulled across his face, covering everything below the eyes. Riding behind him was Fox and another man named Quartz. Both were among Serpent's best assassins. Though this was a routine check of the mountains, Raven also knew he was being tested. Since that day two months ago, Raven and Tiger had kept their distance from each other. Not that Raven really cared. His skill was becoming exceedingly better. Thus, Raven often asked the older members like Fox to practice with him. They gave him a challenge, which Raven was always looking for. Serpent was pleased with his progress.

Now it was time to start building some leadership qualities.

The snow was getting increasingly worse. Raven knew they would have to head for shelter soon. However, he decided that they move a little further on. That way they covered as much ground as possible. Fox and Quartz followed without complaint. They were here to follow his lead. If asked, they would give an opinion or advice. Until then they would remain silent. Though it had been snowing for several days on and off, it was not cold enough for the snow to stick. Thus, the rocky ground could still be seen.

After a few minutes, Raven decided it was time to look for shelter. That's when they heard the shouting. Holding up a hand, Raven stopped his horse and tilted his head. Was he imagining it? Was it some trick of the wind? No. He could hear it plainly. Quickly he glanced back at his companions. Both nodded, telling him that they heard it too. With that, Raven spurred his horse into a gallop. The others did the same. Each horse seemed to understand what their riders wanted. They headed straight for the sounds. Soon Raven could hear angry voices.

Skandians!

Eyes narrowing, Raven drew a long blade. It was not a sword but it was not a knife either. Serpent had given them to him, telling him he had collected them from a faraway land. They were that country's version of a saber. However, the metal was not as strong and it was wielded more like a sword. Rounding a corner, Raven found ten Skandians surrounding two small forms. One was a man while the other was a woman. Both were covered in mud from head to toe. The man was bleeding from several wounds on his thick arms. With a bellow, the man swung several powerful punches. The Skandian under attack batted them aside. The woman hissed, her nails scratching another's face.

Seeing Fox and Quartz on either side of him, Raven signaled to the group. It was obvious that the Skandians were trying to capture these two runaway slaves. Following the hand signals, Fox and Quartz split to either side. Raven charged them head on. The Skandians cried out in shock as the three hit them in perfect harmony. Their blades worked fast, killing six in a matter of seconds. That's when Raven saw him. A massive, powerful Skandian he knew too well:

Jeffrey, Anderson's first mate.

With a snarl, Raven slapped his heels into his horse. The white beast snorted then charged. Jeffery, who was getting ready to attack Quartz, did not see it coming until it was too late. Hearing hoofbeats, he turned. Then the white horse's chest slammed into him. Raven leaped to the ground as the horse trotted to a halt. Jeffery was reaching for his axe when Raven's first blade cut into his back. With a gasp, the Skandian sprawled out onto the ground. He looked up and saw Raven standing there. Those eyes became dark with anger. Smiling, Raven kicked his axe away. Nothing like sweet vengeance. His second blade cut Jeffery's throat. With that, Raven removed every weapon from the man and hurled them away. For this Skandian, he was going to die a slow, painful death and walk into the afterlife without a weapon in his hand. The two worst things for a dying Skandian.

Raven leaned over and whispered into Jeffery's ear, "Have a nice time wandering."

Then he raced back into the fight. He found that all but three were still standing. Fox and Quarts were playing cat and mouse with one. That thick armed man was rolling on the ground with the second. The last was facing off with the woman. It was then that Raven got a good look at her. She had long brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, and a slim figure. In all, she was a stunning woman. A small smile touching his lips, Raven raced to her side. The Skandian she was fighting swung his massive sword. Easily Raven stepped in the way and blocked the blow with his blades. The woman leaped forward, both her fists connecting with the man's jaw. With Raven at her side, she began attacking with ferocity.

Beautiful and a great fighter! Raven thought. She's absolutely perfect. Just like a leopard.

The Skandian was tiring. Sheathing one blade, Raven grabbed the woman's arm. She stopped enough for him to step between her and the Skandian. With a cry, the massive man recoiled, Raven's blade stuck in his throat. One last convulsion went through his body as Raven pulled his blade free. He nodded to the woman. She smiled at him, a beautiful, warm smile. It made Raven feel like in was standing on a warm beach instead of the cold mountains. A cry of pain made both of them turn. The other slave was battling the last Skandian right next to a cliff. He had cried out because the Skandian had just missed stabbing his stomach, catching him in the side instead.

"My brother!" the woman cried out.

Raven instantly raced forward. Fox and Quartz were also coming in. However, Raven was far faster than the two of them. With a resounding growl, Raven slammed into the Skandian. The wet ground was not conducive to fighting. The Skandian slipped, his feet going straight over the cliff. He panicked and reached for anything. His large hand found the slave's left foot. With a grunt, he fell and slid over the edge. That's when Raven seized ahold of them. With a jerk the man stopped falling. Raven's grip remained strong. The Skandian was not so lucky. His scream filled the air as he plummeted to his death.

The slave was hauled up onto solid ground. His sister instantly wrapped her arms around him. He patted her gently and smiled up at Raven, Fox, and Quartz, "Thank you so much. You saved us."

Raven looked at Fox, the oldest of the group, who nodded. Offering his hand, Raven spoke calmly, "Our pleasure. We are members of the Hunters, outcasts and runaway slaves just like yourselves."

The man took his hand, allowing Raven to help to his feet. With smile, he shook Raven's hand instead of releasing it, "Name's Yalug. This is my sister Stephanie."

Raven dipped his head, "I'm Raven. My companions are Fox and Quartz."

"Such odd names," Stephanie said after giving a small curtesy.

"Most of us don't want to remember our pasts," Fox replied. "So we change our names."

Raven looked up at the darkening sky and growled, "It's getting late and a storm is coming. The two of you are welcome to join us at our home. It will much warmer and drier than out here."

Yalug nodded, "We accept."

Sometime later:

Her laugh was beautiful. Like a song. Like a flowing river. Like the music his mother used to sing. Her smile was just as beautiful, if not more so. It seemed to light every room. Raven could not imagine being happier with any other woman. Serpent was like his father and being around him was a different kind of joy. This was so much different. So much more mesmerizing and time stopping.

Yalug and Stephanie had taken Serpent's offer to join the Hunters. In doing so, they changed their names. Yalug became Talon, one of Raven's most trusted friends. Stephanie had a hard time choosing a name that fit her. That was, until she was talking with Raven and he described how she was like a leopard in battle: terrifying, fierce, and beautiful. After doing so, Raven had blushed completely red. Stephanie, however, liked the name and so adopted it. Now she was known as Leopard. Ever since meeting them, he had begun hiding his face behind the cloth. Only Serpent ever saw his face. It gave Raven a sense of privacy and it scared his enemies to no end. But that was not the final reason. He decided he wanted only a select few to ever see his face. If he did show it then that meant the person had his complete and uncompromising trust and loyalty.

Now he was hanging out with Leopard. Whenever Serpent gave him a break from whatever practice, Raven seemed to immediately go in search of her. He did not know why. Most times he did it unconsciously. Leopard seemed to like having him around. To her, he made her laugh and smile. She found his eyes beautiful. If only he would show her his face. Now, sitting beside him next to a window carved in the rock, she hoped to see it. Beside her, Raven was tense and nervous. He did not want to come off as stumbling idiot. Yet whenever he opened his mouth, the wrong thing came out in some fashion. Leopard never seemed to care but only aggravated Raven's fears. She was perfect and deserved a perfect partner. How was he supposed to be that perfect partner if he could not even talk right?

With a soft sigh, Leopard leaned into him. Raven froze, his mind going into a panic. Should he wrap an arm around her? Should he move away? Should he just hold still? What should he do? Outside, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange light into the cave. Looking down at Leopard, Raven thought she looked even more beautiful. Slowly, tentatively, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She sighed again and pressed closer to him.

Finally Raven's heart stopped beating so hard.

Letting out a breath, he rested his chin on top of her head. This was perfect to him. Nothing could make this moment worse. Nothing could make it better. Well, until Leopard spoke.

"Why do you hide your face?" she asked.

Raven shifted uncomfortably as he replied, "I'm not who I used to be. Many things have happened in my life, bad things. It's hard to see my reflection without the memories. I also only want those I love and respect to see my face."

"Do you love me?" Leopard asked, sitting up and looking at him. Those brown eyes seemed to glow in the fading light.

Raven felt his throat constrict. To say no would drive her away. Yet, he did not know what to do after he said yes. Finally he sighed and figured he would let whatever word just come from his mouth. "Yes," he said softly. His eyes turned away from her's.

"I love you too," Leopard whispered into his ear.

Gently she placed a kiss on his cheek. Raven went beet red in a second. Seeing this, Leopard laughed that beautiful laugh. Her hand came up and touched the cloth on his face. Raven stiffened then looked into those beautiful brown eyes. What he saw made him relax completely. Her hand took away the cloth, revealing his face to her. Letting it drop to the floor, she touched his scarred face.

"I see nothing here to hide," she whispered softly.

That's when she kissed his lips.

Unknown to them, Serpent was hiding in the shadows nearby. A smile touched his face. He turned and walked away, leaving them alone. Deep down he was bubbling with happiness. Outwardly he showed no emotion. Raven had found love in a beautiful, strong young woman. Serpent could not be any happier. In time, things would move accordingly. Yes, his plans were coming together. The moment Raven had brought Talon and Leopard before him, he had been hoping that Leopard would pull Raven in. That's why he had been giving Raven so much free time lately. Now it was happening.

"Take your time, my sssssson. My throne waitssss you in the end. I may never have children but at least my legacy will live on…

Through you."

Serpent has his hands in pretty much everything.

Work load is going to get a lot worse this week. The next chapter should be up next weekend at the latest.

The next chapter has some happy moments and an angry moment for all of you. You'll also get to see how Serpent goes about ditching Tiger as the first in line.

Things are starting to fall into place in Serpent's plans. Only a few more chapters left.