*Chapter 19: Away in the Woods*

"Is he going to die?"

"No."

"And how can you be so sure vampire? He looks badly injured!"

"He cannot die because Fate will not allow it."

"Fate does not seem to be on his side at the very moment."

"Believe griffin. He is the one who freed you."

"Actually I believe it was me who did the spell. Kurt just merely ordered me to do as such."

"Will you all stop standing around gawking? Kurt needs help!"

"Rachel's right. He needs medical attention."

"I'm half merman, I'll save him."

"Thanks uh…"

"Sam. His name is Sam."

"I believe she asked the merman Karofsky."

"Sam's preoccupied at the moment Hudson."

"All you humans are mentally challenged. Here we are in a war and you are fighting about who answers what question. Why do we all just do something productive like, oh, I don't know a camp?"

"Lauren's right. We need to make a clearing and somehow make shelter for all of us."

"And more."

"All right. Karofsky, stay with Sam and help him, Mercedes, Rachel, you stay here too just in case. The others start working on the clearing."

"I ain't taking orders from a unicorn."

"You will if you want to survive this war human. She is practically Kurt's second in command and I would advise you follow her."

"Lauren was it? How do you know off all this?"

"I've been alive for a long time, worked under the Lady Brooke for just as long. I know things. And once Kurt awakens I will have to explain all the smaller details."

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

When Kurt came too his sight was hazy and all was in a blur. He groaned and found himself wrapped practically head to toe in bandages. What was worse he had no idea where he was or how long he was out or who had survived the battle.

Blaine…

His world was sill in a blur when he heard what sounded like a flap opening. He tried to move his head to look in the direction of the sound. He heard a small gasp and some quick motions towards him. "Kurt, you're awake." The voice sounded familiar but he could not place the voice with a face. "Can you see at all?"

"No…" His voice sounded harsh and his throat hurt like it had been set on fire. How long as he been unconscious?

"Okay, just hold on. I think I have something for that." There was some scuffling around in this strange surrounding and Kurt was having a hard time figuring out where exactly he was. His mind was clouded and his senses were weak, almost as if he was only human and not the Mystic that he is.

Blaine…

"Okay Kurt? I'm going to drop something into both of your eyes; do you think you can hold them open for me?" Kurt nodded his head once. Forcing his eyes open he saw a blurry form hold out an arm over his head. Within moments a drop of a burning liquid dropped into his eyes. The shock caused him to slam his eyes shut but he quickly opened them again. This time expecting another drop he held his eyes open as the form put a few drops in one eye and then did the same for the other. "Now blink a few times quickly." Kurt did as he was told and watched as his world slowly became clearer. The form, as it turned out, was none other than Samuel Evans, wearing some dark breeches and a white shirt, smiling down softly at him. "Can you see now?"

"Yes…" Kurt replied looking around. Apparently he was in a tent. A pretty big one at that. Kurt focused in on the material. Mystic hide. Kurt looked back at Sam.

"Good." Sam nodded once pushed himself back a space away from Kurt. In his hands Kurt noticed a small bowl in the half breed's hands.

"What… Is that?" Kurt strained out as his eyes still burned slightly.

"A combination of lime and sesame seed oil. Good for blurry eyes, eye strain and even poor night vision. I suspect that I would have to drop some more of this stuff in your eyes later, or tomorrow even, until you get used to using your eyes again."

"How long was I out?"

Sam chuckled softly. "A good fortnight."

"Two weeks?"

"Yep. Your injuries really caused a lot of blood loss and you had a lot of broken bones and hemorrhaging organs. You just better be glad that because I'm half merman my blood can heal you and that merpeople typically have a universal blood type such as myself. I really saved your ass." The shifter groaned and tried sitting up. "I wouldn't advise that. Not now anyways. You just woke up and you need your strength. What you can do is drink plenty of water and eat a whole hell of a lot of vegetables and fruits. In fact, I'll go get it for you now." Sam half stood half crouched in the tent and was about to leave before he stopped and turned back slightly. "For your sake I'll keep is a secret that you woke up for now. I'll be back in a bit." And with that Sam exited the tent.

Kurt stared up at the Mystic hide tent and exhaled. Two whole weeks he had been out unconscious. What could have happened in those two weeks? The war was obviously still going on but what about the world? Is Doyle—Sarver winning? And what of his friends? Rachel, Mercedes, Wes, Scarlota…

Blaine…

"Oh God of Light…" Kurt moaned. "Blaine…" Tears sprang to his eyes. What happened to his friend his lover? Did Blaine die? "No." Kurt said affirmatively. "He can't be… He just can't…" Kurt swallowed and his throat tightened. Kurt moaned in pain. Kurt shifted trying to find a more comfortable position. It was then that his senses opened up a bit more to realize he was resting on top of a cushiony surface. Kurt turned his head saw a paw. Kurt jumped and then withered in pain causing him to crumple onto of this dead Mystic hide that was serving as some kind of bed cover. Kurt did not even try to see what he was being covered with.

Sam returned a few moments after and rested a plate of assorted fruits and vegetables down besides Kurt and raised a carton up to Kurt's lips. Kurt drank the water, his throat feeling significantly better as the cool liquid passed down it. "You seem pretty spooked Kurt." Sam said softly. "It seems you noticed the Chimera you are resting on as well as the tent made completely of Mystic hide. It is a bit revolting at first but…" The half breed sighed. "You'll have to get used to it. If it makes you feel any better, they are our enemies. We don't do this to anyone on our side."

"Why would we do this at all?" Kurt asked when the water was pulled away from him.

"Materials, Kurt. We're in the middle of the woods. We can't just obtain cloths and tents and such items. We have to make them. The enemy is doing the same thing in some places. But over on the darkness side they use their own kind as well." After a pause Sam continued. "Shows how animalistic they are. They used to have some humanity to them but now… Oh you should see it Kurt. In just two weeks it is like they never had a thought process. They're just cold-blooded killing animals with no morality or anything." Sam slowly lifted Kurt to a slightly more elevated position and then forked some fruit with one of the rare forks they have in camp to the shifter's mouth. Kurt ate the fruit one by one. Thankfully they were all cut into small pieces making it far easier for Kurt to eat them.

The feeding went on in silence until two women entered the tent. "He is awake Rachel." Mercedes said wearing a pretty tattered and dirty dress.

"Kurt." Rachel gasped out as the two women sat on the other side of Kurt. "You're okay."

Sam groaned. "Who told you that he woke up? I am trying to keep him a secret so he doesn't get bombarded with elated followers."

"Pish posh." Rachel said waving him off. "We heard you talking in here and we assumed that Kurt woke up, nothing much."

"And only we know." Mercedes said. "Everyone else is working fixing the camp, or extending it, practicing fighting maneuvers or healing the other injured on the other side of camp."

"And let us leave it that way ladies." Sam said. "I really do not want to stress Kurt more than he is now is that understood?"

"Yes Doctor."

"Doctor?" Kurt asked, a small smile working on his face.

"Yes the Head Doctor at that." Sam said a frown on his face. "And the only one who really knows how to do anything. We have human doctors, two actually, but they don't know nothing about Mystic anatomy and more Mystics come back injured than humans come back alive. I've been trying to teach them but it is completely different. And what's worse yet there's not even one veterinarian to even considerably make a dent in the amount of sick or injured beings."

"Quit complaining Sam." Mercedes said rolling her eyes. "Rachel and I have to cook, clean, heal, plant, harvest, cook and clean again. We have more work compared to you."

"You stop complaining." Sam said giving Kurt another fork full of vegetables.

"Whatever Sam." Rachel then turned her attention to Kurt. "How are you feeling?"

The shifter swallowed. "Good I guess. I'm still in pain whenever I move but at least I'm awake."

"Yes." Rachel agreed. "Poor Scarlota's really taking a heavy blow with all these battles."

"Scarlota? How is she?"

Mercedes sighed. "She's fine but she is extremely tired leading all these battles into Ohio. I mean already there have been about fifteen battles, some in the Mystic Woods, some in Dalton, but all have been more damaging than anything."

Kurt blinked. "Dalton?" Blaine…

"Scarlota saw the need to work from Dalton in to McKinley." Rachel answered. "For you see, Sarver's headquarters is on the McKinley section of the Ohio Beach and that is where most of our enemy is stationed."

"But we have to consider everything around us too. There are fights all over the world and—"

"Enough." Sam said thickly. "Leave the tent now you two. Kurt needs to regain his strength and he will only hear this again with his briefing meeting with Lauren and Scarlota."

"But…" The women called softly.

"Leave." Sam commanded.

"Fine then grouchy. Bye Kurt." Rachel said as she made her leave.

"Good bye Kurt. Hope you feel better soon." Mercedes said as she followed Rachel.

Sam shook his head and groaned. "Those women are always a threat to my patients."

Kurt chuckled brokenly seeing as laughing caused him pain. "Don't be too hard on them Sam. I am their friend too you know."

Sam nodded and gave Kurt some more water seeing as all the food was gone. "Of course General." Kurt raised a brow at the half breed. "Would you like to stay in that position or would you like to be lowered down?"

"This is fine Sam…" Sam nodded and was about to turn to leave when Kurt spoke up again. "Why did you call me General?"

Sam chuckled. "Because you are the General, General. Why else would I call you anything otherwise?" With that Sam left the tent.

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

In a few days Kurt was on his feet being led out of his tent with the help of Sam and Karofsky. "Take it slowly Kurt." Karofsky advised as he wrapped an arm around the Mystic's tiny waist. "They won't start the meeting without you."

"That isn't what I'm worried out Karofsky but thanks anyway for that input."

"Do you have him Dave?" Sam asked as he slowly backed away from Kurt's other side. Karofsky nodded in response and together the three of them walked to the center of the camp where a very primitive wood lodge was built to communicate about plans and other war movements. "I'm going to go give him an entrance." Sam said breaking apart from the two to run ahead.

"Now don't be nervous Kurt. They're all your friends. Except for maybe Lauren."

"Lauren?" Kurt asked.

"Some female vampire that worked in the castle under some woman called Lady Brooke."

"Oh yes… I think I know who you're talking about. White, kind of bigger than most women?"

"Exactly. Have you met her before?"

"Only once before." The two walked into the lodge and Kurt was met with a room filled with his friends, all looking scraggily and dirty and in an overall scale exhausted. He noticed that nearly everyone was there, all of his human friends, and Scarlota, the vampire Lauren, and even Brittany. "Brittany, is that you?"

"Kurt!" Brittany ran up to him and gave him a tight hug.

"Brittany! It hurts!"She released immediately.

"Oh Kurt I missed you! My brother!"

"I missed you too sister." Kurt said, his facial features softening. "You look so beautiful."

"So do you!" Kurt rolled his eyes. He looked anything but. He looked like a mess, and felt like one too. He wore an ensemble much like Sam's and yet despite it being cleaner, being in the Woods surrounded by others who are in such a condition made Kurt feel dirty.

"Can we get this started now?" Lauren asked impatiently. "General, your seat is here." She said patting the only and finest seat in the one room lodge. Karofsky helped Kurt over to his seat and sat him down gently.

"Hello Lauren."

"It's actually Laurisane but everyone else in this forsaken forest calls me Lauren."

Kurt chuckled. "Then I'll see to continue calling you Lauren."

"Thanks…" Lauren said sarcastically. She shrugged and then began the meeting. "This meeting is mainly to allow Kurt to catch up from his two week coma and to know what is happening in the world. Scarlota, begin please."

Scarlota bowed her head slightly. "General, the war has spread throughout the whole world but most of the fighting is not as bad as it is here. In fact here we have the worse battles. We have other Generals out throughout the world constantly sending us information on their battles but only you are our General of the Army. You are the brains behind us. The only problem is because you have not been around we have been finding it hard to get the momentum to spread onto the army. I am hypothesizing that now that you are awake and walking and soon will be able to fight the army's spirits should be lifted and a victory should be in hand soon."

"Scarlota's right." Finn said. "Our plan of action if to go through Dalton first, re-obtain that land before moving on to Lima and finally McKinley where Sarver is stationed."

"Yes I've heard that before." Kurt said. "What I want to know is who is stationed where and what jobs they have."

Puck spoke up first. "Lately most of the humans have been staying here, healing and fixing and such. Only a few humans with the greatest of fighting skill can go out to fight. Mercedes and Rachel here are practically the maids of the camp—"

"Hey!" The two women reacted together.

"Artie here is the lowly trash and random shit transporter—"

"Now wait a moment, I—"

"Tina works with Sam in the infirmary, the human males in here fight, except Artie of course, Brittany does absolutely shit—"

"That is not true, I lift people's spirits. Happiness just doesn't come in a golden sack of glitter."

"I believe that actually made sense Brittany congratulations. Lauren goes out and fights with everyone including Scarlota of course and that's about it."

"Thanks Puck. That was enlightening." Kurt thanked him slowly, not quite sure how to make of it all.

"Other than that we have been fighting constantly." Lauren continued. "The enemy is ruthless and animalistic and there's nothing that seems to stop them. Sarver's tendrils of darkness have also long since passed but not without killing every human they had processed."

"It would seem Sarver is wanting an all Mystic army." Mike inputted. "The humans we have seen that were left alive are slaves and are now being treated the way Mystics used to be just a little over two weeks ago."

"It's justice in a way." Wes mentioned. "A pay back, for how the humans treated the Mystics…"

Kurt shook his head. "It isn't Sarver's sick way of justice. He is trying to take over the world as cliché as it sounds. His overall goal? Exterminate humans and leave Mystics in the wake all under his command. That is all someone like Sarver would plan for."

"And what type of being is Sarver?" Mike asked.

Kurt paused as he thought about the correct answer. "He is a revenge driven being with an addiction to power and a sickness for control."

Wes rubbed his fingers into his eyes and sighed. "This Sarver… We should have just done what you said Kurt a long time ago and told him to get far away."

Kurt stared at the floor before him. "That wouldn't have mattered… It would have still happened but earlier…" Kurt raised his head and looked at those who worked in the Anderson Estate, his eyes landing on Wes last. "And Blaine? What happened to him?"

An eerily silence befell upon the lodge and everyone shifted nervously. Kurt felt his heart start to pound in his chest as he looked around the room, asking, begging, silently for anyone to answer. It was in fact Brittany that answered. "He was taken away over a fortnight ago with Santana and Quinn." She answered her voice remorseful and all traces of a fun loving Brittany gone from her voice. "We haven't heard anything from them… Only the worse could be guessed."

Kurt closed his eyes and sighed. He could not believe it yet… Sarver had killed off all humans under his darkness tendrils, why would he not kill the man who was the lover of his enemy? But with Miss Lopez and Miss Fabray he could not understand. What could those two have done? It was not to exploit them sexually, Sarver himself is a homosexual, Antoni said so himself and Kurt hardly doubts that the vampire had lied about that. The silence had stretched farther and Kurt soon found Scarlota's muzzle brushing up against his arm.

"Kurt? Are you all right?" The unicorn asked him, her eyes shining softly with concern for her General and friend.

"Yes I am fine…" Kurt replied placing a hand on her muzzle. "I just… Cannot bring myself to believe he is dead… Or Santana and Quinn either."

"It is hard." Lauren agreed. "But we are in a war. And if it is true that those three are in fact dead, we cannot spend time in mourning. When we win, and we will Kurt, then we will mourn."

"Lauren!" Rachel exclaimed. "Blaine is Kurt's lover! You can't possibly—"

"And Santana and Quinn!" Mercedes interrupted. "They weren't the nicest of women but they're still friends!"

"Why don't you human females grow some balls? We are in a war!" The female vampire retaliated.

"You tell them Lauren!" Puck cheered.

"Puckerman you stay out of this!" Rachel yelled at him.

"What'd you tell me Berry?"

Finn stepped before Puck. "Now Puck that's my fiancé you're talking to."

"You don't honestly think that in this war relationships even matter?"

"What are you saying Puckerman!" Mercedes screeched.

The lodge erupted into chaos, Sam, Karofsky, Scarlota and Kurt being the only ones quiet and calm, the three surrounding Kurt in an almost protective barrier away from the chaos. Kurt shook his head and slowly stood shrugging off Sam's helping hand. "Quiet all of you…" Kurt mumbled as he stared down to the floor. Being unheard the commotion continued. "Quiet." He repeated louder his head looking back up at the others. The shifter breathed in deeply, aggravation, annoyance and a slight undertone of depression fueling his next movements. "I said… QUIET!" The others stopped instantly and froze in place. "Lauren is right. Now's not the time for mourning or stupid little fights like this. We are in a war with a son of a God. Right now he is the strongest creature on Earth and I need all of you to be working together to help me stop him do I make myself clear?"

"Yes General." The room answered back naturally.

"Now I'm not well equipped for being a General but I'll try. I read Contes de la Gran Guerra, I have some sort of understanding for wartime and how to lead but it will be a learning process for me just how it will be a learning process for all of us to fully adapt to wartime life. As a last note this meeting is adjourned. I've heard enough."

"Yes General." The room replied and slowly everyone exited the lodge, all except Karofsky, Sam, Scarlota, Lauren, Puck and of course Kurt.

"General, if you do not mind me saying something." Lauren drawled out slowly.

"Go ahead Lauren."

She bowed her head. "Know that this will be the only compliment I will ever give you but… For a being who says it will be a learning process, I believe I have just seen the great General portrayed in the prophesy."

The shifter smiled softly at the vampire. "Thank you Lauren." Once again she bowed her head and both she and Puck left the lodge. "So what now?" Kurt asked looking back at the three beings remaining.

"I have to go back to work. I still have some beings to heal." Sam answered.

"I have hunting duty." Karofsky replied.

Scarlota let out a breath. "I will nap. I am extremely tired."

Kurt chuckled. "All right then. Go on you three."

"And what about you Kurt?"

"I'm going to take a short walk and then maybe take a nap as well."

"All right just don't push yourself too much. You're still weak. Doctor's orders." Sam ordered.

Kurt nodded in reply and walked out with his friends, parting ways to walk deeper into the Mystic Woods and farther away from camp. Kurt sighed and rubbed his arms with his hands. "Oh Blaine… I do hope you're not dead… I promise I'll find you… Or at least find out what happened to you. Just please… Please don't be dead."

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

Meanwhile on the beach in McKinley, Sarver is foreseeing the construction of his fortress. "This will be a marvelous castle once it is completed Lady Brooke." He mused looking beside him to look at Lady Brooke. He wore the clothing of a prince and she looked much like a peasant girl on the streets, her long hair wrapped in a big and messy bun hanging on her neck.

"What I do not understand Sarver," she began, "is that there is a perfectly good castle in Lima and yet you build your own and not destroy Castle Brookenshon."

"It is simple Milady." Sarver replied. "This castle symbolizes my dominance over Ohio, over you and your General, wherever the weakling may be hiding in the Woods. And the reason why I am not destroying your old castle is that it will remain as yet another symbol as my dominance. Either way it is half destroyed already and I see no need to touch that spot where my uncle once lived and called his home." Sarver shuddered at the memory of being inside the castle. "What a horrible sense of Light there was in that forsaken building."

"Then why not destroy it?"

Sarver chuckled. "It does sound as if you want your home destroyed Milady."

"Of course not. I am only trying to understand the monster behind all this."

Sarver chuckled again. "I am afraid I am very hard to understand Milady." He turned and took her arm in his hand. "But if I were you, I would be grateful to me for sparing your, very long, lifelong home Milady."

"Master Sarver." Antoni said quickly as he materialized before the two. He bowed quickly. "The General of the Alliance has been spotted by one of our spies in the Woods. He seems to be growing in strength and his army in confidence now that he is up and running once more."

"Oh is that so?"

"Yes sir. Shall I give the order to attack the camp?"

Sarver breathed in and thought for a moment. "No. Let him regain his strength. It is so boring fighting his army without him. No, give them a chance to gain some power under their belts."

"Yes sir." The vampire saluted as he turned to leave.

"Oh and Antoni, before you leave, could you check up on the prisoners and ask if they are willing to cooperate yet."

"Yes sir." Antoni disappeared instantly and Lady Brooke turned to Sarver.

"The Alliance? Isn't that—"

"The name of the group resisting the control of my father all those years ago? Yes it is. And my dear we are the the Resistance."

"Because you are resisting the natural equality and balance of nature am I correct?"

"Spot on my dear."

She sighed and watched as the first tower was put on and was starting to be welded onto a cliff that Sarver had created by taking advantage of the Mystics with the ability to move earth. "You will never win. Light will always prevail."

"We will see about that Lady Brooke. For now let us move closer shall we? I want a better look at the progress of my castle."

So that was chapter 19, kind of a filler until the next chapter which is mainly war stuff and a adequately significant time skip. Sorry it took a while. I had a five day weekend and I didn't really get to use it writing until now at 2 in the morning. So anyways…

PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW!

Next chapter mini summary: The Second Great War has been going on for five long and grueling years. The Alliance have been able to push back the Resistance into McKinley and the progress in Ohio is being reflected upon the world. Now on the eve of the first battle of war, Kurt plans to infiltrate Sarver's castle and rescue the Lady Brooke, he finally accepting the proclaimed death of Blaine. Will he and his selected infantry survive the invasion and what secrets with the General of the Alliance discover within the Dark Castle?