Chapter 15 - Vengeance

"Calm down, kid! You're not okay!"

"Oh, no. For the first time in my life, I'm fine, boss! For the first time..."

"Look, why don't you just calm down. C'mon, kid, we-"

"Don't. Call. Me. That! In fact, don't say anything; let's make this quick and quite, Granuaille."

"Hold 'em down! Now! E's unwell!"

"Flames! Why did you have to call for the guards!"

It'll only make it more fun.

"Heh! I suppose you're right. Let's get... 'em? What am I saying?"

"Calm down, Eniepe! We're jus' trying ta help ya!"

Don't listen! They lie! They're coming for you!

"Fine! Gah! Why am I agreeing to this?! I don't want to hurt them, let alone kill them!"

"Thanks, kid. We'll sort ya' out."

What is she going on about? Oh, she didn't hear us!

"I wasn't talking to you..."

Since you foolishly let them circle you, we need to run. If you are capable enough to make it. Which I doubt.

"Never know unless we try..."

"Try what, Eniepe? What are ya' doin' now?"

That guard's too close! Grab him as a hostage!

"Sorry about this."

Don't warn him! Grab him! Snag his arm and spin him into a chokehold!

"Gah! What are you doing? Why is he hostile? You said he was a friend, boss!"

"Well, the boss lies. Now no one move!"

A cold voice for a cold-hearted traitor, what did I tell you? Now he appears to be strong, so keep a good grip on his neck. No need for any unwanted outcomes.

Good, good... Now that they all stopped moving forward, use him as leverage!

"Uhh... good! Now let me go, or I jerk my chokehold up... and he won't draw panicked breaths, even if I let go. Sound good?"

"We're just tryin' ta' help ya' kid!"

"Really, boss? Now?"

She think's you are weak. Prove her wrong.

"Don't call me tha-augh!"

"How did I get on the ground?! Who floored me?! Your really gonna get it now!"

The hostage! You didn't make sure he was unconscious! Idiot.

"Do... you... yield?! We don't want to hurt you, but if you are so bent on hurting us..."

Who is this guy? He sounds serious. And he has one of those leather armor tunics, too. Actually, they all do. Leather looks tough, and should block most attacks, though it is sleevless, and I might be able to get between the greaves on the legs or arms and cut through the green fabric... But who is he?

I don't know! But it's your fault for grabbing the best fighter!

But you-well, we, no, I?

Yes, I.

I said to grab him... flames! I'm an idiot!

Yes. Now pretend to yield, and hit him in the back!

That seems like cheating, but only the cheaters win.

"Yes. I yield. Now let me go, and I'll just be-"

"No! You need to come with us. We're gonna help you. Right, Hawthorn? Don't hurt him. He wasn't like this before; this isn't him, so go easy. We want him in one piece."

I really don't like this Hawthorn guy. Should have killed him when I had the chance.

"You have a funny way of showing it."

"Why you little..."

"Hawthorn! Enough. I'll take it from here."

Oh shoot! The boss is after us! Well, even more than before. And she only wanted to kill us earlier.

She only wanted to kill you. She didn't know about me until you opened your mouth.

"So... what are ya' doin' exactly?"

"Honestly, boss?"

"Yeah. That would be helpful."

"Running."

"But why are ya'... oh, c'mon! Get back here!"

In hindsight, I probably should have chosen a better direction to run, but I can't double back now. If I run into them, they'll start with killing me first, not that I blame them, and then figure out why I attacked them. As if they don't know! Ha!

Of course, not doubling back means that we are running back to where we came from. It's still a better alternative, though, as the Etiord are at least honest. Though you were too blind to see that.

"Stop, or you die!"

Exactly. He is honest, despite his faults. Though why He had to wait for me to be between two ridges, so they could trap me, is beyond me. I'm done for no matter what. Just a stupid mutt, I guess.

"Well thanks for at least being honest about anting to kill me. Though the feeling is still mutual."

"You got some nerve showing up here, after what you pulled. So why should we let you live?"

Why should they not kill me?

Us, actually.

"Well, it being unnecessary is a good start, as well as my will to live, but I suppose you don't care about any of that..."

"We don't."

"But I'm not with the pack anymore. In fact, I'm against them."

Yes! Work with Him for now, and get rid of the pack!

"Didn't take you long to fall out of favor with them. Pathetic."

"Do you want to work together or not? Besides, it's your fault for forcing me to live alone!"

I may hate them, but I need to get long with them... for now. They can do what I can't: wipe out the pack

And basically anything useful, you mutt.

"Just submit to our rule, and we'll get along fine. But are you prepared to help fight all of our enemies?"

Seems like a waste of time, but I guess something needs to be yielded.

"If I must. But I'd prefer to stay on task."

"Oh, it is on task. It will hurt the pack's support and morale. Now, we were actualy on our way to deliver justice. Are you ready?"

"Does my answer even matter?"

"Ha! Of course not. Now, you're a pathetic mount, so you'll just attack our enemies. Specifically, whichever ones I point to or tell you to attack. Got it?"

"Yeah... as long as it hurts those traitors."

"Oh, and this should go without saying, but always, and I mean always, go for the kill. Now, shift and fall into step behind me. Everyone else, 3 lines, and move out!"

Alright, just feel the shift. Spreading from my chest and out. Ignore the thumping of boots, the brush of the wind, the musty smell of the dead forest air; just focus on shifting. Focus the mission, and get ready to move.

"C'mon, mutt! Hurry up. The pack's supply lines need to be severed."

Perfect. Vengeance will be mine. The pack will regret ever betraying and using me...