Foxes of War

POV...Penny

“So who is this?” Cayde-6 asked as we walked into the Forward Basecamp.

“Her name is Feria. She's the being you guys were defending in the Throne of Want.” I said, fiddling with Chaperone, my new shotgun as I waved a Hand at Feria. “If you are referring to me, then Sal-U-Tations, my name is Penny!” I said with a Big Sarcastic grin.

“Kinda both. So Wolf lady with a big sword. Why you never get into the fight?” Cayde-6 asked Feria.

“Well, if I had at the time, the Undead plague would have spread to around the world. Due to something in the small Village Ivenglade, that’s no longer the case. I’m unsure what has happened but the Plague is no longer a concern.”

“Huh,” I said, loading four rounds into Chaperone, then racked the lever to chamber a round, then added One more shell, bringing the round count to Five, before I holstered it. “Isn't there a Shard of Traveller there? Or is it something else?” I asked.

“I think there might be. I never looked personally.” She told us.

“Okay,” I said, taking out my Sniper Rifle and adjusting the Camo’d Rifle’s Scope.

“If there’s a shard we should look into it,” Zavala told us.

“I guess. How is the planning going?” I asked, cocking the Sniper Rifle as I dropped out of Cloak from taking a step.

“Well enough, but there have been whispers of strange beings that defy the light within the city, attacking even the red legion,” Ikora told us.

“Sounds familiar,” I said, trying to wrack my brain to remember. “Can't remember what Though...” I muttered as I slung my rifle onto my Back and took my Rocket Launcher out, checking its ammo and systems as it chirped and bleeped.

“Well, another shard of power would help us,” Cayde-6 told us. “How about your team go get it, we can see what power it has. We still have a month to the assault.”

“Yeah. How’s Holiday doing with the Ships?” I asked, looking to the vixen.

“She has gotten some working. The big one is a hassle though, having to try and keep it under wraps.” Zavala told us as he looked to the Dreadnaught we had unearthed from an Everlasting Dragon drydock.

“I guess. Did she get any for me soon? I mean, most of the others have at least One personal ship.” I said.

“She has gotten one working, but it can’t get into space yet.” Ikora informed me, “It’s the yellow-green one in the hanger we have. I think she called it Shadow Trespass.”

“Alright. Better check it out, then I go check out Ivenglade with the Fireteam.” I said, stretching with a grunt. “Feria, you coming, or staying for now?” I asked her.

“I’ll be coming.” She told me. I nodded, before giving my regards to the Vanguard as I walked over to Holiday.

“Hey there Sea Guardian.” She greeted me. “Want to look at your ship?”

“Sure,” I said as I looked over the place where we were storing the ships. I soon found my ship, resting in it’s slightly damaged and rotting state. It was a mix of Hive parts and metal, slightly shimmering with the Traveler’s light.

“You like? I didn’t have a chance to get a full jump drive in it.” She explained.

“It's not bad, and it would at least get me where I need to be. Where did you Find it?” I asked.

“In a cavern full of Undead, they had dug it up apparently. They also found this.” She pointed to a pile of armor that belonged to a Lekgolo. “And it had these worms all over.”

“Oh. That was a Colony that forms to create a humanoid shape.” I said. “The armor holds them together.”

“Huh, they would a nice ally if we could talk to them.” She said. “Well, I got to get back to the big project now, see you Sea Guardian.”

“Alright,” I said, before looking for Zen-2, Zoey, and Antwon. May as well see if they are up and ready.

“I’m telling you I don’t need to eat!” Zen-2 yelled out.

“But it’s good!” Zoey told him.

“I can’t eat food!” He snarled at her.

I snickered, idly remembering that One Destiny 2 trailer where Cayde-6 was seen drinking before walking into Battle. Maybe Zen-2 never got that mod? “Have you Actually tried eating?” I asked, casually walking up and dropping the Question.

“Uh, yeah, didn’t get that mod.” He huffed. “And I don’t know where the fuck to get it.” He snarled.

“Ask Cayde. He may know.” I shrugged. “Also, we're going to Ivenglade.”

“Oh, fuck us. Things are sounding weird over there.” Antwon muttered.

“Feria implies that maybe the case,” I told him. “The Red Legion is getting trounced by that place, and she said the Undead went there, So she doesn't have to guard the Throne of Want anymore.”

“Well, that’s...Yeah, let's look into it.” Zen-2 said as he got his gear.

I nodded, putting my Big Sister helmet back on.

“Did you go to the Memorial?” Zoey asked me as she got her grenade launcher set.

I nodded grimly. “I was the First One there who hadn't been assisting in setting it up.” I sighed.

“I guess that’s Why I didn’t see you. I was trying to get that damn banner up, fell off the ladder.” She said, rubbing her back.

“Heh.” I said, unable to help myself.

“Arse.” She huffed, before moving to her ship.

“I heard of a new cult, saying They would free the Traveler ” Antwon muttered as he walked to his ship. “I wonder who They are.”

“Well, we may Find out,” I said, boarding Shadow Trespass and opening comms from there. “I Wonder if they mean it, or if they are just blowing out their backside?” I remarked.

“From what I hear, they mean it. But I don’t think the group is the ones that are freeing the Traveler, but something they’re talking to.” Zen-2 explained. “The rumors change from person to person though.”

“So Typical Gossip? Great.” I sighed, before I looked for Feria. “Is Feria going by Bonfire, or is she hitching a ride?” I asked.

“Hitching a ride.” She said over Zoey’s comms. I could hear the black bear grumble.

“Jealous for her spice rack?” I chuckled, remembering how ‘Big’ Feria’s ‘Melons’ were compared to Zoey’s.

“Shut up! Yours are smaller!” Zoey huffed.

“Relative to yours, but on me, They're a decent D size.” I chuckled playfully.

She just growled. We all laughed before we started moving out to get to our mission. I found Shadow Trespass flew like a dream, relative to what the scouring and barely cleaned up soot told me. It was like This ship was built to handle the harshest conditions.

“Hm, This ship feels amazing to fly.” I said as I did an Aileron Roll.

“Should be, we had to drag it out with speeders!” Zen-2 chuckled. “Anyway, it’s an hour to Ivenglade. To give us a heads up, this place used to be an Ursan colony, back when we arrived here. It’s also the first time we encountered the Undead.”

“It's also what leads to the City?” I asked as I checked my scanners.

“Yes, it was our first attempt to live here when the...well Caribou decided we were not good slaves and decided to kill us. Finding Exos was weird when we explored ruins and found versions of us.” Zoey told us as a Ping of light showed on my scanners.

“Picking up a Ping, anyone else catch that?” I warned them. “And… What were these Caribou like?” I asked as I prepped the nose gun in case of attack.

“Well, yes we are, tracking it now,” Antwon responded.

“As for the Caribou...they worship a being known as Molag Bal, who is the god of rape and domination. He’s also all about Vampires,” Zoey explained.

“Oh.” I said with a sour grimace. “Guess that means they intended on breaking your race, but decided you guys were not worth breaking after you fought back?” I asked.

“Yeah, this was long ago. We evolved on the same island back in the day.” She explained.

“Was This… Well Read, or personally known?” I asked softly.

“Well read...only one to remember is...I think it was Ires Zom.” Antwon told us.

“Alright. Anyone got eyes on the ‘Ping’?” I asked. “And… Who was, or is Ires Zom?”

“Legion ship, on fire. Not a threat right now.” Zen-2 told us, pinging it on our huds.

“Ires... Well she’s a Titan, and one of the four Iron Lords still alive.” She explained.

“Was she…?” I asked, trailing off as I thought of the worse.

“Oh, yeah, she was one of the only to be truly captured in the ware before she died. Hell, she woke in an unmarked grave on the island and the Caribou farmer tried to...well she was just glad she had powers.” Antwon explained.

“Oh. She remembered what happened? How She died?” I said, imagining a horrifying Scene of her choking on a Cock as she was swelled to the point of bursting, her last moments was a mental cry for help.

“Yeah, one of the few,” Zoey said sound six. “She...won’t really talk about it.”

“I should think So. How does anyone Know? Her Ghost couldn't keep its trap Shut?” I asked sadly.

“Dana, yeah he couldn’t. He was trying to get her psychological help.” Zen-2 told me as we passed over a weird looking camp, magic being used all over it. We passed over it too fast before I got a clear look, other than of a poodle-like anthro dog with spiky ball tails, and wearing a trench coat with a hat that reminded me of the British navy officers.

“Oh,” I said. “She was Hysterical afterward, Wasn't she.” That Wasn't a Question.

“Yeah, though the Video he played for Ikora to try and prove his point. It...Well, my ghost was there.” Zen-2 told me as he sent me a video. “It’s a copy. Watch at your own risk.”

“I will,” I said as I suspected I would have to watch it anyway. It could help me assist in helping the traumatized Bear heal. “So, how Long?” I asked as I kept checking my scanners, memorizing that odd camp.

“Ten minutes.” He told me.

“Right,” I said. “Zen, did the rest of the Team… See the Video?” I asked.

“No, very few wish too. You can turn off your broadcast for a bit.” He explained. “You’ll hear out audio still.”

“Alright,” I said, switching to the private channel and playing the Video after setting the Shadow Trespass to autopilot. I suspected I would be too distressed to fly it.

As the video started the screaming of pain was already going. It was from her eyes and a huge male was towering over her, horns coming out of his head as he hungrily looked down at her. He didn’t taunt or say anything the repeating his thrust as She looked down to a bruised and used belly. His cock was bulging it out as he used her. She was begging for him to stop, pawing at him because her claws were torn out of her paw toes.

“Stop, please! I can’t take anymore!” She begged.

“Then you’re useless now.” Another said, before shoving a huge cock down her throat with force. She gurgled and squirmed, a blurriness in the lower corners of the screen telling me she was crying now. I saw males doing similar to more females and several males that were being changed into females screaming in the background.

Ires screamed as the second male forced his cock down to the base and held her.

“Hey, I want her alive when I pop this! She’s already given of sixty kids, her pussy’s barren now.” The first snarled. “Those potions we tested on her pussy worked well.”

I heard her choke out a sob as her right paw reached to a screaming cub, barely old enough to be ten, being used next to her. Was that her Daughter!?

“Okay fine. Pop her, then I’ll choke her out as she bleeds. We’ll toss her with the rest of the experiment tonight.” The second said, pulling out, having cum already.

“No. No!” Ires coughed out, sounding scared and broken. “STOP!!”

“Hard to believe this cunt gave Heffter so much trouble. Really six months to get her forces caught and broken?” The first huffed. “And even if we’re letting the other go, I mean I know they’re hard to take, but Bal was happy with us offering them up!”

“Mama!!” The cub cried as I watched, horrified.

“When you going to take that one out?” male Caribou snarled. “It’s screaming is killing my boner!” Another male yelled as he rapped a female Caribou with glassy eyes.

“Sorry Bill!” That One said, sounding disturbingly Casual, as if he just spilled coffee on papers, rather than raping a little Girl as he stuffed a gag into her mouth.

“You better be!” The other yelled as Ires cried out and the one raping her shoved deeper.

“Almost there cunt!” He huffed as he mangled her breasts.

“no! No!! Someone! Help me!!” Ires cried. “MOMMY!”

“Hey, no one’s coming bitch but me!” He snarled at her as her belly swelled up and he shoved his length all they in. She screamed in pain as her belly became abnormally huge before I saw it start to tear. The second one that was gagging her shoved his cock back in to finish the job.

“MOMMY!!” the Cub choked out from her gag as Ires screamed as what could only be her belly tearing sounded out. The next few moments were horrifying as I watched her gag to death, the males’ balls pumping seed into her the whole time, a puddle of semen and blood forming in her darkening vision.

I grimaced as the Screen went black. I felt sick, watching what Ires had to go through, angry at these Caribou, and a Need to give Ires, if I meet her in person, a much needed comforting hug if these were what she remembered.

“TANGO! REPEAT TANGO ON YOUR SIX!” Zen-2 yelled out as he did a roll to avoid a set of missiles.

I quickly disabled autopilot and did a Levverman to avoid a set of missiles, getting a look at the source. It was a set of what looked like auto drones. They didn’t have Legion marks, but instead bear paws and had a Gatling gun spinning up next to the empty missile pods.

I responded by firing my much faster firing cannon at it's Gun, tearing it to pieces.

“Who turned those on?!” Zoey yelled out as she dodged two and headed for Ivenglade.

“Dunno, Don't care now! Just blast them outta the sky!” I yelled, engaging cloak and using Shadow Trespass’ ability to avoid being sensed.

“Running out!” Antwon yelled as he took down his...did is counter say fourteen? And the other two only had six each?

“Antwon, how did you get such a High count!?” I yelped, blasting One of the drones to shrapnel.

“He’s crap on the ground but an ace in the air.” Zen-2 huffed as he shot down another. “He never liked being on the ground.”

“And that is Why he is a Hunter, and not a Warlock nor Titan?” I asked as I avoided a missile and shredded another done.

“I guess,” Zoey said as Antwon shot down the one that attacked me.

“I’m out! Need to land!” He said making a rush for the land.

“We’ll cover you!” I yelled, blasting another. “Think you can Find who launched them!?”

“Big tower! It’s just spewing them out!” Zoey told me highlighting it. “We were not in range when it started.”

“Got it! I got around Four Sidewinders and ten Missiles. Think you guys can cover me?” I asked.

“Take a shot if you can,” Zen-2 said as he moved to cover me.

“Copy that!” I yelled, setting a lock on the Tower as I blasted my way through the drones that Zen-2 couldn't intercept in time. After about twenty of these fuckers, and almost losing a wing, I got a lock on the tower, just over the base of it. “Eagle Twenty, Fox Two!” I yelled, firing One.

The explosion that came from it broke the foundation of the tower, leading to it collapsing and give Zoey the chance to mop up the rest without more drones to replace them. “That did it!” She yelled, happily.

“Good. How is Feria?” I asked.

“I’m good...if a little sick.” The wolf grumbled. I heard a smack, followed by a yelp from Feria.

“Oh shut up and don’t throw up in my Baby, fatass.” Zoey snarled.

I chuckled as I scanned for foes on the Ground.

“We’re clear for the moment!” Antwon said as he landed.

“Good.” I sighed, landing afterward and arming myself, before exiting Shadow Trespass and engaging its cloak.

“Well, someone was trying to live out here,” Zoey said as she landed next to a makeshift shack, Feria hopping out with a Hand on her backside.

“Think they are still alive?” I asked her, taking out First Curse.

“Maybe. We won’t know for sure unless we find bodies.” Zen-2 said as he landed.

“True.” I sighed, looking at Feria. “Zoey slapped your bum?” I asked her.

“Yeah.” She huffed. I giggled softly at that, before looking her weapon choice over. “Any guns?” I asked her.

“No...I only ever used this.” She said, pulling the massive sword from her back, it was a massive blade that was extremely thin for its size, two-handed and had rust mixed with the blood staining it. It had a cloth wrapping at the hilt, with a dirty, rusty handle and a knobby pommel, the lower End of the blade narrowing at the tang.

I scowled at it. “Do you ever need a new weapon? Or does that thing still have an edge?” I asked her.

“The more sins I commit, the more damage this sword does...after the thirty-seventh loop, I stopped caring about the people in Majula.” She sighed. That made us all stop.

“You… You committed wonton Murder?” I asked.

“I gained everything I could from them at the seventh loop... I had been looping in that fire ring for… A very long time till someone put the First Flame out...I don’t know who.” She said. “I think I killed them four thousand times with this blade alone.”

“And for what reason? Because you were bored?” I flatly asked.

“No, honestly I was seeing it as a mercy. We were all stuck… No one but me remembered the loops and crown I wear… It prevents me from hollowing, every time we would make progress in figuring out how to use it. I would have to rush to stop Nasandra and reset everything.” The wolf said looking sick.

“I have no real idea what you are talking about.” I sighed. Too many empty details I can't connect with. Loops?

“The First Flame...it’s a power in this would, one that ignited and faded. One something or someone tried to Keep lit in one set of events, like Gwen, the first sinner to try and prevent his powers from the Flame to fade, the loop back to the start of their own journey. You can remember what you did, change events, and everything between the start and end, but you ultimately must begin again. The events outside you’re a loop and what you choose doesn’t alter much beyond some contradicting tales of light and dark. I was the four hundredth to light the flame, I could tell countless others lit it after me.”

“Many did not succeed?” I asked, remembering Michael’s Dark Soul Games.

“No, their loops ended with them burning to ash. And while their ashes remained, they never looped.” She told me. I made the connection to this Ashen One Michael raved about, and the Lords of Cinder.

“So basically, it was ‘Live, Die Repeat in a repetitive cycle? Everyone but you forgetting everything, and you gave up Hope of escaping?” I asked as I punted the Door open, the hinges snapping with the sound of rotting Wood.

I found books, research notes on the shard and a little panda looking up to us in fright.

“Basically. I was going mad really. Mostly why I didn’t leave the throne. I expected to go on a slaughter.” She told us as Zen-2 looked uneasy, Antwon looked at the room and Zoey huffed. “My every chance to escape was blocked off by that women Nasadra.” She snarled.

I ignored her in favor of crouching down at the panda. She was short and had pigtails on her head, but she was most certainly and adult if the huge knockers for her small frame said anything. “I’m not undead!” She yelled out, holding up a small knife in defense. She was also in her pajamas.

“Why are you a Child with knockers?” I asked in confusion.

“What no! I just small!” She snarled at me. “And it’s four in the fucking morning!”

“Well, we just got attacked by an advanced security system without warning,” I growled.

“I set that up because of the Legion. I’m researching the Undead, have been for two decades... Or was it twenty…” She said blinking.

“Are you absolutely sure you are not Undead or anything of the sort?” I asked flatly.

“Yes, yes. I test myself daily. Found an easy way to tell. If there is a small black hole anywhere on your body. Like your friend here.” She said, pointing to Feria’s back.

“Her name is Feria, the Former protector of the Throne of Want, and One of the reasons the Darkness was pushed back,” I said.

“Oh that’s good...why is she out then?” She asked starting to pace.

“Traveller is captured. We Are trying to take back the city from the legion, and Feria told us that This place is attracting Undead away from the Throne of Want and that they are beating up the Legion.” I said. “We Are here to see if we can find a Traveller Shard.”

“Oh...yeah that is...that might explain…” She muttered. “Uh oh.” She said rushing to her book. “Crap, crap, crap!”

“What’s up?” Zen-2 asked.

“Litch King! He’s drawing the undead here. Crap, no, Hareld is up! Someone messed with his tomb and he’s gathering an army!” She muttered out. “He won’t attack the City though, he’ll go for the Ponies and the Foxes. It’s where his homeland was!”

“Wait, the Lich King!?” I yelped. “That means… You're a Pandaren?” I asked her.

“Yes. I lived in the south on a turtle.” She told us, that explained her size.

“What's your name?” I asked her, switching to my Camo Rifle.

“I’m Chi Wan. Head researcher of the College of Magic in Canterlot. We Pandarens kinda allied ourselves with the Ponies about ten years ago.” She explained. “Though some of us allied with the Diamond Dogs.”

“Diamond Dogs?” I asked, idly remembering seeing a Similar Dog in Vicar Amelia’s Church. “I think we passed One of their camps on the way here,” I said, remembering that British-looking Dog in the camp.

“They most likely want Titanite. They have no interest in the Ursan war other than to keep their minds going. They don’t care who wins.” She told us.

“Titanite? That is the Supermaterial used to make your armor and sword, right Feria?” I asked her.

“Yes. It’s from the scales of dead Everlasting dragons. They’re bodies litter this land.” She told me.

That certainly explains why it's not a Soft metal. I mentally thought. “So that means, it's flexible, but also quite resilient, like Steel?” I asked.

“Yes, twinkling variety is also...how do I explain it...magical.” She told us.

“And if they get their hands on it, they would be rather unstoppable?” I asked.

“No not unstoppable...just harder to kill.” Chi Wan told us. “We’ve found ways to get around it, but it’s much harder than steel and requires weapons that are barely entering final RnD.”

“Ah. Wait, who else is here?” I asked.

“General Iron Hide and his forces are here, on the coast. My research team has been here for longer than either party. We used to have Guardians protecting us off and on, but they all left up till you guys got here.” She explained.

“Oh,” I said. “Well, after we lost the City, and the Traveller being sealed, we had to focus on rebuilding our Forces to get everything back… And with a lot of the Guardians losing their ghosts, we are stretched thin as is.”

“Ah. Hey, don't’ touch that!” She yelled at Antwon who was going to poke some globe thing.

“What is that?” I asked as I heard what sounded terrified yelps.

“A working model for the planet. I’m trying to map the whole world.” She explained.

“That certainly explains the giant ghostly fingertip in the sky.” Feria drily said as I poked my Head on to see what could only be a ghostly fingertip of Antwon poking through the clouds.

“Yes, it’s a strange enchantment I had found for that. Anyway, the shard is here.” She said, before pulling a large chest out. “It is not a big piece.”

“That's saying something,” I said. The Traveller was the Size of a small Moon, So anything smaller than a Farmer’s Field was certainly unique.

“Weirdly, it sings, much like the spirits of my homeland.” She told me as she opened the chest. The shard was pure white, no corruption or powers going crazy like the two the Guardians on my team had seen.

“Wonder Why the Traveller discarded This?” I remarked as I picked it up. It was large, around the size of a Coffee table, and thrummed with power.

I then had it push tendrils of light into my friend's heads as they got supercharged while also passing out and having seizures. Feria backed away as a violent tendril turned towards her before she hid behind the Pandaren. One floated at me before it attacked my head and gave me visions of large chains and two foxes, one in heavy strange power armor, the other half transformed into a wolf.