J alin brought the armor out from the back room, the Bar supplied things when it was needed for the Heroes, and he guessed now was one of those times. He looked at the solemn faces of the Folk in front of him as he lay the last of the gear out.

He fingered the extremely tough, but light, mail that all of them wore, Elvish it looked to be but it had a subtle aura around it. Their weapons and gear were of the finest make and Jalin had no idea how the Bar produced it or from whence it had come. He looked around at the solemn faces gathered at the bar, Random, a Sabre from the northern campaign, he wasn’t a Hero yet but Jalin felt sure the bar would choose him. Aerith, a Master SwordFurre from who knows where, her tilted eyes narrowed as she cleaned the matched swords and daggers.

Doctor Nick sat alone in the corner, his eyes closed as he concentrated to regain his center, his peace for what must be ahead. His medical supplies lay out if front of him, for not only a Master of the Quiet Arts, he practiced an ever growing knowledge of medicine.

Over towards the corner was Lupa, always with a smile and a good word, now silent as she lay her gear out and prepared for war. Beside her was Delphinia, another furre quick with a smile, but solemn as she check her pouches, her magic powers were unknown to the rest, but Jalin had a feeling about her, the aura of power palpable. Dens sat beside her as he chuckled and looked through his herb pouches and spell components, a well-known practical joker, his magics rivaled those of the Amerlan Mages themselves, Watcher was beside him cleaning the last of his gear and weapons, he was a Cithalian Scout, or “One Who Watches” a proven warrior and Hero of The Bar. The gleaming of the golden amulet with crossed paws prevalent on his breast as he shrugged the mail shirt over his head.

Jalin sat there and watched the small party, Lady Tsunami had sent Aerith with a message requesting they go to Theren and check out rumors of a Hyooman army gathering there. This could be a prelude to an attack, and the Leader of the Southern forces had requested that the Heroes take a look. She had heard of them and their deeds helping others, fighting the evil that stalked the land, bringing light where once there was darkness.

One by one they finished what they were doing and stood waiting, it had become a tradition for the Doc to say something and a last toast before they went out.

Jalin poured goblets of Smoke Ale and waited for the Doctor to speak.

His hands hidden by the loose robes he wore, Doctor Nick looked at the worried faces around him and smiled gently.

“Fear not this day Warriors, many battles have we always fought and still we return to this place. You, as am I, are fighting a good fight. We are not legends, merely Folk who do what is necessary to help others. We know our own mortality, and we understand that one day, there will be a time when we can no longer go forth and fight. But others will take our places and continue on. We do not seek to be legendary, we seek continuance. For within continuance is the love that we share for each other, the ability to do what needs be done.”

With that, he swept a goblet into one paw and watched as the others were taken, “Jalin, this being your bar, you make the toast.”

Jalin blushed slightly and raised his goblet,”To friends, to life, to peace.”

Dens muttered loudly,”May we have peace soon in this endless war.”

They all nodded in agreement with Dens’s words and drank deeply of the Ale.

Then without a word they left the bar, goblets drained and empty, Jalin turned the closed sign around and ran to catch up with the rest. Horses, an offshoot of the Equine furre Race, waited outside saddled. With a final look at the bar, they turned and rode off into the night.

In the Theren Valley, a small child awoke to the sounds of something moving in the night outside and went to her mother.

“Momma? Momma? I hear something outside.”

Her mother a small Vulpine, blinked as she looked at her child,”Shush hon, its just the wind.” She held out her arms for the little one and hugged her tight as they tried to get back to sleep.

The door crashed in with a vengeance, with Hyooman troops rushing in after, they searched the house and brought out the child and her mother.

A large Hyooman wearing black armor looked down at the tearful mother holding her child tight.

“Kill the child and take the bitch for yourselves.”

She screamed as the Hyooman troopers moved in.

It was only a weeks ride to Theren, but the weather and roaming bandits made it tough on every one. No one was spared from a cut or two, or the soaking wet from the rain.

Being a day out from the valley they set up camp and warmed themselves by the covered fire.

Dens pulled out three brightly colored balls and juggled them with great skill, everyone laughed as he added knives and other things and kept them whirling.

Jalin brought out a lute and played a soft tune as the others clapped in time, Dens stopped his juggling and brought out a flute and played along. Aerith and Lupa and the others danced for a bit as, for a moment, the world was whisked away and again they were just friends and companions. Lupa twirled and leapt as she danced with Doc Nick who proved to be a surprisingly graceful dancer. Delphinia and Aerith grabbed Watcher and Random as they all circle danced around the fire, celebrating life once more.

The tune ended and they sat panting and laughing with each other, taking drinks of the strong brandy water and catching their breath.

A sound in the woods stopped the laughing abruptly as Watcher signaled for them to move away from the fire, they scattered into the woods grabbing weapons and packs. They waited and heard the sounds of crashing through the woods, Random nocked an arrow in his ash bow and stepped out into the light to await whatever it was.

A bloody figure emerged from the darkness, it stumbled and fell by the fire gasping for breath, everyone rushed out to see who it was. Delphinia and Doc turned over the body and furre face stared up at them. Aerith gasped at the damage done to it, the eye torn out and the jaw smashed, it slurred words through a dry throat.

“Please, please don’t hurt me any more.”

Doc sighed and smiled gently,”Its okay my friend, we’re here to help. Just be quiet and let us tend your wounds.”

Tears rolled down Delphinia’s face as she shook her head to Doc, knowing that there was nothing they could do. Doc nodded back and whispered to the badly hurt Folk.

“What happened my friend? Why were you running?”

He reached for herbs and fed them gently to the wounded feline, calming him, soothing his pain as he knew that the long sleep would soon take this one.

“Hyoomans, they came in the night, they...they took our village. We tried to fight, they were too many, I barely escaped. I..I don’t know what happened to the rest.”

Delphinia put cool water on the furre’s brow, “Its okay, we’re friends, we’ll help.”

The furre’s one eye opened widely, “I know you..you’re...you’re the Heroes everyone talks about. Please help us, oh please.” He looked up at the gray sky,”I wish, I wish I could see my wife just once more,”he looked at Random,”she was pretty Hero, she would have loved to meet you all.”

Random nodded,a tear falling down his muzzle,”I’m sure she was, but you are the Hero, you who ran so far to tell us of this. You are the Hero.”

He knelt down and took the injured paw into his own,”I am Random, I will tell your wife of your heroism when we meet her. This I swear.”

The injured furre sighed,”I am Dralen, and...and I hope you can help. Please help them.”

He sighed and relaxed in Doc’s arms, the sweet peace of death coming over him as he closed his remaining eye one last time. Random placed the paw on his chest and cried softly, Delphinia leaned forward to kiss the still body on the forehead,”Sleep well Warrior, you’ve earned your peace.” The sounds of rain and tears were heard through the quiet campsite.

They buried Dralen in the shade of a Sweet Tree, the branches filled with blossoms that were pleasing to the eye. Watcher came forward and lay an evergreen branch upon the crossed paws of the honored one, A Cithalian custom ensuring that his long sleep would never be disturbed. Lupa sang softly as they lowered Dralen into his last resting place, singing of heroes of long ago and how they would recognize another when he reached The Halls of The Valiant. Aerith and the others prayed for soul of the slain warrior, and a safe journey to The Halls. Soft, mossy soil was thrown over Dralen as Lupa’s song ended.

They saddled their horses the next morning, looking back at the damp mound as a reminder of Random’s promise, a promise they would keep, and death to anyone who stood in their way.

Smoke filled the low valley as they peered through the woods, Hyooman troops were down in the village of Theren, plundering what was left of the houses.

Growling deep in her throat, Aerith suggested they go now and slaughter them to the last one.

Watcher stayed her hand,”M’Lady, we must needs wait till nightfall. Then those beasts shall get theirs. Oh yes my pretty furre, they will get their’s.” Sliding back down the low hill they made their way back to the hidden grove to prepare for the night fall..

Random fletched arrows quickly, he was going to be prepared to back up Dens and Delphinia when they unleashed their powers. Watcher and Aerith discussed tactics with Lupa, Jalin and Doc. This was going to be tight, but with the magic they had at their command, it more than evened the odds.

Jalin rubbed lines of charcoal on Aeriths fur as they all went through the ritual they had come to know so well. Weapons sheathed and spells checked, they moved out into the silent night, death had come to the Hyooman troops.

Laughing and drinking from a bottle, the Hyooman Sergeant watched as his troopers took their turns at the helpless furre ladies tied to the ground. They had been here for almost a week and were sure that no more animals remained alive in the valley. Troopers waited for their turns as the commanders watched, they had to keep their soldiers happy and this was a good way to do it.

The commander sat in his tent watching a captured slave dance for him, she was to be sold in the slave markets but not before he had his fun out of her. She danced and twirled, spinning around knowing she was doomed.

Dralen’s wife couldn’t cry anymore, the tears had long since gone as she lost count of the number of Hyooman’s which had their way with her. She prayed for death, and that it come quickly.

The bonfire was surrounded by brutish Hyooman’s drinking from stolen stocks of wine and ale, eating and laughing about their next raid, and how they soon they would be able to do all this again. Shock ran through them when a clap of thunder sounded and a wall of flame sprang up down the street, grabbing weapons they turned into the light to see it burn white-hot with magic, the light filling the streets around them.

Four figures walked through the flames to face the Hyooman troops, Delphinia’s paws crackled with unrestrained power, Dens hands holding a gleaming staff that threw off a blue brilliance. Random and Watcher stood to their sides with bows nocked and aimed, eyeing the raping hyoomans with disgust.

Delphinia’s voice rang out over the falling silence, “This atrocity will stop NOW! You will move back and retreat to your lines.”

The commander laughed out loud,”WHAT? Have you smoked too much catnip you stupid animal? We take what we want when we want, and how are you going to overcome us? We have the numbers and the weapons stupid animal. All you do are tricks of the mind, you are nothing to us except something to be swept aside in our conquest!”

Jalin and Aerith watched the action from a side street, Doc and Lupa signaled their readiness as the scene played out. Grim determined looks on camoflauged faces told them they were in for a fight.

Dens stepped forward and planted his staff in the ground, “How are we going to overcome you? By the power given to us by the grace of the gods.”

Delphinia stepped forward and raised her paws, energy lighting up the night, “For we have come to tell you no more of this will be tolerated.”

The hyoomans laughed as their commander stepped forward, “So who are you all supposed to be? The avenging angels? The rescuers of the weak and pitiful?” he laughed again, his confidence growing with every moment.

Dens growled and reached deep into his soul, “WE ARE YOUR DOOM!”

Lightning shot out from his body and burnt the human commander where he stood, his smoking boots the only reminder he ever existed. Delphinia unleashed the pent up magic as fire flew into the hyooman troops and spread death and destruction in the form of flaming death.

Random and Watcher dropped to one knee and shot fleeing hyoomans down as they ran for cover, no one was safe if they came into the deadly archer’s lines of sight.

Dens and Delphinia walked into the raging inferno that was once the Hyooman’s camp, fire and flame brought down screaming hyoomans, demons and elementals crushed hyoomans between powerful limbs. Death had come to Theren.

Lupa and Doc raced out of the side street seeing the battle start, Doc slowly and methodically cut down troopers and broke bones with a touch and a gentle push. His calmness spreading to Lupa as she clove heads from torso’s, limbs from their owners, singing her songs of battle as she strode beside the quiet rodent who watched with the gentleness of the ages as their enemies died.

Aerith and Jalin tore out of their hiding place and ran into the fray, seeing Dens and Delphinia dealing with the main encampment, they rushed to where the prisoners were tied down, Aerith watched for hyoomans as Jalin cut the bonds of the ravaged furres.

They herded the prisoners into a safe building, then went out to help their friends take care of the vermin, hacking and slashing their way through bodies as their armor turned aside blows and arrows.

Dens and Delphinia reached the center of the camp, sweat and blood from the hyoomans covering them, their summoned creatures wreaking havoc among the scattered hyooman troops. A silence decended upon them as they saw a single figure stride through the carnage.

Random and Watcher had expended their fletched arrows long ago and were back to back telling jokes to each other as their blades flashed and sung their songs of war. They laughed as they saw the bodies piling in front of them, their blood singing softly to them, telling them the way to go, singing the songs of old. Whispering to them was the promise of Random, urging them on was the blood lust of their Warrior breeds.

Aerith and Jalin strode through the battle, stopping here and there to cut down a trooper who got in their way, Jalin sung the Highland Songs his father had taught him long ago, Aerith snarling in a rage of the SwordMaster unleashed.

No mercy was given that long dark day, havoc was called and the Dogs of War were taken off their leashes. Fury and rage consumed the fighters as they faced and dealt death to whomever stood in their way. Anger ruled when they saw the prisoners that had been abused, wondering where the rest of the town was, as they only counted a few captured.

Dens and Delphinia stood facing that rare breed, a Hyooman capable of using the magic they shared, his spells stolen from the lips of tortured Folk Mages, the staff and items taken from the bodies of dead furres.

Dens and Delphinia spread out as the battle began, fire and lightning struck the hyooman’s shields as he returned blow for blow, soaking up the energy and turning it back on them as an evil thing will. His aura was black as the darkest Hells, the pact he made with the Evil Ones apparent as he twisted the pure clean power Dens and Delphinia had into a corrupted travesty of magic. Striking again and again, wearing away their shields and defenses, the hyooman mage laughed and sent bolt after bolt of darkness their way.

Dens looked at Delphinia and winked, she looked back at him as if he was insane, he stood and planted his staff as a symbol of his desire to stand his ground, then threw everything he had into the evil one. Bright light erupted into fury as the ground was turned to glass by Dens anger, Delphinia reached out and put a paw on the staff and lent her power to Dens. The brightness of the light blasted the hyooman’s shield’s, they flickered as the power cascaded over them like a pure waterfall, his brow sweating as he strove to hold back the light from the two Folk Mages.

Random and Watcher had seen what was happening and had waited for their chance, recovering a few of their arrows they had lain with bows nocked, waiting for the right time.

They watched as the fury of Dens and Delphinia reached a peak and the shields flickered around the hyooman. Standing up, they shot as fast as they could, arrow after arrow sped toward the hyoomans back, the ash bows of the two warriors lending speed and trueness to their flight.

Dens and Delphinia watched as the hyooman’s shields flared and went out, the beast toppling with a thud on the blasted ground. On a hill in the distance they saw two upraised paws waving at them and knew that once again, their friends had been there to help. They waved and stared at the pincushioned back of the evil mage, then destroyed the twisted thing in a blaze of pure, cleansing fire.

Doc stepped aside as an arrow flew past him, his paw threw a shining disc which clove into the hyoomans head, bringin him to his knees. “Its not polite to try and kill someone hyooman.” With that he touched the chest of the archer and felt his heart explode under the gentle paw.

Lupa leapt and twirled in the Dance of Marran, the Shining Blade, leaping and singing her fury she slashed through armor and flesh, metal and blood raining around her. She smiled and roared her intentions to the hyoomans around her, before cleaving them down.

Aerith snarled and slashed, she sprung from one place to another with blinding speed and agility, her swords humming with blinding accuracy, her fur matted with dark hyooman blood. Her body and soul become one with the blades, merging her soul and fury into the shining steel, bringing destruction upon those who would kill innocents.

Jalin’s Highland blood spoke to him in the words of his father, bringing him to the edge of madness as he swung the great blade in an arc, lopping off limbs and tearing through muscle.

Dens and Delphinia finished off the remaining hyooman’s around them, bringing forth the black armored Sergeant whom the prisoners had pointed out as the leader of the raping party, they tied his hands and waited for the others.

Random talked with the lady they had found to be Dralen’s wife, she cried when she learned of his run. Random told her of his heroism and courage, then walked off with Watcher to scout the area for more hyooman troops.

Out of the smoke and quiet came the rest of their companions, blood spattered avenging angels of death, slumping and quietly sitting. They stared at the remaining hyooman as Dens spoke.

“The townsfolk were taken by slavers, they’re gone into the hell of the hyooman’s, he also knows something else but won’t tell.”

“This was the hyooman who lead the rapers, the looters, what shall with do with this...this pig.?”

Everyone looked at the hyooman, Lupa stood up, “Give him to the prisoners.”

They all nodded their agreement as the prisoners took the hyooman away, screams were heard off in the distance as the captives took their revenge.

Sitting around a fire, weariness overtook them, heads slumped as they stared with clouded eyes at the battlefield.

Random returned with Watcher, “You...you have to come..you have to see this.”

His breath hitched in his chest as he put his muzzle into his paws, Watcher kneeled beside him in tears,”You have to come.”

They all walked to the north of the town, staring at a sight that was incomprhensible, nothing they ever imagined had been like this.

Random and Watcher cried out loud, tears falling on the bloody ground, Lupa stared in shock as she leaned against the quiet Doctor.

Jalin fell to his knees and stared out over the field, Aerith crying in her paws beside him.

The hyoomans weren’t satisfied with raping and pillaging, they had killed all the children and skinned them, leaving the small bodies lying in heaps around the wheatfield. The children were worth nothing to the hyoomans except for pelts. The small figures still in the smoke and rain. The prisoners watched as their rescuers cried, seeing tears fall like crystal gems from the faces of brave warriors. Jalin leaned against Aerith and howled his pain, Random fell to his knees next to them and roared his anger. Lupa stood not believing and believeing at the same time as Watcher and Doc stood and wept silent tears for the fallen. Delphinia hugged Dens close and let the tears flow along with his.

Doc brought out a small shovel and began to dig, the rest joined him as they recovered slightly, tears consecrated the ground as they worked.

The last small figure had been placed gently into its rest, the last of the soft ground put back as they stared over the field.

Doc stood and watched the faces of his companions.

He wondered if the peace was worth it, if all the wars, and fighting were worth the pain.

When would the madness end?

He looked upon the dark mounds as the dawn grew bright over the fields, a tear falling over his muzzle as he looked to the skies and asked.

“What is life without the love small ones bring?”

“What is life without the joy small hearts sing?”

“As I stand at this place and cry for so long,

“I ask only this question”

“Where have the children gone?”