This chapter is smaller than what I originally planned. I actually had two more scenes thought out, but I just couldn't think of how to smooth it over perfectly. This particular chapter has set up a lot of my twists and turns in the plot. I'm very happy to finally write it. I'd left Merle alone for faaaar too long. She's a very important piece, so it's good to get her moving once more on the board. Again, if you see any mistakes, let me know pronto! I'll fix them as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading! As usual, I'll write more later. I'll be at the bottom of the chapter waiting for the collective gasps. ;)
Several long rows of dark wooden bookshelves were crammed full of various leather hardback books and tattered scrolls. The musty smell of rawhide and dust filtered through the air. Standing at the large open doorway, Merle breathed in the unfamiliar scent and wrinkled her sensitive nose. She didn't think she'd ever get used to this weird, old smell. She'd never been around so many books before. In fact, she couldn't remember if the castle in Zaibach's capital even had such a place. It probably did. She just never bothered to look for it. She was always with Master Folken when she went to the capital to see the Emperor. Master only stopped there for orders.
Following behind the blond boy into the room, she felt a rush of irritation as Chid's pale arm shot out and blocked her.
"Wait here! I'll come get you when I find it again!" She watched him run and dive behind a row of lined bookcases further back in the library.
"Don't run in the library, Schezar!" a wizened voice groaned from the corner. "I tell you every time, you little ruffian!"
Chid peeked out from the side and grinned at the frowning man. "Sorry, Boutoc."
Merle glanced at the old librarian bent at his small desk and caught his dull, twitching eyes. "And don't you go clawing anything with them sharp nails o' yours!" He croaked at her with a wagging, aged, white furred finger. "Hadn't seen one as young as you for a decade. I hope your elders taught you how little kittens are supposed to behave. Especially to the People of the Fields." His large round ears trembled and he gritted his teeth.
"Your Clan is called Rodent Clan, not People of the Fields." The blond boy smirked. His blue eyes went wide as a quill sailed through the air in his direction. He ducked just in time and the writing instrument hit against the back shelf and clattered to the floor.
"Mind your manners!" The old mouse scowled. "No loud noises in the library!"
The boy disappeared and Merle ignored the grumbling librarian.
Though she'd been in the Fanelian library several times since she'd met Chid, she'd always been treated with a bit of hostility by the aged mouse. He mostly demanded she never touch the back hanging tapestries or any other decorative paraphilia lying around. He seemed to have a problem with cats.
She'd hardly given the décor any attention. Standing with a clawed hand on her cocked hip, she let her dark eyes travel around the large room. The mid-morning sun struggled to shine through the thick window panes of tall, stained-glassed windows that lined the huge stone walls. The various patterns of glass spread incandescent arrays of color on the eastern walls of the huge rectangular library. Three massive tapestries hung from ceiling to floor in the back of the room. Two of the bigger art pieces depicted large robotic forms with blurred scenes of war in the background. The far left was of a white mecha and a deep red cape. Red, orange and blue flames encased the white Melef. The middle tapestry had a startlingly gold mecha with various shades of blue water surrounding it. The woven threads on this one seemed to shimmer with a mysterious magic. Merle's sharp, dark gaze flicked easily over the first two until it landed on the far right tapestry.
This one was different. While the others were more prominent with torches lighting up their beautiful features, this one looked shadowed; almost abandoned. It still featured a mecha, but the Melef was kneeling while the white and gold stood straight and tall. Strange lavender armor and a crudely woven green jewel gave the impression the artist had hardly put any heart into it. Even the background was a hazy gray.
She felt a strange sense of pity and understanding for the tapestry wash over her. Was it forgotten? Was it lost? Was it not also a Guymelef and therefore here to save its country? Why hang it here if it wasn't as bright and colorful as the others? Why give it that kind of mocking showcase?
A sudden longing for her Master made Merle close her eyes and cut her vision away from the pathetic tapestry. Why am I in here? She clenched her furry fists to her side in frustration. I don't have time to play around and look at art! Today is the day they are awakening the white and gold! I need to be there! Master Folken told me to destroy them. Against her will, she opened her eyes and looked back at the purple tapestry. Even this poor thing will have to go. No, no, no, she inhaled deeply and tried to relax her stiff, irritated pose. I will destroy them later. I need to keep up appearances. I can't give myself away. Not when I'm so close. And if that means looking up silly information with this over-excited child, then it's something I have to do. I'll see if I can escape tonight. But not now. Just wait. Keep calm. She inwardly scowled at the tapestry. I should have completed my mission before any of this happened. I should have never stuck around for the cremation of that man's remains. I should have done it as soon as I escaped the dungeon. As soon as I… I… Her heart began to beat quicker and the darkness of the tapestry seemed to call her to a memory she would never forget. The stinging smell of burnt hair singed her nostrils. The smell, the memories, the revulsion of flames licking black cat fur...
The low warm voice of her Master floated with the repulsive odor "It is the Guymelefs, my pet. The Guymelefs are their true source. Once the Melefs are destroyed, there is no more power. Do you understand your assignment now?"
"Master Folken…" she murmured swallowing down the tense feeling in her throat. I'll do it tonight. I have to get out of here. I'll destroy the Melefs tonight. She turned her eyes away from the purple tapestry and swallowed the tense feeling in her stomach.
"This is the section I was telling you about the other day!" A small boy's voice echoed from somewhere far away in the spacious room. Her right ear twitched and she turned to see a blond head peep around the huge bookcase at the back right. Chid grinned at her and began strolling proudly back to where she stood. She noticed he'd somehow removed his green jacket and shoes. "The various Clans have been categorized in alphabetical order further back. I knew it was on this side somewhere. Sorry it took several days to find it. This place is huge." He stopped in front of her and his tilted his head in concern. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to cry."
"I'm fine." Merle smiled brightly to counter his concern. "The dust is getting to my nose. Kitsune's have very fine noses."
"So do the Canine Clan!" Chid said brightly and the pink-haired girl felt her stomach tighten. After the Melefs, the Canines will be the next to go.
"Come on! The Kitsune Clan's history is back here. Most of them are in scrolls, so it might be hard to figure out dates and an appropriate timeline, but don't you worry! I love studying this stuff!"
He grabbed her orange hand and tugged her further into the library.
Yukari rolled her brown eyes for what must have been the twelfth time and braced her elbow on the armrest attached to the locked door. Listening to the fully petticoated Clara let out another squeal of excitement; she snorted and proceeded to scowl at the beautifully manicured lawns of the prestigious houses rocking by. Auntie Olive's house was somewhere on this street. For once, Yukari was happy to be in Gutte. Now she'd finally be able to get away from her irritating sister. If anything, this journey had been a test on her patience. Needless to say, she hadn't passed with flying colors on that particular regard.
"I hope we go shopping immediately with Auntie Olive! I've noticed that the girls here have a thick ribbon tied around their waists. It's so cute! I can't believe I never thought about doing that! But this is Gutte, so I shouldn't be surprised. So much fashion here! I don't want to leave in a month!" A large bump rocked the carriage, Clara let out a little squeal. "If only this silly driver wouldn't aim for every single pothole in the road!"
"Aside from those troublesome potholes, you should just stay here forever." Yukari mumbled to the window.
Clara turned her bright eyes to her sister and sighed. "I would if I could, but Amano is back at home. I'm sure I can convince him to move here once we get married. Then my life would be complete."
Yukari let out a laugh. Turning from the window she shot her sister a disbelieving look. "What makes you think he has any time for marriage? He's training for command. And there's the matter of his missing sister, Hitomi. He hasn't really gotten over that."
"Step-sister," the beautiful girl clarified. "She wasn't even his real family. Trust me, he's already forgotten all about her."
"Don't be full of it. She isn'this immediate family, but she's the only one he has left. That counts for something."
"You seem so sure she's alive."
"You seem so sure she isn't."
"She's been missing for over two month now. Don't be a fool." Clara hissed.
Yukari shot her sister a glare. "She isn't dead!"
"Oh really? How do you know?"
Yukari paused. Clara was definitely not the first one she wanted to tell Grison's secret to. "Because I am… her friend. I can just tell."
Clara sneered. "What a lame thing to say. Even if you were her friend, that doesn't mean you can latch on to Amano like he's yours."
"And what makes him your property, then?" Yukari shot back.
The beautiful girl glanced down at her sky blue dress and then flicked her dark eyes over Yukari's simple brown frock. "Duh."
Yukari glared "So, you dress better than me and you're prettier than me and more popular than me. That doesn't mean you understand a thing about him. Have you even tried thinking how he feels on the inside? He's putting on a show for everybody. You're just too full of yourself to realize."
"No, he isn't. He's fine." The blue girl crossed her arms over her bulky dress and cocked her head angrily.
"You think you are so great, Clara, but you are the biggest bimbo I've ever known. Dragging me here was a big mistake. You don't understand anything."
"You are just jealous because he obviously likes me more than you. And his sister is gone. Get over it! It is a shame that the only person who was willing to roll in the dirt with you like a beast had to die, but that's life! In fact, since you are so convinced she's alive, I bet she ran off with some loser and is having the time of her life acting like a savage!"
Yukari was shocked. "Clara!"
"Get over yourself and your self-righteous, know-it-all attitude. You know as well as I do if someone turns up missing in Castra, they are either white bone in the desert or on the run to the capital. You might have found her if we'd stopped there on our way to Gutte. Then you'd have your mud pal again." The dark-headed girl tossed her curled hair and looked out the window. "But seriously, Amano is better without her. He has me now. I'll take care of him."
"You're an idiot, Clara." Yukari murmured through gritted teeth. Brown eyes narrowing in fury, she turned back to the window.
Even if you are kind of right on some things…
The plains around the outskirts of Escadalette were marvelous. The green grass swayed gently with a constant refreshing breeze. The blue sky was filled with white puffy clouds that looked solid enough to lie on. Small animals living in the vast stretches of green peacefully crawled, hopped, and slithered to their various destinations. Several perked as the sound of heavy hoof falls began to increasingly tremble the ground. As the sound grew louder, many scampered out of the way for a huge stampeding, shimmering horse followed quickly by a midnight black.
Hitomi's heart soared as her horse raced with long legs stretching for each passing yard. It had been a while since she'd ridden like this with Rederic. Glancing behind her, she smirked at the black-haired man following closely behind her. He was urging his horse, but the black animal couldn't seem to keep up with Rederic's speed. "Slow down already!" She heard Van call to her through the thundering hoofs pounding on the dirt ground. Sighing, she gently tugged Rederic's sleek mane and her horse complied with a disappointed snort. She opted for an easy lope which allowed the Fanelian king to effortlessly catch up with her. He pulled up to her left, his white scaled armor squeaking just as much as hers. His black cape flapped happily behind him with the brilliant wind, clearly just as joyful as she was.
"If you were trying to get rid of the Council members, I think you succeeded." He panted. "Trying to run away already?"
"If I was, it looks like you caught me." She giggled and patted her grunting horse. "You have to admit, that was pretty fun. I haven't ridden full speed in weeks!" Turning to grin at him, the redhead burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked with a sulking expression. Some of his wild dark hair had started escaping from its smoothed place on his head and trailed slightly on the sides of his face. Van's black horse was puffing its nostrils, clearly not amused at this unexpected race. She slowed Rederic further to a trot and she both heard and felt the glimmering horse knicker in discontentment. He still wanted to run.
The black-haired man's face switched to visible annoyance. She snorted another laugh.
"I asked what was so funny."
"It's not really that funny! But I can't help it!" she giggled. "Your face…"
"What's wrong with my face?"
"You look so mad!" she announced and peals of laughter broke out of her. Van let go of his horse's mane and crossed his white armored arms with a disappointed look. He kept his balance with his knees. This particular pose only proved to make things worse. She ducked her head and took a deep breath to stop the bubble of laughter building in her chest. He cocked an eyebrow at her and she was gone again.
"You're still laughing at me!" He said with exasperation. Despite his obvious irritation, she could see the twinkle of mirth growing behind his mahogany eyes. He uncrossed his arms and held back on to the ebony mane.
"No, I'm… I'm not! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll try… to stop."
"Is this just another attempt at avoiding the subject?" Van playfully scowled at her. "You need to answer me."
She inhaled deeply and smiled innocently. "I seemed to have forgotten. What was it again?"
Van rolled his eyes. "You were in the process of translating that mumbled sentence you gave to me earlier. I have grown quite curious since you keep blushing and mumbling." He guided his dark horse a little closer to hers with one knock of his left knee. She felt her face grow hot, but she stared straight into his tan, expecting face.
He wants to play this game? Well, I can play it too.
"You know what? I don't think I want to tell you." She grinned at him. His face dropped and his horse blew out its lips again.
"What? Why?"
What? Why? This was just getting good!
"I actually was considering something else. I want to make a deal."
Van sat back and frowned. "A deal?"
Blinking innocently at him, she let her smile grow wider. "Yes, a deal. During the Trials, if I defeat all of your Vehotus and make my way to battling you, then I don't have to say a word about that night. But if I get knocked down by any one of them, I'll tell you anything and everything you want to know. So you better get them ready to face me if you want your answer."
The king sighed and his loose bangs brushed against his tan forehead. "Why won't you just tell me right now? It's not that big of a deal, right?"
Hitomi smiled and shrugged, but knew her face was still a little red. She felt an odd balance of power shift to her side. Let him wonder. She thought evilly.
"But it's obviously a very big deal for you if you are even willing to make a silly deal in order to not tell me." Van squared his jaw and straightened his back. Hitomi instantly recognized his regal stature.
He's about to get political with this. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…
This is so exciting! The green-eyed girl felt Rutilus stir eagerly in her head. I'm going to miss being in your brain.
His mahogany eyes sparkled with a strange mischief. Lifting the corner of his lips in a small smirk, he raised a hand and smoothed back his loose bangs. His black cloak immediately settled over the rump of his ebony horse and remained still even though the wind was blowing against them. It seemed to be waiting for something. "You want a deal? How about we make things interesting."
Interesting?
Oooo… what's he going to do…?
His eyes brightened. To her surprise, his tan face turned slightly pink and his gloved fingers began to nervously twist with his horse's mane. "I have something I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't had the time to really ask it. This is the first time I've been able to actually talk to you one on one since the pre-trial examination."
"You have something you've wanted to ask me?" Hitomi repeated bewildered. "What is it?"
Van smirked widened. "How about during the Trials, if you knock me down even once, then I'll ask my question. But if I knock you two-out-of-three, you have to tell me every single word that was said in Hospesland."
"This is your deal?" Hitomi asked with a frown. "Just a simple question?"
He grinned. "Yep."
"I don't understand. Why don't you just ask now?"
"Then can you tell me what you said?"
The redhead shook her head immediately.
Van shrugged. "Then I guess you'll just have to train harder to get it."
"But it's just a simple question! Can't you tell me what kind of question?"
Van's impish smile made her mind race with both irritation and happiness at the same time.
"Come on; at least tell me if it's a yes or no question. Is it something I'll have to answer in full detail? What if I don't know the answer? There are a lot of things I'm still figuring out about this country. What if the question you ask doesn't make any sense? And what's the point in waiting for the trials anyways if it's just a question? Oh, can't I get any hint at all?"
Van laughed at her and she immediately knew how he felt earlier when she'd laughed at him. Slowly, the balance of power that had felt so strongly on her side began to shift his direction. She couldn't help but find him exasperatingly adorable
Oh, he's good! I can already see you are going to go crazy with curiosity.
Not now, Rutilus.
"So, if I lose the two-out-of-three match, I have to tell you what I said to the guard at Hospesland. But if you get knocked down once, you get to ask a simple question. What? You don't think I can knock you down twice?"
"Never in a million years." He snorted.
You're right. He's good. Can't you read his mind or something?
That's cheating!
So? It's never stopped you before!
I can't get in his head! I'm already in yours! Besides, you're the one who won't answer his question. You started it. Maybe if you just told him, he'll ask.
No way!
"What does Rutilus Flumen say on the subject?" Van asked studying her expression.
Hitomi's mouth opened slightly. Looking away, she tried to fight against a smile. "She likes you."
The king grinned and his dark eyebrows raised a fraction. "I'm glad she does, but you seem to have problems fully answering my questions. I asked what Rutilus Flumen thought about our deal."
Do what you want, Hitomi. Just make sure to tell me EVERY SINGLE DETAIL after, understand me?
Turning back to him, she lifted a hand. He immediately reached up and grabbed her palm in a firm shake.
"Deal."
"Here it is!" Chid exclaimed loudly from three rows down. His blond head leaned around the bookcase and he waved a small leather book proudly in his young hand. "Come on over here, Merle."
Merle winced as his echoing voice bounced off the tall stone walls of the library. She'd left all the fun research to the kid. She couldn't even read the Fanelian language, so she didn't see the point in sticking around his slowly growing tower of books. Master had thought it necessary for her to speak the language, not read it. She'd spent most of her days with Master training and honing her Clan's natural mental talents. She'd never had time for such schooling anyway.
For the last several hours - while her young friend trailed his finger over mysterious characters written on a loose parchments and books of sort - the pink-haired kitten had walked the bookshelves before coming face to face with the purple tapestry once more. Merle stared up at the purple Guymelef that hung in its lonely corner against the back wall. Now that the sun was high in the sky, the shadows had somehow grown deeper from the stain glass windows. Up close, it was even more depressing than she realized. The position of the lavender mecha's frame looked like it was kneeling in submission; unworthy, alone, unwanted…
"Are you interested in Flower?" Chid asked. Merle turned her dark eyes to him in confusion.
"Flower?"
"Flower is the lavender Guymelef. The legend of Flower is that she loved Rutilus Flumen so much that when the Golden River broke away from her River and became a Guymelef, Flower's spirit followed her. It became a Melef just like them. Flower wasn't the only one to follow that way, but it's the only one we've got besides the River and Escaflowne."
Merle's dark eyes swiveled back to the tapestry. "What happened to the other spirits?" She asked quietly.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to look it up. Though Flower is with us, it refuses to acknowledge a Pilot until both Escaflowne and Rutilus Flumen have found their Pilots." His young face turned excited. "I can't believe that's happening today. I begged my brother to go to the temple, but he said only Vehotus and Council members could be present. It stinks being so young all the time. Maybe Flower will choose me, huh?"
The pink kitten glanced at him. "Where is this temple?"
"Several miles past the Southern Gate. It has its own settlement. Only the silent priests can enter the main temple besides the two Pilots. The priests actually live there. They grow food on their own farms."
"They are silent?"
Chid nodded. "Like the grave. I'm not sure why they take the vow of silence. I'll have to look that up."
Merle sighed. "Sounds lonely."
The boy shrugged. "They are there to take care of the Temple of Guymelefs. That's their job."
"Where is this Guymelef located? With the other two?" She gestured at the bigger tapestries. Chid gave her a thoughtful expression.
"Kind of. I think it's inside the temple, but not in the same chamber. A book told me that it kneels in a smaller chamber that branch off the long hallway." Chid scratched his arm. "I'm not sure if they've moved it since then. Not many stories are told about Flower. Anyways, come over here! I want to show you what I've found!"
Turning to Chid, she obediently walked closer to him. "How do they choose who Pilots Flower?"
"I think it chooses the person. I'm not sure how they present the people to it though. But I guess we'll find out soon since Rutilus and Escaflowne are finally being awakened. But enough about Guymelefs. I was so surprised you didn't seem to know anything at all about your own history or culture. I've read a lot about the multi-cultured people in Fanelia."
"Well, aren't you a smarty-pants..." Merle murmured. "Why would I want to know anything about it? They're dead and scattered. It makes no difference."
"It's always important to know where you come from." The boy announced with a know-it-all attitude that Merle found very irritating. She rounded the bookcase and noticed the tower of books had grown substantially since she'd left to look at the tapestry. How long was I staring at it? She wondered briefly.
Chid was still talking enthusiastically. "For example, I found out my ancestors were originally overseas. We arrived here from somewhere across the Yawning Channel and settled on the base of the plains on the southern tip of the continent. Just looking the map got me thinking about the various land shapes around the world. The north of Antica slightly resembles the bottom of our continent on some accounts. Wouldn't it be fascinating if all the land on Gaea was at one time connected? And it broke away after a huge earthquake ripped them apart? Or maybe an asteroid or-"
Merle rolled her eyes and interrupted the boy. "You were going to tell me something…?"
"OH!" Chid slapped his forehead with his free hand and immediately sat down on the stone floor. The kitten folded her legs beside him. He propped open the small leather book between the both of them and said, "This was a recent publication of the first attacks from Zaibach which started around Fourteenth Moon Cycle 2679. Did you know Zaibach is actually a new country? It was founded under their current Emperor about forty years or so. That means after the Moloca Wars with the First Pilot, Zaibach was a supreme power only less than half a century later. I wonder how they did it. There was an established small city in the far north, but it was mostly a merchant trading center. According to another text, the northern lands have always been a deserted wasteland. Curious, isn't it? They are flourishing, too. They obviously have a brilliant army and the resources to support them. I don't know why they are all red-headed. That is a strange trait. But anyways, the northern attacks began from the north-western region before they began to hit Fanelia directly." The boy trailed off, dragging his finger over the text. Merle tilted her pink head with annoyance.
"You were supposed to be telling me about my Clan, not about Zaibach." She said dully. "Who cares about the northern attacks?"
"What do you mean, 'who cares'?" Chid frowned at her. "It has everything to do with the northern attacks." He closed the small book, put it behind him and leaned over to yank a large open book towards him. "We might need to start with this one first. I've found it to be a pretty decent account of your people." He slid the book closer to her and she shook her pink head.
"I can't read Fanelian."
The blond boy blinked. "Why didn't you tell me? Here, I'll read it for you." He moved so that he could trail his small finger over the strange words. Merle rolled her eyes, but listened.
"In the Eighteenth Moon Cycle 1654, the largest settlement of Kitsune Clan was finally established along the northern border of the Western Wildlands. They remained neutral during the Seven Hundred Years War, also known as The Battle for Guymelefs. Having no written language of their own, it is only speculated how their culture thrived during the next several centuries. Several reports over the generations documented seeing small communities of kitsunes gathering as far as the Distant West Swamp to hunt. The next note of Kitsune came from the Scroll of Two Claws, which mentioned The Seven Hundred Years War spreading further into their territory. Naria, Kitsune's leader and mental specialist at the time, moved her people closer to the edge of what is now known as Fanelia. There, she signed a contract with Prelen Fanel which became known as the Compromise of the Whiskers Tenth Moon Cycle 2015."
"Compromise of the Whiskers?" Merle cocked an eyebrow and Chid snorted a laugh.
"I guess they had a sense of humor back then." Clearing his throat, the boy kept reading. "This contract allowed the Kitsunes to live on Fanelia's northwestern border, but they paid the harvesting tax. As long as the Rodent Clan was left alone, they could thrive as an independent Clan. They demanded neutrality during the War of Long Ears as well as The Ten Day Battle of Flying Fur. Fanelia, gaining reputation as being a great negotiator between the Clans, slowly gathered the warring Clans peacefully to their lands."
Chid closed the large book with a resounding thump and shoved it away on the floor. The pink-haired kitten frowned thoughtfully.
"So, my people were peaceful?"
The blond grinned at her. "As peaceful as a Clan could be. I have found some records dating skirmishes with the Rodent Clan, but those were quickly settled. Apparently the temptation to chase mice was too much for some of your ancestors."
She smiled. "That's why Boutoc doesn't care for me."
"He doesn't like anyone." The blond boy grinned as he pulled the smaller book back out and began thumbing through the pages. "Are you tempted to chase him? It'd make sense if you were."
"Maybe," she murmured, lifting a hand and letting her claws extend slightly from her fingers.
Chid glanced his blue eyes at her and shook his head. "Don't even think about it. I like this library and I don't want to be kicked out because you have a strange feline fetish." He moved his finger over the page and clicked his tongue. "It should be in this chapter. The Kitsune Clan was one of the first attacked."
"What do you mean?" Merle asked, looking at her upraised paw. She wondered if it would be considered a 'feline fetish' if she licked the orange fur on her arm back into place. "By the Canine Clan?"
Chid gave her a strange look. "What are you talking about? The Kitsune and Canine have never attacked each other. Even in the small skirmishes. This might be hard to hear since you don't know very much about your own people, but the Kitsune's settlement was destroyed in a single night by Zaibach. The Canine Clan was the main force that drove the Zaibach back. Only a handful of Kitsune survived the slaughter. The remaining few finally discarded their neutrality and joined Fanelia's ranks in battle. Ah! Here it is! Listen to this."
Merle's tongue had frozen over her arm. Her dark eyes were wide. Slowly, she lowered her hand to her lap and stared at Chid. He began reading, not looking at her.
"On the eve of Thirteenth Moon Cycle 2679 – sorry, I'd said 'fourteenth' earlier – Zaibach began the war with sending a small special trained force to the northwestern part of Fanelia. Whether the Kitsune Clan was targeted by Zaibach remains to be discovered. The few surviving Kitsune described how red-haired men bearing the sigil of a white tree seemed to appear out of no where. Zaibach set ablaze the Kitsune Clan's homes and violently razed the settlement. The Cats were taken completely by surprise. The mental talents of the Kitsune were no match for the brutal slaughtering. Several of the countering Fanelian soldiers and Canine Clan stated how they'd seen a silver monster rip four Kitsune brothers apart. It is known Folken, the Commanding General of the Zaibach Army, was present in the attack-"
Her brain felt hot. What was he saying? What could he be talking about? He isn't making any sense.
He's lying.
"Liar." She said quietly.
His blue eyes left the page and he frowned at her. "I'm not lying. It says it right here in the book. I was also told by-"
"Fanelia is nothing but a country full of liars." She whispered. Her mind was swirling. The burning, the fire, her Master's comforting arms taking her from her burning home. "Master told me you are nothing but liars. I have been deceived this entire time."
"Deceived? Who is deceiving you?" Chid asked bewildered. "I don't understand what you are talking about, Merle!"
"I will not believe it... I cannot believe my Master was the one who... the one who... You are all lying... It's all a lie..." Her dark eyes trailed from the bookshelf in front of her to the baffled boy beside her. "You are nothing but liars. The Canine killed my Clan. The Canine did it." Unexplained shivers made her fur stand up on her arms. She knew she was sweating. The heat in her head pounded with a sharp throbbing ache. "Master told me that Fanelia was to blame. Master loves me. He'd never hurt me. He'd never lie…" She watched as Chid's expression changed from complete confusion to alarm. She smelled the sharp scent of fear coming from him. Her claws extended on reflex. Her dark eyes narrowed and she gave him a hunter's smile. "Fanelia is wrong. It's all wrong." Hissing with pain, she grabbed her pink head and her sharp claws poked into her scalp. She didn't feel the blood weeping from the punctures on her face.
"Merle?" He asked, his young voice trembling. The book dropped from his lap as he slowly began to scoot away from her on the floor. "What's happened to you?! I don't understand! I didn't lie about anything!"
"LIAR!" She roared at the blond boy. His bright blue eyes began to cry and he backed further away. A flicker of sadness washed through her. She'd like Chid for the most part. He was kind to her. He was a bit nerdy, but he was kind. The people here were kind.
And he was a liar. They all were liars!
"What did I say about yelling?" A crooked figure shuffled into view from the far side of the bookcase. Merle's attention focused on the librarian and her shoulders immediately shifted into a tigerish pounce. With a low squeak, Boutoc backed away as fast as his wizened legs would allow. Chid watched Merle's pink head tilt slightly and the old mouse fell to the floor in spasms.
"Master Folken would never hurt me. Master Folken loves me."
Chid gasped, "You're from Zaibach? You... you... why, Merle?"
"That doesn't matter anymore." Merle hissed. Straightening her back, she stood over his small crouching form.
"Goodbye."
Through his terror, he saw her dark eyes stare into his. From the pools of her black eyes, an ebony darkness began to swirl over his vision.
He cried out only one more time.
And then he knew no more.
Annnd once again I end a chapter feeling bad. I missed having cliffhangers. They are surprisingly horrible and fun at the same time.
Well, a little update on my life, I've been searching for a new job as well as still working at my other one as well as painting and writing. It's been an insane week! Btw, Happy Easter and April Fools (yesterday!)! I wasn't tricked by anyone! I love it when I get through a April Fools without being proved I'm a gullible idiot.
This chapter is brought to you by Clipping by MuteMath. I freakin love that song!
I wanted to talk about Flower because I really hadn't mentioned it much. Also, sorry for the history lesson. Chid tapped into my inner historian. What will happen? What will Merle do? What is the question Van wants to ask Hitomi? Will she ever spill her guts about what she said in Hospesland? Will I ever get to the part where Rutilus is awaken? All these questions and more will probably - but not promising anything - be answered next time on... The Awakening of Rutilus Flumen! *insert Dragonball Z outro*
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