The Shadow's Executioners

The company moved at a very quick pace. Dust kept being flung into Daggerfall's face and eyes. The bindings kept cutting into his hoofs and his mouth was like cotton. They hadn't stopped all day and night was about to fall. 'Foolish.' Thought Daggerfall. 'Don't they know what these forests hold at night?' It didn't matter, he hoped that they didn't. They wouldn't know about the Rock Cats and Mockers. They wouldn't know about the Maynes. The monsters would kill them and he could take Tek and escape. Escape from being a Shadow. But...if they died, where would he go? He wasn't welcome at his home anymore, he couldn't get an apprenticeship anymore, for he was counted as a Shadow. Daggerfall thought about it, but soon cleared his head. He didn't want to think about his old life too much, after all, it wasn't there anymore.

On and on they went, with the sun setting fast. 'There had better be a shelter up ahead.' Daggerfall worried that they would get attacked. They were prime targets to Rock Cats and Mockers. He tried his best to put those thoughts from his mind, however satisfying it may have been to think about the deaths of the Shadow Brother's. The bumps of the road and the breathing of Tek started to synchronize. Daggerfall latched onto this and tried to lull himself into The Veil. Closer and closer he got, and eventually he made it through. He felt as if he was floating. Floating above himself, seeing around him. He tried to see into the forest. He saw a Rock Cat climbing a tree, as to sleep for the night. He saw a Shadow Brother's Harvest group lighting a Tallow Circle at a camp site. Right as he was settling into the Veil, Stormbreaker shouted.

"We are arriving at a camp site! We shall bed here for the night!" His voice boomed like thunder. The company started to slow down and eventually to a stop. Stormbreaker called Daggerfall's name.

"Before we take care of the necessary precautions for safety, let me address some things. I am taking you as my apprentice. You will refer to me as High Master, and you will speak when spoken to. From this point forward, you will be called Frosteye. No longer will Daggerfall be part of your identity." As Stormbreaker finished, Rock Cat howls were heard. The other ponies outside started to finish putting their livestock in the barn shelter. Another howl was heard, and out of the darkness, a Rock Cat pounced and snagged a little filly. It shook her about like a rag doll.

Before Daggerfall could think, Stormbreaker was shouting orders to Zed. "Get the ponies inside NOW!!" Stormbreaker then drew his two razor-toothed broadswords, as did Windblown. Daggerfall counted how many Rock Cats that came out of the forest. 'Eleven...Twelve...Thirteen...Fourteen...Fifteen! Fifteen Rock Cats! One is enough to deal with.' Daggerfall's thoughts were interrupted by fierce bellowing. The shouting was coming from Stormbreaker and Windblown. He knew what they were doing. He had heard about how Shadow Brother's would let out fierce battle cries to goad their talons into a frenzy.

"Zed!" Windblown shouted. "Cut the boy loose and get the talon to safety!" Zed did as told and cut Daggerfall's hands loose with a silver dagger, he then put a dagger in his hands. "Cut yourself loose, take care of the talon."

A Rock Cat roared and pounced. Stormbreaker cut it down in one swift motion. Another pounced at Windblown, his talon snatched it up with his jaws and roared triumphantly. Stormbreaker leaped onto another Rock Cat and sliced it's head clean off. Windblown jumped on his talon, commanding it to jump. It landed and crushed one more Rock Cat. The smell of gore and excrement made Daggerfall gag. Stormbreaker jumped onto his talon, its jaws closing on one more Cat, his sword finding the heart of another. A Rock Cat started towards Tek and Daggerfall. As it leaped, Zed charged and jumped into it's side, roaring louder than any other had. The Cat and Zed tumbled into taller grass, leaving them out of sight. Two Cats jumped on each side of Windblown, his swords running both of them through. Daggerfall was hoping that the Shadow Brother's would be killed one minute, and cheering at the Rock Cat's deaths the next. Stormbreaker jumped off his talon, doing a flip and landing on a Cat. In a flash he decapitated it and stabbed another. Windblown's talon picked up a Rock Cat in it's claws and bit down on its head. He then slid off his talon and sliced open another one. Zed shouted victoriously. His robes were covered in blood, whether that was his or the Rock Cat's was yet to be seen.

Only two Rock Cats remained. Although, these looked bigger than the rest, almost deformed. Daggerfall shouted at the Shadow Brother's. "Mockers! They're Mockers!" At that, the would be Rock Cats morphed. One turned into an older man, with long sharp claws. The other, took on a more feminine form. Gossamer looking wings unfolded and it took flight. Daggerfall had a look of panic cross his face. 'Do they know that the winged ones can spit?'

Stormbreaker took a stab at the grounded Mocker, missing by an inch. It lashed out, almost slashing Stormbreaker's shoulder. Windblown hesitated when he saw his Mocker take flight. Daggerfall shouted once more. "She can spit! The winged one can spit!" True to his word, the winged Mocker spat out a bubbling acid. Windblown dodged it and the glob disintegrated the earth where it landed. Meanwhile, Stormbreaker had sliced off one of his Mocker's hands. It screeched at him and took a swipe with his other good hand. He smoothly dodged it and stabbed it through the chest. With a twist of his blade and an upward sweeping action, the Mocker was no more.

Windblown wasn't having as easy a time with his foe. Every attack he tried, it dodged easily. Daggerfall shouted for a third time. "Bring her down! Take out her wings!" Windblown didn't need a second invitation, he leaped high in the air and sliced off the gossamer wings. He then mounted his talon. Another battle phase ensued. Dodging and slicing, evading and stabbing. This went on for a few minutes until Daggerfall had an idea. He nudged Tek with his elbow, she let out a shrill whistle. The Mocker turned to face that direction, seizing the moment, Windblown had his talon jump in the air and land on the Mocker. The sickening crunching sound followed.

Thirteen Rock Cats and two Mockers. Only one casualty. The Shadow Brother's left their talons to feast on their prey. The battle, was over.