RainyDayReading342: Wow! Cliffhanger for how the battle is about to begin...

KGWingfeatherFan:!

I. Need. More. Now.
I like that username! Good job and I'm glad you like my idea. :)

A/N: I don't know why, I just love to write out cliffhangers.

I don't like it when I have to read the cliffhanger though...

Within seconds, it was a blur of fur, scales, fangs, claws, and clashing metal.

Janner tried to get his bearings, and compose himself to fight. But for some reason, he was hit with a panic attack.

Of all times.

Janner felt like he was getting hit with a claustrophobic panic attack, because of how many bodies surrounded him.

Get over it, he thought to himself.

He shook his head, and joined the fighting.

"What's happening?" Nia asked.

Sara, who had just arrived back at the safe room, sighed.

She had been in the castle, looking out windows, trying to catch what was happening.

"The Fangs have attacked." She said, her voice cracking.

Janner was out there.

"We need to get out of here." Leeli said, stamping her crutch on the floor. "I've survived 3 battles in my life. And that was in the heat of the battle. I'm sure we'll be fine if we stay in the castle, away from the fighting. I don't even know why we're in here."

Nia sighed. "Leeli..."

"I agree with her." Arundelle said.

"So do I." Sara agreed.

Nia sighed. "But there's fighting out there. We should stay safe."

"We'll be perfectly safe out there." Leeli argued. "Even if there's no castle guards, we all still know how to use a weapon."

Nia sighed yet again. "Fine." She said after a moment. "But we all stay together."

Leeli nodded her head as they all filed out of the room.

"Kalmar!" Janner called over the fighting.

"Kalmar Wingfeather!"

He had been searching for his brother, in the midst of the battle. Already having dusted 12 Fangs, he was tired out.

Don't give up.

"Kalmar-!"

Janner stopped his talking as he spotted his brother, in combat with a rather large Grey Fang. Kal looked like he was tired, but the Fang could go on all day fighting like that.

Janner rushed over to his brother, and quickly stabbed the Fang in the back, dusting it quickly.

"Thanks." Kal said, spinning around to confront another Fang.

Then a cry from an Annieran stopped everyone, even the Fangs.

"It's the Stonekeeper!"

"Uh, where should we go?" Leeli asked.

"We could go to the weapons room." Sara offered.

Nia nodded her head. "I agree."

"That makes sense, I guess." Leeli said quietly.

Sara knew she was thinking about her brothers, and uncle.

Everyone was thinking about them.

They were all worried about them, and hoped and prayed that they wouldn't get hurt.

"Alright, now what?" Nia asked once they reached the room.

"We get our weapons." Little Madya said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"You know," Arundelle started. "Neither I nor your father has this much snarkiness, or sarcasm, so I wonder where you got it from."

Madya shrugged while Nia laughed.

"Leeli was the same way growing up." She said, earning a glare from her daughter.

"I was not! Kalmar was!" Leeli retorted.

Nia laughed again. "No, he wasn't like that at all."

Leeli stayed silent, trying to hold back laughter.

Suddenly, a loud 'bang' was heard, echoing through the halls of the castle.

Janner felt anger rush through his entire body. If not for Kalmar standing right next to him, holding him back, Janner would have rushed at the Stonekeeper.

Murgah noticed that. She laughed, and Janner was surprised to find her back in her 'Spider-y' form, remembering that the last time he saw her, she waws melded with a bunch of fish.

"Young Throne Warden." The Stonekeeper purred, walking through a crowd of her soldiers and Annieran citizens. "You are so grown up! And I hear you're getting married. Is it true?"

Janner remained silent, looking for the right moment to attack.

Murgah went on. "I've been busy too, as you can see," She waved her hands around, motioning to her Fangs. "I understand what you must be feeling. Hate. Anger. Fear. But, I can change all that. I can make you stronger, if you only join me-"

"Save your words!" Janner snapped. "I'd rather die than join you."

Murgah smiled. "Then I guess I'll have to kill you."

With that, she tossed him a rolled up scroll, and walked away.

Strangely, her Fangs all followed her, leaving the battle behind.

"We'll be back." Murgah called out. "We will!"

Janner, stuck in a faze, picked up the scroll, and opened it.

Either turn yourself in

Or your country, land, people, and family die

Meet us at the Blackwood forest

Or else we'll kill your family.

And don't think we don't have them already.

You left them defenseless.

Come in, and we'll spare their lives.

He turned pale, as Artham and Kalmar ran up to him.

"Janner, are you okay?" Kalmar asked.

Artham took the scroll from Janner's hands, and read it. When he finished, his hands were shaking, and he nearly dropped the scroll.

"We need to go to the castle!" He said quickly.

"Why?" Kalmar asked. Artham handed him the scroll, and when he was finished reading it, Kalmar was angry and scared.

"We need to hurry!" He said, rushing for his horse. Artham followed, and Janner reluctantly followed behind.

You left them defenseless.

That phrase rang in Janner's ears, over and over and over again.