CH 20 Summary: The traveling trio arrive in Thalda only to learn that their chief is dying. So they try to get to him before it is too late to notify him of the fiasco that is potentially unfolding in the neighboring Uron. However, upon arrival at his house, they are confronted by the second in command, and total hothead, Marqi. Many things are going to change here in chapter 21 of my first book... 'kay...?
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The Guardians of Life: Justice (Book I)
Chapter Twenty-One-
New Responsibility

The room was suddenly filled with an orange light coming from a lantern a female wolf was holding. She was glaring angrily at the three foxes, not at all happy to see them. This had to be the Marqi Kalha mentioned.
“Leave now, foxes. You are far from welcome here right now,” she growled so deeply and intensely, Aerobolt felt intimidated by her voice alone. Shade was not intimidated. She took a step forward glaring right back at her.
“Marqi. We have urgent matters to discuss with Stonepaw immediately. We do not intend to leave until our message has been heard,” she said forcefully.
Marqi narrowed her eyes. “Nova,” she seemed to say with a sneer. “Long time no see. Have you been in Hydyraen this whole time? Discern where your loyalties lie and make haste with it would you?”
“My name is Shade,” Shade said flatly.
“Shade? So you are the Arch Guardian of Darkness now? Abandoning your duties for ten years was not a wise choice. I bet Fielra is furious with you,” Marqi replied with immense scorn.
“Iridescence herself sent me to Hydyraen to fetch our God of Justice from the Unknown Enemy’s clutches to live as a Guardian,” Shade rebutted coldly.
Marqi scoffed. “Is that so? I do not believe you. I don’t believe a word any fox says that does not appear to be Guardian. That there is the Aerobolt, the deliverer of all life? Don’t make a fool of me, Shade,” she mocked the name Shade.
Aerobolt felt anger rising up in him. He took a step forward but was blocked by Shade.
“You are wasting all our time by testing our tempers as such! Quit stalling and take us to Stonepaw immediately!” Shade hissed impatiently.
“His soul is leaving his mortal body as we speak. Whatever must be said to him must be said to me now. Do not think I help any member of your kind, Shade,” Marqi taunted.
“It is not our kind that needs any help. It is all creatures that need help! You are hindering the salvation of all life! Cease your interference and cooperate! Or you will feel my wrath!” Shade was very angry now.
For a brief second Aerobolt thought he saw a flicker of fear flash through Marqi’s cold yellow eyes. But she continued to glare at them relentlessly. “You are threatening the future leader of Thalda here. I would not touch me if I were you. Or do you want support to Castla nu Craara cut off?”
Shade was shocked. “You can’t do that! Who do you think you are!? Arcane!?”
That touched a nerve. “How dare you call me by that wretch’s name!” she stormed fiercely.
Shade did not let up. “Yes. I did. For hindering the Guardians’ lives thereby risking total collapse of nature itself is exactly something Arcane would do. This makes you a very greedy swine, Marqi. This makes you no better than him.”
Silence followed and billowed throughout the room as Shade finished her rant. Breathing hard, she seemed to brace herself for an explosion from Marqi. But Marqi just stood there, shock lighting up her yellow eyes. Aerobolt detected so much tension it suffocated him.
“Uh, Shade? I think you went too far,” he said.
Shade was about to speak when Marqi cut in. “No. She’s right. I am selfish. What I just said made me sound like a complete fool. No leader in the past of future would cut off the Guardians. I know just how vital their existence is. My personality makes me quite unfit to be leader of Thalda,” she said.
Shade’s eyes widened as Storm and Aerobolt let sighs of relief escape. “You… you see what I mean…? You see what you are?”
“Being leader comes with new responsibilities. I must change in order to make the Thalda, Empra, Ieron, and Castla nu Craara areas as peaceful as possible. I have always known I had a temper. I realize now I need to learn to control it, or our falls are inevitable. Because of me. I could not bear to think that possibility. Shade, I must thank you for showing me exactly what I would have done, if I do not change,” Marqi said solemnly. And she sounded like she meant it. Shade was surprised that she made such an impact when she seemed to expect to have things even worse. Marqi smiled. “Come upstairs. I suppose you want to see Stonepaw, if I remember correctly. He does not seem like he is going to be in this world much longer. Whatever you have to say, can you please make it quick?” She retreated up the stairs, occasionally glancing back at the foxes.
Shade went to follow, but did not look back at Aerobolt or Storm. The two reynards were not sure what just happened but they followed anyway, keeping a slight distance behind Shade. Much like the stairs in Uron the stairs were creaky and old. With each step up, the smell of sickness and death intensified. Near the top, Aerobolt found it borderline suffocating. On the last few steps he heard the eerie sounds of someone’s last breaths. At the top he was in a small, windowless room lit by a lantern. The room had only a bed and a table and chair in it. Marqi was facing the bed where the smell was the strongest, and it was the source of the hoarse breathing. She was talking. “Master Stonepaw. I’m very sorry to bother you with a few foxes who claim they need to speak urgent words with you.” Hoarse whispering followed her words. “Are-are you sure, sir?” Marqi sounded somewhat surprised. “Al-alright,” she faced the foxes. He will listen to what you have to say.” She backed away revealing an old and ragged lupine face on a pillow. The eyes were so dim it shocked Aerobolt briefly. He saw them weakly surveying the foxes. Chief Stonepaw was far from good shape.
“N-Nova?” was the harsh, hoarse voice.
“Stonepaw…” breathed Shade as she stumbled to his deathbed. “M-my name is Shade now. I lead the Guardians of Darkness…” tears were welling up in her eyes.
“Is that- right?” he grunted painfully. He laughed weakly. “I have lived sixty-two years. I still sometimes see you when you were barely out of your cub ages, Sh-Shade. I remember those days… so well. I wonder how… how I have lived this long… with a condition like mine… Don’t think I tried to ignore it; …I knew I could never… ignore such a crippling… disability. It was fifty years ago… since it first happened,” he whispered.
“Stonepaw…” Shade said weakly.
“I know I was your first and only friend when you first came to Thalda, sick, frightened, starving…” Stonepaw wheezed.
“I-I never realized that you were dying,” Shade said very quietly. “I am about to lose my best friend…”
Stonepaw sighed. “Don’t worry about me. When I become a member of the Ethereal Sky, I will be young again and restored to full health. My only regret is leaving you behind.”
Shade nodded. “Y-yes… you will be happy and healthy again. A-and don’t worry… about me either. I-I will be strong. I am getting very old too. I am closing in on that threshold where I become older than expected. We will be together again soon enough. Don’t you worry.”
“Sh-Shade!” Aerobolt exclaimed. Was she serious about that!? Her death coming soon?! She can’t leave yet! Aerobolt realized how much he needed her.
Shade faced Aerobolt with wet eyes. “My time is not far. Foxes live to be fifty, and then they are expected to die shortly after. I have only three years left before that happens. Yet there is so much I need to do. I cannot leave without going to purgatory,” she said, a tear dripping down her face.
“P-purgatory! What have you done wrong!?” Aerobolt yelped.
“So many things. So many, painful, things,” Shade whispered.
“Shade,” croaked Stonepaw. “I do not know what… you think you have done, but… you are a good, no… a great fox… Nothing lasts forever. Not even our souls. Whatever you have done… will fade as you do, as the next generation begins…. The world will forgive you. But you first… must forgive yourself.”
Shade’s ears perked up. That was the exact same thing she told Storm. Now her best friend is telling her to live by what she said. Shade nodded slowly. “Yes… I-I understand,” she said.
Stonepaw coughed violently. Shade gasped out and leaned over his bed. “Is that… Aerobolt over there?” his handpaw under the covers indicated Aerobolt.
“Yes. The God of Justice,” Shade answered for him.
“Let me… speak to him…” Stonepaw’s ability to talk however was quickly diminishing. Aerobolt moved closer, trying not to wince at the smell. “At last… we meet… I have been waiting… to do so…”
“S-sir?”
“No need… to call me that. Before I go… I want to thank you,” he wheezed on. “For helping Shade… for helping… all of us… for all that you have done…”
Aerobolt was confused. “But I… I haven’t done anything yet!” he said.
“It is what you will do… that I am… thankful for...” Stonepaw said almost inaudibly.
“I-I…” Aerobolt stammered.
“Ah… beautiful Iridescence? Is that you? I will join you now,” Aerobolt almost had to read his lips to understand that.
“Stonepaw!” both Marqi and Shade gasped.
“Marqi? The fate… of Thalda lies… in your paws now… I am so glad I… got to meet all of you… I will always remember you… in the Ethereal Sky… I will always be watching… And Aerobolt…” Aerobolt leaned closer to hear. “I know you will… do what is right… You will make us… all proud… You will make your mother… proud…” with that Stonepaw breathed his last, dropping his head and closing his eyes for the last time.
Shade gasped, clutching her heart. Marqi stepped up to him, trying not to sound hurt, but failing. “I-we-won’t disappoint you! We will never forget you either!” she said, pulling the covers over his face. Aerobolt was more concerned about Shade. As he moved to comfort her, he brushed against something hard. It was where Stonepaw’s footpaws would be. He placed his handpaw on Shade’s shoulder.
“Are you okay? Shade?” he asked sympathetically.
“I have lost three of the ones I care for the most. I know now that they are all in a better place. Except for one.” Aerobolt knew she was talking about him. It was far from the right time to tell her he knows. When will it be, he wondered.
Shade sniffed. “I promised them I would stay strong… I-I am not the type to break promises. I will miss him forever, but I know that I must aim my pity towards the living, for they still live in tribulations away from the Ethereal Sky. Especially the one’s living under Arcane’s reign. Marqi? Would you please help us?”
All eyes turned to Marqi, the new leader of the town of Thalda. She seemed nervous. The weight of her new responsibility, and the realizations that came with it, were sinking in. “I will. I… I must! What did you need to tell Stonepaw anyway?”
In all the melancholy, the foxes completely forgot to tell Stonepaw about the famine and potential floods in Uron. Shade paid no attention to Aerobolt and Storm’s frustration at the realization. “In Uron, the Kobold Bandits stole nearly all of their supplies and crops. They are convinced a famine is inevitable unless Cavra, Thalda, and perhaps even Empra decided to help them. We have already gotten Cavra’s support, but we have yet to verify the situation with you and Empra. Another thing that worries me is that all the recent rain in the Plains will have flooded Uron as well. We ask for yours and Empra’s supports for helping Uron get back on their paws.” She explained shakily.
Marqi thought for a moment. “I see… I will see what I can do to send our traders to Uron as soon as possible… as well as a messenger to Empra. With all the rain over in the foothills and valleys, our crops have yielded a surplus. We will have no trouble helping at all. One thing that may be a problem is that damn river. The bridge is always falling into disrepair. I guess we could still approach Uron from the east side of the river… I will notify our traders as soon as we get you to our famous inn. Come. I will show you the way if you’d like…” Marqi turned to go back down the stairs. What a remarkable wolf. To have gone from complete irritability to someone who isn’t hesitant to help definitely has Aerobolt starting to respect her more.
Shade was the last to leave Stonepaw’s room. She looked back at him with sad eyes and said, “Rest in Peace my old friend.” As she started back down the stairs Marqi was already outside. It was nighttime.
Storm spoke finally after staying silent nearly the whole time, “Well that… that was depressing! I did not expect that to happen when we got here at all!” he said mournfully. Storm did not know Stonepaw too well apparently, but Aerobolt could tell Storm cared a lot for him. Was it because he was Shade’s closest friend?
“I know right?” Aerobolt agreed. “Life and death are full of surprises no matter how ready we are for them.”
Storm nodded in agreement. “So is Miss Marqi going to be the new chief of Thalda?”
“Yeah… she will. She made bad first impressions on me, but now she is growing on me,” Aerobolt replied.
“Thanks Aerobolt,” Marqi’s voice was close. Aerobolt was surprised she was still standing right behind him. Ear tips burning in embarrassment, he turned to follow Marqi back into the streets of Thalda. Lanterns were lit on either side of the path. Barely anyone was outside this late. Aerobolt was astounded at how quickly a place like this could be so deserted at night. Marqi, however, was disappointed.
“Damn. Our traders are due to leave in the morning. They will have turned in for the night by now. By morning it will be too late. My incompetence put Uron in danger; I must apologize.”
“Who are you and what have you done to Marqi?” Shade asked rather satisfied. “Well, we could go back and give Uron the goods they need,” she offered.
“What? You really mustn’t! You are expected at Castla nu Craara aren’t you? I cannot let you delay yourselves further!” Marqi said. “No. I will do it myself. It is my fault I let it get this far. I will send Kalha to Empra tomorrow to notify them of the situation. Hopefully their traders can help us out… Thalda can last a week with no leader. I should know… Stonepaw was sick and unable to act for almost a month. The rains took its final toll on him though,” she said sadly.
“Are you sure about this? Shouldn’t we notify Thalda about Stonepaw’s death?” Shade asked uncertainly.
Marqi sighed. “I will before I leave. Considering my reputation, I doubt they will welcome me warmly.”
“They will. Just show them that you have changed,” Shade said encouragingly.
“We’ll see,” Marqi was still uncertain. “Follow me. The inn is this way.” She turned left. It was very quiet out with the exception of a cricket here and there. There wasn’t any wind. It was quiet enough to where Aerobolt could hear their paw pads slapping the cobblestone streets. He realized how tired he was after such a harrowing day. He yawned loudly. The others did not take notice. He felt sorry for both Shade and Marqi and wondered how well they will sleep tonight. The many buildings in Thalda passed by as they went. It wasn’t until they were nearly at the southern gate of town that they stopped at one of the tallest buildings in Thalda.
“Here it is. Thalda’s inn. It’s quite famous. But I do not think you have time to learn its history, and I doubt if the innkeeper Aes is still awake either,” she put her handpaw around the doorknob and turned it. It clicked open. In the doorway stood an elderly feline figure with gray fur and dark spots all over. The fur on the sides of his face pointed downward. He had a short black tipped tail.
“Oh, Lady Marqi. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight. I was just about to lock up,” the lynx said.
“Just in time. Aes, I have three foxes here with nowhere to stay. They were with me when Stonepaw died,” she added solemnly.
Aes was surprised. “Stonepaw has died? I remember when he was a cub, before his name’s meaning had occurred. So Lady Marqi? You are our new chief now? I wish you luck,” he said with a slight bow.
“Thanks Aes. So how about it? Give these foxes a room or two if you would please…”
Aes looked at her oddly as if he thought she was about to explode.
“What? The weight of my new responsibility has changed me. And so did this vixen, Shade,” Marqi said, indicating Shade.
“Okay…” Aes began slowly, still uncertain of what Marqi truly felt. “I will help them out for tonight. Foxes, if you would…” he turned to go back inside.
“Good night Marqi,” Aerobolt said on the way in.
“Good night and good luck. I promise I will not let my temper get the better of me again… I will not let anything bad happen because of it…” she whispered as Storm’s tail vanished behind the doorway, which shut in front of Marqi.
It was rather dark inside the inn despite a large chandelier dangling above them. There was stairs leading up on one side, down on the other side of the inn. There were hallways that led to the left and right sides. It was a large inn. Aerobolt wondered how many creatures are using it right now.
Aes told them a couple rooms in the left hallway downstairs were open. The poor lighting, especially on the stairs, made finding his way around a little bit difficult for Aerobolt. He attempted to enhance the lighting, but only drew all the light from the chandelier upstairs and made it even darker up there. Eventually he found where Shade and Storm chose their room to be. The room could hold four creatures. This was unlike the inn in Uron. But he was not sure if Shade would want him there. Shade beckoned him inside, and Aerobolt immediately flopped down onto the bed next to Storm’s.
“Shade? Are you sure you are going to be okay about losing Stonepaw?” Storm asked with a yawn.
“I will be, Storm. Don’t worry about me,” Shade replied. Aerobolt knew Shade was hurting very badly inside, somehow. He dare not say a word about it, however. He barely could, anyway; he was much too tired to try. As Shade extinguished the lantern, Aerobolt thought of how his next obstacle would be his last. Myunae nu Eira. The huge mountains he saw many days before are finally upon him. And once he’d conquer them, he’d be home at last. He thought about what Castla nu Craara would be like several times before his conscious faded into dreams that resembled them so much.
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Wanna start from the beginning? Here is Chapter One! http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11187661/
Here is my series' index! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5340298/