Morning

"What is the prize of destiny? That which silently drives the lives of countless souls to the edge of the precipice or to the heavenly tops of victory? Everyone is linked to it, and everyone is a piece of the master game that that which is called predilection has for every little being in creation… If such a force would exist, of course.

But either way there's not denying that there are some things that are meant to happen, independently of the power of freewill of the inhabitants of this world, if the hazards that befall into those who suffer them are to teach that we don't have real control over our lives.

It's a harsh lesson, but somehow easing. The mystery of the different sways of life and strife that many undergo somehow explained, and the warm embrace of something far more comforter: faith. But not faith into something in specific. Just that impulse, that thrive that everything is going to turn out okay even if reality may state otherwise. Because even when hope disappears, faith remains. And this, what happens, as much as it may be the best example as it may not, it's undeniably a good start." - Thanno Dreadwing.

The screams were what reached his ears first. A high pitched tune of voice that drilled over the tranquility of the place, even if it was far away from there. Word was unmistaken that today the only thing running through the land was not going to be water precisely…

     Vlaktes sped through the vegetation as fast as his legs would carry him. Around him the thick existence of dried bushes and brambles clawed at his clothes, and rattled agains his shield, but those were just scratches. His mass would push those aside and trample over it, and his leather straps would endure a punishment much more harder than that. What really was inside his head in that moment, was what could lie ahead, and the silent tensing of his muscles, ready for the physical confrontation that surely would happen next.

     Just as he got past the last set of pastureland, he entered into sight with what was causing such a fuss in the otherwise tranquility of the savanna. Near the edge of a precipice, right where the plain ended, a pack of anubites had cut a caravan cart down, its pullers slain and their guards were battling against their assailants. Inside the wagon, that had already been ravaged by the attacks of the creatures, two mares were trying to hold their ground, or at least one was while the other was just trying not to scream her lungs out.

     Vlaktes stood where he was, watching everything for a moment: Two stallions, a unicorn and an earth pony, were trying to fend off the half dozen jackal humanoid creatures. Poor morons. Nopony travels through Zebrica with at least one or two spare escorts. Not specially during mating season.

     Vlaktes snorted at the vision. For a moment he even doubted helping them. What had Equestrians done for him and his people lately anyway? It wasn't that he were not a good person… or had been. Its just that he couldn't help but to feel that it was pointle-

"Get down!" he yelled to the first mare as he charged inside the cart, shield first, and tackled the anubite right in the chest. The creature, don't expecting the intrusion, lost its breath in a loud screech as it flew away from the wagon, and landed in the ground, struggling to recover air and get on its feet. Vlaktes turned to the two mares. "Are you alright?"

     The alluded ones, an aquamarine unicorn and a greenish gray earth mare bot nodded, perhaps not knowing wether to thank him or to start running, but he could worry about hat later. The anubite had already recovered for that first blow and now had unsheathed its weapons; a couple katars that definitely claimed for his life.

     Vlaktes jumped out the wagon with his own azande knife in mouth and straight to the creature. The monster, anticipating the charge of its enemy, launched a blow with its blades, but Vlaktes had long before seen it. His shield made a metallic TONG when it absorbed the hit and pushed back his target. Vlaktes landed, but didn't missed his memento. Immediately after he went straight for his enemy and reveled as the blade of his weapon made contact.

     The anubite let out a howl of pain and fell to the ground holding the wound that he had just teared in it. Vlaktes would've finished it, but he knew that it wouldn't be a bother for now and proceeded to the next.

     A few yards away, the stallion he could identify as the highest ranking officer was struggling against two enemies, that had him pinned down, and was alive just because the foul creatures wound't know yet to get round his armor plates. Vlaktes took by surprise the first one, which was holding a spear, and rite through the leather of its leg. The creature cried out, but Vlaktes immediately put it to an end with a blow of his shield right to its head that rendered it unconscious. The other one, noticing the peril of its brother, struck the stallion right between the leg plates with his two blades, hurting him bad in the process, and turned agains Vlaktes next.

     Vlaktes heard how the stallion screamed when the blood ran out of his body, but didn't loose sight on his target. The anubite instantly charged at him and attacked with a vertical swing, aiming to decapitate him. Vlaktes would've fall for that if he wasn't a trained guard himself, and with accuracy parried a hit with his shield and the other with his knife just so he could enter its guard himself. The next thing that happened was that the zebra had just poured his knife into the creature's heart and had pushed it away with its shield, turning again to his ally, who was trying in vain to stand up.

"Sergeant!" he called him as he helped him to his fours.

     The stallion, retreating his bleeding leg to his body panted in pain when he held him up.

"Wh-who are you?" he asked with what he could tell was a blurry vision.

"A fellow guard like you" said Vlaktes as he set him on his way. "Get to the cart. Protect the mares!"

     The guardscolt limped to the wagon and mumbled something, but Vlaktes didn't got it. It didn't take much knowledge to know that he wouldn't last long. He was tempted to help him get there but another scream reached his ears. Behind him, the other guard had just been struck dead by its two attackers and they were heading straight for the mares.

     Vlaktes immediately rushed towards the monsters and reached them just before they reached the frightened mares. He didn't stop and straight tackled the first one, sending it to the ground, and bucked the second, who had just turned around, with his rear hooves, sending it away screaming. He then turned to the first one, who had stood up, and charged at it, but the creature, wielding an axe, received him with a powerful blow that sent him out of his way, nearly to the ground.

     Vlaktes spun around for a moment, but, nonetheless, wasn't completely unprepared and recovered valance in the last second to stop another strike from the monster. He then shortened his distance, but the anubite, not repeating the mistake of its last three predecessors, backed straight away. Vlaktes realized this just when another strike was heading right for his head, and nearly didn't stopped it with his shield, sensing the strength that nearly put him to his knee. The anubite stuck its axe in the edge of his shield and began to struggle to rid him of it. Vlaktes struggled back, but didn't loose his temper. His enemy had committed a mistake, and that was facing a quadruped with the guard too high. Before the creature could realize what was happening, Vlaktes struck its leg with his knife and pushed ahead, sensing how the creature's balance was lost by the pain and strength of his muscles.

     The anubite fell to the ground crying wildly, but Vlaktes wasn't done yet and immediately put it out of its misery. The plain became silent once more, and the noise of his hard breathing was carried away by the wind. Vlaktes rose his head with the tiredness of his own physical effort. He sheathed back his knife and let his shield go. Vlaktes could have easily called it done… If it weren't because he'd forget about the other one.

     Suddenly, with a battle howl, the last anubite made itself present helping high a maze, and leaping up in the air, just as its kind could only do, straight for the unprepared zebra that was just now gazing to its figure. Vlaktes watched it with absolute surprise how his death was falling over him. There wasn't time to get out of that, nor to get his shield back. He had so stupidly let himself go that now the prize for his idleness was going to be his life. Oh crap…

     Vlaktes shrank were he stood, waiting for the attack, but again his perspective of the scene was just not wide enough. Just before the anubite could make him its pray a light bolt struck its figure and sent it away screeching a loud death howl. The monster fell to the ground, rolled a little bit and stopped where it was, not moving any further. Vlaktes took a second, but then stood up again, and turned to where the bolt had come from. Leaned agains the broken form of the cart wheel, the guardscolt was staring at him, smiling his last strength away.

"That… Makes us even, soldier" he sighed where he was. "I… Just wish… we could stretch…" he tried to stand up but his legs failed him and fell down.

     Vlaktes caught him just before he hit the ground.

"You shouldn't be grateful to me, Equestrian" he said as he put him gently over the ground. "I lied to you."

"You… did?"

"Yes" he sentenced. "I'm not a royal guard… I was a Zebrican-Equestrian recruit, but that's in the past. I'm a mercenary now."

"And… Your post?"

     He looked away for a second.

"I deserted it, right after the Diamond Dog war."

"Oh…" the expression of the royal guard lost a little bit of joy, but not any less peace. "That's… pitiful. What's your name, lad?"

     Vlaktes hesitated a little before speaking.

"Vlaktes Verkeener, sir."

"Good. I'm glad to know a pony with such strength as you, even… even if you're nothing less than a traitor."

"No you don't" he snorted. "You never met me, and I never met you. Just rest your last moments while you can. The battle is over for you, sir."

"I know" he smiled sideways. "Can I ask you a favor? Just a dying colt's wish…"

     Vlaktes though about it for a second, but then backed away.

"No" he said. "I'm done doing fav-"

"Please tell them!" he called, tears plying in his eyes. "To my family… Back home… They'll be sad when they learn about it. Just… Please tell them… Everything's gonna be fine… Please…"

     And with that the eyes of the colt lost all its brilliance. Vlaktes verified his decease and leaned his head down for a moment.

"Maisha shujaa, si kifo shujaa" he prayed then lifted his head again and turned back. The two mares were still in the cart, holding each other, their eyes tearing. "You two" he called. "Did you heard what he just said?" for a moment it looked as if they didn't listened, but in the end they reluctantly nodded. "Good. Make sure they're buried properly."

     And with that he continued his way as if nothing happened.