Outside the Ashlands

Galatea and Garen were still, their breaths caught in their throat. Their eyes were locked on the form of the larger Pharates who was standing still on the clearing's edge after executing the last Chrysalasi. The Pharynxi elite slowly raised his halberd and stared at the bloody edge of the weapon, it's visor portraying no emotion, and it's body language portrayed nothing but strength.

There was a sudden hiss as steam started to emerge from it's helmet. Plate along the creatures helmet started to shift and retract into it's gorget, the magical armor shifting and changing to match it's user's current wishes.

The Pharates' head was soon free of all metal covering, allowing Galatea a full look upon his face. He was a changeling, that much was already obvious. He was also a member of the 'reformed' changeling race, otherwise known as Thoraxi. His smooth carapace was a warm yellow, and his compact eyes shined a deep orange. His antlers, light green in color, were shorter than the armor made them appear, but they were incredibly sharp. Sharp and serrated.

The statues and paintings of the ancient king of the changelings showed his antlers to have been sharp yes, but they were majestic and pretty. These were clearly violent and intimidating.

The changeling looked... deceptively young, as if in his early 20s. Garen knew that wasn't even near the truth. The Pharates were the hundred sons of Pharynx, born over 900 years ago. Each was the veteran of countless battles, and each had killed countless creatures.

Both of them were knocked out of their thoughts as the Pharates slowly dragged the edge of the halberd up to his face. He opened his maw and a forked tongue emerged, snaking past a jaw of sharp teeth.

Galatea whimpered when the changeling started to slowly drag it's tongue across the flat of the halberd's blade, licking up the blood of it's victims. He was very clearly enjoying the taste of copper that permeated changeling blood.

Garen grabbed Galatea by the arm and started to slowly back away. The noble followed his lead that is until one of her back paws stepped upon a twig, which made a rather large snap. The Pharates' head immediately snapped in their direction, it's eyes insane.

That Pharates rather quickly calmed down however, as a sudden smirk appeared across his face. "Oh my. I sincerely apologize for snapping like that. I forgot you two were there." The Pharates said, his voice showing off a very surprising level of sophistication.

Garen held his shield up as he slowly continued to back away from the taller warrior. He saw Galatea out of the corner of his eyes. She was approaching him.

"Lady Galatea!" He exclaimed in a hushed tone. Whether Galatea heard him, or was conscientiously ignoring him, he did not know. He would have rushed after her, to stop her from making a mistake, but he couldn't bring himself to move towards the changeling before them.

Against almost any other creature, he would have been fearless. He would have stared them right in the face and stood his ground, but not against a Pharates. Not against something that had seen almost nothing but death and battle for centuries.

The Noble cleared her throat as she reached the halfway mark between the Pharates and her protector. The Pharates kept his eyes locked on her, a small smirk on his face, his eyes dancing with curiosity as to how this interaction would play out.

He would soon fail his mission. The Pharates would murder her. Those thoughts were all that danced in his head.

"I-I wish to thank you, noble warrior, for protecting my life from these vile assassins. House Gallus is in your debt sir." She said with a bow, her voice shaking and unsure of herself.

A low chuckle erupted from the from the Pharates, whose brow cocked suddenly in confusion.

"You thought I was trying to save you?" He said, ceasing his chuckling, lips cracking into a grin; showing off his razor-sharp teeth.

Galatea took a nervous step back from the warrior, confusion written across her face. "T-then why else would you do it?" She asked as she looked up at the taller warrior.

The Pharates suddenly brought his halberd down and impaled it through the chest of the closest Chrysalasi. His eyes narrowed as he slowly lifted the corpse up via the blade, bringing it face to face with him.

"I smelled the disgusting rot of these abominations for miles around." He said as he brought his face closer to that of the cadaver's. "There is one left out there in the woods, and I plan to hunt it down and show it my father's mercy."

He then turned back to Galatea as he swung his halberd and the blade came free, throwing the body over his shoulder like trash. "That means kill it, for those out of the loop." He explained, a 'friendly' smile on his face.

Galatea took a step back, her mouth agape. "W-well may I at least have your name? So that I may do something in exchange for your... accidental aide?"

The Pharates rolled his eyes and turned to the woods, slowly walking towards it as his helmet snapped closed again.

"It's Tegmen, and I'd be surprised if you could." He said, his voice a metallic reverb which shook her to her core.

She stared into the dark of the woods for what felt like hours after he left. 'Are monsters like that common out here? Is this what the real life is?' She thought to herself, before she felt herself get roughly grabbed.

She spun around to see Garen, who had taken his helmet off, allowing her to see the Knight for the first time in her life.

His feathers were short and brown, the most common color amongst the gryphon race, and his beak was a golden yellow in color. His two green eyes were locked with hers. A long, deep scar was scratched across his face going from his left temple to his right cheek. She didn't know how he got it, but it looked deep.

He looked, angry. So very angry.

"What were you thinking?" Garen asked as he lifted her up by her shoulders.

"I-I just..." She started before Garen cut her off.

"That thing could have ripped us both apart without even trying! Why would you do something so reckless?" Garen said as he brought his face inches away from hers.

Galatea found herself frowning back at him. "He saved our lives Garen. Even if accidently. It is the duty of the house to offer recompense for every act of charity, lest you forget."

Garen growled, before relenting and placing her down. The motto of House Gallus. An odd one amongst gryphons, no doubt, but she had just invoked it, and it was his duty to abide by it.

"Of course my lady." Garen said as he turned away, marching back to where he had dropped his helmet. He turned back to the carnage, a frown on his face.

"You should get that stuff off you, and then we should continue moving westwards." Garen said as he gestured to Galatea's chest.

The snow white feathers were coated in changeling blood.

Grub whimpered as he shook within the confines of his hiding place, a small overturned and hollow log. He had felt it all.

The last emotions of his pack mates as their lives were picked off one by one, within seconds of each other. Fear, pain, sadness, agony. It was disgusting, and he knew... He knew the Pharates was coming for him next.

Those things were why the Chrysalasi were so hidden. Why every dealing with them was anonymous. The Pharates were the hunters of his race. Intent on driving them extinct, for the sins of a queen who was dead for a thousand years.

Grub let out a gasp as he heard the sound of a blade passing through a tree, and then the cracking of the tree slowly falling to the ground near him.

"Where are you insect?" He heard, the dissonant and deep voice causing him to shake in place. "Come out, come out, where ever you are!"

He saw a metal cyan hoof stomp onto the ground in front of him. It was all he could do, to keep from squealing in terror. "I know you're here~!" He shouted in a sing song voice.

Grub suddenly felt a crushing weight on his back after the hoof before him jumped. The Pharnxi was standing on the log he was hiding in, and he felt the weight on two place. It was standing on it's hind legs.

Likely with his halberd raised in the air, about to bring it down on top of him. The Chrysalasi's eyes grew wet. He knew what was about to happen next. He found himself praying. Praying to his long dead Queen.

And his prayers were answered when the Pharynxi suddenly stopped.

"This is Tegmen." The Pharates said.

"What do you mean I have to return Father? I am about to carry out an execution!" He replied to some unknown entity.

"Very well..." The Pharynxi said before growling.

"Saved by the bell." He hissed, before the weight on Grub's back was lifted off, accompanied by a deep buzzing which faded into the night.