*This chapter has been modified somewhat to fix the many problems I had with it before. This chapter may still be inadequate for quality.* Good thing it's just the first draft...

It's not good that Arcane is joining Shade and Aerobolt for their outing. How are they supposed to escape now!? They fail to come up with any ideas and end up worrying, possibly, too much about what Arcane would have them do. This shows just how much they HATE their current lives, and how much they will strive for liberation. Here is Chapter 5 of the first book I am writing...
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The Guardians of Life: Justice
Chapter Five
Overreaction

Shade spat out chicken everywhere, coughing and choking. “He’s WHAT!?” Other dining foxes gave her furious stares as they went on with their meals. All the members of Hydyraen had returned from their day of antagonizing Nyethra by the time Aerobolt had found his way back down into the dining hall. Aerobolt knew that all the food obtained here was stolen from travelers and traders. The Shadow Vulpines targeted mainly meats, particularly poultry, but if they could get their paws on fruits and other sweet delicacies, then they consider it a very good day.
Shade was choking on her share when Aerobolt had revealed to her that Arcane would be joining them. “Why is he joining us?” she exclaimed.
“He says I need a guide; this will be my first time out there, you know…” Aerobolt said guiltily.
“That’s stupid! I know the area better --!”
Aerobolt interjected, “He doesn’t trust you, remember?”
Shade pounded the table and let out an exasperated sigh, “Then why, why does it have to be Arcane of all foxes in this damn place?” she growled furiously.
“I don’t know, but I can’t help but think he’s on to us,” Aerobolt said in a low voice.
“Why would he think that?” Shade asked, still fuming.
“First, he doesn’t trust you,” Aerobolt repeated, “second, that vixen I talked to earlier is suspicious of me, too.”
Shade gasped. “Of you? Why you? What have you done to make them wary of you?”
Aerobolt shook his head, “It’s what I didn’t do that probably made her feel that way. When I stepped on her tail this morning, and didn’t take charge by instead apologizing, I guess that’s enough for her to say that I am ‘refusing the ways of us’. Apparently, that makes me a threat combined with you. She’s likely to have told Arcane by now about this connection. We must remain on our toes and continue this plan with caution. Question is: how are we going to continue at all?”
“With Arcane breathing down our necks the whole time, that will be difficult. The Guardian is nearly here; it is too late to turn back now. If it were any other fox, this wouldn’t be so impossible to figure out. What do you think we should do, Aerobolt?”
“Hmm… If we could distract him long enough, averting his attention away from us, then the Guardian can swiftly take us away before he notices?”
Shade shook her head. “No. We must make sure Arcane can’t or won’t go with us. If we disappear so soon after having his attention, it would spell disaster. Whatever happens, we must be alone tomorrow.”
“Well, how are we going to do that?” Aerobolt demanded. “Just tell him, ‘Nope! You can’t come with us!’ He’ll slit our throats!”
Shade growled, “We’re stuck. Looks like the both of us will be here for a little while longer…”
Aerobolt gulped. He dreaded what was going to happen. “You mean we have to…?”
Shade sighed slowly, “I’m afraid so. We have to do what we strived to avoid for so long...”
Aerobolt choked a gasp.
“I know you don’t want to. Believe me, I don’t either, but whatever we have to do to get out of here, I’ll do it. Are you the same way?”
Picturing the panic stricken faces of Nyethrans as he meaninglessly attacked them filled him with so much anguish, their pain could be his own. “It’s my only shot at freedom,” he choked. “I do not have a choice. I never did.”

Aerobolt could not sleep that night. He was too busy fretting over what he was about to do the next day and thrown his mind into a hurricane of dread. His entire life, spent trying to avoid hurting anyone, suddenly felt meaningless. He felt hopelessness starting to set in. It was all for nothing. He’d be doing this only once, yes, but it would be once too many. Not once, not ever, but was it really and truly his only ticket out? What will Arcane have him do? That was the question that haunted him the most. What if Arcane ordered him to kill? He could never do such a thing. He would take his own life before he’d even let it cross his mind. Whatever he had to do, he knew he has to if he wants liberation. His thoughts grew more frantic the more he thought of what lies in his future. If he kills someone just to escape, that would make him feel horribly selfish. The thought of such a thing made him feel very sick to his stomach. If it all comes down to murder, he’s more willing to spend eternity in Hydyraen; he will forever refuse it. All he could do was wait. Eventually, sleep did overrule his turbulent mind. But his dreams just as such.
He dreamed he was a cat, traveling on a mountain path to a settlement on the other side. Out of nowhere, three Shadow Vulpines ambushed him. One of them was Arcane. The other two looked shockingly like his fox self and Shade. Both of Arcane’s companions looked completely savage, with no mercy glinting in their blood-red eyes. Arcane pointed at him, saying something indistinct, and at that instant, his companions leaped at him. He was sent flying back onto the ground, the two foxes on top of him, clawing and biting. Their handpaws were enhanced by darkness energy that blinded him with negative thoughts and emotions. Aerobolt the cat could not even struggle. His heart was racing, as he feared for his life. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arcane raiding his belongings and pulling out his scepter. It was encrusted in platinum. Screaming against the pain, he closed his eyes, as he felt his vitality ebb away. He willed it all to end, all the pain, with his death, or their mercy. He knew they had no mercy. He knew he was going to die. Soon, the sound of his screaming began to fade. His vision grew whiter and whiter. He was losing awareness of his consciousness. Then, there was no more pain. His vision was completely white, and all he could do, was let his mind slip into the void…
Now he was sitting upright, gasping for air. It was morning, about time for Arcane’s daily speech. Feeling weaker and more exhausted than before, he dragged himself out of bed. His fur was a mess, just to show him how restless he was that night. ‘…Dream. It was just a dream…’ To think, he may have to make his dream a reality. This time however, he’d be the one attacking. And for what? Nothing can justify murder. Why? Why did he have to be born a Shadow Vulpine? That question had been asked so frequently to himself, that he felt sick of asking it. He forced himself to move out of his quarters and into the hallway of West Wing. He was exhausted, contrasting that of the wide awake Shadow Vulpines that coursed around him, disregarding him completely.
‘Must be nice to be happy. Even if it is for all the wrong reasons.’ Up ahead, he saw another fox that looked just as tired as he was. Shade. Knowing that even she had a rough night gave him a little hope. He was glad he wasn’t alone in this situation. He couldn’t bear it if he was alone. He caught up to her, and noticed instantly that Shade’s eyes lost their playful glow he got used to when she found out about him.
“Aerobolt,” she muttered painfully. “I had the worst night. I dreamed I was this traveling cat. Arcane had ordered two foxes that looked too much like us to kill me. I woke up as I died…”
Aerobolt hadn’t gasped, even though he was surprised. “That’s exactly what happened to me! I had the same dream.”
Shade looked up. “You did? We can’t do this. It’s too horrible to think about. What if he has us kill someone? He wouldn’t do that, would he? If he does, there’s just no way…”
‘She read my mind. But what choice do we have?’ Aerobolt thought solemnly. “We have to. If we ask to turn back now, it won’t be pretty.”
Shade growled in frustration. “This is wrong! Why can’t we just leave right now!? Why do we need HIS approval first, anyway!?”
“He can track Shadow Vulpine blood that hasn’t gotten his approval. We can’t just ditch him now. It is as you said; he mustn’t come with us. The gates are locked anyway. We can’t get out until he unlocks them anyways…” Aerobolt said.
Shade was distraught. “What have we done to deserve the crap we call our lives, huh!? Why!?”
Aerobolt didn’t believe what he was hearing. Shade was always a tough vixen. Never would he have thought she couldn’t handle what he couldn’t either. At least he knew right now, that doing what Arcane says today is their only shot out of here. “Hey! Shade stop that! Sitting here and feeling all sorry for ourselves is going to change nothing!”
Shade laughed ruefully. “Look at me. I must look pathetic. How dare I call myself a Guardian? I’ve dealt with this crap before. I should be able to take it again. This is ridiculous. Clearly, we are overreacting, aren’t we, Aerobolt?”
“Maybe we are. Like we said before, it all comes down to what Arcane will have us do. Because I am still so new at this, the worst I think he’ll have us do is stealing. Not kill. No way he’ll think I am ready for that yet. Just once. I failed to avoid this completely, but it’s just for one time,” Aerobolt stated.
“I wish we could leave. Skymae never closed the gates. If Arcane is closing them at night, clearly he is insecure about something,” Shade said quietly.
Aerobolt’s eyes widened. “You don’t think there is someone else after Arcane, do you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s just paranoid. HEY! Would you watch it!?” she snapped when another fox bumped into her, seemingly intentional. He turned back at her and spat insincerely, “Sorry.” He turned tail and walked off.
“Isrir,” Shade muttered.
“Still upset after losing to you, I see?” Aerobolt couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Yeah.”
“We really should get going. If we’re late, Arcane will cut off our tails.” Aerobolt noticed the crowd thinning.
“Right.”
The two of them proceeded towards the Hall together. Both of them had finally found some energy to use to get there somewhat painlessly. They were nearly the last ones to arrive, which meant they’d be among the first to leave. With any luck, they could avoid Arcane altogether. Practically every Shadow Vulpine was there. Arcane sat in his usual throne on the other end of the Hall. Aerobolt tried not to flinch when Arcane’s eyes found his. Arcane stood up.
“Welcome to another day, my friends, my family!” he called. “I hope your night was restful, and you are ready for the challenges ahead today! Our activities have made Hydyraen thrive. Our activities have shown Nyethra that we are on top of life. We have shown them, that a Shadow Vulpine is to be feared and respected as a deity should. Yes… My friends, my family, we are deities! Nyethra needs to remember that! How? We must take our activities and increase them! I will now leave the gates open at all times, during the hours of the moonlight!”
“What!?” growled Aerobolt above the cheering.
“Oh, no…” Shade murmured.
“Nyethrans are all standing too high on their paws, thinking they are safe at night! Deities will not subject to ridicule! We’ll show them our shadows in the shadows of the night! After all, we are SHADOW Vulpines, am I right!?” howled Arcane as Hydyraen exploded in cheers of approval.
“I don’t believe this…” Aerobolt barely heard himself say that. He looked over at Shade, who just stared at her paws.
“Let’s go my brethren! Let’s go and show Nyethra our might! One day, we may conquer all things benevolent! Shadows will fall even in daylight! We will rule the entire world of Nyethra someday! I promise you that! Alright Vulpines! Disperse!”
Almost too stunned to move, Aerobolt looked over to Shade, who returned his look with one of determination. Aerobolt nodded in understanding. Both turned to leave the Hall.
“Humph. So all our efforts were for nothing,” Shade muttered.
“It would’ve ended the same either way,” Aerobolt said encouragingly.
“No. If we had waited just one more day…” Shade said.
“There’s no way we would’ve known Arcane was going to pull that. Anyway, we’re not going to let this stop us, are we?”
“Of course not.”
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
Before they completed their first step, “I believe you are forgetting someone.”
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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/