Fight By My Side

When I woke up, all I could feel was the emptiness in my heart. It hurt and was heavy. Someone was moving underneath me. Vic stirred and gently rolled me off of him until I leaned against the tree. He didn’t know that I was awake and listening to him.

As soon as his footsteps started walking through the forest, I got up and silently followed his tracks. Everyone else was sleeping in the early morning. Alex’s death still weighed heavily on all of us, but another weight had added on top of it.

It was Alan’s brother who had killed Alex.

How was I going to tell him?

While these thoughts mindlessly swirled in my head, I followed Vic through the forest, until he reached the edge. I stepped out of the shadows and saw him rub his face tiredly. The morning sun was rising behind our back, scattering individual rays of light over the fields.

“Victor, where are you going?” I asked him as he started down the hill. He turned around in shock, but came back towards me. I waited for my answer. Once Vic stood right in front of me, he tussled my hair playfully.

“I’m going to get my brother back.” Vic told me firmly. I shook my head, not willing to lose another man who had been my brother. I wouldn’t let them take Vic away from me to.

“No, you’re not.” I stated firmly. Vic glowered at what I had just told him.

“Yes, Wynter, I am.” He planted his foot down firmly.

“No, because I don’t want to lose you to.” My voice cracked as I told him this. Victor immediately softened up. The boy collapsed into my arms and I held him for a moment, trying to imagine life without Vic’s jokes and complaints for someone to hold him because he’s scared.

“I have to go do this. I’m not letting them take Mike away.” Vic told me firmly. Once again, I shook my head.

“You’re not going without me and the others. We’ll make a plan and have a final stand against them. We’ll go down fighting.” I stated. Vic thought about it for a moment and then nodded. I took his hand and led him back to the clearing where we were all sleeping. People were rising and yawning away the last remnants of sleep. Alan and Kally were already up and checking on the severely wounded.

Jack stood on the edge of the clearing, just staring down at the bed of leaves. I decided not to bother him while he still mourned of the loss of Alex. Instead, I had to go break the news to Alan, who looked pretty depressed, but hid it well.

It looked like we were both sad over loosing Alex, Mike, and Austin. Who knew what was happening to the other two? I felt that same hollow in my gut. There was only sadness in my heart. It seemed to be increased with each minute.

Was Austin missing me just as badly as I missed him?

“Alan, can I talk to you for a moment?” I pulled the ginger cat aside. He nodded and followed me to the edge. His golden eyes stared me down curiously.

“What is it?” He asked. I took a breath, unsure of how he would take this.

“Alex was killed by your brother.” I said. Alan’s face drained of any color. His usual rosy cheeks went ghostly white. Waving my hand in front of his face, he didn’t react.

“I’m going to kill him.” Alan growled and stormed off. I knew the boy wouldn’t get too far and wouldn’t leave the immediate area. Now that everything had been out and in the open, I went back to Vic.

It was time to make a battle plan.

Three hours later…

We had it all settled. Vic and I announced to the group our plan. The mission was to go to the City and take down the leader of the Guardians. It was simply a name behind the figure.

I hadn’t heard much of him in the past year, but the name was familiar. He was Westley Ackers. He never did much of the killing, but was the leader of operations. He was the man that kept the entire order of protectors together.

We would kill only this man, and try not to hurt many more. It had been a few days, so what did the public still think of us?

Rip out the heart, and the entire creature will die.

I hadn’t thought much of Westley, besides the fact that I hated him for what he created. He had created the Guardians to hunt down and kill the Rogues, but up to this point, his creations had killed more innocents that Rogues.

Something strange pulled at my gut the more I thought about this, the way that he targeted those that were obviously peaceful instead of searching for the hiding murderers.

“Come on, Wyn!” Vic called. I had started to lag behind the small army that marched. Most of them had healed enough to Shift into their animal forms. Only Vic, Jack, and I were still human.

“Are you ready to get Austin and Mike back?” Vic bumped my shoulder. I nodded, gritting my teeth. I could only hope causalities would be low.

“I just want to get them back and end this war.” I told him truthfully. Vic gave me a weak smile and Shifted into a tiger. I looked to Jack.

“Aren’t you going to Shift?” I asked him. Jack stared at me sadly. Something was missing, and it wasn’t just Alex.

“Wynter, I-I c-can’t.” He trembled. I stared at him, continuing our walk, but my brain was frozen solid.

“What do you mean?” I asked him. What had happened to make this occur? I’ve never heard of it before.

“Ever since Alex died, I can’t Shift. I’ve tried, but I just can’t do it.” Jack to me sadly. How was he going to survive if he couldn’t Shift?!

“Jack, I don’t want to lose you as well.” I whispered to him. There had been far too many causalities. I can’t add Jack on top of that list.

“That’s why I’m going to stay out of the fight. I’m going to go get Ronnie. He’ll come and help you.” Jack said, his voice hollow.

A Shifter without his form….That was like a human without a set of lungs.

So as we hit the dirt road that turned to tar, our army marched on. As soon as we hit the main road, Jack turned off and went to find Ronnie.

I sure hope I will see him again.

Vic looked up at me with tawny eyes. I Shifted down to his level and started to lead the horde of Shifters ready to invade the City.

This was our final stand-one long rush into the imminent danger. Find the target, dispatch of him, and then run.

It was our last try.

An hour later, we reached the main road that led to the Barrier. Our group of about thirty crouched down in the brush. The Barrier was just in the distance, an easy sprint to reach the entrance.

That’s when we saw them. It was a line of about fifteen Guardians. Kellin nudged my side, his hoof stamping down in impatience to spill blood. I shook my head.

Not yet.

The line marched on, right past us. I saw Wyland in there and Vic let out a small growl. I swatted him to make him stop. Barely a sound was made. Only our soft breaths could be heard from close by.

The line passed right by us and then turned off into the side of the road by a copse of trees. A man appeared after they had faded into the tree line.

He waved at us to come over.

What?!

Vic looked at me. A small ginger cat glanced in my direction. Vic pressed his side into mine and stared me down. I could almost feel him telling me to wait. I shook my head and quietly padded out of our little secluded spot behind the bushes and underbrush.

The man was Wyland.

A small figure trotted beside me. It was Alan, coming to see his brother. I nearly snapped at him for his foolishness, but held back. I guess if anyone could talk some sense into Wy, it was Alan.

I stopped ten feet away from Wyland, barring my teeth in a warning. He held up his hands in surrender.

“Look, before you kill me, hear me out.” The man begged. A few other faces from the line appeared between the branches, ready for action.

“I know what I did was wrong. I know that I killed your parents, your friend, and many others. You won’t ever forgive me, and that’s fine. But before you go charging head long into danger, just hear what we found out.” Wyland begged. Was he actually tearing up?

Alan hissed unhappily next to my side. I waited for the older brother to continue on.

“Look, we’ve never actually met the man who runs the Guardians. I would assume that’s why you’re here, to kill the man who created them. That would be any logical plan. The thing is, the man isn’t who you think he is. Westley Ackers isn’t a normal human.

“The Guardians turned from a noble cause to a corrupt one because the man eventually gave orders to ignore all Rogues and go for any other Shifters. There were rumors within the Guardians that Westley was working with Rogues now. This split our order right down the middle between those who were loyal to the man they never met and those who were cautious and untrusting of him.

“Well, those rumors are true. You’re going to rush into a death trap of the City. It’s filled with Rogues, and corrupt Guardians. Some of the Guardians are normal, and other have the Upgrade.” Wyland told me. Alan hissed again. Wy turned down to him.

“Alan?” He asked. The cat grumbled his acknowledgement. Wyland’s face went from shock to confusion and then to determination within the space of a second.

“Look, I know you hate us and don’t trust us-I wouldn’t either. The thing is, you’ll need our help if you’re going to want to kill the corrupt leader. We want no part of this crazed war he has going anymore. I’m tired of hurting the ones I love. I’m willing to help you, if you’ll just trust us for once.” Wyland held out his hand.

I Shifted back to a human, still not saying anything but I took a step forward.

“Who is this man, if he isn’t Westley Ackers?” I asked curiously. Behind me, I could feel many eyes focus on my action. Behind Wyland, the other Guardians emerged from the forest. My own little army had come to back me up. Animals of all sorts from the might bear, the quick falcon, and even the fierce fit bull Kally came to back me up.

Could I really trust this man who had hurt me and taken away my family?

Did I have a choice?

“It’s Aaron Wild, the leader of the Rogues.”

Notes