84/05/03
So, I suppose I should start by describing myself. I am Rawko'r, fifth son of Naykor'r, member of the house of Thunder, cadet of the Storm Academy and currently a Gryphon Knight. The only member in fact. As for my physique, like all griffins, I posses the body of a lion and the head and front legs of an eagle. My back, the top of my head, my front legs, shoulders,upper back leg, beak and feathered tail had all a slightly shining golden tone while my belly, throat, face and lower back legs were the same color as coal. My mother used to say that it was as if I was constantly walking around with a gold blanket. Well, it not for the fact that my wings were dark as nigh and had a gray line crossing them horizontally in the middle. Lastly, I have ocean blue eyes. Now, for my family and name, which I would suppose are quite curious to anyone not familiar whit the Gryphon Kingdom.
The current Kingdom is divised in multiple domains, each one ruled by a House. Writting a list of each and every little family holding rights to every little piece of land would be pretty challenging since, with the years, the territory has been split into thousand and thousand of shards. The Kingdom would have lost any right to this title a long ago if not for the Ban. Each time the lord of a land would yield a part of it, the one receving the part had, and still has, to swear a oath of loyalty and servitude. Also, more importantly for the giving party, had to pay taxes. It was call the Ban and it is now the only thing maintening* the realms togethers. It is also the only reason the seven Houses have any power. Being the son of such a House, I am well placed to know. But, let us skip those petty details.
My House, the House of Thunder, is a house of warriors. We are the fury of the battlefiel, plunging from the sky onto our enemies with the speed of a light bolt and the power of thunder. Or ''were'' should I rather say. The many years of peace have transformed us into vile and manipulative politician. Our once numerous fiery knights are now nothing but overweighted bodygards who have not face any real danger in all their life. Anyway. I have six sisters and no less than four brothers. With only two sibling younger than me, one would expect me to complain on my position who is putting me away from any real position or power. But, one would be wrong. In fact, I consider it a blessing. Since no one expected anything of me, no one opposed my choice to go to Storm Academy.
80/01/06
The Storm Academy is, at least I tought, the last place in the Kingdom still training warriors A place of honor, martial tradition and strength. A place were griffins, from the poorest to the wealthiest can be trained in the old arts of battle if they have the will to continue, no matter what. Were your word is sacred and your sword is your life. Were I would be tested. Were I would be trained to focus the rage of our specie into the value of the knights of old. In reality, it was a dollhouse full of rich and slotthy shadow of the shadow of a warrior. From the General, changed to the Principal Helper now, all the way to the most recent of student, none was bothered by this. To them, the Academy was a lazy school for those wanting to do nothing of their life and pathetic bullies. Rather than sword training, we would get the ''history of sword training''. Rather than studying strategy, we would study the life of great strategist. Rathe than promoting unity and strength of will, the school would encourages simple memorization and minimal efforts. After the first two months, I stopped going to half of my classes and I did not get one single warning. I used my newly found free time to a more, active, kind of learning. I roam through the old library, passing the new volume of history and comic book imported directly from Equestria for the dusty old tomes in the back. It is in those I found real knowledge.
Books about swordfight, the handling of crossbow and bow, war strategies, blacksmithing, the history of knights, their values. I read those with a renewed passion, felling like every word was getting me closer to my goal. Of course, since most of them were practical guide, only reading them was not enough. I first had to find myself a sword. The forge of the Academy were long dead cold and in ruin. Getting one from a nonexistent blacksmith or making one by myself was, therefore, out of question. To my displeasure, I had to use more subtle method to get one. Well, in all honesty, I had to stole one from the treasury. Even if no one seemed to care, it still felt wrong to me. Then, now armed whit a weapon, I could start to walk on the same path as the valiant knight of old. The first step were, grinding. Learning how to treat your weapon, to maintain the edge of a sword, the basic of how to wear an armor, understanding our values and memorizing the code of honor was easy. The physical training, in the other hand, was, at is bare minimal, rough, at is arduous, painful. Twenty miles timed flight in the middle of the night, obstacle run through the mud, exruciating series of exercice, long hours spent practicing every move in the sword fighting manuals, punching wood until my talons broke. But, as hard as it may seem, I knew generations of past knights had went through the same routine as me and survived. I would not cut corner in a effort to lessen my pain, an easier path would only dishonor the title I look to reach and, if I were to wear it one day, I feel is value would be diminish. Another part that the books described was the alimentation.
A certains amount of them were survival guide. In those one, I founded the parts you can found in every survival guide about finding food in the wild. How to dig up edible root, which kind of berries were poisonous and the like. What I was not expecting, was the section about meat. The two third of these books was a textual and visual description of how to catch, kill, cook and eat every little living thing I could think of. At first, that was a shock to me. I had read the old tales relating the fighting of the knights. The one in which they conquer whole armies, vanquish dragon and destroy magical creatures. But, until then, I had not really consider the practical reality of kiling. The idea of ending the life of another creature seemed alien and unnatural to me. After all, of all my life I had never eat anything but vegetables or cereals. But, with all I had already done in the pursuit of my goal, could I really stop now? This question spinned in my head for a whole week. Continuing on this path would mean that, one day or another, I would have to fight and maybe even kill a griffin or a pony. Was I ready to do this kind of action, a murder, in defense of my values. When you start to kill, does life loses is importance? Do you start to become addicted to it? Can you stop yourself? Was meat really essential to knights?
Long reflexion were never my strength, so, I figured out that only by trying would I understand. It still felt uncomfortable, but, if the knights of old did it, I did not see why I would be afraid. Easely, I tracked down a little bunny, after all, why would they be afraid of me. Hidden in the upper branch of a tree, I waited for one of the creature to come around. As soon as I saw one, I plunged from high and grabbed him. He did not even had any time to react that my claws were around is neck. But, once to that point, now that the bunny was twisting in my hand, whimpering and scratching, I started to doubt. Suddently, I felt a burning sensation in my claw. The bunny had stuck his teeth into my flesh, making me bleed. Reflectivly, I closed my fist, provoking a cracking sound. Between my hands, the little rabbit had stopped moving. Is head was resting down on my finger, is broken neck not capable of supporting it anymore. I kept starring at it, unsure of what to do, waiting for the impact of what I had just done. My mind went blank for a moment and, when I regained control of my senses, my beak was full of blood and flesh. I was deep into the animal neck, ripping the meat from is bones. I could feel the warmth of the crimson life dripping on the feathers of my neck and the tenderness of the flesh slowly making it is way down my throat.
I could not repress a sudden urge to vomit. The content of my stomach was violently ejected, continually spilled on the green floor of the forest for long and painful minutes. I felt dirty, immoral, a monster. As soon has I could stand up, I flied to the nearest river. Violently plunging into it and hoping with all of my mind that the flowing water would wash me of this sin against nature I just had commited. I would never try this stupidity again. But, did this also meant I had to give up my dream. How could I hope to defend my honor and my values if a little bunny had me running away. Then, it hit me. That must be why the knights were eating meat. It was a sign of will. If you could eat another living creature, you had the willpower to defend the weak at any cost. I hoped. I could not fail, not now. With this idea in mind, I retraced my step, finding the partially eaten rabbit. The sensation of disgust and horror I felt at every bites would make me throw up, but I resisted. Soon, the only things left of the once bouncing creature was a small pack of bones and organs. Still on the verge of fainting, I dug a small hole into which I putted the left-over. That was the first time I ate meat, but not the last. Through the weeks, I continued to track and hunt small animals, learning how to put trap, where to place them, how to skin animal, cook them and other things. With time, the sickening feeling I had every time I would rip out a bit of flesh started to fade. It become a normal occurrenc, in fact, I started to take a liking to it. The act of kiling was still hard, but the meat had is own sort of flavor that I could not find anywhere else. There was also another effect to my consomation of meat. My muscles started to grow and become much stronger. If the first kill was about willpower, I felt that the continuation was more a matter of gaining strength. Rapidly, I became the strongest and most enduring griffon at the Academy. And that was not to everyone liking.
84/04/29
It would have been an understatement to say that my inclination to the knight ideal of old time made me an outcast. The lack of friends was not new for me and I had grew used to the situation. What I was not expecting was the arrogance of some of the students. Of course, every school has their bullies. Some are fairly inoffensive to any but the most fragile of heart. Other are scum, blinded by there illusions of power, resting on the shoulders of the weak and live in denial of their irrelevance. It was the later kind that was festering in the entrails of the Academy.
The Griffin society, for as long as I and the official history book can remember, has had problems with bullying. Every griffin has a spark of anger resting in himself. Unrestricted, this spark grow inside the griffon, making his every action one of dominance, pettiness and wrongly placed pride. In the ancien times, this anger was bound by a code of honor, a code shared by all. Today, it is hidden under politic and greed masks.
I had tried to oppose this distasteful tradition in my first week at the Academy. Unfortunately, rather than following my example, those I would help only tried to use the threat of my strength on those who were previously harassing them. Seeing this, I wanted to stop. But, the world and my values would not let. The sessions at the Academy lasted for five month, and so, each five month I would see the arrival of news student. Every time, I would try to help the weak. Only to see my effort redirected onto a purpose of fear and power. Strangely, to me, if bullying was rampant, violence was almost nonexistent. Of course, a little push or a strengthless punch did happen from time to time, but nothing serious. The result, I had not hit anything but sandbag, trees and walls in all of my training. This, unfortunately, was only up until the last arrival of news students I ever saw.
This day, while I was training in the wood, I heard a sound I knew too well. The sound of threat from the powerfull to the weak. Three griffins from a wealthy House had put a young one against a tree and were surrending her. Of course, I could have simply let them be, but, even after so many failures, I felt that living one griffin in need of help behind was the same has admitting defeat. I knew it would not make any difference and that my intervention would surely be corrupted, nonetheless, I left the cover of the forest to approach the group. At first, they did not saw me and the brown fur, gray feather one I figured as the leader continued to shout at the light blue and silver girl.
-So! What is a little failure like you doing here? Your family finaly got tired of your fooling around and sent you away?
-No, it's...
-Or maybe they felt ashamed of you. Thats it? One to many stupidity got out of what you call your mouth?
-Hi... hi...
I manifested myself before this went on any more longer.
-Hey! Leave her alone.
The three of them turned at once, facing me. I was a little higher than most of the griffins and, at this point, all the training and eating I had done had putted me way above those bullies in therm of raw strength. Not mentionning talents. I expected one of them, most likely the leader, to throw an insult and then leave. I still do not know why she clawed.
Maybe it was an accident, maybe it was intentional. It did not matter and does not anymore. I felt his claws scratching agains my chin and draw blood.
-Stay out of this jackas...!
I was just training, so, of course, I had my sword. She did not had the time to finish her sentence that I had draw out my blade and stroke. The sharp steel slashed her exposed torso, creating a large wound flowing with blood. The bully was socked, for a moment, before collapsing to the ground and starting dying. Her two friends ran away, screaming and shouting at the top of their lungs. The other griffin were still immobile against the wall, frozen. Even I stand still for a second, not realising what I just had done. Then, the reflex I had trained to the their utmost, in my current limits, kicked in. I put my sword back in his sheath, grabbed the blooding body and flew as fast has I could to the infirmary.
The yellow unicorn in charge was pretty suprised when I bursted into his room. Then, when he saw the wound, he started panicking. I stayed, helping in any way I could. My regular hunting had builted me to the sight of blood. But here, it was the blood of a fellow griffin, who I had wounded. Nevertheless, we managed to save him. If what the doctor said was true, one seconde more and she would have been done for it. He thanked me for my reaction and help. But then, he asked me how it had happened and I had to tell him the story. A moment later, I was siting in the ''Helper'' office.
She was an old and grumpy dark blue fur and grayish feathers griffon who hated me since the first time she saw me. She was gaving me what she considered a reprehensing look from the other side of her desk and to me felt like she was slightly upset that her cat had not answered her call. This lasted for quite a long time, which I used to look around. The four walls were of a dark shade of yellow, surrouding a heavy wood desk, two chair and a plethora of files and other such things which were all lit by a single lightbulb in the celling. Her profound sighing called me back to earth.
-Rawko'r. Do you realise what you did?
-Yes.
She raised an eyebrow.
-Really.
-Yes. I should have challenged her to a duel before attacking her.
She sighed again before strucking the desk with her fist.
-No! You attacked a fellow student with a sword. That is wrong!
-No. I attacked a arrogant bully who was using his strength to intimidate the weak.
-She is the fourth daughter of the House of Wind!
-It is irrelevant.
-Of course it is not!
-Nonsense.
I could see she was holding herself back to not hit me. Then, she sighed, again, and, strangely, put a smile on her face.
-Rawko'r. In any other circumstance I would have you arrested and be done with it. But, since your family is still really important, that kind of scandal would be bad for them. Also, fortunately, a special kind of request has come to my attention lately and I think it would be a great occasion for you.
Now, it was me who was raising an eyebrow.
-What kind of request?
-One from the highest of authority. Princess Luna of Equestria.
-What kind of request an Alicorn Princess would have which would concerned me.
It was evident from the look on her eyes that she was not going to tell me.
-It doesn't matter to you now. It is either that or prison. So go fetch whatever you own and leave for Canterlot as soon as possible.
The conversation was obviously finish for her and, by association, for me.
There was nothing left for me to do but obey. I left the office, went to my room and packed my time. There was not much, a couple of photo, some money, my journal, old books and my sword. I putted them in a saddlebag, but left the sword in is sheat. Concerning the sheat, it was holded by two strap, one which passed under my left armpit and over my right shoulder and the other around my waist. Thus, the sword was secure and accessible at any time. In a matter of minutes I was ready to leave and when I flew off from the Academy, I had no regret.
84/05/02
The flight to Canterlot from the Storm Academy took me less than two day, plus two days of boat. In this time, I observed the change of vegetation resulting in the passing from the Griffon Kingdom to Equestria. The woods of this country were making the ones of mine seems like the wildest and most dangerous of place. The sky was also way better controled. The pegasus assigned to the Kingdom were often too few to check on everything and we had some inconsistency with the weather. Here, everything was well managed and planned. Furthermore, the ponies I could see from the air were a real change from the all the brush-off griffins. Everypony seemed happy and content with their life here, enjoying their work, enjoying their friends. There was two problems for me in this picture. First, I felt it would became way more arduous to hunt and eat meat here. Second, who would need a violent would be knight in a peaceful place like this one.
When I arrived at the castle of the twin princess, the sun was about to set. I presented myself to the guard at the gates.
-Salutation sir.
-What do you want griffon?
-I am here at the request of princess Luna.
It was easy to see that he was not going to let me pass with that.
-Papers?
-Sorry?
-Do you have any papers?
-No.
-Listen guy, if I had let everypony whishing to talk to the princess passed, I would have lost my job a long time ago. So, get lost.
I played with the idea of challenging him so that he would let me pass. But, he would probably only call for more guard and, if possible, I would rather not die by suffocation under a mountain of guard. I moved away and started walking aimlessly in Canterlot. The entire city was in shades of white, full of unicorns with their heads up slowly trotting around and judging others. I could feel their eyes burning holes in my back, though, I was not sure if it was because I was the only griffon around, just their way or event maybe because of my sword. Anyway, it felt like home again, a more white home, but still pretty close. At least, the view here was beautiful. Even when the night had fallen, my griffin eyesight allowed me to see every details hidden in the dark. But, eventually, I had to find a place to rest and sleep. That was my first contact with the Canterlot outrageous price of life. Half of my savings passed into the one night rental of a tiny room under a roof. A simple bed too small for me, stuck just at the place were the roof and the wall meet.
In this parody of an attic, I reflected on my situation. I had not the wealth necessery for another night here, I could not go back to Storm Academy and going back home was the same as admitting all of my efforts and values were futile. In short, I was stuck here and I could not see any way out. Thus, I did the only thing I could, I went to sleep.
Nightmare
The dream I had this night is still one of the strangest I ever had. Every details is so perfectly engraved in my memory that, to this point can not seems to forget even the smallest part. I was flying over a large plain occupied by two endless army. Surrounding me were other griffons, all wearing strong metal armor and waving swords. I too was armored and armed. All of us were wearing helmet hidding our face, nonetheless I could name everyone of them. I could remember them, the time we had passed together, the battle we had fought. We were all Gryphons Knights engaged in an immense battle. Under us, ranks after ranks of ponies were aligned for battle, all wearing arms and protections and facing what seemed like legions after legions of creatures. Both armies seemed to extend beyond the horizon. I could not see who or what were the enemies, only that, like the pony, they were armed to the teeth with all manner of maces, swords, axes, lances and other sharp objects. Like all my comrades, I knew that we would be the ones lauching the first assault. We would be the ones plunging on their ranks through the volley of arrows, crushing against their spears and shields. I also knew that our task was to open their lines and that every ennemy I would take down was one less ennemy that could hurt the ponies. My hands were tightly gripping my sword and I could feel the blood pulsing in my temple. Then, the war horn played. It is low sound followed us has we descended to war and death. Mostly death. The wind was screaming at my hear, barely covering the shouts and taunt of the adversaries. I could hear the swift buzzing of arrow shaft percing through the air around me and brush against my armor with a steel ping. Each second passes was bringing me closer to the ennemy spears, bringin death closer to me. I knew I could turn back, I had plenty of time, just stop and go back home. But I continued. Finally, we hit the ennemy. I felt the edge of a weapon slide on my armor and another one cutting into the flesh of my left back leg. The pain burst like burning fire, rushing trought my body. I shut it down, I could not be bothered by something as trivial right now. My sword swift through the air, cutting an arm holding a spear. Blood flew like a burbling river, staining my armor and dropping on the ground, but, I was not important. The nausea of murder outweighed by bloodlust. The scream changed around me, from arrogant taunting to mindless panic. We started to hack the creatures into pieces, chopping and slicing at every bit of exposed flesh. After a couple of minutes, I was soaked in blood, the lifeless corpse of numerous ennemy resting at my feet. Of course, we too were suffering losses. For every adversary sent to the ground, ten would took is place. But we did not fall back. Slowly but surely, we started to die. Our armor and skill could only protect us for so long from the endless ocean of blades clashing against our rank. We could have run, but did not. Their number started to close around us, cutting us from the ponies. Over us, large winged shape, fire and spells were crossing the night sky. We were going to die, of that, I was certain. Did we stop to beg, to surrender? No one of us emitted a single sound. We continued to fight as our brothers were slayed at our side, as our body were cut to shred, as we were buried under the number. In the end, my turn came. Everything seemed real, the dagger which pierced trough the weaker point of my armor just under my left armpit and rendered it limp, the spear blade which slashed the nerves of my back leg, the axe which broke my back and, finaly, the sword which cut my neck. I only had time to feel the crimson blood drip on my neck and a sensation of cold before the world went dark.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a large throne room. The walls were covered with grand banner showing the history of a long dead race, only lit by a strange dark light and, in front of me, was standing a pure dark Alicorn. It was not one of the princess I knew about. Her body was like a hole in the universe, almost as if she was absorbing light. Under her right hoof, I could see the weak body of a wounded pony. I also knew, for some reason, that this pony was an asshole, never liked me and insulted me daily. She made our eyes met. Hers were of a deep red, fascinating and tempting. Then, she poke, her voice was sweet, but vibrated with power and importance.
-Rawko'r, join me.
I knew she had win. She was the new leader and there was nothing I could do to stop that.
-You could be the new leader of my army. Together, we could conquer the Kingdom and bring back the honor of the Gryphon Knights.
She was stronger than me. I could not win in a one on one.
-If I join you, I am no longer a real knight.
She laughed. It was at the same time the most perfect and terrible of laugh.
-Or maybe you need another incentive? Drop your weapon now and I swear I will not harm him.
In reflection, I am not sure, in fact I am pretty certain, that I made the wrong descision here. I should have drop my weapon, I should have swept my pride under the rung and drop my sword. Why did I unsheathed my sword and ran at the Alicorn? Because the alternative felt to me like gaving away my honor and I would rather die than see that happening. Her hoof crushed the head of the pony like a melon. The sound of the bang echoed through the walls, gaining in strength at every second until it became a defeaning cacophony mixing itself with the maniacal laugh of the dark princess. The walls started to crumble, forming giant block which crashed through the floor. I tried to fly, but the blood from the pony head had crystalised around my legs in the shape of skeletons hands holding me down. I did not time to understand how this had happened that a shadow fell over me. I raised my head only to see a giant chunck of stone which crushed me in one instant.
I woke up in the shred of what used to be a small bed. Still half sleeping, I did my best to escape the sheet mess and reach the door which was trembling under the violent knocking of a hoof. I slamed it open.
-What!
In front of me was a pair of white guards.
-Rawko'r?
-Yes!
-Princess Luna want to meet with you. Please, follow us.
84/05/03
In a matter of minutes, I was dragged trough the streets, the gates of the palace, a giant staircase and brought in front of the millennium old Alicorn Princess of the Night. She and I were of the same size but not of the same built. She was all in fineness and grace while I was more a pack of muscle. Strangely, it was the first time I felt out of place. In the Gryphon Kingdom, even the smallest of griffins was stronger and bigger than any ponies. Here, if we were of the same heigh, she was much more small, but, only in the physical sense. In fact, she had an aura of royalty and power that made me felt tiny only by standing there. I bowed to her and her voice. It had a constant gravity to it but still retained a slow and delicate tone when she addressed me.
-Your majesty.
-Griffin. Your name is Rawko'r, right?
-Yes princess.
-Stand up griffin and walk with me.
I raised my head and started following her. We walked in silence through the palace, passing via large hallways exposing the history of Equestria from the coronation of the last princess to the banishing of the one walking with me. This history trip had took us into the lower tier of the castle. No glass walls or white marble floor here. Rather, dark and cold passages lit by flickering candles. We arrived before a large dusty and rusty gate marked with a sword pointing upward and covered by a shield.
-Rawko'r. Open the gate.
The situation was really strange to me. In the Kingdom, whenever a important person want to talk to someone, they make sure the be higher and in public to show their dominance. The only time they would take a griffin apart was to conspire. I did not knew what were the pony ways, I only hoped they were not like our. I pushed the door, making the hinges cringes and revealing an old arsenal. The walls of the room were filled with rusted sword. Still on their support, old pony armure were waiting for wearer that would never come. Pack inside barrels, rotten arrow and bow which crumbled at the smalest touch. But, what was even more surprising was the armor stored in the back of the room. It did not fit the the built of a pony, in truth, I looked more like a griffin armor. Like all the rest, it was covered in rust, dust and spider web, but you could still feel a faint taint of her long gone magnificience.
-The first time I saw those doors close, all of these items were shining.
I turned toward her, brought back to reality by her voice.
-They were all perfect. A fragment of the pony history. Before friendship, before peace. Before us.
For a moment, I think she forgot I was there.
-I never did quite understood the insistence of my sister to neglet this past. It is true that those were certainly not our greatest hours. In fact, I do still belive those time were the darkest of our long history. But why, why try to bury them? Why try to erase the past again?
She stood silent and motionless. Her eyes lost in some distant memories of a forgotten time. Then, as fast as before, she came back to the present and turned to me.
-Do you know why you are here?
-No princess.
Slowly, she walked over to the griffin armor.
-I called for the most valiant, courageous and best knight that the Gryphon Kingdom could offer.
-Then, I am sorry but we do not have knights anymore.
She had a little laugh.
-Really. Then what are you?
-Only a strange griffin fascinated by old values.
-What values?
Our eyes met.
-Honor. Discipline. Respect. Courage. Strength. Willpower. Protect the weak.
-Some would laugh at this.
-Some would.
She suddenly seemed to get bigger, more menacing, more powerful.
You say these thing, even after having stupidly sacrificed your brothers? After having put your pride before a life.
I could not say anything, but it seem that my expression was enought for her.
-Rawlo'r. You are right, they are no longer any knights. Gone are the warriors of my youth. They do not fit in this age of peace that my sister created. But, recent events have started to make me fear for this heaven my sister created. Dark things from bygone times have become to emerge from the more somber corner of equestria. Monsters from before my existence are awakening. Discord. Changelings. Sombra. Only precursor to far most powerful and dangerous creatures. I will not let the innocence of the ponies my sister fought for be destroyed again. In the pursuit of that goal, I need to bring back the order of the Gryphon Knights. And that is were you come in play.
-But...
-Yes, you are not a knight, not yet. You lack some of the lessons that cannot be taught by mere reading. But you are still the closest thing to one in this realm.
-Pardon me princess, but, do you not have guards or heroes or...
-None who are nothing but mere shadow of their former glory. None who would kill.
-Ho...
-I see everything that is happenning under the moonlight Rawlo'r. From the most beautiful to the most horrible.
I bowed my head.
-Do not be ashamed. Your act are not the most horrible I have saw in my life Far from it, unfortunately. Now, the ritual.
The wall behind the armor slid open, revealing a sword. Again, like everything around here, it was not a normal sword. Pony sword tend to be lacking in good handle, after all, it is mostly unicorn who wield them and they use their magic. This one had a large grip, more attune to claws than hoofs or magic. It was levitating between us, faintly glowing of a dark blue light.
-Normaly, we would need a knight to make you one, not mentioning the usual ceremony. But, I am a princess and this place will have to do for now. Bow.
I lowered my head.
-Be without fear in the face of your enemies, be brave and upright, speak the truth, always, even if it lead to your death, safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath.
She patted both of my shoulders with the blade, just before slapping me on the cheek.
-And that so you remember it.
I was shocked, less by the hit than by the gravity of what had just happen. She then put the sword in my hands.
-Arise a knight, Rawlo'r, first of the Gryphon Knights.
The sword was resting between my claws, a perfect exemple of the lost art that was blade making. It measured one hundred and thirty centimeters, one hundred of them being sharp and polish steel finishing into a narrow point and thirty of grip. The grip was made of a white and sclupted material, the same as the pommel. I could wield it easely with my two hands, his weight not over one point five kilogram. As for the pommel, the carving on it were swirling on a circle, repeating the oath I just had made.
-Strange pommel.
It was Luna who spoke.
-It was made from the tooth of a dragon vanquish by the first ever Gryphon Knight. He became the leader of their order and, at is dead, the sword was passed over to the next leader and so on. It passed through the chaos of countless batle, wield by the greatest of hero, who are now nothing but dust, in fact, it defended the ponies longer than me and my sister have. Now, it is your.
-Princess, I cannot accept such gift.
She shook her head.
-It is not a gift. This sword belong to the leader of the Gryphon Knights. Thus, it is your right to bear this sword. It will allow you to strike at the darkest of creature without fear of it breaking and defend my people.
Saying this, she levitated a sheat as beautiful as the sword to me. A sheat made for a gryphon. I slit the sword into it and strapped it to me.
-I cannot express my gratitude.
-Of course you can. I did made you a knight, but you still lack those lessons I talked about. To learn them, I will send you to the most dangerous place in Equestria. Where the monsters and horrors of before the creation of this nation took shelter, where darkness feast, a place outside our control yet so close to our heart. You will be the guard of the Everfree Forest.
I tried to answer, but she did not let me.
-Again, do not thank me. This will most likely be your dead. Also, should you survived the lessons you will learn, it will only be the first step into the rebuilding of the order. Now, follow me.
We left the room and the lower floors behind us for one of the landing platform. There, my saddlebag was waiting.
-I took the liberty to bring your bag here. I added a map and a key.
-?
-By following the map you will find the old castle used by your order. It must probably only be a ruin now, but still, this key will give you entrance. From there, watch the forest.
-Why this place precisely? If you would allow me.
-It is close to our own old castle. The one princess Twilight is planning to rebuilt. She do not know it yet, but this castle was built there so that we could try to damper the dark influence of the Forest. If only a little. I wish you to make it so she continue to.
-I will do my best.
-I know. Now go.
She left me alone a this point, leaving for, I suppose, royal duties. Rapidly, I grabbed my saddlebags and took off for the Everfree Forest. As the princess had said, it was only about two hours from the center of Equestria, situated just beside a little town marked has ''Ponyville'' on the map. I skipped right by it, there was no point for me to stop there and I do not think my purse had enough in it for another night in the Equestria motel system. The vast green field, apple orchards and little cottages gave way to a seemingly endless forest, expanding beyond my sight hidding the ground. Event at this height, I could feel the change of atmosphere. From light to heavy, the air became thick and charged with a smell of antiquity. Strange aroma and wild scent came to me, I could even taste the metallic flavor of blood. Here, the tree grew without rime or reason, expanding into a ocean of green leafs. Fortunately, the map was precise enought for me to find the castle. She was also right again, the place was nothing but a ruin which has been slowly been eaten away by the forest. What were once great walls of stone were now covered in roots the size of a barrels and large oak had thrived in the yard. The only thing still intact was the central bastion, a large, round and high tower that seemed to be made from one single block of stone. Exept for the large door and numerous loophole, I could not see any opening or time created fracture.
I landed on top of it, as it was the only place with a door not blocked by giant plants. The heavy metal door opened as soon has I turned the key into the lock, giving way to a large spiral staircase. I made my way down, passing through the numerous floor of the tower. Four in total, plus two underground levels. From top to bottom : A waiting room for guard. A dormitory. An arsenal. A great hall. A depot. A jail. If the state of the bulding was astonishing, the condition on the inside was even more strange. Not a ounce of dust on the furniture, rust on the sword, rot on the bolts or any signs of the effect of time. Unusual but welcomed. As welcome as my discovery of new books.
Most interesting to me was the one about all the previous commander of the Gryphon Knight order and their feats. Only a rapid glance through it was enough to blow my mind. The greatness of their exploit was extraordinary. In fact, I was surprised nobody remember them anymore. Then again, I suppose death is not to the taste of ponies. I assume it is a good thing. In fact, it seemed to be a source of pride for them. In the great hall, engraved over the large and heavy steel gates was an inscription reading as:
The Knights stand
watching without rest
and die
So that the Innocents
can sleep in peace
and live
Inspiring... and depressing. Also, their was a collection of journals, all written by the many old commanders. Since it seemed to be some kind of tradition, I figured it would only be normal for me to start one. I ate the last of my provision while starting to write this. But, in here, it would be easy to hunt and I would not have to worries about being caught. Well, by no one else than princess Luna that is. I wrote until the moon has risen and replaced the sun in the sky, watching the world around me turn from a blinding white to comfortable shades of shadow. And now with this line I have reach now. I do not know what the future hold, especially with the recent events, but, I do know tomorrow I will have a lots of hunting and wood chopping to do.
84/05/04
If the first night was as calm and relaxing as the ones in the Gryphon Kingdom, the five next days gave me a taste of Tartarus. The sky became dark with heavy clouds blocking all light to the point that night and day became indistinguishable. Strong winds hurled against the wall of the tower with such strength, it was as if they were trying to tear it off from the ground. The pressure was so intense that even with all my might I could not make the door budge. With this came the rain, a rain so heavy and strong, I feared for a moment that the world might be flooded. The plicking sound of the impact of thousand of raindrop was maddening and only covered by the roaring and shattering bang of thunder. The brief flashes of light coming from the many loophole in the tower and indicating a lighting were in almost perfect synchronisation, indicating very close strikes. In this cacophony, the only sleep I was able to get was in the form of two minutes long unconsciousness when my weaken body would gave up. One second more and the deafening cracking of thunder would force me awake. Also, it was not only the thunder who would wake me up, but a profound sense of dread and danger. It was like the forest in itself knew of my presence and wanted me gone. Seeing that I had already ate all of my food, it was much more likely that I would just die.
Of course, at first I was not worried. I continued to explore the tower and the large depot under the tower. Inside was, it felt like, everything. Miles of cords, hammer, nails, planks, bolts, arrows, large crossbows and bows, long spears with strange heads, grapples heads, stone tool, ink, papers, compas, saddlebags, sheaths, bandage, needles, wire for surgery, maps, drapes, sheets, clothing, leather piece of armor, plate armor, chain armor, utensils, whetstone, and many other strange things. For exemple, barrels of a strange dry dark powder. I played with it a little and, the moment it came in contact with the flamme of my candle, it intensely burst. Good thing it was only a small dust amount. I left the powder alone in the little room I found it rather than risk an incident that would send me back home into a million pieces. There was also ranks after ranks of colorful potions stored on multiple shelves. For a second, I thought about drinking one before realizing it could as well help me than kill me. In fact, there was only one things missing from this treasure of usefulness, food. It would have been mostly irrelevant in pretty much any situation. But, after the second day with nothing to eat or rest, it became a real problem.
I tried to occupy my mind, distract myself from the absence of food in my stomach in anyway possible. Again, it was easy at first. I tried the crossbow, they were harder to arm than I thought and the recoil was heavy against my shoulder. However, the bolts perceid through the planks I had set up with a satisfactory sound, enfoncing themselves up to the feathering. I was pretty sure they could even have perforate the skin of a manticore or the softer scales of a dragon belly. Then, I tried the armour suits. The full metal ones were all impossible to wear in their intirety, either the legs were too small or the torso too large or the head was too tight and such. I suppose these things have to be custom made. The chainmail was different though as size almost did not matter and an adjustable harness was needed to divide the weight. Of course, the weight was a problem for both of these kinds of armours and wearing them was almost an exercice in itself, not mentioning flying. It was then I understood the meaning behind the three hours flight with weight I had done. The lightest set was the leather armor one and, at the same time, the most comfortable. In the end, I assembled a mix of mail, plate and leather.
My front legs were protected by leathers sleeves composed of numerous superposing slices which would start at my wrists and end up over shoulders. They had less protection but more freedom of movements, kind of important when you are wielding a sword around. On my body I wore a chainmail which covered my back, belly, base of my neck and stopped at my hip. Over it I put a tunic of blue color and bearing the insignia of the order. The coat of arms was a vertical sword under a diamond shape shield, shiel which was bearing an eagle in the top and a lion at is bottom. This blazon was placed on my back just between my wings. Completing this ensemble was a steel gorget adding protection to my throat, part of my neck and some of my upper chest. The total amount of metal on my body was quite cumbersome, especially at first. To adapt to it, I started wearing it constantly.
All of that, of course, was during the first twenty-four hours or so. After, the lack of sleep really started to take is toll. At first, my walking began to deteriorate and I started to stumble on the stairs and trip against the furniture. The pain was initially bothering, then, my mind simply stopped noticing it. The second sign of weakening appeared when my vision, ironically, became troubled. The color tones seemed to shift slightly every time I posed my eyes on a different part of the environment and the distance distorted at my every move. This was aggravated by the weight of my armor which slowly sap my strength and reduced my speed to a slow crawl. Thirdly, my empty stomach became a source of constant pain during the second day and transformed every second into a fight to forget about it. I tried reading some of the books I had found but the words turned into a sloppy mess in my head. It turned out I could not even remember the first word of a sentence I had just finished. My memorie became frayed, fragmented and shattered for a moment before reorganizing itself and then broke down again. I suppose it was only normal then that the next step of this descent into hell were hallucinations.
The wind passing through the small openings were the first to change. From annoying sound to strange whispers. It started with wandering words passing by my hears, mixed letters forming loosely into what seemed like names and callings I could only try to interpret at the best of my mental capacity. Which, of course, were not at their highest at the moment. Strange names of old became my daily companions, “SharOw” “SyGar” “WidRid”, making me looking behind my shoulders at every seconds in the search of the invisible speakers. On the fourth day, the whisper grew to complete sentence, becoming louder and clearer to the point even the loudest of screaming from me could not mute them. Reproach and reprimand from unseen voices started to surround me, constantly muttering at my ear and shredding at my will. The few moments of rest I had got even shorter as the hallucination became stronger. In the last day, vaporous shapes appeared in the corner of my eyes, passing in front of doors, sliding behind me with haste. They took the form of gryphons in armours with the voice of my family, their movements creating a light clicking sound of metal, or was it the sound of my chainmail, I do not remember. I had tried to take it off before but I could not muster both the mental and physical strength to do it. The scraping became another maddening sound bouncing in my head and breaking my mind. I started running around in the tower, waving my sword at the forms and tumbling on everything in my way. From the underground to the top I stroke at the air, cursing the world and the apparitions. Of what I remember, my shoutings must have been something like that.
-Hey! You! Come back here!
I would then run at the shape, trying to hit it while it floated away.
-Son. You mustn't stay here.
-I said stay here!
The laugh was hollow and would sent shivers down my spine. Also, is words shone a new light at the expression : words like daggers.
-oNly Knight can be here. You're too weak.
Then the smoke shape would dissolve through a wall, leaving me alone for a second before appearing again in mt back. Immediately I would start hunting the new shadow with scream and threat of death.
Finally, my completely exhaust body simply collapsed to the ground, half on one of the bed and the other on stone floor. I was out of strength but the voices in my head, which could also have been the wind, would not let me one minute of rest. My mind was at this edge on the border between reality and insanity were the smallest of push would sent it on an endless madness. The only thing holding me was my will and, at this point, the idea of lunacy was more appealing than the one of staying sane. I am pretty sure that I would have given up if not for my sword. I was still holding the handle with my claw against my body and my eyes fell upon the inscription on the pommel. I do not know if it was due to my current state of mind or some old magic, but the letter engraved on the white ivory where glowing with a soft dark blue light. Mindlessly, I started reciting the oath I had taken only five day ago, again and again and again. I continued to repeat the lines without tinking until the voices started to lessen more and more up to the point they had dissappeared.
It was really strange, again, as I did not consciously fighted the madness but rather entered a kind of trance. When I awoke from this state, the wind had stop hurling around the tower and the light coming from the loophole had lost his dark gray color. Instead, I could see ray of moonlight falling on me and giving the air a soft and luminescent tones. Instinctively, I started crawling into the spiral staircase toward the top of the tower and the exterior I had not seen for what seemed like forever. My armor was scraping and grinding on the stone steps as I drag myself up to the metal door and the free air. Once there, I directed my gaze to the stars and moon, bathing in their shining radiance. It felt as if they were gaving me strength and rest, another strange thing of the Everfree.
Hunt
84/05/09
I stayed immobile under the sky for a long time, enjoying the moment. In fact, I was so still that a little robin approached me. First landing on top of the rampart, looking at me with curiosity, then coming closer with little leap, slowly closer, closer, until I suddenly grabbed it by the neck and broke it in one snap. With a fury fueled by hunger, I ripped out the raw flesh from the fragiles bone, violently opened the chest by plunging my claws between is tiny ribs and snatched the head from the rest of the body. My beak cut right through the nerves, tendon and muscles, letting a little river of crimson blood flew in my mouth and throat. I licked it to the last drop like my life depended on it, which was probably the case. Next, I crushed the bone into piece to reach the delicious marrow, the little there was. When I had finished, the only things left of the robin were blood stain on my claws and beak, a beak, inedible organs and a couple of feathers. I felt invigorated by the blood and meat slowly being digested in my stomach, but I knew it would not last. The first thing I had to do was to find food because I felt that if I was to fall asleep, I would never have woken up. Rapidly, I picked one of the crossbow, strapped a quiver to my back and took off. Well, not really took off because I was not so energized that I could fly. Rather, I deployed my wings at their maximum, attaining a total wingspan of six meters and sliding trought the air. I went for the longest possible time before landing in a tree and positioning myself on a branch.
The forest was bursting with life and I could hear it all around me. I knew it would not take more than half a minute before a creature would come around and I was right. What I can only assume was some kind of savage chicken came hopping awkwardly under me. Is brown feathers were rough and wild and is built was bigger than the ones kept by the ponies and griffins, probably because of is life in the Everfree Forest. At some point in the future, I should probably start raising my own chickens, as much for their eggs as for their meat. But for now, I was satisfied with only eating him.
The crossbow vibrated when I pressed the trigger, releasing a swirling bolt which sprung through the air almost faster than my eye could see. It penetrated the soft body of the animal with strength, going right through it and sticking into the muddy ground. Impaled on the wooden stick, the little chicken struggled for a moment before realizing it was dead. Swiftly, I descended from the tree and started to devour the pack of bloody meat. Again, I tore the flesh from the bone and ripped it into shreds, not caring for the fragile feathers I was crushing at the same time. I drank every ounce of blood, sucked the marrow to the last drop and swallowed up to the last bit of pulp in my hunger, covering my face with even more scarlet stains. The metallic taste of the red liquid seemed to be permanently imprint on my mouth and I could feel it warmth running through my veins, kepping me awake and alive.
However, I did made one big mistake that could have killed me as sure as the lack of food. While eating I lowered my guard, and that, was the best way to end up dead in this place. That and being hungry or sleepless. Two things saved me, the relative stupidity of my opponent and the energy boost given to me by the blood.
A heard the sound of a brushwood being crushed behind me, sending a electric shock along my spine. It was only then I became aware of the heavy breathing, rotting breath and stomping eclipsing the sound of the forest around me. For a second, I considered not turning toward the new menace. If I refused to acknowledge is presence, maybe it would just go away. But this was just my exhausted mind rambling stupidity. When I finally turned, it was a spectacle of horror I never had expected to see, even here. Now, I am starting to doubt that it would not be the last time unimaginable horrors would leap from the shadow to try to kill me. The monster, this time, was a pack of what seemed to once have been timberwolves. I could still saw the wood from which there body were originally made, the dark brown strong timber which composed is legs, the even darker ones making is body, the small beige sharp teeth, the littles green leafs over there sick yellow-green eyes. Thought, all of this was partially hidden by large chunk of bleeding flesh which seemed to have been tied to the wood with large black chains. Onto the flesh, a patchwork of different furs had been sewed at random with what looked like fresh nerves. The final product was a disgusting amalgamation, wood covered by rotting meat from which white fat maggot were already emerging and falling to the ground, shredded pelt forcibly sticked to the sickening rotting bloody pulp and exposing part of it, a crimson soaked wood face with disturbingly, almost dark, green eye. To add to this image taken directly from some unknown hell, the bloodwolves, even as I watched, would attack each other in an attempt to tear off part of their dripping and infested body covering.
The pack of five and me watched each other for a moment that seemed to extend into many minutes, even so it probably only lasted for about two seconds. At this point, I could either flee or fight. The idea of fleeing was nauseating to me, but I knew that fighting these monsters in my current shape would only end up with the lost of my sword and my death. In better conditions, with a loaded crossbow and not half dead from sleep exhaustion I would have stayed, in those ones, I ran.
There was no road or trail for me to follow and, anyway, it would have helped them as much as me. In front of me was wild bushes, low brach and sharp thorns scraching my face. Under me was muddy ground, tracherous roots and edgy trembling stones. Around me, the dark night under the tree of the Everfree Behind me, the bloodwolves were on my heels, albeit, as much preoccupied by chasing me as by eating one another. It may seem stupid of them to not use their number to cut my running or their obious temporary physical advantage to catch up to me. But, I am sure they knew of my state, and, why run at your maximum when you can simply wait for your prey to fall dead. It was only the mix of adrenaline and blood that was allowing me to continue and it would not last forever. This explain why I was so much surprised when they suddently stopped. I could no longer hear their heavy footstep crushing the vegetation and making the soil tremble, or the sound of their hungry sream or the slamming of their jaws an hair from my back leg. I continued running away, turning my head for only a brief moment to assess the situation.
This brief moment was exactly the one the forest in front of me chose to open and the ground under me to drop. The already blurred and dark world became a maelstrom of shape, colors, tones, movements, vague impression and such. I tumbled down a rocky slope, completely losing any sense of direction, smashing my back and belly, even through the mail, while losing feathers until I finally reached the end of this hellish fall. I crashed on the denuded roots of a old tree and, unfortunately, it was my left wing who absorbed most of the impact. I heard the familiar sound of bone snapping and a explosion of pain through my body while I let a groan escape my throat. My vision became warped and hazy, though the last was more due to the fume occupying this new place I had landed into than the waves of pain scourging my body. It was not the first time I had had broke something, but this time, with my weak body, I was not sure it would end as well as before.
I pulled myself from the root, sliding to what I tought was solid ground only to sink in a heavy opaque and putrid swamp. The shallow water was reaching my chest, making even the smallest of movements an laborious effort and sapping even more at what was left of my strength. Adding to that was the awfull smell coming from the foul water, the buzzing flies surrounding my bleeding wound and the certain diseases I just had caught by being here. I stood silent for a moment, my eyes fixed on the troubled reflexion of me I could see on the dark water. My face was a mess of wild and broken feathers on wich I could see two crazy blue hollowed eyes filled with red veins and a mask of fatigue. My body was barely hold together by the armor, I had no idea were I was, how to get back or anything at all. If it was not enough, while I was looking down on the sick mirror, smelling bubbles pierced the surface and were quickly followed by what seemed to be the rotting skull of a once white unicorn. The horn was protruding from the forehead, the base still surounded by patch of long dead skin slowly eaten away by the water of the swamp. One of the eye was still in is socket, punctured flat. At this point, it did not even surprised me. I only wonder how it at got here for a second before forgetting about it and starting to wander. With my broken wing, there was now way for me to fly away or climb up the slope and thus I was reduced to roam the swamp aimlessly until death.
I had no more illusion, I was going to die here. My resting place was going to be a shallow and putrid water dump filled with heavy green smoke and the large roots of giant trees emerging from the water. I was too weakened, wounded and crushed to look for an exit anymore and my best hope was a honorable death at the hand of some giant creature. With my recent luck, it would not be too difficult to find.
And thus, it founded me. Rather, they founded me. I first felt a rough caress against my front leg, a swift brush that I dismissed as the degrading of my mind. Quickly, the caress transformed into multiple harsh bitting that pierced the skin of my back legs and drew even more of my blood. I was okay with dying in a fight, but I wanted to at least see my killer. I climbed on the closest interweaving of bare roots and unsheathed my sword, readying myself the best I could.
What sprung out from the opaque water was some kind of large snake with the maw of a crocodile and six set of three clawed fingers legs. Bigger than my arm and measuring over than two meters, the creature latched onto my arm and stuck is sharp teeth in the heavy leather padding of my arm. I felt the pressure compressing my flesh, but luckily the monster was not strong enough to pierce my armor. Angrily, I smashed his head against the trunk of the tree till it burst and became nothing more than a bloody pulp of flesh and bones. I threw the still shivering body at another of the creature who had try to caught me from behind and sent them both back to the mud. I only had the time to raise my sword that another had jumped on the roots with me and was hissing at me. I chopped his head in one swing, causing a burst of blood in the air and on my coat. Of course, another one used this moment of distraction to lauch himself from the swamp at my neck. His sharp fangs hit the metal of my gorget without any effect and a slash from my blade was enought to almost chop him in two, leaving him with a gaping hole from which his intestines and other organs started to leak. Again, I had no time to reflect on that before two news centipede snake, Centisnake, jumped at me. I slashed at the first one and left him with half a face in less but the other landed on my tunic and tried his luck at biting me. The chainmail did is work and I felt one of the creature tooth break on it. I grabbed the raging creature by the tail and swung him a little before throwing it somewhere in the swamp. It was clear now that they could not get through my armor and that their scales could not stop my blade.
-Really, is that everything this swamp has!
In reflexion and even if it would probably not have made any difference, I should have shut up. The many Centisnake I could see swam around the roots and violently stir the putrid liquid only one second age had suddently vanished. Then, it is the entier suface of the swamp that started to shake and be riddled by waves. At first, I did not understood the source of these disturbance, not until I felt little drops of water on the top of my head. I raised my eyes upon the new creature which I can simply describe as the giant version of the ones I was just fighting, a giant Centisnake. His head was as big as myself, hovering over me through the low branch of the tree. The drop were in fact his saliva running down from his giant maw which was full of teeth the size of a book and as sharp as my sword. His giant body was almost the size of the trunk against which it was resting.
-Well. At least you seem to be a decent death giver.
He stoke fast. I only had the time to take a step to the right before he crush a part of the roots. He broke the heavy wood like it was paper, shredding it into splinter. I tried to strike at his neck, but it only bounced of. I do not know if it is was because of my current lack of strength or the thickness of his scaly skin, probably both. The result anyway was a shock through my arm and a swung of his head which sended me flying away. I landed against my broken wing and another trunk. Pain cursed my body and tried to drag me into unconsciousness, though, I could not let it happen, not before dying or killing this monster. I forced myself awake, yet, I could not dodge the next attack of the giant Centisnake. His fang closed on my body and raised me in the air. Even they could not cut through the metal rings of the chainmail, but, they did not need to. The raw strength of the monster maw was enough to crush me inside my armor. I could already felt the bones of my chest slowly being compressed and the pressure against my organs. Again and again I mauled the scales with all of my decreasing strength without any effect until I luckily stabbed him in is large white eye. The orb started to leak a dark foul smelling pus who tainted my arms and feather while the Centisnake let out a shrinking scream of pain. Doing that, he freed me from his grasp and let me fall to the ground, ground being here a frail notion, but it was still better than between the teeth of the creature. The impact of the fall send another wave of pain through my body and was accompanied by the cracking sound of some of my ribs. Over me the creature continued to balance his head and scream in pain, his mouth open and my sword still stuck into is eye. I knew it was my only, if not last, chance to do something to him. The crossbow was still strapped to my back and mostly intact with only a couple of scratch and teeth mark. As fast as possible, I loaded it with a bolt, put the hilt against my shoulder, aimed and shot. I felt the shock of the cord being released when the mortal projectile swift through the smoky air and push itself in the soft flesh of the upper roof of his maw. The metal head and wood stick thrust into his brain, stopping his scream. For a brief moment, he stayed up, his limbs slightly trembling as the message of his dead was slowly transmitted to every part of the creature. Then, it stopped and fell into the swamp, I just had the time to withdraw my weapon from his punctured and now forever closed white eye before he had finished sinking into the disgustingly vile water like so many creatures before him.
Alone again, I staid immobile with a sword in my right hand and an empty crossbow in the left.
-I suppose it is enough.
While I spoke those words, I felt a wet liquid filling my mouth. I wiped it with the back of my hand, covering it with a darkened blood. One of my broken rib had probably puncture one of my organs, maybe a lungs or something in the like. The blood flooding my inside was impossible to stop and it would not take long for my body to collapse without the fight adrenaline supporting me, I could already feel it dissolve, all the fatigue suddentelly rushing back into me. I did not even had the strength to talk at this point, the energy given to me by the moon all gone, my blood filling me from the inside and escaping from me onto the swamp, my will was reduced to ash and my body was broken. I was tired, so tired, tired to the point I simply closed my eye and let it got. Immediately, my mind went blank, so fast that I did not even felt the shock of my body hitting the roots, sliding into the shallow water and starting to sink in it as the Centisnake before me.
