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Chapter One


A dear friend of those to the Castle has a strange situation regarding a certain shadow like tattoo upon her wrist. A heavy one at that yet as weightless as death, harbering within its many forms ranging from mercy to the rather sadistic. Each with their role and purpose which innocently it was Sadistic's idea for fun to go around Halloween as the grim reaper - since then humanity has never been the same and the Angel of Death wasn't too impressed, yet not bothered as it wasn't all that harmful. Yet Sadistic has a habit of getting them all in hot water and once upon a dark hour in the pages of history a certain emperor, crazed with an obsession with death ended up getting them into some serious business. Well actually it was Sadistic that did that, as they could have just ignored the idiot.

In any case, to cut a story of the ages short, 'death' was punished by their guardian, the Angel of Death and were to be assigned to another party in which their movements would be supervised while the Angel of Death puts the world to rights once more; more or less.

So on their way performing certain tasks along the way, assisting in cleaning up their mess they headed for the castle of which their fate and that of another lies. They travelled through the forest, removing a menace they caused to migrate there, and it of which began to devastate it, so the whole lot was cleaned up - dropped dead to be precise. And that is how a shadowy tattoo upon Embers arm came to be, a tattoo of death. Their punishment is hers also apparently, by a certain big guy giving her a chance to make good - free will and all that jazz, as he isn't all that happy with her past. Oh well, not exactly her fault she was born and raised the way she was; but there shall be no questioning! None what so ever.

The story continues after the introduction of Mercy, a small cute girl in a white dress with a heart bigger than any. Sadistic likes picking on her and Honour loves wrestling Sadistic into better ways. Seduction enjoys herself too much, and Loyal shakes his head. Integrity encourages the others to stop it and Deceit, well no one really knows do they! There are others, but we'll start with them for now. Enjoy your life while you still can, for death comes.

A fair distance off there was a bit of a stir in the forest, the running of a good twenty two sets of feet, pounding the earth in a low rumble and audio dissipating quickly. Controlled breathing in rhythm and searching eyes scanned every tree, every rock and even the river. The figures ploughed through and drops and sheets of water reached heaven ward and sparkled like crystals in the blazing sun and clear skies. First was a single figure, then the other twenty one followed in a splashing roar. They were clad in hoods and cloaks black and brown as mud and soot. Their target grossly out numbered already dealt with quite a number of them as it was, while they were in small groups, but they rallied to create what they hoped would be the inevitable.

***

Honour was leaning against the base of the tree and to the right side of Ember, who sat above him. "I wonder if he makes it." He said flatly, while his head was tilted slightly down. "I guess he will." He mentioned as he stepped forward and lifted his head. "Not much to do but wait and see."

Honour, a male figure in a white suit, white shirt and grey tie. Black shoes and socks, black medium length hair kept tidy. He likes intentions that have a purpose of benefit or that of which do not inflict upon others unless in like is initiated first. His dominant temperament is kind, but strong and cold as the best when needed.

The chase was still on and blades glinted in the light and shimmered in the swinging of the arms in pace. The target strafed and changed direction behind a large rock and started on an incline with all the power he could muster all the while, the leader of the followers took a momentary stance bracing himself steady upon a flat rock as he drew a Five-Seven with his left hand and tracked his stretched out arm to the target. The pulling of the trigger and twice sounded a high pitched crack, searing muzzle, speeding bullets, impacted upon a trunk at close range to the intending target one of which striking the dead branch of a tree further behind and broke its support - crashing to the ground. The twenty with him running past as he picks up his pace again and his second in charge draws a six-shooter. Hammer back, waiting for the time.

The target following what seemed almost a path was coming to a thick brush and heavy rock laden area, with several bottle neck paths that threatened to be overrun by the foliage. His torn clothing at the left arm and also the thigh stained edges with blood. His sword sheathed and clanged heavy with his pounding paces and his standard chained at his waist and hung over his right thigh danced in the air flow.

***

Meanwhile, the man in white gave a slight bow, "The guardian death of Honour - at your service." and just afterwards he raised his hand and gave a slight pointing motion at the tattoo upon her wrist. "That is I guess my home for the time being." he informed, "And your name, miss, is?" He inquired, getting to know his punishment.

"And thus, from that very beginning, Sir Edward Norton saught the cold that had so long been calling-No- demanding his presence."
Bleh....this book isn't any good either
Sitting back and rubbing his eyes, Alto, who was sitting comfortably on the balcony, closed the book and set it down on the small iron table to his right. He lay still and listened to the wind pass by him, never tiring of solitude when it was available to him.
It was then that he heard the loud crack and bang of gunfire echo to the castle.
Immediately the reploid opened his eyes and sat up, staring in the direction from which he heard it. A quick gust of wind picked up, opening the book and flipping it's pages fervently.
Alto stood up and walked to the thick stone railing, placing his hands on top, his ears listening intently.
hm..

Alto slowly skimmed the trees, his eyes squinted. He was about to turn away and go back to reading when he heard the barbaric cry. The reploid looked directly in the direction from which the cry came from. not too far away from the first shouts.
Definitely organics...
Taking three steps backwards, Alto got into a firm stance and pushed himself forward. He jumped over the balcony railing with a simple sumersault, and landed quietly in the blades of tall grass. quietly still, he rushed forward into the woods, his energy kept low.

Ember listened intently to Honor, frowning slightly as he spoke. As seduction appeared, the red head jumped a little but otherwise did nothing. As the two deaths stopped speaking, Ember tilted her arms to look at her larger tattoo. "So...this is your punishment? For something you all did, but... Sadistic started?" Shaking her head a little, Ember stopped staring at the tattoo and put her hand on her head. "hmm.." After a moment, she chuckled quietly and smiled a bit in the death's direction. "Well, at least I get what you guys are." Then Ember frowned once more. "But....Why me? Who decided that I would be your jailer so to speak? Or is this a punishment for me too?"

Before Ember could get out any more questions, or Honor could answer her, the sounds of gun shots and screaming reached the elementals ears. Glaring, she spun towards the direction of the sounds, and Raichi appeared next to her in a burst of flame. Looking over her shoulder at two of death's incarnations, Ember laughed a bit self mockingly. "Well, no matter why you ended up with me, I can tell you that you will never be bored. I guess we will have to cut our conversation short for the moment though." As Raichi quickly grew to his dog size next to Ember, the elemental summoned a fireball to her hand and set another smaller salamander spinning around her wrist. Walking forward a few steps, the elemental and her familiar both strained there senses to find whoever was coming towards them. Quickly loosing interest in waiting, Ember decided to just call out to whoever it was and go from there. Standing almost defiantly in the middle of a clearing, she called loudly. "Hello? Who is out there?"

The deaths gave a slight sigh as they dissolved transparent and resided within the tattoo. This was a bit of a new experience for them as well, normally only the dead or dying could ever see them. In any case the questions would indeed have to wait as other matters had made themself clear and Ember had set herself on her way. Soon another would join her and together they would meet an 'old' friend, okay so twenty one isn't old, then again if you were ever in his shoes you'd feel rather 'out of date'.

After a while he slumped tired against a nearby tree, the sheath of his sword clanged and clinked as it nocked against the trunk and the ground that fast approached him. So tired, so very tired but this can't be t can it, no he must press on - don't give in, this isn't it. His breathing laboured a while as he worked to catch his breath; he was hunch over slightly looking to is wounded leg. The fabric torn and tattered, a gash in the thigh and searing pain from the open wound left him looking a total wreak. He cut and tore off his pant leg and using the combat knife he fashioned a make shift bandage to hold it together. His hands became stained with his own blood and he began to feel a little bit weak, but he had to deny himself the dreaded sensation. Using the trunk for support he got to his feet and pulled his sword with its sheath from its belt to begin using it in like a walking stick. Relying on his new support he pressed on, blood seeped from the wound and cuts to his arm as he contemplated never going for a walk without armour again and then laughed to himself at the absurdity of the thought despite his situation.

'I must be near the castle.' he thought to himself with hope as he plodded on, yet still a fair way into the forest and continuing towards Ember his journey continued. He looked pale beneath the short soft fur of his face and his hearing began to go fuzzy as an echoing call reached him. It sounded strangely and surrealistically distant for something so close. From Ember's perspective he was close and his movements clearly audible, particularly the sword as it was being used as a support - impacting on the ground. From behind a tree he began to come in view the silhouette seemed but a mere shadow of the former strength of a know friend with its limping movements.

He glanced up and tried to focus, 'Is that... is that, Ember?' RunningWolf thought as he stumbled to his knees and dropped the sword, breathing hard he clutched at the wounds on his arm and grimaced as he stumbled and knee crawled to the sword again attempting to pick it up. His black uniform was tattered and bloody from an unexpected battle and its consequence.

Alto continued his confident stride, keeping his eyes and ears very acute as he did so. He measured all temperature changes around him, seeking out anything out of the ordinary. The reploid heard some noises and quickly ducked down, the plants defrosting with similar speed. He squinted and peered over brush, seeing a figure far into the distance hobbling pathetically forward. Alto could feel a strong warmth not too far away from him, wondering if it were Ember.
No matter
He thought,
This stranger certainly doesn't look like a problem...but then again it could just be a guise..
He peered closer,
Hmm....he certainly does look determined...I wonder if he's trying to reach the castle..
He crept forward ever so slightly, just enough to keep him in view. Alto unfortunately had never had the chance to meet Wolf, whether it be the second or thrid plot to destroy Azuria and the castle, in which Alto was ....detained... or away at the time. In anycase, his main priority was to keep tabs on him and any others. He had the upper hand in surprise, and wanted very much to keep it.