Staring Into the Abyss

It had all gone wrong. Millions dead. The Claymores virtually extinct. What had been touted as the ultimate solution, the end to the Abyssal Ones, Priscilla included, had indeed brought about the end. The end of the Organization. The end of the Claymores. The end of hope. No one in the Organization had expected the final battle to unfold as it did. Surely nothing could go wrong. They chose the location of the battle, had their best warriors at the ready, even had control of the terms in which the battle was fought. Yet, they still met their end. Should they have predicted that over two dozen Awakened beings would sacrifice themselves for Priscilla, destroying Number 2, Beth in the process? Could they have foreseen that once fully awakened, Alicia would join Priscilla and begin a slaughter unmatched in the history of battles? Would they have been able to do anything if they had? The moment Beth breathed her last breath, her sister’s human self breathed its own as well. A massacre beyond belief. Twenty Claymores and fifteen handlers dead within seconds of Alicia’s full awakening. The Abyssal Hunters turning against those who held their reins at the taste of Claymore flesh. Becoming little more than the yoma they had been designed to kill. The head of the Organization was cut off just as they were registering the horror they had just unleashed upon the world.

Three years later. The lands of the North and West belonged to Priscilla, those in the East and South to Alicia. The original Abyssal One, Rifful, had not been seen or heard of since that fateful battle. Some said she was dead, others that she was once again bidding her time, returning to the depths to which she was accustom to. Either way, no one was safe. None of the humans on the island could go to sleep and with complete certainty, be sure that they would wake up the next day. The Claymores were dead or hiding. There was no one to protect them. The yoma multiplied exponentially. The surviving Claymores were hunted down one by one, awakened, then consumed all that was in their path. Cities fell. Even the pristine citadel of the holy city of Rabona was consumed by the scourge. Its bells silent, the body of its head priest lay crushed beneath.

Half-way into the fourth year, only several cities and villages remained. At night, their candles, lanterns, and fireplaces remained unlit. At day, the people within the walls silent, the cry of any babies stifled instantly. The cities still remained, yes, but everyday was a nightmare. Every second lived in fear. It was a dark time for us all, indeed.

I figure that the best place to start my tale would be during the seventh month of this year. Why? Will simply because the subjects of my story assure me that the other three and a half years on the run were wholly boring, repetitive and uninteresting. So, let me begin and tell how the Ghosts of Pieta brought light back to this darkness. Hope into a world of despair. And all around showed why one should never give up, even when things are at their absolute worst.

CCCCCCCCCC

The full moon shone softly over the midnight blue mountains and the green land with its silver light. Its domain was frightfully quiet, devoid of the chirping of crickets and the calls of the night birds. An inhuman bellow echoed in one of the many valleys it presided over, and swiftly the moon hid in fear behind a cloud. The world was plunged into darkness.

In the darkness, the blood thirsty howls and bellows intensified, filling the icy air. A distant city burned brightly, smoke twisting upwards and carrying with it the scent of smoldering wood and flesh. The cries of the yoma echoed, reminding the few humans still alive that soon it would be their turn to die. Their turn to suffer as their entrails were eaten. As their family and friends were killed in front of their eyes. The yoma were simply higher on the food-chain, and it was the fate of the humans to be their food. They were the stronger. They were death.

A single silver eye snapped open in irritation, startlingly bright in the darkness of the small outcropping she was sleeping beneath. “Can’t they at least keep it down for a couple of minutes?”

The silver eye softened, however, upon landing upon a second silver-eyed figure. Clare was sitting alone on a boulder just outside, an undecipherable expression on her usually expressionless face. With a sigh, Helen pulled herself up from her sleeping pad and quietly padded out to sit next to the lone Claymore.

“You doing okay Clare?” Helen asked, casting a sidelong glance at her friend.

Clare continued to gaze out at the darkened valley, her face uncharacteristically drawn and paler than usual. With arms wrapped around both knees, Helen couldn’t remember the last time she had seen Clare this…defeated.

“Hey, he’ll be alright,” Helen tried again, lightly nudging the other woman. “He’s survived encounters with Awakened Beings, he’s sure to survive a simple fall like that. You even said it yourself, there was no body.”

Again more silence.

“Get some sleep at least, Clare,” Helen’s voice was soft. After everything their group had been through over the past decade, very few things affected them. Losing part of their small family, however, was one. “We still have this entire mountain range to travel through and the last thing we want is for some low level yoma to off you because you fell asleep in the middle of a battle.”

“Do you think he’ll survive this, Helen?” Clare finally spoke.

Taken aback, Helen scowled, “What’s with that tone, Clare? It’s not like you. He once tracked you through all four corners of this land just to keep a promise. Wherever he ends up, he’ll just get right up again and do the same thing.”

“When we were separated for the first time, thirteen years ago a part of me could never stop worrying about him,” Clare’s voice betrayed nothing, but conflict danced in her eyes. “He’s only human, the worst possible thing one can be in this world. Yet, why am I not as worried as before?”

“Well, despite being human, he is a man now,” Helen grinned, then lazily lolled her head towards Clare. “You have noticed that, right?”

Clare gave Helen a mild stare in response.

“Right, well, we’ve all seen his swordsmanship and know he can go up against yoma without breaking a sweat, so there’s that too. I guess you’re just more confident in his abilities. After all, when you were first separated, he was only a whiny kid.”

Clare managed a ghost of a smile at that. “This land has changed so much since those times.”

“Yeah,” Helen finally followed Clare’s gaze, her lone eye randomly sweeping the land. “What a mess.”

They were silent for a few moments. A few moments too long for Helen. “Hey Clare, you think about Raki often?”

“Why?” Clare raised a suspicious eyebrow but refrained from giving any additional attention to her friend.

“Just curious,” Helen procured an apple from a pouch at her side. “I think about that guy too.”

“Most likely not in the same ways I have,” Clare finally cast a dry glare over to her companion.

“Hey, can’t blame me for that. Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about…”

“Helen,” Clare said pointedly.

“Oh, right,” Helen smiled and sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. “How you can still think of him as your little brother when he looks like that is beyond me.”

“Go back to sleep, Helen. You’re delirious,” Clare said dryly.

“Are you going to stop moping?”

“I am not moping.”

“Sulking then,” Helen waved her hand at the semantics. “Come on Clare, you should know by now that your feelings brush off on everyone else.”

Clare raised an eyebrow.

“If you’re sad, like you have been these past few weeks, Yuma, Tabitha, and Cynthia lose heart. Even Miria nee-san and Deneve aren’t as stern as usual. Heck, the hundred or so refugees we’re babysitting look even more depressed than normal,” Helen gestured down to the small city of tents below them to prove her point.

“So by trying to get me in a better mood, this makes you in charge of group morale?”

“Never really thought of it that way,” Helen grinned shamefacedly. “But yeah, I guess so. You guys aren’t nearly as fun to be around when you get everyone all sad and everything.”

Clare reached out and gently placed a hand on Helen’s arm as the woman turned to go. “Thank you.”

“No problem, Clare,” Helen let her exuberance bleed off into the night. They lapsed into another comfortable silence, broken only when Helen said in almost a whisper, “You guys are my family you know. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for all of you.”

With her one good eye, Helen glanced down at their sleeping companions, her expression soft and full of emotion.

“Go back to sleep,” Clare repeated tenderly, acknowledging and returning Helen’s sentiments with shining eyes. “I’ll keep watch and switch with Deneve in another hour or so.”

“Yeah, I’m getting all mushy,” Helen smiled weakly, her face slightly flushed. “Night, Clare.”

“Goodnight.”

Clare returned her gaze back out to the city burning at the edge of the horizon. It sometimes alarmed her at how much could change in so little time. It had only been a week and a half ago that she, along with the other Ghosts of Pieta, Clarice, Miata, and Raki, had been joking and relaxing at the inn right by that city’s gates. It had only taken one day for her entire world to change once more.

Now Raki, Clarice, and Miata were missing. The several hundred refugees she was helping to guard had all lost their homes, friends, and family when their city was attacked. And they still had over twenty leagues of yoma infested lands to travel through. All was definitely not well.

Clare released a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding and slowly straightened her legs. Spotting a lone star peeking out from the cloud blanketed sky, Clare closed her eyes and silently swore a promise to her missing companion. Raki, I know you’re still alive. So long as you draw a breath, I swear we will meet again. Clare then clasped her hands together and thought even more quietly than before, Lords of Rabona, please, if it is within your power, protect him, please!

CCCCCCCCC

A week and a half earlier

Raki let out a loud yawn as he woke, stretching lazily. The bed he was in hadn’t exactly been the most comfortable, but it was better than sleeping on the earthen floor out in the cold. Then again, with the state things were in now, the fact that there was still an open tavern was surprising in itself.

Though it was morning, it was still dark outside, not that Raki minded. He gathered what little gear he had, clipped on his cape, and slid his sword into place.

Slipping out of his room, he plodded down the hall to the creaky staircase at the end. He wasn’t expecting anyone to be awake yet, so he was mildly surprised to hear to voices speaking in the front room of the tavern. There were two figures seated at a candlelit table in the room. His entrance was immediately noticed by one, who raised a single finger to point at him.

“Mama, the human,” the long-haired young girl murmured.

Her companion, a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties with brown-red hair, looked over her shoulder.

“Oh, hi,” Clarice looked chagrined. “We didn’t wake you, did we?”

“Nah,” Raki waved her concern off. “Got up early to scout with the town’s morning patrol. The captain of the guard invited me yesterday.”

“Really? Do you think we could come too? Miata is getting pretty restless with no yoma around.”

“Sure, it’d be nice to have some company,” Raki smiled and mussed the top of Miata’s hair, earning him a small growl in response.

“Thanks. Come on, Miata,” Clarice gently tugged the hand of the younger girl, who nodded obediently.

The cool air rushed over them the moment they opened the door, causing Raki to pull his cloak tighter around him. The two women were unaffected, and Raki momentarily envied the Claymore’s ability to adapt to the environment.

Since the tavern was right next to the main gate, the three emerged in time to see a group of nine lightly armored individuals on horseback emerge from the adjacent stables.

“Ah, Raki, glad you could make,” the lead rider greeted.

“Captain Marius,” Raki accepted the reins of another horse and swung himself into the saddle. “I hope you don’t mind if some of my companions come with me?”

The man eyed both Miata and Clarice and noted their silver eyes. “Claymores? They’re more than welcome.” He turned towards the stable. “Bring out two more horses.”

“One horse,” Clarice said quickly, she motioned with her eyes towards her quasi-daughter.

Marius blinked in confusion but noticed Miata’s odd behavior. “Make it one horse.”

Clarice mounted the horse offered to her, then pulled Miata up to sit in front of her. Marius, not really wanting to question the Claymores, did his best to ignore it as he tugged on the reins of his horse.

“We’ll make a two kilometer search in the western quadrant,” Marius explained as they left through the main gate of the city. “We have a small stretch of woods before we actually get to our marked perimeter. It’s a mostly flat field, but there is a small hill line at the end of the field and it drops off into a ravine.”

“Should we expect anything?” Clarice asked.

“An occasional refugee might turn up but other than that, nothing much. There haven’t been yoma active in this region for a long time.”

“That’s good, an easy morning then?” Raki smiled.

“Easy enough,” Marius nudged the side of his horse and they set out through the gate.

The city of Antaris, one of the last bastions of human civilization left on the large island the Claymores called home. Its longevity was attributed to the natural barriers that surrounded it. A wide river alongside the southern border dropped off a sheer cliff face, and equally sharp drops, with jagged ravines at the bottom, secured the western and eastern borders. The city itself was only accessible by a steep trail in the north that wound in and out several cascading waterfalls. Finally, a small forest all around the city kept it hidden from anyone looking at it from a distance. Unless one knew where to look, the city was for all intents and purposes, invisible. Even if one did find the city, they’d come face to face with monumental walls as tall as the towering evergreens that surrounded it. Inside was a ready army of trained soldiers, its numbers doubled ever since the word got out that the Claymores were no more. They were ready for the occasional yoma. But were they ready for what was to come?

“There’s something not right about this forest,” Clarice glanced at the gloomy looking canopy above them. The shadows danced as it swayed with the breeze, but it had a depressing aura about it.

“It’s missing wildlife for one,” Raki commented, “Is that normal, Marius?”

“No,” Marius pulled his sword and tried to urge his mount to go further. The horse balked and whinnied, then reluctantly bowed its head and submitted. Marius patted its neck soothingly “Easy boy.” He turned towards Clarice, Miata, and Raki. “Red Runner here can smell a yoma a mile away. Saved my life several times, I’ll tell you that. There’s probably one ‘round here somewhere.”

“Miata? Clarice?” Raki looked over to his companions.

“We’re suppressing our own youki for the moment, we’re as blind as you,” Clarice shook her head.

“Captain,” one of the other members of the scouting party called out. “Let’s get out of this forest. It’s giving me the creeps.”

“Don’t ever remember my horse acting up like this,” Another agreed.

“The clearing is just up ahead, another minute or so,” Marius squinted through the forest around them as if he could discern the yoma responsible for their problems.

“Clarice, Miata,” Raki said hesitantly, freeing his own sword and urging his horse forward. “I know Miria doesn’t want you guys releasing your youki, but I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“It’s just your nerves, kid,” one of the older scouts chided, though he looked troubled himself. “All this probably is is a yoma or two who got lucky and found us out.”

“Won’t hurt to be on our guard anyways, right?” Raki said with a very weak disarming smile.

The older scout’s eyes darted around nervously before he too nodded and drew his sword. “Doesn’t hurt.”

The group continued on through the forest in silence. Though it was midday, the shadows the upper boughs of the towering trees were casting made it seem closer to twilight. The lack of animal noises served only to unnerve the small group further. When they emerged from the forest, they realized too late that the shadows they had attributed to the trees were from another source, and that the one or two lucky yoma they had been searching for was in fact one or two dozen, Awakened Beings.

Raki and the others drew up short the moment they left the tree-line. Eyes growing round, the band of humans plus two Claymores, blanched at the sight before them.

“There’s no way in hell we’re going to get out of this alive,” swallowed the old scout, his hand shaking as he struggled to hold his sword up.

“So much for not having yoma activity in awhile,” Raki managed faintly.

The army of yoma turned towards the new arrivals, and one stepped forward.

“Look, the appetizers have arrived!”

ccccccccccccc

“Hey Clare, it looks like your man-friend is out with the town’s morning patrol, like usual,” Helen called out good naturedly as she staggered down the creaking wooden staircase of the tavern.

Clare slowly lowered the cup she was drinking from, but as usual, didn’t respond. Pouting, Helen plopped herself down in a chair on the other side of the table next to a more tolerant Deneve.

“We have yet to see Raki come down, he could be still sleeping,” Deneve commented mildly.

“Nah, just came from his room, he’s not there,” Helen waved Deneve’s excuse aside and picked up an apple from the wooden bowl in the center of the table.

“Ummm…what were you doing in Raki’s room?” Yuma’s eyebrows were raised.

“I would like to know that as well,” Clare finally cast a sidelong glance at Helen.

“Just wanted to borrow some bath towels,” Helen held up her hands defensively. “Mine were scratchy so I went to see if I could borrow some of his.”

“Aren’t the towels all the same no matter which room?” Deneve asked rhetorically.

“I said towels? My mistake,” Helen mocked pouted at Deneve and mouthed traitor.

“Since we haven’t seen Clarice and Miata, they must have gone with him,” Miria spoke up, cutting through the banter of her subordinates.

“Does this mean we’ll be staying until noon, Miria?” Deneve looked to their leader who was standing by the fireplace and looking out a lattice-work window. Deneve’s question ended the light hearted talk as everyone waited for an answer.

“It would be better to see if Raki has anything to report,” Miria nodded. “The yoma have been steadily advancing westward since we last saw Alicia’s forces at Ardendril. It is highly likely that she is planning to move against Priscilla. With Antaris lying directly on the border between the two territories, they’ll be the first to know of any incursions.”

“A war between Alicia and Priscilla would devastate everything that’s still standing,” Tabitha whispered, aghast. “Do you really think it will come to that?”

“I do. The yoma are running out of food, running out of people to challenge their power. Both Alicia and Priscilla are the only beings who hold anything of value. It will only be a matter of time before one decides to break the alliance and usurp the others. Not to mention, if they fight, it would be the worst possible thing for us right now,” Miria walked to the table.

“What do you mean?”

“If they fight and one wins, there will be no hope at all for reclaiming this land. That one winner will consolidate the forces of yoma and stand unopposed and unmatched in strength. As it is, it is taking us all we have to stay out of their way.”

“Then we should encourage the conflict,” Clare said calmly.

“Ummm…Clare, didn’t you just hear what Miria nee-san was saying?” Helen asked hesitantly.

Clare acknowledged her friend briefly, but continued on with her explanation. “We should encourage the conflict, but ensure that neither side has the upper hand. Their best fighters will be lost during this war and the ranks of the yoma will be thinned severely.”

Ever worried about the wellbeing of others, Number 14, Cynthia interrupted. “But what about human causalities? If we allow this war to occur, there will be countless humans caught up in the midst of it.”

“Even without the war, the humans on this island are on the verge of extinction,” Clare reasoned. “If we do nothing, they die off anyways and the war will still occur. If we help widen whatever gap there is between Alicia and Priscilla, humans will be caught up, yes, but the war will be on our terms.”

“This is crazy,” Helen managed.

“We are currently staring into a dark abyss,” Clare’s cool eyes held Helen’s wide ones. “Nothing we do will take us further from the darkness, we are running out of places to run to. Would you prefer we wait for the darkness to swallow us? Or do you want to dive into it with a purpose?”

Helen swallowed, then shook her head, grinning manically “I didn’t mean ‘crazy’ like it was a bad idea. It’s that just jumping into a war between two of the most powerful creatures alive is just the sort of fun I’ve been missing lately.”

“You’re going along with her plan?” Deneve arched an eyebrow.

“Aw, come on, it will be fun,” Helen cajoled.

That raised everyone else’s eyebrows, but soon all were smiling grimly at each other. Clare was right, they really did have no other choice, and they were the only ones who could do what had to be done. Before they could begin planning the details, however, a chill shot through all of them.

“Yoma!”

“An Awakened Being!” Tabitha corrected a wide-eyed Yuma.

The Claymores rushed out of the empty tavern with their weapons in hand, appearing in the main street just as a rider came barreling in through the gates.

“Close the gate! Close the gate! Yoma are attacking!” The man called out frantically to the guards above.

No sooner had he spoken those words, several tentacles skewed the quartet of guards atop the gate. Their cries of pain and terror were abruptly cut off when the tentacles vibrated, violently sheering the unlucky men into many little pieces. Unfortunately for the city of Antaris, the massive gates had yet to be closed and the ground shook with the vibration of an approaching hoard.

“What happened?” Miria yelled at the rider. Warning bells began to ring loudly, and the clatter of steel was heard as the town’s garrison rushed forth to close the gate.

“The patrol was ambushed!” The man recognized the silver eyes and large claymore of the woman he was speaking to. “The captain and the members from your team tried to hold off the yoma, but there were too many!”

His sentence was punctuated by a loud explosion as the tentacles blew several large holes in the heavy wooden gates, killing many in the process.

“Clare, Deneve, Helen!” Miria quickly turned to the fighters of her team.

“We’ll give the city more time,” Clare said before Miria could actually issue any orders. Clare was then off in a flash, racing through the slender gap still left between the two doors of the gate.

“I'm really really sorry, Miria,” Helen sighed, drawing her claymore. “Can’t let her get killed.”

Deneve and Miria exchanged blank expressions as Helen’s departure kicked up a cloud of dust. Miria groaned and motioned towards the direction her two subordinates had taken off. “Go after them and keep them from doing something foolish.”

Deneve regarded her leader silently.

“Just make sure they survive,” Miria amended.

Deneve took off, slashing through a nest of tentacles as they fought to get through the opening in the center of the gate. As she did, several figures flew up and over the wall with ease.

“Flying yoma!” Cynthia called out in warning. She turned towards a line of archers who had been aiming at the gate. “Get out of the way!”

Several of the archers attempted to fire at the formation of seven flying creatures, but the yoma nimbly dodged the arrows. In retaliation, the fingers and toes of the yoma lanced down towards the ground like spears, tearing through the line of archers mercilessly. Cynthia and the others clenched their teeth in frustrations as the flying yoma then rose up out of reach, crackling at their own success.

Miria opened her mouth to give an order, but before any words left her mouth, a powerful youki swept the city. The Claymores and humans instantly shuddered from the raw strength and killed intent that washed over them.

“Miria,” Tabitha whispered hoarsely, her eyes wide with fear as a dark shape rose up into the air just outside the city walls.

“I know,” Miria murmured, her knuckles white as she gripped her claymore. “It looks like Rifful of the West has come out of hiding.”

ccccccc

“Clare! Wait up! What’s the…” The entire sky darkened, and though it was still early in the morning, Helen’s wide silver eye glowed in the midnight darkness that suddenly engulfed her.

A sudden movement out of the corner of her eyes and Helen dove forward to avoid an onslaught of black ribbon like tendrils. “Oh, great! Why did it have to be the big dark and scary Dweller-of-the-Deep!?"

Helen made to follow Clare again, but a black curtain of tendrils rained down from the sky and prevented her from doing so. The curtain didn’t stop there, however. It continued to rain down in a storm of deadly spikes. Though Helen was good, not even the best Claymore would have been able to avoid all of Rifful’s attacks. Fortunately, at the moment Helen lost her footing, two claymores swept through the air above her and deflected several potentially life-ending blows.

“Geez, always rushing ahead without a plan,” Deneve’s even voice was laced with mock exasperation. “Are you ever going to change?”

“And ruin the fun you have saving my rear? Never,” Helen glanced over her shoulder with a grin.

She rolled out from under the two claymore shield and promptly released her twisted arm. Helen’s own claymore drilled into the deadly rain bombarding them, turning the skewing, black tendrils into funeral-appropriate confetti.

The bombardment suddenly stopped. Tendrils that had been half-way to the ground suddenly reversed their course.

Then, all the tendrils rushed to the ground in one location several meters ahead of the two Claymores. The tendrils swirled around before coalescing into the form of a young, dark-haired human. Rifful, formerly of the West, smiled eagerly at the sight of Deneve and Helen.

“Ohhh? More Claymores!?” The girl’s grin positively radiated with excitement. “And good fighters too! Hey, what numbers were you?”

Before either Helen or Deneve could answer, there was a rush of wind and the girl was diced to ribbons. Not that it affected her any.

“Mou, who’s wasting their yoriki and why didn’t I sense you?” Rifful brought herself back together and her head swiveled around on her shoulders. “I couldn’t have gotten that rusty, could I?”

“Clare!” Helen greeted the Abyssal’s dicer with a broad grin.

Rifful recognized the name and focused on her attacker. “You again!”

“Rifful,” Clare acknowledged blandly.

“We really should stop meeting like this. I mean you’ll have to join me sooner or later. You can’t just keep running away.” The childish sounding lecture was extremely deceiving considering Rifful’s nature.

“What did you do with the others?” Helen shuddered at the wave of barely concealed murderous youki emanating from her friend.

“The others?” Rifful seemed confused and she put a finger to her chin in thought. “Do you mean the ones I ate or the ones that fell off the cliff? ‘Cause I ate about three of the humans but the Claymores and the rest of the group fell off the cliff when they were running away.”

Clare’s eyes flashed and she proceeded to slice Rifful up into even thinner pieces.

“Wow, you really have gotten better since the last time we met. And such a temper! But that won’t matter, it will only help you Awaken faster! Sooo…” Rifful spoke cheerfully though she was in ribbons. “How about Awakening now? I really could use all the strongest fighters I can get. The other two are just plain hogging all the good ones.”

Clare simply glared at the Abyssal One.

Not put off, Rifful continued, “Maybe if you Awaken you can actually become strong enough to do some damage to me? Don’t you want to avenge those poor humans I sent to their deaths? Why you go out of your way to care for something so weak and helpless like those humans is beyond me.”

“Clare,” Deneve warned, sensing the spike of youki as Clare momentarily lost control of her emotions.

Rifful’s head made another one-eighty turn to face the other two Claymores. “Oh don’t worry, you two can awaken also and join her. Can’t be too picky nowadays about who I recruit.”

“What are you doing here, Rifful?” Deneve asked, taking over for Clare.

“An army’s gotta eat,” Rifful shrugged, pretending to file her nails. “My friends were all hungry so I decided to give them a little treat before we head west.”

“You’re going west as well?”

Rifful’s head swiveled around back to Clare. “Well yeah, she had no right to kick me out of my place so now I’m going over there to hand her her eviction notice.”

“And Alicia?”

“What about her?” Rifful asked.

“Will Alicia really give up some of her territory to you? You can’t possibly hope to defeat both Priscilla and her.”

“You’re right, I’ll just wait for them to fight and kill the winner,” Rifful smiled, her grinning face one that would invoke nightmares.

“Why are you telling us this?” Helen finally blurted, unable to stay silent any longer. She flushed at the glares she received from Deneve and Clare. “I mean, she’s a yoma! She can’t seriously expect that we’ll help her reclaim her throne!”

“Of course I do,” Rifful said as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. “When you Awaken you can join my army and help me take back the west.”

“No deal!” Helen said, holding up her claymore. “And you’re crazy if you think Deneve or Clare would even consider it for a second! We don’t make deals with yoma!”

“How rude,” Rifful huffed. “I’m just like you girls are, only better.”

“Better? You call eating the guts of humans bet…”

“I have a counter-offer,” Clare said softly, surprising her companions before either could protest.

“You do?” Deneve blinked.

“You do?” Rifful mimicked, looking interested.

“You do!?” Helen saw the glint in Clare’s eyes. “Claaaaare!”

“Call off your forces and I’ll make a deal with you that will work in both our favors,” Clare said evenly.

Rifful regarded Clare evenly, then nodded once. “Do tell.”

ccccccccccc

“Fall back to the citadel! Fall back to the…arghhh!” The armored soldier, as well as several others near him, were skewed by the finger spikes of a larger, advancing yoma.

The yoma’s next step was its last. Yuma launched herself off the rooftop of a building parallel to the giant creature and split the beast from top to bottom on her way down. The remaining soldiers of Antaris were more than grateful as they continued their retreat. Yuma had little time to celebrate her victory. No sooner had she lowered her claymore, than an even larger yoma exploded out of the house she had leaped off of earlier. Frantically, Yuma shielded herself from the flying debris with her arms, eyes wide.

The giant yoma began to advance and Yuma hastily raised her blade again in preparation for another fight. But just as suddenly as it appeared, the yoma stopped in its tracks. It glowered at her for several long seconds and Yuma felt a bead of sweat run down her face as she tried to hold the creature’s gaze. The yoma grumbled, then to Yuma’s surprise, retreated back towards the gate. Miria appeared at her side moments later, her clothing soaked with yoma blood.

“Miria?” Yuma was just as confused as the rest of the town guard as they dumbly watched the yoma retreat.

“They’re pulling back everywhere. Even Rifful’s youki has vanished,” Miria replied.

“But, how?” Yuma gasped, watching the retreating forms of a group of flying yoma.

Their explanation arrived in the form of a panting Helen, who ran unconcernedly pass the retreating yoma. Though she was returning alone, the fact that she was unharmed and didn’t appear to carry a grudge against the yoma she was passing, told the others that both Clare and Deneve still lived.

“Clare and Deneve?” Yuma still asked apprehensively.

“They’re negotiating with the Abyssal One, or at least Clare is anyway.” Helen managed, coming to a stop.

“‘Negotiating?’” Miria’s eyebrows rose significantly.

Helen blanched at the tone in Miria’s voice. “Don’t look at me like that! Blame Clare!”

“What about Clarice, Miata, and Raki?” Cynthia spoke up, concern flickering in the corner of her eyes.

“Errr…” Helen’s expression fell. “We can talk about that later, right now we have to start evacuating this city.”

“What do you mean?”

“Clare managed to get Rifful to hold off her attack for a couple of hours. When those hours are up, whoever is still in here is fair game for Rifful and her army.”

“I’ll let the governor know,” a nearby soldier clasped his hand to his heart and took off running.

When the soldiers were gone, Helen let out an ever suffering groan as she gazed about the town. “Man, just when we actually found a place that wasn’t busted up.”

“Helen,” Miria folded her arms in front of her.

“Oh, right, the others,” Helen avoided any eye contact. “When the yoma attacked, the three were driven off into that ravine on the south border. As part of the bargain, Clare volunteered to stay with Rifful until the deadline is up.”

“What?!”

“Hey, you know how it is when she gets something in her mind,” Helen waved her arms in front of her to ward off Miria’s death glare. “I told her she was crazy but she gave me that look. And no offense, Miria, but she does it a lot better than you.”

“And Deneve?”

“Collateral,” Helen groaned. “I tried offering myself up too, but for some reason that Abyssal One didn’t seem to care for me all that much.”

Any further conversation was drowned out as the terrified townspeople took the lull in the battle to flee. Turning the Claymores watched as panicked townsfolk, carrying everything they could on their backs, carts, or draft animals, rushed every which way. Some of the soldiers tried to keep order, but there was something about an imminent yoma attack that caused all reason to leave everyone’s minds.

“Hold it!” A demanding voice rang out, miraculously clear over the panicked din.

An imposing figure in gold metal armor stood at the top of the steps of the citadel. He surveyed the barely controlled panic with dark eyes partially hidden by bushy red eyebrows. Flanked by a contingent of elite looking guards, the armored figure glared the crowd into submission.

“We will not scurry about like rats on a sinking ship!” The man rebuked sharply. “The First and Second Squads will lead the refugees out the eastern viaduct. What is left of the Third and Fourth Squads will cover our retreat. Bring only what you can carry on your backs, the wagons we bring will only be for the injured and elderly. Now, Captains Durmon, Savilia, to your posts. First and Second Squads, move out!”

A chorus of “Yes, Governor Carales!” rang out in response, and the evacuation immediately began to take on a more orderly nature. The crowd quickly parted for the governor as he waded through them, his stride and demeanor immediately informing the Claymores that the man was a warrior to the core.

“Think he’s coming this way?” Helen blinked.

“Looks like it,” Yuma nodded.

“Claymores,” the governor stopped and got down to one knee.

“Can we help you governor?” Miria motioned for him to rise.

“Aye, I am indeed in need of your assistance,” Carales remained on his knee. “We will be heading to a very heavily fortified city in the western lands and request your support.”

“A fortified city?” Miria and the other Claymores were taken aback, unaware that any such city still existed.

“That’ll be it, the last of its kind,” Carales said, missing their shocked expressions. “The fortress city of Caledonia is located within the mountains. Unfortunately, the way to the city is not as safe as the city itself. We’ll have to pass through countless yoma controlled lands to reach it and neither myself nor the remaining town guard would last long. Please, I humbly ask for your help.”

“You are aware that if we head west we will be caught between the armies of both Alicia and Priscilla?” Miria stated.

“It is the only other place safe enough for humans,” Carales responded, his emotions well controlled. “Hopefully we will reach Caledonia before either army overtakes us.”

“Miria, what about Clare’s plan?” Cynthia asked. “If we help them, then there is a strong possibility we’ll be too late to stop either Priscilla or Alicia from rising to dominance.”

“We can’t just leave them to the mercy of the yoma!” Tabitha objected.

“Quiet, both of you,” Miria’s voice was brisk. “Governor Carales, my team will assist you in reaching Caledonia. However, there may be moments where some or all of my team will be gone for weeks at a time, is that acceptable?”

“So long as you give me advance warning, yes,” Carales agreed, still on bended knee. “Thank you, Claymores. The gods must be watching over us to place us in your care.”

“Tabitha, Yuma, Cynthia, go with the governor and his forces, help him evacuate the city. Helen and I will see if we can’t get Clare and Deneve out of the pinch they seem to have gotten themselves in.”

While the trio obeyed her command, Helen tugged at her collar nervously. “Umm… Miria?”

“Helen?” Miria raised an eyebrow, not exactly looking forward to what Helen was going to say.

“In addition to staying after the time limit was up, Clare also made one tiny little additional agreement.”

“Helen…”

“She agreed to help Rifful retake her throne in the West,” Helen said nervously, matching Miria’s fast pace strides.

“Oh?”

“Yeah… We take out the forces Priscilla has positioned in the West and in exchange, we have a temporary truce with Rifful so long as Priscilla and Alicia live. If either one dies, Rifful said we were fair game again.”

“Geez,” Miria ground her teeth together in frustration. “What possessed Clare to make a deal like that?!”

“I’m not really sure, but I think Clare is waiting for your approval,” Helen said quickly, wincing at the darkening of Miria’s silver eyes. “I told her it was a bad idea, but she didn’t listen to a word I said!”

“I don’t know why I expect anything else from her and Deneve,” Miria muttered, he stride turning into a quick sprint. “Talk about reckless!”

cccccccccc

“Ehhh, you sure your human friend and those other two Claymores could survive a fall like this?” Rifful, in her human form, asked. She kicked a small rock off the edge of the cliff and watched it tumble down into the dark ravine below. “The rocks down there look really sharp.”

Since Clare was busy searching for even the slightest sign of Clarice or Miata’s yoriki, Deneve answered. “We’re sure, Rifful.”

“Well, if you say so,” Rifful sighed. “When is your boss person supposed to be here? We do have a deal, right?”

“We do,” Clare opened her eyes and glanced towards Deneve. “I can sense Miata, but very faint.”

“The river must have carried them away then,” Deneve rose from her crouched position over a recently broken part of the ledge. “There’s nothing we’ll be able to do for them.”

Clare clenched a single fist, frustration in her eyes. “If Miata survived, there’s a good chance Clarice and Raki did as well.”

“When we’re done helping Rifful, we’ll come back and trace the river’s path,” Deneve consented, mostly for Clare’s sake.

“It looks like your boss person is coming,” Rifful announced.

Shortly after, the figures of Helen and Miria could be seen emerging from the tree-line. Both were moving rapidly, Miria’s forehead furrowed and Helen looking a bit nervous.

“Miria doesn’t look too happy,” Clare commented.

“Neither does Helen.”

“We did elect her to go back to Miria,” Clare said wryly.

“True.”

Miria and Helen were making record times with their approach, and neither Deneve nor Clare were brave enough to risk being overheard.

“Clare,” Miria greeted frostily. “Helen told me something about a deal you made?”

“She suggested the idea.”

“As a joke! A joke!” Helen blurted, in great contrast to Clare’s even tone.

Miria gave Helen a sideways glance and the other woman winced. “Yeah, I should know better by now.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Miria sighed.

“Are you done with your reunion?” Rifful called out, sitting behind Clare with her feet dangling off the ledge. “If so, do you agree to the deal your person made?”

“We have your guarantee that the people of Antaris will be safe?”

“Until midday, yes,” Rifful shrugged. “But after that, well, my men got to eat don’t they?”

“And the deal Clare made with you regarding Priscilla’s forces in the west?”

“Yup, we’re buddy-buddies until either she or Alicia falls. Help me retake my place in the west and I’ll help you defend yourselves against their armies.”

“How do we know you’ll keep your end of the bargain?”

“Antaris is still standing, isn’t it?” Rifful shrugged. “All of you Claymores may be good, but you’re not strong enough to protect the city against myself and my men, nor would you last long avoiding my army and the armies of Alicia and Priscilla. Of course, I could just make you all Awaken right now, but your subordinate there convinced me that you’d be able to operate better with your human minds intact.”

“Until midday then,” Miria said curtly.

“I wonder how far you’ll be able to get,” Rifful glanced up at the sky.

“Clare, Helen, Deneve, let’s go.”

“Miria, I will catch up with you later,” Clare stated.

“Clare?”

“If Clarice, Miata, and Raki survived their fall, they will be injured and need assistance ascending this cliff,” Clare’s expression was set.

Miria’s own eyes hardened in response. She knew that there was nothing she could say that would change Clare’s mind. “Be back before noon.”

“Miria, you’re just letting her go down there by herself?” Helen commented as she and Deneve began to follow Miria away.

Miria paused for a second. “Helen, stay with her, make sure both of you are back by noon.”

“I just had to open my big mouth,” Helen groaned, rubbing the back of her head in anguish.

“Before noon, both of you,” Miria eyed Clare and Helen.

“We know, we know,” Helen waved Miria off, her eyes darting briefly as Clare already began to walk towards the edge of the cliff. “We’ll see you later, Miria, Deneve.”

“We’ll be back with Clarice, Miata, and Raki,” Clare added firmly.

When the other two had gone back towards Antaris, Helen turned towards Clare, then noted the way her companion’s features were taut and her eyes hardened with determination. “Clare,” Helen began nervously. “We do have to be back by noon. That means we can’t just go and follow that river down there.”

“Miria never specified which noon we had to be back by,” Clare said calmly, she looked sharply up at Helen. “You can go back if you wish.”

Helen swallowed, glanced at Rifful, who was watching them curiously, then back to Clare. “Claaaaare!” Helen whined. “If Rifful doesn’t kill us, Miria will!”

“I promised them that I would be back with Raki and the others. I intend to keep that promise.”

Helen’s face fell in sheer exasperation. She turned to Rifful. “Hey, Rifful nee-san, I’d really appreciate it if you don’t try to kill or capture me when the time limit is up. It’s really all Clare’s fault and if I go back without her that scary lady who made the deal with you will kill me.”

Rifful blinked once, then twice. “You Claymores sure can be amusing if you try to be.”

cccccccccc

Though the people of Antaris had a couple of hours to evacuate, the city did have a population over seven thousand. There was also the added fact that nearly everyone in the city felt some degree of panic, boarding on hysteria for a few, at the idea that they were a hair’s breadth away from become a yoma’s meal. An air of despair also filled the air. For some, Antaris was the only home they knew and what they knew about the outside world wasn’t heartening at all. For most, however, Antaris was only one of many places they had been forced to flee to. A majority of them continued with the evacuation, but there were some who no longer had the will or strength to run again.

Silver eyes watched in sadness as they watched one family through an open window. False smiles and a forced cheerfulness filled the atmosphere of the home as the family went about preparing an elaborate meal. A mother helped her daughter knead the dough, while a father and son were preparing a large side of boar.

“Cynthia,” Yuma said alarmed shock, “Did the mother just add…”

“Yes,” Cynthia looked away. She had recognized the non-standard ingredient the mother had added to the bread. It was the same ingredient the father was adding to the meat. Snake venom mixed with a narcotic herb. The combination rendered a person unconscious within minutes after ingestion, whereupon the venom paralyzed the heart and lungs, causing instant death. “It looks like they truly are preparing one last meal for themselves.

“Why aren’t we stopping…?”

“They made their choice, Yuma,” Cynthia said sadly, gently placing a hand on her friend and urging her away from the window. “It wouldn’t be right to force them to live in this world full of darkness if they have no desire to do so.”

“But the children,” Yuma continued, offering minimal resistance.

Cynthia swallowed and sadly shook her head. “Let’s focus on the ones we can save, Yuma.”

Yuma took one final glance at the family, a single tear leaving her face as she saw the mother lovingly kiss the daughter on the top of her head. Taking a shuddering breath, Yuma allowed Cynthia to pull her away. Continuing their sweep of the neighborhood for anyone left behind, Yuma closed her eyes, the image of that family preparing their final meal burned into her mind.

“Yuma.”

Yuma quickly shook herself from her daze and looked away. “Sorry. How many houses do we have left?”

Cynthia double-checked the map they had been given. “Only two more.”

“Let’s get those done as soon as we can then,” Yuma said quickly. “I…It just feels wrong being in this city now.”

The two moved to the next house, but the open door and the haunting emptiness of the inside indicated that the owner had already evacuated. It was when they reached the last house on the block that they encountered yet another scene.

“Grandpa! Put the sword down!” A frantic voice sounded from a second-story window.

“I’m not leaving my home!”

“But Gowen, the yoma…” a second voice protested.

“We’re staying, and that’s final!”

“But…”

“Don’t give me that, young man! My father helped to build this city with his bare hands! I am not going to give it up without a fight! Not like that cowardly excuse we have for a governor!” There was the sound of a vase crashing and a muffled struggle seemed to ensue.

Yuma looked timidly up at the window, then over to her superior. “Cynthia.”

Cynthia clenched a single fist before nodding once. The two entered the house and made their way up the staircase in the direction of the struggle. They had no sooner reached the second landing when a door erupted in a shower of splinters. An old man, wrinkled with a mat of wispy grey hair, lay slumped against the opposite wall. A second later, a young woman in her twenties rushed out the shattered doorway and knelt by the old man’s side.

“Grandfather!” She checked the man’s pulse, then glared darkly back at the doorway. “You didn’t have to hit him that hard!”

“He had a sword, Merele! What was I supposed to do?” a second figure moved to the doorway haltingly.

It was then that both noticed the two Claymores standing at the end of the hallway. The silver eyes were hard to miss.

“Claymores!” The young man gasped.

“Is everything alright here?” Yuma asked as Cynthia checked on the fallen man.

Both the young man and woman flushed and looked away in shame. The young woman, dabbing at a small trickle of blood, spoke up.

“We didn’t mean to be a bother. It’s just that when we were getting ready to go my grandfather grabbed his sword.”

“But, we couldn’t let him stay of course, not with the yoma coming. So, well, I had to do something!” The young man blurted out the last part. “Will he be alright?”

“He has a concussion,” Cynthia rose, “But he should make a full recovery. Do you have a cart to carry him?”

“Yes, it has our belongings but the governor said…”

“We’ll bring him to the gathering point and transfer him there,” Cynthia said, “But right now we can’t afford any more delays. Are you ready to leave now?”

The young woman grabbed a fully loaded knapsack, and the young man did the same. “Thank you for the help, Claymores. I’m Merele and this is my husband Dan.”

“I’m Yuma,” Yuma returned the introductions as she helped Dan pick the old man off the ground. “Have you lived here all your life?”

“Born and raised here,” Dan nodded, he then flushed slightly. “I don’t really want to go either, but, well, Merele is expecting and I’m not going to die here because of some misplaced pride.”

Yuma glanced back over her shoulder towards Merele. “How far along?”

Dan managed to crack a boyish grin, “Only just found out.” His grin faltered, “And now we’re being forced out into the wilderness. Great timing, huh?”

“Don’t worry,” Yuma shifted her weight and slowly lowered her load onto a wooden cart. “You’ll make it through this. You and your entire family, I promise.”

“Yuma,” Cynthia said softly. Yuma looked over her shoulder to see Cynthia, the other woman’s face impassive. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I’m not,” Yuma managed, then fell silent in horror at her own daring. Contradicting Cynthia, a warrior much stronger than her, was not something she felt was in her right. After all, Cynthia was Number 14, and she, lowly Yuma, was only seven away from being dead last, notwithstanding current day issues. “I mean…I…I…”

“Only save those you can,” Dan spoke up softly. “It’s alright Yuma, I understand. You’d probably go mad otherwise.”

“I’m going to keep this promise,” Yuma repeated more to herself.

“Thank you,” Dan hoisted his own travel pack, but avoided eye contact.

“We still need to meet up with Tabitha,” Cynthia said, breaking up the uncomfortable silence. “Let’s go.”

ccccccc

There was absolute silence over the crowd as they huddled together in the brisk late morning air. The children, sensing the mood of the adults and being forced to leave all that they ever knew, were subdued, small hands in white-knuckle grasps around the worn leather straps of the packs they were carrying. Even the babies were miraculously quiet, their wide, unfocused eyes wandering towards whatever caught their attention at the moment.

With hushed urgency, the guards of Antaris directed the fearful refugees through a small doorway. Many of the guards carried with them, in addition to their usual regalia of weapons, supplies, and armor, heavy packs of their own. If they were in a position to do so, some even smuggled their families to the front of the evacuation line. It was an ordered chaos. Antaris was bleeding out. A slow painful death.

At the very end of the line, the governor and several officers stood watch over the main road, helping late arrivals find their place in the mass of people. As Carales saw the Claymores approach, he nodded solemnly in their direction.

“Is that everyone then?”

“It is,” Cynthia motioned to the refugees behind her and several guards moved forward to help.

“Your companion, Tabitha, I believe, has already gone on ahead to ensure that the route is clear,” He saw the unconscious form of Gowen being wheel-barreled past. “You actually managed to get Gowen to leave his home?”

“You know him?” Cynthia glanced back to where Dan and Merele were now supporting the still unconscious man between them.

“He’s an old man who was put out to pasture long ago,” Carales scoffed. He made a brief motion with his hands and they began to walk parallel to the lines of frightened villagers. “Got himself kicked off the governing council, he did. That is, after two others on the council were found murdered in their homes. Old history, but mark my words, he’ll be trouble.”

“Murdered?” Yuma briefly stopped to help a young kid with a backpack twice his size.

“Aye, they were found with their guts ripped out right after they opposed a bill Gowen tried to force pass. And before you say anything, we already checked to see if there was a yoma in the city, even hired a Claymore. Claymore didn’t find anything, so it was obvious Gowen only tried to make the murders look like a yoma was responsible.”

“Maybe the yoma left before the Claymore arrived,” Yuma argued.

“Defending Gowen, are ya?” Carales glanced sidelong at the normally timid woman.

“Well…umm…it just seemed like everyone had their mind made up, even before the Claymore came,” Yuma was able to meet the governor’s eyes.

“It wasn’t the first time that had happened,” Carales scoffed. “Gowen’s father got away with a similar murder thirty years before that. Bastard took the life of my grandfather, one of the founding members of this city.”

“Oh,” Yuma fell silent.

Cynthia, however, rejoined the conversation after helping a couple of guards redirect a group of frightened refugees. “Do you remember the symbol on the woman’s sword?”

“Woman? Oh, you mean the Claymore,” Carales ran a hand through his short beard. “Aye, I do.” He stopped and took out his sword. With the tip, he drew a shape in the ground. “Looked a bit like this.”

Cynthia didn’t recognize the symbol, but Yuma, who had been trying to stay out of the way, gasped after seeing the design.

“You recognize who it is?”

“She was Number 45, Elyssia,” Yuma answered Cynthia in a small voice. “When I was first recruited by the organization, she was the one who looked out for me. She was like a big sister to me.”

“What happened?” Carales noted the almost tearful quality of Yuma’s voice with some amount of surprise. Everyone had always seen the Claymore as emotionless, silver-eyed witches. To see one behave so human unnerved him.

Yuma looked away. “She gave me her black card only three years after I joined.”

“Black card?” Carales looked to Cynthia for the answer.

“When one of us loses control of their own yoriki and is about to turn into a yoma, we send a black card to the one closest to us. It is then left up to the one who received the card to end the sender’s life while they still retain a human mind.”

“You kill your own?” One of the other guards gasped.

“It is better than having them become a yoma,” Cynthia said evenly. “If you want to see what happens when one of us loses control and isn’t stopped, you need only look at the Abyssal Ones that currently rule the land. All were once powerful warriors, much more powerful than myself or Yuma.”

“Those beasts used to be Claymores?” The governor halted in his tracks, and several of the guardsmen around them swore. “Then what about the smaller ones, the regular yoma, were they Claymores too?”

“Fortunately, or unfortunately, no,” Cynthia answered, not bothering to tell the governor and his people that the regular yoma were in fact byproducts of the Claymore experiments conducted by the organization.

“So, apart from the small fry, you were basically paid by villages to kill off creatures that used to be your former companions,” Carales shook his head slowly and exhaled. Then he narrowed his gaze. “You Claymores wouldn’t be holding back anything else, would you?”

“No,” Cynthia said evenly, meeting and holding the man’s gaze expressionlessly.

“Right, and I’m a damned stable cleaner,” The governor scoffed. “Aw well, we all have our secrets.”

They stopped at the base of a ladder, which led to a hastily constructed scaffold for the governor to make any announcements. Before he began to ascend, the governor looked back at Cynthia.

“You’re pretty good, Claymore Cynthia. But it’s those eyes, they gave you away.”

Cynthia said nothing in response, and the governor nodded once before climbing the ladder. While he began to address the crowd, both Claymores remained silent. Cynthia took the moment to reach out and place a hand on the shoulder of still shaken and quiet Yuma. When Yuma turned, Cynthia was slightly surprised to see a single tear trail down from each eye.

“Yuma?”

“Sorry for being so weak,” Yuma quickly wiped away her tears. “I just never really expected to see her symbol again after all these years.”

“But there’s something more, isn’t there?”

Yuma swallowed and nodded. “Elyssia was never any good at sensing youki, it was why she was Number 45. She told me that the region she had been assigned, because of her below average ability to sense youki, was notorious for being one with little to no yoma activity.”

Cynthia fell silent, alarmed at what Yuma was trying to tell her.

“So you mean…”

“If there was a yoma living in this town, and it had any skill in concealing youki, Elyssia most likely would have missed it,” Yuma finished softly.

“And it’s more than likely to try and escape with the rest of this crowd,” Cynthia muttered, casting a silver-eyed gaze over the mass of people before them.

CCCCCCCCCCCCC

A/N: Well, here goes my first foray into the Claymore universe. I kind got impatient while waiting for my next monthly dose of Claymore and decided to write a fanfic duology. In my typical style, everything that can go wrong has, and the chapters will more or less be about this length with mothly updates. On the downside, this is more or less going to become AU in the future, especially if they kill of Rifful with Alicia and Beth (Isley was killed off during the making of the chapter and I had to rewrite it! Come on, killed by mindless zombies!) This will not be a romance story, rather, it will be more like a Raki/Clare sibling pair.

As this is a new genre for me, I am currently lacking a beta. Any spelling or grammar errors is due to this absence. If you are interested in being a beta for this story please drop me a pm or review. Other forms of feedback, positive or constructive is also welcomed, please review.