Sully rode her stallion cautiously through the wooded terrain. She carried a spear and bridle in one hand and her helmet in the other. She squinted in the dark, and her short red hair formed dark, damp strands on her forehead that occasionally poked her eyes.

"Chrom!" She called loudly. Her voice echoed back to her. She let out a growl and bade her horse onward. "Chrom, Lissa, anybody?! It's me, Sully!" Silence answered her once more. "I saw your campfire just a minute ago," she grumbled. "Where did you go?" She pulled her hair back in frustration.

A few minutes passed in her somber traversal before she called out again. This time, the answer was a set of hooves. She reined in her horse and checked to see where the sound was coming from. The sound approached her, and Sully quickly made out the armored form of Frederick's steed, Gwendolyn. Sully carefully led her own horse forward and reached out her hand.

"Gwenny-girl?" She asked softly. The horse snorted in response. "Where've ya been? Where's that uptight master of yours gone off to? Have you seen the Captain?" The horse flung its head around, eyes wild. Sully reached out again just as Gwendolyn took off in the opposite direction. She hesitated, but she had her horse follow. It's the best lead I've got, she reasoned.

A couple minutes passed of Sully carefully following the armored horse's path. She would occasionally call out to it, and it would snort in response; its path unchanging. Maybe the horse was leading her to the four, maybe they were camped nearby. Or dead, that was a good possibility. She shuddered. The quaking from earlier could be felt for miles. She wasn't one to pray, but she hoped something had kept her friends from falling into some earthy crevice or buried under trees and rubble.

Some time later it had grown so dark that Sully had lost track of Gwendolyn. She called out for the horse one more time, but was met with no reply.

She called out for her captain one last time.

"Captain?!" She made sure to shout as loud as she could this time. "Captain it's me, Sully!"

A voice answered her.

"Here, here!"

Sully let out a triumphant laugh and kicked the sides of her steed, sending it off. She held out her arm to block her face from oncoming branches as she sped through the dense wood.

"I knew I'd find ya if I hollered enough!" She said with a laugh. A shape appeared nearby as she drew closer. "Now all we gotta do is round up the other two so we can... get the hell out of... here..." As she drew closer and saw the figure in better detail, it dawned on Sully that she didn't recognize the man who had answered her call. Gwendolyn was nowhere to be seen.

His hair was a similar shade to her liege's, but his was pale and almost silver in color. His face was long and pale in complexion and he wore a cravat. He wore a pale set of armor that complimented his hair, and he carried a rather large knapsack over his back. He was clearly a nobleman, or at least carried himself like one.

"...The hell are you?" she asked loudly. "You're not Chrom!" A smile grew over the man's face as he dropped his knapsack to the ground. It clattered loudly, clearly containing weapons, which made Sully uneasy. He dropped his stance and bowed low, his hair nearly touching the ground.

"Who am I to not heed your call, milady?" He asked in an eloquent accent as he looked up, eyes gleaming. A burning irritation quickly found its way into Sully's gut. "I thought at first it some sort of mistake-"

"Damn right."

"-But then I saw surely fate had drawn us closer for a reason, whether I am your captain or not." He righted himself and made a sweeping motion with his arms. "To heed anyone of beauty is my higher calling, and believe me I have been called to many things. My name dear knight is-"

"Whatever, Ruffles. I don't got time to fool around." Sully started her trot once more, marching past the pale-haired poet. "Captain's been gone for a day too long and I've been out far too late! If you want a girl for the night that badly, try Southtown. I'd suggest Ylisstol but no way in hell am I pointing you in the general direction of anyone I know."

"Ah... er..." The poet stumbled in his speech; a sign to Sully that he wasn't used to being turned down. 'Never met a woman with a brain between her ears apparently, She decided. "Then I shall assist you!" He declared as he grabbed his sack and started after her. "Surely with your determination and my wit, we'll find your captain in no time! Or my name isn't Rosanne de la Viri-"

"I don't need your help, sir," she bit the last word as it left her mouth. "He's not hard to spot." The poet recoiled once more.

"...Virion," he finished glumly. He rebounded with new vigor. "My name is Virion! I'm a Noble by birth, but archer by trade! The Archest of Archers in fact!"

"Fascinating," Sully grumbled.

"Now then, I have given my own name, pray you give me yours?" Sully rolled her eyes.

"Sully," she said. "I'm a Shepherd." Virion's eyes lit up.

"Ah, a legendary Shepherd stands before me!" He exclaimed. "And one with such a divine name! A starkly beautiful one, as befits its owner!"

Sully let out a long groan. She knew for a fact that she wasn't particularly pretty nor were the Shepherds popular enough to be known by some travelling foreign noble. She never had to deal with this sort of flattery before, and the fact that this wandering fool chose to kiss up to her just felt sad.

Virion quickly stepped in front of her horse, startling it and breaking its trot. Sully glared at the nobleman. He flourished one arm, bent the knee, and raised his other hand up to Sully.

"Pray, my dear Sully," he asked, eyes gleaming in the dark, hair handsomely lifting in the breeze. "The gods have surely brought us two warriors together! Will you marry me?"

Sully managed herself a smile. "Ah... I get it now..." she said. "You're a jester, and this is a joke!" Virion's countenance fell as Sully lifted a boot the saddle's stirrup. "And the punchline is when I put my boot up your face!"

Virion's eyes were wide. "N-now, it is a serious question and there's no need for an immediate response..."

"How's this for a response?!" Sully shouted as she kicked her armored boot forward. She didn't try particularly hard, but Virion was sent flying anyway.

"I appreciate the flattery Ruffles, but I got somewhere to be." She started her horse forward again and called out to her captain once more. Virion dragged himself to his feet, a dark bruise marring his otherwise perfect complexion.

"Goodness me, those shapely legs certainly can kick can't they..." he said in a voice just loud enough for Sully to hear, but the rapid clopping of her horse told him she would be out of earshot very soon. He reached upwards to grab something to support himself with, and grabbed something dry and cold. It felt like a polished piece of wood left out in the cold of winter. He heard what seemed to be breathing and realized he must have grabbed somebody.

"Ah, excuse me my good man," he said quickly as he righted himself and dusted himself off with his free hand. "I'd no intention of anything inappropriate; I'm sure you'd seen that rather embarrassing display earlier with my new friend and..."

Virion's words caught in his throat. A pair of glowing red eyes met his gaze. He looked down and saw the wrist he had grabbed was the color of ash, and not only was it cold as a stone from the river; he felt his own warmth leaving his hand. He tore his hand away as a rather unmanly scream exited his lungs. The strange man before him growled and raised a crooked sword to bring down on him.

Sully groaned and hung her head. "What on earth is wrong with you?!" She called as she turned around. "What could..." and then she saw the creature. Virion was stumbling backwards and reaching for his knapsack, which had fallen to the ground after she kicked him. The glowing-eyed creature growled started swinging. "Aw to hell with that!" Sully shouted.

Without a second thought, she had turned her steed around and set it off in full gallop for the two figures. The creature turned at the oncoming sound. Sully chucked her helmet, striking the creature in the head. She then readied her spear and shouted as it made contact with the ashen figure; piking it in the chest. She flung the creature hurtling away into the branches where she heard it crash into the ground.

"Chrom? Lissa!" Robin's voice called out as he and Frederick ran into the clearing. Chrom and Lissa stood close together amidst a strange black mist that was gone as soon as Robin had noticed it.

Chrom raised his arm. "Frederick! Robin! Over here!"

The two figures dashed forward from the trees; Frederick sans horse and Robin sans blade. Their faces were dusty and they smelled of the burning earth. The Knight immediately ran to his lieges. Lissa cried out to Frederick and ran into his arms, the Knight consoling her with a gentle hand on her head; a pleasant reminder to Robin that this man did have a heart.

"Was there a fight? What happened here?" Robin asked as he quickly surveyed the area. The dim lighting didn't make for good examination, but had he been a moment sooner, he would have seen the last of the Creature's remains wither away. He could only just make out the shapes of the two nobles.

"We were set upon shortly after that Eye disappeared..." Chrom said quietly. "But we managed alright."

"You saw it to..." Robin observed. "I thought I was crazy until Frederick reacted the way he did-"

"Nobody is hurt then?" Frederick asked quickly. "Thank the Gods."

"Thanks the masked man who saved me!" Lissa said cheerily. Frederick's brow narrowed in confusion.

"Masked... man?" He asked. Lissa detached herself from Frederick and started pointing.

"If it wasn't for him I'd... wait..." Robin was about to question the girl, but it seemed she too realized she was pointing at empty space. If there was a figure nearby, he had long departed. "Where'd he go?"

A monstrous howl interrupted their conversation. Robin saw multiple red dots appear in the shade of the trees along with the sound of footsteps approaching.

"More of them?" Chrom's voice was frightened as he drew his blade. He swung around and pointed. "Higher ground, let's go!" He took off with Frederick and Lissa following. Robin was mesmerized by the flashing eyes in the dark and couldn't bring himself to join them at first. The staggering gait, pained breathing, and altogether uncanny nature of these creatures seemed almost hypnotic. He squinted as he tried to make out their armor, but couldn't make out any sigil or brand adorning their burnt tatters and plates.

Branded... Kill the branded...

A familiar collection of voices broke his train of thought. He froze as the creatures grew nearer. One came into the light of the clearing and approached him on unsteady legs, dragging a spear behind it.

Our duty... Your duty...

The creature stopped mere paces from Robin and stared at him; eye contact made. Robin was frozen. His throbbing temple returned with the voices. He stared ahead at the creature, oblivious to the many more marching past him after the other three.

Will you defy him too?

"Robin, what are you doing?!" Chrom's voice startled him. "Run!"

Robin came to his senses and let out a shout. He leaped back and drew his tome. A bolt of Thunder struck the creature square in the face. Its back arched completely even though its feet remained planted to the ground. It slowly lifted its head; half of its face was gone, but it was otherwise unharmed. Not a second later it righted itself and jabbed with its crooked spear; nearly claiming a lock of Robin's hair. Robin slammed his tome shut and ran; easily outpacing the creatures in their own pursuit.

Regroup with Chrom, find high ground, find an easy vantage point to pick these things off!

It didn't take long to catch up with the others.

"Did you hope to hold a conversation with them?" Frederick asked as Robin finally met pace with the other two.

"Are such creatures commonplace around here?" Robin asked incredulously; the creature's half-destroyed face fresh in his mind.

"They are not native to Ylisse, I can assure you that!" Chrom declared.

The small band came to a hill and made their way upwards. They were given a clear view of the valley below. Some fires still burned, but the quaking and erupting from earlier had ceased.

"This will do for planning our next step," Chrom said as they ascended. "We need to figure out the best way to deal with these things..."

"We're not leaving?" Lissa cried.

"It's a Shepherd's duty to keep the flock safe," Frederick concurred with Chrom grimly. Lissa started looking around the dim forest.

"Where'd he go..." She asked aloud. "The Masked Man could help us!" She ran up the hill, passing Chrom.

"Lissa hold!" Chrom called after her.

A moan sounded from above. Another creature lunged from the trees in front of them. Lissa froze in her tracks and screamed. Frederick swung out his silver lance and caught the creature below the neck; swinging it to the side and sending it tumbling down the hill.

Chrom ran to his sister's side and held her close with an iron grip. They both watched the creature end its journey as it impacted a tree below. The creature's mangled body pulled itself up. They could hear bones creaking and joints popping as it reordered itself to its proper shape. It hissed loudly at them.

"We'll worry about your masked friend after we put these things to the blade!" Frederick announced as he traded his spear for an axe.

Sully gripped her reins and pulled her horse to a stop right at the edge of the valley. Down below, among the trees, she could see the many shapes of the ashen creatures as they lankily snaked through the woods. And down below she caught the unmistakable glimmer of the Falchion, Chrom's sword, swinging through the darkness.

"Captain Chrom!" She shouted below. "I'm coming, hold on!" If her captain heard her he didn't respond. She spotted two other figures fighting, one was obviously Frederick, and the other she didn't recognize, but the bolts of magic he flung told her he was a mage of sorts. She scanned the incline for the best route of attack that would take her to her liege.

"H-Hold, Sully, hold!"

"...Aw hell..." Sully deflated as the nuisance called out to her. She let her horse drop to all hooves as Virion approached, sans knapsack but carrying to bundles of cloth with him. He dropped the two bundles and unraveled them; producing a set of bow and arrows and a quiver from one, and a single set of armor consisting of an armored glove and steel plates that ended at one's shoulder.

"Please milady!" Virion plead as he strapped the quiver to his back. "Allow me accompany you!" He attached the armor onto his right arm as he continued. "My world would be cold, empty-" A nearby growl from the creatures nearly interrupted him. "...And dangerous without you!"

"Ya care about danger? Then get out of here, chump," Sully growled. "You'll just slow me down."

"Nonsense! Did you not hear? I am the Archest of Archers!" Virion pleaded. "And it was no lie!"

"Really."

Virion took on a look of dejection. "But of course milady..." He dropped the wounded look and notched an arrow in his bow. "Observe!" He said as he pulled the string. "Virion does not boast for nothing!"

With a resounding twang the arrow shot into the air and made its descent into the valley. Sully squinted to keep up with the projectile but quickly lost track of the missile's trajectory as it entered the woods below. She shrugged.

"Nice, ya shot the air. What you Valm types do best, I hear." Virion looked aghast at her.

"Did you not see?" He cried. "I felled one! Right there! Do you see it-"

"I'm leaving now."

"Wait!" Virion gripped at her saddle. Sully glared down at him.

"Yer hand better stay there Ruffles," she growled. Virion was sweating.

"At least let me ride alongside. It would be safer for both of us! I can arch from horseback!"

Sully held her brow and groaned. She was a knight, and she was trained to help people; even the pathetic annoying ones. Besides, it was tradition to protect archers during battle. She let out another groan.

"...Ugh." Sully inched forward in her saddle to make room. "Fine. Anything to shut you up."

"You will not regret this!" Virion beamed as he quickly climbed atop the horse.

"I damn well better not," Sully grumbled.

Frederick shouted as he drove his axe down into a creature's shoulder, creating a large gash that spewed the foul-smelling smoke. Robin paged through his tome and launched a ball of thunder, striking the creature from Frederick's grip and felling it. He let out a sigh. Nearby, a set of red eyes appeared as another group of creatures approached.

"They just keep coming!" Robin wailed. He heard Chrom's heavy breathing as the captain backed up against him.

"Any plans, Robin?" He asked in between his panting. Robin shook his head.

"Nothing in particular I'm afraid..." he said calmly in spite of the chill and pounding blood in his ears. A creature lunged at him. He shot a Thunder bolt at point-blank, sending it flying. "But we have to move and find some kind of cover; they'll just overrun us like this!"

There was a lull in the attack, but the moans and growls of the creatures hung about them as they formed a circle.

"...What about that?" Chrom asked. He pointed out towards the horizon, in the direction of Ylisstol.

Robin followed and saw a building of sorts further into the valley. In the dim moonlight, he could only make out a set of walls and a weathered flagpole. "Is that-?"

"A fort from the Old War," Frederick answered him. "The Old Exalt had several of these dotting the border."

"If it's still intact, that's where we should head," Robin decided. "It'd be a good place for us to hunker down until the attack stops."

"What?!" Lissa cried. "But it could be crawling with these things! ...And it'd be dark!"

"No, Robin's got a point," Frederick muttered. "The only snag would be the forest, but the trees will offer us cover if used properly."

"That's true..." Robin answered. It was a well-known tactic, if not unconventional. Trees offered good cover to projectiles, and the fact that they made for good decoys and evasion against enemy blows went without saying. There was a pause as a new wave of creatures approached. "Thoughts, Chrom?"

"Blast it all..." Chrom pointed his sword to the old fort. "Onward!" he shouted. Lissa stayed close to Frederick as the four ran for it. Red eyes passed them by as the creatures indignantly growled at them. They attempted to give chase, but it was much harder to follow them once they entered the trees' shelter. The creatures would accelerate only to impact with a tree immediately. One creature ran so fast it caught an arm on a branch and was separated from it.

Robin looked over his shoulder and laughed as a Creature caught its face on a branch. "Not terribly smart these things!" He said, but he turned back just in time as a Creature lunged at him from behind a tree. Just had to stop and make fun of the stupid zombie, huh?! STUPID STUPID. Robin was pinned to a tree by the creature. It carried no weapon, but its powerful limbs kept Robin from reaching his tome.

"Robin!" Chrom called from ahead. "Hold on, I'm coming!"

Robin struggled as the creature inched its face closer to his; the unmoving face wafting out the vile miasma. He heard a strange whistling... wait what?

Thwip!

The creature grunted as an arrow appeared from out of nowhere and pinned it to the ground. The arrow stuck out of its head, anchoring it to the ground as it struggled. Robin gave himself no time to observe as he quickly jumped out of range and ran to Chrom.

"Can these things handle arrows too?!" Robin asked.

"I'm not sure..." Chrom responded as he started forward. The creature had relented, miasma spewed from its wound as it lay still. Chrom observed it carefully. "That arrow looks awfully new... don't these things use old weapons?"

"Gru..." More creatures sifted through the trees. Robin righted himself and stood next to Chrom as Frederick and Lissa regrouped with them. They would be surrounded soon.

"So much for hiding in the trees..." Lissa bemoaned.

"We can do this, it's just as Robin said, they're not very smart!" Chrom held the Falchion in front of him, which had curiously stopped its glowing from earlier. The three readied themselves to clash once more. A lanky creature with a sword charged forward. Chrom struck it with his blade, and then Frederick finished it off with a swipe of his axe.

Two more creatures appeared. A flurry of Thunder shots slowed them down long enough for Frederick to pummel them with the flat side of his blade.

Chrom shouted aloud as a he was stabbed with a spear. It struck him in unarmored shoulder and he recoiled backwards. A shot of Thunder killed the spear-wielding creature, and a tap from Lissa's staff made Chrom's wound disappear.

"Gods..." Chrom cursed. "Look for an opening and run, dammit!" The group had gradually formed back into a circle as enemies approached from all sides.

"Not an option that will present itself very soon, I'm afraid," Frederick said somberly. The three fighters prepared themselves for the oncoming onslaught when a voice called out.

"Captain!" A new voice bellowed from the trees. Robin turned just in time as he was nearly ran over by a charging stallion. He was flung backward and bumped into Frederick, who promptly pushed him away.

"Alright, you Ash-Faced Freaks! Wanna try my lance on for size? And I know the perfect place to shove it too!"

A crimson armored rider, spear in hand, charged through the creatures, trampling them and stabbing the ones she didn't hit. A creature growled and charged from the trees, only to be sniped by an archer riding with her. Chrom started laughing.

"Atta girl, Sully!" Chrom called.

The Rider piked another creature and drove it into the ground. She locked her weapon with a creature's axe before skillfully wrenching its weapon away and striking it in the head. In a matter of moments she had killed most of the creatures. Stragglers were struck by the archer, and the forest was quiet.

"Ah-ha!" The archer exclaimed as he removed himself from the horse. He started for the dead creature that had attacked Robin and promptly retrieved the arrow. He held it up and shook it at the horse rider. "I told you!" He said with a wry smile. "Virion does not boast!"

"Been looking all over for you, ya jerk!" The rider ignored the archer and shouted to Chrom, smiling in spite of her tone. "I'd tear ya open if these things weren't running around, and do you know how sick you've made Sumia worrying about you?!"

Chrom swallowed nervously. "I see, I guess things got exciting and I sort of forgot about her... Ah! Don't tell her I said that, I just..." Sully laughed heartily and jabbed Chrom in the shoulder.

Lissa regarded Virion suspiciously as she clung to Frederick's side. Virion saw the young girl and gave another bow. "Rosanne de le Virion at your service, miss...?"

"Lissa," Chrom answered for her. Virion turned to look at him, obviously miffed.

"Who are you to interrupt a stunning maiden such as herself?"

"Her brother."

"Ah... ah...!" Virion straightened himself. "How presumptuous of me, my humblest apologies..." Robin was pretty sure he didn't like the Archer. He had a fairly thick accent, so he figured he wasn't even from the area. At least he was friendly... Virion held out his hand to shake. "Sir Chrom?"

"How'd you know who he was?" Lissa asked with a frown.

"Why, your knightly companion has been calling for him from the moment we met," he explained. "That, and I recognize the brand."

"...Oh," Lissa said quietly. Robin counted down for how long it took Frederick to accuse Virion of breathing too close to his lieges, but the knight said nothing.

A howl in the distance reminded the group of the imminent threat. "Oh right, the dead walk the earth apparently," Sully grumbled. "Anyone know what happened and or wanna fill me in?"

"We're headed for the old fort, I'll tell you on the way," Chrom said.

The fort itself wasn't very big; it stood only two stories high and was maybe two house-lengths long and wide. The wooden gates, though sprawled wide open, were still sturdy and secure in their hinges. There was no sign of the creatures inside.

Sully snorted at the sight of the building. "I guess that old dastard left something useful behind after all. Er... no offense, Captain."

"None taken, let's hurry!" Chrom shouted. The six made their way inside. Sully dismounted her horse, and she and Frederick pushed the doors shut. They could already hear the sound of oncoming creatures. Robin and Chrom moved about, grabbing crates and barrels to barricade the doors. Lissa watched, and Virion did nothing.

"And what are you doing to help?" She asked him.

"Keeping watch," he said with a smile.

The door was secure, and the outside became strangely quiet. The six tensed and waited, but the creatures made no more sound. For the time being, it appeared they were safe.

"Ok, we have a moment to breathe," Chrom said. He nodded to Sully. "My thanks for finding us, Sully. I can always count on you." Sully just smiled and waved Chrom's words away. "I suppose more introductions are in order." Chrom lead Robin over to the red cavalier. Robin found himself tensing up. The woman was well-built and tall, her wild curls made her seem even taller, and her sharp brow made for a constant frown. Oh... Lissa mentioned a Sully didn't she? The one every boy was afraid of? "This is Sully, one of our Shepherds. And Sully, this is Robin. He's not from around here."

"And I, as you've surely heard, am Virion!" The archer proclaimed with his arms held high. Nobody responded.

" 'Nother stranger?" Sully asked as she reached out to shake Robin's hand. Robin tried not to wince; she didn't grip nearly as hard as Chrom, but her armored glove pinched at him. "Saw you fighting alongside the Captain, you two friends now or something?"

"Er, Chrom offered to take me to Ylisstol," Robin explained carefully. "I'm a traveler and was..."

"He had no choice in the matter," Frederick declared loudly. "Delivering this man to the Exalt is of the utmost importance. It's a matter of security." Sully winced and smiled again.

"Oof. My apologies," she said to Robin. "You got Freddy-D on your case? That's rough."

"Do NOT call me that!" the knight retorted.

"Robin is a skilled fighter," Chrom affirmed. "And he has a gift for strategy; he could be a great tactician were he to be recruited."

"Gods know we could use one of those," Sully said with a laugh.

Robin nervously laughed. "W-well there's nothing decided yet, I mean I don't even know how long I'll-"

The door shook. The six leaped back as the cries from outside returned. The air whistled as something was tossed into the air.

"Everyone back!" Frederick shouted. Everyone scattered as a throwing hatchet dug itself into the floor right where Robin once stood.

"Now they know how to throw things?!" Lissa cried. Sully growled.

"We just had time to relax, you jackasses!" She called. "Chrom -or Robin- whoever's calling the shots, who do I stab?!"

Robin looked up to the ramparts. "Virion was it?" he asked the archer.

"Aye, Virion of Rosanne, at your-"

"Good, You and I are up there!"

"...Ugh..."

Robin ran for the creaking wooden stairs that lead up to the second level, the silver haired archer obediently trailed behind him. "Frederick, you take point again! If those things break through you're the first thing they should fight!"

"Of course," Frederick answered grimly.

"And what about me?!" Sully called after.

"You're with me, Sully," Chrom said as he readied his sword. "We're helping Frederick in case anything gets through. And Lissa will keep us all in top shape."

Lissa gripped her staff. "No pressure..." she mumbled.

Robin and Virion took opposite positions on the ramparts and looked below. No more than three dozen creatures had gathered. They shuffled helplessly together, attempting to strike and knock down the barricaded doors to no avail.

"How many of these things did that stupid eye puke out?!" Sully called. They were too stiff and awkward to work their way up the walls. Virion smirked.

"Like fish in a barrel," he said as he notched another arrow. "Sir Robin, shall we fire at will?"

"Hold it..." Robin scanned once more. No more creatures were approaching. His tome had plenty of pages willed with runes, and Virion's quiver was full. "Alright, no holds barred. Fire!"

Bolts of Thunder tore through the ranks. It wasn't enough to kill every single creature, but Virion took care of that. Quickly and skillfully he loaded arrows, fired them, and and had already notched a new one into the bow in one fluid motion. "They call me the Archest of Archers where I come from, you know," he said. Robin ignored him. He appreciated the help, but something about this man's attitude got on his nerves.

The door still shook below, but no creatures entered. Chrom stood at the ready with his sword, but Sully paced impatiently, twirling her spear in her hands occasionally.

"Are they all dead?!" She called. "Don't tell me they get all the fun!"

"Sully, now is not the time," Frederick snapped back at her. "The best case scenario is the one where Robin and the archer take care of all the opposition."

"Archest of Archers!" Virion called from the ramparts.

"Shaddup!" Sully barked back. She looked back and forth, impatience wearing at her.

"For what it's worth..." Robin called down below. "We're almost finished! There aren't five creatures standing!"

Sully snarled and held up her lance in both hands. "Not without letting me score something you're not!" She shouted as she brought her spear down over knee, snapping it in half, causing Lissa to flinch.

Frederick scowled. "Sully, that was a perfectly good weapon, what on earth are you-" Inspiration stuck her.

"Yah!" With a grunt Sully tossed the broken spear over the wall. Robin and Virion paused to watch the makeshift javelin perfectly clear the wall and fall below, striking the last creature and felling it. Sully heard the creature cry out and threw her fists up in victory. "Wooh! Take it chums!" She called with another pump of her fist. Her companions observed her enthusiasm uneasily. "Not bad, eh Captain?" Sully asked.

"That was... good... improvisation, I guess?" Chrom strained for words.

"A perfectly good weapon sacrificed to alleviate boredom is hardly what I'd call good improvisation," Frederick grumbled. "Robin, the door trembles no more, is that the last of them?"

Robin scanned the clearing as Virion called back.

"Aye sirs, the coast is clear! Thanks in no small part to yours truly, but it was also thanks to the quick thinking and strategic timing of your companion that seized victory. And Robin did well too, I suppose." Sully frowned up at Virion. "And as for Sully's spear, I'm sure if I were to go and retrieve my knapsack, I could easily find you a replacement of sorts. On the house!"

Robin had a start. A figure had appeared out of the trees. He strained his eyes in the dim light and could only make out a hood resting on the figure's head. "Someone's coming...!" He called below. The others were hushed.

"Not another creature?" Frederick asked. Robin said nothing.

"Hello?" he called. The figure stood at the edge of the forest, doing nothing. Robin wasn't even sure if he had been heard. "Hello, do you need help?" Robin called again. Below the ramparts Lissa's eyes lit up.

"Is it the masked man?" She asked eagerly. Robin shook his head.

"I can't tell what he's wearing... Hello? Do you need any..." He froze. The figure looked in his exact direction. Their eyes locked. An aged, furrowed brow beset a pair of dark, gleaming eyes that burned with hatred.

Robin... that is still your name... Isn't it?

Robin ducked behind the ramparts and slammed his back to the wall, his heart leaping into his throat.

"Robin?" Chrom called up. Virion had taken Robin's example and hid behind the ramparts despite a confused look on his face. Sully looked back and forth between Robin and her captain when a flash caught her eye. She turned to Chrom and his sword.

"Um, captain? Does yer sword normally do that?" she asked. Chrom looked down at the Falchion. It had started glowing again. "Is this just a Falchion thing I haven't heard of yet?"

Chrom's eyes fixated on the shimmering blade. "...It has not done it once before this night..." He breathed.

Robin swallowed hard and dared to peak behind the ramparts. The figure was gone.

Chrom's sword stopped glowing. He turned it over in his hands and even shook it once, but the shine did not return.

"...Coast is clear." Robin spoke in a quiet voice just loud enough to hear. He carefully made his way down the rickety wooden stairs and back to his party. Lissa watched him approach, worry written over her face.

"...You alright? What did you see?" she asked.

"I don't know, maybe it was nothing. Virion, you didn't see anything right?"

The archer shrugged. "I suppose not. I never had a good look anyway."

"Then maybe it was just me..." Robin's breathing trembled as turned to Chrom. "Chrom? Should we rest for the night or make to Ylisstol?" Lissa held up her hand.

"If we're voting then I wholeheartedly vote for resting!" she called.

The doors shook. Everyone shouted and jumped back. The doors shook again, knocking debris back.

"You said the coast was clear!" Frederick shouted angrily at Robin.

"It was, I saw nothing!" Robin replied. The doors were struck once more and began to creep open. Everyone held their weapons ready.

A flash of red appeared behind the doors as they cracked open. From the crack came two, powerful pale hands the gripped the two doors and pushed them open, scattering the crates and barrels. The ground thundered as massive footsteps brought a hulking shape forward.

Its body was patched with pale, dead colors. Its face was an unmoving mask; framed by tangled, wiry read hair that hung to its back. It dragged a splintered log alongside it. It let out a low growl as it stood to its full height.

It was nearly the size of the fort's walls. It let out a hollow moan.

Sully made a nervous chuckle. "Well... damn."