Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

They had gotten too close, and Fang had pulled Lance back only seconds before bolts filled his body with holes. They were surrounded but still managed to squirm through the framework of buildings, through open cellars and out upper windows.

Pegasi now filled the air like a disturbed wasps nest, they plotted their direction and Fang dropped them back down.

How was he to know they could detect them? They weren't even that close but it was his previous injuries that had given them both away, the subtle shift of color he wasn't able to stop.

Another chuck of wall was taken off as Guardians at each side of the alley boxed them in. Fang jumped against the wall and Lance bounced off him. It was under the hail of lightning and imploding air that they scrambled up and onto the clay shingles.

Dipping birds struck at them and Lance was sent sliding toward the edge. Fang jumped down and placed himself between the edge and Lance. It was only chance that he managed to hook onto a smoke stack and stop Lance from hurling to his death. As another pegasi dove Fang brought it down like one picks apples from a tree, they all flew higher after that.

When the building rocked Fang knew it was time to go, and they dipped down into another alley and onto the street. It was quiet, too quiet, the business district was closed this time of year, everyone got the next two days off for the festival, and time to recover. How was he supposed to know that, that was the purpose of this reconnaissance. If he only would have known, if he would have started off further away, stuck to the streets, and not headed directly for The Tree. It blinded him, the luster of their mission right there. He wanted to see it, what they traveled across the land to find, what others had died for. Yet like history had already told them, The Tree would be their undoing. 'No, it was my stupidity,' Fang thought landing against another wall as they ran. There was no time for turning, he used the walls to redirect his motion.

It was for nothing though because when they broke into a long building there was only two entrances, trapped. Fang cursed and frantically looked about the room.

“Fang,” Lance said, the finality in his words told Fang everything already.

“No, I won't leave you, I can't, no more,” he answered but Lance just shook his head.

“You have to, it's come to this. We'll both dive in, and when we do I'll give you cover to disguise yourself and slip out.”

“No, they'll just spot me,” Fang made the excuse. He could hear them nearing, they waited at the doors, waiting for more to come, for the right time.

“Time is running out Brother Fang, you know what needs to be done. A chance is better then none.”

Fang knew the truth in his words, if there was a chance he could get away he should take it. The mission would suffer without them both and Fang knew this wasn't a winning battle. These weren't the guards he'd fought with before, these would bring them down quickly.

“I...” Fang tripped on his words, trying to find something to say. How many times must he be made to abandon those under him, how many times must they pay for his mistakes?

“It's not your fault,” Lance said. “Now let's go!” Lance charged the door giving Fang no more time to falter. The door was broken down just as they lunged into the air and into the group of five guardians. There were more behind them, along with pegasi who hovered just above the ground. Lance and Fang rapidly shifted disguises, and as the guardians fought their magic was formed into something else. They would be lit up for only a second before they were forced to use defensive magic again.

The brawl expanded, every time they tried to distance themselves Lance and Fang would close the gap instantly and would strike out at any that were near. Finally they got him surrounded.

“Wait, where's the other?” one said. Panic filled their eyes and Lance used the diversion. He was brought down quickly after but not without a fight. Even the guardians with their training were inexperienced, but not anymore. The pegasi were launched into the air.

“May the stars guide you home,” Lance said as they forced him against the ground.