Episode 09: A Declaration of War
Episode 09
"A Declaration of War"
By Darfix
Darfix unsheathes his claws from his right forepaw. He lifts this paw, pads up, and glances at his sharp, but less than deadly Eevee claws. How he misses the power of his former Umbreon body. "Niktsu...do you feel you have the strength to hunt those two down?" Darfix asks bitterly, "If you feel you have recovered enough, I won't hesitate to help you avenge your mate-to-be...and I doubt Destiny wouldn't mind helping either..." he adds, "After all, I too know what it's like to want to KILL someone for being responsible for a loved one's death..."
Niktsu turns to Darfix with a surprised look on his face, despite his recent and still current sadness, "Darfix...you too lost someone close to you? But...you did not tell me that that anyone murdered someone you loved..." he comments softly.
Darfix growls a little, still glancing at his claws, "...well, technically, he didn't KILL my mother, but he might as well have..." he spats angrily, "A mate does NOT let his mate die to save his own hide! That is not right!"
Destiny slouches a little, her ears wilting some. She did appreciate Darfix's obvious chivalry, and code of honor, but the dark type he used to be, still seemed to have a grasp on his personality. He did seem a little overly protective, and even violently fanatical about Niktsu's situation, as well as his own.
Niktsu nods, "You're right, Darfix that is dead wrong..." he sighs softly, "...I would never have done that to Keilah..."
"Well that's painfully obvious, Niktsu! You're like me...I would have fought until my body no longer was able in her defense...as you did..." Darfix comments, "Please tell me, that you feel those two should be punished..."
"Well, of course they do...but I am not fully recovered...you're size and strength, as well as your mate's...I just, I don't want you two to get hurt at my expense... the Flareon replies. "We'll discuss it more in the morning...it's...been a long day..."
Darfix sighs, and nods, "Fine, we'll think up a plan in the morning...I am not one to let someone get away with such an atrocity..."
Niktsu only nods in reply, and lies down a fair distance from his two companions.
Destiny and Darfix lie down next to each other, close together, and curled up a little bit, their tails taking on an intertwined position as usual.
Soon enough, a cool breeze blows over Darfix's body, ruffling his fur. He wriggles his nose a little, and opens his eyes, looking up at the sky. It was morning. He yawns, and raises himself to all fours. He turns to Destiny, who was still sleeping. A smile forms on his maw before he turns to see if Niktsu was still asleep. But...Niktsu was no where to be found! "What the...Niktsu?" Darfix calls out quietly, looking around in all directions, keeping his head on a swivel.
With no luck, he nudges the female at his side awake with his nose. "...Destiny, we need to go find, Niktsu! He's no where to be seen!"
Destiny looks pretty sleepy when she is suddenly awoken, "...oh, Darfix, ok..." she replies, stretching out a little bit, and quickly coming to. "Well, we probably shouldn't split up...just incase those two...Yidsril and Orlanth are still in the area..."
Darfix nods, "...too right, we'll just walk around and call his name. Maybe his scent is still in the area..."
With that, the two begin walking in the assumed direction that Niktsu may have taken. They take turns calling his name, "Niktsu?!" Darfix calls. "NIKTSU!?" Destiny calls. But unfortunately, they did not get a reply back...
"Destiny!" Darfix yips suddenly, looking down at the ground. A small patch of snow held paw prints of a quadruped, about the size of Niktsu. "...they're going this way...let's go!" Darfix tells her.
Destiny nods, "Right!" she replies, following him without hesitation.
This newly found path takes them to a dense pile of shrubs and small trees. It is a bit of a struggle for the two, but they manage to make it through, finding themselves in a partially walled off clearing. In front of them, their Flareon sits, looking down at a small stone half buried in the earth.
Darfix barks, "Niktsu! You had us worried you know!" he scolds in frustration.
Destiny nods in agreement, but takes on a more gentle approach, "...Niktsu, you should have told us that you were going to go for a walk..." she speaks, but stops upon hearing a sniffle.
They watch closely, as Niktsu rests down a rare looking white flower over the patch of dirt in front of the stone. Both Darfix and Destiny notice a carving on the stone, written in the Pokémon tongue. It reads, "Here Lies Keilah: The Only Love of my Life"
Darfix quickly snaps out of his upset attitude, and sighs, frowning...he walks up to Niktsu's side, and gently places his paw over the Flareon's larger paw. Destiny stays where she is...not wanting to smother Niktsu in fear he might feel they were babying him.
Niktsu looks down at Darfix's small paw, and manages to force an extremely weak smile. "I just...wish I knew what she'd want me to do now...I, I can never love another..." he says softly, "...even if I do manage to love again...it won't be the same..."
Darfix gently rubs the Flareon's paw now, but keeps quiet, feeling there was more to be said.
"...Darfix...do you think she would want me to slay those two?" he asks, staring back at the tombstone.
"...if it was me in your paws, Niktsu...I'd slice both of their throats out, and let them die...however, I...really didn't know her. I couldn't say what she would wish of you..." Darfix replies.
Destiny interjects, "If she was anything like me, I would just want you to move on, and try to be happy Niktsu. I...would want you to do whatever you thought would make you happy..."
Niktsu laughs very lightly and nods, "...you know what? That sounded exactly like it came out of her muzzle, Destiny..." he says, smiling a little down at the tombstone, "...and nothing would make me happier than killing those two bastards for taking her life, and our promising future away from the both of us..."
Darfix manages to smile a little bit, and nods, "...Niktsu, I would be honored to accompany you in that fight...two on one isn't fair, but...two on two is."
Niktsu turns away from the tombstone, and looks down at the Eevee, "...you two will not be accompanying me on this fight. This is my battle, and only mine...I will not bring harm to any more innocent lives."
Darfix's jaw drops! "Are you crazy?! You're still wounded! You WILL need help from your friends! I...I won't let you throw away your life so foolishly..."
Destiny even seems a little surprised at this, "...Darfix, this is something personal to him...I know for a fact you wouldn't except any help from anyone if you were to avenge me...and I know for a fact you will not be seeking help to exact revenge on your father...you cannot fool me into thinking otherwise."
Darfix sighs, and looks down at his forepaws, "...you're right Destiny...I justâ�"I know what he's going through...I want so badly to help..."
Niktsu smiles, and gently licks the Eevee's cheek in appreciation, "...you've been extremely helpful to me already. You helped me realize I must fight my fear, and engage these two in battle..." he says softly, looking over at Destiny now, "...Yidsril and Orlanth better look out, because war has been declared on them!"
To Be Continued...