Time to see what kinds of things unfold as Shade and Aerobolt escape Hydyraen, to live the lives they were meant to lead... But can they make a clean escape? Chapter seven of the first book I am writing is finally up...
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The Guardians of Life: Justice
Chapter Seven-
Escape

Night had fallen on Hydyraen. It is time. Time to abandon the life he never wanted. Time to live the life he wants. Time to be free.
Shade had told him to meet her outside around midnight. Arcane really helped them out this time; if he hadn’t opened the gates at night, they would have to worry about being caught. Also, according to Arcane, they were supposed to be out at night. Ha had also given them a perfect alibi. However, what they were about to do, are completely against his orders.
It was just twenty minutes before midnight, and Aerobolt was already too impatient to continue waiting. Carelessly, he dashed out of his room, not even caring if the sound of his pawsteps were to wake other Vulpines. He stumbled up the stairs of West Wing very recklessly, stubbing his paws on nearly every step. He did not care. Footpaws stinging and aching painfully, he continued to dash through the darkened halls of Hellgates. Just ahead, in the dim light, the gates lie. They were yards away! Feet! Inches! At last, he is free! He’s crossed them! He hoped it would be the very last time he’d ever see this place. The Hydyraen stones faded to dirt. Hopefully, he’ll never have to touch them again. He was reluctant to slow down when the tunnel narrowed., but he still scrambled gracelessly through the remainder of the tunnel. Only when he emerged into Nyethra, as a finally free fox, did he realize how tired he was.
Before he could catch his breath. Commotion. Then he saw them. Three foxes were struggling with one another. He recognized Shade and Isrir right away. The third fox was unidentifiable. In the darkness, his fur was the color maroon, with the respectable black and white markings. For sure, this fox was not Shadow Vulpine. Aerobolt felt nervous. Is it an enemy? Then the area lit up as the third fox conjured up a bright flash of lightning, making Aerobolt scream in surprise. The mystery fox fired it right at Isrir, who responded with the manifestation of his dark emotions. In a flash of both darkness and light, blending so brilliantly, Aerobolt’s eyes felt completely dazzled by it. Both foxes crumpled to the ground and did not move. Shade screamed. Aerobolt shook his head to snap himself out of it, and ran over to them.
“I’m here! What’s happened!?”
Shade was hysterical. “I-I was just standing here, waiting for you, when Isrir showed up! H-he said he knew what we were planning all along! He said that he told Arcane about it, and got orders from him to kill us! He attacked me! That was when our Guardian showed up to defend me. Th-they’ve killed each other, Aerobolt!”
“What!?” Aerobolt ran over to investigate Isrir. His blood red eyes were open, but nothing was in them. Not even darkness. It was nothingness; they were completely empty! Choking, and trying not to be sick, Aerobolt backed away and nearly tripped over the Guardian. On that handsome face, Aerobolt noticed his eyes were the color of gold. Yet, they still resonated with that emptiness, like in Isrir’s. The fox’s fur was orange. So this is what the Guardians looks like? Shade was right. Both foxes were dead.
“I-I,” Aerobolt choked.
At that same instant, there was more rustling behind the two of them. More Shadow Vulpines? It can’t be! But then a very young sounding voice called out from just inside the bushes, “Are you alright, Master? Have you gotten Miss Shade and Mister Aerobolt yet?” A young fox, still a cub, but barely, had emerged from the bushes. He looked much like the Guardian, only shorter and chubbier. He gasped when he saw the grown Guardian on the ground, dead. “Master! What did they do to you!?” he gasped again when Shade took a step forward. “Stand back you murderers! I’m gonna make you pay for this! I am not a silly little cub, like everyone thinks! I am a Guardian in training!” He struck a pose, prepared to attack.
“Storm? Is that you? I remember when you couldn’t even walk yet!” Shade said warmly.
The cub named Storm looked down nervously. “H-how do you know my name?”
“It’s me! Shade!”
The cub narrowed his eyes, “Shade? Is that really you? Wow, you had it rough. And who is he? Aerobolt I hope.”
Aerobolt nodded.
“Wow! You’re barely older than me! I thought you’d be as old as Shade!” the cub exclaimed.
“You…” Shade nudged his muzzle playfully. Then a dark look crossed her face. “I’m sorry about Plazma.”
Storm shrugged. “I just wish I got to know him better. I was only apprenticed a short time ago. But who is gonna mentor me now?”
“The sooner we get back to Caslta nu Craara, the sooner we can find out. We must not stay and talk; there are bound to be other Shadow Vulpines who want a nighttime raid. And we can’t just leave these two just lying here. Aerobolt, would you please get Isrir out of here? I got Plazma. Shade proceeded to pick up Plazma’s limp body and carry it into the forest. Aerobolt looked down at Isrir. He felt a twinge of satisfaction. ‘Look at you now. Who is on top now? You got what you deserved.’ he thought viciously as he grabbed Isrir by the footpaw and started to drag him towards the river. When he made it to the bank, he was out of breath again. He was surprised to find himself facing the ruined dam, up close. From up close, he could see logs chopped in half and entangled with each other. ‘Hmph. Let us kill two birds with one stone…’ With that, he aimed a kick right at Isrir’s neck. Isrir was sent flying onto the dam, and in response, the dam collapsed entirely as Isrir’s body made contact with it. The river realized it was free instantly, washing away several tons worth of wood. Just before he washed away, Aerobolt saw Isrir’s handpaw waving just above the surface, right before a tree branch knocked it under. It was as if he were still alive, but drowning. ‘I wish he did struggle!’ Aerobolt thought angrily. Breathing heavily, he turned and saw Shade and Storm looking at him with looks of shock and fear. They did not say a word. Aerobolt walked past them, “Come on. Let’s go home. Our real home.”

When dawn finally cracked over Ryanda Forest, Aerobolt, stiff as a board, dropped from a tree. Groaning, he stretched to try and wake his body. “Trees are not for foxes,” he grumbled to himself. The three of them had to sleep in the trees that night when several Shadow Vulpines had patrolled the forest that night. A call was put out to find the murderer of Isrir, who’s body was found a mile or two downstream, by the same vixen Aerobolt met the day before, who’s name he remembered being Uukai. Shade had said he threw a wrench in their plan by not disposing him properly. Aerobolt had argued that Isrir had deserved what he got.
“Does it matter?” Aerobolt had yelled. “Arcane already knows our plan!”
Shade had no answer to that. She dropped out of the tree next to him. Storm popped out gracelessl y, landing on his tail, kicking up dust.
“Are they gone?” He asked, getting to his paws.
Aerobolt shrugged. With the gates open all the time, it was impossible to tell.
“Just keep on your guard,” Shade said.
Aerobolt was growling, “He knew this whole time. He knew we were against him. Why did he not just kill us when he had us right in his grasp?”
Storm jumped by, while trying to catch airborne insects. How nice it would be, to be a cub again, to be carefree and free from problems. Aerobolt never had that. Watching Storm playing around made him feel depressed. He sighed. ‘My cubhood days are over. I never knew happiness when I should. ’
“I try not to question everything Arcane does. I have to tell you, I think Arcane is targeting the Guardians. Through you, somehow, he’ll find a way to infiltrate our home,” Shade said.
“He’s what!?” Storm yelped. “But-but! Not even the cruelest baddy would ever target our home! Why would he-!?”
Shade interrupted, “He wants to drown the world in darkness. He wants to make sure that any forces that are not evil are disintegrated, in any way possible. If it means our elimination is the way to do it, then he won’t even hesitate.”
“Are you joking? You gotta be joking!” Storm cried.
“So, if the Guardians are eliminated, just how bad a situation can result from it?” Aerobolt asked, confused.
Shade growled deeply and angrily, “Oh, it matters more than everything that the Guardians exist. For if we don’t, the Seven Forces of Life will become erratic, and eventually lead to the world’s ruin, and even Iridescence can’t stop it.”
That’s it! Brain hurting, Aerobolt growled, “Whoa! Slow down! Seven Forces of Life!? Iridescence!? Just what are you foxes!?”
Shade glanced at Storm, who stared back with his golden eyes. Shade sighed, “You will know soon. Let’s clear the forest beforepaw. There could be many prying ears too close to us. Let’s go.”

They did not get far. Just a hundred paces after, a Shadow Vulpine had spotted them. It might not have been a problem if it weren’t for Storm’s different pelt coloring. It may be normal within the Guardians. To the Shadow Vulpines, he sticks out like a sore paw.
“Where are you? I know you are around here,” growled a vixen’s voice just in front of a berry bush, the refugees happened to be hiding behind. “Show yourselves!”
Several agonizing moments went by, and the vixen still did not give up. Persistence. Why did Shadow Vulpines have a lot of it? Sitting there in the position he was in gave Aerobolt painful stiffness in his legs. He shifted his legs uncomfortably.
“Hmm?” the vixen heard it. Aerobolt froze. Shade glowered at him. “I found you,” the vixen hissed eerily enough to send chills into Aerobolt’s tail. He could hear her pawsteps getting closer and closer. Storm started to shake in fear, which in turn, started to shake the bush as well. “Oooohh,” the vixen cooed even more eerily, “Afraid are we? Well how about I amplify that for you? It is this bush isn’t it?” she added teasingly. Aerobolt saw her handpaws grasping the top of the bush. Without thinking, he sprung up from the bush, yelling.
“Arrabalta!” he slammed her to the ground, knocking her out cold and dislocating her shoulder. Aerobolt stood up, dusting his legs. Shade emerged from the bush, looking surprised.
“I never thought you’d attack your own kind…” Shade said.
Aerobolt scoffed. “They aren’t my kind.” He spat on the unconscious vixen. “They never were.”
“But aren’t you--?”
“A pacifist? I was. Then Arcane happened. Now, I will fight for my beliefs, of benevolence, and for life!”
“Well aren’t you a noble one?” Shade chuckled. “I suppose that’s a good thing.”
Aerobolt thought of something bold. “I will restore our reputation and make all Nyethra see that not all foxes are bad creatures!” he vowed.
I am not sure how well that’s going to work. Even with the Guardians around, foxes sustained a crappy reputation, and I doubt anything or anyone is ever going to change that. Even after Arcane’s death, and yours,” Shade said skeptically.
“I don’t care. I will make my best effort to do so anyway,” Aerobolt growled.
Storm finally summoned himself out of the bush. “Mister Aerobolt. Do you hate who you are?”
Of all questions this cub could ask, how could it be that one? “I hate who I was. It’s who I’m gonna be that matters,” Aerobolt answered. Then he remembered. “Shade!”
“What? What is it?”
“You said you were born in Hydyraen right?”
“That’s right.”
“That vixen, I think Uukai was her name, said that you weren’t. What does that mean?”
Shade looked angry. Shaking in rage and clenching her fists, she growled, “These foxes are liars. They’ll do whatever they can to convince you to believe them. Especially deter your trust from someone, especially if the information is false. They don’t care whom they step on to get what. You already know that. This contradiction is just one example of this. I promise you that I was born in Hydyraen and escaped and sent back to find you.”
“Oh don’t worry, I don’t doubt you. I just wanted your take on all this. We have wasted a lot of time already; we really need to get a move on,” Aerobolt looked up and saw that the sun was already on its way back down on the western horizon.
“Yes we do,” Shade said also looking up. “So onward! Your new life awaits!”
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Chapter One! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11187661/
Series Index! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5340298/