Username -Icefang
Name - General) Furorem Umbra
Gender - Male
Let's get writing! c:
Dedicated to my father, a strong soldier he is, and for inspiring this story from your own travels.
Disclaimer:
No other viscets from this story, other than Furorem, are real. Although, if one comes along, i might give her the name Argentum. Maaayyyybe.
-Midnight-
My eyes searched the battlegrounds for any enemy movement. Sure, i wasn't being forced to fight, being the general of the DragonEmpire, but I wanted out and on the battlefield, right there along with my fellow soldiers, defending Dragon from the attacking army of Phoenix.
"Sir."
I turned, torchlight glinting off my obsidian-diamond fused general helm and regarded the messenger with eyes of steel. My tail swept the ledge, armor tail cuffs rattling like scales. It would be annoying for anyviscet else, because of the omnipresent weight, but i had gotten used to it from my moons and moons of wearing it.
"What is it, Kan?" I said, trying to contain the weariness from entering my voice.
"Our spies have gotten back. They report that the enemy will attack approximately two hours from now."
I turned my head back to gaze at the ranks of enemy soldiers. Thousands. Reaching a paw up, i twisted the ring in my ear that signaled that I was a General, when there was no reason to wear armor.
"Anything else?"
"No, sir. The spies have gotten back in Phoenix safe."
I nodded grimly. Two hours from now, a great clash will happen, and it won't be pretty... Gathering my thoughts, I hardened my resolve.
"Take the army formation and gather them inside the gates. We will make the first move. One hour from now, we open the gates and attack. Take two and split off, pincer movement. Archers in the back and castle walls. Catapults i want in the middle-back. Load them with cannonballs and flaming wood. Have I made myself clear?"
Another, silver-furred viscet ran up the steps. My right-paw (wo)man, the Second-In-Command, the viscet that always brought a smile on my lips and took the stress off my back, Argentum. In a crisp voice, yet with a hint of her laughter that always was in her voice, she spoke.
"General."
"Please, call me Furorem."
"Furorem. I heard the orders, so Ken won't need to talk much. Shall I despense the flaming torches to our archers now?"
"Yes, please do, Argentum. Thank you."
Ken spoke up again, both wanting to speak but hesitant.
"Sir, where will the-"
"Everyone else stay out of the fighting. This is going to be a bloodbath..."
Kan nodded sharply, saluted me, and ran off down the walls, and Argentum followed soon after, after glancing at me a look of concern. Clearly, my stress showed. Setting my jaw, I looked at the moon, laughing at our silly conflicts.
I know, I know. But who can't fight when they have to?
-Witching Hour-
Roars. That's what I opened my eyes to. Cursing, I lunged at the opposite side and nearly catapulted myself over the wall. The Phoenix army was advancing... My eyes flicked up to the moon. Only thirty minutes had passed, roughly, since I fell asleep from the stress and the lack of sleep i had. The troops were not ready for this and were now scrambling to get their arms up and start fighting. Sweat running down my fur, I raised my sword high, so that it caught the moonlight and reflected it, and the light was blinding.
"DRAGON ARMY. FIIIIGHT!" I roared over the din, and launched myself into the crowd of enemies, cutting down the viscets left and right.
Yells. Slashes. Wild eyes. Panicked breathing. Jostling bodies. Sharp weapons tearing into my skin. War cries. Clangs as sword struck sword. The agonized yell of a comrade close by...
It blended into a sea, a chaos-filled ocean of sound and movement and light...
Frantically, I slashed around, cutting down anyone who dared get near me. Me. Furorem. General. And survivor...
"DRAAAAAAGOOOOOOOOOONNN!!!" I screamed until my throat felt raw. Furiously, I started parrying, striking, blocking, ducking, leaping, thrusting. Enemy after enemy fell at the hands of Furorem. ME. Adrenaline filled my veins (and arteries) and made me swing with renowned vigor as i thought of my fellow viscets, sacrificing themselves to make sure their sons and daughters lived in a safe world. In a better world.
Amid the tussle, I tried to locate the General of the other army, named Bufo. There! The fat viscet barely squeezing into his armor. Ducking and weaving nimbly, I cut down his guards and roared at him.
Suddenly, he produced a viscet from behind his bulk, holding a dagger to her throat.
"Furorem!"
Argentum.
"Put her down. Now. Before I make you."
Bufo laughed, a cruel, booming sound, but also with a hint of desperation and fear.
"Or what? I have the upper hand here. You know that."
Unfortunately, he was right. I was crippled without Argentum. Baring my teeth, I pointed my sword at him.
"Let. Her. Go."
"Drop your weapon and I'll let her go."
Argentum stirred, eyes, now dull, locking with mine. I dropped my blade, at the same time she spoke.
"Tell my mother i died for my empire."
Then, she lunged forward, against the blade, and sacrificed herself for a distraction so the Dragon Empire could win. She went limp, and the general Bufo, stunned, froze and let her drop to the ground. Without any further delay, the overweight general threw his bulk at me.
I keened, a high, heart wrenching sound. Then, I swiftly picked up my sword, receiving a quick slash to the neck, then one to my eye, blinding me with my own blood.
Before he could run my neck through, I got a hold of my blade. Sudden pain in my left ear, and the feeling of teeth sunken into the cartilage. I jerked my head back, trying to make Bufo let go.
A wrench, then I lost feeling in the tip of my ear, but from the middle, piercing pain.
Trying to thrust my sword up, I was suddenly squished under the general's fat, unable to breathe as he cut me in several places, including my back, tail, and paw, trying to reach my head or underbelly.
I was about to give up. I had already lost a lot of blood, and suffocated. But no. I could not give up to the Phoenix army.
Think of the visclings. Think of the soldiers. Think of the empire. Think of... Think of Argentum.
With an animal roar, I strained my legs, lifting. Lifting the fat general up and slamming him down, one word echoing in my mind through the sounds of war.
Argentum.
"FOR DRAAAAAGOOOOOONN!!!"
Falling on Bufo, I plunged my blade deep in his body, killing him instantly. Leaving the blade and him, I got up, blood staining my fur.
The war was over. All the phoenix troops saw it as they turned to Bufo's howl of death. Hurriedly, they fell to their knees or retreated. Sobbing for breath, I ran over to the silver viscet, neck stained with red, whom I had been in love with for many, many moons.
"Argentum..."
Her eyes opened a sliver. Still alive, but only just.
"Furorem..." A weak whisper.
Her life was still pouring out onto the dusty cobblestones of the court.
"I love you, Argentum. Please, don't go..."
"It's already... too late for me... don't worry.... i'll live among the stars... i'll never leave you in spirit. Tell... Tell them i dead for my empire..."
"I will, Argentum. I will..."
"Call me... Argen..."
"Argen... Call me Furor..."
"Furor..."
"Argen..."
With a last, soft gasp, the life in her eyes flickered away, leaving but a gentle ember, a reflection of the moon.
I fell to my knees, tears flowing down like torrential rains.
'AAAARRRRRGGEEEEEEEEEEEENTTUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!"
Energy gone, wounds staring to burn, I collapsed, unable to move another step, but i did. I eased my paws under her body and lifted her, gentle as a breeze. Turning to my army, helmet fallen, dirty, on the ground, bright tears streaking their way through the blood on my cheeks. Fire in my eyes, burning through the film of ignorance, yet not a roaring blaze. Enough to shine a light through the veil that covers us all to keep us safe from the true feelings of the world, the love, the fear, the pain, the happiness.
All it took.
A gentle Ember.
I lifted her body from the ground, and hugged it tightly, but nothing hugged back. A ghost of her mischievous, quirky smile lingered on her face.
Getting to my paws and lifting her over my head, I silently offered her soul to the gods. Her body dissolved into millions of bright stars, floating up through the sky, past the moon, and settling themselves into her shape, smile clear, face relaxed, and I could hear her ringing, jolly, bell-like laughter in my head.
Forever in the sky, watching over us.
Forever in my heart, aching, yet comforting, yet strangling, yet warm.
Forever.
-Aftermath-
I hung up my armor, cleaned of that terrible night. I rubbed my back, the area around the bandages sore, and the wounds themselves a constant pain. But that was nothing compared to the emotional pain i felt. People think pain is like a crashing wave, but the true grief is like a thick blanket of snow, over everything, and you feel as if you are suffocating, the ache always there. My dreams were oft visited by her.
Looking up to the painting of her, I let another tear slip out of my eye, struggling for breath. I hadn't realized how much I loved her before she was taken away from me.
Only know you love her when you let her go...
Biting down hard on my lip, my teeth clamped on the ring, originally on my ear, but since Bufo had bitten it off, now to my lip. I couldn't bear it being on my ear again, since that reminded me too much of...her... back when she was alive... She had used to joke about me looking like a tough guy...
Besides, it was nice to bite down hard on when i was in public and the tears threatened.
But it was time.
Time to let go.
Taking down the painting, I walked outside, the courtyard deserted. Perfect. She would've liked it this way, quiet, honorable without anyone making a big fuss of it.
Standing it upright against the largest, most brightly burning log in the bonfire, not caring if my paws got burnt, I stood back, tears running like a river.
Here, I swore an oath.
For as long as i live, i, Furorem Umbra, Son of Monstrum Umbra and Tenebris Oblivio, will never love another.
Her face disappeared into flames...
But she will always be in my heart.
Always, Forever.
Note:
My father fought in wars, and luckily, he came back, unlike so many others...
He described it to me. the terror, the desperation, yet a strange sense of honor.
The rest i tried to make up from my own experiences.
Sorry if this made you sad. Uh, here's some tissues if anyone needs them.
\~~~~~~/
[ tissues ]
Name - General) Furorem Umbra
Gender - Male
Let's get writing! c:
Dedicated to my father, a strong soldier he is, and for inspiring this story from your own travels.
Disclaimer:
No other viscets from this story, other than Furorem, are real. Although, if one comes along, i might give her the name Argentum. Maaayyyybe.
-Midnight-
My eyes searched the battlegrounds for any enemy movement. Sure, i wasn't being forced to fight, being the general of the DragonEmpire, but I wanted out and on the battlefield, right there along with my fellow soldiers, defending Dragon from the attacking army of Phoenix.
"Sir."
I turned, torchlight glinting off my obsidian-diamond fused general helm and regarded the messenger with eyes of steel. My tail swept the ledge, armor tail cuffs rattling like scales. It would be annoying for anyviscet else, because of the omnipresent weight, but i had gotten used to it from my moons and moons of wearing it.
"What is it, Kan?" I said, trying to contain the weariness from entering my voice.
"Our spies have gotten back. They report that the enemy will attack approximately two hours from now."
I turned my head back to gaze at the ranks of enemy soldiers. Thousands. Reaching a paw up, i twisted the ring in my ear that signaled that I was a General, when there was no reason to wear armor.
"Anything else?"
"No, sir. The spies have gotten back in Phoenix safe."
I nodded grimly. Two hours from now, a great clash will happen, and it won't be pretty... Gathering my thoughts, I hardened my resolve.
"Take the army formation and gather them inside the gates. We will make the first move. One hour from now, we open the gates and attack. Take two and split off, pincer movement. Archers in the back and castle walls. Catapults i want in the middle-back. Load them with cannonballs and flaming wood. Have I made myself clear?"
Another, silver-furred viscet ran up the steps. My right-paw (wo)man, the Second-In-Command, the viscet that always brought a smile on my lips and took the stress off my back, Argentum. In a crisp voice, yet with a hint of her laughter that always was in her voice, she spoke.
"General."
"Please, call me Furorem."
"Furorem. I heard the orders, so Ken won't need to talk much. Shall I despense the flaming torches to our archers now?"
"Yes, please do, Argentum. Thank you."
Ken spoke up again, both wanting to speak but hesitant.
"Sir, where will the-"
"Everyone else stay out of the fighting. This is going to be a bloodbath..."
Kan nodded sharply, saluted me, and ran off down the walls, and Argentum followed soon after, after glancing at me a look of concern. Clearly, my stress showed. Setting my jaw, I looked at the moon, laughing at our silly conflicts.
I know, I know. But who can't fight when they have to?
-Witching Hour-
Roars. That's what I opened my eyes to. Cursing, I lunged at the opposite side and nearly catapulted myself over the wall. The Phoenix army was advancing... My eyes flicked up to the moon. Only thirty minutes had passed, roughly, since I fell asleep from the stress and the lack of sleep i had. The troops were not ready for this and were now scrambling to get their arms up and start fighting. Sweat running down my fur, I raised my sword high, so that it caught the moonlight and reflected it, and the light was blinding.
"DRAGON ARMY. FIIIIGHT!" I roared over the din, and launched myself into the crowd of enemies, cutting down the viscets left and right.
Yells. Slashes. Wild eyes. Panicked breathing. Jostling bodies. Sharp weapons tearing into my skin. War cries. Clangs as sword struck sword. The agonized yell of a comrade close by...
It blended into a sea, a chaos-filled ocean of sound and movement and light...
Frantically, I slashed around, cutting down anyone who dared get near me. Me. Furorem. General. And survivor...
"DRAAAAAAGOOOOOOOOOONNN!!!" I screamed until my throat felt raw. Furiously, I started parrying, striking, blocking, ducking, leaping, thrusting. Enemy after enemy fell at the hands of Furorem. ME. Adrenaline filled my veins (and arteries) and made me swing with renowned vigor as i thought of my fellow viscets, sacrificing themselves to make sure their sons and daughters lived in a safe world. In a better world.
Amid the tussle, I tried to locate the General of the other army, named Bufo. There! The fat viscet barely squeezing into his armor. Ducking and weaving nimbly, I cut down his guards and roared at him.
Suddenly, he produced a viscet from behind his bulk, holding a dagger to her throat.
"Furorem!"
Argentum.
"Put her down. Now. Before I make you."
Bufo laughed, a cruel, booming sound, but also with a hint of desperation and fear.
"Or what? I have the upper hand here. You know that."
Unfortunately, he was right. I was crippled without Argentum. Baring my teeth, I pointed my sword at him.
"Let. Her. Go."
"Drop your weapon and I'll let her go."
Argentum stirred, eyes, now dull, locking with mine. I dropped my blade, at the same time she spoke.
"Tell my mother i died for my empire."
Then, she lunged forward, against the blade, and sacrificed herself for a distraction so the Dragon Empire could win. She went limp, and the general Bufo, stunned, froze and let her drop to the ground. Without any further delay, the overweight general threw his bulk at me.
I keened, a high, heart wrenching sound. Then, I swiftly picked up my sword, receiving a quick slash to the neck, then one to my eye, blinding me with my own blood.
Before he could run my neck through, I got a hold of my blade. Sudden pain in my left ear, and the feeling of teeth sunken into the cartilage. I jerked my head back, trying to make Bufo let go.
A wrench, then I lost feeling in the tip of my ear, but from the middle, piercing pain.
Trying to thrust my sword up, I was suddenly squished under the general's fat, unable to breathe as he cut me in several places, including my back, tail, and paw, trying to reach my head or underbelly.
I was about to give up. I had already lost a lot of blood, and suffocated. But no. I could not give up to the Phoenix army.
Think of the visclings. Think of the soldiers. Think of the empire. Think of... Think of Argentum.
With an animal roar, I strained my legs, lifting. Lifting the fat general up and slamming him down, one word echoing in my mind through the sounds of war.
Argentum.
"FOR DRAAAAAGOOOOOONN!!!"
Falling on Bufo, I plunged my blade deep in his body, killing him instantly. Leaving the blade and him, I got up, blood staining my fur.
The war was over. All the phoenix troops saw it as they turned to Bufo's howl of death. Hurriedly, they fell to their knees or retreated. Sobbing for breath, I ran over to the silver viscet, neck stained with red, whom I had been in love with for many, many moons.
"Argentum..."
Her eyes opened a sliver. Still alive, but only just.
"Furorem..." A weak whisper.
Her life was still pouring out onto the dusty cobblestones of the court.
"I love you, Argentum. Please, don't go..."
"It's already... too late for me... don't worry.... i'll live among the stars... i'll never leave you in spirit. Tell... Tell them i dead for my empire..."
"I will, Argentum. I will..."
"Call me... Argen..."
"Argen... Call me Furor..."
"Furor..."
"Argen..."
With a last, soft gasp, the life in her eyes flickered away, leaving but a gentle ember, a reflection of the moon.
I fell to my knees, tears flowing down like torrential rains.
'AAAARRRRRGGEEEEEEEEEEEENTTUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!"
Energy gone, wounds staring to burn, I collapsed, unable to move another step, but i did. I eased my paws under her body and lifted her, gentle as a breeze. Turning to my army, helmet fallen, dirty, on the ground, bright tears streaking their way through the blood on my cheeks. Fire in my eyes, burning through the film of ignorance, yet not a roaring blaze. Enough to shine a light through the veil that covers us all to keep us safe from the true feelings of the world, the love, the fear, the pain, the happiness.
All it took.
A gentle Ember.
I lifted her body from the ground, and hugged it tightly, but nothing hugged back. A ghost of her mischievous, quirky smile lingered on her face.
Getting to my paws and lifting her over my head, I silently offered her soul to the gods. Her body dissolved into millions of bright stars, floating up through the sky, past the moon, and settling themselves into her shape, smile clear, face relaxed, and I could hear her ringing, jolly, bell-like laughter in my head.
Forever in the sky, watching over us.
Forever in my heart, aching, yet comforting, yet strangling, yet warm.
Forever.
-Aftermath-
I hung up my armor, cleaned of that terrible night. I rubbed my back, the area around the bandages sore, and the wounds themselves a constant pain. But that was nothing compared to the emotional pain i felt. People think pain is like a crashing wave, but the true grief is like a thick blanket of snow, over everything, and you feel as if you are suffocating, the ache always there. My dreams were oft visited by her.
Looking up to the painting of her, I let another tear slip out of my eye, struggling for breath. I hadn't realized how much I loved her before she was taken away from me.
Only know you love her when you let her go...
Biting down hard on my lip, my teeth clamped on the ring, originally on my ear, but since Bufo had bitten it off, now to my lip. I couldn't bear it being on my ear again, since that reminded me too much of...her... back when she was alive... She had used to joke about me looking like a tough guy...
Besides, it was nice to bite down hard on when i was in public and the tears threatened.
But it was time.
Time to let go.
Taking down the painting, I walked outside, the courtyard deserted. Perfect. She would've liked it this way, quiet, honorable without anyone making a big fuss of it.
Standing it upright against the largest, most brightly burning log in the bonfire, not caring if my paws got burnt, I stood back, tears running like a river.
Here, I swore an oath.
For as long as i live, i, Furorem Umbra, Son of Monstrum Umbra and Tenebris Oblivio, will never love another.
Her face disappeared into flames...
But she will always be in my heart.
Always, Forever.
Note:
My father fought in wars, and luckily, he came back, unlike so many others...
He described it to me. the terror, the desperation, yet a strange sense of honor.
The rest i tried to make up from my own experiences.
Sorry if this made you sad. Uh, here's some tissues if anyone needs them.
\~~~~~~/
[ tissues ]
