[Pale_Horse]

Part 4

Many days have past, as well as many battles. Along the way to get to Andariel, some have learned new things to aid them in their fight. Namely Seriph the Necromancer, who has learned how to revive the dead daemons, and use them to fight their own. Then their is Horris, who awoke from a dream about a golden haired wolf, only to find one calmly sleeping next to him. This loyal companion is named, Syruss, the same name as his father.
Horris watched his father Syruss die protecting him. It was shortly after the carnage of druid uprising. Any druid found was bruitaly murdered to prevent the spread. The changling thinks back to that day, when it all happened.
It was shortly before dawn, and a young Horris defied his fathers wishes, and ventured out of the hiding in the cave, to pick berries in the woods. After walking for a bit, he lost his way. Wandering aimlessly, he happened to walk right into a band of villagers on the hunt. Farmers all, but armed, and just waiting to act out revenge.
Seeing this boy druid, they figure easy kill. They surround him, and smack him across the face with a shovel. Stunned, and knocked to the ground, but not knocked out. Scared, he scrurries backward against a tree.
Another farmer aims his pitchfork and is ready to strike, but the scared boy screams for his life. This bloody cry, trails off and a slight roar errupts. All back up thinking they might have underestimated this small one. They soon realize, the roar is not from him, but, from something off in the distance. The roar increases, and so does a rumble in the ground. The forest splits as this thing comes ever closer. Trees are leveled, the tall grass parts.
The farmers petrafied, begin to panic. One turns to run, and face first meets a tree. A log of wood is thrown from out of the treeline, and connects with another farmers midsection. It blows out his back, this farmer is dead.
A female farmer, runs off and disappears leaving the rest to fend for themselves. One farmer is a fairly build man. he stands motionless as his pants soil with urination. The sight of a giant brown bear is overwelming. Its roar rattles you to your very being.
Syruss in his bear form is, in essence a monster. He stands twelve feet tall, and able to uproot trees with a single backhand.
A giant claw shoots down from the sky, raking across the face of one of the villagers, with nails of fire. Blood squirts everwhere, even staining the fur on Syruss.
Another is simply thrown into a tree. Her body compresses, and compacks, every bone is shattered by the force.
Several arrows whip threw the air, and penatrate Syruss's body. A poison on the tips start to take effect. The woman farmer wh ran off, made it back to town and brought aid back. Three rangers, deadly in their skill, shoot in haste.
The giant bear drops to a knee, and slowly begins to change back to the father that Horris loves and admires.
"Run my son, as fa... as far as you can. Go pup. Don't look baaa.... " He falls to the ground. Life fades away.
Horris looks at his fathers empty eyes motionless. A arrow hits the tree that is behind him. Startled, he turns and runs. Crying and in pain, he runs for his life, as fast and as far as he can.
Fighting back the tightness in his muscles, and the dizzyness in his head, Horris collapses to the ground exausted. It is now nightfall. He is alone for the first time, and cold. Unsure of where he is and where to go. He lies on his side, stattles his knees, and crys himself to sleep.
"Get that horrid thing away from me, Now!" Mai screams.
This pulls Horris back to reality. He watches as a rotting corpse of a Brute walk side by side next to Mai.
A nudge at his leg lets Horris know that Syruss is still there. A scratch behind its ear is given in reply.
"I mean it, summoner! Get rid of that foul thing, or you will be sorry."
"Do you realize the power this beast has. It will surely help us. Besides they are only able to unlive for a short time. It will soon die again." Seriph pleeds.
"Seriph, please, rid us of thy creation, so we may continue with thy path."
All stand waiting for the revived to return to rest in death.
"Alright then, I will recall it."
The attention is all on the revived Brute, all except for Mai that is. The Brute desolves into the earth, all are in amazement.
Mai looks at Seriph and her eyes narrow. She reaches for her dagger at her side, and quickly throws it in the summoners direction.
She starts off running at Seriph, as the dagger wizzes past his head.
All attention is now on her as weapons are drawn
"MOVE!"
She pushes him aside, and a female scream is heard behind Seriph. A Dark Hunters soul is ripped from its body as it falls back and dies.
"See I knew we should have kept him he would have helpped out alot."
A dozen Dark Hunters are running up to fight,followed by another dozen Dark Archers.
Preperations for battle are made, and everyone knows what to do. Seriph curses the Hunters, then summons his golem to lead the charge.
Horris, and Hara break off to battle the Dark Archers with the Sorceress's help. Mai fades, calls upon her shadow, then sets her traps. This alone, is a force to behold. Add to this a defence aura from Zavier, the strength of Mordok, and his Battle Orders. Their is no way they can loose if they fight together.
Before the battle actually starts it is over. Victory is theirs.
"Seriph! I swear to GOD! Call em off" Mai screams.
She drops to the ground shaking and rocking back and forth.
"Call them off! Are you mad?" Seriph replies
"Call them off now!" Horris yells, as he runs into a circle of skeletons.
As the Hunters fell the summoner casted their souls to animate their skeletons, and the archers were also turned into skeletons of magic.
"It's quite amazing actually. I figured if I could revive a body, I could call upon their soul to animate the remains. They are easier to control and more loyal. Need I say last longer as we...."
"Seriph call them off now or I will destroy them all." Zavier yells.
"All right already, no need to yell, whats the big d....."
As the skeletons are destroyed, you can see more and more of Horris holding Mai trying to calm her down.
Everything becomes clear to the summoner. He looks at the ground in front of his feet. Feeling ashamed he fumbles with his words.
"I'm sorry I, um, I didn't know. I had, no idea. She never, she didn't say a word about it. I'm sorry."
Mordok slaps him on the back of the head.
"Didn't know. How did you not! It was obvious to all but you. Her pride kept her from voicing her fears. You are just so cought up in yourself that you failed to notice."
Seriph walks off alone apologetic.
"Don't ye think ye were too hard on him, for he did not know." Zavier barks.
"No! No I do not, he needs to be reponsible for his actions just like the rest of us."
Soon they regain their moral and continue onward to find Andariel, but it is a quiet walk.